Chapter 92: Joint Practical Evaluation (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 92: Joint Practical Evaluation (1)
“You actually defeated Helga the Two-Headed Dog? Even in the middle of that crisis?”
“I mean, the guild members helped a lot. All I did was fire off a few [Ice Spears] while the mutt was stunned.”
“You can’t even be judged by student standards anymore! That’s incredible…!”
Eve Rophenheim lived for the moments people placed her on a pedestal.
It was midday. Eve sat on the terrace of Hailey’s Bakery, a popular spot on the Märchen Academy grounds, listening to Alicia’s breathless compliments.
Eve smirked, acting as if it were a trifle as she embellished her story further.
“It really was nothing. If you’d been in my shoes, I’m sure you would have done just as well.”
“No way. That was only possible because it was you, Eve.”
Exactly.
Eve looked at Alicia with sharp eyes, inwardly preening at the girl's words.
“By the way, what happened to the two-headed dog? Aren’t the horns worth a fortune? You definitely sold them, right?”
“That’s… a secret. But just between us, she became my familiar.”
“Ehhhh?! Are you serious?!”
“Shush.”
“Ah, sorry! But… how?”
“She insisted on following me. I must have left a deep impression on her during our duel.”
Eve shrugged her shoulders as if it were a minor inconvenience.
“Oh my god! Could you try summoning it?!”
“That’s a bit difficult right now. She’s still hard to control, and the mana consumption is astronomical…”
“Well, she is a magic beast, so that makes sense. But a two-headed dog… that’s so cool!”
“No, I still have a long way to go. I need to work harder. The guild even mentioned they might scout me later…”
“Scouted already?! That’s insane!”
Alicia wore a simple, innocent smile. She didn’t doubt a single word Eve said.
“You’re so cool, Eve… I want to be like you someday.”
Worship filled Alicia's eyes. Her words gave Eve a sense of ecstasy that far surpassed any material pleasure.
*
Elma Hall, the dormitory for mid-to-high-ranked female students. The night was ink-black.
A bright desk lamp illuminated the room.
A textbook meant for studying had been shoved into a corner to make room for Eve. She hummed to herself as she sketched on a piece of parchment.
The drawing depicted Helga the Two-Headed Dog and Eve Rophenheim, the silver-blue-haired beauty. In the sketch, Eve stood triumphantly alongside her colleagues after taking down the demon.
In this version of the story, she was the ultimate hero.
And in the end, Helga the Two-Headed Dog bowed before her, begging for the honor of becoming her servant.
That was the scene she was currently drawing.
In reality, it was nothing more than a fantasy that had never happened.
Though she told Alicia that a demon had ambushed them, Eve hadn't even seen a demonic creature during her trip. The entire story was a fabrication.
In the first place, what kind of guild would take a student into a dangerous, remote area when the purpose was merely a practical internship?
Alicia was a naive girl—the perfect tool to stroke Eve’s ego while she attended the academy.
Aside from Alicia, there were plenty of second-year students who sucked up to Eve. They admired her beauty, her supposed skill, and her "experience."
They only knew what they were allowed to see.
Anything they didn't witness personally was left to Eve’s vivid imagination. It didn't matter if it was true. In her mind, the idealized version of herself became the reality.
Ever since entering Märchen Academy, Eve had survived this cutthroat environment by weaving a web of lies to make herself look better than she actually was.
As the students’ admiration fueled her ego, the purpose of her lies shifted. Eventually, even her childhood became a tapestry of falsehoods.
However, it wasn't as if Eve’s true self was a complete mystery to everyone.
—“Do you actually have a younger brother?”
Eve’s hand froze mid-sketch.
A younger brother. She did have one once.
Eve’s hand moved again, sketching a boy’s face. He had tousled hair and a cute, innocent expression.
There’s no way he’s here.
That talentless, incompetent little brother of hers couldn't possibly have been accepted into Märchen Academy. There was no point in even trying to confirm it.
Even if he had somehow managed to get in, it would be like a sheep walking into a lion’s den. This dog-eat-dog academy would eat him alive.
Eve let out a bitter, mocking laugh.
*
Why is he here?
Eve was as pale as a corpse.
Right there, in front of her very eyes, her younger brother was standing in the crowd.
*
“The joint practical evaluation will now begin.”
Märchen Academy occupied an entire island, meaning the variety of terrain available for use was limitless.
Like this canyon, for example.
It was a clear, sunny day. The first and second-year students of the Magic Department stood in an orderly formation, facing Professor Fernando, who stood before them with a loudspeaker. As with any large-scale exam, a phalanx of proctors, professors, assistants, and imperial knights stood behind the students.
I was standing in the massive "Machea Ravine." Just as it was portrayed in the game, the location boasted a majestic, sweeping grandeur. This was the site of the joint practical evaluation.
The first and second years were divided into three groups and sent to different starting lines while the professor explained the rules. I couldn't see Luce or Dorothy; they seemed to be at a different starting location.
I could see Kaya, however. Judging by her jade eyes, her "dark" personality hadn't taken over yet. Oh, there was Lisetta, too. Now that I looked closely, there were quite a few familiar faces.
“The joint practical evaluation will be conducted for both first and second-years simultaneously. The test is simple: clear each gate and reach the destination to pass. Additionally, thirty minutes after the start of the exam, you will be permitted to form teams. When your bracelets touch, you will be registered as teammates. For reference, each party can have up to four members, though there is no limit on the number of Class D students allowed in a group.”
The joint practical evaluation was designed to be nearly impossible to clear solo unless you were at the level of Dark Kaya or Luce. Most students would need to form a party if they intended to pass.
The reason Class D students weren't included in the member limit was simple: no one would want them if they took up a "real" slot. But if a Class D student was just an extra, there was no reason to refuse them.
“There are other restrictions. If you summon a magical beast or familiar while not actively clearing a gate, you will be disqualified. Keep that in mind.”
Familiars and magical beasts were too convenient for transportation. Using them would ruin the essence of the race.
“Additionally, there are fake demonic creatures created through puppet magic scattered throughout. Unlike illusions, these are capable of causing physical harm. Do not worry, as elite healers are on standby. However, be aware that you will be eliminated if you suffer a fatal injury or are deemed unable to continue. That is all.”
Professor Fernando raised his right arm, condensing a bullet of elemental mana on his index finger.
“Ready, set.”
Utter silence fell. Every student dropped into a starting stance, ready to bolt. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut.
I shouldered Zhonya’s Staff and settled into a comfortable running position.
Tang—!
Professor Fernando fired. The mana bullet soared into the sky and detonated.
Boom—!
“Start.”
Ice crystals bloomed across the sky like frozen fireworks as Professor Fernando’s voice rang out.
Zooooom—!
The students surged forward in a frantic mass.
“LET’S GOOOO!”
“Out of the way!”
“Hey, are you cheating already?!”
“Here we go!”
What a mess.
It was exactly what I expected. If PVP had been enabled, this would have been a bloodbath.
The sub-scenario: 「Joint Practical Evaluation」.
The difference between a main scenario and a sub-scenario was that the latter wouldn't trigger a "Bad Ending" regardless of the result. I didn't technically need to do this for the plot to progress, but since this game was my reality, there was no skip button.
Besides, I had to complete this sub-scenario anyway to prevent Extra Bad Ending No. 8: 「The Frog」.
In Magic Knight of Märchen, the ‘Frog Demon’ appeared during the second semester of the first year. It was a demon based on the fairy tale The Frog Prince.
It was a weakling, incomparable to the demons that had appeared so far.
It’s just a massive pain to track down.
The Frog Demon would spawn in a random, hard-to-find location within the vast academy grounds. In the game, the location changed with every playthrough, making it incredibly inefficient to hunt for it manually.
The only certainty was that during the joint practical evaluation, the Frog Demon would appear after the fourth gate in Machea Ravine was cleared.
Unlike the previous demons who showed up five minutes before everything went to hell, the Frog Demon was currently harmless.
However, if I don't eliminate it before the end of the semester, a ridiculous curse will trigger. The bastard will swap bodies with a human, turning them into a frog.
And who would the victim be? The bastard would steal Ian Fairytale’s body and turn the protagonist into a frog.
The Frog Demon would then spend the rest of the school year living it up in Ian’s body while the real Ian remained a frog until the credits rolled on Extra Bad Ending No. 8.
“Ha!”
「Wind Generation (Wind Element, ★1)」
Hoooooo—.
The boisterous laugh of Tristan Humphrey, the vain blonde nobleman, echoed above the crowd. It was more of a shout than a laugh.
I glanced toward him. Tristan was shrouded in wind mana, levitating above the other students.
“I shall be the first to arrive!!”
Kuhahaha! He laughed as he zoomed ahead, only to suddenly start coughing as if he’d choked on a bug.
Following his lead, other students with the wind element began wrapping themselves in mana to take to the skies.
That’s a bad move.
The mana consumption for sustained flight was immense; they’d run dry in no time.
Whoong—!
“What the?! Whoa!”
Suddenly, a female student with light green pigtails shot past Tristan at the speed of a jet. The resulting gust of wind nearly knocked Tristan out of the sky.
Kaya Astrea, the second-ranked freshman. A burst of speed like that was only sustainable for someone of her caliber.
Everyone knew that using wind magic to fly was inefficient, but in the heat of the moment, people tended to follow the leader.
Anxiety spread through the ranks as the students scrambled to keep up.
*
How are you here…?
As the evaluation began, Eve Rophenheim ran among the crowd, her eyes locked on Isaac’s back.
He’s a nobody with no skill, no talent, and no potential. There’s no way he should be in a place like this!
But there was no mistaking it. When she had caught a glimpse of his face earlier, it was definitely Isaac.
Something about him… has changed.
He was taller, and his physique was more defined. In the past, he had been a small, cute boy, but now he exuded a certain masculine presence.
And that staff in his hand. It looked heavy and difficult to wield. The fact that he was carrying it meant…
He can actually use that thing? Isaac?
Eve gripped her own staff tighter, her mind a whirlwind of disbelief.