Chapter 128

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 128

Chapter Title: Vassal Selection Exam

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After receiving Yi Soo-ah's proposal,

I said I'd think about it and was shown to my guest room.

I just wasn't sure if I should participate in the selection exam.

I inspected the room while opening the gallery.

The gallery's opinions matched mine.

As I was about to read more comments, there was a knock at the door.

"Ian. Is the room to your liking?"

"Yes. It's a great room."

It was Yi Soo-ah.

Perfect timing to talk.

"Your Grace, the Archduchess. I'm fine with taking the selection exam, but honestly, joining the family feels like a burden."

"...Is that so?"

Yi Soo-ah looked disappointed for some reason.

Her expression drooped so obviously that I was the one who ended up flustered.

"Hmm... But didn't you say you were curious about the Archmage Dukes' goals, Ian?"

"Yes."

"Good. Then, even if you pass the selection exam, you can give up joining the family."

"Pardon?"

Yi Soo-ah surprisingly conceded the condition easily.

There was a reason for it.

"But make your decision after hearing me out. Once you learn the Archmage Dukes' goals, you'll want to join my family."

Learning the Archmage Dukes' goals would make me want to become a vassal of the Perryhill Archmage Duke Family?

"Why is that?"

"Won't you find out if you pass, Ian?"

Yi Soo-ah seemed utterly convinced.

"I can't say more than ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that. I can't tip my hand alone."

I couldn't get any more information.

Still, if I passed the selection exam, I'd hear it anyway.

And even if I passed, I could refuse to become a vassal.

There was no reason for me to decline.

"Understood."

"Good. Then, shall we take your measurements?"

"Measurements?"

"For the clothes you'll wear to the Founding Festival. We need to measure now and commission them so they'll be ready by next week."

Oh right. The original reason I came here was the Founding Festival.

"The selection exam lasts three days. You can attend the Founding Festival as scheduled, so don't worry."

"Ah, yes. Thank you."

It was surprising that she was even helping with the actual Founding Festival preparations.

Why was Yi Soo-ah taking care of even these little details?

It was just a feeling, but there was no malice at all.

She was even muttering to herself with a subtle smile.

"My man can't go out looking inadequate anywhere..."

"What was that?"

"Nothing, Ian. Could you spread your arms?"

"...You're measuring me personally, Your Grace?"

"Yes."

Yi Soo-ah held up a measuring tape and smiled.

Don't nobles usually call a tailor?

It felt suspicious, but I spread my arms anyway.

"Then..."

Yi Soo-ah leaned in, slipping into my embrace.

She stretched the tape around my chest.

It looked like she was measuring my chest, but we were so close it felt like a hug.

"This is a bit too close..."

"Stay still, Ian. We can't make the clothes without accurate measurements."

Yi Soo-ah continued undeterred.

Because she was tall, she had to bend at the waist to measure my chest.

In my line of sight, her dipped waist and hips were fully visible.

"Hng..."

Yi Soo-ah focused on measuring my chest.

I knew I shouldn't, but I couldn't stop my gaze.

A slender waist flaring out into wide hips below.

Her dress slit up both thighs, the fabric draping between her legs along the curve of her backside.

That made the covering fabric precariously positioned.

I glimpsed a mole on the right side.

"Hm? Are you alright, Ian?"

"Ah, sorry. I'm fine."

I had no choice but to lean back.

But that only brought Yi Soo-ah closer.

My position grew more awkward.

"Now for the hips..."

"Wait! I'll measure my own hips!"

"Pardon? But..."

"No, please let me do this one!"

I snatched the tape from Yi Soo-ah.

Turning around, I measured my hip circumference and readjusted my position.

"Done."

We finished with the full length measurement.

She'd pick several designs herself.

"The selection exam starts tomorrow for three days. After that, prepare for the Founding Festival during the remaining time, Ian."

"Yes. Thank you for your consideration."

"It's only natural for me."

I didn't know why the Archduchess measuring me was natural.

"And will you be able to sleep well? Or tonight, I could..."

Bang bang bang—

Suddenly, my door shook violently.

-Your Grace! There's an urgent matter requiring your attention!

-Your Grace!

Vassals were pounding on the door like mad outside.

Something must have come up, but why so many vassals?

"Tch... Such an interruption... Well, rest well, Ian."

"Ah, yes. Thank you."

Yi Soo-ah left the room.

Voices like 'Please understand' faded into the distance outside.

The room was great anyway.

Much bigger than the dorm, with a luxurious shower.

I showered and flopped onto the bed, opening the gallery.

I posted about my conversation with Yi Soo-ah.

Everyone agreed with me.

If I didn't have to join the family even after passing, then passing the exam solved everything.

I had no idea why she'd say learning the Archmage Dukes' goals would make me want to join.

But I'd find out after passing.

With the situation sorted, I lay back and thoroughly read the backlog posts.

"What's wrong with these idiots."

The state of the gallery's hot topics was weird.

Starting with WannaDoHer's bizarre analysis posts.

Then self-proclaimed 2nd Red Squad Leader MechanicalMage posted.

In response, other gallery users started spamming posts shouting MammaTong, TopStudentWatermelon, etc.

[Honestly, isn't the original MammaTong?]
[TopStudentWatermelon <- That word alone is apocalyptic]
[Red is honestly kinda cute]
[2u that can't stop Duchess Big-Eyes]
[MammaTong hasn't done shit though]
[Summary of all the Mamma Kim Muggle got so far]
[Is the expressionless maid only hot to me?]
[Honestly, Top Student was hate-worthy like Red at first]

The gallery was a mess of accusations and opinion manipulation.

I had no idea why these archmages were going nuts over this.

I figured they'd all gone mad from too much research.

"Come to think of it, I won't see the kids for a while."

I'd messaged my Class 3 trio that I was heading to the Archduchess's castle.

They all looked upset.

Spending a week here then going straight to the capital meant I'd return to the academy in two weeks.

At least others were on break and visiting families too.

After the Founding Festival, there's the mage tower tour soon.

Probably see them then.

Chayuri said he wasn't going home, so it'd feel lonely.

For some reason, I felt like I'd run into someone before then anyway.

"Selection exam..."

More importantly, my own situation.

Everyone else relaxing at home or dorms, but I'm stuck in a remote Archduchess castle taking the exam.

The exam format changes every year.

Meaning no way to predict it.

Above all, participants are at least 6th-circle mages.

I can only use one 6th-circle spell.

But with SubsidyRiceEater's Acceleration Magic, I won't lose in combat.

At least up to Karindol level.

But these aren't academy cadets.

Graduates or battle-hardened mage society vets.

Ultimately, unpredictable.

Competitors' levels or exam content.

"Guess I'll meditate."

This calls for meditation.

I read Meditation King's posts and spent the rest of the night meditating to refine my mind and mana.

There were roughly two to three hundred people here for the 9th-grade vassal selection exam.

Fewer than expected.

Probably because you can only take the Perryhill Archmage Duke Family's exam once in a lifetime.

I got my number and waited at my spot in the holding area.

Other applicants were busy practicing magic, reading notes, or preparing in their own ways.

"Her Grace the Archduchess's favorite color is black, bust size 75F..."

"...?"

What did I just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hear?

The guy next to me was mumbling from a notebook.

Peeking, it was full of the Archduchess's three sizes, favorite desserts, etc.

"...Do we have to memorize this?"

I couldn't help blurting out in disbelief.

The man next to me answered like it was obvious.

"Of course? You have to know everything about Her Grace to become a vassal."

"Who said that?"

"The selection exam tutor, obviously."

They even had tutors?

I recalled hearing loyalty to Yi Soo-ah was key.

But bust size too?

Just in case, I memorized it.

Duchess Big-Eyes's bust is 75F...

As I covertly copied info around, a vassal stepped onto the platform.

Probably the proctor.

"Please submit all prepared materials. Note that we won't ask about Her Grace's three sizes or anything, so no need to worry if you didn't memorize them."

-Ah...?

The participants made foolish faces right after the proctor spoke.

Illegal tutoring scam, as expected.

"Since you can only take the family vassal selection exam once, lots of misinformation spreads. A heads-up: even if you fail this time, don't go outside peddling weird info as illegal tutors."

Lots of tutor scammers because it's once-only.

Desperate opportunities invite scams.

The guy who'd been memorizing Yi Soo-ah's sizes looked deflated, muttering "Wasted so much money on tutoring..."

"The exam runs three days. We start the first test now. Enter the passage in assigned number order. You'll hear the task inside."

The exam really kicked off immediately.

Participants entered clueless and about 60% exited the same way.

Pass: cross the passage. Fail: come back.

It progressed at a blistering pace.

I was dying to know what the test even was.

And finally, my turn.

I opened the door and walked thud-thud into the passage.

It was pitch black inside; couldn't see ahead.

Block attacks in the dark?

Then prep Acceleration Magic and defense...

As I pondered possibilities and readied magic,

The door slammed shut behind me,

and the examiner's voice rang out.

"The first test is 'Find Her Grace the Archduchess!'"

"...?"

But the examiner said it in a retarded voice.

Making my tension ridiculous.

"Lights on soon, and three Archduchesses will appear. Guess the real one in 10 seconds to pass! Which is the real Her Grace~?"

What the fuck is this.

This is the... Archmage Duke Family selection exam?

Just 1/3 odds to pass?

So many things I wanted to call out, but I focused.

Use Acceleration Magic?

It'd give way more than 10 seconds think time.

"Note: all magic is banned in this test! Can't pick a vassal who can't recognize Her Grace, right?"

No magic, huh.

Obviously can't fail to recognize your lord anytime, anywhere.

No choice; focused with naked eyes.

Flick—

Lights on moments later.

There stood three Yi Soo-ahs, backs turned.

In her usual revealing dress slit up the thighs.

'They look identical?'

Perfectly the same.

No way to spot differences in 10 seconds.

"10... 9... 8..."

Time ticked mercilessly.

Countdown dropping.

One shot. 1/3 chance.

But guess wrong with no clues?

Any hints?

Tension swirled those thoughts.

Then, yesterday's memory flashed.

Yi Soo-ah in my room to measure me.

Definitely a mole on her right buttock.

But,

'Covered... can't see.'

Yesterday, bending made the dress ride up to show it.

Now standing straight, fully covered.

I considered, then dropped it.

No time to think.

'Fuck it, no idea!'

I charged the first Yi Soo-ah and flipped up her dress.

"Kyaa, kyaak?!"