Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: No Problem with the Surprise Exam
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1 hour ago.
"Whoa!"
The airship resembled a whale.
Enormous fins flapped on either side, and a long tail adorned the stern. There was no vertical mast like on a typical ship.
The main difference from a real whale was the flat deck covering the top, designed for human activity.
On the expansive deck, academy staff, prospective students, and crew members moved about in a chaotic bustle. Supplies and luggage were passed hand to hand by servants.
A pink-haired girl spun in place. Her gaze darted wildly over the airship.
"It's huge!"
『It's modeled after the Sky Whale.』
Ooh.
Pastel dashed to the deck railing and peered down at the ground. The fantasy city receded beyond the horizon, giving way to the open sea.
Her pink locks whipped in the wind.
She waved her hand over the railing.
"What happens if you fall?"
Magic poof?
The magic sword stated firmly.
『You die.』
Eek.
Pastel glanced down at the dizzying height.
"No safety measures?"
『If a strong gust hits, grip the railing tight. It's your only lifeline.』
Whoa.
"Since it's over the sea down there, wouldn't they rescue you?"
『At this altitude, the moment you hit the water, your organs rupture and you die.』
Whoa.
Pastel backed far away from the deck railing.
Totally dangerous.
Suddenly, whispers reached her ears. Noble heirs were glancing her way and murmuring among themselves.
A crowd had formed around the pink girl, but with a clear space at the center.
Pastel's eyes widened round.
She thought for a moment, then shot her hand up high.
"Hi, friends!"
The noble heirs flinched. They exchanged looks and scattered in all directions.
Hmm, no takers?
Pastel lowered her hand.
"Demon Lord, pick one."
1. A country bumpkin showed up. First time on an airship, huh?
2. Winter dress with visible stitches? No maids? Totally lacking dignity.
3. Who's that? Is she a noble? Anyone know her?
4. Pink pink? Whoa, it's the fallen Craft.
『......Ignore them. None of them truly know you. People shouldn't judge by first impressions.』
"Got it! Got it! Ahaha!"
Pastel burst out laughing to herself.
"Finally, a place with actual people!"
That monster mansion was way too harsh.
Smells like people. Nice.
She stroked her pink hair. The strands danced pleasantly in the wind.
"Prospective students, please head to your cabins! Wait until you're called!"
"Yes!"
Pastel entered her assigned cabin. Below deck, vast spaces stretched across multiple levels. Just like a cruise ship.
She rested for a while, then heard the call for prospective students and returned to the deck.
Desks and chairs had been neatly arranged across the deck.
The noble heirs emerged onto the deck, looking baffled. Only a few seemed to have any idea what was going on.
Once everyone gathered, a burly professor stepped forward. His face was as inflexible as if not even a needle could pierce it.
"Welcome aboard the academy airship. You'll now take a surprise exam."
Exam papers and writing tools were placed on the desks.
Eek?
Eek?
A written test?!
"Those who fail, go that way."
The professor pointed firmly beyond the railing.
A vast pale sky stretched out.
Whoaaa.
Is this fantasy's death game?
Do you have to risk death to enter the academy?
One noble heir screamed.
The professor paused, then glanced in the direction he'd pointed. A new airship belatedly rose into the clear sky.
His finger shifted to point at the airship.
"Failures, go back home."
Phew.
"No second chances. Give up on admission and prepare for another life."
Nooo......!
Pastel received her exam paper.
—Explain the impact of Demon Realm pioneering on the national economy, centering on Sky Island's geopolitical value.
Es, essay?
Flip flip.
All of them?!
Her breath caught.
Isn't the difficulty weird?
Isn't the school I'm trying to get into high school? It's university? Grad school maybe?
Grind grind grind.
I can barely read the writing and language?
『Calm down. It's just the scheduled written exam happening as a surprise.』
She glanced around furtively.
The students were flamboyantly twirling their quills.
Nooo.
Just me......!
『I'll tell you, so write it down.』
Nooo.
『To understand Sky Island's geopolitical value, we must examine several theoretical frameworks.』
Her quill flew frantically.
Nooo.
『As the burden of long-distance navigation decreased, private pioneering became active. The center of Demon Realm development shifted from nations to private entities......』
Noooo.
Flip flip flip.
She finished writing the last exam paper.
Thud.
Totally bombed.
If I'd had just one year, I could've aced it no problem.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh.
Exam totally bombed.
Aren't the questions too hard?
"Results will now be announced."
Pastel Love Craft.
476 points.
Top of the written exam.
Aren't the questions too hard?
For the other kids, that is.
Hehe, life's easy.
Top: Pastel Love Craft - 476 points.
Runner-up: Melissa Camelot – 327 points.
The golden-haired, blue-eyed girl stared blankly at the results posted on the wall.
The surrounding murmurs didn't even register.
Runner-up?
Me, runner-up?
Melissa Camelot.
The forbidden flower of the Camelot Marquessate.
The rising star of the magic world, destined for grand archmage status.
Mother, Father.
I couldn't take first.
I'm sorry for letting you down.
My efforts must not have been enough.
Melissa stared blankly at the notice.
Pastel Love Craft?
Who? Never seen her at social gatherings.
Craft? That Craft family?
—Don't even step on the Crafts' shadows, dear. Especially since they've fallen. They'll stab you in the back with innocent faces. Don't be fooled by appearances.
Melissa looked around, searching for the pink hair she'd only heard about.
She spotted her immediately.
"Hehe."
The pink girl gaped wide at the notice. Her presence was impossible to miss.
An unrefined, undignified expression.
Shabby clothes unfit for a great noble.
A family that fell at its brightest.
Melissa started to approach.
"I'm in the lower ranks?!"
A muscular male student punched the wall. His longsword at his waist shifted.
Definitely...
Dustin Wilder of the Wilder Barony.
"This is meaningless! What's the point of written exams! It'll be decided by practicals anyway!"
His gaze roughly swept the surroundings.
He flinched upon spotting Melissa, then looked elsewhere.
His wandering eyes landed on the pink girl, still gaping and lost in her own world.
The male student's face twisted in a scowl.
"Hey, you!"
His strides pounded the deck.
The crowd of students parted.
The delicate girl, finally grasping the situation, widened her eyes.
"Oh, hi friend. Got business with me? Friend request? Nah, probably not."
The male student glared at her.
His eyes confirmed the pink hair and pink pupils, then moved to her slender arms and plain sword.
"You're the top scorer, right?"
"Guess so."
Hehe.
The male student flinched, shook his head, and scowled again.
He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and flung it at the girl's face.
"Duel me."
Melissa frowned.
Venting anger like that? So vulgar.
The girl widened her eyes.
"Whoa?! A duel? First time for me!"
Whoaaa.
The male student was stunned.
"You don't know what that means?"
"I do!"
The girl looked around.
The gathered crowd and stares.
"But are you okay?"
Her concern pierced the male student.
"You'll be humiliated if you lose."
"What?"
The male student's face hardened.
Murmurs.
Melissa's mouth fell open in shock. Then she covered it with one hand and gasped again.
Mother, your advice was right.
You can't judge by appearances.
Really.
Pastel hummed to herself.
Duel, duel.
"How do duels work? You threw a handkerchief, but it's not life-or-death between students, right?"
Poke poke?
She picked up the magic sword and inspected the blade. Running her finger along it sent a chill through her.
Isn't this too dangerous?
『The key is stopping the attack just before it hits. That's why they use sparring gear. It should be around here.』
She picked up a sparring sword.
"The edge is just dulled? And it's light and thin."
She swung it whoosh whoosh.
Is this what a rapier feels like?
『It's a feather sword. Feel the weight. The balance point is near the hilt. Makes it much easier to stop attacks.』
"Ooh, you're right. But with a weapon like this, doesn't it limit some techniques?"
『Sparring and real combat are entirely different. You attack honestly and defend honestly. That minimizes injury risk.』
Hmm.
"No kicks?"
『That's fine.』
"Punches?"
『Allowed. Minor wounds are okay. Just no serious injuries.』
"Throwing dirt?"
『......How far do you plan to go?』
Pastel nodded.
"I'll fight fair and square!"
Yahoo.
The slender girl stood before her opponent.
The muscular male student rolled his shoulders. His thick arms cracked.
How much strength training has he done?
The professor stepped to the center with a disinterested expression.
The dueling etiquette proceeded and concluded.
"Respect each other."
"Yes!"
The male student raised his sword.
Pastel assumed her stance.
Let the power flow.
She spread her feet wide.
135-degree open stance.
『Face him head-on. You're not the underdog here.』
A voice came from her waist.
Pastel flinched and narrowed her stance.
45-degree closed stance.
Head-on clash.
The professor flicked a coin.
The coin hit the deck.
The male student kicked off the ground. His sword rose high.
Vertical slash?
The blade tilted diagonally.
No, diagonal slash.
Pastel mirrored him. Like reflecting in a mirror, she raised her sword and tilted it diagonally.
Her opponent's brow twitched.
The girl slashed.
Sword met sword.
The impact rang out.
The blades slid along each other. The ricassos ground, and their crossguards locked.
The moment the swords locked.
Their eyes met. His glare challenged her: wanna try strength?
Pastel inhaled as if to say yes. The male student furrowed his brow and inhaled in sync.
One, two, three!
The girl shoved her sword with full force.
The male student braced with his whole body. His muscles bulged.
Their full-body strength clashed.
The blades screeched.
The deck scraped.
Onlookers rose from their seats.
The male student staggered.
"Huh?"
His eyes widened.
Opening.
The girl instantly shoved the locked crossguards sideways. His sword was helplessly pushed outward, slashing empty air.
Her sword swung toward his exposed torso, trajectory aimed at his unresisting neck.
The blade halted right after.
It tapped his nape.
The opponent collapsed as if his strength had drained.
Pastel exhaled while holding her stance.
Cheers erupted.
The girl tilted her head.
Hmm, what can I say.
She clenched and unclenched her fist repeatedly.
I used strength, but it doesn't feel tiring at all.
The male student looked up with a dazed expression.
Pastel looked down at him subtly.
"Why are you so weak?"
"Wha, what?"
The male student was flustered.
Ah.
"Sorry, that slipped out."
His face flushed red rapidly.
"You...!"
The male student lunged.
A fist flew.
Pastel's eyes widened.
Oing?
New greeting from my friend?
Suddenly, light flashed at the edge of her vision.
A light bolt raced forward.
Light struck the male student. Electricity exploded, and a scream rang out.
The male student fainted and collapsed.
Ooh?
Heeled footsteps approached.
A girl in a mage's robe walked up, staff in hand.
Golden hair swayed.
Blue eyes looked at Pastel.
"In that case, shall I be your opponent, top scorer?"
It was a soft, gentle voice.