Those Kinds of Girls Are Actually More Aggressive. They Cling to You and Whine, You Know.
Those Kinds of Girls Are Actually More Aggressive. They Cling to You and Whine, You Know.
"Reach the spot where the red flag is planted. That is all."
With that terse command, Leonard began measuring the time. Becky launched herself forward beneath a pelting rain of stares.
Without a moment's hesitation, she unfurled ice element. Scrambling quickly up a staircase of blue crystal, she climbed on top of the wall.
'Her application has improved considerably.'
From high above, she bridged the gaps between the walls with ice. Before long, a path straight toward the red flag lay open.
For Becky, who had neatly eliminated the constraint of the "maze" by wielding elemental magic, no obstacles remained. The girl dashed toward the red flag at full speed.
I turned my gaze toward Leonard.
'Isn't this a little too simple.'
It was exactly as the expression implied.
For a practical exercise, it was excessively simple — more drawbacks than benefits. Take Becky alone; she had essentially laid her entire strategy bare for every spectator in the gallery.
And yet Professor Leonard merely stood still, watching Becky run at full tilt. What exactly did he intend to evaluate with a paltry exercise like this?
The moment that question surfaced —
"Begin!"
Leonard's shout became the signal flare, and the situation turned on its head in an instant.
The walls that had been a uniform height began rising and falling at varying elevations, and newly sprouted walls transformed the maze into something approaching a labyrinth.
"Ugh!"
The ice that had bridged the walls shattered, and Becky fell to the floor. But the ordeal did not end there.
Non-attribute arrows woven from mana, fireballs, ice lances... A barrage of the second-years' varied magic rushed at Becky. She flattened herself against a wall like a sticker, using it as cover.
"Wha—? W-Wait a moment!"
Becky's eyes flew wide open as she looked up at Professor Leonard. But the only thing that came back was a scolding.
"In real combat, are you going to just stand there staring blankly when you're ambushed?! Respond!"
Wearing a dumbfounded expression, Becky swallowed dryly. Watching the scene, I nodded.
'So that was the intention.'
The red flag and the time measurement were nothing more than an illusion. The true substance of this practical evaluation was how flexibly one could respond in a surprise situation.
It felt like a reasonably decent setup.
Magic that can be deployed instantly in an unforeseen situation — that is what can finally be called "one's own," the measure of real ability.
It doesn't matter if you don't reach the flag. The key to this evaluation will be whether you can demonstrate the full extent of your own skill.
How much could Becky prove?
A wide barrier of ice unfurled toward the empty air. Compared to the mock battle, its durability was excellent and its breadth expansive, but —
'Why is she even thinking of blocking.'
The very notion of trying to resolve the situation by blocking every single attack was a losing move from the start.
Bang! BOOM!
The onrushing attacks slammed against Becky's ice barrier and were plugged up. But that was all. Because she had to devote everything to defense, Becky couldn't move a single step from her spot.
"Stop!"
At Professor Leonard's shout, the uneven walls returned to their original height. The second-years' spell manifestations also ceased.
"Evaluation over. Return. I adjusted considering you were first up."
While Becky returned to her place, not a single sound was uttered.
It was a natural sequence. The practical evaluation that was as simple as solving a maze had, beneath its surface, hidden additional constraints no one imagined.
"This year's first-years are a bit lackluster."
"Isn't this easier compared to our year?"
The second-years ran their mouths as they pleased. Their expressions were bright.
It wasn't their evaluation, they could fire off magic comfortably, and the targets were easy first-years. To them, this time was nothing but light amusement.
The problem was that their muttering reached the students standing below exactly as it was spoken.
Perhaps he considered the surrounding gazes and murmuring part of the "unforeseen situation" as well, because Professor Leonard imposed no sanctions at all.
"Everyone knows what kind of evaluation this is by now, right? Next, Carol Romien."
◈
The members of Group 5, the group Becky belonged to, were called out in sequence.
"Stop. No need to see any more."
"Huh?"
At a conclusion far swifter than expected, despair flickered in the student's eyes. It was an expression as though she had been sentenced to execution.
"Enough, enough. Return."
"Yes...."
Afterward, the final group member was called out and, unsurprisingly, received harsh criticism. Not a single student had yet reached the red flag.
"Group 5 should just forfeit."
"All three of them are like this. They're only good for being stepping stones."
Blatant scorn poured from the second-years, but Becky's group had zero means to resist.
I briefly considered how I would respond when my turn came. With my mana capacity limited, I needed to find something more than the optimal move.
A move that could be called a "miracle," so to speak.
Of course, I already had something in mind.
So I felt no unease, no worry — nothing at all.
"Now it's Group 11's turn. We'll begin immediately."
"Just a moment."
An interrupting voice cut in, and Leonard's gaze, about to resume the practical evaluation, turned toward the training ground entrance. I naturally followed his gaze.
The sight of the large conical hat was familiar now. Violet, in her robe, stood at the entrance with an exhausted expression.
"Professor Violet?"
"Professor Leonard. Step outside with me for a moment."
"I'm in the middle of a practical evaluation."
"Come outside. There's something I must discuss regarding the transfer student."
Professor Leonard nodded reluctantly and addressed the students.
"You will rest and stand by for a short while. Naturally, leaving the training ground is not permitted."
The moment Professor Leonard disappeared outside the training ground, sighs began springing up from all around at once.
"What do we do about our group...."
"We bumped into another group coming into the training ground, and their expressions weren't good either. Everyone might be like this."
The Group 5 members talked among themselves with serious faces. Becky, unable to join the conversation, just swiveled her eyes back and forth, and at some point her gaze met mine cleanly.
"Hey, Plan."
There wasn't an ounce of strength in the voice that called me. Wearing an expression that looked about to cry if you poked it, Becky went on.
"...It's because of you I got evaluated first. What are you going to do about it."
"Do you think a different order would have changed anything?"
"That's.... Well, that's true. That's so mean. When you put it like that, I've got nothing to say."
Becky let out a deep sigh and nodded. Then she looked up at me with pitiful eyes.
"You sold my name. At least give me some feedback in return. What would you have done if it were you?"
I had no choice but to open a page of Trivia's Memo. For this particular feedback, explaining purely with words would make it hard for both the explainer and the listener to understand.
"Observe, Becky."
I drew three formulas on the page with the tip of my finger.
In order: mana arrow, fireball, ice lance. The formulas of some of the attacks the second-years had poured out against Becky.
"What you need to pay attention to is the circuit responsible for destruction. How does the mana blending ratio look to you?"
"Uh... the blending isn't as thorough as I'd think? It can be cast with such a small amount?"
"That is precisely what you focus on. Because they are spells fixated on output and outward appearance, their destructive power is by no means high. Choosing to defend was your losing move. You should have found a way to ignore them and push through."
"Ah~!"
Becky looked up at me with an expression full of admiration. The face that had been gloomy since the evaluation brightened in an instant.
Excited, she went on chattering.
"So this is what it means when they say you see as much as you know.... I didn't know what the attacks coming at me were, so I just thought to block them blindly."
"Exactly. Crude attacks."
But that was the moment.
"Hey, you there."
This time, the interrupting voice came from above. I checked to find two or three second-years looking down at us with displeased stares.
"You, what's with the insolence?"
"Calling your seniors' magic fixated on output and appearance, crude... Are you that confident?"
"His turn's coming up soon anyway. Let's watch and see."
Tch. I clicked my tongue and closed Trivia. The act of looking up at someone doesn't suit my temperament to begin with, so I let it slide for now.
One thing they said wasn't wrong. Yes, my turn is coming soon enough.
Professor Leonard's absence stretched on longer than expected.
As I watched Becky talking with her group members wearing a grave expression, someone suddenly tapped my shoulder.
No, more precisely, tried to tap — so I dodged. I still dislike contact with others.
"What the, how'd you dodge."
Hair covering half his forehead and eyes slit long horizontally. I already knew the name of the one with the striking cat-like face.
"Martin Luke."
"Oh, right. So you do know your group members' names at least?"
Martin smiled. It was a nuance closer to a sneer than a smile, really.
"What is it?"
"Group members should exchange greetings. Right. Congrats on winning yesterday. Luck was on your side too, huh?"
His flippant manner was quite grating. To be flippant even after watching Aria get toyed with — was that confidence, or stupidity? I asked him back.
"Did you doze off during the mock battle?"
"I saw it all. You're just lucky, aren't you? You won via walkover because Aria cheated."
He must have only managed to observe the latter half, after Aria had stained the barrier.
"Luck, huh...."
Before I knew it, a small laugh escaped me — pfft.
No matter how I thought about it, Martin's luck was better than mine. If this insignificant creature had been my opponent, he would have been ground down on the floor without a trace.
"We've exchanged greetings now. Are you done?"
"Wow~ Do you always talk like that? I just struck up a conversation to be friendly among group members. I don't get why you're so full of yourself."
Martin, who had been smiling round and round, suddenly leaned in close and whispered.
"Plan. How about today's practical evaluation? Got any plan?"
"I do."
"Oh~ Really? I'm pretty confident too."
The guy was forcibly dragging on a conversation that would lead nowhere. I finally narrowed my brows and asked him.
"What's your point."
"Ahaha, your point, he says. We're just talking about this and that."
He was still smiling. Lowering his voice even further, he whispered in an exceedingly small voice.
"Plan, you got any interest in Trixie by chance?"
"...Have you lost your mind?"
"Ahahaha, I knew it, right? You're interested in Becky."
Having said that much, Martin licked his lips and studied my reaction. By the looks of it, he was now finally about to get to the point.
"Me, I'm interested in Trixie. Kind of want to get closer to her."
It was a story so astonishingly uninteresting. But Martin continued his fervent speech.
"If I do well on today's practical evaluation, put in a good word for me to Trixie. The three of us are in the same group, right."
I silently closed my eyes.
I began contemplating my own tasks. Training, the Agora Board, the club, the healing magic tome.... Regrettably, that goddamned Martin's words still weren't over.
"I've got pretty solid connections in the Magic Department. I'll introduce you to some girls later too. Hey, honestly, this isn't even a hard favor. Let's help each other out, yeah?"
I ignored him. A blue light had lit up on Trivia, so I checked that instead.
[▶ Solved all three of them!]
[▶ Next lesson plz! ^ㅅ^]
"Are you even listening to me? You're not ignoring me right now, are you?"
I closed Trivia and gave a rough nod.
"Everyone well-rested? We resume the practical evaluation now."
At that opportune moment, Professor Leonard returned to the training ground.
However, he did not return alone. He had Trixie von Fritz in tow beside him.
The professor asked Trixie.
"You said there were some important circumstances. Weren't you sick?"
"I am not ill."
"Are you in a state to undergo the practical evaluation? Are you certain?"
"Yes."
Trixie came to a standstill beside us with her characteristically blank expression. Martin, unable to hide his excitement, worked his mouth busily.
"Hey, hey, hey. You heard what I said clearly, right? Make the praise as subtle as possible. Naturally. Got it?"
Having finished, Martin swept his sticky gaze over Trixie.
Trixie von Fritz possessed a haughtiness and allure that could never be said to belong to someone her age.
Even just observing her at this very moment, it was so.
She wore an expression of utter coldness, yet the contours that even the academy uniform could never conceal were utterly generous to men.
"Hey. Watch me closely. Those types of bitches, they're way more aggressive — clingy, whiny, desperate for attention."
"......"
"Show a little ambition yourself. When I sleep with her, I'll definitely tell you all about it too. Yeah? What do you think it'd be like, sleeping with her? Getting interested already, huh?"
Should I slap him across the cheek? Even that felt like a waste of motion, so I let it go.
"Group 11 begins. Martin Luke."
At Professor Leonard's call, Martin glanced back at me several times and stepped forward.
Seeing Trixie's figure standing beside me, I unconsciously let out a small laugh.
Trixie was wholly absorbed in checking her own Trivia. The interest she held toward the lifeform known as Martin was absolutely zero.
Martin, having stepped forward, took several deep breaths.
"Begin when ready."
"Yes!"
Having spat out a booming reply, Martin dashed off with great spirit.
He used wind element to dodge the attacks flying at him this way and that.
But it was easy to see he was fixated on superficial style, and it made me frown. Motions that appeared to be nothing but wasted movement, spell manifestations that openly telegraphed a consciousness of the audience...
Magic meant for showing off to others is merely shabby. My interest chilled in exactly ten seconds, and I ultimately took out Trivia and opened it.
[▷ Then we'll move on to the next step.]
[▷ Master just this much, and the problems written on the Agora Board will be solved.]
Until my turn comes, I might as well play with my customer.
But then a sound abruptly reached my ears — a humming, "hmm-hmm-hmm," from the nose.
Astoundingly, Trixie was humming. Our gazes naturally met in the empty air.
"......You."
The moment their eyes met, Trixie von Fritz's expression swiftly recovered its icy temperature. She opened her lips in a voice of utter coolness.
"Don't look this way. No, don't even open your eyes."
I had no intention of looking anyway. I checked my own Trivia again.
[▶ So good! ㅅ!]
As always, the customer's reply was crazily fast.