Book 13 Chapter 29

Boy Becomes Imperial Scholar at Young Age,

A Visit to the Magic World (2)

"Supervisor!"

The examination supervisors of the Bandoran (1-Star) Magic Alliance are swamped during the summer.

However, during other seasons, it was so quiet that it was known as a 'cushy job.'

Of course, it wasn't a dead-end job, as it was a path for nurturing future generations. It was either a gateway for talented individuals whose career paths were guaranteed, or a place where high-ranking mages, in their later years, would retire, relax, and receive their pensions.

"What's the matter?"

As someone rushed into the supervisor's office, a man with an excessively intellectual impression pushed up his glasses.

This man, whose every action (from demeanor to attire) was perfectly calculated for optimal angles, was named Gellen Dogney.

He was a prodigy who had reached the rank of Limitless (2-Star) at the astonishingly young age of thirty-one.

"Could you please come to Written Exam Room 3?"

"Why so?"

"I don't know if you'll believe me if I explain it, but… one of the examinees is a bit strange."

Gellen raised an eyebrow.

Even though committing a single illegal act in a ranking exam would result in a lifetime ban from the magic world, there had always been half-wits who engaged in illegal activities.

Such individuals could not remain in the light of the magic world and would hide in the shadows, taking on mercenary work or living in remote rural villages.

"If it's about punishment for an illegal act, there's no need for me to go, is there? You should just follow the rules."

"That, that's not it! No, I thought so too, but… it's simply beyond common sense to explain."

"Please tell me."

"The Four Elements written exam… he finished it as soon as he received it. It didn't even take 3 minutes! It was as if he only needed time to write down the answers!"

"What?"

The Bandoran (1-Star) written exam requires taking a minimum of four and a maximum of six subjects.

The reason is that if one chooses to forgo one of the Four Great Elements, they can replace it with two Lesser Elements subjects to take the exam.

A maximum of two subjects can be forgone. In this case, one must take two of the Four Great Elements and all of the Lesser Elements, thus testing six attributes.

"Here, I brought the exam paper."

The sub-disciplines of mathematics required by the Four Great Elements are as follows:

Geometry (幾何學) - Earth attribute.

Algebra (代數學) - Fire attribute.

Analysis (解析學) - Wind attribute.

Number Theory (整數論) - Water attribute.

Since the Lesser Elements are derived from the Four Great Elements, the questions regarding their theories are much easier. On the other hand, the Four Great Elements are akin to foundational principles, so they contain many complex and profound problems.

'What on earth…?'

Gellen felt his fingertips tremble as he carefully flipped through the examinee's test paper.

'Cheating?'

No, if it were, the solutions to the open-ended questions were strange.

He had applied theories that were previously thought to be entirely unsuitable, yet the solutions were much faster and more concise than typical mathematical equations.

Finally, the question stirring in his mind shifted from 'Is there a problem with the test paper?' to 'Who is this examinee?'

"Lin from the Osarius School… 13 years old. 13 years old? He's thirteen this year?"

There had been countless geniuses who attained the Bandoran (1-Star) rank at an even younger age.

However…

There was no one, absolutely no one. No mage had ever solved the entire exam mentally as soon as they received it. Except for the 10 Archmages who left their names in history forever.

'Perhaps.'

This might be cheating.

Perhaps the exam questions were leaked, and he memorized all the answers.

But what if it wasn't? What if all of this was truly done through mental calculation, and the concentrated mathematical understanding in these solutions originated entirely from a genius mind?

"Bring this examinee to the practical exam hall immediately."

"Yes? But Supervisor."

"I will take all responsibility. Is there anything more accurate for determining cheating than observing true magical ability?"

Against this backdrop, Supervisor Gellen, three subordinate examiners, and Lin arrived at the practical exam hall.

Naturally, the audience began to murmur. Practical exams were open to public viewing.

Thus, it was enough to cause bewilderment in the eyes of those who had come to support their respective examinees, eagerly anticipating good news.

"…Practical exam?"

"…Isn't the written exam still ongoing?"

"…Right. The written exam is until before lunch."

However, in the eyes of Lin's three guardians, only a faint smile that said, 'I knew it' was present.

'Ah, I get to see Lin use magic again.'

Gisela clenched her fists in front of her chest and composed herself.

More than even the senior disciple, it was Lin who resembled the Headmaster when he used magic.

Of course, it wasn't innate.

Lin, like Gisela, loved the Headmaster's magic so much that he had a habit of imitating even the slightest finger movement the Headmaster made when casting spells.

He had worked with blood, sweat, and tears to emulate that appearance.

'Everyone will know today. Lin from our Osarius School is a greater mage than anyone!'

* * *

"I will present a scenario."

The modern Magic Alliance, following the policies of Alliance Leader Ulan Page, had been pursuing magic as a practical aesthetic rather than mere theoretical discussion.

The Bandoran (1-Star) ranking practical exam was also reformed accordingly.

One of several scenarios is presented, and the examinee's aptitude for dealing with the situation like a mage is tested.

"There is a fire. You have been deployed as a disaster relief mage in this situation. Extinguish the fire before it burns down the entire virtual environment."

The exam was held annually and was also presented as an example during its initial reform, so some preparation was possible.

However, the environment always changed.

Though it was a minor change, like a forest fire becoming a wildfire, it was inevitably stressful for the examinee.

"No, wait a moment… Examinee, where did you leave your grimoire? Did you not bring it because you came in a hurry from the classroom?"

Supervisor Gellen flinched and was about to send an examiner to retrieve it from the classroom, but the young examinee shook his head.

"Why do I need that? For merely casting 1-Star magic."

"…?"

"Isn't that right? I believe the exam rules state that only 1-Star magic should be used."

The examiners whispered.

"…He wants to take the exam Yorgen-style?"

"…All Four Great Elements?"

"…Examinee, don't show off, just go get your grimoire."

Supervisor Gellen chose 'Fire Suppression,' one of the most difficult problems among the various practical exam questions. Originally, examinees drew lots, but Gellen unilaterally enforced this exam.

'It's not to make him fail.'

He wanted to see.

The artistic answers, the new interpretations of various difficult problems… if those things contained in the open-ended answers were true intelligence, not illicit activity.

He thought that even in this practical exam, something, a spark of magic, might be shown.

"Alright, then let's deploy the illusion magic. The exam time is 3 minutes per attribute, for a total of 12 minutes."

As Gellen deployed the illusion magic throughout the exam hall, he thought.

The understanding of the Four Great Elements required for the Bandoran (1-Star) exam forms the foundation of all magic.

Can one assign runes according to the situation? Can one solve the mathematical equations corresponding to the runes? And what if the situation is urgent?

'This fire exam is one of five exams personally devised by the current Magic Alliance Leader Ulan Page, and it has only a 1.7% pass rate.'

Even those who gained fame as prodigies in their youth sometimes experienced their first failure in this exam.

And he…

Without a single grimoire, he confidently asserts that he can solve it spontaneously, in other words, through mental calculation? With what kind of magic, exactly?

Whoosh… !

Soon, smoke and heat overwhelm the entire exam hall.

'Lin of the Osarius School.'

The illusion magic does not directly affect the audience, but it is different for the examinee.

'What kind of magic are you going to show to be so confident?'

Because the illusion magic can disturb all five senses with the heat and smoke emanating from that blaze.

…Bzzzzzzzt!

Soon, with the sound of a buzzer, the exam begins… and as the young mage spreads his palm, light and wind begin to dance together.

Hum…

Like a spring bud sprouting, a single ray of light emerges from his palm, twisting into a fan shape.

The fan shape is Water attribute magic.

Runes are carved onto the magic circle, and as the mathematical equation for the alteration of principles according to the combination of attributes and runes is being established, a second ray of light emerges above it.

"…D-Double Casting?"

No matter that it's 1-Star magic, using two spells simultaneously is by no means easy.

Just as a person cannot look left while looking right, it is impossible to have two thoughts at once.

Moreover, is solving two mathematical equations simultaneously truly within the realm of human cognition?

"Supervisor, look at his, his other hand!"

Gellen's pupils, which had been staring blankly, trembled violently. No, his entire body shook.

On his other hand, his left hand, the exact same process was unfolding!

So, it was double casting to begin with, but another double casting was happening on top of that, so what was that…?

"Multi-casting of four spells?"