Chapter 128
Chapter 128
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: Is This Fixer Exam Really Okay? (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A total of 154 examinees passed the second assignment.
The White Team, which had first gathered in the gymnasium, started with just over 500 people.
That meant two-thirds of the members were eliminated in a single assignment.
But even this was mild compared to the first assignment.
The pass rate for the first assignment was about 15%, with only 100 out of 700 passing.
So, the second assignment's pass rate of nearly 30% was quite generous.
To think that 70 or 80 percent of the examinees were eliminated in a single assignment.
These were people confident enough in their skills to challenge the Fixer Exam without hesitation.
It wasn't called the world's most difficult exam for nothing.
*‘Still, it makes sense to eliminate people quickly to keep things moving. They can’t spend a whole month just on the exam.’*
But in a way, this rapid pace was a natural outcome.
The number of successful candidates was already small enough to be counted on two hands.
If they eliminated people in small batches, it would take far too long.
Huh? Didn't they say 300 people were chosen through the Fixer Exam each year?
That was true, but only on a global scale.
Fixers were an international profession, active all over the world.
I heard there were over 200 countries with agreements with the Association.
As a result, there were more than 50 Fixer Association branches scattered across the globe.
Naturally, it would be difficult to gather the hundreds of thousands of Fixer Exam applicants in one place.
So the Fixer Exam was held simultaneously at these various branches.
So, 300 people twice a year. That meant 150 were chosen per exam.
Dividing that by 50 branches yielded the astonishing result of about three successful candidates per branch.
Yet, here at the Nighthaven branch, there were over 10,000 examinees.
It was no wonder that a massive number of applicants were eliminated with each assignment.
"Hmph. That was quite an interesting dream. You thought so too, didn't you, little one?"
"..."
So, is this the point where the difficulty really starts to ramp up?
As I was thinking this and quietly gazing at the scenery beyond the window...
Vespera, who had been in the last group, approached with a nonchalant expression.
To anyone who heard her, it was an utterly absurd thing to say.
Being exceptional at magic also meant having a strong resistance to it.
There was no way she would be affected by illusion magic that had been toned down for the examinees.
She could have at least pretended to be sweating profusely like the other applicants.
I could only be flabbergasted by her shameless acting and lies, which I couldn't possibly fall for.
But I couldn't let it show.
If I revealed that I knew her true identity, there was no telling what harm she might inflict.
The best course of action was to play dumb for now, rather than adding fuel to the fire.
*‘That aside... the fact that she's deliberately hiding her power must mean she has some kind of agenda.’*
What if she had joined the Fixer Exam just for fun, without any particular goal?
Then there would be no reason to hide her power so completely.
She wouldn't even need to use her obviously conspicuous blood magic.
Just revealing the skills of an ordinary mage would be enough to prevent most people from suspecting she was one of the Seven Extremes.
In other words, changing her appearance and hiding her power like this was a clear sign of a specific intention.
Of course, since this never happened in the original story... I had no idea what that intention could be.
*‘Ugh... I have no clue. If I were smart enough to figure it out, I wouldn't have to rely on my knowledge of the original story in the first place. I guess that's obvious.’*
No matter how much I thought about it, my worries didn't fade.
It was only natural. All I knew was the original story. This sudden event was outside the scope of my expectations.
Was that why? I felt a deep frustration in my chest, a desire to let out a long, relieving sigh.
I was already feeling down after seeing that unpleasant illusion earlier.
And now there was a highly dangerous bomb nearby that could go off at any moment!
I wanted to ask someone, anyone, why this was happening to me.
*‘Just standing by is the worst option. I have to decide on a course of action. Either I make a move and dig up information... or I admit this is beyond me and give up.’*
Neither option was particularly appealing.
Trying to get information on one of the Seven Extremes was incredibly risky.
But if I just gave up, I'd be worried about Alice and David, who were taking the same exam.
Huh? Couldn't I just tell the proctors that this person was dangerous?
The only reason I recognized her was because of my knowledge from the original story, because I knew what Vespera looked like.
So I had no concrete evidence or method to convince anyone.
And if she was actually exposed, I'd have to deal with the very troublesome question of how I knew.
What if I ignored Vespera, and she ended up harming Alice, another examinee?
"...!"
"Hm? What's wrong? Tired of looking outside? Wanna play with me?"
In that brief moment of deliberation, I made my decision.
Nighthaven and the people around me had become too precious to me.
I had to admit it. The fact that they appeared in the illusion magic said it all.
So... I had to find out this woman's intentions, no matter what.
And once I knew the reason, I would do whatever it took to keep Alice and David from getting hurt.
I could only gaze silently at Vespera, steeling my resolve.
*‘Alice, David. I’ll protect you, somehow.’*
Of course, facing her head-on was quite terrifying, given the overwhelming difference in our power.
But if everyone dying was my worst nightmare, I couldn't just bow my head and do nothing.
My fingertips trembled against my will, but at least my resolve remained unshaken.
*
An hour had passed since I resolved to uncover Vespera's purpose.
The eliminated examinees left Reverse Mountain, guided by the proctors.
Perhaps because the second assignment had pushed their mental fortitude to the absolute limit...
a fair number of them had completely lost consciousness.
It seemed those individuals would be admitted to a hospital near Reverse Mountain.
After all, those who failed the Fixer Exam were likely to try again next time.
The Association had no reason to treat coldly those who would readily pay the expensive application fee again.
"Uhm... G-good work! The s-second assignment is now over.... N-n-next! The proctor for the third assignment will come and explain the details! Gyaah!"
Peacekeeper, sweating profusely, finished his announcement and hastily left the gymnasium.
He bolted without a backward glance, as if he were desperate for the restroom.
The reason for his sudden behavior was simple.
Peacekeeper had been introducing the corporation he belonged to, as if he were there to recruit.
In the process of handing out his business cards, he had inadvertently clashed with Vespera.
-Ahem, if you pass the exam, it's best to join a corporation. You'll receive far better benefits than a freelance Fixer, and you'll get help from an excellent senior like myself. Hmph-hahaha! Everyone, take my card!
-Hmm... Peacekeepers? What kind of tacky name is that? Sounds boring.
-What... You! Say that again! What did you just say about the name I worked so hard to create...!
-Hm? I said it was tacky. What, you wanna go?
*Crumple.*
Vespera crumpled the business card in her fingers, her eyes flashing as she stared at Peacekeeper.
It was a threat that used no magic or anything of the sort, just a slight reveal of her hidden presence.
Her control over her presence was so masterful...
that even I, standing right next to her, couldn't immediately tell what she had done.
But perhaps Peacekeeper had instantly recognized the overwhelming difference in their class.
He stood frozen like a cat facing a tiger, his mouth just opening and closing.
In an instant, he seemed to age ten years, exhaling weakly and averting his gaze.
It was as if he had been completely terrified just by meeting her eyes.
The difference in their very beings was too great. It was an inevitable outcome.
"What's with that proctor... He suddenly looks so anxious..."
"Maybe he really needs the bathroom? He didn't look too well earlier."
"I guess even an active Fixer can't escape the calls of nature."
Regardless of what the other clueless examinees muttered...
I felt a renewed certainty that I hadn't misjudged her, and I secretly squeezed my eyes shut.
So, now I have to figure out her scheme without getting caught?
And I have to do it all by myself, without anyone's help...
Yeah. My head is already starting to throb.
I felt like I was dangling precariously over a cliff.
"The third assignment... I hope it's something interesting this time."
"..."
"What's with that look, little one? Are you nervous? Don't worry. I'll be sure to protect you."
*You're the one causing me all this grief, so who are you planning to protect?*
Feeling utterly baffled, I looked at Vespera and gave a meek nod as if to say thank you.
It seemed she still intended to keep me by her side.
It would probably be best to feign ignorance and naively try to gather information.
Especially since the upcoming third assignment would last a full day, 24 hours.
This could be considered an opportunity.
"Hk?!"
"Th-this is...!"
"Gasp...! S-suddenly, I can't... breathe...!"
Just as I was sorting through my thoughts...
a tremendous pressure suddenly descended, making the very space seem to tremble.
The pressure was so powerful and extraordinary...
that even Vespera, who had been looking bored with her eyebrows drooping, showed a surprised reaction.
Ah, now that I think about it, there was one thing I'd forgotten.
The proctors for this third assignment were all famous heavyweights in the Fixer industry.
The proctors in charge of the Red, Blue, and White Teams were all celebrities in their own right.
"Is this the place? Hoo, so this is where everyone's gathered. My apologies. I don't often travel this way up the mountain."
His mere footsteps made the windows rattle and the ceiling creak.
It wasn't exactly magic, but rather a phenomenon that occurred when mana became highly concentrated.
The door opened to reveal a muscular old man in a suit.
And as soon as the examinees recognized him...
their jaws dropped in astonishment.
Well... it wasn't strange for them to react that way.
"A pleasure to meet you, examinees. My name is Tempest. I am, for all my shortcomings, the mayor of Nighthaven."
The proctor for the White Team... was none other than the Dragon Mayor, Tempest!
An overwhelming presence filled the space.