Academy Entrance Exam (7) - The Sword Saint's Son
At the same time, in the noble examination hall.
Only two people were working through the problems without a single hitch: Louise Bern von Lohengram and Charlotte Poe Deidra.
The limitations of the Imperial 4-Chant...?
It was the kind of question most students would simply skip past. For the two of them, who were aiming for the top rank, it was a problem they had to solve no matter what.
A question demanding they describe the limitations of the Imperial-style chant—the form hailed as the perfected pinnacle of Imperial magic. Naturally, it had no fixed answer; it was designed to reveal a candidate’s approach.
The Imperial-style chant: the optimal, supreme method of casting created by the Empire’s mages.
Simply raising such a doubt was an eyesore to the high-ranking members of the Magic Association. Ordinary instructors never felt the need to entertain the question, much less set it on an exam.
It was the inevitable problem of a closed-off Magic Association that had stagnated after developing solely around mages.
Of course, the only person who would ever set a problem like this was the genius mage prodigy Loralyn, who had carved out a position no one else could touch.
Originally, only Charlotte would have produced a plausible answer and earned points on it.
Huh... the 4-Chant... I think Aaron said something about it when he saw Ice Arrow...
But Louise, who had met Aaron before the entrance exam, also ended up submitting an excellent answer.
The bell signaling the end of the written exam rang, and Loralyn spoke.
“That’s enough. Leave your answer sheets on your desks and proceed to the practical examination hall.”
Finally, the practical exam. Even if I had half-assed everything else, I needed to look exceptional here.
I didn’t actually need the practical scores... but I had to catch Loralyn’s eye.
Wait a second.
In the original game she definitely came to watch the practical hall. But with my interference, was there a chance she might skip the commoner practical exam entirely?
I was still wondering whether I needed to lure her there when she addressed me directly.
“Everyone else is heading to the practical hall. Why are you still sitting there?”
“Ah, my apologies. I just had something to think about...”
At my answer she looked intrigued.
“I wasn’t trying to peek... but your solutions were quite interesting.”
“Thank you.”
She toyed with her staff and spoke in a tone that sounded almost bored.
“You’re quieter than I expected. After the ambitions you shouted in front of the other examinees earlier, I was looking forward to more.”
So Loralyn had been there after all.
Standing out to her was a good thing. More importantly, if she didn’t come to the practical hall, my acceptance would be in trouble.
With that in mind I answered her calmly.
“I merely said I would do what I am naturally capable of doing.”
Bluff, of course.
“Naturally?”
She raised one eyebrow as if finding the answer faintly absurd.
“Your solutions were interesting, that much is true...”
She removed her glasses and looked at me.
“But beyond that, I don’t see anything particularly remarkable about you.”
“Is that so?”
I deliberately smiled, making the words a provocation.
“If you come to the practical exam, I’ll show you a sight you’ll never see again in your life.”
“Very well. I’ll look forward to it.”
Loralyn’s expression was equal parts incredulous and intrigued.
For now, she would come to the practical hall. She might have come even without the push... but it was always better to make certain.
The practical exam format was a little complicated.
Although the Magic Department was the mainstream, they naturally tested far more than magic alone—martial arts, archery, and nearly every skill required for combat.
The place I stood in now was both examination hall and sparring ground for the martial arts test.
A burly swordsmanship instructor rested a hand on his hip and bellowed.
“Sparring partners will be assigned at random! Before the match, hand any weapons you brought to an instructor for inspection. Once cleared, they will be returned.”
Weapon inspection—to ensure no illegal devices were used and that pure martial skill alone would be judged.
As expected of the Empire’s Academy, they were thorough about such things.
When the male instructor finished, the rather frail-looking female instructor beside him continued in a trembling voice.
“As you already know, we will be using Tethart Magic Stones during the spars, so you need not worry about injuries and may... may simply focus on the match.”
Tethart Magic Stone. An expensive magic stone usable in spars.
Once activated, and only between mutually consenting opponents, it absorbed wounds up to the amount each duelist could withstand. Its price meant only nobles could normally afford it.
“I swear.”
“I swear.”
After the oaths to the Tethart stones, real steel met real steel.
The current match was between a commoner and a noble examinee.
Unlike the written exams, which had been split between commoners and nobles, the practicals mixed them in the same groups.
Because it was a sparring format, the nobles—who had trained in martial arts since childhood—held an overwhelming advantage.
This one was already a clear noble victory, yet the noble was still toying with his opponent. The outcome was decided; there was no need to keep watching.
While I was thinking that, a voice reached my ear.
“Pathetic, right?”
For a second I wondered if my thoughts had somehow slipped out of my mouth.
“What?”
“Don’t you think so?”
This guy...
“Nice to meet you. I’m Leonhardt.”
Leonhardt. One of the major NPCs in the game—third son of the Hertman family, a prestigious swordsmanship house, and one of the candidates expected to become the next Sword Saint after his father.
He had bright yellow hair and a cheerful, handsome face as he offered me a handshake.
“What do you want?”
“Don’t be so wary. I just came to greet my sparring partner.”
Sparring partner? Already decided?
“I just wanted to give you a bit of advice. I’d prefer if you simply forfeited.”
“What?”
The only exam I actually needed to shine in was the magic test, so it didn’t really matter... but this was getting on my nerves.
“Why should I?”
He looked briefly surprised, then nodded as if he had convinced himself of something.
“Ah... you’re a commoner, so you wouldn’t know. You know the Hertman name, right?”
“Are you trying to tell me you’re Leonhardt, third son of the Hertman family?”
He sounded almost impressed.
“You already knew? I’m only saying this because I’m worried about you.”
Even though we were using Tethart stones, he was fretting over my body? How touching.
“Since you already know, this will be quick... there’s no need to fight a battle whose outcome is obvious and end up embarrassing yourself.”
The tone sounded sincerely concerned, yet his squared shoulders and arrogant smile left no doubt that he was utterly certain of his own superiority.
Just how were these nobles raised? There wasn’t a shred of humility among them.
This is fucking annoying.
“I was going to forfeit even without you saying anything.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
Leonhardt’s face lit up as if he were genuinely glad.
“This is so goddamn irritating I can’t stand it. You need a beating too.”
“...What?”
“Let’s see that famous Sword Saint skill of yours.”
Just as he was about to reply, the swordsmanship instructor put a hand on his hip and shouted.
“Examinee number 32, Aaron! Examinee number 57, Leonhardt—prepare for your spar!”
Leonhardt sighed, equal parts displeased and genuinely baffled.
“If that’s what you want... I was only speaking out of consideration for you.”
I had no intention of actually beating him here.
Even if his head was like this, he was still a vessel worthy of inheriting the title of Sword Saint. Right now I didn’t even think I could win...
But I knew exactly how to put a scratch on the pride of a self-important, thick-headed noble young master.
The swordsmanship instructor spoke again.
“Examinee Aaron, submit the weapon you will use. I will inspect it and return it.”
I had planned to forfeit the martial arts match, so I hadn’t brought a weapon.
“I’m sorry, but I didn’t prepare one.”
“What? So you intend to fight bare-handed?”
To the instructor who looked utterly dumbfounded, I pointed at the wooden swords prepared off to the side.
“I believe that will be more than enough for me.”
The moment I picked up a wooden sword, Leonhardt on the opposite side shouted in anger.
“What the hell are you playing at? You’re going to fight with a wooden sword?”
“Surely you don’t think I’d look down on the son of the Sword Saint? I simply didn’t manage to bring one.”
I showed the bag at my waist to the instructor.
“Instead, would it be acceptable if I used these tools?”
“Flash orbs... strange metal spikes... and what are these liquids...? This is a swordsmanship spar. I cannot allow these...”
Feigning disappointment, I raised my voice so the other side could hear clearly.
“Ah... so even the Sword Saint’s son wants the easy win against a wooden sword.”
Leonhardt gritted his teeth and roared back.
“Use them all you want! Those cheap tricks will never work against the Sword Saint’s blade!”
As expected of the prideful Leonhardt. I had known he would take the bait the moment I picked up a wooden sword and provoked him.
The swordsmanship instructor scratched his head in visible discomfort, then passed the bag to the female instructor beside him. She checked it several times with a magic tool before handing it back to me.
“Hmm... no special magic has been applied, and nothing particularly problematic.”
“Ha... mutual agreement has been reached, and they aren’t magic tools, so it should be fine.”
The instructor sighed and permitted the use of the tools in the bag. Under normal circumstances it would have been impossible, but the Hertman family’s influence in the swordsmanship world was absolute.
Even that worked in my favor.
“You heard that, Leonhardt?”
Leonhardt answered me, then stepped onto the arena floor carrying a massive sword larger than his own height.
“This is the path you chose. Don’t regret it.”
“Hey, why do you act like you’re the Sword Saint just because your father is?”
The instant the words left my mouth, Leonhardt took the bait and charged with his sword raised.
“Prepare yourself!”