Chapter 94: Joint Practical Evaluation (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 94: Joint Practical Evaluation (3)
I cleared the second gate without a hitch.
The test involved examining a mana circuit engraved on a massive magic pillar to identify the point where mana flowed most smoothly. To pass, you had to channel magic into that specific spot until the pillar erupted in a blinding light.
As I’ve mentioned before, I was a veteran player of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱. I didn’t even need to scrutinize the circuit; one look at the pillar’s pattern was enough to pass.
The third gate was a combat trial against demonic creatures. Eliminating any ten of them was the requirement to move on.
I was still deep within the forest. Now was the perfect time to recruit some allies—specifically, ones who were good in a fight.
To reach the Frog Demon, I had to clear the fourth gate. And to clear the fourth gate, I had to defeat a gatekeeper stationed there. Most students would be eliminated at that point. Even with my current strength, I couldn't take the gatekeeper down alone.
‘If things go according to plan, I should get there easily enough.’
If Plan A worked, I wouldn’t need allies at all. However, an unexpected variable had forced me to pivot to Plan B, which required actual teammates.
By the way, in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, the main characters changed with every playthrough, so I had no idea who I might run into on my way to the fourth gate.
「Rock Avalanche (Rock Element, ★4)」
Roar—! Boom! Crash!!
[Gueghh!!]
“Stop whining so much.”
Right on cue, the thunderous sound of a rock spell paired with a husky voice echoed through the trees. I had a feeling she would choose the same path as me.
A female student with gold eyes and an orange ponytail appeared: Lisetta Lionheart. Before the Joint Practical Evaluation began, we had been at the same starting line.
For once, she actually had her uniform shirt buttoned up, though her jacket was tied around her waist. Come to think of it, I’d never seen her wear her uniform properly.
Lisetta looked down at the Fang Hippo she was pummeling with rock magic, slinging her Rock Bat over her shoulder.
Target spotted.
I’d found my first recruit.
I had been teammates with Lisetta during the hunting evaluation as well. It looked like the connection I formed back then was about to pay off.
[Gueghh!!]
At that moment, a ferocious purple hippo with long fangs charged toward me.
This bastard must have seen me as prey, too.
It was a Fang Hippo. Despite being a quadruped, it stood taller than I did.
“…?”
Hearing the hippo’s roar, Lisetta turned toward me. Her eyes went wide, nearly bulging out of her head.
“You asshole, why are you here…?”
Before saying hello, I figured I should probably deal with the hippo. I raised Zhonya’s Staff and pointed it at the beast. Then, I funneled ice mana into the artifact.
「Ice Spear (Ice Element, ★4)」
Thwack—!
[Guegh…]
A spear of ice materialized above my head and streaked through the air, skewering the Fang Hippo like a kebab. One blow was all it took to put the beast down.
During the hunting evaluation, I had to be cautious around monsters like this. Now, I could kill them with ease.
Let’s go.
The Fang Hippo, pierced by the [Ice Spear], convulsed briefly before dissolving into the rough outline of a puppet.
Beep—.
My bracelet displayed the number ‘1.’ In the third gate, the counter increased with every kill; once it reached ten, the gate was cleared.
Only then did I turn to look at Lisetta. Her shoulders were trembling.
[Lisetta Lionheart]
Psychology: [Nervous because of her fear of you.]
A relationship based on fear wasn't ideal for teamwork, even for a temporary alliance. I figured I should do my best to reassure her.
“Long time no see. Have you been well?”
I put on my best "gentlemanly" smile. I approached Lisetta and greeted her in a friendly manner.
“W-why are you acting all friendly?! It’s giving me goosebumps…!”
Lisetta broke into a cold sweat and nervously backed away. During the hunting evaluation, she had treated me like her lackey—a far cry from her current state.
I was trying my best to be gentle, so her reaction was a bit hurtful. Whatever. Back to the topic at hand.
“You. Join my party.”
“Stop spouting bullshit.”
I thought it was a universal rule to become allies if I used that line, but Lisetta didn't hesitate to shut me down. Well, I should have expected that.
“Lisetta.”
I stepped close and slung an arm over her shoulder to show my friendliness. Her face twitched. She tried to act tough, but she couldn't hide the slight tremors in her body. Her golden eyes were filled with a subtle terror.
Judging by the fact that she didn't immediately shove my arm off, it seemed she lacked the courage to resist me. I didn't realize she was this scared of me… I needed to relieve her anxiety quickly.
“Just a thought, but I think the fourth gate is going to be difficult to clear. Let’s help each other. Having me in your party is a benefit for you, isn't it? Besides, we even share secrets, remember?”
“Um, uh, how do you even know the fourth gate is hard? Did you find out with that Archwizard-level mana perception bullshit of yours? You asshole…”
“Are you joining or not?”
I cut through her rambling immediately.
“…Why are you going this far? Didn’t you want to take it easy during the exams?”
“There’s something important I need to do,” I whispered seriously.
Lisetta’s eyes narrowed as she met my gaze.
“Is another dangerous bastard popping up this time?”
“Not as dangerous as the last one.”
“Ha, fuck… Not again.”
Lisetta grabbed her head and let out a deep sigh. A moment later, she spoke in a sharp voice.
“…I don’t like you.”
“Oh, really? I like you, though. You’re like a friend to me.”
“What?”
“Thanks for helping me out during the social gathering.”
I was being sincere. She had been annoying when I fought Elphelt the Evanescent on Elt Island, but I was genuinely touched when she supported me during the social gathering. I mean, isn't it normal to become friends by stacking up both positive and negative experiences? That Rose bitch was the exception, of course.
“It wasn’t for you, so don’t misunderstand. It makes me feel like shit if you do.”
Lisetta grumbled with annoyance as she raised the bracelet on her left wrist.
“…Fine. Only until the fourth gate.”
[Lisetta Lionheart]
Psychology: [Doesn't want anything dangerous to happen to the students.]
I saw this often in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱. Although she seemed belligerent and rude, she secretly cared about protecting others. She was the stereotypical bully tsundere. That was Lisetta.
“I’m counting on you.”
I smirked and tapped my bracelet against hers.
Ding—♪
A tiny blue light began to glow on our bracelets, signifying that we were now in the same party.
Yes! I’d secured a dependable force.
“Hah! Let’s go, Lisetta!”
“Ack! Don’t pat my head, it’s gross!”
I happily patted her head, but Lisetta quickly put distance between us, acting as if she’d been touched by a pest.
What kind of treatment is this?
Whatever, I didn’t care. Recruiting a reliable ally was enough.
Crash—!
Crack—!
Lisetta and I easily tore through the demonic creatures. After filling our quotas, we passed the third gate.
Once again, mana pellets flowed from the bracelets to form directional markers. Some were marked with deep red mana pellets in a triangle shape, indicating that another student had already reached that location.
I started walking toward one of the triangle markers.
“Hey, did you forget what that shape means?”
“It’s fine, just follow me.”
I had already manipulated the situation so that no other student would choose this path.
As I left the forest, bright sunlight poured down. I shaded my eyes with my hand. Far beyond, a patch of blue sky was visible. We were still atop the canyon. I turned my head and saw a cliff.
Steep limestone cliffs rose right in front of us, the stairs to the top looking jagged and uneven. If we reached the summit, we could proceed to the fourth gate.
“I shouldn’t have chosen this path…” Lisetta muttered, her voice full of regret.
I mean, how bad could the stairs be? Even if it was high, the cliff was in an open space. I could probably climb it with my eyes closed.
I turned my back to Lisetta and dropped to one knee.
“Get on.”
“Are you fucking crazy? You’re better off telling me to hop up the cliff like a rabbit.”
“Hooo, I knew you’d say that.”
“…Eh? W-what are you doing? W-wait! Ahhh!”
I only needed to express my considerate nature once. We were on a time limit, after all. I approached Lisetta and swept her up into a princess carry.
Although Lisetta had a solid physique from training, she was no match for my overwhelming pure strength. I manhandled her with ease.
[Lisetta Lionheart]
Psychology: [Currently very flustered because of you.]
“You! Wh-wh-what is the meaning of this…?!”
“Don’t move.”
I responded firmly and channeled rock mana beneath my feet.
「Rock Generation (Rock Element, ★1)」
Rumble—!!
“AHHHHH!”
In an instant, a rock pillar erupted beneath us, launching our bodies upward as it grew. Just as the pillar reached its limit, I generated a new one from the cliff face.
I leaped to the new pillar and continued to shoot upward, repeating the process. It was a method that required exceptional mana mastery, balance, and athletic ability. It was dangerous, but for me, it was no big deal.
“Ar-ar—are you crazy?!”
“This is much faster, right?”
“Ugh, you bastard…!”
Lisetta gave up on arguing and simply sighed deeply.
Rumble—!!
After a few moments, the final pillar reached the top of the cliff, allowing me to jump off and land safely. In the middle of a flat clearing surrounded by maple trees sat a small entrance to an underground cave.
“Lisetta, are you okay?”
“Sigh…”
Lisetta slumped, looking like her soul had left her body on the way up.
“Sir Isaac!”
As if she had been waiting, a girl with green pigtails leaning against a maple tree squealed in delight and ran toward me. It was the second-ranked freshman of the Magic Department, Kaya Astrea. Her eyes were a jade hue—her original self.
“The second seat?” Lisetta muttered, flustered by Kaya’s sudden appearance.
“I was waiting for y—!”
Suddenly, Kaya froze. It was as if time had stopped for her alone. A complicated wave of emotion flooded her trembling pupils.
[Kaya Astrea]
Psychology: [Currently filled with envy and jealousy toward Lisetta Lionheart, who is being princess-carried in your arms.]
For now…
This isn’t a very good situation.