Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Battle Royale in the Red Mountains
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“Did I hear that wrong?”
Logan, who had been guiding the workout, blinked in bewilderment, mumbling to himself. Rain set the barbell back on the rack and sat up.
“You know the girl with the red hair? What’s her name again? Lilian, right? You know her?”
“How could I not…… But why are you suddenly asking about her?”
Logan swallowed dryly.
Lilian was a peerless beauty. If a pretty boy like Rain set his sights on her and made a move…… A perfect match, no, it couldn’t happen, but just in case……
“After yesterday’s practical, I took a written test.”
“Yeah.”
“I kinda rushed through it, but I thought I finished pretty quick. Then, about a minute after I left? She breezed through the whole thing and walked out.”
What bugged him wasn’t just the talent—it was whatever lay beneath it. Hatred? Resentment? Hard to say.
Logan glanced around the gym cautiously before speaking up.
It was the crack of dawn during grueling exam week, and the only first-year weirdos hitting the gym were these two. A few second-years dotted around, sure.
“Lilian Carline. Rivendel’s secret weapon…… From the moment she enrolled, she’s been the source of endless rumors.”
“Like what?”
“Some say she’s been casting 2-star fire magic since she was five. Others claim she contracted one of the Four Divine Beasts at seven……”
Rivendel Academy, representing the south, was rooted in the Flame Edict Peak of the Crimson Mountains.
Less scholars researching magic, more zealots worshiping the Red Dragon Legion. They pursued the essence of fire magic under stricter discipline than the military itself.
Their secret arts involved contracting spirit beasts of the flame attribute for summoning—famed as the Four Divine Beasts long before Lin’s era.
“As you know, redheads are said to be baptized by fire, giving them innate flame affinity several times higher than normal.”
No proven correlation…… but it was fact. Even when Red Dragons took human form, their hair was always red. Like Fride, the Fire Dragon’s Shrine Maiden.
“Among our Eight Great Academies, if Christa Warden is the ‘genius,’ Lilian Carline is the ‘monster.’”
Logan had even overheard the elders once say:
- With that kind of talent…… Rivendel might produce a second Grand Mage.
Rain, listening with keen interest, suddenly lit up.
“You know a lot about her, huh? You’ve got a thing for Lilian, don’t you?”
“H-How did you……?!”
Logan floundered, his face turning beet red in an instant. Chaihak mages were so straightforward.
“You two would make a cute couple. I’ll root for you, master.”
“Y-You think so? For real?”
“That’s what I said.”
Rain nodded at the beaming Logan, lost in thought for a moment. Rivendel’s secret weapon…… What a freakshow cast this class was.
‘And this is just a hunch……’
He had a feeling he’d clash with Lilian soon enough. And that hunch hit the mark dead-on.
* * *
Midterm day four.
From the briefing alone, everyone knew this exam would be on a whole different scale and difficulty.
The venue said it all.
A vast barrier stretched from the sweltering foothills of the Crimson Mountains all the way to the peak.
“Four layers of magic formations……”
“That’s 4-star magic……?!”
“Crazy……!”
Among the professors, only Chancellor Madelia could wield 4-star magic freely—aside from one other.
“Listen up, you brats.”
The old woman hobbling out with her staff: Chief Professor Marhena.
“Today’s practical will split you into A, B, and C groups of about sixty each. You’ll enter the visible illusory realm.”
Illusory realm……
A wide-area hallucination spell, no doubt. Once inside the barrier, everything would unfold in hallucination.
“The magic you cast inside will just be part of the illusion.”
“……?!”
“Simple terms: No real injuries, no matter what. But the pain? That’s real.”
As cadets blinked, a magic tool projected a map in the air—a labyrinthine view of the Crimson Mountains. An assistant stepped forward.
“The practical format is battle royale.”
“Battle royale……?!”
“Treasures are scattered across zones. Grabbing one nets you 1 point. Same for hunting illusion beasts.”
A sharp-looking girl in the distance—Christa Warden—raised her hand. The assistant nodded.
“So it’s who kills the most beasts or grabs treasures fastest? Doesn’t sound like battle royale.”
“It might seem that way.”
“?”
“If there wasn’t a rule for stealing points by attacking others.”
As cadets looked baffled, Marhena’s eyes flashed with a sinister smirk—for just a split second.
“Killing or injuring foes and taking their treasures? Allowed. Got it, brats?”
“No way, you’re saying we can do that……?!”
“Like I said, this year’s practical is battle royale. During the exam time, only the top two scorers per group get an S.”
Well, well…… Every test a competition from start to finish. Rain raised an eyebrow.
This was Delaiten’s chief selection process.
Just like the entrance ceremony promised: Endless rivalry to forge them. Dangerous types perked up here and there.
“Just kill everyone?”
“Top two for S? Even surviving to the end means nothing if your score’s low?”
As clamor rose, Marhena slammed her staff down. The magic tool’s light faded, silence falling instantly.
“The founder of magic, Emitsa Page, once said: ‘In this world, to let people dream—that is the mage’s true duty.’”
A famous quote.
It stirred hearts, drawing many to the mage’s path.
“To fulfill that duty, nothing matters more than skill! Magic’s world has always been merit-based! Now, show me what you’ve got, brats!”
Cadets straightened. Prodigies’ eyes gleamed with resolve. Five assistants called names.
“Weiber, Group A.”
“Logan, Group A.”
“Christa Warden, Group A.”
Christa, beside him, huffed arrogantly, arms crossed, glancing at Rain.
“Hmph. Finally, a challenge worth getting serious for.”
“Huh? Weren’t you serious last time? Cried when you lost.”
“W-What?! Who cried?!”
Christa flailed, face flushed, venting wildly. She soon calmed, tossing her hair haughtily.
“Don’t fall behind. Get that S. Only I, Christa Warden, get to deny you one. Losing to anyone else? Unacceptable.”
Logan approached but spotted Christa and warily turned away, eyes sharp.
‘Guess rivals for this exam, then.’
Group A entered right away, lining up at the barrier under assistants’ guidance.
“Gertrude Fenton, Group B.”
“Lilian Carline, Group B.”
“Rain Ludwig, Group B.”
Gertrude Fenton: Christa’s constant ponytail shadow, a feisty little spitfire.
Baby-faced, short, usually smug—but today, uncharacteristically tense, staring at the barrier.
“Nervous?”
Sneaking up to ask, she jumped back, glaring reproachfully.
“Nervous? Me, Gertrude, servant of Lady Christa? That’s a ridiculous question, young master.”
“Yeah? Looked like you were biting your nails.”
“I wasn’t! Hmph! Shouldn’t you be nervous?”
“Me? Why?”
Gertrude brightened, eyes sparkling.
“Why? You’re in my group. First time meeting me, you might drop out on the spot.”
No playfulness in her voice or eyes.
Lame provocation? Rain just stared silently—then burst out laughing, waving it off.
“Nah, odds of that are zero.”
“Ugh, just you wait!!”
Short as Seri, she felt more like a little sister than peer. As Rain bantered, he glanced back.
“So, what’s your business?”
He could sense presences by mana fluctuations alone—but this blatant killing intent was impossible to ignore.
Lilian Carline.
Her red hair whipped by mountain winds, flickering like roaring flames, menacing.
“Got a minute? We need to talk.”
Hmm…… First time since enrolling as a marquess’s heir that a peer dropped honorifics—except Christa.
Even cocky Weiber and Logan kept up appearances.
Feeling the insolence, Gertrude glared and stepped forward, but Rain held her back.
“Fine. If it’s interesting.”
* * *
“Sandstone!”
A colossal sand giant, the Sandstone Golem, swung its arm. The ground churned, shredding beasts into pulp.
“Hmph, 280 points now.”
Leading by a mile, Christa still clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction.
‘Won’t settle for this. Not knowing what that Rain guy’s racking up.’
Bushes rustled suspiciously nearby…… She snapped her fingers. Sand spearmen charged, dragging out intruders.
“Stealing my points?”
Cadets dangled by nape from spear tips, thrashing desperately.
“T-That’s……!”
“S-Sorry……!”
Christa eyed the punks coldly, then huffed, arms crossed.
“Killing you wouldn’t net much anyway. Too messy…… Earn points fair next time.”
Professors monitoring via Assistant Professor Kyle’s Far Sight smiled.
“Freely wielding 2-star summons at that age? True prodigy.”
“Solo beast clears for unchallenged first.”
“Weiber of Rohwinen’s impressive too.”
Weiber snagged 253 points with wind magic’s mobility and sniping.
Logan of Chaihak: 249 points, brute-forcing visible illusions, no strategy.
As profs praised the top three frontrunners, only Chief Professor Marhena shook her head sourly.
“No real talent here. Tsk.”
Elin Ludwig thought:
‘Lady Marhena’s exam tests exactly what a mage needs—crystal clear.’
Mages varied wildly in traits and aptitudes.
1. Mobility?
2. Recon?
3. Combat?
Know your strengths, deploy them coolly in any scenario—for high scores.
‘Results will tailor future training……’
The perfect test for baseline mage talent…… Elin grinned, scanning Group B for her nephew.
‘Rain, can’t wait to see what talent shocks this tough old bat.’