Chapter 235
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 235
Chapter Title: Mana and Aura Measurements
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"Your aura capacity is quite impressive. Next."
New cadets were mostly those who had just turned sixteen, reaching adulthood.
No matter how talented they were, they couldn't possess an extreme amount of mana or aura.
Of course, those who had been raised on elixirs from childhood would be different.
"Ooh... My goodness."
While everyone was hovering around average levels, the atmosphere shifted dramatically when Rubas Hontail, the youngest son of the Hontail family, stepped up.
Unlike the previous students, the measuring device reacted strongly, outputting an overwhelming mana reading.
As most cadets gasped in admiration at the staggering figure, he turned back with a subtly pleased expression, glancing at Basara Crevad, the heir of the Starforge family.
"I've heard the youngest son of the Hontail family and the disciple of the Starforge have known each other for a while. They seem to have a rivalry going."
"It's that age. Especially for a genius who possesses mana on par with an active professor."
Objectively speaking, the amount of mana held by this Hontail heir was unmatched among his peers and comparable even to the academy's professors.
Rubas Hontail descended the platform leisurely, wearing a triumphant smile.
Several more cadets followed, but none displayed particularly standout mana or aura.
Once the bar had been raised, even those who might have seemed impressive before now appeared ordinary.
"Next, Cadet Basara Crevad. Please step forward."
"Yes."
In the midst of this flow, Basara Crevad, the Starforge disciple who had drawn everyone's attention, came forward.
His massive build created the illusion of a giant on the move with every step.
Standing before the device, he placed his large hand on it.
Then, he slowly drew up his aura, resonating with the machine.
Woooong...
The device quickly resonated with the aura and activated, soon outputting a specific value.
In absolute terms, it was far lower than what the Hontail heir had just shown.
But Basara Crevad wore a relaxed expression, while the Hontail heir clicked his tongue briefly.
Aura and mana accumulated differently and had different efficiencies to begin with.
Having 10 mana and 1 aura didn't mean mana was superior.
In terms of ratio, one could even argue that aura accumulated more efficiently—that was the difference between the two energies.
"That's remarkable. I've rarely seen this level of aura even while working at the academy."
"Haha, thank you."
He responded smoothly, but his self-assurance was palpable.
As he turned to descend, his gaze suddenly met mine.
It felt like an accidental eye contact.
He stared at me wordlessly, then smirked as if struck by a thought, before returning to his seat.
"Leon, that little chick seems to be looking down on you."
"If I hide it too much, it looks suspicious instead. I've shown just the right amount."
The energies like aura and mana I possessed were at least at the pinnacle levels from my extremes.
Because of that, hardly anyone had properly gauged it so far.
Just as an ant seeing a massive wall might mistake it for the end of the world, the aura he sensed from me was probably only at the entry level of Expert. That might explain the mocking look.
Liscia Hevilion, granddaughter of the Alchemy Faction's dean, went next, but she didn't possess the overwhelming mana of the previous two.
"By the way, is it really necessary to gather them all like this and check them one by one like specimens?"
I suddenly asked the professors while watching the scene.
"Well, you're not wrong. We used to do it that way until recently. But..."
"What happened?"
"There were complaints about sending off the ones who'd finished early. Some were waiting, others preparing for the next test."
Ridiculous. But I get it—it's amusing.
"Plus, there've been cases where early leavers got too hot-headed and caused trouble outside. So now we keep them all together and move as a group."
Easier to control that way?
I nodded in moderate understanding while watching the cadets continue to step up for mana measurements.
At that moment, I overheard Rubas Hontail and Basara Crevad talking.
"You've built up more than I expected. Not bad. Still, I'm a bit higher in the rankings."
"Says the one who should talk. Have you actually trained in the meantime? It'd be no fun if you drop out quick like last time. You know real combat isn't just about having a ton of mana."
"What a joke. You think I've been slacking?"
The two boys, revealing their rivalry, bickered about whose rank was higher.
Then, Liscia Hevilion—the golem artisan from the Galeon Alchemy Faction, who had been quietly silent—spoke irritably.
"Could both of you quiet down? What's with the frog-in-a-well fight, acting like hotshots..."
"What?"
"What did you say?"
"Honestly, neither of you has a shot at first place, but you're making a racket like you're all that. That's why I'm saying this."
Her words made the two's auras turn menacing.
"Not first? Then who is? Blind or something?"
Rubas Hontail's cold retort drew agreement from Basara Crevad.
"He's right. Can't you see the gap between us and the others?"
"Who said anything? I just told you to stop being noisy. I know you're great, but first place is already taken."
Her calm words echoed.
Beep!!
The clear sound made everyone turn, eyes widening.
Ashuria Abelgard's name had appeared on the floating leaderboard with an overwhelmingly high rank.
The device had output only the maximum value, unable to fully measure her mana.
"What?"
"What's that..."
Murmurs grew among the cadets as the top score came from someone whose mana hadn't been felt at all.
Ashuria Abelgard turned away indifferently and descended the platform.
The cadets seemed oblivious, but she hadn't withheld her mana.
They just hadn't noticed.
In fact, unlike the cadets, the professors looked quite startled, eyes wide.
But none were shocked beyond admiration.
So I asked,
"Why isn't anyone more surprised?"
"Uh... well?"
"Isn't this an amazing cadet? Mages would be desperate to take her as a disciple."
Her constitution was ideal for becoming a great mage.
If she'd entered the Labyrinthos in my place, how much time would that have saved?
Even I couldn't gauge it.
She could shatter realms that took me decades in mere months.
At my question, the professors exchanged glances.
"She... is impressive, but..."
"Hah... Maybe the bar's been raised... Ahem!"
Ah. Because of me?
Did the mana storm I caused in the Black Forest have that much impact?
"Aura or mana always leaks out during measurement. How can she top the list with none showing? Isn't the machine broken?"
To Rubas Hontail's protest, the staff replied calmly.
"Her result is fine. It's just a simple test."
The two noble heirs looked quite bitter at losing the top spot.
It's that age.
Ashuria Abelgard, staring at the rankings with dull, motivationless eyes, pulled her robe's hood low and silently returned to the waiting area, sitting in silence.
Having claimed first over even the noble heirs, she drew many gazes, but no cadet dared approach.
It was the subtle pressure emanating from her.
The two heirs, competing over who was number one, wore unhappy expressions at the situation.
"Well, we'll see in actual combat."
Once mana measurements ended, the cadets moved orderly to their next location.
It was a much larger indoor arena than before.
Senior cadets—numerous upperclassmen—had already gathered to watch the duels.
"Feels like a coliseum."
"Being able to fully demonstrate your skills under many watching eyes is part of the evaluation. It's also an academy tradition."
I see.
I sat near the second-floor railing.
Next to me was Professor Rommel, who had arrived unnoticed.
He waved with a hearty laugh upon seeing me.
"Welcome. So, what do you think seeing them in person?"
"What specifically?"
"The new cadets, of course."
"They all seem to have put in a lot of effort."
He chuckled at my response.
"That's all? Two heirs from noble houses, and a disciple raised by a grand mage who never took students after retiring."
"Well... they're impressive. Talented, and must've worked hard. But judging who they are from just mana measurement might be premature."
I deftly shifted the topic.
"It's quite lively. Even upperclassmen all gathered?"
"Attendance is optional, but it's a tradition, so most show up."
Because it's their event?
"There are so many. Testing them one by one? It'll take forever."
"It's not just about picking winners. We need to clearly check each one, even if it takes time."
As cadets took positions in multiple arenas with their weapons, the professors' and assistants' teaching aides stepped up slowly.
Even talented cadets faced opponents experienced in such tests.
"By the way, how are your assigned cadets doing? I hear rumors everywhere lately."
"They're talented. Without talent, they wouldn't have lasted this long."
It wasn't mere lip service.
Wrong methods, late starters—despite the issues, they'd endured.
Though now at the bottom, purely by talent, they could rank higher.
"Good to hear. But... is the current training helping them grow? It's a bit unconventional."
Watching the cadets begin combat in their own styles, Professor Rommel continued cautiously.
"Not doubting your methods, young master... but they're so novel. Curious about the principle."
"They look mundane, but they rapidly build what those kids need. If they have the will, it'll work. Of course, topping the ranks is realistically impossible."
A month's intense training couldn't achieve that without special methods.
"Amazing. Well, the academy's curriculum doesn't fit all. I think you grew strong because you saw things differently from others, young master Leon."