Chapter 359
Chapter 359
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 360
Chapter Title: Mana Utilization Test
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I climbed onto the platform and took a small deep breath.
At first, I hadn't felt nervous at all, but now that I was receiving the gazes of all those people at once, my heart started pounding a little.
"Even though it's a familiar face... we have to go through the procedure. Participant number 4. Manifestation type. Age 19. Kim Sun-woo, correct?"
"Yes. That's me."
The examiner nodded upon seeing me.
"The first test is mana utilization ability. You just need to fire magic at the mana measurement cube for three minutes and accumulate damage."
In front of me floated a single square silver cube in midair.
Its operating principle was like a punching machine that measured impact received, but upon closer inspection, it had some subtle differences.
Whoosh!
First off, this machine moved indefinitely.
It was small in size and quite fast. Moreover, as time passed, it gradually accelerated and sped up.
Ten seconds before the end, it moved as fast as an S-Rank reinforcement wizard, making it hard to even see with the naked eye.
For reference, points were awarded proportional to the cube's speed, so hitting it more toward the end was advantageous.
"Let me know when you're ready."
And I planned to give it my all in this exam.
The higher the grade on the wizard qualification exam, the more benefits, welfare, and authority you received.
I turned my gaze down to the audience below the platform.
I could feel the stares from numerous extras and key figures directed at me.
At the railings on the second-floor balconies to my sides, examiners, magic press reporters, and guild scouts were watching me.
—Kim Sun-woo from the start.
—Mana utilization 2nd Grade seems confirmed, but could 1st Grade happen?
—Come on. There have only been five cases in history of a minor achieving 1st Grade.
—1st Grade cutoff is over 500 points, right?
—Yeah. 2nd Grade is 400 points. 3rd Grade 200. 4th Grade 50.
—I predict 480 points.
From somewhere, voices discussing me drifted over.
The emotions contained within were curiosity, anticipation, inferiority, wariness...
A wide variety.
At the same time, an indescribable pressure weighed down.
It felt like I had become a protagonist like Lee Seo-jun.
In that case, I should live up to those expectations.
"Hoo..."
I let out a short breath and turned my eyes to the measurement device in front of me.
"I'm ready."
The examiner nodded and infused mana into the machine.
Immediately, a circular barrier began to unfold around me.
It was a protective system to prevent damage to the surrounding people.
"When the machine emits blue light, that's when you start."
Vmmm!
As soon as the examiner finished speaking, the cube turned blue.
And it began rapidly circling around me.
Since the cube's speed was quite fast, I needed to focus more on precise shooting with 'Emission' and 'Manipulation' rather than 'Manifestation'.
No matter how powerful the magic manifested, it was meaningless if it didn't hit.
I immediately manifested a magic orb toward the cube and emitted it.
Bang!
Kwaaang!
The first shot hit. Then I manifested magic again and emitted it.
The second hit too. Since it hadn't accelerated yet, this was only natural.
—Oh... manifesting so cleanly.
—Yeah. It's impressive.
Voices came from below the platform, but I ignored them.
I just focused on the current situation.
Bang! Bang!
Kwaaaang!
Magic continued firing toward the cube.
Since I concentrated on accuracy, none of the spells missed.
The score steadily accumulated.
—Whoa, this guy's already over 200 points. Insane.
—Yeah. Might even go over 500 at this rate.
—To break 500, you have to start from the last 10 seconds. That's when you cram them in.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
How many spells had I fired at the cube? Amid the continuous focus, a brief headache hit.
A slight mana overload came too. Even in a short time, spamming the same magic without breaks was taxing.
I paused the attack momentarily to cool the heated mana in my body.
—He stopped.
—He seemed to be pushing it, but isn't he resting too long?
—15 seconds left at 420 points. 500 might be tough.
—Looks like he's aiming for the last 10 seconds.
I took about five seconds of leisure to release the tangled mana.
Now, about 10 seconds remained.
From this point, the cube began moving at max speed, awarding proportionally more points.
Now it was time to use 'that'.
I manifested ten magic orbs above my head simultaneously.
—...Simultaneous manifestation?
—What's he suddenly doing?
At the moment the cube's movement reached its peak.
In a situation requiring even more focus on emission and manipulation, manifesting ten magics at once elicited voices of doubt and concern from here and there.
Normally, I wouldn't do this either.
But I had a special plan.
Namely, activating [Pinpoint].
[Using the usage effect 'Pinpoint.']
['Pinpoint' greatly increases the probability of predicting the movements of living targets for 5 seconds, and greatly increases hit rate as well.]
Upon using Pinpoint, the cube's movements started feeling familiar to my eyes.
At the same time, a strong confidence that I could hit anything filled me.
Alright, let's go.
"Hup!"
I spread my hand, and the orbs floating above my head swirled toward the cube like a storm.
Ten orbs emitted. Then I re-manifested ten more magic orbs and emitted them.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The numerous orbs firing all struck the cube without a single miss, thanks to [Pinpoint]'s effect.
From the platform, voices of shock rang out.
—...What is this?
—...What did I just see?
Kwang! Kwang! Kwang! Kwang! Kwaaaaang—!
And the sounds echoed.
Beep!
[Number 4, Kim Sun-woo. Test end.]
The three-minute test was over.
A heavy silence descended briefly on the grand hall.
The rapidly spinning cube stopped in place, and the protective barrier around me vanished.
"...Hoo."
I had given it my all.
I hadn't checked the result yet, but satisfied with the process, I had no regrets whatever the outcome.
Feeling satisfaction at having finished one test, I turned around.
Everyone in the audience seats was staring at me silently.
Their eyes held fear and astonishment.
At the same time, a message appeared before my eyes.
[Many people are astonished by your ability.]
[You have achieved the 'Devil's Talent' accomplishment.]
[As a reward, you acquire 10,000 points.]
[You have achieved the 'Mana Utilization Minor Record' accomplishment.]
[As a reward, you acquire 10,000 points.]
20,000 points in an instant.
Just as I felt satisfaction again at exceeding expectations, the examiner approached.
"...Student Kim Sun-woo? G-good work."
The examiner spoke to me with a dumbfounded expression.
"Oh, and congratulations. It's the minor record."
Right. Come to think of it, the accomplishment mentioned a record.
Minor record.
It was what the original's Lee Seo-jun had achieved.
The previous record was 560 points set by Jin Cheon-woo.
And Lee Seo-jun had also hit 560, tying Jin Cheon-woo's record.
That meant my score was higher than 560 at least. So 1st Grade was confirmed.
Feeling relieved, I checked the scoreboard floating on the ceiling.
[610 points]
The examiner said,
"You are the first minor to break 600 points."
The grade exam that delivered shocking results to many people had all ended.
Due to my intervention, results different from the original and my previous life had emerged.
First, the key figures' scores had overall risen.
Lee Seo-jun, who hit 560 in mana utilization in the original, set a record of 570.
Yoo A-ra went from barely 500 to 510.
Other characters scored 10 to 20 points higher as well.
From my perspective, it was quite satisfying.
After all, it was proof that my existence had a positive influence.
And my final results were as follows.
[Mana Utilization Ability 1st Grade]
[Formula Analysis 1st Grade]
[Spell Release 1st Grade]
[Demon Subjugation Dismantling 2nd Grade]
"...Demon subjugation dismantling is a bit regrettable."
I muttered quietly while looking at the result sheet after the exam.
I achieved 1st Grade in all grade exams except demon subjugation dismantling.
Truthfully, I felt a bit wronged regarding the demon exam.
The demon subjugation itself succeeded more cleanly than anyone else's, but it got messed up in 'demon dismantling'.
Demon dismantling was the test of dismantling the demon's hide, organs, and bones for crafting materials.
But due to insufficient prior experience in demon dismantling, I got 2nd Grade.
"Sun-woo!"
As I was about to leave with the result sheet, a familiar cheerful shout came.
I turned around to see Yoon Ha-young approaching with a beaming smile.
"Sun-woo! I got 2nd Grade in mana utilization!"
She had practiced diligently for weeks wanting 2nd Grade at all costs, so that was good.
"Congratulations. Your efforts paid off."
"Yeah! It's thanks to you, Sun-woo!"
To be serious, it wasn't thanks to me. Yoon Ha-young got 2nd Grade in the original too.
The difference was that instead of barely scraping by, she achieved it comfortably.
"Oh, right. You were amazing. Breaking two records. I was so proud."
Two records.
In mana utilization, the minor record; in spell release, the all-ages record.
It caused a huge uproar.
There had never been a case of setting two records in a single grade exam.
Plus, a minor setting the all-ages record was a first.
As a result.
[You have achieved the 'Spell Release Record' accomplishment.]
[As a reward, you acquire 10,000 points.]
Another 10,000 points added.
30,000 points from this grade exam alone.
I worried attention might focus too much, but since the results were good, it was fine.
"Well, I got lucky in various ways."
With the grade exam over, what remained was taking the 'Pro Wizard Qualification' exam.
And achieving A-Rank in it.
Achieving A-Rank solely through the exam without prior wizard accomplishments was nearly impossible, which was why I was challenging it to gain the corresponding 'accomplishments' and 'points'.
Plus, with points accumulated, it was time to buy a new trait.
[Possessed Points: 183,000]
183,000 points.
Enough to buy a decent S-Rank trait.
What to get for the next trait.
Maybe save more and aim for SS-Rank.
"...But where are the others?"
I looked around.
No sign of the other characters, including Lee Seo-jun.
"I saw Jun alone outside earlier. Oh! And Yoo Seong-jin? He was with him too."
"...Yoo Seong-jin?"
"Yeah. He was amazing too. Got 600 in mana utilization. From what the examiners said, he seems famous."
Yoo Seong-jin...
I could roughly guess the situation.
Yoo Seong-jin harbored strong inferiority toward Lee Seo-jun.
Because Lee Seo-jun was monopolizing the attention of his own master, Jin, and Natasha.
Yoo Seong-jin, arrogant in his talent,
sought to prove he was superior to Lee Seo-jun.
The point where that inferiority exploded was right during the 'Pro Wizard Qualification Exam'.
"Let's go out."
Yoon Ha-young and I hurried outside.
As expected, Lee Seo-jun and Yoo Seong-jin were facing off.
—I'm disappointed. Your level is lower than expected. I thought you were something special.
—...Did you call me out to brag about your higher score?
Hearing Yoo Seong-jin and Lee Seo-jun's words, I couldn't help but smirk.
It seemed he'd provoked Lee Seo-jun by boasting his high 'mana utilization ability' score, just like in the original.
But Lee Seo-jun wouldn't care.
Yoo Seong-jin was 21 years old.
There was a two-year gap between them.
—I'm not bragging. I'm saying you're below expectations.
If left alone, they'd keep up the childish banter, so I intervened.
"Lee Seo-jun."
"...Kim Sun-woo?"
Lee Seo-jun turned to me.
Yoo Seong-jin across from him also turned his gaze to me. I met his eyes leisurely and said to Lee Seo-jun,
"That's inferiority complex. Ignore that kid and let's go back."
At my words, Yoo Seong-jin narrowed his eyes.
"...Inferiority complex? That kid? Hey. What did you just say? Wanna die?"
Yoo Seong-jin yelled at me with an enraged face.
I smirked at him and said,
"What're you on about, when your score's lower than mine."