I Told You, Play With a Puppy Befitting Your Level.
I Told You, Play With a Puppy Befitting Your Level.
*Please check the brief change in the announcement.
◈
Stage 1.
Nothing but wisps. Impurities that couldn't even hold a fixed shape—little more than a warm-up.
Stages 2 and 3.
Goblins and kobolds, respectively. Neither had ever ranked among the stronger demon beasts, so the three students' elemental magic reduced them to handfuls of dust.
─In 5 minutes, Stage 4 will begin.
But the real grading starts now, from Stage 4.
"Becky will handle Stage 4 alone."
"...."
A brief silence passed.
"...?"
As if the meaning had only just registered, three heads tilted in the same direction.
"M-me? Me, alone?"
Becky pointed her index finger at her own chin. Trixie and Louis reacted with equal vehemence.
"...Reckless."
"Plan, the difficulty spikes from Stage 4. Shouldn't someone at least be there to protect Becky?"
Their concern was only natural. From Stage 4 onward, specially designed demon beasts created exclusively for the preliminaries would appear.
I dismissed their reactions with a single phrase.
"It's enough."
They still didn't understand what they had achieved. Since they couldn't grasp it, I added one more word.
"No questions. No resistance. And if orders aren't followed, I'll forfeit immediately."
"...."
In the end, Trixie and Louis resigned themselves. But the person in question, Becky, still seemed to have plenty left to say.
"You really want me to go in alone...? What about advice? Or at least an explanation...."
"I already gave it."
In the World Within the Painting. Thoroughly.
─Stage 4 begins.
"Ack...."
Becky set out toward the forest alone.
She squeezed her thighs together, rubbing them nervously. She always does that when she's tense... an obvious deduction.
BOOM! BOOM!
Trees began falling—first the distant ones, one by one, then soon even the ones right in front of her.
What finally revealed itself was a Black Bone—a colossal skeleton knight forged of black bone.
"...?"
Becky's face went pale. I didn't even need to read her thoughts.
The Black Bone was, literally, colossal. At least three times Becky's height. An enormous shadow soon swallowed her whole.
The creature silently looked down at her.
"H-h-hello thereee~?"
Right around the time Becky unconsciously greeted it, the Black Bone swung its spear with ferocious force.
As she stumbled backward, I shoved her forward again with telekinesis.
"Uwaaaah...!"
If that colossal spear stabbed her, she wouldn't come out unscathed. Becky frantically manifested her magic.
CRASH!
The heavy spear was barely blocked by an ice barrier.
"This is unsettling."
Trixie murmured quietly, worried. Though her worry was surely for the preliminaries, not for Becky.
"Ugh!"
Becky blocked the spear again and again as it flew at her without pause.
Fast.
And heavy.
It couldn't be compared to the demon beasts of the earlier stages. This was precisely why Stage 4 had such a notorious reputation.
But.
CLANG! CLANG! CLAAANG!
Becky's ice barrier.
No, calling it a barrier felt wrong given its size. With ice barely the size of her palm, Becky blocked every single spear thrust.
"...?"
Confusion spread across her face.
The spear was by no means slow. Each swing tore through the air with a sharp, piercing shriek.
But right now, Becky's eyes would be seeing every single trajectory.
"...Told you it was enough."
I murmured lowly.
Magic is much like constructing a building. Foundation, pillars... what can ultimately be built is determined by how solid the foundation is.
I had refined their foundations inside the World Within the Painting.
In other words, no matter who the opponent is, when it comes to that foundation alone, they can handle it.
"Observe."
I pointed ahead with my chin.
Trixie and Louis's gazes turned that way. Becky was now tangled in close quarters with the Black Bone.
"A formula without error. A circuit without distortion. Precise mana composition. And finally, what you two practiced over a thousand times...."
Becky's ice pierced through the Black Bone's body one beat faster.
"High-speed manifestation."
CRAAACK!
Louis and Trixie's eyes went round simultaneously.
The Black Bone collapsed into a pile of individual bones on the ground, and Becky stared down at her own palm with a dumbfounded expression.
The way she glanced at me in between made it obvious: she didn't believe for a second that she had actually pulled that off.
"Unbelievable."
Even as she said it, Trixie smiled faintly.
"...I want the next turn."
Her heart as a mage must have started racing. She would want to hurry and confirm her own achievements against a strong opponent too.
Too bad. The rules change from Stage 5.
"All three of you wait here."
I straightened my clothes and rose from my spot.
Now that there was some leisure, it was time to observe the Knight Department representatives.
◈
Should I sit on a tree.
I discarded the thought immediately. The aesthetic sense carved into Plan's soul would never permit such an act.
So Plan deliberately walked to find the Knight Department representatives.
"...So they were here."
BANG! CRASH!
Somewhere in the forest, the Four Siblings were fighting as a single body. It looked like the Black Bone didn't have much time left either.
Then, at some moment.
SWISH─!
Countless threads restrained the Black Bone and forced it to the ground. Ela's inherent ability: the Silk Sword.
"Oh-ho. A little rat came sniffing around first? Cheeky."
A massive frame. A greatsword. Igor, the youngest of the Four Siblings, sneered.
At the same time, the Four Siblings' gazes landed on Plan. Igor kept muttering.
"So you ran all the way here? Where are your little lackeys?"
"Resting."
"At the infirmary? Ah, but...."
Igor poured all his strength into the hand gripping his greatsword. His muscles expanded so much it was visible to the naked eye.
"...Why do you keep dropping the honorifics?"
He fired his greatsword like a crossbow. With a BOOM, a huge crater opened where Plan had been standing.
Stage 5 hadn't started yet, so a threat was the best he could do for now.
"Body reinforcement... or some inherent ability like that, I suppose."
But the threat didn't work at all, and the dust didn't even come near Plan thanks to telekinesis.
"...Very simple-minded. It met a fitting master."
He straightened his collar and lifted his chin.
"Answer me."
His attitude was so utterly composed that the Four Siblings furrowed their brows.
"Was the Black Bone manageable."
In that instant, a sinister thought flashed through Ela's mind.
She gripped her sword and opened her mouth.
"You... don't tell me...."
"Answer. I want to gauge your level."
Ela urgently swung her sword toward the Black Bone. Countless transparent threads diced the black bones into pieces like cubes.
─In 5 minutes, Stage 5 will begin.
─From Stage 5, combat between representatives is permitted.
Along with it, an announcement rang out.
In other words, the Four Siblings' subjugation had taken too long.
"Ha...?"
Ela let out a hollow laugh. Many thoughts filled her head, but the shock she had received was too great to bundle them up and spit them out.
Plan quietly turned his back.
"Looking only at the records... you're truly pathetic."
He left just that single remark.
◈
From Stage 4 onward, the spike in difficulty is exponential.
This is designed to suit the spectators' tastes as well. They want to observe not only the representatives' impressive moments, but also their ability to cope while struggling violently.
In that respect, Stage 5 could be described as "vicious."
Two demon beasts of special difficulty, and on top of that, combat against hostile factions. There was no other way to put it.
Louis steeled his resolve.
"Let's stay sharp. From Stage 5, combat between representatives is permitted."
"I'll do my best!"
Becky replied vigorously. Having defeated the Black Bone, her shoulders practically pierced the sky.
"But...."
Louis's gaze landed on me. Before long, the other two did the same.
"Plan, are you just going to grade this time too?"
"...You ask the obvious."
They want to observe the ability to cope while struggling violently. Naturally, that applies to me as well.
─Stage 5 begins.
Simultaneously with the announcement, the west side of the forest froze solid, and the east side began blazing red.
AWOOOO─!
Two howling wolves the size of houses. A Fire Wolf and an Ice Wolf, respectively.
Fierce beasts obsessively fixated on fire and ice. In truth, calling them divine beasts rather than demon beasts wouldn't feel out of place.
What was worth noting about them wasn't their size—it was the firepower of their elements. Strong enough to merit genuine praise.
Given that we're on the west side, the Magic Department would face the Ice Wolf. As expected, the Knight Department would take the Fire Wolf.
"...Very good."
An excellent teaching aid had appeared. Coincidentally, weren't the three I taught also aiming for elemental purity?
Truthfully, even I was curious. How long the freshmen who'd received elemental tutoring would last against an Ice Wolf.
"Depart."
I shoved the three of them forward with telekinesis.
"Euh?"
"...Ah, so annoying."
"Ahaha, Plan, I'm going. I'm going, so...."
My interest was piqued, so I created three more grading sheets.
Purity of elements, intensity, endurance... I added several grading criteria on the spot. For the first time since the preliminaries began, I felt enjoyment.
But at the same time, I felt a needle-sharp killing intent.
"...."
I glanced to the right.
The wildfire was gradually closing in. The Fire Wolf was advancing this way, and the Four Siblings were getting pushed back, but....
CRASH─!
The next moment, I deflected a sword aura that surged toward me with telekinesis.
"Ooh~ for a little rat."
Resting his greatsword on his shoulder, Igor grinned.
"How'd you notice it? Blocked it too?"
I sighed deeply. The Four Siblings had deliberately lured the Fire Wolf all the way here.
Even in the middle of that, I deducted points from Becky. Since the Ice Wolf's element was also ice, her current shortcomings were especially conspicuous.
"Couldn't catch one single beast so you ran all the way here, I see. Are you asking me for help, perhaps?"
I added that remark and observed Louis. As expected, he was the calmest in actual combat.
"Fire Wolf? Ah~"
CRACK, CRACK—the sound of Igor cracking his joints could be heard.
"That fire puppy is... Ela alone is more than enough!"
His center of gravity shifted forward, and the soles of his feet dug into the ground.
And almost simultaneously, he shot his body like a mana bullet.
"...?"
A moment later, confusion spread across his face. Because no collision had occurred at all.
I dodged. Using Hera's authority: Blink.
"Trixie is... combing her hair with her fingers in the middle of this...."
Deduction.
Igor muttered and charged again, but I dodged again.
"Louis, I told you not to fuss over others excessively."
Deduction.
Igor charged, I graded, he charged, I graded... did that repeat about five times?
"ARRRGH─!"
Igor roared like a beast. In the meantime, Becky pushed back the Ice Wolf's ice. First bonus point.
"Alright, that's it. You bastard... I'll go crush those guys first and come back for you. Just wait right here."
His muscles began to harden like armor. His eyes had already half-rolled back.
"That won't do."
...Grading must not, under any circumstances, be interrupted.
And of course, I had a plan to block this musclehead.
"Hera."
I drew Hera's mana with full force. Simultaneously, I interfered with the arena's circuits beneath my feet.
"...."
An enormous amount of magic power was consumed, but the value was sufficient.
From the very moment I discovered that a magical principle was embedded in this arena... ultimately, this entire space is nothing more than my weapon.
"YAAAH─!"
Igor had already kicked off the ground. But I made a wall suddenly rise up from the earth.
THUD─!
Before he even perceived anything, his face slammed into it. The dirt wall shattered far too emptily, like a pane of glass.
"Agh, ptui!"
But if it blocked Igor's vision, that was enough.
"What kind of... interfering in the middle of an exam. You learned swordsmanship but never learned any manners, I see."
"Exam? What bullshit are you... ptui, ptui!"
I manipulated the tree roots embedded underground. One by one, they lashed at Igor like whips.
"...!"
A startled Igor twisted his line of movement aside. But there were far too many roots to dodge that way.
"YAAAH─!"
Igor did his best: slicing roots with his greatsword, using his left hand when his right got caught, desperately tearing roots apart by sheer force.
But no matter how tough he was, he wasn't tougher than a tree root.
Right as he was about to be bound completely.
"...Hm."
A stinging pain made my palm throb. At the same time, the entire circuit structure of the arena was restructured wholesale.
I received a warning through the circuits. A warning that seemed to say: do not touch.
"So you got angry."
The head of the Magic Department, Conet, likely had a hand in designing this arena.
Curious about what expression Conet would be making now that she was angry, I found myself unconsciously wearing a smile.
I could interfere again if I wanted to, but I was gradually growing bored of the method of playing with her by using the arena.
"Ang... angry you say...? Th-this, this, this...."
However, Igor had taken my muttering as directed at him.
With his eyes still rolled back, he licked his lips. His muscles were becoming stained red, and steam rose from his body.
"What, Igor, you look a little rough?"
"...Shut it. Before I smash all your teeth in."
"That's Igor for you."
Two more joined Igor's side.
It looked like they figured Ela alone was enough for the Fire Wolf, so the remaining three would all jump into person-vs-person combat.
"Let's just finish this fast with a combined assault. Ela's really pissed."
Cassel said that and drew his longsword. Simultaneously, a strange energy began pouring like water from his long scabbard.
It took shape and became clones of the Four Siblings—an overwhelming number of them.
One, two, three, four... I didn't bother counting past thirty.
They pose no restriction to me anyway. Their structure is ultimately similar to illusion magic, and I can clearly see what's real.
But.
The problem arose elsewhere.
"Wh-what?! What are these things!"
"A check? Be careful...!"
Becky, along with Louis and Trixie, fell into confusion. With the Ice Wolf not being enough and this many clones on top of it, feeling bewildered was only natural.
"...."
Without realizing it, I scrunched up my expression. Revulsion welled up inside me.
I don't care if someone touches me. But interfering with my grading is outright inconceivable. The effort I had put in to make even the preliminaries a learning experience....
"You've got a bad look on your face. Never seen this before, have you? Everyone says that."
Cassel showed a sly grin. Even now, Igor was fuming, turning bright red.
"Haah."
I needed to resume grading quickly. I had a countermeasure.
To be precise, I had thought of it the moment the Fire Wolf and Ice Wolf revealed themselves.
I gathered a single flame element, supremely pure, at my fingertip.
SNAP!
I flicked my finger and delivered it to Cassel.
Checking the spark clinging to his collar, Cassel burst out laughing as if he couldn't believe it.
"How cute. What's this now?"
As if soothing a small child, Cassel shrugged his shoulders in an exaggerated motion.
"...You fool."
I began murmuring lowly. Syllable by syllable.
"My grading isn't finished yet."
It doesn't have enough force to swallow anything—it's nothing more than a spark—but its purity alone is guaranteed.
"Play with a puppy. It matches your level."
And here, right now, inside this arena.
CRAAAASH─!
There is one creature that goes absolutely mad for pure flames.