Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Teleportation (5)
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The Teleportation Practice Ground.
Students began arriving one by one at the peak, 1,000 meters above sea level. With no classes scheduled, not only the kids from Class Seven but also students from the upper classes flocked to see the results.
By the end of the day, one student from Class Seven would be promoted to Class Five.
Considering it usually took an average of two years to advance a single class, this meant that in the worst-case scenario, a student at least four years younger could become their classmate.
“Whoa! So this is the Uncrossable Bridge. It's my first time here.”
The students participating in the promotion test were astounded by the immense scale of the practice ground. On the opposite peak, 700 meters away, teachers and other students had also gathered.
“But why is it called the Uncrossable Bridge? Where is the bridge?”
“You idiot, it's right there.”
A long iron rod connected the two peaks. The longer the length, the lower the tension. The mere fact that a 700-meter rod stretched across was proof that it was made of an alchemical substance.
A few students walked to the edge of the cliff and looked down. Contrary to what the teachers had said, there were no safety devices, not even anything that resembled one.
“What is this? Won't we die if we fall?”
Thadd, who had leaped across the peak using spatial movement, said.
“There's no need to worry. The safety measures are solid.”
The students couldn't feel at ease. They had heard that at other schools, students had actually died during teleportation practice.
“How does it work?”
“If you fall 100 meters, an Air Net spell will automatically activate. It was designed to be invisible because students don't feel any tension if they can see the safety net.”
“What if it malfunctions?”
“Hahaha! I can't say it's impossible. But something like that has never happened before.”
“So there's no absolute guarantee of safety, then?”
“Hmm, you could say that.”
The students' faces turned pale. Thadd turned away with a satisfied expression. Even if the safety device failed, an accident wouldn't happen. That was why all the advanced classes had been canceled and the teachers gathered here.
But even if an accident were to occur, it couldn't be helped. The magic academy was a special-purpose school supported by the kingdom, and as a rule, it was not held liable for injuries or deaths that occurred during class. The students were already aware of this when they applied for the advanced classes.
“It's been a long time since I've been here. Amy, let's go over there.”
Seriel took Amy's hand and pulled her up the hill. Amy looked reluctant, but she eventually followed her lead, saying.
“I told you, I don't want to watch. The level of Class Seven is obvious.”
“Oh, come on! It's the day your boyfriend proudly ascends to Class Five. What are you talking about? If his girlfriend doesn't cheer him on a day like this, when will you ever score points with him?”
“Tch! Cheering or not, those who are meant to pass will pass, and those who are meant to fail will fail. What's the point?”
Though Amy acted nonchalant, she was quite worried on the inside. How much could he have improved his teleportation in just a month? Could he even teleport at all?
Practical training was the best way to get a feel for teleportation. But the process was so painful that most people first learned the knack of it by following the advice of a skilled practitioner.
Amy, on the other hand, was the type to learn by literally throwing herself into it. Of course, thanks to having mastered Schema from a young age, it hadn't been too difficult for her.
*‘But Shirone isn't like that. Still, he's not the type to give up. I hope he's in good condition.’*
While not on Shirone's level, Class Seven still had its fair share of notable talents. Depending on the situation, it wouldn't be strange if Shirone failed.
“Huh? But I don't think Shirone is here yet?”
As Seriel, who was looking at the peak through a telescope, spoke, Amy snatched it from her. Just as she'd said, Shirone was not among the 20 students standing on the cliff.
“What? What happened?”
“You don't think he failed, do you?”
She couldn't be sure. She trusted him because it was Shirone, but in truth, it wasn't a magic easy enough to learn through self-study.
*‘That idiot… Where in the world is he and what is he doing?’*
* * *
Shirone's eyes opened to the stinging sunlight. Unlike usual, his view was low, and the sky seemed high. A jay hopped into his line of sight, and his mind snapped to attention.
“Aaaah! What is this!”
He looked around and realized he was in the middle of the training ground. He had been sleeping ever since he collapsed last night.
Having only slept three hours a night while studying, and then pushing his body to the limit for the last week, he had essentially passed out.
*‘The promotion test!’*
Cold sweat trickled down Shirone's spine. Without a moment to feel despair, he kicked off the ground and shot forward. To climb 1,000 meters above sea level, he had to run, regardless of his condition.
*‘Please! Please!’*
“We will now begin, Headmaster.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
As Shina launched a flare magic into the sky, tension filled the practice ground. Etella, who confirmed the flare from the opposite peak, turned to the students and said.
“When the teacher gives the signal, run toward the cliff. The person who travels the farthest using teleportation will pass the promotion test.”
The students swallowed hard. The difficulty of the Uncrossable Bridge was Level 1, with no obstacles, but the fear of flying through the open air was beyond imagination.
Regardless of ranking, one had to chain at least 70 consecutive teleports to land safely. Moreover, if their rhythm broke mid-air, the fear of falling would likely cause their Spirit Zone to vanish.
*‘There's no way I can cross. I'll fall eventually, but what if the safety device doesn't work?’*
It was human nature not to believe it even when told it was safe, so most of the students were stiff with tension. The only ones who seemed relatively at ease were Mark and his operation team.
*‘Hmph. I've practiced every day. As long as I'm not interfered with, seventy times is more than enough.’*
The only variable was Shirone's absence. Mark's dedicated mage had reported that Shirone's progress was slow, but it was hard to believe without seeing it for himself. Now that it had come to this, he felt he had been tense over someone insignificant.
*‘Teleportation. He couldn't learn it. Then again, he was never much of anything besides his Spirit Zone.’*
The person most anxious about Shirone's absence was Amy. Her nonchalant demeanor had vanished, and she was pacing restlessly on the cliff.
“What! What's going on! Why isn't he here!”
“Amy, look over there!”
Seriel pointed to the opposite peak. When Amy looked through the telescope, she saw Shirone running toward the summit. His clothes were covered in dirt as if he'd fallen somewhere, and his face was pale, as though he couldn't even catch his breath.
“Where has he been! That idiot!”
Seriel let out a sigh of relief and said.
“Still, what a relief. He made it in time. But he must be exhausted. Will he be okay?”
“I don't know! How should I know! It's a miracle he wasn't disqualified!”
In any case, the fact that he had arrived at the test site seemed to indicate he could now teleport. Seeing his chapped lips and the dark bruises on his arm, she could easily imagine the ordeal Shirone had gone through. Amy regained her composure and looked around.
“The wind is pretty strong today. This is going to be a difficult test.”
While not as affected as the flight spell Fly, teleportation wasn't completely immune to wind speed or atmospheric pressure. It would be a test where one couldn't lose focus for even a second.
The students waiting for the test stiffened at Shirone's appearance. They felt as if they'd been sucker-punched just when they'd let their guard down, thinking he had given up.
“Tch! That bastard did it on purpose. To confuse us.”
“Pretending to be so innocent, but he's actually devious. Does he want to get promoted so badly he'd resort to such a cowardly trick?”
It was true that he had shaken the other kids' morale, but Shirone's stamina was depleted, so he was actually at a disadvantage.
Etella watched the gasping Shirone, lost in thought. He had arrived before the test began, so he was qualified, but a test should assess skills under equal conditions.
*‘Will it be fair to proceed like this?’*
She shot an orange flare magic into the sky. Blue meant ready, red meant start the test, and orange was a question mark.
The teachers who saw Etella's flare discussed the matter. Opinions were divided between starting immediately and giving him at least a 10-minute break.
“What are your thoughts, Headmaster?”
Alpheas was firm.
“Let's begin. Managing one's condition is also a skill a student should have before a test. I don't think it's our place to intervene.”
“Understood. Then...”
Shina conveyed the decision to proceed with a red flare. Shirone squeezed in among the students standing in a line. The ones who kindly made space for him were from Mark's operation team.
Every single student was tense. No matter how much special training they had received, running toward a 1,000-meter cliff was another matter entirely. It was an unknown world, equal for all. Until they faced it, they couldn't know what they would see, how they would feel, or how terrified they would be when the sky opened up beneath their feet.
“We will now begin the early promotion test for Class Seven. Get ready.”
The students took their running stances. Just as only the sound of their heartbeats could be heard, Etella cast her flare magic.
With a bang, a red sphere shot into the sky. The teachers on the other side flipped through their files, preparing to record, and the students, as if on cue, kicked off the ground and started running.
*‘The lead! I have to take the lead!’*
*‘If I can get out in first place, it’s not entirely impossible!’*
Most of the students had similar thoughts. As a result, Shirone, whose legs were weak, couldn't help but fall behind.
But there was still a chance to catch up. The point at which one would teleport before the cliff depended on their individual resolve. The best start was to kick off the cliff, launch into the air, and then teleport.
But how many could actually do that? The starting point was where tension was highest, and the Uncrossable Bridge was at an altitude of one kilometer.
Wind speed, wind direction, atmospheric pressure, temperature—every environmental factor was different from practice. If they leaped with their bare bodies and the magic failed, it would be the end. It was only natural to want to start from the ground, where there was still a chance for recovery.
Just as Shirone expected, when they were five meters from the cliff, students who couldn't bear the fear began to teleport and fly away. The rest quickly followed suit. The only ones in the leading group who hadn't started yet were Mark and his party.
*‘No! A little more!’*
He suppressed his rising fear and stomped his feet. Shirone would surely be aiming for the best possible start. If so, he needed a starting point that was just as good.
*‘Can I do it? What if I fall?’*
Even as he gritted his teeth and steeled his resolve, the nauseating feeling wouldn't go away. When Mark's escort team couldn't hold on any longer and shot off in a flash of light, he too finally teleported.
Even with more than half the students having left the cliff, Shirone was still running. The members of the operation team keeping pace with him felt their blood run cold.
If they kept going, they would fall off the cliff. With two steps left to the edge, the operation team finally cast their spell. Despite this, Shirone kept running. For him, who understood the true nature of danger, fear was no obstacle.
The first turn wasn't over yet. If he could just get a good start, he could make up for the ground he lost.