After informing the other three members of the group that this week's study session was suspended, Xia De had no other plans for today. Before he went out to kill earlier in the morning, he had received letters from Mrs. Lemeier, the client, and her lawyer. Due to the recent events in the city, Mrs. Lemeier had actually gone to stay with relatives in the countryside after the curfew was imposed.
Many ridiculous rumors circulated among the public about what exactly happened on Thursday night, and City Hall had no intention of refuting them. So, Mrs. Lemeier, along with some other citizens, chose to temporarily reside in the countryside for a period. The inheritance matter was postponed until next Sunday, giving a week for things to calm down.
Therefore, Xia De truly had nothing to do this Saturday.
Miss Louisa asked Xia De about his plans for the day. Upon learning that he wanted to go home and read, she suggested moving their weekly evening lesson to this afternoon, as neither of them had anything else to do.
Of course, the study location had to be moved to Xia De's home. This wasn't because his house was larger, but because if Xia De stayed in Miss Louisa's apartment all day, the landlady on the first floor would be very displeased.
After dinner, they strolled and talked, walking back to Feather Pen Street. After helping Miss Louisa gather her notebooks and some materials for the lesson, Xia De didn't go home immediately. Instead, he took a carriage to the Delarion National Bank; he needed to withdraw money.
Banking was just starting in this era. The National Bank was royal property, and the services it offered were limited to currency exchange between pounds and crowns, deposits, withdrawals, and safe deposit boxes. Even on a Saturday afternoon, there weren't many people at the bank.
Marble columns stood at the bank's entrance, supporting the ceiling of the front porch. This grand decoration and architectural style indicated that this was a place only truly wealthy people would visit. And stepping through the magnificent doors, the polished, reflective floor made the Outsider feel incredibly nostalgic.
This was the first time he had seen such a cleanly polished floor since arriving in this world. Compared to this place, Old John's pawnshop was practically a garbage dump—in fact, it was a garbage dump.
Miss Louisa observed Xia De's expression:
"Have you been here before?"
"Of course not. Do I look like a rich person?"
Xia De asked, surveying the spacious front hall. He held the soft Mia, and the unfamiliar new environment made the cat want to "roar" again.
He had just explained the source of the 1200 pounds banknote, so Miss Louisa wasn't concerned about what he wanted to do:
"I thought you'd be shocked by the environment here. I don't think even Yodel Palace is as grand as this place."
The Golden-haired girl said with a smile. Seeing Xia De looking around blankly, unsure where to go first, she led him deeper inside.
It seemed Miss Louisa was quite familiar with such places.
The process of withdrawing money encountered no trouble; after all, Miss Jialinna wasn't bored enough to give Xia De a fake banknote. However, after he handed over the banknote with the Duchess's signature, the middle-aged gentleman who rushed over, wiping sweat while assisting them, seemed to constantly steal glances at Xia De's face.
Xia De was initially confused, but quickly recalled the Black-haired maid's misleading remarks from yesterday, made to get out of the city under curfew. Then, he connected that to himself coming to withdraw money with the Duchess's banknote the very next day—
"It's a good thing Miss Louisa doesn't know what the maid said."
He sat on the sofa, holding the cat, pondering which was more important: gaining the Duchess's full protection or his own reputation.
Although the bank of the Steam Age was interesting enough, the two didn't linger. They left after receiving the 1200 pounds in cash. Finally returning to Saint Delan Square, Xia De immediately created snowfall in his home. On a stuffy afternoon, sitting in a snowing room was the correct way to alleviate the Summer heat.
The Three Great Arcane Academies both have two exam seasons a year. Next week is the Summer exam week at the end of July, so they first spent some time reviewing their respective study materials and discussing any troubles they encountered.
Xia De's study progress was quite good. He had decided to pass at least seven exams during the Summer exam week, and if he was lucky, he might even pass nine (Note). He had now advanced to PentaCircle, but to advance to the second year, his scores in these courses still needed to meet the standards.
The written exams for Letter-based Ring術士 are conducted at a unified location and time for a group, with the Academy dispatching at least two teachers to proctor through a projection ritual. Therefore, Xia De and Miss Louisa needed to inform the doctor of their chosen exam courses before next Wednesday, so the doctor could inform the Academy to prepare the exam papers in advance.
Miss Louisa enthusiastically helped Xia De choose his exam subjects. Upon hearing he planned to take nine, she even praised his excellent progress:
"To read so many books in a month, even a true scholar would find it hard to be as diligent as you. To help ordinary people new to the field of mysticism adapt to the learning environment, the first-year courses are a bit simpler, but your ability to learn so much is enough to prove your effort and wisdom."
The highly educated Outsider from another land felt a slight sense of pride:
"Memorizing this Knowledge is indeed difficult, but fortunately, it's interesting enough."
"Hmm? You memorized it yourself?"
They didn't choose the study, but studied in the living room with ample natural light. The coffee table was covered with open books, and densely packed letters were written in notebooks, most of which were ancient texts that Xia De had translated for the Golden-haired girl.
"Of course, aside from taking on commissions, I spend most of my waking hours reading. After all, I don't have many other recreational activities."
Xia De was very satisfied with his self-discipline.
"Meow?"
The cat, playing with the Ring of Metamorphosis with its tail, let out a meow.
"Oh, and some time is spent playing with Mia."
The teacup and teapot were placed on the floor beneath the sofa. Xia De bent down to pour himself some tea, and Miss Louisa, who was shaking her fountain pen, asked hesitantly:
"Did you really memorize the contents of so many books all by yourself?"
"Of course, otherwise, no one would help me memorize them."
Xia De said matter-of-factly.
"But—"
The Golden-haired girl frowned slightly:
"What about your other self? Does he not help you?"
A light chuckle came from beside Xia De's ear. He paused, holding his teacup, and asked with considerable confusion:
"Excuse me, Miss Louisa, are you saying that my other self can help with memorization?"
Miss Louisa nodded, her expression as if Xia De had asked a foolish question:
"What you can see, your other self can also see. He is you, and you are him. The memory of a Ring術士 is astonishing, partly because our spiritual power is strong, but more so because two minds are working together to remember. This is not cheating, because the other self of a Ring術士 is truly also me."
Xia De blinked, offering no comment on the latter half of the sentence:
"The books I've read—"
"I am certainly reading too."
"Then you—"
"I've memorized all of it. As long as you've read it, I remember at least ninety percent."
"Then why—"
"What you seek is understanding, not carrying many books with you, isn't it?"
Xia De nodded, then looked at Miss Louisa:
"My first year has a total of 19 compulsory courses."
"Yes, I remember. Why do you ask?"
The Golden-haired girl asked.
"'Basic Potionology' requires, in addition to the exam, the preparation of standard potions—【Elixir of Joy】 and 【Water of Long Sleep】. 'Elementary Alchemy Introduction', besides the written exam, requires the submission of a simple self-made alchemical item. 'relic Containment and Management' requires, in addition to the exam, the submission of a report on a relic containment that one participated in. 'Time Travel Practical Training' is a purely practical course and requires a report. Except for these Four Ring courses involving practical content, all other courses are purely written exams."
Xia De continued.
Potion making could be learned quickly from Priest Augustus; for alchemical item creation, he could consult Iluna or Old John; for relic containment, Xia De could also write a story about that small mercury bottle.
"That's how it is..."
Miss Louisa still didn't understand what Xia De was trying to convey.
"I've changed my mind. I'm going to take 18 courses at once! (Note)"
Although this relied on the woman in his head to help with memory, his promotion to the second year was only to enjoy the second-year benefits early and obtain those textbooks. He would continue to study the first-year books, so this was not considered having a shaky foundation.
The Golden-haired girl blinked at him, and after a long while, said:
"The Academy has ample means to detect cheating effects not limited to relics and potions."
Xia De knew she misunderstood, so he put down his teacup and explained:
"No, no, no, my memory is astonishing. I mean, my other self's memory is astonishing. Don't other selves all have some inconspicuous little talents? My other self's little talent is an astonishing memory."
Compared to all the other abnormalities she had already shown, an astonishing memory was completely insignificant, so Xia De didn't even bother to ask how she did it.
"You want to advance to the second year this Summer?"
Miss Louisa finally fully understood Xia De's intention.
The Summer exam season is just for exams; only the Winter exam season allows for grade advancement. However, Xia De is a key cultivation target of the History Academy and has a very good relationship with Professor Garcia of the History Academy, and even a good relationship with Miss Daniste, the Librarian of Saint Byron's. Therefore, as long as he can meet the promotion requirements, the Academy will not refuse his early entry into the second year.
"Yes, advance to the second year!"
Xia De was beaming. He had originally thought it would take at least one or two years to enter the second year, as Doctor Schneider had said, but he hadn't expected to be close to achieving it in just one month.
Not only his own progress, but the conditions for the group to go to Saint Byron's were that the group must have five Ring術士, and at least one Hexacle, one Five-Ring Sorcerer, and one Four-Ring Warlock. Now, the doctor would soon be able to advance to Hexacle, and Xia De, the lowest-ranked, was also a PentaCircle, just like Priest Augustus. In this way, they truly took another step closer to that seemingly distant goal.