"May I see your recruitment advertisement?"
Elashia asked Erin.
In this world of magic and swords, the royal family primarily announced decrees using "impression stones."
These were stones similar to video cameras.
By infusing them with magic power, one could record videos and take pictures.
Generally, royal mages would take these stones to major settlements for playback.
Erin took out an impression stone from her bag and infused it with magic power to play it.
The person in the image just stood there, talking about the benefits and arrangements of the magic academy, and then it ended.
After watching the recruitment advertisement, Elashia shook her head.
It seemed people in this world truly didn't know about "editing," "post-production," and "filters"—techniques more miraculous than magic.
This advertisement wouldn't do.
She would have to handle it.
"Principal Erin, I have a new advertising plan. Please listen..."
After hearing Elashia's plan, Erin's eyes lit up with brilliance.
A week later, royal mages carrying projection stones headed toward major settlements throughout the Elasia Empire.
In a small village in Elasia, villagers gathered together, surrounding the court mage.
The mage looked extremely excited.
"Everyone, you are about to see the most unforgettable images of your lives!"
The mage infused magic power into the impression stone, and it began to operate.
The sun rose from the horizon, enveloping the land of Elasia.
A narrator's voice sounded.
"Elasia, our homeland."
Toward the sunlight, a young man walked toward the village.
"Diligence, labor, dedication, happiness—our way of life."
Accompanying the narration, the young man smiled and greeted people around the village.
"But happiness does not come easily."
Accompanied by women's screams, a group of bandits rushed into the village, burning, killing, and looting.
"No! Our happy lives!"
The young man knelt on the ground, wailing.
Suddenly, the image froze.
A man wearing coarse cloth and a tattered felt hat walked out, chuckling.
"Familiar, isn't it?"
"Such events are happening everywhere in Elasia right now."
The man pointed toward the audience in front of the screen.
"You could be next."
The villagers held their breath.
Every part of Elasia was indeed facing the dangers of bandits and various monsters, and the man's words genuinely moved every listener.
The man revealed a mysterious smile.
"Unless... you make the most important decision of your life."
"Snap!"
The man snapped his fingers.
The scene immediately changed.
The background behind the man transformed into the banner of the Elasia royal family, his coarse clothing turned into a magnificent mage robe, and the tattered felt hat became an exquisite mage's hat.
The background music became solemn and inspiring.
The man took a staff from someone beside him.
Raising the staff, he said:
"Prove to yourself—that you have the courage and wisdom to pursue a happy life."
The staff in the man's hand began to glow, until it illuminated the entire screen.
When the image reappeared, the next scene showed the young man using powerful magic to blast the bandits, who appeared to be fleeing in disarray, all shouting pleas for mercy.
The narration resumed.
"Join the Elasia Royal Magic Academy, become a master of spells."
"Witness extraordinary magic."
"Become a legend, become a hero, become—a hero of humanity."
"And bring magic to benefit every corner of Elasia."
The crowd instantly erupted!
Such an inspiring government decree was something the villagers had seen only once in their lives!
Immediately, the villagers surrounded the royal mage, asking about ways to go to Radiant Emperor City.
The mage maintained the villagers' emotions amidst the crowd.
"Everyone, please calm down! After the aptitude test, I will take those who pass to Radiant Emperor City!"
The crowd's clamor continued for a long time...
Two months later, seeing the new report in Erin's hand, Elashia smiled.
"Not bad, recruiting five thousand people in just over two months."
Erin also looked extremely pleased.
"Your Majesty truly has excellent methods. Recording music and battle scenes in the impression stone is truly groundbreaking in history!"
Elashia smiled proudly.
It could be said that no one understood better than Elashia, who had experienced the 21st century, how to use visual and auditory impacts to influence people's hearts.
She never thought that her knowledge from watching videos in the past could be useful again.
"Good, Principal Erin, now I've prepared this 'meal' for you; let's see if you can eat it all."
Elashia smiled at Erin.
Erin spoke earnestly: "I will definitely train at least one thousand combat-capable magic users within a year, and will not disappoint Your Majesty!"
Having lived for so many years, Erin had a thorough understanding of human nature.
Elashia could not have released her, a forbidden magic mage with enormous destructive potential, from prison without reason, nor could she have helped her realize her dream without reason, and certainly could not have made all of Elasia's spells public without reason.
The fundamental purpose of Elashia establishing the Royal Magic Academy must stem from Elasia's enormous demand for magic users, so she must satisfy Elashia on this point.
So why would Elashia pay such a huge price to train more magic users?
If Erin's predictions were correct, a disaster threatening the Elasia Empire and even all of humanity was about to arrive...