Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: A Worthy Specimen
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Loan returned to his quarters, stretched lightly, and reviewed his last mission, trying to get a handle on systematizing his magic.
The most challenging part was, as expected, how to codify mana, which was invisible to others.
When he had used a formula that directly manipulated mana during a past magical studies exchange, no one had understood it.
His opponent at the time had even gotten a nosebleed.
‘Even I can see it, but it's not like I count the exact amount when I use mana. I just intuitively understand the volume of space and the density of mana.’
In that case, he would have to leave it as an unknown variable and construct the equations.
If he could perfect it under those conditions, then he and other mages would be on equal footing when facing the completed formula.
‘Hmm… there's a significant difference between knowing something and explaining what you know.’
Loan considered various scenarios and tried to come up with equations, but it felt quite daunting.
This was because he had relied on instinct and intuitive reactions more than he'd realized.
He also realized it wasn't something he could accomplish in a day or two.
That was true even though he was incredibly focused.
‘Besides, relying solely on mental imagery is inefficient.’
Perhaps because of the upcoming evaluation, no one came looking for Loan.
Not Lucas, who pestered him whenever he had the chance, nor Sienna, who, while not bothersome, was very attentive to him.
But he couldn't just call on people who were finally recovering from their journey to satisfy his own ambitions.
Though a little disappointed, Loan ended the day by lightly sketching out the broad framework.
The next day was exceptionally bright and clear.
The basin-like terrain made it feel as though summer had arrived a little early.
Bathed in the brilliant sunlight, Loan left his quarters. Lucas was waiting for him on the path to the grand training ground.
He had come to cheer on his friend's promotion, and there wasn't a hint of jealousy on his face.
"You look like you're in good shape."
"Yeah."
After a light greeting, the two headed for the grand training ground where the promotion evaluation would be held.
It was the same place where Loan had dueled the Crown Prince.
"Wow! A lot of people have gathered. You must be getting nervous."
There seemed to be more people than at the award ceremony.
That made sense, as only the unit members involved in the mission had attended the award ceremony, whereas this promotion evaluation was an event common to all units.
Loan and Lucas headed toward the area where the Faith Division had gathered.
The senior Runners who were also up for evaluation were already there, and a short while later, Oscar and Sienna arrived at the training ground as well.
Loan asked Oscar.
"Today's combat evaluation is only for the Oz rank, right?"
"That's right. The Runners' is tomorrow."
The Union's promotion evaluations were only held for the Oz and Runner ranks. In other words, they only conducted evaluations for promotions from Oz to Runner, and from Runner to Seeker.
Promotions beyond the Seeker rank were decided by the approval of the Governor-General and the Royal Castle, based on recommendations from each unit and the administration.
The Faith Division had many Runners undergoing evaluation for promotion to Seeker, but Sienna was not among them.
Lucas grumbled for no apparent reason.
"It doesn't matter to me, but I'm a bit surprised that Senior Sienna isn't included."
Loan also thought her merits were substantial.
Considering her combat style, he didn't think the depth of her aura was a major issue either, which made the barrier for evaluation feel incredibly high.
Receiving the gazes of her juniors, Sienna spoke to Lucas in a chiding tone.
"Stop with the needless talk. We should only think about training hard and faithfully carrying out our missions. Promotion will follow naturally."
Contrary to the content, she was more talkative than usual.
Was she also secretly bothered by it?
Loan thought he should bring up the topic of aura manifestation the next time they had a training session together.
Just then.
An official from the administration came down and shouted in a loud voice.
"I will now call the names of the candidates who have passed the initial merit review."
Names were called out one by one.
Loan was included, but it seemed about half of those who had been on the list of candidates had been eliminated.
The bar for the merit review was higher than he'd thought.
Receiving cheers from the disappointed candidates, Loan followed the administration official toward the main building.
They said the written exam for the Oz rank would begin immediately.
There were twelve people taking the test with him.
They entered a space normally used as a unit meeting room, sat in their assigned seats, and began solving the problems simultaneously.
For Loan, with his knowledge and common sense, the content of the exam was manageable.
[A family on friendly terms with the Union has submitted to Grave and captured a Union member who was on a mission. - After making a detailed assumption of the above situation, describe a method to rescue the member and oust the internal enemy.]
An assumption that required knowledge of the continent's political situation and potential threats.
On top of that, one had to appropriately apply the basic Faith Division curriculum, such as encryption and tracking techniques, and neatly organize combat methods and unique magic to counter various potential enemies and variables.
There were two large sheets of paper, front and back, filled with problems like that.
‘These questions are interesting.’
Unlike Loan, who wrote with a scratching sound, there was also someone who let out a big sigh and slumped over in their seat.
Perhaps because of that, the results were announced sooner than expected.
"Final evaluation candidate. Faith Division Oz, Loan."
Coincidentally, there were seven people who would proceed to the final evaluation, the combat duel.
It meant that one person from each of the seven divisions was being evaluated.
"It looks like this is turning into a battle of pride between the units."
Said the administration official in a passing tone.
And it really did feel that way.
The gazes and auras of the candidates were the same. Their eyes, fixed on their competitors, suddenly intensified.
A particularly large number of them were looking at Loan, which was perhaps to be expected.
After all, he was currently the most famous Oz in the Union.
Amid the biased attention, Loan scanned the people wearing the same colored badge as him.
Even at a glance, none of his batchmates were there, but it didn't really matter who his opponent was.
* * *
Loan's turn was third.
The seven of them had drawn lots fairly, and each would fight two duels.
"Your opponent is Jose del Campo from the Harmony Division. He's a sixth-year Oz."
At Sienna's words, Loan's gaze naturally shifted.
Over in the Harmony Division's area, his eyes met with someone who was glaring at him with particular sharpness.
Lucas added from the side.
"First time seeing him? I went to school with him. He's pretty good."
"A senior from the Union academy?"
"Yeah. Valedictorian. Back then, he had a reputation for being a genius."
He chattered on.
He came from a renowned swordsmanship family in Barchino, famous for their impenetrable heavy sword style.
His father had been knighted in the Duchy of Barchino and now held a high position in the capital's army.
It was possible the father and son had fought together in the recent subjugation of Libertha.
Finally, Lucas added the completely uninteresting tidbit that, despite his skill, he wasn't popular with the opposite sex because of his prickly personality.
For someone like Lucas, who had no interest in men, to know so much about him was a testament to his exceptional skill.
"I've fought him before. He was a graduating senior when I was a freshman. Oh, I mean a real first-year."
"Yeah."
Lucas recalled the experience, explaining with gestures, but Loan didn't pay it much mind.
A considerable amount of time had passed, so that information wouldn't be of much help now.
In any case, Loan had witnessed various Barchino-style swordsmanship techniques during the last mission, so they both had a decent amount of information on each other.
While he was watching the preceding duels with admiration, Loan's turn arrived.
Before their names were called, Loan and Jose walked onto the dueling stage from opposite sides.
"They're both valedictorians, right? With the age gap, Jose probably has the upper hand."
"He must be really determined this time. It's his third attempt, after all."
"He's skilled enough, so it's about time he got promoted. Though there are assessments that his overly fastidious personality might hinder team operations."
Although Loan's numerous merits and skill beyond his years were widely known, far more people were betting on Jose's victory.
He could sense it from the atmosphere surrounding the training ground, but Loan didn't mind.
It had become more frequent recently, but it was the kind of gaze and judgment he had been accustomed to since his entrance exam.
"Pay your respects to the Governor-General."
It was an order from Garcia, the commander of the Responsibility Division, who was overseeing the duel.
Standing side by side with Jose, Loan looked up at the platform with a composed expression and placed a fist over his chest.
The Governor-General lightly tapped a transparent command baton against her palm. It was the signal to begin.
"We didn't have a chance to introduce ourselves properly last time, being in a rush. Jose del Campo. Oz of the Harmony Division."
Jose offered a light greeting, and Loan was inwardly surprised.
He must have meant they'd seen each other in Barchino, but Loan had no memory of it.
The battlefield in Barchino. He must have been one of the members standing behind Lydia, the commander of the Harmony Division, when Loan was speaking with her.
He guessed and replied.
"Thank you for securing Libertha's rear, Senior."
His feelings toward the Harmony Division were genuinely grateful, so his posture and tone were very straightforward.
Jose's sharp gaze softened a little.
"I saw your martial prowess. But that badge is a bit excessive."
He gestured with his eyes toward the bull-shaped badge on Loan's right chest.
Was he seeing it that way because Loan now held the same knightly rank as his own father?
He couldn't understand why a member of the Union would harbor feelings over a personal matter, but Loan decided to show his senior due respect.
"I felt it was more than I deserved and wanted to refuse, but the Duke of Barchino said he had absolute standards. I can only be grateful."
"..."
To make a further issue of the knighthood would now be tantamount to insulting his own father, so Jose fell silent.
The verbal exchange naturally came to an end.
He drew his sword, and Loan summoned Aul to take out a mass of atmospheric magic.
Even if its destructive power was low, there was nothing better for training mana control.
Melting the mass into the Convection, Loan said.
"You may strike first."
He showed respect to his senior once more, and Jose did not refuse.
A straightforward strike shot out with unexpected speed. It seemed he had trained deeply in the art of the swift sword; even at a glance, his skill was considerable.
However, Loan had witnessed a far faster sword just a few days ago in the enemy camp.
‘The one who took my Sheville.’
The swift sword of Libertha's commander, Franco, was on a level that defied imagination.
But Loan had a history of observing the exchange between Oscar, Franco, and Hans, and throwing a Sheville into the fray to hit Franco.
Compared to that.
‘Speed is relative.’
Loan watched calmly as the sword thrust came within inches, then, at the moment when there was no possibility of a change in technique, he slightly twisted his body.
Then he established his Domain and moved the Convection to create resistance against his opponent's body.
Breaking away from his usual reliance on instinct and inspiration, he precisely observed how much and in what way he should handle the mana, engraving it into his mind.
‘It's true that having an opponent really brings an experiment to life.’
The previous night, when he had tried to visualize and quantify it all in his mind, had been incredibly lonely.
The feeling of having to explain his own world, which no one else could understand, in a way that anyone could grasp.
But now, just by exchanging blows with an opponent and recording the thesis, antithesis, and synthesis of the ever-changing attacks, he could gather substantial foundational data.
Moreover, Jose seemed to have immense pride in his swordsmanship, as he stubbornly continued with his very honest and easy-to-read sword strikes without giving up.
A perfect opponent to use as a specimen.
‘This guy is helpful.’
He hoped the man would try just a little harder.