Unexpected Exam (1)
Clack—
A crisp echo rang out as a black stone settled into the wooden grid.
Sophien herself found this, her 87th move, thoroughly satisfactory.
Clack—
The white stone's 88th move blocked the black stones threatening her throat.
But it was merely the best possible play, not perfection. It fell just one step short of overturning a board already tilted toward black.
Clack—
Thus, black pressed the attack with leisurely grace, its path as clear and refreshing as a mountain stream fairy fanning herself.
Clack—
White, meanwhile, raced against time. Each move carried a hint of impatience, like a general facing an unwinnable war.
Clack—
Despite white's anguish, black's assault finally encircled the great horse.
White's surrounded group withered away, blocked on all sides.
Clack— clack— clack—
The game continued after that.
With victory all but decided, the moves held little meaning.
Black began meticulously collecting territory, while white awaited inevitable defeat.
Clack...... Clack...... Clack—
The sounds slowed, then abruptly ceased.
The result was black's overwhelming victory, but Sophien felt no particular joy.
All because she was the sole player in this match.
"......Hmph."
A game against herself. White was Sophien; black was Sophien.
"What nonsense. Not even child's play with pebbles."
Emptiness washed over her belatedly. Sophien scooped up a handful of stones from the Go bowl and flung them in all directions.
Clatterclatterclatter—!
The stones scattered like fireworks. A sneer curled Sophien's lips.
"Hah. This is more fun."
She reached into the bowl again.
Whoosh—!
She threw them.
Whoosh—!
Again.
Whoosh—!
And again.
"......"
Not satisfied, she upended the entire bowl this time.
Thud thud thud thud...... She clutched the now-empty bowl and pounded the board repeatedly.
It was a tantrum.
—Knock knock. Your Majesty. Jolang has come. Might I have a moment?
The eunuch knocked at just that instant. Sophien grumbled curtly.
"What is it."
—We have learned the game of Go that Your Majesty has lately enjoyed.
"......"
Sophien opened the door with Telekinesis, just like Deculein.
"You've learned Go?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. We pooled our heads together to study it.
It wasn't just one Jolang. Ten eunuchs stood in a line.
Indeed, with ten heads, it wouldn't be quite so dull.
"Very well. Sit."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Jolang believed Go was the way to win the emperor's favor. He'd pulled all-nighters mastering it.
Sophien, gathering the stones with magic, asked.
"White or black. Choose either."
"I'll take white, Your Majesty."
The eunuchs sat facing Sophien and began the game.
"Let it begin."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Clack—
Sophien's black took first move. Jolang's white settled beneath the star point.
"Oh ho. You've learned something."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Hmph."
These eunuchs had clearly studied to some degree, but......
Precisely 23 minutes later.
"Tch. Pathetic. Utterly pathetic."
"......We apologize."
The game ended before 60 moves. Sophien tapped her temple.
"Even combining your ten heads, your computational speed is endlessly slow—practically negative."
"......We apologize."
"Apologize my ass. You've got the stamina of a mouse's dick, you hacks. Get out. Playing you lot would only make it more boring."
"We apo—"
"Don't talk—just leave!"
Sophien shooed the eunuchs away. She fiddled with the butterfly bowtie at her throat.
Today, she wore formal tails—the finest suit from House Yukline.
"Ugh...... tch. Pathetic."
She had at least encouraged its spread across the continent. Talented players would emerge in time.
But the wait was dreadfully dull.
"......Should I wait for Deculein."
Her only remaining hope was that professor.
"......"
Sophien recalled Deculein, due in two weeks, and resumed her game.
Clack...... clack......
The quiet friction of stone on wood echoed softly.
"......Hm."
I peered into the Rare Trait Catalog.
Still agonizing. My perfectionist nature bred indecision like this.
"......"
The Encryption I acquired last time proved quite useful.
Especially the inventory function—it fully prevented starvation, homelessness, or the like. Encrypting spell formulas aided magical theory too.
But this rare catalog......
I wavered between Resilience and Duck Tape.
"Duck Tape."
Duck Tape was exactly what it sounded like: duct tape.
A trait born from a developer's meme, its universal utility in America bordered on faith.
Grade: Rare
This tape is magic. This tape is religion. If you materialized the word 'universal,' wouldn't it be this tape?
True to its meme origins, the description was crude, but performance was guaranteed. It synergized with my manipulation magic and applied to nearly everything.
In versatility and multifunctionality, it was the finest rare trait.
"Resilience."
In contrast, Resilience.
A simple trait boosting mental fortitude, yet that single drop could elevate me to new heights......
"It depends on the situation."
No difference in acquiring one first. I'd decide based on future quests.
I pocketed the Rare Trait Catalog and refocused on lesson prep.
"......"
Here in the Chief Professor's Lab, ping-pong-ball-sized pebbles littered the lab table—the core material for today's class.
I etched Resistance spells onto them, imbued my Iron Man trait, sealed it all with Encryption, tempered it layer upon layer......
After numerous processes, the Magic Resistance Pebbles were complete.
"Well made."
I placed the student-count pebbles into a velvet pouch and left the lab.
—Assistant Professor, what's with this Go?
—Ah~ It's a famous game from the Eastern Dadohae Sea. A battle of wits. Like chess, but way more complex.
—Really? So His Majesty enjoys that intricate game?
—Because it's His Majesty~
Around the corner, Ifrin and Allen chatted. I called out.
"Allen."
"Yees! Professor!"
"Class prep."
"Yees!"
Allen dashed over. Ifrin trailed bouncily, bowing her head.
"Hello, Professor."
"Today's class is in the Hall. Don't be late."
"Yes."
Allen and I boarded the elevator. Destination: the Tower's special floor, the infamous 99.9th—the Hall.
"Allen, take this."
I handed him the velvet pouch. He accepted eagerly with both hands.
"Yees. What's this?"
"Pebbles."
"Ah~ mana stones?"
"No. Pebbles."
"......Yes?"
"That's today's lesson."
"......"
Allen's face screamed confusion, but he nodded anyway.
Ding—
We arrived at the Hall. This special floor had everything.
The vast main hall lived up to its name, surrounded by labs, training rooms, dining halls, magic item storage, thesis libraries—every convenience.
A miniature village for Tower mages. Yet utterly deserted.
I'd reserved the entire floor.
"Whoa~ First time in the Hall. So huge? The main hall's like a plaza."
I silently drew a pen and began writing on the main hall's massive blackboard.
From today's lecture, no explanations were needed.
Or rather, even if explained, only the talented would grasp it—so no explanations at all.
Ifrin arrived at the Hall. Deculein was already in the mage village's main hall.
Unexpected.
He hated arriving early as much as late.
"All here."
Noon struck. Deculein spoke. Ifrin glanced around. Roserio, Longdalp, Drent—all mages present.
"Behold."
Snap—!
Deculein snapped his fingers. Curtains parted, revealing the blackboard. Gulp—mages swallowed involuntarily.
The theory looked insanely complex at a glance, but honestly, no panic anymore.
They were used to it.
"This is the theory for you to master. But no lecture on it today."
"......?"
That was downright odd.
No theory explanation?
"Why I reserved the Hall. Here, you needn't leave for daily life. If you truly, perfectly comprehend this board."
Deculein moved the pebbles with Telekinesis. A mere hundred-odd pebbles cost 1,000 mana.
"You will manipulate these pebbles with magic."
That was it.
"Quit if you wish."
Deculein boarded the elevator. Ding—
The doors closed.
All students stared blankly at his vanishing form.
"......What the hell?"
Roserio voiced everyone's thoughts. After furtive glances, they eyed the pebbles in hand.
Ifrin spoke.
"What're we supposed to do?"
"Exactly. What're these pebbles?"
Roserio fiddled, then activated Telekinesis.
"......?"
Nothing.
Mana seeped in, but no movement.
Roserio tilted her head, tried again.
Same result.
"Damn. Tough nut."
Veins bulging, she unleashed Telekinesis with bulging eyes. Temples throbbed; mana drained wildly.
"Grrrrr...... Urk!"
Yet the pebble stayed put. Burst blood vessels in her pupils, Roserio clutched one eye.
"What the—! What is this pebble! Fuck, my eye!"
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"What is this? What?!"
Other mages perked up, including Ifrin. They unleashed advanced manipulation spells simultaneously: Telekinesis, Orbit, Wind of Resonance, etc.
Target: each their own pebble.
"What? It really won't budge?"
Ifrin panicked. Groans erupted everywhere.
As Roserio said, pebbles immovable.
"Right! Won't move a damn inch!"
Roserio growled at Deculein's board.
"Haa...... That crazy professor rigged his own to move."
"Huh? Wait."
Staring blankly at the board, Ifrin recalled a recent scene.
Just five minutes ago. An unconscious action by Deculein.
"Professor just handed them all over with Telekinesis."
"......"
Ifrin's brief words.
Every mage in the main hall fell thoughtful.
......Winter.
Mid-November, Yukline Manor blanketed in snow. Gardeners bustled to welcome the early chill.
They erected snow sculptures everywhere: flowers, horses, trees, snowmen—delightful decorations.
"Tea."
"Yes."
Morning exercise done as usual, I boarded the car.
Ren handed over three newspapers promptly.
Imperial paper, duchy paper, Wizard Journal. My routine en route to the Tower.
I started with the imperial.
"......Hm?"
Reading, I glanced out the window. Near the Tower, a commotion. Reporters armed with cameras swarmed.
—One at a time! Questions one by one! I'm not going anywhere!
At the center, boldly standing: Adrienne, naturally.
Ren smoothly turned to the back road.
—......So the exam is underway now?!
Reporters shouted.
—Yes! Chief Professor Deculein's exam is in progress!
"......?"
Exam? I'd assigned none, so baffling.
—Will this exam drag on too? It started four weeks before the usual finals!
Unbeknownst to me, Adrienne answered vigorously.
—Yes! It'll take forever! About a month, I reckon! Might consume all winter!
—That tough?!
—Yes! Practically and theoretically, an immense challenge!
Surely referring to the pebbles from two days ago.
—Insanely simple yet insanely hard! Truly Deculein-esque! A test to etch in magic history!
I switched papers. Now the Wizard Journal.
Roserio and top mages had camped in the Tower 36 hours straight. Due to Monarch Deculein's exam.
......Deculein prepped a long exam for the second semester too. Insiders say it's 'pebble control.'
Seems trivial, but even Ether Roserio, mineral expert extraordinaire, failed.
Notes to control it: 100 pages. Pure essence only—so full comprehension needs 1,000+ pages of analysis......
—
"I never said they couldn't go home."
No deadline set, nor 'no leaving' warned. Nor called it an exam.
—If it might take all winter...... longer than midterms!
—Exactly!
Probably Adrienne's interview fueling it.
—Current exam vibe? All failure-averse elites.
—Yes! I observed! Not rah-rah cheering, but exchanging ideas, striving!
—Observation? Did Chairwoman Adrienne try too?!
I wondered too.
—Deculein's exam? Did I pass?!
—Yes.
—No! I almost did but feared breaking it—er, couldn't! My specialty's destruction! Though a day might suffice!
"......"
Even Adrienne's reply startled me.
A destruction archmage, yet couldn't control my pebble?
Misallocated magic? Or theory difficulty overkill?
......Whatever.
—This exam will be a massive year-end magic event! All eyes on the Tower again!
Good if mages worked hard.
Gain was gain—no loss.
"Ahem. Ren, to the parking lot."
"Yes, sir."
Ren adroitly took the back way.