Chapter 62
Chapter 62
62
EP18 - Christmas Bells Ring Over the Snow-Covered Ruins (7)
The final exam week was approaching.
Most professors decided to replace it with reports or assignment portfolios, but there were some stubborn professors who insisted on holding exams in this situation.
Like Dante Hiacapo, for example.
"Hwaru, did you hear the news?"
"Huh?"
However, this exam was a bit strange. All Students taking Illusion Magic-related courses would have to take an integrated final exam.
"Dominic, what's going on?"
"According to what I've heard from "This Industry"—"
Dominic said that perhaps a very large Illusion Magic exam was being prepared at the headquarters level.
Headquarters? Not just the Assassination Studies Department?
What does that mean?
Surprisingly, even Students taking [Illusion Magic] courses in the Magic Department, from freshmen to seniors, would all gather in one place to take the exam.
Hiaka Academy's outermost District 9. In a place called [Magic Forest].
And Dominic's words became reality.
"Wow…. There are so many people…."
"Is this for real? Are all these people taking the exam at once?"
On the day of the exam, over 1,200 Students gathered in District 9. About 450 of them were assassin Students. The number of magician Students was a whopping 750.
They gathered while maintaining a certain distance, but they couldn't help but look at each other with curiosity.
All the magician Students were wearing ridiculous, wide-brimmed pointed hats.
And the assassin Students were collectively wearing harnesses like dog harnesses?
It was truly a battle between the birthday celebrants and the perverts…….
A Professor appeared before the gathered Students.
"Ah, ah! Everyone, please pay attention. I am Collider, an elite senior Professor of Illusion Magic Assassination Studies!"
He was an old man who looked like he had a lot of complaints about the world.
He suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs.
"First! Let me tell you about my achievements. First place at Lemontree Baron's Academy! First place in graduating class at the prestigious Hiaka Assassination Studies Department in 475! First place in the Flower of Seclusion at the Kingdom Academy's Illusion Magic evaluation exam! First place in the Empire's exchange student program!! 6,001st in the world ranking— what are you doing! Aren't you going to applaud?!"
Clap, clap…. Awkward applause poured out.
In the meantime, the magic Students glanced at us.
The Assassination Studies Department had to avoid their gaze.
'Ah, fuck, why is that guy here.'
'This is so embarrassing.'
Assassination Studies…… A mysterious one-loss from the start!
However, due to the current situation, some Students were on edge.
Originally, magicians are divided into four Student ranks.
Etude → Toccata → Sonata → Symphony
Among them, a senior Student of the 'Symphony' rank, like the Hidden Dragon Society, raised his hand.
"What is it!"
"Professor, why are you here?"
"I'm here to explain the exam questions."
"Then explain the questions."
Silence fell over the plaza.
…Look at that bastard?
At this time, all the Assassination Studies Students were subtly annoyed.
Even if Collider is a moron?
Is it okay for someone else to insult him…?
But it wasn't wrong, and time was limited, so Collider clenched his fist behind his back and raised his head.
"...Okay! I will explain the Illusion Magic final exam questions!"
Snap-!
As he snapped his fingers, a point appeared in the air.
"The content of the exam is simple! From now on, you must nurture this 'The First Point'. Add your [Illusion Magic] to it like flesh! But of course, you can't attach just anything!"
Snap-!
At Collider's gesture, a small stone appeared. He attached it to the 'point'.
Clang!
The stone soon shattered.
"The [Illusion Magic] that can be attached here is already determined, and you must find it with your Illusion Magic sense! The more you attach, the bigger it gets, the more points you will be given. It will eventually form a shape!"
"What. How boring."
"……."
This time, the voice was particularly loud.
It was the same Symphony-ranked senior magic Student.
"It won't be that boring! This exam is more exquisite than you think, difficult, and you'll have to solve it for a long time!"
"It doesn't look like there's much to see. If I just attach something roughly, everyone will follow me, right?"
"……."
Collider closed his eyes.
It was okay.
Having listened to the nagging of someone with gray hair for more than three months, Collider's patience had grown, and he could grit his teeth and get through this again.
"That son of a bitch is talking like shit. Should I just kill him…."
Suddenly, a girl's voice was heard loudly from somewhere in the Assassination Studies Department.
The Students were all horrified and turned to look.
A Student with buck teeth sticking out in dissatisfaction.
It was Gray.
"Hey. You over there. Are you talking to me?"
Gray replied to the magic Student's question.
"No?"
"What do you mean no? You said that for me to hear."
"I didn't. But is the Professor your friend?"
Hmm.
Then is he your friend…?
Someone thought to themselves.
"Hey. What's your problem?"
"I'm your mom? But what's wrong with that crazy bastard acting cocky in front of the Professor who came out to explain? Do you want to die?"
"Get lost. You vulgar thing. In the first place, [Illusion Magic]'s origin is Magic, so does it make sense for an Assassination Studies Department Professor to explain it?"
"If you have a problem, bring your mom?"
"...Are you done talking?"
As the emotions between the two became fierce, a subtle tension began to flow between the Magic and Assassination Studies Departments.
At that time, one Student looked at the podium and froze without realizing it. That gaze began to spread. As they looked at the podium one by one. Gray and the magic Student, who were glaring at each other in excitement, had to look at the podium as well. Because everyone's eyes were on it.
Silence slowly descended on the area. A Professor with pink eyes was standing on the platform. An assassin with a senior Professor badge on his chest.
"……."
"……."
It was Professor Dante Hiacapo. But even though the magic Students didn't know who he was, they strangely felt like they had to shut their mouths. That's how the atmosphere was.
After silencing all 1,200 Students, and when even the sound of breathing could not be heard. The Professor opened his mouth.
"From now on, anyone who makes a fuss will have their exam qualification revoked."
A voice that echoed lowly throughout the plaza.
"Try making noise one more time."
Slow speech. An oppressive tone. In response, the Students each felt an unknown pressure. As if they themselves had become deer facing a tiger, a instinctive pressure……. In the silent test site.
"Okay, okay, I'll explain the rest. You guys."
Next to Collider, Chief Professor Galua appeared.
"This exam was created by Chief Professor Cain, a genius of Illusion Magic who we secretly invited to Hiaka, so you must not underestimate it."
Cain? Who is that?
Curiosity spread. Because the Students also know how desperate Hiaka's [Illusion Magic] is.
At that time, Professor Dante opened his mouth.
"It is impossible to copy. When the exam starts, you will enter Fantasy Land and solve the problems alone in your own Subspace. Is that an answer?"
"……Yes."
The Student who had argued with Collider nodded.
Galua continued.
"The exam period is 48 hours. Two nights and three days. It's up to you how many hours you invest per day. And depending on the results of this exam, the Magic Department will be guaranteed a letter of recommendation from the department head and me, and the Assassination Studies Department will be guaranteed several diplomas."
At those words, the Students' expressions stiffened.
They realized that this was not a simple final exam.
Murmurs began to erupt.
Galua added a little more.
"And a special prize is prepared for the first place. We will give you the opportunity to learn a Secret Skill from the Professor you want. 1:1! Whoever it is. Whatever it is! All the Professors in all departments have agreed to this."
The murmurs grew louder.
Is it possible to learn a Professor's Secret Superpower or Magic? Anyone, anything?
The Students think of their own wishes in their heads.
"……."
Gray also swallowed hard.
This was truly an incredible opportunity.
She wanted to check.
Gray couldn't help but raise her hand.
"Anyone? Even the department head or the chairman?"
"The chairman is an exception."
The Students stared at the department head in shock. That meant they were not exceptions!
An opportunity to learn Superpower through direct instruction from a [Challenger] within the top 200 in the world ranking!
"……."
On the other hand, Gray had only one Professor in her eyes. Professor Dante Hiacapo.
Gray had to meet him separately. There was something she had to meet and ask.
"……."
Meanwhile, another one of the Assassination Studies Students was looking at Dante.
It was Elise, who had no interest in the exam or anything else.
'Bracelet….'
When to meet the Professor and give him the bracelet, that was the problem for Elise.
"Skills are important. But it will be difficult to find the answer to this problem simply with skills. The theme of this exam is finding the 'Main Force' and 'Overcoming the Limit' rather than simple Illusion Magic skills."
Chief Professor Galua's words motivated many Students, because they thought that if it was about overcoming limits, everyone would be starting on the same line.
"Then, let's start the exam."
* * *
The exam began.
The Students entered a Subspace called [Fantasy Land].
In the pure white space, they began to shape the 'points' in front of them.
I opened the [Aperture] I created. Mana rotated clockwise in the air, forming a mirror. Several Fantasy Lands were revealed inside.
'Chief Galua said that it's not greatly related to talent.'
That wasn't necessarily true. There is no field in the world where talent does not have an impact. Usually, talented guys are also tenacious. Even overcoming limits is influenced by talent. Sadly.
As expected, the Symphony-level Students in the Magic Department and the Bachelor-level Students in the Assassination Studies Department began to take the lead.
Some began to solve the introduction to the task. They began to attach the shape of a 'tree' to the first point. Their senses were very good. Because the final form of this is indeed a 'tree'.
But in this process, there was one interesting fact.
'Hmm.'
In fact, I already knew the winner of this exam.
Too obviously, it had to be Gray.
It wasn't just because she was from the Habanero family.
Her overwhelming potential, shaped for Professor assassination, had to lead her to victory. But what was going on?
"Hmm…."
As Elise waved her hand in the space below the point, the white floor, which had been empty, was deeply dug, revealing the shape of a tree.
"Hmm? Is this it…?"
She scratched her head and began to erase the entire area, as if she didn't even know what crazy things she was doing.
Elise was erasing the 'background' of Illusion Magic. In terms of a tree, she was digging up the ground to reveal the roots.
It was a form in which [Illusion Magic] and [Stealth] were fused……. A fusion of Superpowers that can only be attempted after becoming at least a [Grandmaster] and going through a long intersection of images.
Fusion-type [Erasure].
It was truly insane talent. [Erasing] not just any crappy Illusion Magic, but the [Illusion Magic] I created myself.
"Hmm, is this right…? I don't know…."
Elise was reluctant, but she began to randomly erase the space to find the shape of the tree and its roots.
"Oh? It's points."
Then she smiled as she earned points.
In my mind, there was a scoreboard shared with the Students, and her results were surprising.
───
1st place, Elise 84
2nd place. Parhan 26
3rd place. Gray 21
───
Then something came to mind.
Maybe this is why?
───
Elise Ksikos [2.8]
Gray Habanero [2.7]
───
Could it be, just because of that [0.1]?
"Ah, what the…."
On the other hand, Gray was still showing her buck teeth and trying various [Illusion Magic].
"Why does it break…?"
Her [Illusion Magic] was somehow strange. She was very impatient and not focused at all.
The problem that arose from this was that she was cutting away at the work that needed to be delicate in chunks.
In fact, each 'tree' had its own assigned place. If Elise was the 'root', Gray was the 'branch'. But she kept trying to attach the 'trunk'?
It won't attach. The Fantasy Land I created rejects [Illusion Magic] that is not a strict answer. No matter how excellent it is, you must find the answer I intended.
Clang-!
That was why Gray's Illusion Magic kept breaking helplessly.
"Huh…?? Why is this happening? The answer is a tree. I made a tree. Why does it break…."
You have to be delicate.
Delicate.
Aside from being disappointed that Gray, a member of the Hidden Dragon Society, was not doing as well as expected.
There was a personal problem.
"Your ace is slower than I thought?"
Chief Professor Galua came next to me and smiled.
"Great vessels are made late."
"That's what you say when you're making a vessel, not when you're digging up dirt?"
A subtle battle of nerves began between him and me.
Because. We made a bet in the first place.
Assassination Studies Department vs Magic Department
It was…… An extension of the subtle conflict earlier.
Especially in Illusion Magic, Alchemy, Magic (there is a separate Assassination Magic), etc., the conflict was prominent.
"Our Parhan already has 35 points. He's arrogant, but he's a genius when it comes to [Illusion Magic]. How many points does Gray have?"
Because he only sees the Magic Department's scoreboard.
And Parhan is the name of that rude guy from earlier.
"...Our kid has 25 points."
"Oh ho. Are you okay? He's already 10 points behind our kid."
"We'll have to see. It's just the beginning."
"Well. Just because you're a genius Professor in the Assassination Studies Department doesn't mean that Student is a genius too. And originally, [Illusion Magic] is the exclusive property of magicians, isn't it?"
"……."
I didn't say that Elise had 91, 92, 93… points.
I also wanted to bet on Gray.
And of course, Gray had to win. Parhan's potential is probably only about [2.3].
"Don't forget what we bet. For every 10 points difference, I get one elixir from you. You work as my teaching assistant for a day. Remember?"
My hair stood on end.
Teaching assistant.
That's a lucky Graduate Student.
That kind of thing must never happen.
"Ah, what's wrong…. Why…."
But Gray is still digging.
As time passed, the gap widened. And Chief Galua, this old man, was more childish than I imagined at the age of 90.
"Hic, hic, hic!"
His laughter was strange and irritated people, and when the score difference exceeded 100 points, he even put a chair next to me and sat down?
"No, does that mean there's a 100-point difference now? The lease for the genius teaching assistant has already filled ten days. Hee hee hic!"
"Ah, Chief Professor. Please go away."
"I can't! I have a personality that can't resist interesting things! Hic hic!"
But after being scratched for almost 30 minutes, I couldn't just listen anymore.
"Oh, is that so? That's why you couldn't stand other people's papers 30 years ago."
"……?"
Chief Galua, who was suddenly hit in the solar plexus, erased his smile and looked at me. The plagiarism controversy was his Achilles' heel.
"But I don't kill fellow Professors."
"……."
This time, it's my Achilles' heel, not my Achilles' heel. Because I keep saying that I didn't do it, but people keep nagging me about it here and there.
"……."
"……."
So I looked at the old man head-on. Lightning flashed between him and me. A fatal blow if we touched each other.
"I didn't kill him."
"I didn't plagiarize the paper either."
"I think you did."
"I didn't, you bastard."
"We'll see."
"That's a line like a third-rate assassin. You should know well. I am a man who never backs down."
"You backed down on the paper just fine."
"……Y, y…."
The old man began to tremble.
It was one win for now, but the aftermath was important.
I looked at Gray in Fantasy Land.