Chapter 148: Joint Practical Evaluation (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 148: Joint Practical Evaluation (5)
A torrent of pink flames erupted. It was the fire magic of the Heart Paladin, Shera Hectorica.
Shera made short work of every student she crossed. Not a single first-year in the vicinity possessed the strength to withstand her blaze. However, her desire wasn't to eliminate insignificant freshmen; there was no joy to be found in trampling ants.
Shera grunted in annoyance.
“Where are the Predators hiding...!”
In this place—a vast, labyrinthine complex known as Octovus Hall—the goal of every Paladin was the same: hunt the Predators. Specifically, they were focused on those with the ice element.
Though they hadn't discussed it beforehand, the Paladins had collectively understood their objective the moment they heard the exam rules. Their goal was to sabotage the Black Monster—the Nameless Hero—and unmask him. They concluded that if he were participating in this exam, he would undoubtedly be classified as a Predator.
During last year’s Märchen Academy Magic Department exams, demons had appeared frequently, and the Black Monster had surfaced every single time. If the Black Monster was indeed a student, there was a high probability he was now a second-year.
Even if the Black Monster wasn't here, they had nothing to lose. Other opportunities would follow.
“…!”
As Shera traversed the vast expanse of Octovus Hall, she reached a wide, open chamber. Suddenly, a violent surge of mana swept through the air like a whirlwind, prickling her skin. The source was a corridor on the opposite side.
Shera’s eyes widened in surprise as she looked toward the entrance.
A female student with rose-gold hair walked toward her, her gait light and steady. Upon spotting Shera, she stopped, her expression remaining entirely indifferent. A blue gem brooch—the mark of a second-year—was pinned to her uniform ribbon. Five blue magic circles hovered above her head.
A wide smile spread across Shera’s lips.
“Luce Eltania…”
Finally, an opponent worth her time had appeared.
When encountering a Predator, one had to choose: fight or flee. However, Shera knew from her extensive combat experience that fleeing from Luce Eltania was never an option.
This was exactly what she had hoped for.
Shera deployed her orange magic circles. There was no need for words. As if following an unspoken agreement, the two unleashed their elemental magic upon one another.
White’s pocket watch was different from what I remembered. The reason for this discrepancy remained a mystery.
The discovery of a new variable stirred a swarm of complex thoughts in my mind, but I had to set them aside for now. It was almost time for the Abyssal Sea Monster to emerge; I could tell by the timer on my exam bracelet.
I dispelled my ice chair with [Defrost] and began moving toward the passage leading to the Eltra Sea. As I walked, I maintained a constant watch on the Paladins using [Clairvoyance].
Presumably, they were out hunting Predators just like me.
When the exam began, the Paladins—with the exception of the sociable model student, the Clover Paladin—had quickly abandoned their teams to eliminate students at a terrifying pace. They were clearly operating on the assumption that I was participating in this evaluation.
‘They must think I’m at least a second-year.’
Last year, various demons had appeared during the Magic Department’s first-year exams, and the Black Monster had intervened every time. Moreover, during this joint practical evaluation, all destinations—including the Eltra Sea where the Abyssal Sea Monster was set to appear—were under barriers with controlled access.
Last year, the Black Monster had acted as if he knew the exam schedule. The Paladins likely suspected he would do the same this year. In other words, they believed there was a high probability the Black Monster was hiding his identity and intervening in various exams to hunt demons.
Fortunately, they had overlooked one crucial fact.
‘Octovus Hall is much larger than they realize.’
This facility had been created by hollowing out the base of a massive island. Usually off-limits, its internal structure was a mystery to most, including the student council president, Alice Carroll.
Octovus Hall was a gargantuan maze, making a compass essential. For this exam, the compasses were specially calibrated; they only pointed toward a specific destination and provided a basic map. Even with a compass, if the Eltra Sea wasn't set as the destination, it was useless to the Paladins beyond its mapping function.
The fact that the Paladins hadn’t reached me yet, even with the Abyssal Sea Monster due to appear soon, proved they were lost within the depths of Octovus Hall.
In that regard, the goddess of fortune was on my side.
Of course, once the Abyssal Sea Monster appeared, anyone would be able to sense its overwhelming mana and determine the direction of the Eltra Sea.
‘But by the time they figure it out, it’ll already be over.’
When the Abyssal Sea Monster surfaced, the exam bracelets would lose all function and break down completely due to its passive skill, [Mana Drain].
As a side note, from what I remembered of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, the academy found it difficult to track every student's location during the chaos, so they primarily focused on monitoring those who had already been eliminated. In other words, unless I made myself conspicuous, I was unlikely to arouse suspicion from the faculty.
Once the Abyssal Sea Monster appeared, the exits of Octovus Hall would automatically seal. To prepare for demonic threats, the Hegel Magic Tower had developed a robust protective magic last year. It was a barrier that no one in Octovus Hall—myself included—could easily break.
“The timing has to be perfect.”
I needed to escape to the Eltra Sea after the monster appeared but before the exits were sealed.
The exam proctors waiting at the Eltra Sea coast were instructed to retreat to the gathering point once the Abyssal Sea Monster appeared, provided no students were present. I had already ensured that condition was met.
Returning to the current situation: the Heart Paladin had encountered Luce Eltania. Barring any unforeseen variables, Luce was likely to win.
The other Paladins were wandering in the wrong direction. However, the Diamond Paladin had defeated a group and seized their compass. It was a compass leading to the Eltra Sea. The needle pointed exactly where I intended to go, with 'Eltra Sea Coast' clearly marked on its face.
Since the Paladins needed to find the Eltra Sea, it was clear the Diamond Paladin had finally found the lead she needed.
As a side note, the impulsive Shera, overexcited about catching a Predator first, had rashly embarked on a solo mission. She had ditched her team the moment the exam started, unaware that her team’s compass was the one pointing toward the Eltra Sea coast.
“Well, it should be fine.”
Fortunately, the Diamond Paladin was quite a distance away in the wrong sector. She would have to go in circles to find the correct path.
Indeed, the goddess of fortune was smiling on me today. I wouldn't be hindered by that girl.
Or so I thought as I continued forward.
“…What?”
I stopped in my tracks, stunned. I focused my [Clairvoyance].
Suddenly, I caught my breath at the sheer absurdity of the Diamond Paladin's actions. Alexa, marked with the golden diamond pattern on her forehead, was charging toward my path by breaking through the walls.
BOOM!
BOOM!
The thunderous sounds of destruction reached my ears, growing steadily louder. The air vibrated as if an earthquake were striking, and the ground rumbled beneath my feet. Students scattered throughout Octovus Hall froze in terror.
No way, that’s insane. Who destroys the exam hall while taking the test…?!
I never expected her to be so crude as to carve her own path. Even Columbus would have marveled at such audacity. The thick walls were being blasted open one after another. I could break trees or rocks with my fists, but the Diamond Paladin was on an entirely different level.
Cold sweat ran down my cheeks. I regained my composure and hurried across the corridor.
As expected, an exam proctor moved to intercept Alexa. However, she attacked him with rock magic and knocked him out instantly. It was a merciless, expressionless strike.
She’s racking up quite the list of penalties…
She was really going all out. Alice probably hadn’t enrolled her just to draw this kind of attention.
I took back what I said about the goddess of fortune. She was a capricious one.
If I continued this way, our paths would inevitably collide. I was bound to encounter her on the way to the Eltra Sea. But rushing there early wasn't an option; my position was still being monitored by the exam bracelet, so I couldn't afford any suspicious movements. Moreover, I couldn't exit until the proctors had retreated.
So… what should I do?
I couldn't avoid a confrontation with Alexa. Her path was a straight line. I began to recall all the traps and features of the joint practical evaluation, trying to formulate a strategy to ambush her.
“Huh?”
Then, something unexpected happened.
A man with an arrogant smile blocked Alexa’s path.
“Tristan…?”
It was the vain, blond nobleman, Tristan Humphrey.
Bang!
In a wide chamber lit by wall lamps, at a junction where several paths intersected, a powerful blast of rock magic shattered the wall. Alexa emerged from the dust, the square diamond pattern on her forehead glowing.
“Ha!”
“…?”
A short, mocking chuckle brought Alexa to a halt. Amidst the debris of the collapsing wall, a blond male student stood facing her directly.
“I’d heard the freshmen were an insolent lot…”
The dust settled quickly. The brooch on the blond student’s tie flashed with an aquamarine light.
“But I never thought I’d see someone foolish enough to destroy the very venue of the exam.”
It was a Predator. Tristan Humphrey, ranked second in Class B and a second-year in the Magic Department.
Alexa’s rock magic circles etched themselves into the air, targeting Tristan. He swiftly deployed four wind magic circles in response. The clash of their mana created a fierce gust that swept through the hall.
“…”
Alexa sensed Tristan’s mana and realized she was the stronger of the two. However, Tristan’s fearless demeanor gave her pause.
Being overwhelmed by fear in the face of a superior opponent meant never reaching a higher realm. This was a lesson Tristan Humphrey had learned the hard way after being effortlessly swept aside by Luce Eltania during last year’s evaluations.
Looking back, he realized the truth. Before Luce had appeared, the audacious commoner, Isaac, had faced countless foes—including A-class students and Tristan himself—without a hint of hesitation. There had been no trace of fear in the boy.
That sheer willpower—the determination that seemed to say, 'I will defeat you all'—had shimmered in Isaac's eyes. Tristan remembered it vividly.
Reflecting on that memory during the winter break, Tristan had been forced to admit that Isaac was inherently superior. It was a realization that made him grit his teeth.
And so, he had trained relentlessly. He refused to lose to Isaac again. Tristan’s winter break had been a gauntlet of grueling discipline. His will now surged fiercely, determined to overcome whoever or whatever crossed his path.
Tristan could sense exactly how strong Alexa was through her mana. Yet, he smirked as if she were laughably insignificant, as if he were incapable of feeling fear.
“I, your superior, shall personally educate you!”
Tristan laughed heartily. “Kahaha!”
A moment later, he began to choke and cough, struggling to catch his breath.