Chapter 193: Proof 15
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 193: Proof 15
The nine students who chose Sepia as their opponent shared two major characteristics.
First, with one exception, they were all second-years.
Second, not a single one of them was a Spiritist.
Just as a mage requires precise calculations to cast magic and a sorcerer requires a stroke of luck to wield sorcery, a Spiritist must form a contract with a spirit to use Spirit Arts. To do that, one needs Spirit Affinity.
Spirit Affinity—this was the sole reason there were no Spiritists among Sepia’s challengers.
If a Spiritist ordered their contracted spirit to attack Sepia, the spirit would refuse. They might even go as far as to terminate the contract entirely. One might wonder if such a thing was even possible regardless of how high someone’s Spirit Affinity was, but it was a documented event. It had actually happened to a Spiritist who sparred with Sepia before she ever entered the Academy.
Inside the Croa Academy auditorium, the challengers stared at Sepia from across the arena. Their fingertips trembled, and sweat pooled in their palms. Their hearts raced, their breathing growing shallow and irregular.
‘I can do this.’
‘I can’t let myself get intimidated before we even start.’
‘I’ve never lost to a Spiritist before.’
Despite their nerves, they tried to steady their resolve.
‘The whole reason I chose Sepia in the first place is because I’m confident I can beat a Spiritist.’
However, no matter how much they steeled themselves, the tension remained suffocating. This was especially true after witnessing Clara overwhelmingly defeat seven opponents at once. Conflicting emotions warred within them: a desperate urge for the match to begin and a frantic wish for it to be delayed forever.
“……”
Sepia quietly closed her eyes upon hearing Professor Idra’s announcement that only one minute remained.
Was she focusing? No. She was simply suppressing her anger.
—"Wow! Wasn't Clara totally cool just now? Especially when she told all those people who were hesitating to just come up at once! Man, I almost fell for her!"
If she didn't close her eyes, she felt like she would charge at Loki right now and demand an explanation. She wasn't facing Elicia or another Special Class student, but Sepia intended to give it her all in her own way.
‘What? You almost fell for her just because she won against seven people? I’ll show you what "cool" actually looks like.’
She had left Chirpy with Loki. Chirpy didn't know the meaning of holding back.
“Then, let the exam for Student Sepia versus the nine challengers begin!”
Despite their nerves, they were still students of Croa Academy. The movements they had practiced countless times had become instinct, moving as naturally and swiftly as flowing water.
The archers locked onto Sepia and drew their bowstrings. The hands pulling the strings were no longer trembling; they were steady and silent. The mages raised their staves, drawing up mana as they began chanting lengthy incantations. The primary advantage mages held over Spiritists was raw, destructive power.
The warriors with swords split into two groups. A few stayed back to protect the mages, while the others charged toward Sepia. Everyone knew their role, acting with speed and precision. It was hard to believe these were the same students who had been shaking moments before.
However, their opponent was simply on another level.
Whooooooooosh!
A sudden gale erupted, sweeping over the archers. The wind didn't just snap their mana-reinforced bowstrings; it sent the archers themselves hurtling through the air. They tried to circulate mana into their lower bodies to withstand the force, but they failed, crashing to the floor in a heap.
Simultaneously, spheres of water manifested, perfectly encasing the mages' faces mid-chant.
“Glub!”
It is impossible for a mage to chant when they cannot breathe. Every incantation was cut short as they flailed wildly, trying to claw their way out of the water bubbles. The warriors guarding them tried to help, but they couldn't grab the liquid with their hands. Even when they pushed the mages aside, the water followed them like a shadow.
The mages, having exhausted their strength trying to break free, eventually fainted as the water tightened around their throats.
The warriors charging at Sepia didn't fare any better.
“Gah!”
The very ground they tried to spring from surged upward like grasping hands, slamming them into the floor. The warriors struggled to break free, but the more they thrashed, the more earthen hands emerged to bind them tight.
“……”
The entire engagement lasted a mere four seconds.
Sepia was the only person left standing in the arena. Among the nine students who had challenged her, not one was capable of moving.
Professor Idra, tasked with announcing the result, stood slack-jawed, staring at the fallen students with wide eyes.
“……Ah?”
A strange sound escaped Idra’s mouth—the same Idra who had been laughing earlier when Kuran, Ren, and Gashurin said they would take on all challengers at once.
‘At that level… she’s definitely stronger than I was when I was a student.’
“Idra, announce the result,” Elicia prompted.
“Uh… Match over! S-Student Sepia wins!”
Snapped back to reality by Elicia’s voice, Idra hurriedly made the call.
No cheers erupted from the second floor. Everyone—students and professors alike—simply stared at Sepia with vacant eyes. It was a victory far more overwhelming than Clara’s.
However, Sepia wasn't the least bit curious about the crowd's reaction. Her gaze was fixed on only one person.
‘He’s shocked. I can tell. Totally shocked. I’m cooler, right?’
Of course, since he was wearing a mask, Sepia couldn't actually see Loki’s expression, but that’s what she chose to believe. Still, it was true that Loki was surprised.
‘What in the world just happened?’
There were students there a second ago. Now, there weren't.
* * *
After Sepia’s exam ended, Loki told Idra that he would also fight all his challengers at once. The exams continued.
[Special Class Student WINNER! – Lucas, Clara, Sepia]
[Challenger WINNER! – ]
[Gashurin – 11 people]
[Kuran – 12 people]
[Ren – 13 people]
[Loki – 20 people]
[Frederick – 22 people]
“Let the match between Student Gashurin and the 11 challengers begin!”
Utilizing the fluid movements unique to the East, Gashurin parried or evaded every single attack. By the time the exam ended, there wasn't even a tiny scratch on his body.
“The winner is Student Gashurin! Wow! Congratulations!”
* * *
[Special Class Student WINNER! – Lucas, Clara, Sepia, Gashurin]
[Challenger WINNER! – ]
[Kuran – 12 people]
[Ren – 13 people]
[Loki – 20 people]
[Frederick – 22 people]
“Alright! Everyone’s back from the restroom, right? This match is Student Kuran versus 12 students! Let the exam… begin!”
Kuran was a different beast entirely. He didn't bother dodging; he tanked every hit while systematically beating down his opponents one by one. By the time the exam ended, Kuran’s face was covered in blood, looking so terrifying that the last remaining student fled backward in pure horror.
“Oh, this one’s scary. Student Kuran wins! Waaaaah! Priest professor, please come and treat him first!”
* * *
[Special Class Student WINNER! – Lucas, Clara, Sepia, Gashurin, Kuran]
[Challenger WINNER! – ]
[Ren – 13 people]
[Loki – 20 people]
[Frederick – 22 people]
“Will the Special Class students’ winning streak continue, or will we finally see a club member admitted? Let the match between Student Ren and 13 students begin!”
Ren was similar to Kuran, yet distinct. He didn't dodge every attack like Gashurin; instead, he charged forward, absorbing hits with his body. However, unlike the blood-soaked Kuran, Ren healed himself as he fought. The students tried to bind his feet, but Ren shattered their efforts with a barrage of Holy Spells.
“Ugh! No matter how much you hit him, there’s no answer if he just keeps recovering like that. Student Ren is the winner!”
* * *
Gashurin, Kuran, and Ren all showed excellent combat prowess, but they had yet to match the sheer impact Sepia had made.
[Special Class Student WINNER! – Lucas, Clara, Sepia, Gashurin, Kuran, Ren]
[Challenger WINNER! – ]
[Loki – 20 people]
[Frederick – 22 people]
Quite a bit of time had passed since the club entrance exams began, but the crowd inside the auditorium had only grown.
"For Student Lucas… there were no challengers. Against Student Clara, 7 people; against Student Sepia, 9; against Student Gashurin, 11; against Student Kuran, 12; and against Student Ren, 13. A total of 52 students have challenged them so far, but not a single person has passed."
Even those who failed didn't leave; they stayed on the second floor to watch the remaining matches.
"Now! The very reason this exam exists—and the reason I haven't been able to go home yet! The match between the President of the Clown-whatever-it-is, Student Loki, and twenty challengers will begin in ten minutes!"