Finals: "More Peaceful Than Expected"
"It's more peaceful than I thought."
"Yeah, tell me about it."
There had been a little mishap with the exam hall door closing unexpectedly, leaving everyone flustered, but contrary to expectations, the test was proceeding without a hitch.
...Maybe I overreacted about them closing the door. It's standard procedure anyway.
The air still felt off, but nothing out of the ordinary was happening. It was heavy, no doubt about that, but not to the point of any real problems. Just a vague sense of unease?
"Guess that means I should focus on the exam for now."
If there wasn't an immediate crisis, prioritizing his grades made sense. No way something would go wrong in a test crafted by an archmage himself, right?
'First up, let's tackle the initial trial.'
The trials scattered throughout the exam hall. With them everywhere, stumbling upon one shouldn't be hard.
"Master. I sense stronger mana that way."
"Yeah. Shall we head over?"
The key to acing Belhalm's exam was simple: conquer as many trials as possible. So from here on out, speedrun the maximum number.
"Whoa... This place is amazing. To think humans could wield magic like this."
"No kidding. Impressive stuff."
As they approached the source of the intense mana, admiration slipped naturally from both Lilia's and Dante's lips.
It had been an empty forest just moments ago, but stepping inside transformed it in an instant. Petals drifted lazily from the sky, birds soared freely overhead. It felt just like the spirit forests where elves dwelled.
'Looks like a trial spot... but no clear instructions on what to do?'
They'd entered, but nothing jumped out as special. The trees and grass around them pulsed with strong mana, that was all. Still, since it was a trial, maybe he needed to observe more carefully.
"Master. That tree over there seems to be the exam's focus."
"Oh, yeah?"
Dante whipped his head toward where Lilia pointed.
A small sapling rooted to the ground. Unlike the vibrant forest, its branches were visibly wilting.
Insight pierces the target's truth.
Sapling of Spring
— The origin sustaining the forest's vitality. Currently depleting its life force for unknown reasons.
Absorbs the target's mana to grow, blooming different flowers based on the mana absorbed.
Insight revealing even this much? Yeah, this had to be part of the trial. With details like that, even he could guess the objective.
Whoooooom!!!!!
He circulated his circles, boiling the mana within his body.
A tree sustaining the forest's life was dying? Simple—revive it.
"Hoo... It's sucking up a ton."
He rolled up his sleeve and poured his mana straight into the sapling. The branches, wilting fiercely as they absorbed it, began to perk up bit by bit.
A hopeful sight—but it didn't last. An unwelcome presence stirred from behind.
"You fool. Think you can save the sapling alone?"
A foreign aura, distinct from his own mana. Unfamiliar to most students, but all too familiar to him.
"Lilia. That's a real demon, right?"
"Nope. No way it's that pathetic. Probably part of the test."
"Yeah...?"
Recalling the demons he'd faced, this thing didn't even measure up to a demonkin. Impressive aura or not, it was just an illusion.
"Pitiful human. Behold true power... Gaaaargh!!!"
No chance to finish. Dante slammed a Lightning Spear into its skull.
Its head exploded on impact, vanishing without a fight. At 6th Circle, he'd expected as much... but damn, it went down easier than anticipated.
"Tch. A demon reduced to a mere exam prop. Pathetic."
"Says the one subjugated by me?"
"...I'm different. My master's you."
Is that rationalization valid? He decided not to dwell. The sapling had fully regained its vitality anyway.
...Impressive. Gulped down 30% of my mana?
It stopped absorbing—no more risk there. Now towering far above his height, the tree bloomed the same flowers that had fluttered when they first entered.
"Traveler..."
In that instant, an unfamiliar voice echoed from the air.
"...Pardon? Me?"
"Human who faced my illusion."
Seemed directed at him.
"Young Tuner, I entrust Belhalm's legacy to you."
"...Huh?"
Is this because of the ring on my finger? Belhalm's artifact from life, sure, but...
"Wait, hold on."
"........."
It just said its piece and vanished. Too abrupt. What was he supposed to do with that?
"Lilia. Know what a 'Tuner' is?"
"...No clue. First time hearing it in over a thousand years."
"Figures...?"
If even a possessor like him didn't know, no surprise Lilia didn't. Tuner... Sounded neutral enough. Just caught him off guard with the sudden entrustment.
Trial of Spring: 7 minutes 18 seconds
"Ah. Guess we passed."
A blue window confirmed it. The tree's words nagged, but nothing to do about it now. Focus on the remaining trials.
"Lilia. Scout the next strong mana spot."
"Got it. Just follow me!"
Having a slave sure helped in times like these. Pinpointing mana before he even sensed it... Demon navigation: top-tier performance.
*******
Belhalm's trials proved easier than expected. Maybe because they recreated the great sage's own ordeals?
'Expected more combat, but plenty weren't.'
Some took extra time as a result. Pure intuition fights? He could've wrapped those in under three minutes.
"Ahem... Looks like that's the last one. Mana peaks there."
After clearing about four, Lilia pointed near the entrance door they'd come through.
The rusted, sealed door—and beyond it. Mana pulsed vividly from what should have been empty space.
'Spring, summer, autumn, winter. Deliberately seasonal?'
The prior four matched the seasons. So the fifth...
"You're the second."
Nothing before, but stepping into the alien space revealed a blue-eyed young man.
Eyes brimming with wisdom and insight, snow-white hair. A youthful face clashing with his scholarly hat. Even at 6th Circle, Dante felt chills from the man standing there.
"Lilia. No way that's..."
"........."
"Huh? Lilia?"
Silence. No chatter from the usually talkative girl.
"Looking for the demon girl?"
"...What did you do?"
"No worries. She'll return once you leave this construct."
The man smiled gently, eyes fixed on Dante.
"The Great Sage... Belhalm, right?"
"Ahem. Indeed. Sharp one, aren't you?"
"Missing that would be the real issue, no?"
He'd half-expected it in Belhalm's test. Great sages leaving echoes post-mortem wasn't rare. Just hadn't imagined such a pristine form.
"The previous child failed to recognize me. Despite inheriting my will."
"...You said I'm second?"
"Yes. The lilac one was first."
Dorothy, probably. Made sense—her talent could've gotten her here.
"You're gray."
"...Pardon?"
"I see the colors of fate. Lilac for her, gray for you."
"......Bad?"
"Neither good nor bad—open to interpretation. Like colors blending, so do fates intertwine."
Referring to me as a possessor? Can Belhalm perceive that?
"Well. Want to pass the trial?"
"...Do I have to fight you or something?"
"Hahaha! Hardly. Finding me is enough."
Relief. Fighting Belhalm? He'd win, but barely.
"Passed, so a reward's due."
With a snap, a nail-sized crystal materialized. Tiny, but its power immense—beyond mere mana.
"Normally, locating me suffices for passage."
...Normally?
"But impudently, gray child—mind a small request?"
"Can I refuse...?"
"You can, but it won't end well."
What the hell. No real choice then.
"My trial: Seal the reverse side."
In a flash, the crystal from Belhalm's hand slammed into Dante. He was ejected from the pure white space like an unwelcome guest.
"Ah... Fucking hell..."
Simultaneously, a vision of hell unfolded before his eyes.