Chapter 372
Chapter 372
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 372
Chapter Title: The Steel Gate (1)
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"You're here?"
Nade threw down his bag and immediately dove onto the sofa.
"Ugh, I'm exhausted. The road from the central region to the south is just too rough."
"I came from the capital."
"You think I came in a private carriage? I skipped meals and held it in the whole way. If it were a Mercodine family carriage, I could've eaten while taking a dump."
"Or shat while eating."
"Whatever! Anyway, have you been well? Don't tell me you betrayed me and did some special training or something?"
Iruki didn't deny it.
"Well, since I've come this far, I should probably graduate, don't you think?"
Nade shot up from the sofa.
"For real? Dammit, if you're doing it too, what does that make me? What kind of magic is it? Is it even more amazing than Cancellation?"
"It's still in the preliminary stages, so I wouldn't call it magic just yet. I just need to perfect it before the graduation exam anyway. I'll tell you when I have some tangible results."
Any student in the graduating class would plan to have their physical rhythm peak on the day of the exam.
Amy's case alone was enough to prove that, regardless of the process, the result was all that mattered.
"Tch, lucky you. I just goofed off all break."
Iruki looked back at Nade with a bitter expression. Despite his words, his face didn't look particularly upset.
It was clear that even after entering the graduating class, he still had no interest in becoming a mage.
"But you..."
"Huh? What?"
Iruki shook his head, swallowing his words.
"No, it's nothing."
"Tch! How boring."
The already open door swung open even more violently as Shirone entered.
A smile bloomed on his face as he reunited with his dear friends.
"Whoa! You guys, what on earth is that smell!"
But his good mood was short-lived; he immediately pinched his nose and grimaced.
The floor of the society room was a chaotic mess of trash. How on earth could those two stand the smell?
Nade and Iruki glanced at each other and snickered.
"Sorry. I put on some cologne for the first time in a while. Was it that good?"
"Shut up! Let's clean this place up, now!"
The three of them grabbed cleaning supplies and began a major cleanup.
By the time the place, which had resembled a large garbage warehouse, was more or less clean, the time for the event was drawing near.
Exhausted, Nade lay sprawled on the sofa, staring at the ceiling as he asked.
"What time is it?"
"1 o'clock. We should start getting ready."
Realizing this, Shirone shot up from the sofa.
"That's right! I haven't picked up my formal uniform!"
"I picked them up this morning. Yours and Nade's, too."
Nade gave him a thumbs-up.
"You're always so thorough. But do we really have to wear these? I really don't want to."
The formal uniform was the magic academy's ceremonial attire, forbidden to be worn outside of special events, but the students themselves were reluctant to wear it even once a year, finding it ridiculous.
"It's not even the graduation, it's the entrance ceremony. Why a formal uniform summons? I'd rather see myself in the mirror applying hemorrhoid cream than wearing that."
Shirone turned to Nade and asked.
"You have hemorrhoids?"
"It's just an expression! Anyway, let's get ready. Where's my hemorrhoid cream—I mean, my formal uniform?"
Iruki pointed to a corner. Three boxes were stacked up like a tower.
They each took the box with their name on it and unfolded the uniform. A white gown with a stripe along the shoulder line fluttered like a ghost.
Once worn, it might look mage-like, but in a crowded place, it would be better for one's mental health to wear a mask as well.
"Ugh, we have to meet the Class Two kids wearing this? They don't have to wear it. Aren't we going to be a total laughingstock?"
"Can't be helped. It's the rule."
Iruki didn't really care. He figured clothes were fine as long as they covered the important parts. Like the head, eyes, or heart.
The three of them, wearing the formal uniforms over their clothes, stood side by side in front of the mirror. They looked like three slimy liquid monsters.
However, contrary to their initial thoughts, their expressions were solemn.
"Will we ever get a chance to wear these again?"
In the busy schedule of the graduating class, there were almost no days to wear the formal uniform. In the end, if they failed to pass the graduation exam, today would be the last time they'd see themselves in this state, looking as if they'd been doused in watery soup.
Iruki flapped the sleeves, which were longer than his arms, and said.
"It won't be easy. We're lacking information, after all."
Nade turned to him, looking surprised.
"Really? I thought you and Shirone would pass for sure."
"Personal feelings aside, mathematically, it's one-third. If you have Shirone, Dante, and Amy, it means two of them will fail. If Shirone passes, Dante and Amy can't graduate."
Nade couldn't imagine any of them failing.
"Nah, no way. All three of them could pass, right?"
"That's because you know them. Humans tend to think the information they have is the most accurate. But if that were the case, no one would ever fail. Even a simple average comes out to just 3.3 people per class. And besides, we're in Class Three, the lowest in the graduating year."
Nade was speechless.
Literally the pinnacle of the magic academy. A group where the skill gap was narrower than in any other class, and where no one even considered the possibility of their own failure.
Shirone brushed the wrinkles from his gown and said.
"If we're all planning to pass, we don't need to worry about probabilities. Let's go in with the mindset that we're starting from scratch."
Shirone's words were the right answer.
Everything they had accomplished while moving from the lower to the upper classes would be completely reset. It was a true showdown among the 30 students facing the final gateway to becoming mages.
***
With 20 minutes left until the graduating class event, ten students were making their way toward the central park from different paths.
Without exception, they all wore the formal uniform, and their gazes were more intense than usual.
Shirone's group, the first to arrive, greeted the classmates they would be competing with for the next year.
These were the students ranked within the top 10 in overall scores, combining practical skills, theory, and performance assessments.
The air itself felt heavy from the auras of those gathering from all directions.
Shirone (3rd in overall upper-class ranking) looked toward the path from the east.
Canis (6th in overall upper-class ranking) and Arin (7th in overall upper-class ranking) were walking side by side.
He had faced them both during Arcane's attack and had also fought alongside them in Heaven. Shirone knew better than anyone that their skills were not to be underestimated.
Canis only met Shirone's gaze before turning away without a word.
He already knew it too—the fact that the ten people gathered here would not be passing arm in arm.
Arin approached in Canis's stead.
"Hi, Shirone?"
"Yeah, hi. Did you have a good break?"
"It was... okay."
Arin just smiled shyly.
She kept her mouth shut, remembering Canis's warning not to reveal what they had accomplished during the break, knowing it would surprise everyone.
"Oh, you're already here? Don't tell me you're nervous?"
Shirone turned around at the familiar voice.
From the southern path, Boil (8th in overall upper-class ranking) and Pandora (9th in overall upper-class ranking) were walking side by side.
Pandora, who had once sucked up to Dante's group, seemed to be hanging out with Boil again after being cast aside. Of course, they bickered whenever they met, but it seemed the bond they'd formed studying together since childhood couldn't be ignored.
‘Boil of summoning magic, Pandora of scent magic.’
Boil had a history of losing to Dante, but his summoning magic was nothing to scoff at.
Likewise, Pandora's scent magic would be quite tricky to deal with tactically.
"Shirone, here they come."
Nade pointed to the western path.
Led by Dante (1st in overall upper-class ranking), Closer and Sabina were following behind.
Shirone let out a dry laugh at the sight of Dante, who had rolled up the sleeves of his uniform and pinned them in place.
He'd felt it at the old castle ruins too, but it seemed Dante's desire to stand out was innate.
Today, however, he couldn't help but pay more attention to Closer and Sabina.
He had heard they'd gone through hellish training under Vice Headmistress Olivia during the break, and their gazes had certainly changed.
Closer, who could transmute rock freely, and Sabina, who could unleash dozens of sharp, blow-type gusts of wind per second.
He had to assume they were much stronger than they had been during the 2000th duel.
"Hm? Why the long faces? It's a great day. Smile a little."
As Dante walked over with a hand raised, Boil said with a displeased expression.
"What's with your outfit? Don't you know you're supposed to wear the formal uniform according to regulations?"
Before answering, Dante carefully observed Boil's style. Just like before, his hair was parted and slicked with oil, and his uniform was ironed so stiffly it had sharp creases.
"You... even so, isn't that a bit too perfectly creased? Looks like you'd get a paper cut if you brushed against it."
"What's wrong with it? It's neat and proper. You're the one who might get points deducted for dressing like that."
"So what if I lose a few points? All that matters is passing the graduation exam."
While Dante and Boil bickered about fashion, Closer and Sabina went to the people they each had business with.
The person Closer (4th in overall upper-class ranking) was grinding his teeth at the most was, without a doubt, Iruki (2nd in overall upper-class ranking).
"So the day has finally come for us to face off again, huh? Brace yourself. Every day might feel like hell."
"If you don't know, I don't see why you need to say it. Are you asking me to teach you?"
"You little...!"
A murderous intent filled Closer's eyes. He had never met someone who so thoroughly invited a punch.
In contrast to the murderous atmosphere between those two, a subtle current was flowing elsewhere.
Sabina (5th in overall upper-class ranking), after much deliberation, finally spoke to Nade (10th in overall upper-class ranking).
"Hi. It's been a while."
"Oh, yeah."
Sabina's feelings were hurt by Nade's indifferent attitude. No, actually, she wasn't sure.
She had dated numerous men in the capital, Bashuka, but the thrill was on a completely different level.
‘My heart must be broken. Or maybe I’m a pervert.’
In any case, as long as she couldn't stop her eyes from being drawn to Nade, she couldn't retreat like this.
"The uniform... looks good on you."
But all she got in return was Nade's bitter smile.
To him, who had no intention of becoming a mage, being told the formal uniform suited him was nothing but an insult.
Pandora, who was watching the scene from a distance, snorted with amusement.
She used to flatter Sabina in every way possible, but after grueling training, she was now confident that she was no longer inferior.
‘So cunning. She’s already starting to scheme, is that it?’
Having secretly watched from the scene when Sabina was thrashed by Nade, Pandora guessed that Nade would be the biggest variable among the ten people here.
Although he was currently ranked 10th, if he were to show his true colors, the rankings would undoubtedly be shaken up.
"Looks like everyone's here. Let's get going. I want to get this over with and take this thing off."
Shirone wasn't the type to take the lead, so Dante led them all.
His rank as 1st in the overall upper-class scoring up to this point also played a key role in getting his competitors to move.
Of course, the moment they passed through the Steel Gate, their upper-class rankings would become meaningless.
The students of Class Three headed for the graduating class building.
At the top of the slope stood the majestically named Steel Gate, holding its ground firmly.
Below it, ten students from Class Two could be seen waiting in a line.
"Hey, juniors! Hurry your asses up! You're completely slacking off!"
"That uniform suits you! You off to a school talent show? Pwahahaha!"
Jeers meant to provoke Class Three erupted.
It was a long-standing tradition, and the pressure was much more intense than the rumors had suggested. But not a single member of Class Three showed any change in expression.
"Hmph! 'Seniors,' my ass! Once you're in the graduating class, we're all the same anyway!"
Boil muttered through clenched teeth. It was also a form of self-hypnosis.
Closer quickened his pace, rolling his well-developed shoulders.
"Yeah, talk all you want, you failures. I'll be picking you off one by one from now on."
Most of the students glared back, refusing to be intimidated, but Dante was simply bored.
After endlessly watching his classmates' reactions, he turned his head the other way to observe Shirone.
‘He’s not nervous at all.’
The corners of his mouth were slightly raised. His eyes sparkled with passion and excitement.
How could he not be thrilled? This was the very scene he had imagined, one that had even appeared in his dreams.
The life of a mage he had so desperately wanted. Its final gateway was now just ten steps away.
His heart pounded, and his consciousness grew hazy, as if flying off to another world.
"Come on! I dare you to come in! Think you can graduate? You're just fertilizer for me!"
"This is hell, you bastards! Your lives are over right here!"
Shirone clenched his jaw and balled his fists.
A mage. A mage. I will become a mage!
‘Fine, whether it’s hell or something else, I’ll gladly walk right in.’
With every step he took, the Steel Gate, the symbol of intellect, seemed to tremble.