Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Mana Detection Exam
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Ullan's final specialty exam.
The mana detection exam was held outdoors.
Ullan, surveying the large circular arena, headed toward the other examinees. And once again, he drew every eye in the place.
However, unlike the Grand Melee, most of the looks were filled with interest and curiosity. There were hardly any traces of wariness toward him.
'The supervisors haven't arrived yet.'
Ten minutes remained until the exam began.
So he decided to wait leisurely. As he glanced around the grounds like a spectator,
his gaze locked onto one spot.
Unlike the clustered examinees, a single girl sat alone, aloof and dignified. Ullan narrowed his eyes to slits.
'That one's...'
Lustrous silver hair.
Golden eyes that gleamed quietly. A sculpture-like beauty. A girl radiating an unmatched presence.
Ullan knew exactly who she was.
'Dilia Arpen.'
Half-human, half-elf.
Fifth princess of Arpen Kingdom.
Mage beloved by mana.
She had countless titles, but the most renowned was undoubtedly one.
'Star Witch.'
The supreme mage who summoned falling stars.
Dilia was one of the seven heroes, her power ranking among the top three mages across the continent back then.
The second past-life comrade he'd spotted after Sword Princess Ivela. This time, though, it didn't shock him as much. Dilia had often boasted about graduating from Arsen Academy.
'She was still this petite back then.'
They were the same age, without a doubt.
Yet her face looked far more youthful than Noa's. Innocent enough that you'd swear she'd just outgrown childhood.
At that moment, did she sense his stare?
Suddenly, Dilia turned toward him.
"...".
Interest flickered in her golden eyes.
But only briefly.
She averted her gaze soon enough.
Her stoic nature matched his memories from their past life perfectly. A wave of inexplicable nostalgia washed over Ullan, and he smiled wordlessly.
Right then.
The supervisors appeared.
Thud thud!
Seven in total.
Seemed like several assistants among them. The grounds fell silent. While observing them, Ullan's eyes met a certain man's.
A middle-aged fellow with a finely groomed mustache.
The exam supervisor, by all appearances. His face twisted the instant their gazes locked.
Fierce malice poured from his eyes.
A cold, blatant glare, as if beholding something utterly loathsome. Sensing it, Ullan recalled Noa's words.
「Professor Direk will try to flunk you any way he can. He'll pull every trick to slap you with an F grade.」
He'd dismissed it as random at first.
But that glare sparked an instinct: it might be true.
He had no clue why.
The raw hostility was undeniable.
As he mulled Noa's advice in silence, a familiar voice brushed his ear.
"...Deplin?"
Dilia's voice.
Her perpetually blank face stirred with emotion. Surprise, then dismay. What could she be seeing? Ullan followed her line of sight.
Another girl stood there.
Apricot hair swaying as she waved cheerily at Dilia. Dilia's expression hardened instantly.
Crunch!
Her lip caught between her teeth.
Surprise and dismay twisted into fury.
They clearly knew each other.
And not amicably. Just as that thought crossed his mind, the supervisor mounted the stage. The very man who'd glared at Ullan.
"I'm Direk Orminu, professor in the Magic Department. Supervising this 《Mana Detection》 exam."
A curt introduction.
His clipped tone screamed strictness.
He then introduced the assistants one by one, finally gesturing to the apricot-haired girl.
The waver from before.
"And this is a representative from the Magic Department, here to observe the exam..."
"I'm just a plain old spectator."
She cut him off.
With a shush gesture. Rude, but Direk clamped his mouth shut. No hint of irritation.
"Ahem! Now, the exam details. This specialty test has three parts."
First: Sensing mana flow and pinpointing its central mana core—how fast can you do it?
Second: Extract the mana core from an enchanted medium, trigger a reaction, complete the task.
Third: Pair up, face mana golems, recover as many intact mana cores as possible.
Assessing detection talent, application, teamwork, fine mana control.
"Scores per test: 0 to 5. First place: 5 points. Last: 0. Others scaled by performance."
Duplicates likely, but 0 and 5 unique to last and first.
"One 0 means F grade. Total 5 or below: F. Perfect 15: automatic S."
Scoring done.
Assistants hauled in groaning something. Watermelon-sized orbs. Mage mana measurers.
"Before we start, mana verification first. To assess your potential—cooperate, please."
Direk paused.
Dead serious, he added,
"Oh, and anyone under '100' mana gets an instant F. Got it?"
Laughter exploded everywhere as he finished. Assistants, even Deplin beside him.
"Hahaha! New side of you, Professor Direk. Thought you were the department's dullest—didn't expect jokes!"
Laughable, sure.
Under 100 mana? Not even a mage. All took it as banter.
Ullan couldn't join in.
'Just like Noa warned.'
No idea why, but Direk was gunning to fail him hard. Why else this check?
Ullan pondered.
Spirit for a sec? But warrior mana differs sharply from mage mana.
A Magic prof would spot it. Debating options,
'Hm? Wait. This...'
Eyes widened faintly.
Moments later, he patted his belly softly. Unexpected find in the unlikeliest spot.
His eyes sparkled starry.
Like breakthrough achieved.
2.
Soon after.
Measurements went smoothly.
"Roxent Sharair. 825 mana."
"Kashan Alekain. 680 mana."
Blackboard filling with results. Direk eyed them silently, then Ullan.
'This seals it.'
Barbarian warrior.
No magic, no mana. Count Dermore's intel—solid.
Direk's confident smirk.
Visions of fat research grants dancing. Ullan's turn nearing,
"D-Dilia Arpen. 2,885 mana!"
Assistant yelped in shock. Eyes swarmed Dilia.
Direk included.
Warranted.
Triple the top score so far, raw mana alone.
"Hehe, worthy of my pupil."
Deplin chuckled.
Her "former disciple"—this girl. Hands off Dilia, Direk vowed inwardly.
Time passed.
Target arrived.
Ullan Bator. Thudding steps. Deplin looked amused.
"Kinda gives warrior vibes over mage?"
He was one.
Direk snickered inside, stared. Warned,
"Just in case: warrior mana doesn't register normally."
Ditch the pipe dreams.
Ullan unfazed, oddly. Resigned, probably. Direk's sly grin.
"Hand on the orb."
Ullan obeyed meekly.
Result instant. Assistant awkward.
'Figures.'
Zero mana expected.
No glitch—announce quick—but assistant beat him.
"Ullan Bator, 100 mana."
"...What?"
Direk blanked.
Say again?
100? Not zero?
Stammering, grounds buzzed anew. Echoing Dilia's reveal.
"What? A measly 100?"
"Real mage?"
"Why so low?"
Different flavor shock.
Question storm, some piped up.
"Wait, auto-fail?"
"Yeah! Under 100's F!"
"Nah."
"100 ain't under."
Chatter amid,
Direk's face contorted freakishly.
'Damn it! Argh!'
Should've said "100 or less." Word slip cost the kill.
No—how's he got mana?! Supposed non-mage!
Direk reeled.
Silent Deplin squinted. Tracked Ullan's retreating back.
"Odd one. Mages stock mana in hearts usually—but small intestine? Wild."
More quirks.
Mana vessel, heart-fixed, felt like sliding downward slow.
Abdomen bluish tint too.
'Last thing.'
Illusion maybe, but two vessels sensed. Marble-sized each.
"Hehe, another newbie worth eyeing besides Lia."
Deplin's eyes crescented slyly.
New toy spotted.
Time elapsed.
All verified.
Direk shook off chaos, rage tamped, stage again.
"...Exam starts now."
Failed round one.
Next: crush him!
Eyes blazed resolve. Oblivious, Ullan picked his ear idly.
Main event underway.
3.
Exam kicked off.
Assistants lugged huge boxes. Thousands of orbs inside, each trace-mana'd.
"First test: pure 《Mana Detection》. 100 orbs each."
Direk done,
100 orbs wall-stuck. Wide gaps. Pointed, continued,
"All hold 10 mana. Save one: 15. Find, smash it. That's it."
Explanation snappy.
Mood soured. Troubled faces.
Normal orb vs. mana'd? Simple.
'But amount diff alone? Tricky.'
Skinny 5-mana gap.
Needs flow-reading gift. Or drilled classes.
Entrance-level? Nah. Direk knew, added hook.
"I get it's advanced. Special rule: wrong smash? No deduct. Goal: fastest find-and-destroy."
Time only, ignore rest.
Faces lit up.
Doable.
Not finished.
"But: no tools. Staffs, books banned. Body touch? Instant F."
"...".
Faces nuanced.
Magic-only breaks, no contact.
Balanced.
Grasped, Direk glared Ullan.
'Game over.'
Warrior Ullan. Needs weapon/body for smash. Magic? Irrelevant.
' measly 100 mana.'
'Mana Arrow'—weakest attack—50 mana pop.
So: read flow, nail target, magic-smash best shot.
Unlikely.
'His set's rigged.'
Ullan's 100: uniform mana.
Any hit: wrong.
'Done with you. Bye.'
Plains-bound, barbarian.
Direk's wicked chuckle.
Meanwhile, tests smooth. Most ~3 min. Standout:
"Dilia Arpen. 24 seconds!"
Dilia, naturally.
Flow read, anomaly nabbed, smashed. Sub-30 sec. 5x peers.
"My girl."
Deplin beamed wide.
Direk nodded assent. Legit skill.
Finally.
Ullan up.
Magic specialty hopeful with bare-minimum mana. Spotlight natural.
Crack! Pop!
Orbs latched, expectant.
Ullan glared stoic.
Then brow furrowed.
'Can't tell.'
Mana in 'em? Sure.
Difference? Nada.
All identical to him. Focus, squint—no dice.
'No helpin' it.'
That way only.
Eyes sank low.
Assistant:
"10 seconds to start."
Prep cue.
Ullan nodded. Breathed steady, right foot back, torso tilt, fist clenched.
"Huh? Whatcha doin'?"
"Punch windup?"
"No way. DQ."
"Too far for fist."
Eight steps distant.
No reach.
Hype built, assistant:
"Start!"
Then.
Ullan thrust fist.
Whoosh!
Air cleaved.
Space twisted flash.
What spell?
Eyes bulged—then earsplitting.
Boom!
Shatter roar.
Which? Irrelevant. Wall orbs: shards, dust. Total wipe.
Not one spared.
6. This Is How My Magic's Meant to Be
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