Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Rune Engraving Setback
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(4)
7.
Around the time Ullan was facing off against the Twin Dragons.
The "Rune Engraving" exam in the production specialty field had just wrapped up at the western smithy's forge.
"Shante Arbr. B-grade."
"Orti Delji. A-grade!"
"Rakan Yufeld. Excellent. To engrave such precise runes without a single flaw... S-grade!"
"Thank you!"
The boy named Rakan looked thrilled.
And he had every reason to be. He was the first S-grade out of over a hundred examinees.
On the flip side, there were completely opposite results as well.
"Noa Darshen. D-grade."
"......"
It was Noa. She hung her head low, as if she'd expected the outcome.
"Whoa, there's actually someone who got a D-grade."
"Why'd she even pick this exam?"
"Let's go. We won't see her around after enrollment anyway."
"Someone like that's definitely out."
Mocking whispers poured in from all directions. Noa's ears turned beet red as she clutched the hem of her clothes tightly.
Noa had chosen Rune Engraving because she figured it'd yield her most decent score.
It was a test to select those with artisan talents, and Noa had some confidence in her drawing skills.
Plus, as long as the engraving was completed—by any means—she planned to borrow the power of shamanism to pull it off.
'But......'
Problems arose from the start.
The exam involved engraving runes onto plate armor or shields, but examinees had to select the item themselves and carry it to the test site.
Choosing the quality of the item to engrave was considered part of an artisan's talent, per the proctors' policy.
The other examinees had no trouble hauling their gear and starting the work. But not Noa.
'This character with her trash stamina.'
Among the protagonist characters, she ranked in the top three for shamanic talent, but her strength and stamina were pathetically low.
And there was a penalty on top of that.
Even doing the same actions as everyone else drained her stamina far more.
'Probably about five times as much, right?'
For example, moving a 5kg object felt like 25kg to Noa.
This was the penalty given to "Noa Darshen." It was in the same vein as the "thick-headed" penalty given to Ullan.
And the result?
Just picking up and carrying the smallest shield ate up half her allotted time.
To make matters worse, the shield she brought was of poor quality. Transporting it exhausted her stamina and shattered her focus, ruining the exam.
'Ugh, I never noticed in the game......'
Who knew hauling a shield like this would wear her out so much?
Back on the plains doing chores, there was no rush, so she took it slow and hadn't realized. Even chopping wood, she'd rest a full ten minutes after each log.
Guess she needed to get her hands on some stamina-boosting treasure to improve.
Noa made a sour face.
'It's okay. I still have chances.'
At least she avoided F-grade.
If she aced S-grades in the remaining exams, enrollment would be secure.
Better yet, the last two played to her strengths.
She'd snag S-grades there somehow. Noa's eyes sparkled with determination.
'Ullan must've done great, obviously.'
He had no need for worry.
Just looking at the main scenario, he was the youngest among the seven heroes to clear the Hero's Trial—a monster. S-grade for sure.
With her thoughts sorted, Noa left the exam hall.
Sticking around would just make her face burn hotter.
"Let's see, time now......"
11:30 a.m.
Lunch was still a bit off.
She could head to the fountain early and wait for Ullan, but she didn't want to look pitiful to onlookers.
"Maybe scout the next exam site ahead."
Noa's second specialty exam.
Talisman Craft was scheduled right after lunch. Better to check the location now. She turned north.
Then, in that moment.
Someone caught her eye.
"Huh? That person......"
Light golden hair hanging in loose waves.
A beautiful swordswoman walking with it tied back tightly in a black ribbon. Noa's eyes widened like saucers at the sight.
It was a familiar face.
Noa blinked rapidly three times.
The brief info flashed by.
Noa's guess turned to certainty.
'It's the Sword Princess after all!'
Sword Princess, Ivela Elead.
One of the protagonist characters, a genius swordswoman.
Later, she'd frontline with Ullan in the seven heroes' party.
She was essential against the Abyss Lord, the "Screaming Eyeball."
Having her as a companion made the raid heaven or hell.
No harm in recruiting her anyway.
So Noa pondered.
'What to do?'
Should she say hi now?
What if acting too familiar made her wary? While Noa agonized, the Sword Princess vanished.
'Just greet her after enrolling.'
Plenty of chances.
Or not, on second thought. Because of the Sword Princess's character story in Noa's memory.
'She dropped out right before second year, right?'
The Sword Princess leaves the academy due to some incident. Need to build rapport fast, so she could borrow her strength when the Abyss Gate opens someday.
With thoughts of the Sword Princess wrapped up.
Noa headed to her original destination.
She confirmed the sites for her last two exams, then turned back toward the fountain to meet Ullan.
Along the way.
Noa's steps halted again.
Like with the Sword Princess, someone oddly familiar appeared.
"Ahem! Then that's settled."
A middle-aged man conversing with proctors.
He stroked his stylish beard, finished speaking, and turned. Noa blinked fast.
'Ah, Professor Direk!'
Mana flow and detection specialist.
Professor of wind elemental magic training and application, Direk Orminu. Not a protagonist, but Noa remembered him for a reason.
'He shows up as an event boss.'
In a specific Arsen Academy event, Professor Direk turns into a bloodthirsty monster. Decent rewards too.
'Also the Dermore Count's brother-in-law.'
What else was special?
As she rummaged through memories, something clicked.
'Wait, isn't he the proctor for Ullan's [Mana Detection] exam?'
Yeah, and his major was mana flow.
Then, assistant proctors' voices reached her ears—the ones with Professor Direk earlier.
"Professor Direk's so quirky."
"Why suddenly change the exam content?"
"Heard it leaked somehow."
"What? For real?"
"Yeah, so he overhauled it completely."
At those words.
Noa's brow furrowed slightly.
Professor Direk was the type obsessed with his research, ignoring everything else. He'd tweak old exam questions slightly for reuse.
'But overhaul the whole thing?'
On the day Ullan takes it?
Coincidence? No way.
It never happened in [Arsen Continent Saga] as Noa knew it.
'......Bad feeling about this.'
Couldn't explain it, but ominous. Gotta tell Ullan. With that, Noa hurried off.
8.
The fountain in the exam square.
Ullan scanned around. No sign of Noa. He stood blankly awhile, then sat on a suitable spot.
Planning to eat first.
As he went to open his lunchbox.
"Sorry! I'm a bit late, right?"
Noa arrived.
She plopped right beside Ullan.
A bare-chested barbarian boy and a girl with rare black hair on the continent.
The odd pair drew stares from other examinees. Ullan and Noa paid them no mind.
"How'd the exams go? Ace them?"
"S-grade on both."
"Whoa, classic Ullan."
As expected.
Noa admired honestly. Then the question bounced back.
"And you?"
"M-Mine are lower than yours."
"I get it. Not your specialty."
Ullan nodded.
"So, what grades?"
"......Do I have to say?"
"Curious."
Under Ullan's prodding, Noa sighed.
Fine. Results come out after all exams anyway—might as well spill now.
With a half-resigned look.
Noa's mouth opened.
"D-grade."
"......"
Silence fell instantly.
Only the fountain's trickle sounded. Ullan's eyes wavered. Noa's ears flushed deeper red.
How long passed?
Ullan let out a heavy sigh.
"Noa."
He called her name.
With utmost seriousness.
"Short time, but it was fun."
"Hey! Results aren't even out yet!"
"Tell Ajuh I said hi."
"I said I didn't fail!"
Noa shot up, pouting.
Hiding her bursting-red ears as best she could.
"Sigh, let's eat first anyway."
She was hungry, and had stuff to share.
As they ate, Noa relayed the proctors' chat she'd overheard.
Once done, Ullan replied calmly.
"I see."
Blander than expected.
Noa frowned, probing.
"......That's it?"
"What else? If it leaked, changing it makes sense."
"No, there's definitely something fishy!"
Voice laced with force.
A cry born of strong conviction.
Ullan tilted his head.
"Why so sure?"
"W-Well......"
Noa trailed off momentarily.
Hard to reveal the suspicion's source.
Meanwhile, Ullan narrowed his eyes at her hesitant, troubled look.
"That 'foresight' again?"
Noa often wielded mysterious foresight.
Like repeating prior experiences or knowing events in advance.
"Kuh, kinda. Anyway, don't let your guard down. Don't trust the Dermore Count either!"
"Why the Count?"
"Foresight too. Just know that."
Vague answer.
But Ullan didn't press. Noa's foresight never missed.
"What scheme, then?"
"Hmm, my guess: trying to flunk you somehow. Pull every trick for an F-grade."
Outlandish theory, but Ullan listened quietly. Her foresight was flawless, after all.
"If true, Professor Direk'll nitpick to catch you."
"Nitpick?"
"Yes! So if grilled weirdly, deny everything. Insist it's just magic you use."
"Will that fly?"
"It will. They need proof without your admission, and forced nitpicks lack solid evidence usually."
A smile bloomed on her lips.
Filled with certainty.
"Got it. I'll keep it in mind."
Ullan nodded.
Rare for her to insist this hard. If her hunch proved right, he'd follow the advice.
Soon after.
Lunch ended with the bell tolling.
Signaling lunch's close.
"My exam's in ten, so I'll head out. Meet after yours!"
"Sure, see you on the plains after graduation."
"I didn't fail yet!"
Noa yelled shrilly, turning away with a sulk. Ullan watched her receding back, then stood.
For his final exam.
9.
Direk Orminu.
Magic department professor and proctor for the upcoming [Mana Detection] exam. His face was etched with fatigue en route to the site.
Simple reason.
He'd pulled an all-nighter.
Not for research, but revising a specialty exam he usually ignored.
Hence the exhaustion.
But no choice. It was a request from his funder and brother-in-law, the Dermore Count.
"There's an eyesore barbarian. Make sure he fails Arsen Academy's entrance exam."
No reason given.
Just a sudden messenger with those words.
But the Count promised compensation.
Extra research funds upon success.
Enough to flip the perpetually cash-strapped Direk's eyes.
So he revamped the exam.
Making it brutally tough for magic illiterates.
'And I added insurance.'
A surefire way to force F-grade on non-mages.
Plan perfect.
Except one thing.
"Ufufu, I'm kinda excited. Haven't observed entrance exams in ages."
The girl walking beside him.
Apricot-haired girl bursting with cheerful laughter. Looked mid-teens, but twice Direk's age actually.
'Magic Dean, Deplin Chernio.'
Rules Arsen's magic department.
Top-five power player in the academy. A burden just to have nearby.
Problems didn't end there.
Deplin was excessively chatty.
"Bet there'll be tons of talented kids this year? No, there better be. Last year was a bust, right?"
"......Dean."
"Well, my former student's in this time, so it'll beat last year for sure. That kid's amazing!"
"Um......"
"Aaah, can't wait to see her. My cute, lovable Lia. Just wait a bit, teacher’s coming!"
No real conversation possible.
Direk sighed in half-defeat.
Then.
Deplin whipped her head around.
"Professor Direk."
"......Yes?"
"No need to worry."
"W-Worry about what?"
"The specialty exam. Why you overhauled it suddenly, your intentions—I'm not curious at all."
Her eyes curved like crescent moons.
But her gaze didn't smile.
Chills ran down his spine. Deep, abyssal eyes. Murky, unreadable depths.
But briefly.
Deplin's lips quirked up.
"I tagged along today just to see my old student. Won't interfere otherwise. Promise!"
She stuck out her pinky straight, grinning childishly.
Direk couldn't smile. He just gulped dryly, nodding stiffly.
Soon after.
They arrived at the exam hall.
Episode 6. My Magic Has Always Been Like This
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