Chapter 34
Chapter 34
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Trial of Knowledge
-----------------------------------------------------------------
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "If you're confident in your courage, go left. If you want to boast your wisdom, take the center door. If you'd like to make use of your accumulated knowledge, head right."
Philip nodded at the bear's explanation.
"Understood."
He opened the door marked with the word 'Knowledge' first.
No sooner had he stepped inside than lights flickered on in the dark room.
In the center of a room lined with bookshelves like a library stood a fox with two lush tails, wagging them as it awaited its first visitor.
"...Ahh!"
The fox spotted Philip and spun in excited circles, shaking its tails furiously.
"I thought I'd rot away forever in this cramped space and lose my mind!"
It then charged at Philip, placing its front paws on his dantian and rubbing its head against him. Philip silently accepted the fox's overwhelming display of affection.
These talking animals in the 'Hall of Achievements' were artificial lifeforms created by the Archmage Asla's magic.
Knowing their plight, Philip couldn't help but feel pity for them.
He grabbed the fox by its side and lifted it up. The fox stuck out its tongue to lick his face, then suddenly came to its senses and flailed its legs, snapping at him.
"Put me down! I'm the examiner conducting the trial on behalf of Archmage Asla."
Philip set the fox down with an incredulous look.
'It clung to me first.'
Still, he could indulge such childish antics.
"My apologies for the rudeness."
The fox nodded primly, its nose held high at his apology.
"Be more careful next time."
Only after he agreed did Philip finally hear the explanation of the trial.
"This is the space to test your 'knowledge.' Depending on how many of the five questions I pose you answer correctly, you'll receive better rewards."
"I see."
As Philip nodded, the fox added in a sly tone,
"It probably won't happen, but if you get all five right, you can pick the best item Archmage Asla left behind. I recommend her key, personally."
Philip chuckled at the fox's transparent scheme.
The 'Key of Asla' symbolized ownership of this Hall of Achievements.
Of course, it couldn't touch the rewards here—its uses were limited to selecting challengers for trials and commanding the artificial lifeforms.
The fox hoped he'd choose it and free her from this place.
Philip's goal was precisely that key. The other rewards were famed swords, magic staves, or materials—things he could acquire anytime he wished.
But an artificial lifeform crafted by a grand magus was unobtainable elsewhere. Philip knew the immense power held by that courteous bear or this fox.
'I hit alt-tab to search online, and a battle triggered out of nowhere, scaring the hell out of me.'
Switching tabs mid-knowledge trial counted as cheating, sparking instant combat. He vividly recalled mid-game students he'd nurtured like treasures getting one-shotted into near-death by this fox's body slam.
"Then, let the test of your knowledge begin."
As the fox declared, hundreds or thousands of books flew out from the surrounding shelves, whirling past Philip's eyes.
One stopped.
This flower grows only in mist, and ingesting it confuses the mind. Used as an ingredient in truth serums and aphrodisiacs, elves employ it as a paralytic. State the name of this flower. The glowing sentence hung in midair, and Philip realized this was the first question.
'Easy.'
The first was a breeze, as expected. Philip answered without a second's hesitation.
"Lunarius."
This was basic for anyone who'd leveled a mage character. Unlike his prior run, the questions were randomized, catching him slightly off guard—but he was confident.
"Correct. Now, the second question."
Books spun again.
Manticore are beasts that wield magic. They typically inhabit ancient ruins or underground dungeons, blocking intruders. Due to this trait, the ancients called them #%@$#. This fill-in-the-blank on ancient lore was tricky, given limited access to such knowledge.
"Secret Devourer."
Philip answered without pause. Still easy.
"Correct. Moving right along."
Ah, once the symbol of justice and judgment, adored by all knights—yet today, finding his traces is nigh impossible. $%^$%, O forgotten god of antiquity. May your light one day shine upon us again. Correct answers ramped difficulty exponentially. Even for a veteran like Philip, this was tricky.
'...What was it? Ru? Ru-something.'
It wasn't crucial info, so it slipped his mind.
Such obscure ancient god names often prefaced transitional items in-game.
Frowning briefly, he ventured,
"Rubetus?"
The fox leaped in place.
"Correct!"
Three right, and reverence gleamed in the fox's eyes.
Archmage Asla had tested this on magic and humanities faculty beforehand—few solved it.
'Maybe this one's clearing them all.'
The fox's eyes sparkled.
This organization was founded long ago with the goal of subjugating humanity... "Ah, Star Creation Society."
Philip blurted before it finished—a question from his playthrough.
Stage four cleared in a flash. The fox gnawed its tail fur anxiously.
"Correct. Um... sir? Forget the key I mentioned. It won't... really help you much. You can't claim the treasures with it."
Guilty conscience kicking in. Philip smirked.
"That's for me to decide. Last question."
"...Hmph. This one's truly hard. Unless you lived centuries ago, no amount of reading helps."
The fox tried scaring him with sharp words.
Exactly five minutes later, Philip emerged from Knowledge's Door—one hand holding 'Asla's Key,' the other cradling the fox's rear.
"Sniff sniff."
The fox, free after centuries, wagged its tail in bliss.
"Visitor, that's...?"
The bear gaped at his choice. Philip informed it,
"I've claimed ownership of this hall, so you'll follow my orders now. Summon the other examiners."
The bravery and wisdom examiners emerged at the bear's call: a massive tiger and a bespectacled monkey.
"We greet the new master."
Spotting Asla's Key, the artificial beings showed submission in their ways. Philip felt as fortified as if he'd gained an army.
"Don't call me master—call me Administrator. You'll execute my orders or enjoy freedom otherwise, except when training students. To start with our basic policy..."
Philip outlined his plan for the animals.
They'd greatly aid in efficiently training Lua and her future teammates.
'Even when I'm busy, these creatures must spark the kids' drive to improve.'
Essentially, auto-farming via these beasts while he handled other tasks.
"To sum up the new Administrator's words: we'll serve as both examiners and teachers. Is that right?"
The bespectacled monkey asked; Philip nodded.
"Oh my, I can't wait to meet the cute children! How adorable they'll be!"
The tiger cooed in a dainty, refined voice.
'The kids won't see it that way.'
Philip nodded awkwardly.
"Soon. Actually, I'll bring a few now—wait just a moment."
'Gotta fetch Cheryl.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "This is where the clubroom will be?"
"It... could use some cleaning."
Cheryl blinked at the dusty warehouse. Janice, who'd been reading with her in the library, had tagged along unexpectedly.
"Cleaning can wait. I found something here and wanted to show you girls."
"...?"
Cheryl tilted her head, gingerly navigating the dust-choked space. She nudged a stack of boxes, sending dust into Janice's narrow nostrils.
"Achoo!"
A reflexive sneeze. Mucus and spit splattered Philip's neck.
"...S-sorry..."
Janice's face burned crimson as she thrust a handkerchief at him.
"It's fine. Happens."
But Janice felt mortified.
Looking pretty for a handsome, kind young man like Philip was instinct for noble girls—and she, who owed him her life, was no exception.
"It's down there. Dark, so I'll lead."
As Philip descended the stairs, the girls followed. The bear greeted them in the now-his Hall of Achievements.
"Ah, Administrator. You've returned with sprightly, lovely young ladies as promised."
His courteous, thoughtful tone startled Cheryl and Janice into clutching each other.
"Mommy!"
"The bear's talking...?"
They soon heard the full explanation, eyes sparkling with curiosity and burning challenge. At that eager age, craving recognition, it was natural.
"I'll take Wisdom's Trial. I work in the library, but I haven't read as much as I'd like."
Cheryl declared for the wisdom door.
"I'll do Bravery's Trial."
Janice stated boldly, but Philip's worried gaze pierced her fragile heart.
"You sure?"
To her ears, it sounded like, 'You bedwetter, think you can handle it?'
"Eek... Yes! That was just shock before. I'm direct lineage of House Murrella, which produced two Archmages—no mere trial will—!"
Fist clenched, she flung open Bravery's Door ahead of Cheryl. It shut automatically. Moments later, her scream erupted.
Bravery's first stage: conquer fear. She'd likely faced her deepest terror.
"Kyaaah!"
"Oh dear! Little one! You're fine!"
The door burst open with the tiger's frantic cry. The gentle tigress delicately gripped the fainted Janice's clothes in her jaws, delivering her to Philip.
"I meant to scare her lightly, but my fault. She was too cute; I teased a bit."
"Not your fault. She's just timid."
Philip comforted the tiger, then sat so Janice could rest on his lap.
"...W-Will I end up like that?"
"Wisdom's isn't like that, so no worries. Passing a few stages nets a fine gift."
Buoyed by Philip's encouragement, Cheryl entered Wisdom's Door. He waited patiently, monitoring Janice until she returned.