264 - The Exam Creator's Intent [Academy Tournament Elementary Division 2nd Year Selected Roster: Yoon Si-hu, Seo Yu-na, Kim Han-gyeol, Ma Ji-hye, I Ha-ru]
"Congrats, Yoon Si-hu. Looks like you're number one."
"Your name's not on the selected roster. You sure it's okay for you to come along?"
Si-hu, who had claimed the ace spot for the elementary division's 2nd years with his overwhelming skill, asked me that.
"I've got the middle school division candidate selection match later."
"How?"
"Perfectly."
I actually prefer groups that stick strictly to the rules. They're generally lenient as long as you don't break them.
I contacted Emily Mayakovsky at Seferon Foundation headquarters to ask about rule applications.
First, no height restriction for the middle school division.
Second, candidate rosters can only include students from the same grade or lower.
I spotted the loophole in those two rules: "lower grade" could include elementary students, citing Article 3, Clause 4 of the academy's founding purpose—"continuity of elementary and middle school education"—point by point.
There was precedent for a 6th-year elementary student subbing in for an injured 1st-year middle schooler, so it wasn't hard to convince them.
"But the selection matches are already over."
"They said the principal can recommend a simplified selection match through the grade head."
"Whoa..."
Of course, the foundation had only given "permission." But I exaggerated the opinion letter to Gu On-yu, the principal, implying the foundation was recommending my participation.
"The foundation probably approved assuming I'd already been picked for middle school without prior discussion, and the academy probably thinks the foundation ordered it?"
"Isn't that a lie? What if it gets found out later?"
"Even if they know, it won't matter much. But the important thing is I get to stick with you guys the whole way, right? You don't want me coming along?"
"..."
"Why no answer, Yoon Si-hu?"
I looped my arm around his neck from behind and shook his head playfully. Cute.
It didn't matter if the foundation or academy found out. Past academies had sent out anyone who could prove their skill, tournament or war alike. Things wouldn't be much different now.
Huff huff. Ahh. All 2051 Academy Tournament selectees, please gather immediately in the 1st-floor auditorium for tournament safety and ethics training.
"Anyway, do great out there. Si-hu, you take good care of our Yuna, got it?"
"Got it. I'll look after her, so don't worry."
"Oh? Look after her? Ooh..."
"Why...?"
"Nothing, heh."
Normally, Yoon Si-hu would've lit up with fury and denied it vehemently, but this time he just calmly nodded. Was his mindset shifting now that the real fights were so close? Unfortunately, my schedule was packed, so I had no time to grill him further. I'd tease him mercilessly next time I saw the kids.
The Academy Tournament was about victory, sure, but from a bigger picture, there was far more to consider.
First off, the event itself had to be a box-office hit. The tournament among eight academies, broadcast on the three major networks, was a national event.
But with every academy tournament nationwide happening the same week in October, smooth coordination with the opposing academy was key.
Seferon and Alteer in Seoul usually drew the biggest crowds, but Alteer's string of wins had dulled that hype lately.
Meanwhile, Busan's Aspen Academy vs. Daegu's Maha Academy had been surging in ratings, building on the legend Ban So-wol had crafted in recent years.
Still, expecting Alteer to go easy was a huge mistake.
"No way in hell those rotten bastards would."
In the middle of the sports field, the middle school grade head frowned up at the blazing sun.
Broadcast revenue was the foundations' business, but fading popularity was one thing—defeat was utterly intolerable to the academy faculty.
Yet last night, he'd gotten a shameless request from the elementary principal to let one kid compete as a candidate.
The rumor mill's star had just set down her red backpack and hopped onto the sand.
"You're the one who was supposed to show today? 'Cigarette'?"
"Don't say that to a student. I'm truly sorry about before."
"No remorse even now? Sigh, whatever. You're elementary, so your teachers must've drilled it into you. What difference would my meddling make?"
"None at all."
NoName took the grade head's subtle pressure in stride. Her nonchalant attitude narrowed his eyes.
"...Fine, let's start. Name: NoName. Elementary 2nd year. Grades: 1st in the first semester? Why skip elementary tournament for middle school?"
"Height limit."
"Height?"
His gaze dropped. NoName went up on tiptoes, then down, mimicking.
"There was a height restriction."
"Yeah? Makes sense—you'd crush 'em under your weight. But you apply for middle school selection without fear?"
"Worked out perfect. The elementary kids felt a bit lacking."
"Ahahahahaha! This tiny thing talks like an old soul. You're hilarious, NoName."
"Thanks."
"Haha, sure sure. Hot day—let's wrap quick and head in. Cool with you?"
NoName shrugged. The grade head grinned, pulling out the switch he'd shown before.
"That's a wand."
"Spot on? I modded it myself. Cool, right?"
"Not really..."
"Kids really are honesty incarnate. Love that attitude. Let's check your skills."
Whish— The grade head drew a massive magic circle with the switch.
A geometric pattern bloomed on the soft dirt, eight runes at the vertices completing the spell.
"Area-Wide Cast: Sisyphus's Barrier"
Blue mana churned, forming chains.
Clank!Clank clank clank!
Twelve taut chains became a cube's edges, enclosing them. Transparent, shimmering walls on six faces rippled like water in the breeze.
NoName poked a wall with her index finger, probing the mana flow.
'Mana flow's steady.'
One-way mana current. The grade head tossed the switch outside, crouched with hands on knees, and bellowed.
"Test start! Knock me down, kid. Knee, arm—anything touching ground counts. Got it?"
'Not just steady mana flow.'
One step toward the grade head, and the distance grew by one. A physical illusion spell. It tricked the caster's senses into thinking she'd moved while she stayed put.
Ranged attacks were easier, though—steady flow sped up circle setup.
'Play along for now.'
CAST: Polar Coordinate Assignment
She froze the damp soil into icy spikes. Double-cast assigned coordinates to the circle, freeing initial positioning.
All in one second—plenty for reaction.
But the grade head held his pose.
Boom!
Ice rained like spears, devastating the center. As she pondered amping aura output, she noticed the spikes veering off.
Not one hit. Had her spells been countered mid-cast? No—the cube's internal flow had shifted instantly.
"How'd you double-cast that fast—"
"Pretty fun spell you know."
Illusion plus environmental control—human ingenuity knew no bounds. What runes? Untraceable.
A rare thrill made her lips twitch.
CAST: Light
Such barriers usually warped vision with light. Block external interaction—like against Valrum Venaons—and it'd crumble.
Light spell lit the dim space. Now close quarters.
Aura to legs, she leaped at him. Linear attacks were easy to block. But fill a narrow space with a wall of force?
Foot hit ground; all body aura surged to fist and unleashed.
"Hup."
"This...!"
Whoosh!
He stepped back; her strike grazed his side. Shockwave kicked up sand, filling the cube.
"Beyond impressive. First time in my life."
Despite his 100kg-plus bulk, a light spin kick quelled the storm. But the earlier nonchalance was gone.
"Why no friction adjustment spells?"
"Looks like it'd do nothing."
Unlike his fat exterior, his balance was solid. Stable center, soles aura-trained—no point in basic spells. And if it were that easy, no need for this area-wide hassle.
"Kid with killer insight... You're a mystery the more I see."
"Time to fall yet?"
"Show a bit more? Curious how far you go."
What a pain. Her mana was ample for her age but not endless. Time to plan.
Circuit reconstruction interfered with "Sisyphus's Barrier," rotating mana flow 90 degrees. No security spells—easy access. He'd anticipated student interference?
She charged, drawing a circle with her right hand.
Rumble! Earth wall rose behind him, limiting movement.
Ice sword from ground, aimed at him.
Clang!
He wasn't helpless—aura-reinforced arm parried crudely.
No effective hits on that armor with her frame. Goal: backpedal to the wall.
Clang!
Left-hand ice sword; more pressure. Sand and droplets flew from dual blades. Relentless strikes slicked arms and hands. Sharp counters occasionally.
Thud— His back hit the cold sand wall.
"Cornering foes too... Where'd you learn that sense?"
"Comes naturally from games."
"Parents would clutch pearls. But now? Back to wall makes toppling me harder."
She dropped both swords.
"...?"
He scratched his head, puzzled. Of course.
"I win. Your back touched the ground."
"Huh? That's a wall, not ground."
"You sure?"
Why control yields disaster. He'd left security lax for testing, but real fights punished barrier zealots this way.
Hidden transmutation circle behind uplift activated.
His clothes glued to the wall, sinking in.
"What—why's the ground...?"
Light expired; polarization and barrier faded, revealing blue autumn sky.
She stood straight; he sprawled starfish-style.
"Rotate ground 90 degrees, wall becomes floor, right?"
"Whoa... Barrier mastery too? Made it yours?"
90-degree flow shift granted full space control. She'd just rotated the cube. His ground became wall; his wall, floor.
"Correct?"
"200 out of 100. First to topple me inside."
Good. Grasping the creator's intent was always toughest.
Barrier studies, typically high school. Last year, Alteer's secret prep in that damned subject had devastated Seferon middle schoolers.
Contestants trapped, flailing till heads cracked and out. Seferon cursed Alteer faculty for unsanctioned advanced lessons, but defeat lingered.
To avoid repeat, they taught all middle schoolers barrier countermeasures; selections emphasized it.
"Ha, what a monster..."
The 1st-year middle school grade head chuckled bitterly, recalling the quick selection.
Candidate-quality? Selection-level for sure.
"Huh, what's this?"
On the stone slab anchoring Sisyphus's circle, faint graffiti.
[NoName was here.]
Engraved before barrier broke. She'd seized control on entry.
"Fun... This tournament'll be a blast."
For once, the grade head felt more anticipation than worry for the kids' stage.