Book 2 Chapter 12

Episode 36

As all the waiting candidates were engrossed in Group A's exam, Lillian opened her mouth from the last row of Group B.

"I've never lost."

"……?"

"When I exerted my full power, I never lost to anyone. I shouldn't have lost. Because I was beaten to death."

Lillian's voice, speaking thus, was calm yet sharp, like a candlelight.

"Why have you hidden your talent until now?"

"It's not that I particularly tried to hide it. I just didn't feel the need to boast."

"As expected, that's an idea only possible for a young master from a prominent family."

Flames in Lillian's eyes eerily flickered.

"My father is Dadan Karain. As you can tell from the surname, he's the dean of the famous Rivendell Academy."

The surname Karain means 'flame,' and the surname of Orvos Karain, the founder of the Rivendell Academy and the third Great Archmage, has been passed down directly to his descendants.

The Rivendell Academy is an academy that has exceptionally upheld bloodline succession, and the position of dean has always been inherited by Karain's descendants.

Rain raised an eyebrow, as if puzzled. Gertrude snorted, as if something was utterly ridiculous.

"You, who are sneering at Young Master Rain as a young master from a prominent family, aren't you also a young lady with an impressive background?"

"Young lady? I am not such a person. Rather, it would be correct to see me as an object."

"An object?"

"I am not a 'daughter born' from my father and mother's love, but rather a 'tool created' for a single purpose."

A tool?

Rain and Gertrude had to exchange puzzled glances.

"For example, I was confined to a room from a young age and only received magic education. I never liked magic, but I've lived that way my whole life."

Because I was a tool, I couldn't produce inferior results.

Because the corporal punishment was tremendous.

They brought Lillian's mother before my eyes and inflicted torture, scorching her skin with flames.

"My father is an expert on flames more than anyone. He knew better than anyone how to inflict pain without causing severe injuries."

The story is getting serious.

This is a story from a completely different world than the Osarius Academy I was in…….

Rain swallowed dryly and asked.

"……If you don't secure the top spot, will the same thing happen again?"

"That old man? No, if he tried that, he'd die by my hand, so he can't do it anymore."

Gertrude narrowed her eyes. Isn't Dadan Karain a Gladus (4-star) mage? Is she saying she can defeat such a being now?

"To graduate from <Delighten> with overwhelming grades and be recognized by all the students of the academy. So, my ultimate goal is to expel my father from the academy."

"Hmm……"

"I'm telling you this to warn you. Don't block my way. If you stand in the way of my path to first place, I won't let it slide."

As Lillian finished speaking and was about to leave, Gertrude Fenton snorted.

"That's ridiculous. Give up on such dreams. Because our Young Lady Kristia is holding strong. The century's genius, recognized by the magical world."

"Kristia Warden? Such a hothouse flower can't be my enemy."

"What?! A hothouse? Our Young Lady?"

The voice that cut Gertrude's indignant words short was Rain's.

"I roughly understand why you're aiming for first place, and how desperate you are."

"……"

"But after hearing everything, it doesn't seem like a story desperate enough for me to yield the top spot."

At that, Lillian's brow furrowed, and sparks seemed to fly from her dark eyes. Rain calmly concluded his words.

"You see, I've made a friend wait for too long."

"A friend?"

"If I make him wait any longer, I don't know what kind of nagging I'll get from him."

Was that a declaration of war, in a way?

Lillian, who had been staring back into Rain's eyes for a long time, let out a low sigh and turned around.

"Then you'd better be careful not to catch my eye in this exam."

* * *

Group A's exam ended.

The two who ultimately earned an S grade were Kristia Warden and Hubert. Their points were 361pt and 338pt, respectively.

As soon as Group A came out of the barrier, Group B finished preparations to enter the barrier under the guidance of the teaching assistant.

"Please select your destination."

When entering the illusionary barrier, examinees, from Zone A to Zone H, must choose where to start the exam.

'Is it a warp gate travel method……'

Rain's eyes sharply gleamed and scanned the information of the movement points displayed in the air.

'The area to move to is one's own choice.'

Areas like open fields or mountainsides have many treasures and magical beasts, but the risk of getting entangled in combat from the start is high…….

On the other hand, forests or mountaintops might be relatively safe at first, but they have the disadvantage of being unfavorable for earning points.

As he was tapping his mental calculator, *peeeep*, a horn sounded. The wind swept through, and other examinees, one by one, began to disappear, enveloped in light.

[Current remaining participants: 48 people.]

Zone A is a mountainside.

Zone F is a mountainous open field.

These two zones, being the largest, have many magical beasts and treasures. Many students will probably choose them.

Zones B and C are mountaintops.

As they are located higher up, one might gain a visual advantage, but there's also the risk of being surrounded by other students.

And Zones D and E are forests (山林).

The place that suits me best right now is… Well, where should I go? Rain closed his eyes for a moment, just a very brief moment, and took a deep breath.

[Current remaining participants: 26 people.]

And the moment he opened his eyes again, his eyes shone quietly. Just like back then, when he roamed the battlefield as a Great Archmage.

Alright, let's begin.

* * *

All the dimensional movements of Group B examinees were complete. Quite an interesting result emerged.

By the clairvoyance (千里眼) magic, battlefield information was largely displayed in the air. Then, Zone F, located in the center, was magnified.

"Lillian, just like Kristia Warden, chose Zone F from the start."

"It's an expression of confidence. Because it's the most dangerous place, it's also where you can aim for the highest score."

High risk, high return.

As there are many treasures and magical beasts, there are also many competitors… Ellyn thought, resting her chin on her clasped hands.

'And……'

Being a transportation hub, there's also the advantage of being able to move easily and quickly to any area.

"In contrast to Lillian, the area Rain Ludwig chose is quite modest."

Zone F (open field) disappeared from the window, and it displayed the outskirts of Zone E (forest), the most secluded area.

"His intention must be to avoid combat as much as possible, accumulate points steadily, and survive, right?"

"Hmm, it's surprising, but it's not necessarily a bad decision."

Although the professors evaluated it that way, from the students who were waiting for the 'Character Young Master's' fight, only sounds of disappointment emerged.

"Ugh, what's this, how boring."

"It would have been fun if they had clashed in Zone F from the beginning."

Regardless of such sneers, Rain had made this choice because he clearly knew his limits.

'To achieve a high score close to an S grade, I must avoid combat with other students as much as possible.'

Both magic power and stamina have limits.

He pushed through the bushes, took treasures from a hidden chest within them, and picked up a suitable branch, nodding his head.

"How about that? Isn't he a really unpleasant kid to watch?"

To Ellyn Ludwig's words, Professor Caroline, who was carefully observing the situation, replied.

"Indeed. He's too cautious. Even though he possesses the skill to defeat a leading disciple of the Eight Great Academies, he's acting like that?"

No sooner had she finished speaking, than Rain encountered another examinee on the battlefield.

"……!"

"……!"

The eyes of the examinee who witnessed Rain widened in bewilderment in an instant.

She also belonged to the Eight Great Sixteen Minor (八大十六中) and was a skilled individual from a mid-tier academy.

Magic power began to fiercely condense in her palm. Caroline's observing eyes shone with anticipation.

'Alright, what will he show us this time? He even earned an S grade from Senior Kyle, didn't he?'

As if everyone present had swallowed a nervous breath, the venue instantly fell silent.

"No?!"

At that moment, an embarrassing incident occurred, to the extent that Caroline inadvertently cried out.

"Huh?"

"What?"

"Is this real?"

Everyone who had vague expectations for the rumored prodigy didn't take long to doubt their eyes. It couldn't be helped.

"He, he's running away?"

Ellyn also muttered blankly.

That's right. Rain Ludwig was… running away from the scene at full speed.

The moment she saw that scene, Kristia tilted her head as if it had twisted not just 90 degrees but 180.

"You're kidding, right?"

What is he doing? Everyone is watching, and he's playing such a nasty prank?

'Did you forget? You're the successor of a prominent family.'

Among the students, there was only a bewildered murmuring, but when Chief Professor Marhena burst into laughter, holding her stomach, stifled chuckles could be heard from here and there.

"That fellow, just like that damned Scalge's grandson. He's quite an eccentric one!"

"Chief Professor, is this a situation to laugh at?"

"What's the problem, you rascal, huh? What's so disappointing? It's become even more interesting, hasn't it?"

"An exam should be solemn, what happens if it becomes entertaining!"

Without even listening to another professor grumbling beside him, Marhena, looking at the scrying window, curled up the corners of her mouth as if intrigued.

'He's conserving his strength… That kid is aiming for a big hit. I don't know what it is, though.'

Although Rain Ludwig created a strange situation, students belonging to the Eight Great Sixteen Minor academies began to pull ahead one by one in point acquisition.

This was deep in the mountains, lush with nature.

Red deciduous trees that only grew in the Crimson Mountains, unrefined mountain paths with abnormally massive roots protruding, straining stamina, and the cries of phantom beasts gnawing at one's mental strength.

In such an environment, collecting treasures or hunting magical beasts, the top ten examinees were captured by the clairvoyance.

"Although the top scores are lower compared to Group A for the same amount of time, this is still considered excellent."

Currently, the first place is Gertrude Fenton, the young lady of Viscount Fenton's family; there's no one who doesn't know that she, too, is an excellent mage, merely overshadowed by Kristia.

Gertrude, who grew up in the eastern highlands just like Kristia, was freely traversing the mountain paths based on her overwhelming stamina, accumulating points.

"The second-place group isn't bad either."

"I hope they don't get too caught up in the pace of the leading group. If they overdo it, they might miss the opportunity when the leading group makes a mistake."

"But where is Lillian from Rivendell?"

Following this, from 11th to 20th place.

But strangely, even after looking hard, Lillian's figure was not visible in any of the rankings.

"Kyle."

At Marhena's call, Associate Professor Kyle immediately used a magical tool linked with clairvoyance to display the leaderboard.

"Hmm?"

"Oh?"

"Is this correct?"

The professors doubted their eyes and stammered. It couldn't be helped. Because, indeed.

"The points are… 0pt?"