NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 8: His Own Path
Will was certain he had fainted—not just fallen asleep from exhaustion—because he didn't dream at all. Normally, he would've had yet another nightmare about Iel.
Those two Extreme Flame Meteors had truly taken everything out of him.
But it proved something important.
As a comedic side character destined for cannon fodder in the original story, his body was undeniably weak.
Still, it wasn't quite as fragile as he had feared.
Being able to sustain two instances of high-intensity ancient magic at 8,000 Hessian was already a lifetime achievement for most civilians.
For his current age and the context of the school he would soon attend, it actually seemed… strong.
Unfortunately, this strength wouldn't be enough in the dungeon era five years from now, when combat power would skyrocket, gods would wage war, and the protagonist would find himself expelled from his team.
By then, this level of power would be laughable.
"Hnn… What time is it now?"
The soothing scent of black tea filled his senses as he stirred awake. Looking around, Will realized he was back in his bedroom, lying on his bed.
"Wuwuwu—Master! Master, are you okay?"
Before he could sit up fully, Iel threw herself at him, hugging him tightly. Her soft, furry ears brushed against his nose, tickling him, and she sobbed into his arms.
It seemed she'd been very worried about him.
So that explains the scent of tea, Will thought. Iel must have made it.
For the record, Will didn't actually enjoy drinking tea. But, to encourage Iel's growth and change, he had pretended to like it, asking her to prepare it often.
"It's fine. If something were wrong with me, I wouldn't have just asked you to carry me back—I would've asked you to call a doctor," Will said, stroking her head with a sigh.
"By the way, the calibration plate?"
"It's in the back garden," Iel replied. "I didn't dare touch it after I brought it back."
"And the numbers?"
"Radius: 2.38 cm, depth: 3 mm… Iel will never forget it!"
"Good. Then we can use this chance to measure the exact penetration value of the first Extreme Flame Meteor..."
But before Will could finish his sentence, he felt a chill—an ominous sensation creeping through the house.
Was something dangerous approaching?
Bang!
Will's head was suddenly smacked from behind.
"Who dares to—?!" he started to yell, only to stop mid-sentence.
Standing at the door was the head maid of the Systrom family, Susan.
She looked both worried and angry, her arms crossed as she stared him down with a complicated expression.
"Oh, it's you… Sorry."
If Will were honest, there was no one in this world he feared.
Except for Susan.
The head maid of the Systrom family was no joke. She wasn't just skilled in tea-making and housework—she could also teach magic and swordsmanship if needed. In fact, she'd raised all of his older siblings until they entered school.
To Will, she was like a mother figure in this world.
"You're set to enroll next week, aren't you?" Susan said sternly. "And here you are, playing with fire. Aren't you worried you won't pass the practical exam for admission?"
"Don't scold me, don't scold me," Will muttered, raising his hands defensively. "The admission letter hasn't even arrived yet. And… I didn't expect the Extreme Flame Meteor to be so exhausting…"
Of course, this was a lie. Will had known exactly how demanding the spell would be, but he had to do it anyway. The day he would face the real witch was drawing closer.
"Besides," Susan continued, narrowing her eyes, "word is spreading. People are saying that you've been setting your muscular maid on fire. Care to explain what you've been doing?"
Now it was Will's turn to be confused.
"Muscular maid? What on earth did they see?"
"You hardly ever leave the house, but your reputation somehow gets worse every time. They're saying your magic is so weak it can barely produce two fireballs, though your theory scores are good."
"Two fireballs?! What are they even talking about?"
"And," Susan added with a smirk, "there are also rumors that you've been indulging in… inappropriate activities with your maid. That you're so 'exhausted' from being with her, you can't even stand straight."
"Ah?! What?! What on earth did they see?!"
Iel, standing nearby, couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing.
Susan knocked on Will's head again.
"Stop that!" he protested. "You're going to make me stupid!"
"You're not allowed to read, write, or touch that calibration plate today," Susan said firmly. "I know how late you've been staying up every night, and it stops now. Rest!"
"Alright, alright… Aunt Susan…"
Will sighed and buried himself under the covers like a scolded child.
"Then, while I'm lying down, could you bring me some black tea?"
Though he was mentally over thirty years old, Will couldn't help but instantly give in when faced with someone as authoritative as Susan.
"Fine," Susan said, shaking her head.
Seeing her young master finally listen, Iel breathed a sigh of relief.
Susan and Iel left the room, closing the door behind them. Outside, Susan turned to Iel with a serious look.
"You're such a worrying maid," she said. "How could you let him play with you like that?"
"No, no, Master… this is all normal behavior!" Iel stammered.
Susan glanced at the collar around Iel's neck, her expression caught between amusement and disbelief. She recalled what she'd seen in the back garden the day before.
The small classroom. The black straps. The dog collar. The two of them together.
No matter how she looked at it, it hadn't seemed appropriate.
"And today, it's fire magic? What kind of strange fetishes does that boy have? Did he put that collar on you yesterday too?"
"This… this collar is a gift from Master," Iel said, holding it delicately. "It's for… special training! It's meant to help with heat resistance!"
Susan let out a long sigh.
"That boy talks more than anyone else in this house. He's just like his father," she muttered. "Always up to something ridiculous."
Meanwhile, a postman arrived on a bicycle, carrying an admission letter from Entak First College.
Chapter 10: The Ultimate Prize
Will tore open the thick, gold-trimmed envelope with trembling hands.
Inside was the official letter from Entak First College, renowned for training top magicians for dungeon adventures.
"So, the practical exam is in a week…" he murmured.
Susan had already told him that his father had arranged everything: his luggage, transport, and accommodations in the capital. The plan seemed straightforward enough.
Except…
On the way to the private house in the capital, he would be ambushed.
This event couldn't be avoided—it was a crucial turning point in the story.
But this time, Will wouldn't repeat the mistakes of his original self.
In the original story, the old Will had left Iel behind, deeming her useless. This time, she would come with him. And this time, she had the strength to block even an Extreme Flame Meteor.
"Hehe… Little witch, you'll see," Will muttered, smiling to himself.
"Master," Iel said nervously, "you look… kind of scary when you smile like that…"
Will turned to her. "Iel, did you know the Systrom family has a private house in the capital?"
"Huh? Really?"
"Yes. But there are no servants there, so I'll need to bring someone with me…"
"Bring… someone? Does that mean… two people… living together?"
Will smirked. "Indeed. Now the question is… who should I bring?"
"Huh?!"
Will carefully placed the final notice into the envelope and turned to face Iel.
"So… Iel, come with me."
"Wha—wha—wait, me?" she stammered, her eyes wide.
"Yes, it's impossible without you," Will said, his tone calm yet resolute.