Chapter 142: Trolling (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 142: Trolling (4)
Violet - …What just happened?
The final exam had suddenly changed in a way that never occurred in the original work, but I didn't panic.
It wasn't like the original plot hadn't been flipped on its head a dozen times already.
If I let every little change get to me, my mental state wouldn't hold up.
That was why I calmly assessed the situation and focused on taking the exam.
First of all, this exam was an individual match, not a team battle.
However, that didn't mean forming a team was forbidden.
Granted, since it would be an unofficial team, there was no telling when a betrayal might happen. Even if it did, there would be no one to complain to.
But to put it another way, all I had to do was team up with someone trustworthy—someone who would never betray me.
"Will this be enough?"
"Yeah..."
In that sense, Daisy was the best partner I could ask for.
I had absolute faith that she would never betray me.
Beyond that, her personality simply wasn't the type to backstab anyone.
Plus, even setting aside her Magic Sword, her close-quarters combat specs had improved remarkably.
She had the magical foundation we'd learned together since childhood.
And, though many people seemed to have forgotten lately, her status was that of a Saintess.
In other words, she could use Holy Magic superior to anyone else on earth.
Literally, she was a broken character who could tank, deal damage, and heal all at once.
Just look at her now.
Look at the way she's uprooting a tree just to build a temporary shelter.
"……?"
Wait, is that even possible?
It's not impossible if you use magic, but...
While she was clearly using mana, the way she applied it was the classic method used by swordsmen.
...She really has become a full-fledged swordsman.
I was just standing there, admiring the faint definition of her arm muscles, when it happened.
"...It's started."
Brilliant magic bloomed across the sky.
It was the signal from Professor McGregor, the Head Professor of the Magic Department, announcing the start of the exam.
"……So. Daisy. What are you doing?"
"Hmm. I just suddenly wondered what kind of face Violet would make if I betrayed her right here."
A chill ran down my spine as I watched Daisy fiddle with the Badge of Survival pinned to my chest.
"...I think you've learned too many bad things since coming to the Academy."
"Ehehe. Just kidding, just kidding."
Daisy looked cute as she stuck her tongue out and playfully tapped my shoulder, but...
"My shoulder hurts."
"Oh, stop exaggerating."
"……"
I was reaching a point where I genuinely worried her "playful taps" might break my collarbone.
...It hasn't even been half a year since she joined the Swordsmanship Department.
No, in the first place, the original Daisy would never have even thought about being curious about my face after a betrayal.
This is all that man's fault.
He always claims it's not his responsibility when the original plot changes, but no matter how I think about it, the culprit is clearly that "Mr. Son" who's far too visible for someone whose name implies he should be hidden.
"Sigh..."
I was wearing a troubled expression while cutting the wood Daisy brought into appropriate sizes when it happened.
"...Daisy!"
"Yeah."
A powerful surge of mana began to be felt from afar.
And it wasn't just one or two people; it was a massive presence.
Had the raids started already?
The numbers were too high for them to be looking for me specifically.
Most likely, they were a group that had agreed to take down a powerful threat like Daisy early on.
"Don't let your guard down."
"I know."
Daisy and I drew our respective weapons and entered a combat stance, but...
"You crazy Magic Spammers!"
"...Huh?"
"...Mr. Adam?"
A voice so familiar I could recognize it from a mile away echoed through the air. A moment later, I stared blankly at the retreating back of my boss as he sprinted past us.
"Don't run!"
"Face us like a man!"
"I'll end you!"
"……"
"……"
Behind him, a mob of people who were clearly mages chased after him like a storm.
And then.
"……"
"……"
The space they left behind was incredibly empty.
It was almost embarrassing how we had steeled ourselves and prepared for battle.
"...Should we just finish building the house?"
"...Let's do that."
And so, we went back to building our base as if nothing had happened.
Well, as for my boss...
It's his own karma, so I'm sure he'll handle it.
What is karma?
If someone were to ask me that, I could answer with confidence.
Just look behind me.
"I'll kill you, Adam Smith!"
The moment the magic signaling the start of the exam painted the sky with a bang!
An assassin—no, a mage—popped out.
"I'll kill you and become a proud mage!"
"Feel the resentment of fifty million mages!"
Even if everyday magic is common in this world, I'm pretty sure the mage population isn't that high.
Did he include mages from the past too?
If we're counting like that, there should be way more of us sword-swingers than mages.
"Gah!"
"Thanks for the points."
I didn't earn the title of the Academy's Strongest Mage for nothing.
It was a title I obtained after defeating the "Magic Spammer" who Boradori claimed would become the strongest, and Senior Demacia—the officially recognized strongest in the Academy, though I have no idea why he learned magic instead of the sword.
So, mediocre mages couldn't stop me.
In fact, points were piling up so steadily that I started thinking this might actually land me in first place.
"……"
Truly, one by one.
"……?"
Continuously. Without end.
No, if anything, they were coming faster as time went on...
"……!"
The moment I realized that, I widened my field of vision.
Diverting one's gaze during combat was madness, but...
"No, this is a bit much..."
An even more insane situation was unfolding before my eyes.
"He noticed us!"
"Just attack!"
"My life for the mages!"
The moment I realized I was completely surrounded, the two mages right in front of me attempted a suicide attack.
Was that all? The mages forming the encirclement began casting area-of-effect spells, completely disregarding the safety of their own allies.
"You lunatics!"
Even if the school uniform and the Badge of Survival provided a final layer of protection.
Artifacts aren't extra lives.
They're meant to protect you on the assumption that people will act with some modicum of sanity since it's an exam.
"Dieeeeeeee!"
These people were just plain crazy.
They had completely lost their minds!
"Is the Academy even doing its job?"
Expecting this kind of disaster... well, it would actually be weirder if they had.
No matter how much they coveted my 'Academy's Strongest Mage' title, this was overkill.
The Academy, which already struggles to stop Dark Mages, could hardly have accounted for a variable like this.
So, this was something I had to handle on my own.
"Is this the weight of being at the pinnacle of mages...?"
"Kill him! Kill him and shut that devilish mouth of his!"
They say he who wears the crown must bear its weight.
I quietly drew my swords.
In my right hand, the Magic Sword MK-1, brought specifically for this exam.
"Fire."
"Aaaargh!"
And in my left hand, the newly tested Magic Sword MK-2.
"Ice."
"Please, someone, just shut him up!"
Fire and ice.
With perfect magic—by anyone's standards—held in both hands, I struck down the Magic Spammers one by one.
"……"
But even the strongest mage is no match for a relentless mob.
After dealing with nearly thirty Magic Spammers, I immediately bolted.
Because the number of remaining Magic Spammers looked to be double that, and even more were rushing toward me.
"Is every Magic Spammer in the Academy coming just to deal with the strongest mage?"
"Kill him!"
As expected, Magic Spammers have no patience.
I don't know what they're so angry about, but they're chasing me with bloodshot eyes.
Still, the fact that they can keep up with my speed means they're quite skilled.
"Huh?"
I fired a spell directly at an opponent who flinched at my sudden stop.
"Fire Punch."
"Gah!"
I collected another Badge of Survival and kept running.
After repeating this several times, the pursuers eventually vanished.
"Phew."
It seemed my strategic retreat was a success.
If I fought in one place, I'd have to face a horde.
But once I succeeded in running, I only had to deal with those who could match my speed.
The rest were bound to drop off while trying to keep up.
"In the end, it's an individual match."
Unless these Magic Spammers were linked by a hive mind, there's a limit to an individual's mana pool.
Even I, who had maxed out my capacity with Elixirs, was starting to run low. It wouldn't be strange for ordinary Magic Spammers to suffer from mana exhaustion.
"……"
That was why I felt something was off.
Yes. It wouldn't be strange for ordinary Magic Spammers to suffer from mana exhaustion.
But there were mages in this Academy who were anything but ordinary.
And as far as I could remember, those mages hadn't shown themselves yet.
Were they simply too superior to participate in this nonsense?
To think that...
"I've been waiting for my chance for revenge..."
I knew the character of Magic Spammers wasn't great, but...
"Princess Ruelle..."
I never imagined the person at the center of it all would be someone who supposedly learned the sword in a kingdom of mages.
"I will kill you, Adam Smith!"
"Oh, for heaven's sake..."
And of course, being royalty, she didn't come alone—she brought a whole squad!
"Isn't this a bit unsportsmanlike?"
"Royalty is always unsportsmanlike!"
I dodged Princess Ruelle's Frost Beam.
"Die!"
Then some weirdo wielding lightning lunged at me.
"I'll finish you and restore the prestige of the Magic Department!"
When I parried that, five swords began targeting me like Flying Swords.
"Behold, the true Flying Swords!"
"Bullshit."
Despite the grand claim, he was just flinging them with telekinesis.
Naturally, since it was a type of magic, they were imbued with mana, but the difference between this and the Flying Swords used by a Sword Master was as clear as day and night.
"How is it? Do you repent for your atrocities now—!"
I swatted away the incoming swords and kicked the caster, neutralizing him instantly.
"Atrocities, you say?"
I defeated magic with magic, and this guy lost while playing at being a Sword Hero against a real swordsman.
"Justice belongs to the victor."
If you want them to be recognized as real Flying Swords, try winning with them.
How dare he compare my magic—which defeated both the former and current top prospects of the Magic Department—to something like that?
"Take him down!"
But there were still eight mages left.
Unlike before, if I tried to run now, my stamina would likely give out first.
Therefore.
"Ah. I really didn't want to use this here."
"……?"
I really didn't want to use this on mere Magic Spammers.
But I couldn't help but give a proper response to those who had pushed me this far.
"Watch closely. And don't you dare tell anyone!"
I thrust forward the Magic Sword MK-1, surging with flames, and the Magic Sword MK-2, radiating intense cold.
And then.
"Re! Lease!"
"Everyone, block it!"
Along with the Magic Swords' activation command, a massive explosion swallowed the space.