Book 3 Chapter 18
Episode 67
"It's, it's huuuuge…!"
The place Kasena shouted, her eyes sparkling—in other words, the gathering spot—was the Dragon's Lair Arena (Yonghyeoljang). It was a dome-shaped arena massively constructed in the northern district of the school.
"Are we really taking the test here?!"
Looking closely, she couldn't be anything but a child. It was a place that couldn't help but evoke fresh emotions for Lein too, and for good reason.
"Young Master."
Wasn't this the very place where he faced off against Logan, the giant disciple of Chaihak, who was now walking towards them, his muscles twitching all over, at the beginning of the semester?
However, back then, the crowd wasn't this large. The atmosphere wasn't this tense, and the stands weren't packed like that either.
"Oh, Logan! Did you prepare well for the test?"
"Eum-ha-hat, saying it twice is nagging, sir. You should be a bit scared too, Young Master."
As they laughed and chatted like that, he felt a piercing gaze. He turned around to see Kasena looking at him, seemingly expecting an explanation.
"This is Logan. He's a late disciple of the Chaihak school."
"T-The Eight Great Schools?"
"Yes. There's no need to be so wary. He's the one who taught me the main enemy technique, and he helped the young lady tremendously. You should at least thank him."
He couldn't say what help he'd given due to the gag order… but Kasena seemed to understand the meaning right away, and she turned her head, slightly embarrassed.
"Th-Thanks…"
But Logan, regardless of the greeting, was staring intently at Kasena. To be precise, at Kasena's legs.
"Those legs aren't just lacking body fat, they're practically devoid of it… With legs like that, you can't even be a mage."
"???"
"It would be good for you to eat this magic-protein to fill up your body fat."
Then he handed Kasena a flask that was hanging from his pocket. Kasena accepted it, completely bewildered.
"But the most important thing is still exercise! If you feel like exercising, please come to the fitness room with the Young Master!"
"Oh, ooh!"
Kasena, overwhelmed by Logan's spirited shout, shouted back without even understanding what he was saying. Hmm, since both of them had simple personalities, it seemed they would become friends quickly.
"This is the last time you'll have the luxury to grin like that, Lein Ludwig."
As he thought that, suddenly lumps of modeling clay fell from the sky and slammed into the ground. There were as many as five of them. And then he saw small feet sequentially stomping them flat.
"Because I'm going to thoroughly crush you in this final exam. Just like these lumps of clay!"
As expected, it would be disappointing if this guy didn't show up around now.
"I've always wondered, where do you get that modeling clay every day?"
"Of course, the Young Lady has her attendant buy it from a stationery store outside of school. For this one moment to talk to the Young Master. Ah, what pitiful devotion!"
Gertrude Fenton interjected into the conversation in an exaggerated, theatrical tone. Kristar, her face beet red, immediately grabbed Gertrude by the collar, but.
"W-What does that matter! What matters is that I just declared war on you!"
The heirs of the noble families chattered merrily like that, but the expressions of the skilled individuals from the Eight Great, Sixteen Middle factions, who were glancing sideways at them, were not so bright.
'Hmph, heirs of noble families.'
'I'll take this chance to press them down.'
'There are no less than three heirs of noble families I can crush♪'
A few minutes passed like that, and at exactly 10 o'clock, the center of the Dragon's Lair Arena rose up like a tower. On top of it, the greatest mage of the current era was imperiously fluttering her leather long coat.
Madelia Page.
In the gasping silence of everyone, she spoke to the students in an imposing voice.
"This Dragon's Lair Arena, from ancient times, has not merely been a place to take final exams. It is closer to an arena where life and death are decided."
"?!"
"Why is that? It is because this is a place where the magical knowledge, experience, and creativity that you, the students, have accumulated so far, clash, break, and bleed against those of your opponents!"
It was certainly as she said. Kristar nodded at the Dean's words.
'The final exam is a time to show everything a student has accumulated during the first semester.'
Just working hard isn't enough. That's the structure. You have to be good enough to overwhelm others.
"Only thirty raw talents can see the light in this arena! And among those thirty, only one who maintains the pinnacle until graduation will earn the honor of engraving their name here at the graduation ceremony!"
On the walls of the tower, magical engravings were actually carved. From the 1st valedictorian to the valedictorian of the 1385th class.
[Aisol Page]
……
……
[Riot Warden]
……
……
[Scourge Ludwig]
……
……
[Madelia Page]
[Cavern Ludwig]
……
[Doran Slade]
……
[Kyle]
……
……
[Runen Differshu]
As expected, my grandfather and father were also valedictorians.
A strange tension enveloped him.
Does that mean he can only meet Rista if he engraves his name there?
"Tch…"
From the stands, Elin Ludwig gazed at that stone tablet with regret. If it weren't for that detestable Kyle, my name would have been there.
'But if it's you…'
And her gaze turned towards the black-haired boy standing amidst the students. Towards the nephew she cherished so much. A smile soon formed.
"Compete. And prove yourselves! And in three years, engrave your names! On this stone tablet that holds a thousand years of history, and will hold a new thousand years!"
Students, emboldened by Madelia's inspiring speech, let out shouts one by one. Enthusiastic applause erupted from the stands.
"Students other than Group A, please exit!"
"Only Group A remains, other students this way!"
And the assistant instructors busily began to guide the students.
The first to take the exam in the final exam preliminary round was Group A, consisting of the top 30 students. While Groups B, D, C, E, and F took the test all at once, only Group A took the test individually like this.
'It might seem disadvantageous to show your hand first to others, but this too is a test given to those who lead the way.'
Watching Lein move to his designated spot inside the Dragon's Lair Arena, Brim Ludwig swallowed a nervous breath.
'Embrace that weight joyfully. Just as your father did.'
* * *
At each assigned position for the Group A students, mobile desks were placed, and on top of them, one hundred sheets of parchment imbued with outstanding magic were provided. To allow for the widest possible use of the space, the students' seats were arranged close enough for pairs to sit back-to-back.
The student neighboring Lein's back seat was Hüber, a classmate and a late disciple of the Rohwinum school.
"Oh, Hüber! Let's work hard together."
"Are you provoking me right now?"
Hüber reacted sharply to the greeting because he had never once been on good terms with Lein since their first meeting.
"That's not it, but if you play nasty tricks like at the beginning of the semester, I won't let it slide, okay? I'm a bit serious right now."
A spine-chilling pressure was transmitted. But that's only until this time…
He had always waited for this moment. Only the moment when he would confront this guy head-on and utterly crush him. To think that opportunity would come so quickly.
"Hmm?"
He glanced back, firming his resolve, and unintentionally, the shape of the magic circle Lein was drawing on the parchment as a demonstration caught his eye.
"A square…? Are you planning to make a scroll with earth-element magic?"
"Yeah. You see, I remember making something quite well-received before coming to school. I think it'll work well this time too."
Hüber, who examined the magic circle once more, narrowed his eyes, utterly unable to understand.
'Is he planning to give up the top spot?'
Or, having virtually no academic background, does he completely misunderstand the essence of this test? At this rate, he won't even pass the preliminaries?
[Attention, I will now explain the preliminary judging.]
Associate Professor Kyle's voice clearly and distinctly echoed throughout the arena with amplification magic.
[First, let's define and review what a scroll is. A scroll is not merely an 'object' that only high-ranking mages can create. It is an 'obligation' for high-ranking mages to create.]
A shift in perspective, it certainly could be seen that way.
[As all you students know, Emetza Page, the progenitor of magic in the past, spoke about the duty of a mage.]
For some reason, it felt as if he was hearing the voice of the Dean, his aunt from Lin's time, repeating it until it was ingrained in his ears.
- A mage must control the winds and bring rain to enrich the lives of the people, and summon fire and raise earth to establish peace for the people.
As a child, he had never seriously contemplated this teaching, but hmm… it somehow stirred something within him.
[This test is designed to definitively evaluate the discretion of you, who will become the great leaders of the new era.]
Through this test, it will be possible to assess how much interest students have in the lives of the people. And that evaluation will be made with utmost objectivity. And for good reason.
[Let me introduce the judges for this test.]
Lein had to blink his eyes in surprise. The judges walking into the arena… there were many. And an enormous number of them.
From those dressed in noble robes to those wearing old traveler's cloaks. Not only regardless of age or gender, but also without discrimination based on social status, countless people were entering the arena.
[From court counts serving electoral princes to village chiefs who came as representatives from small villages, we have given these individuals the right to purchase up to three of your scrolls, as needed.]
As expected of <Delighten>, even this method is meticulous, I like it. Kristar Warden smiled confidently with her arms crossed.
'It's similar to the traditional scroll grading method, but it penetrates even deeper to the core.'
Other magic schools, when it comes to judging, are ultimately done by teachers. But this? By having actual buyers choose directly, it can be seen as a judgment that maximizes the effectiveness of scroll sales metrics.
[The judges who have come here will only take what they truly believe is necessary for daily life. I trust that you students also well understand its meaning.]
Kyle snapped his fingers, and a halo of light spread in the air, unfurling into an illusory string of characters. Each student's name was written, and the number 0 was identically entered next to them.
[And here! Only the top five students who sell the most scrolls will be granted the qualification to advance to the main tournament!]
Here, a question might arise for those who haven't attended a magic school.
"But aren't only mages of Gladus (4-star) rank capable of making scrolls? How can these fledglings create scrolls?"
Lyda Aegin, the crown prince of the Aegin ducal family, who could be called the super guest of this test. The sixteen-year-old boy raised that question to the court count accompanying him.
"Your Highness, do you see the paper over there?"
"Hmm, of course."
"Those are scrolls on which Dean Madelia and Head Professor Marhena have stamped their magic seals."
In other words, those papers are already completed scrolls, lacking only the magic circle. It takes approximately one year for two Gladus mages to prepare this many.
"Tch, they're just fledgling mages after all. How amazing can the magic they use be?"
"This year's first-year class at <Delighten> is called the Golden Generation. It will surely be both enjoyable entertainment and good learning for Your Highness."
As Lyda narrowed his eyes doubtfully, Professor Kyle, having finished his explanation, stretched his hand forward and boisterously shouted.
[Test time is 90 minutes! Then, the test begins right now! Commence your calculations!]