Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: 4. Temporary Hero Promotion Exam (1)
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The Temporary Hero promotion exam is held in a dungeon.
This dungeon is a bit special. They deliberately keep it open without closing it.
It's called the 'exam hall'.
Dungeons appear out of nowhere, suddenly, anywhere.
Inside, there's a portal that summons monsters, and when their numbers build up, they spill out and cause damage.
That's why dungeons are targets that need to be eliminated quickly.
The problem is, if you wipe out every dungeon that appears, aspiring heroes who are still trainees won't have a chance to grow.
So, I made a proposal.
Let's not close the portals of easy dungeons and stockpile them instead.
If managed at a national level, we can handle weak dungeons without issue.
As a result, they now maintain a certain number of dungeons that summon things like Green Slimes and Mini Golems, using them as 'exam halls'.
They gather them over two months and close them all at once during the exam period.
However, portals aren't something humans can fully control.
Unexpected things can happen.
For example, a Big Green Slime might pop out instead of a regular Green Slime.
It's just a stronger specimen of the same monster type, but to aspirants, that difference is huge.
And in my memory, there was information about something like that.
'King Slime.'
In my second run, it was a colossal slime that suddenly appeared in one of the dungeons.
Not only was it massive in size, but it could split off Green Slimes from its own body and control them.
Its durability was insane.
That King Slime ignited the challenging spirit of adventurers.
Even taking down a regular Big Slime earned you recognition for your skills.
What if it was a slime far larger than that?
Needless to say, you'd be hailed as the best, showered with all kinds of attention.
But that slime was beyond what ordinary adventurers could handle.
It repelled countless challengers and hunkered down in that dungeon for a full year.
Eventually, it even earned the moniker 'King Slime' among the people.
In the end, it took some pretty well-known adventurers to step up.
The timing of that King Slime's appearance matches exactly with when Vivian is taking her exam right now.
Plus, that dungeon is on the list of exam halls for this round.
On top of that.
The power I've seen from Vivian is more than enough to take on a King Slime.
And one more thing.
Sylvia made her dazzling debut in her first Temporary exam by one-shotting the very first Big Slime.
Vivian could make a name for herself in a similar way.
Since it's far bigger than a Big Slime, it might be even more spectacular.
Exam registration starts next week.
I know which dungeon it is, so if we head there early and sign up, we're good.
"I-Ian?"
"Hm? Yeah?"
It was Vivian's voice.
"Why are you smiling like that...?"
Oh, was I?
Vivian was looking at me suspiciously.
I didn't mean anything weird by it.
"I was just thinking about your future, passing the exam."
"Aw, no way..."
"It's true. You don't believe me?"
"No! I do!"
She answered confidently, like she believed she had a shot too.
Well, failing ten times means she'd seen ten people pass.
She must have a good sense of what level it takes to get through.
"But why'd you call me? Looked like you had something to say."
"Oh. To make it smaller, I think I need to use mana more efficiently, but I don't really know how..."
Ah, I got so caught up thinking about the exam that I forgot to explain.
Still, she's already figuring out what she needs on her own and consulting me about it.
She's growing fast. Nice.
"Remember that magic I showed the kids before?"
"This one?"
Vivian drew a rainbow in the air with her hand, and sparkling ice crystals formed.
She's doing that as easily as breathing...
Scattering small elemental crystals is such a trivial technique it's barely worth calling magic.
Not many people can do it, and even fewer bother trying.
It has zero practical value—not even as much as a pebble.
But for honing the sense of finely manipulating mana, nothing beats it.
"Try imagining making those crystals bigger and harder, bit by bit."
Since it's not a spell designed for lethality in the first place, you can't just pour more mana into it on a whim.
Pondering how to infuse the mana leads to more precise control.
It won't happen overnight, but consistent practice should help.
"O-oh... I think I get it!"
What? Already?
"Oh, aha... like this, hmm..."
Vivian’s eyes sparkled as she twisted and shaped the ice crystal in front of her this way and that.
I barely held back a cough.
Incredible.
Who'd ever guess this girl failed the Temporary exam ten times...?
Thinking about her past, it's not all that strange.
Sadly, in this world, even effort has to be done smartly.
She just didn't know how.
Next, Vivian wove flickering flames beneath the ice crystal.
"......"
I watched silently.
Did she even realize what she'd just done?
Composite multi-casting.
It looked like the basics of using multiple types of magic at once...
Still just kid's play for now, but I couldn't even guess how far she'd grow.
"I think I get it! I've never done anything like this before, but ever since meeting you, Ian, everything just works. It's so amazing!"
Vivian beamed innocently.
Come on, no need to say it like that.
"Ahh, sinner of a man..."
Mercy muttered, her face still pale.
Part of me wanted to smack her.
And why's Kati glaring at me?
"Just keep up with the exam prep. I'll get you there."
"Yes!"
*
Fourteen days since she last used magic, then another seven.
The daily routine was similar, but a lot had changed.
For one, people recognized us.
Me, Vivian.
Even Mercy and Kati.
It got so bad that when going out, Mercy had to hide in my pocket.
Recognition was one thing.
But 'Why haven't you joined the guild yet?' 'Take a class and watch your skills skyrocket.' 'We've got an open spot in our party—interested?' 'What a waste of talent.'
Thanks to Kati, no one actually blocked our path, but it was still annoying.
Vivian was awkward at first with the crowds, but she gradually adapted.
She said it felt good, like lots of people were acknowledging her.
She'd be buried in even more people later, so getting her used to it early wasn't bad.
Even some aspirants started jogging after Vivian during her training.
None kept up to the end.
Vivian could now run 30 laps a day.
Finally, registration day arrived.
*
Living here, I learned something.
The name Philip was way more famous than I thought.
Next was Penny, the master of the Managers' Guild.
Both were seen as role models for managers.
Still, Penny was nowhere near Philip's level.
Luckily, the name Ian wasn't that well-known.
Just like Vivian said—only those in the know recognized it.
Another thing I learned: a ton of managers were copying Penny.
That squinty-eyed, soft-smiling, honorific-speaking annoying face.
No idea why they did it.
Didn't want to know, didn't want to see it.
The problem was, Felix—Vivian's former manager—right next to me had that exact face.
This was one of the training ground buildings, the exam registration desk.
The receptionist double-checked with me.
"Manager Ian. Aspirant: Vivian, one. Exam Hall 4. Is that correct?"
"Yes."
The dungeon where the King Slime would appear.
Felix signed up for the same hall right away.
He'd been waiting at the entrance before registration even opened. He planned this.
Pathetic.
"Oh my, what a coincidence—we're headed to the same place."
Coincidence my ass...
Even that snide tone was like Penny's.
Though honestly, nowhere near as good.
"Looking forward to exam day."
"Vivian, hungry?"
"Yes!"
"Let's go."
We came here before breakfast, worried someone might snag the hall.
I could've come alone after feeding Vivian, but she insisted on eating together.
"......"
I heard teeth grinding behind us.
As we left the registration desk, Mercy and Kati were waiting outside.
"All good?"
"What do you mean, good or not."
"Still, say it went well in times like this."
"Fine, it went great. No worries. Let's go."
Kati glared intently into the registration desk.
Now I got why Felix didn't talk to us outside.
"Kati, enough. Come on."
"Yes."
The day before the Temporary exam.
"A gift arrived?"
A clerk from Taylor's shop came by.
The same elderly clerk who'd delivered Vivian's clothes last time.
The well-dressed man smiled gently and handed over a long, cloth-wrapped item.
It was wrapped in clean white cloth.
"This is for Vivian."
"Huh? For me?"
"Please, have a look."
Vivian glanced at me.
"Go ahead and take it."
"O-okay, then..."
Vivian carefully unwrapped the white cloth.
Inside was a staff.
Not just any staff—a magic staff for mages.
"Th-this is..."
"A bodhi tree staff. Details here."
The clerk pulled out a clean parchment from his pocket.
It was a letter written by Taylor herself.
📰 Letter from Ruby Taylor Ian! Big sis Vivian! Sending this since you're taking the exam tomorrow! I got it as a gift, but when would I ever use something like this? They say it helps circulate mana through the circuits, but since you've probably already trained hers well, not sure how much it'll help... Still, I'd be grateful if you use it well! Good luck on the exam! P.S. When you find the next member, come back for sure! Perfect timing.
She's improved a ton since before, but Vivian's circuits still aren't perfect.
She mentioned it felt a bit sticky in spots.
From those subtle points on, it was up to her to figure it out herself.
And right when Vivian needed it, a staff that aids mana circulation.
Vivian teared up as she took the staff.
"Th-thank you... Really, thank you... I-I'm getting this... N-no, wait..."
A few tears fell onto the staff.
"Wah! No, not on this precious new thing...!"
She wiped it with her sleeve.
"Um, c-can I write a reply real quick? It won't take long! Could you wait?!"
The clerk smiled kindly at the frantic Vivian.
"Of course."
"I'll write it super fast!"
Mercy patted her and followed to help with the letter.
Kati was sprawled at my feet, spacing out.
The clerk tilted his head toward me discreetly.
"Taylor has a message for you too, Ian."
"For me? From Taylor?"
"Yes. She heard there's a guy named Felix taking the same exam."
"Yes, that's right."
"That Felix..."
*
Vivian handed over the letter and thanked him profusely for a good while.
Anyone would think Taylor was standing there.
The clerk chuckled as if finding her adorable, then left.
I told Vivian to go to bed early and headed to my room alone.
Thinking about tomorrow's exam, I recalled what I'd heard earlier.
'Felix... what an interesting guy.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The day of the Temporary Hero promotion exam.
In front of Exam Hall 4.
Where the dungeon keeper and exam guide were waiting.
"Manager Ian."
"Mage aspirant Vivian."
Ian and Vivian had arrived.
'Finally...'
Dressed in her white robe and pointed hat.
With the staff gifted by Taylor in hand, Vivian looked determined.