Freshman Evaluation Test
Belloa's magic continued to pour down relentlessly. The sheer firepower showed no concern for mana consumption whatsoever. Right, she was facing me purely on raw power.
So this is what Belloa feels like now.
Insight pierces through her mana circuits.
A blue window popped up, and I halted my steps.
"Given up already?"
Her question flew at me along with her magic as I stopped dodging. Not just her—even the other students seemed to think so. Jeers that hadn't been audible before now reached my ears.
"Nah, no way I'd give up. The real fight starts now."
Insight had fully analyzed Belloa's circuits. There was no longer any reason to keep dodging pointlessly against her.
"Anyone can talk a big game. Prove it."
Four circles spun in the air, magic beginning to form. Four spells rained down in sequence. I'd focused solely on evasion before, but now it was different.
Boom!!!
Before the magic could even touch me, a massive roar echoed, and it fizzled out.
"What?!"
She panicked, unleashing spells even faster and fiercer. The cool composure from earlier was gone.
Attacking so predictably...
Insight read the trajectories of Belloa's incoming magic, and I formed barriers along those paths. Not broad shields covering my whole body, but high-density ones targeting just the precise spots.
"Ah...!!"
She seemed to realize what I'd done, but her spells still never reached me. I simply advanced step by step toward her.
Belloa backed away, soon abandoning offense for pure defense.
That's not a typical student's judgment.
She was demonstrating the quick decision-making essential for a battlefield mage.
Rumble!!!
An earth-attribute spell—a massive dirt wall blocked my view. It could obscure vision and halt movement for a moment, but...
This judgment's a bit off.
Hummm!!!
Mana Affinity supports you.
Heavenly Martial Body supports you.
Mana swirled through my body as I punched straight through the wall. A massive hole tore open in what had seemed so solid moments ago. And in that instant, I locked eyes with Belloa's spell, prepared beyond the wall.
"...Hoo. This ends it."
A 4th Circle attack spell boasting exceptional power—the Azure Flame Spear. It hurtled toward me through the hole.
"Master!!!"
Lilia's urgent cry cut through the sudden tension. But as I'd said before, I'd already mastered how to counter Belloa.
Crunch!!!
My mana-clad hand seized the spearhead and crushed it. My palm scorched slightly, but it was nothing.
"Guess that means I've won, right?"
I placed my left hand on Belloa's shoulder as she gawked at me, murmuring casually.
"H-Huh...?"
Her legs buckled in disbelief, bringing the match to a close.
"The magic department's top spot goes to... Dante Vergilius, unchanged!"
I'd secured the magic department's top spot as expected.
It's not that hard to win against her yet, anyway.
I could beat her easily until she gained experience and hit 6th Circle. Tough opponents were seasoned mages, after all. Plus, I knew her habits and tendencies.
Well... aside from that, this is a bit unexpected.
I'd figured wrapping up the magic department spot would end it. What I hadn't anticipated was the tops from each department competing to decide the overall chief.
Thus, I sat as the magic department representative.
"Master, is your hand okay?"
"Of course. Just a little burn—it'll heal on its own."
"...Still, aren't you being too reckless with your body?"
Lilia eyed me with worry. Made sense; if I died, she would too. But her concern was unfounded—my palm had already healed, thanks to the Heavenly Martial Body's absurd regeneration.
"Now, for the final match: knight department's Luel versus magic department's Dante!"
My turn now. I'd faced a few opponents casually, and suddenly it was the finals. The others weren't on Belloa's level, after all. In the original story, she'd even claimed the overall top.
"This one's easy for you, right Master? The vibe is..."
"Easy? Doubt it."
"Huh? But the presence they give off is so different..."
Lilia tilted her head, questioning my take. Fair enough—the auras around me and Luel felt worlds apart.
But skill aside, she's the protagonist.
The blonde beauty gripping her sword in a slightly awkward stance—she was this game's true hero. Normally, the player chose her gender, but here she was female.
"Watch closely. Presence isn't everything."
Sometimes, appearances deceived. Hero, Child of Light, Wielder of the Holy Sword. All those grand titles pointed to one person: Luel.
"...So you're saying you'll lose?"
"Nah. I'll win."
A smile tugged at my lips as I ascended the stairs. As expected of the early story, her fundamentals weren't polished yet. Still, the uncanny aura around Luel was impossible to ignore.
"Luel."
"...Y-Yes? Me?"
"Yeah. Give it your all."
This was a perfect chance to gauge her current power. I slipped back into focus.
While Dante dueled Luel, Belloa watched in a daze.
...Impossible. Is that really a mage?
That wasn't a mage—it defied the term. He blocked most attacks with his mana-clad body, used barriers for the heavy hitters, and barely cast proper spells. Instead, he overwhelmed the knight department chief, Luel, in close quarters.
Not just Belloa—most spectators were rethinking mage combat entirely. Dante displayed it all so casually.
"Maybe he can't do ranged magic...?"
Belloa recalled her own close fight with him. Despite being a 3rd Circle mage, he'd fought physically, ignoring ranged spells. Her theory seemed plausible.
"Doubt it."
"...Huh?"
As Belloa turned toward the sudden voice, she involuntarily bowed her head.
T-The Saintess, here?!
Yuria, the saintess who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with princes in Class A, had sat beside her naturally.
"Heehee... Belloa Lamier, right?"
"...Yes. An honor, Saintess."
"No need for formality. Be at ease."
The saintess's warm smile eased Belloa's tension instantly. This must be a cleric's comforting aura.
"Oh, more importantly, about what you said earlier..."
"Ranged magic?"
"Yes. I thought maybe he couldn't..."
"I saw it. He casually fired a 3rd Circle Lightning Spear."
"Ah..."
Belloa realized her assumption was wrong. The saintess wouldn't lie—falsehoods were grave sins in the Holy Church. Imagining otherwise was absurd.
And... using barriers like that, yet can't do ranged? Ridiculous.
She remembered Dante's barriers. Not wide-area defenses, but high-density concentrations on pinpoint spots. Not hard magic, really—she could do it now. But...
Using it like that in combat...?
Dante had nullified attacks effortlessly by predicting trajectories and pre-forming barriers. That was the insane part.
"If only I had talent like that..."
Shadow crept into Belloa's eyes—until Yuria smiled brightly.
"Heehee. Talent... is that it?"
"Huh?"
"From what I know, his effort is immense too."
Everyone knew Dante trained relentlessly in the gym and magic practice. A magic student there was odd enough, and as department chief, all eyes were on him.
"...Ah."
Talent. Or rather, the gap in effort.
Belloa worked hard, but not to Dante's blood-soaked extremes.
"Dante... I can't lose to you next time either."
As Belloa gazed at him with renewed resolve, Dante crushed Luel overwhelmingly, claiming the overall top spot.
