Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: The First Test
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It was over in an instant.
There had been no meaningful visible attack.
He hadn't showcased any of the magic everyone had expected—no fireballs, no ice arrows, no bolts of electricity.
And yet, the clay golem was damaged beyond what could even be called destruction.
No one knew how he had done it, but the result alone was enough to astound the proctors and everyone watching.
"What was that!"
"Have you ever seen magic like that?"
Magic, at its origin, is a thing of wonder, of marvels and miracles.
And because it defies easy explanation, it can also be terrifying to behold.
The magic Loan had just demonstrated was exactly that.
He had only muttered a few incomprehensible words and extended his hand. How could this be possible?
One of the proctors spoke, his expression dazed.
"The assessment that he was the top graduate was no exaggeration."
At the praise, which implied a foregone conclusion, Loan and the onlookers all watched for the words that would follow.
"You pass. Get your registration form stamped and you may leave."
"Thank you."
Loan descended from the testing grounds to the cheers of his friends.
Just then, sensing a powerful movement of mana behind him, he instinctively turned his head.
The proctor who had declared his passing was infusing his magic into a transparent crystal shard.
The dense mana within his body thinned to less than half in an instant. It was a process that consumed a great deal of magical power.
But the proctor didn't stop there. He began to rapidly overlay lines of mana onto the remains of the clay golem Loan had left behind.
The lines soon blazed brightly in the form of a magic circle, and moments later, the clay began to coalesce around the mana crystal once more.
Only after the proctor had expended a considerable amount of mana did the clay golem reform.
"Ah, if only I hadn't broken it..."
The words slipped out, a thoughtless murmur born from the guilt of having caused the proctor unnecessary trouble.
The proctor must have heard him, for he spoke to Loan in a cool voice.
"Nonsense. How could it be called a test if you didn't give it your all?"
"..."
Loan realized how arrogant his words must have sounded and felt a pang of shame.
Seeing the emotion so clearly on Loan's face, the proctor smiled.
"I have high hopes for my junior. And don't worry, this golem won't be breaking again."
"Yes. Thank you."
As Loan bowed his head to the proctor, ending the conversation, a wave of inexplicable applause rose from all around.
It was accompanied by shouts of encouragement and praise.
Cutting through the noise, an administrator's voice boomed.
"The next candidate is Sophie Pobel, salutatorian of the Union Academy. Please come up when you are ready."
It was Sophie's turn to enter the testing grounds, right after Loan had electrified the atmosphere.
She was already nervous as it was.
It was even worse after she spotted an elder from her family watching her from a distance with a piercing gaze.
Because of this, Sophie, with a dazed look on her face, slightly missed her step as she started up the stairs.
Had Loan not been watching and caught her hand, she might have made a spectacle of herself.
"Th-Thank you."
"Let's go to the Union together, Sophie."
"...Okay."
Loan's words helped Sophie focus her mind again as she slowly ascended the stairs.
After a light nod to the proctors, she took a deep breath and drew her sword, facing the clay golem.
The flow of her mana was so refined that it was a pleasure for Loan to watch.
"You can do it, Sophie!"
Even the cheers from Lucas and her other friends didn't shake her.
She assumed her characteristic high guard, and then, there was only silence.
‘She’s got this.’
Loan had no doubt about Sophie's or Lucas's skills, but he was curious about one thing.
How would the Union's proctors and the outsiders see them?
However, among the spectators below the stage, there were some who thought differently from Loan.
"It seems she intends to use the Pobel family's swordsmanship, but her stance is wrong from the start."
"Is that so?"
At someone's question, the man who had first spoken nodded his head, looking smug.
He was a man of robust build, possessing a rather dense concentration of mana to match.
"I've exchanged a few blows with a Pobel swordsman before. Their chain of attacks is as relentless as an illusory blade, making them quite difficult to face. But do you know why the Pobel sword is said to be heavy?"
"Why is that?"
"It's because of its depth. A sword must be as one with the body, and the Pobel style places great importance on this. A sword drawn so carelessly lacks depth."
"Then what should be done?"
Other candidates began to seek his opinion.
They were ready to take to heart anything that might help them pass.
"You must sheathe your entire body in mana before you even touch the hilt—no, you must always be one with the sword. That illegitimate child needs to relearn her grip."
"Haha, isn't that a bit harsh? Relearn her grip?"
Loan found himself nodding involuntarily.
The theory itself had merit.
However, the assessment felt unduly harsh, and he hoped Sophie would prove their laughter misplaced.
"Begin."
The moment the proctor's word fell.
Sophie closed the distance to the clay golem in an instant, swinging her sword in a diagonal slash—
Or so it seemed, for in the next moment, the sword moved horizontally, then vertically, leaving multiple inky afterimages as it grazed the golem.
*Swish— Swish—*
Just as the belated sounds gave way to the final echo of air being sliced,
"You pass. Sophie Pobel. Get your registration form stamped and return."
Another proctor on the stage announced in a flat voice.
Having displayed blinding speed, Sophie exhaled the breath she had been holding and sheathed her sword.
*Thud, thud, thud—*
Only then did the neatly severed pieces of the clay golem's body fall to the floor.
It was left hollow, all the clay around the deeply embedded mana crystal artfully carved away.
Until that moment, a great many people had no idea what had just happened on stage.
"I couldn't even see it. How can a chain of attacks be that fast..."
"But was the clay golem always that easy to cut?"
"No way. You saw what the other candidates did."
"True, they were lucky to leave a scratch..."
Of course, there were just as many who had seen it clearly.
"Six consecutive strikes, not a single wasted motion. To be the salutatorian with that level of skill."
"It's not just the speed; the weight behind it is impressive."
"As expected of the Pobel family. A considerable talent."
Amid the murmurs, Sophie, now finally able to wear a bright smile, descended the stairs.
The man who had gone out of his way to belittle her wore an expression quite opposite to hers as he slipped away from his spot.
He would likely reappear when his turn was called.
"You did great, Sophie."
"Haha. My reaction was a little slower than usual, but I'm glad it worked out."
Loan smiled as he watched Sophie reply in a cheerful voice.
Just then, Lucas clapped both Loan and Sophie on the shoulders at the same time.
"It's my turn now, right?"
Without waiting for his name to be called, he strode confidently up the stairs.
The massive claymore on his back looked particularly dependable.
"The next candidate is... right. Lucas."
Thanks to his father, Oscar, the administrators and Union members seemed to recognize Lucas.
Lucas raised his arm, gripping the hilt of his claymore, and waited for his opponent to be ready.
The proctor, who had just managed to restore the clay golem by wringing out his remaining magic, returned to his position with a haggard expression.
"Begin."
—The word had barely been spoken.
"Hraaaaaaah!"
Lucas leaped forward with an explosive burst of power, swinging his claymore in a massive arc.
It was a magnificent strike, the wind pressure so strong it sent the spectators' hats flying.
The trajectory aimed precisely for the center of the clay golem, and continued straight down to the floor.
*CRASH—!*
The sword slammed down, splitting the golem in two.
Along with it, the mana crystal was shattered once more.
The clay golem, split in half and toppled, crumbled back into dust.
It was over in an instant.
"P-Pass. Lucas."
At the declaration, Lucas let out a loud laugh and turned around.
The proctor, his mana completely depleted, had no choice but to call for a short break.
* * *
The entrance exam was held in conjunction with the graduation ceremony.
Most of the graduating students who took the test passed the first round.
They had proven for themselves why they were called the shining generation.
Among them, the main topic of conversation was, without a doubt, Loan, Sophie, and Lucas.
Rumors spread both inside and outside the Union about the monsters that had emerged.
They were talents that would be immediately scouted if they were to fail the first round.
Some had already begun to work behind the scenes, and such activities would continue for the week leading up to the second test.
Meanwhile.
Having left the dormitory, Loan stayed at Lucas's house to prepare for the next test.
For a house shared by a father and son, it had many large rooms and was quite comfortable. There was just one thing—the meals prepared by Vice Commander Oscar didn't suit his palate.
Forcing a spoonful of carrot soup into his mouth, Loan answered Oscar's questions diligently.
"Did you... like the gift?"
"Yes. Thank you. It was just what I needed."
"I'm glad."
Loan didn't bother to mention that he had received six other identical wallets.
Oscar continued, a smile on his face.
"I knew you were special from the moment you levitated that sword, but I never imagined you'd demonstrate such magic in the first test."
"You told me to do what I'm good at."
"My knowledge of magic is limited. Could you tell me what kind of magic it was?"
Oscar asked, his voice growing warmer.
Lucas, who had been idly poking at his soup with a fork, shot his father a suspicious look.
It was a far cry from the gruff attitude he usually showed his son.
Loan replied.
"I knew a golem would appear from attending the tours every year, so I didn't prepare anything specific. Hmm... it's not easy to pinpoint what kind of magic it was, but I suppose you could call it a manipulation-type. As you know..."
Knowing that Loan was about to launch into another one of his incomprehensible explanations, Lucas subtly shook his head and stood up from the table.
Oscar paid no mind to his son's rudeness and waited for Loan's answer.
"The clay golem is composed of earth, which can also be seen as a complex combination of mana. Since it's ultimately bound by the barrier of a magic circle, I first used Convection to dismantle the circle's formula, then cast spells of mana vibration and pressure enhancement around the golem."
"Ah... um. I see."
"Yes. The vibration created intense friction against the geometrically bound mana, and the enhanced pressure generated thermal gas. At that point, with the golem's bonds loosened, I cast another internal Convection spell..."
"..."
As the magical explanation continued, Oscar could only nod silently.
He regretted asking.
* * *
The Union entrance exam was based on an absolute evaluation.
Candidates were judged purely on their skill, according to the proctors' absolute standards.
The common criteria for the proctors were whether the candidate was suitable as a comrade to whom they could entrust their lives, or a junior who could grow into one.
Therefore, the fact that so many had passed, even if it was just the first round, was incredibly encouraging for the Union.
The faces of the Union members watching were also filled with surprise.
"It makes sense that the second testing period was extended."
"There are many adults, but it's good to see so many graduates."
"They're not called the shining generation for nothing."
"And among them, that friend is the best."
Loan slowly ascended the stairs of the main building's training hall, where the second test was being held.
Although it was closed to outsiders, there were more spectators than at the first test.
This was due to the large number of Union members and first-round passers.
Loan looked at the countless scars on the stage floor, waiting for the opponent whose name was called after his to appear.
Soon, a man of robust build strode onto the stage, his hand on the hilt of his sheathed sword, and leaped up.
"Ah, it's you."
It was the man who had offered his unsolicited advice on Sophie's stance.
The man raised an eyebrow slightly and asked.
"Hm? Do you know me?"
"Your opinion on sword unification and grip was quite impressive. I thought I'd try it out myself."
The man tilted his head at the cryptic reply.
But he immediately began to circulate his mana, focusing on Loan. Soon after.
"Begin."
With the word, the man drew his sword—
Only to watch helplessly as it was instantly ripped from his hand and sent flying toward Loan.