The Blue Fanged Wolf's Test

In the North, sparring was an unbreakable tradition. As a land that considered proving oneself through combat a virtue, not only adventurers but ordinary citizens enjoyed dueling. Large and small festivals always featured sparring matches, and even the academic festival hosted unlimited sparring events. That alone said everything.

Thanks to that tradition, the moment the promotion test was scheduled, a flood of adventurers submitted applications. Some wanted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to shine under the crowd’s attention and build their reputation. Others hoped to catch Vergo’s eye and earn his guidance. Most, however, simply loved fighting and jumped at the chance once the stage was set.

Naturally, the Countship had no intention of ending the show after just my match with Vergo. They gathered every adventurer who had applied for promotion and organized a full tournament. That was the grand sparring event now unfolding inside the Edenberg arena.

Even the construction workers could wield mana, so the massive coliseum capable of holding tens of thousands was packed. The crowd roared with heated cheers, passionately supporting every duel taking place on the field.

“Woooooooooooooo!”

They had even hired a professional MC to hype the crowd, so the festival atmosphere burned white-hot. I stayed calm in the waiting room, gazing out at the arena, when the door opened and Neon walked in with the princesses.

“Test prep going smoothly?”

“I prepared enough that I won’t have any regrets.”

Clearly enjoying the festival to the fullest, they carried snacks in both hands and various souvenirs. Their eyes turned toward the MC who was noisily working the center of the arena.

“That guy’s a Silver-class adventurer, yet he still managed to snag the MC spot.”

“He’s always had a silver tongue and a fun personality.”

“True. Among the adventurers he’s known as quite the storyteller.”

Whenever the Edenberg adventurer branch threw a lively party, he was the one linking arms with Neon and carousing. The MC pouring his soul into drawing reactions from the crowd seemed like someone who would have thrived no matter his profession.

After raising the atmosphere to its peak, the MC checked the schedule card and broke into a wide smile.

The cheers swelled even louder. Just as he said, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to claim that most of the people here had come specifically for this match. The impressive bouts from the earlier adventurers had only raised expectations higher.

I watched the MC for a moment longer, then rose from my seat. It was finally my turn.

“I’m heading out for the test.”

“I’ll be cheering for you. Go show them something cool.”

“We wanted to participate too.”

“People’s perceptions put restrictions on our entry, remember?”

Leaving behind Adela, whose eyes brimmed with regret, I stepped out of the waiting room and walked down the corridor. Standing in the dark passage, I checked my physical condition. All fatigue had been cleanly swept away. I hadn’t tossed in my sleep or developed any muscle stiffness. Satisfied with the optimal condition I had prepared for today, I smiled and examined the will of the summons connected to my soul.

Amid the ever-reliable presence of my summons, I sensed two that burned with fighting spirit. I smiled at the dragon and the giant who wanted nothing more than to leap out and clash with Vergo right this instant.

“Just wait a little longer. We’ll be fighting soon.”

After soothing the pair, I stood at the mouth of the passage. When the staff member I assumed was in charge gave the signal, I steadied my racing heart and stepped forward. Light poured in from beyond the dark tunnel, revealing the enormous field.

Woooooooooooo—!

The thunderous cheers of spectators seated atop the thick stone walls like a coliseum slammed into my ears. People stomped their feet and beat their chests in time with the band’s drums. The sight of them paying respect to the warriors who protected the North and devoted their lives to endless struggle made my heart pound.

Each step sent vibrations through the ground. Tens of thousands of people stomping in unison was too majestic for mere words. I walked to the center with a flushed face. On the opposite side, Vergo wore a playful grin.

“Feels fresh. Seems like only yesterday you stepped forward saying you’d become an adventurer.”

“Right? I never imagined the ordinary guild employee I once was would one day stand on the verge of Gold-class.”

“That’s how the world works—no one can predict it. Even those who claim to see the future through mysteries only glimpse one branch among countless possibilities.”

Vergo lightly loosened his shoulders, finished his preparations, and flashed a toothy smile. Even though countless people were watching from outside the arena as well, his unshakable composure helped me remain calm too.

The MC, who had been watching us, jumped in at the perfect moment.

At the MC’s words, I pounded my chest in the warrior’s salute, pouring into it my resolve to never retreat no matter what lay ahead.

Because I infused my voice with mana, the shouts rang out powerfully enough for the entire arena to hear. The spectators answered with cheers just as loud, refusing to be outdone.

The MC gazed at the scene with a satisfied expression and smoothly continued the proceedings.

The MC quickly retreated and gave a signal. The Gold-class adventurers who had been waiting in advance reinforced the arena. Hundreds of talismans attached themselves to the walls at regular intervals, forming a grand array. High-level barrier magic enveloped the entire field, and the arena’s built-in barrier system activated at maximum output.

After confirming every safety measure was in place, the MC lightly leaped several meters up onto the commentary platform and shouted.

The moment the starting signal rang out, the band struck up a tune and the massive drums pounded out a powerful rhythm. Listening to the performance that celebrated the birth of a new Gold-class adventurer, I leaped backward. At the same time—

A chill ran down my spine.

Vergo’s entire aura flipped. The easygoing, friendly neighborhood-brother vibe vanished, replaced by the Blue Fanged Wolf that ruled battlefields. The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠instant his eyes, glowing blue, locked onto me, I felt a shiver of pure dread.

“I’ll give you three chances, Argo! Make my legs move before those chances run out!”

“I knew you’d say that!”

Forcing my stiffening body to relax, I smiled through the tension. This was my chance to earn recognition from a hero I had only known through fairy tales since childhood. Standing in this arena not as a branch manager but as a fellow adventurer, I drew summoning circles in the air.

Holding back power against this man would be foolish. From dozens of circles, Ikelos, the Rune Golem, and Umbra burst forth. Additional rifts opened, and the Irregular Laserdon and Protisha appeared. The moment I confirmed all my summons were in perfect condition, I drew two massive circles.

One glowed crimson, the other azure. As the rifts opened above them, heat capable of incinerating all creation and the cold of eternal permafrost poured out. The moment Vergo sensed the overwhelming fighting spirit radiating from within, his eyebrows twitched.

“Now!”

Krararararara!

I’ve been waiting for those words!

The two summons—who had been anticipating this fight as eagerly as I had—unleashed their prepared strikes. A breath hot enough to melt the magically reinforced floor and an ice spear that would freeze lungs with a single breath hurtled toward Vergo. Since we had planned the joint attack from the start, the two forces did not collide; they targeted only him.

A colossal iceberg erupted where the spear struck. The breath detonated the iceberg, unleashing an ice storm in every direction. The spectators gasped at the tremendous power they could feel even beyond the barrier. Their awe at a force already beyond Silver-class and their excitement for the birth of a new Gold-class adventurer lasted only a moment.

Blue eyes opened within the storm and swallowed the entire area. Or rather, the overwhelming aura made it feel that way.

“Not a bad attack. Is that all you’ve got?”

When the storm cleared, Vergo stood there without a single scratch or having taken even one step. People thought I would freeze at the aura of an apex predator, but I had expected this from the beginning.

I hid inside the storm, approached stealthily, then charged from his blind spot. I pushed the boosters of my fused Ikelos armor to maximum output, poured every ounce of aura I could into my sword-spear, and thrust.

Vergo looked at me with those blue eyes as if he had known all along.

“If that’s the end, I’m disappointed.”

“Of course it’s not!”

The instant his gaze fixed on me, I used Blink to swap positions to the exact opposite side and swung my sword-spear. At the same time, the Rune Golems I had positioned earlier activated their Gravity Fields. Umbra surged from Vergo’s shadow and drove a spear thrust home. Only then did the corner of Vergo’s mouth lift slightly.

“Yes. This much is worthy of me overseeing your test.”

With a snort of laughter, Vergo received every attack without moving a single step. Even though tremendous pressure was crushing his body, his eyes remained locked on me and Umbra as his arm moved. He wrapped his limb in aura, partially transformed, and caught the sword-spear flying in from his blind spot. I clicked my tongue in disbelief.

“Wait, that actually got caught?”

“If your skill were Gold-class, maybe. But don’t think a mere Silver-class level of aura can wound me.”

Vergo spoke with perfect composure and hurled both me and Umbra away along with the sword-spear. I bounced across the ground like a skipped stone and slammed into the wall, but we still had opportunities left. From the rift emerged the Lesser Dragon—no, the Half-Dragon—and Yotun, charging forward.

“Krarararara!”

The Half-Dragon formed red aura around its sharp claws and slammed them into the ground. A pillar of fire erupted, burning crimson. The incredible heat battered my entire body, yet Vergo calmly wrapped himself in aura to protect himself. While the Half-Dragon gnashed its teeth at the sight, Yotun seized the opening created by Vergo’s defense and thrust his spear.

“O great warrior! I, Frost Giant Yotun, hereby challenge you to battle!”

“Oh? This summon can speak?”

The frost giant’s spearmanship drew beautiful arcs, launching a relentless barrage that left afterimages. Vergo blocked or deflected every strike with his partially transformed arm. I charged in again during the exchange, swinging my sword-spear to disrupt Vergo’s movements. While Yotun and I held his attention, the Half-Dragon spun and whipped its massive tail.

Kwaaaaaang!

Vergo blocked the heavy tail strike with a single arm. I was stunned that he could stop an attack capable of collapsing castle walls with just one hand. Yet at the same time, the corner of my mouth curled upward.

“Looks like I landed one, doesn’t it?”

“Huh? Ah.”

At my words, Vergo glanced down at his leg. He had been pushed back one step while receiving the Half-Dragon’s tail whip. Since he had promised three chances, seeing that we had finally made him move on the final one, Vergo smiled.

“Yes, just as you said—you pass the test.”

He had been smiling like a teacher watching a pupil who had grown splendidly. Then his expression suddenly sharpened into the savage grin of a wild beast.

“So now we can finally begin in earnest.”

“Wait, what?”

Vergo vanished from sight as if the solid stance that had made him seem like an ancient tree had been an illusion. I realized then that the real fight was only just beginning.

“Go on—try to entertain me!”

The moment my vision flipped upside down, I thought quietly to myself.

I’m screwed.