The next day arrived very quickly, and the training of the Beta Students was not supervised by Billy this time around.
Instead…
"Hello, everyone! I'll be in charge of your Magic Training today!"
… Bella from the Alpha Class was the one responsible for their training.
Just the same way it was with Billy, there was a bit of pushback, considering how very timid and weak Bella looked.
She was always known to be a nice girl.
However, once the training began and she displayed her Magic prowess, all the Beta Students found themselves crumbling under the pressure.
Once again, an Alpha Student had made it clear that their level was far higher than even the highest standard of the Beta Students.
It was so absurd that it defied explanation.
If anyone was told that these students arrived in this world at the same time, they wouldn't be able to believe it.
The gap in power was just that huge.
Thankfully, the Beta Students didn't have to experience this despair for too long.
Once it was over, everyone was dismissed. They were able to return to the fun activities that had mostly lost their luster.
There were a few students who refused to leave, but continued training even after training.
Trisha was one of them.
Adam and a few others too were doing the same, but none of them had the intensity and devotion that the ebony girl had.
In any case, as they stayed behind for continuous training, the rest of the crowd left for their rooms to shower or have fun.
Among this crowd was a student who could be considered an average extra.
He blended very well with the crowd, and he too seemed to be on his way to his room.
… But was he?
**********
"Alright. I'm here now."
"Eeep!"
Rey's voice startled Noah, who had erected an illusion around himself with the [Projection] Skill.
He had currently disguised himself as one of the many bush clusters in the Royal Estate, situated close to the walls.
"Why do you look so shocked?"
Any random person who saw Rey would think he was talking to a bush, but it was actually Noah.
"Y-you can detect me, even with [Projection]?"
Noah's plan was to wait for Rey, and when he arrived, he would reveal himself.
It hadn't gotten to that final part, yet he was already spotted.
How…?
"That Skill doesn't work on people with Levels or Stats that are much higher than yours." Rey replied with a smile.
Pretty much anyone with over 10 Levels higher than the caster would be able to spot them.
In essence, he was just that much stronger than Noah was.
That's all there was to it.
"In any case, I apologize for being late. There's this girl in our class I was trying to avoid…"
"You mean Trisha?"
Noah was in the Beta Class, just like Rey, and he had noticed the two's odd dynamic ever since Rey defeated Billy.
Contrary to what his innocent-looking face would tell you, Noah was extremely observant.
That was probably why he was giving Rey some sort of knowing smile.
"Y-yeah…"
Rey rubbed his forehead a little before shrugging and sighing at the same time.
"In any case, now that we're here… we might as well start going."
Rey set up his own [Projection], but excluded Noah from its effects.
As a result, he made it appear as if he wasn't there despite standing out in the open.
"How do you plan on doing this?" Noah asked with a curious gaze.
He had an Invisibility Necklace that was useful for moments like this. He could also use [Phase], so he could pass through the walls.
As for Rey… he didn't have any of those Skills.
"Let's just go."
Noah watched Rey walk towards the Estate wall, and then pass through it like it was merely an illusion.
"E-eh?!"
Not only was he stunned out of his mind, but Noah rushed to the wall and touched it to confirm that it was real.
'It's solid! That only means… he has the [Phase] Skill too?!'
Noah found saliva clogging up his throat, so he swiftly gulped it down.
'Just how many Skills…?'
The short boy decided this wasn't the time to think about something like that—especially since he didn't have a way to answer for sure.
He could only follow Rey's lead.
~WHUSH~
He also passed through the wall, leaving the Estate for a far more troublesome place.
The Market!
************
'Noah seems like a sharp guy, but sometimes I forget he's only a teenager…'
As Rey walked down the town's street, he could sense the awkwardness in the air around Noah.
Sure, the boy was currently wrapped in his shadow, and was using [Projection] to make himself appear much taller than he was, but to Rey, he just looked ridiculous.
'I guess that's why they were able to take advantage of him so easily…'
For Rey, this was a confirmation of his decision to study this world very thoroughly before deciding to interact with its denizens.
Noah had jumped the gun, and as a result, he had ended up being scammed.
'I'll have to make sure the same thing doesn't happen again…'
That was why he was here, to begin with.
Rey was also currently donning what he considered to be a more fitting disguise compared to Noah's appearance.
He used [Mimic] to shapeshift into an adult, while donning a black mask he had designed in the Hobgoblin cave.
It was made from Orichalcum, and it fit his face perfectly. He had done this little side project to pass time, so he hadn't expected it to play such an important role now.
His cloak was raven black, obtained by sewing a dark robe he got from the Royal Estate together with the fur of the NightWolf he killed.
He had learned a lot of commonplace and handwork techniques from studying, so it wasn't very hard to do these things.
"Is that very comfortable?" Noah asked, glancing a little at Rey.
His face was currently obscured with his mask, so it was pretty much impossible to tell what kind of expression he was making.
'Not really…' Rey's thoughts trailed in response to the question.
The NightWolf's fur was very bristly, and they also didn't smell nice now that he was a little sweaty.
"It's better than shrouding myself in a shadow, at the very least."
Once Noah heard this, he instantly regretted asking his question.
"Touché…" He whispered.
After walking together for a short while, Rey couldn't take it anymore.
He glanced at Noah, who was now completely silent, and gave a short sigh.
"We should probably head to a store for a change of clothes first."
Noah nodded immediately.
The marketplace was awfully crowded, but Rey easily spotted a store where clothes were being sold.
It was in a building, and it seemed like a high-end shop.
'We need to look very presentable for the people we're going to meet…'
Since he didn't notice any other shop around, and also observed that only rich-looking individuals came in or out, he gathered that his suspicions were true.
As a result, he chose the place.
"Let's go."
*
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