Chapter 115: End of the Second Semester (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 115: End of the Second Semester (2)
“We will now begin the end-of-semester comprehensive practical evaluation for the first-year Magic Department. The dueling evaluation starts now.”
The dueling grounds were packed.
The first-year students of the Magic Department filled the spectator stands. Since the academy had divided the freshmen into four groups, each group was undergoing their exams in different locations.
In the center of the arena, exam proctors and judges stood in an orderly formation.
The host for the exam was the strikingly handsome, silver-haired professor, Fernando Frost. As he spoke into the microphone in a smooth, melodic voice, the female students sighed and swooned, their faces flushed with infatuation.
Before anyone knew it, the time for the final practical exam of the second semester had arrived.
The evaluation consisted of three exams conducted over three days. The first was magic craftsmanship, the second was breaking mana barriers, and the third and final exam was dueling.
The scale was inevitably smaller than the first semester.
Following the attack on the Floating Island, fissures had split the ground and several buildings had collapsed. Unfortunately, this infrastructure damage had occurred at the primary site where the end-of-semester evaluations were usually held.
It was the same in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱. Seeing the scenario play out exactly as it did in the game, it seemed those specific buildings and areas were fundamentally structurally weak.
‘Anyway.’
By prioritizing my studies over magical training for a while, I had managed to secure decent grades on the written exams. Now, if I could conclude the remaining practicals on a high note, I would definitely be able to secure the ‘Self-Development Excellence’ scholarship.
‘Fortunately, a significant amount of my mana has returned.’
My mana recovery speed had also increased. I had clearly crossed a certain threshold, finally breaking free from the shackles of chronic mana depletion. It was a massive relief that I’d recovered just in time for the finals. It truly was a stroke of luck.
Soon after, Professor Fernando explained the rules for the duel evaluation.
They were similar to the first semester, with two key differences.
First, there would be no immediate feedback—not that I cared much for it. Second, the academy had personally selected the opponents for each duel. This was done to ensure the matches were balanced for the final evaluation. As a result, no one knew who they were fighting until their names were called.
The faculty likely matched students with similar grades based on their performance throughout the semester. The brackets were probably meticulously organized, down to the smallest detail.
‘I expect Luce and Kaya will be pitted against each other.’
That would be an intense clash. Honestly, I couldn’t even fathom how fierce that competition would be.
For context, Class A was taking their exam separately in a secluded, vast field. The academy had likely chosen that location to accommodate their overwhelming destructive capabilities. Incidentally, the fifth seat, Keridna Whiteclark, would be competing against the top students of Class B.
Eventually, following Professor Fernando’s call, students began entering the arena to start their duels. Since the opponents were of similar skill levels, the battles were fierce and quite a spectacle to watch.
Putting that aside, though…
‘Most of these guys are weaker than me now.’
The more I sensed the mana from the dueling students, the more I realized that my own reserves had risen to the upper ranks of the Magic Department freshmen. Confidence bubbled within me; I felt that even those who once seemed threatening could now be easily defeated.
‘Ah, the good old days.’
I could hardly believe I was the same person who had been ridiculed for having Grade E mana during the first semester. Isaac Coin, once the academy loser, was now on a steady upward trajectory, exactly as planned.
“Hey, friend!”
“Oh, hello.”
Suddenly, a lively girl with short white hair and a black rabbit-ear ribbon approached and sat next to me. It was Amy Holloway, Ian Fairytale’s childhood friend and love interest. I had thought about greeting her if the opportunity arose, but she had come over on her own.
“Where’s Ian?”
“He’s in a different group. But Isaac, why did you just walk past me last time without saying hello? Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”
“You looked depressed after the written exam, so I figured you’d royally screwed up. Didn’t you think your future was looking pretty bleak until recently?”
“…If you’re that perceptive, you’ll never be popular, you know?”
What does she want from me then…
“Anyway, there’s always a rainbow after the rain.”
“Because the semester is almost over?”
“Of course! Once today’s exam is finished, the second semester is done and the vacation ceremony is right around the corner. There’s no time to be depressed! Isaac, what are you doing during the break?”
“I haven’t made any specific plans yet.”
That was a lie, of course.
I was on a journey to defeat the Evil God. Having a specific plan was the most basic of requirements. Excluding training and demon hunting, there was one major event scheduled for the winter vacation.
‘Gormos’ Greatsword.’
I planned to seek out the mythical magic beast, the ‘Stone Turtle - Gormos,’ and undergo the Trial of Sandstone to obtain ‘Gormos’ Greatsword’—the ultimate weapon of the rock element.
Naturally, just as I had during the Trial of Frost, I would have to put my life on the line. It was just business as usual. I was determined to overcome the Trial of Sandstone.
“Ha!”
Suddenly, an arrogant chuckle echoed from in front of us. It was Tristan Humphrey, the vainglorious blonde noble sitting two rows ahead. It sounded like he’d been eavesdropping on our conversation, waiting for the perfect moment to butt in.
Tristan smirked, sitting with his arms and legs crossed. He glanced back, flashing his pearly whites.
“Winter vacation is almost here and you haven’t even made plans? I’ve already meticulously drafted a special training regimen that pursues the absolute pinnacle of efficiency!”
“…”
“Watch and learn, commoner! If you continue to be as aimless as you are now, you won’t even be fit to reach for my ankles!”
Tristan let out a ‘Keuhehehe’ laugh before coughing as if he’d choked on his own spit.
‘I didn’t even ask for his advice…?’
Why is he acting out all of a sudden?
I didn’t know how to react, so I just ignored him.
“Next! Class B, Jack Schneider! Class C, Isaac! Come forward!”
The referee’s call.
I guess it’s my turn.
“I’ll head down first.”
“Yep, good luck!”
With Amy’s encouragement, I left the stands and stepped into the arena.
Across from me, a male student with long bangs covering his right eye approached. He had a tall, agile physique—to put it bluntly, he looked like a pair of chopsticks. His snickering ‘Kikik’ laughter matched his irritating appearance, but in a way, I was actually glad to see him.
“Kikik…! Hey, isn’t your luck with match-ups just terrible?”
Jack Schneider.
He was one of the top students in Class B who had blocked Ciel and me during the first semester’s final evaluation.
[Jack Schneider]
Lv: 88
Race: Human
Elements: Lightning, Wind
Danger: Low
Psychology: [Looking down on you.]
“I can’t believe some Class C bastard—no, wait. I can’t believe the guy famous for having Grade E mana is actually my opponent! Kikik…! Your luck is really baddd~.”
‘Oh, motherfu—’
I seriously can’t stand the way this little shit talks…
On the surface, my luck did seem poor. Generally, the gap between the top of Class C and the top of Class B was significant. However, these match-ups were decided based on grades from the second semester.
In other words, even the academy judged that my skills were on par with the upper ranks of Class B.
“Well, whatever. I guess it is,” I replied nonchalantly, rolling my shoulders to loosen up. “Still, don’t hold back.”
Even though it was an exam, I needed a way to measure my current combat power. Jack Schneider would serve as an excellent yardstick.
Jack started laughing again. It was more of a sneer.
“What’s with that relaxed attitude? You were nothing more than a bug before! You were at the very bottom of the food chain! Do you think you’re my equal just because you improved a little? You’re delusional! You only beat that Black Tiger elite because he let himself get hit! He was going easy on you! Hey, dumbass! How can you be so stupid? Can’t you even judge the gap between us? Unlike last semester, the top seat isn’t here to protect you!”
‘You’re weak,’ ‘You’re weak…’ I felt like my ears were bleeding from his grating voice.
‘But still…’
After today, there wouldn’t be anyone left in the Magic Department who would dare say such things to me.
“Any means allowed! Surrender is prohibited for the first minute. Now, show respect to your opponent and prepare for the duel. Ready, begin!”
Dududududek───!
「Ice Wall」
As a wall of ice rose from the ground to enclose Jack Schneider, he unleashed a powerful thunderbolt, shattering it into shards.
Rumble──!
Kwang──!
“Kikik…! Blocking my lightning with this level of ice is imp… ossib…?”
Puk──!
“Eheuk!”
I had intentionally weakened the [Ice Wall] so it would be destroyed instantly. The moment the referee said ‘begin,’ I cast the flimsy wall as a distraction. Simultaneously, I kicked off the ground and closed the distance in a flash.
Speed, athletic ability.
‘I’m on an entirely different level than before.’
The current me was far stronger than when I had dueled Tristan in the first semester. I buried a punch into the brat’s abdomen, the impact lifting his feet off the arena floor.
In that same instant, I condensed ice mana into my right hand. The magic circle for [Frost Explosion] manifested in the air. I no longer needed preparatory movements to condense the necessary mana, nor did it take seconds to gather my strength.
A stunned Jack barely clung to consciousness, desperately gathering lightning mana to deploy a counter-magic circle.
However, I swung my right arm with everything I had, detonating the condensed ice mana.
Kwaaaaaaah──────!!!
A frigid gale swirled with the intensity of a storm. The explosion of cold mana dealt a devastating blow to his body, the sheer force dispersing his lightning mana instantly. Flash-frozen frost coalesced into a massive block of ice, sealing him within.
As if time had stopped for him, his face remained contorted in pain inside the frozen prison.
Whoooooosh───.
“Hoo.”
In the aftermath of the [Frost Explosion], a misty trail of cold air escaped my lips. There was no need to see more; the result was clear. As I deactivated the spell, the lump of ice dissolved.
“Keugh…”
Pale blue mana scattered like flower petals. Within the mist, Jack keeled over before collapsing onto the arena floor. His eyes were wide open, rolled back to show only the whites. He had lost consciousness before he could even blink.
The match had ended in an instant. The referee extended his arm toward me, his expression one of pure bewilderment.
“Class C, Isaac wins!”
I felt the stunned gazes of the students. Even Amy was staring, her mouth hanging open in surprise. It was understandable. After all, I had just proven that I had, at the very least, reached the level of the Class B elites.
“I learned a thing or two,” I lied politely to the fallen Jack before turning my back and descending from the arena.
“Hmm.”
Heh, I’m actually kind of proud of that.
“Jack Schneider lost…? To Isaac?”
“Isaac just overwhelmed him, didn’t he?”
“Didn’t he have Grade E mana in the first semester?”
The students in the stands whispered urgently, making sure Isaac couldn’t hear.
The moment Isaac returned, Amy Holloway bombarded him with questions about how he’d done it, her face lit up with a wide smile as she repeatedly exclaimed, “You’re amazing, Isaac!”
“…”
Tristan Humphrey’s eyes were wide, and they showed no signs of narrowing.
He had known Isaac’s physical abilities were exceptional. However, the athletic prowess Isaac had just displayed… was on a completely different level compared to their duel in the first semester.
Moreover, Jack Schneider hadn’t just been a punching bag. He had tried to counterattack; his lightning mana had been clearly visible. He had actually reacted quite quickly.
This meant there had been a direct contest of magical strength. Yet, Jack’s lightning had been effortlessly devoured by Isaac’s ice.
It meant that Isaac had undoubtedly surpassed Jack in every single category.
‘How can… that commoner be superior to me…?’
Tristan Humphrey turned his head, staring blankly at Isaac as he chatted animatedly with Amy.
Setting aside the fact that he’d defeated a top Class B student like Jack… what was with that mana he’d sensed from Isaac?
His level had already far surpassed Tristan’s own.
‘How is this possible…?’
Tristan simply couldn’t wrap his head around the reality before him.