"You don't know what happened while you were inside the capsule," the headmistress said calmly.
"Can you please tell me exactly what you mean?"
Even though I already knew what she was going to say, I pretended to be clueless—I didn't want to attract any attention.
"....."
She remained silent for several seconds before speaking again.
"Let's just say… you would have died if I hadn't intervened," she said, clearly annoyed.
"Haaaaa… Are you saying I would've died even though you all claimed the test was completely safe?"
I stood up from the table and shouted sharply.
I stared at her in silence until she continued,
"I understand you're upset, but could you please just listen to me?"
"Because of what happened to you… I've decided to grant you one wish.
But you need to understand—everything has its limits."
I understood what she meant by "limits," but I didn't care. I didn't have time to waste.
"I want the Essence of Purification," I said firmly.
"Hmm… Do you even know what the Essence of Purification is?"
She looked at me strangely.
Perhaps she was right. The essence was supposed to be extinct, just like the vampires.
"Honestly… I want to cure my mana deficiency."
I spoke with sorrow in my voice.
Although the Essence of Purification is primarily used to purify vampire blood, it does have healing properties, such as repairing mana circuits.
But that wasn't my real reason. I had a far better method in mind.
I simply used my illness as an excuse.
"I can see that," she said, glancing at my body before nodding.
"But I have a condition…"
Her serious tone shifted to a cheerful one.
"I'll grant you another wish right now, but as for the Essence of Purification—you'll have to earn it yourself," she said playfully.
"Didn't you just say you'd grant me any wish?"
I tried to protest, but the headmistress wouldn't budge.
"You have one minute to choose."
"Can I at least know the condition before I agree?" I asked, still confused.
"You must rank first in the upcoming monthly exams."
"You have one minute to choose,"
she said again, watching me like she was expecting something unexpected.
I fell silent, then sighed slowly.
"I want an incubator."
She stopped counting.
She looked at me for a moment, as if she hadn't heard me right.
"A… an incubator?"
"Are you asking for a room?" she asked hesitantly.
I shook my head.
"No, I don't want a room. I want a small, travel-sized case—specifically designed for magical eggs.
It should include magical thermal balance, an internal mana system, and shock protection."
She raised an eyebrow.
"That's… a very specific request."
Then narrowed her eyes,
"For what purpose?"
I remained quiet for a few seconds.
Then reached into my academy-issued spatial pocket and pulled out a large egg.
I wasn't foolish enough to use the system's storage.
I placed it on the desk and uncovered it.
It was a pale gray egg—smooth and thick, with faint purple lines running across its shell like veins.
A soft, barely visible pulse throbbed on its surface.
The headmistress leaned in slightly, examining the egg and then glancing back at me.
"A magical egg? Where did you get this?"
"I can't tell you that…
But I know it's alive. It started pulsing a few days ago.
If it doesn't get the right environment soon—it might die."
The headmistress stepped back, placing a finger to her lips in thought.
"It's rare to hear of any student possessing a magical egg.
Its very existence is unusual—even in black market auctions."
I replied calmly,
"That's why I'm requesting the incubator.
I don't want to hand it over to anyone.
I'll care for it myself."
She stared at me for a while, then sighed.
"A strange request… but a very intriguing one."
She waved her hand, and a drawer in her luxurious wooden desk slid open.
From it, she pulled out a folded paper and a deep blue mana chip.
"Take this. It's an official permission slip to have your incubator built by the special equipment department.
Give it to the chief technician, and he'll craft the incubator according to your specs."
Then she raised a warning finger,
"But if anything dangerous comes from that egg,
I'll be the first to step in."
I nodded seriously.
"Understood."
I stood, carefully took the paper, and gently returned the egg to my coat.
"One more thing… You do remember that you have to earn first place to receive the Essence of Pu
rification."
"I do.
And I promise you—I won't disappoint."
—End of Chapter—
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