Book 3 Chapter 21

Episode 70

The test for Group A, which could be called the vanguard, has ended.

Even though more than 10 minutes had passed since it ended, the venue was still abuzz with the lingering magic displayed by the Group A students.

This was because, not to mention the magic families and the Eight Great Academies, even the students from the Sixteen Middle Schools and the young lady of the Fenton family had shown remarkable skill.

"Hmph, the Calamity Prince truly gets more interesting the more I see him."

Had he overexerted himself for the first time in a while? A chestnut-haired beauty smiled faintly as she watched Rain, whose back was drenched in sweat, organize his writing implements.

The desk she was perched on belonged to Uber. Uber, who had been sighing with his hand on his forehead, disheartened by his preliminary round elimination, glared at her.

"Get lost before I rip that mouth of yours off, Nora."

Her name was Nora Ledon, grinning with a mischievous smile.

Although she hadn't had any direct contact with Rain until now, she was a figure who had consistently competed for the top spot among the highest ranks.

At Uber's threat, Nora's smile, which had been nonchalantly licking her upper lip, vanished chillingly.

"With Uber's skills, who couldn't even make it to the main competition because the Calamity Prince snatched all the judges, do you really think you can do that?"

Uber's eyes narrowed.

The magic of the two late-comers clashed in the air, and currents of magical energy sparked everywhere.

"…You bitch. Fine, just go."

It was Uber who retracted his magic first. He was too exhausted to expend any more emotion on someone right now.

Moreover, it was best not to get involved with the Meleve School, the only one among the Eight Great Academies that pursued slaughter as the goal of its magic.

Then, as if nothing had happened, Nora smiled brightly again. "Oops," she said, standing up from the desk, waving her hand cordially, and turning to leave.

"Don't be too disheartened, Uber. I'll take care of that Calamity Prince properly in the main competition♬"

While the students from the Eight Great Academies and the Sixteen Middle Schools exchanged such sharp words, Rain was also surrounded by his friends, chatting.

"Bringing such an absurd magic to a scroll test, are you really in your right mind?"

Christa questioned him with an incredulous expression. Rain merely shrugged.

"I'll just be more careful next time."

"You need to understand the seriousness of this! You're lucky you passed! You made such a mistake because you were messing around and acting like a tutor with a girl during the exam period, weren't you!"

Although she was nagging, perhaps because Rain Ludwig had made it to the main competition, her expression was extremely bright.

"Ah! You're so loud, really. I said I'll be careful next time."

Gertrude, who could be called part of the loser's group, on the other hand, sighed with a pessimistic expression.

'If only I weren't in the same year as these people, I would have definitely made it to the main competition.'

The rankings for the final exam, excluding the top 30 students who advance to the main competition, are determined by the number of scrolls consumed.

Gertrude Fenton's sales volume here was 66 scrolls, and she would likely easily secure 31st place unless there was an unexpected turn of events.

Logan, on the other hand, who only managed 18 scrolls, would at best reach the middle ranks, but…

"Does the world still not know the beauty of muscles? Or was my magic insufficient?"

Logan muttered this, completely failing to understand his misstep. Illin, from the same Chaihak School, sold 58 scrolls.

"Hey, Logan! Aren't you totally screwed? I don't think the Vice Dean will let it slide…"

And Casena Page, watching those scenes from afar with envious eyes.

'Will I ever be able to join them there?'

As if reading her daughter's thoughts from that expression, Madelia chuckled and placed a hand on her head.

"There's no need to be impatient, Casena."

"I'm n-not impatient at all, okay? What kind of ridiculous thing are you talking about, hmph!"

Around that time, teaching assistants were busily moving around, ordering the Group A students to leave the Dragon's Blood Arena. This was because the tests for Groups B, C, D, E, and F had to begin immediately.

"It's just, I'm just a little bit worried! About whether I can really do well."

Especially after seeing the skills of those top-ranked students… Casena's hands trembled as she struggled to stand up, leaning on her crutches.

"What this test demands from the students isn't simply about what magic to use on a scroll, it's not just about that aspect of ingenuity."

Looking down at these scenes from the spectator stands, Runen, the mustachioed man from the Special Operations Department, summarized his thoughts. Having taken the same test here himself long ago, his feelings were particularly unique.

"That's right. No matter how suitable the magic they've prepared for the test, variables are bound to arise."

Variables that arise in everyday life were challenges that mages had to carry throughout their lives. It was mages who had to solve those variables, after all.

'Therefore, one of the most important aptitudes for a mage is the ability to deal with such variables.'

Actual combat isn't as simple as a math problem. There are countless cases where the answer and solution aren't fixed.

There, Rain Ludwig proved with an overwhelming performance that he was born with such an aptitude.

Perhaps for that reason, even among this brilliant golden generation, Rain Ludwig was the one attracting the most attention.

"Section Chief, we must bring Rain Ludwig in! He used multi-computation! He will be a beacon of hope for our Magic Essence Research Department!"

"With that momentum, he will surely reach and even surpass the realm of a Grand Archmage."

"Send a grand gift to Cayvan Ludwig. Since he's a student, it's good to get on the good side of the family head. Most descendants of prestigious families follow the family head's decisions."

Because of that, a slight chill ran down his spine. Everyone here had recognized Rain's value through the performance he had just shown.

But what about Doran Slade?

How did that man recognize Rain Ludwig's aptitude even before he showed something like this? It must have been even before the midterms.

"Unfortunately, he's not only receiving positive attention. You could call it the privilege of being at the top."

Runen said that, subtly gesturing with his chin towards the southeast spectator stands. A giant wearing a suspicious hood was glaring at Rain Ludwig.

Most mages would have simply dismissed him as some strange fellow, but the mages of the Special Operations Department, with their unique intuition, were different.

Because they were the ones whose intuition had been sharpened through years of hunting dark mages.

"Indeed."

Tyrintid, who had been observing his movements even earlier than Runen, his junior by one year, yawned irritably and stretched.

"Ugh, I thought I'd get a break, but it's already time to work again."

* * *

"It's really a Page…"

"The rumors were true…"

"What has she been doing for the past 10 years and where did she come from…?"

Unlike Group A, the later groups mainly comprised students with lower public profiles, perhaps why most of the attention was focused on Casena Page.

"I heard she transferred to <Dellighten> midway."

"Then what level of skill could she possibly have?"

Surprisingly, there wasn't much animosity visible.

The Page family, where are they from? Are they not the descendants left by the progenitor of magic on this land?

They were also an elite clan that had never failed to produce outstanding mages throughout the long history of the Empire.

Beyond their skill, the influence they had exerted on the magical world until now was unparalleled, regardless of school or family.

"The biological daughter of Madelia Page, the current leader of the Mage Alliance… It's obvious. She must be an incredibly skilled practitioner, just like Rain Ludwig, who pretended to be incompetent."

However, the students who had observed Casena for two weeks had a different view. One by one, they were beginning to feel animosity.

'She doesn't have even a shred of magical skill…'

'Using her family name for a special transfer admission…'

'Hmph, she's got it easy, hasn't she…'

There was no need to mention Christa Warden, who had entered as the top student in the regular admission, and even Rain Ludwig, famous as the Calamity Prince, had clearly taken additional exams to gain admission, so what exactly was this?

"Hmm, as expected, her reputation isn't good."

Gertrude Fenton, who was adept at reading the atmosphere, shook her head sympathetically in the student-only stands.

"I thought you only made an enemy of young lady Christa over some male-related issue. Just how many female students have you captivated, you Womanizer Prince? To be so envied."

"What?"

"M-male-related issue?! What are you talking about?"

Rain and Christa raised their eyebrows simultaneously. Christa, however, looked quite flustered.

"Oh my, did I say something wrong? It is a problem related to Prince Rain, isn't it?"

"W-well, strictly speaking, it's not wrong! But stop saying things that people might misunderstand if they hear them!"

It was only after Gertrude was chased away by Christa that the surroundings quieted down a bit. Logan approached and stood beside Rain.

"It's true, there's a lot of talk going around."

"We just have to endure it. They'll think she's in that position without proper qualifications."

Just like Lyn did in the past… In that era, there were many mages of Gladius (4-star) rank with abundant combat experience, not just Lyn.

'Notably, there was Ulan Page, who reigned as one of the best mages of that era.'

With no career or reputation, Lyn, whose only achievement was acquiring a 4-star rank at a young age, became a member of the Hero's Party, naturally making her the target of countless animosities.

Lyn's early actions also served as proof of her worth. That she was a suitable person to be the Grand Archmage of the Hero's Party…

'Rista told me not to worry about it, but how could I not worry?'

When I met those who had made quite a name for themselves in the magic world, they would glare at me as if to devour me.

Ulan Page, who could be considered the most dangerous rival, was such a great person that he acknowledged Lyn without any significant dispute.

Come to think of it, I did owe the Page family back then… After Ulan acknowledged Lyn, the number of those who acted up significantly decreased.

"Well then, how about I scare them a bit to stop their petty backbiting?"

"Don't. It'll only backfire."

Here, you just have to prove yourself, Casena. That you have the worth to be in this position. That you are fully qualified.

[Test time is 90 minutes! Begin your calculations immediately!]

No sooner had Associate Professor Kyle's command fallen than the students, seated in their designated spots, began frantically scribbling with their brushes on parchment.

"Oh, Berni of the Ermont School is drawing a 3-star magic circle!"

"Hoo, it seems Krootis is also planning to use 2-star magic."

Amidst the cheers of the spectators, students affiliated with the Sixteen Middle Schools drew elaborate magic circles.

"Then the young lady of Page is… hmm?"

Through Professor Kyle's clairvoyance (千里眼), Casena's desk was magnified on a floating window in the air. The expressions of those watching, who had held vague expectations, varied.

"Hm?"

"Just one magic circle?"

"A descendant of a prestigious family, only 1-star?"

Commoners and magic novices tilted their heads in puzzlement or sneered with disdain, but those with magical understanding had to blink their eyes in surprise.

"No, it's not just 1-star. Look at the shape of that magic circle! It's a trapezoid!"