Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: I've Never Lost
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While all the reserves were distracted by Group A's exam, Lilian spoke up from the last row of Group B.
"I've never lost once."
"……?"
"When I've gone all out, I've never lost to anyone. I couldn't afford to lose. I'd get beaten half to death."
Lilian's voice as she said this was quiet like a candle flame, yet sharp.
"Why have you been hiding your talent until now?"
"I wasn't really trying to hide it. I just never felt the need to show off."
"As expected from a young master of a great magic house. Only someone like that could think that way."
Flames flickered menacingly in Lilian's eyes.
"My father is Datan Karain. You can tell just from the name—he's the head of the famous Rivendel Academy."
The surname Karain meant "flame," passed down from Orbios Karain, the founder of Rivendel Academy and one of the three great archmages.
Rivendel Academy was unusual in that it upheld bloodline succession, with the head position always inherited by Karain descendants.
Rain raised an eyebrow in confusion. Gertrude snorted as if it was ridiculous.
"Isn't the lady mocking Rain young master as a 'spoiled young master of a great house' herself from quite the background?"
"Lady? I'm not some lady. I'm more like an object."
"An object?"
"I'm not a 'daughter born from my parents' love.' I'm a 'tool' created for one sole purpose."
A tool?
Rain and Gertrude exchanged puzzled glances.
"For example, I've been locked in my room since childhood, receiving only magic training. I've never once liked magic, but that's how I've lived my whole life."
As a tool, she couldn't produce inferior results.
The punishments were too severe for that.
They would bring her mother before her eyes and torture her, searing her flesh with flames.
"My father is the foremost expert on fire magic. He knows better than anyone how to inflict excruciating pain without causing serious injury."
The story was turning grave.
This is a world completely different from Osarius Academy, where I was...
Rain swallowed dryly and asked,
"...If you don't claim the top spot, does the same thing happen again?"
"That old man? No, he can't do that anymore. I'd kill him if he tried."
Gertrude narrowed her eyes. Datan Karain wasn't a Glados (4-star) mage? Was she saying she'd beaten someone like that?
"I graduated from Delaiten with overwhelming scores, earning recognition from every student in the academy. My ultimate goal is to drive my father out of the academy."
"Hmm..."
"I'm telling you this as a warning. Don't get in my way. If you block my path to first place, I won't let it slide."
As Lilian turned to leave after her warning, Gertrude Fenton snorted.
"How laughable. Give up on those pipe dreams. Our Lady Christa is standing firm. The genius of the century acknowledged by the entire magic world."
"Christa Warden? A flower grown in a greenhouse like that can't be my rival."
"What did you say?! A greenhouse flower? Our lady?"
Gertrude bristled, but Rain cut in.
"I get why you're aiming for first, and how desperate you are."
"……."
"But after hearing it all, it doesn't sound desperate enough for me to hand over the top spot."
Lilian's brow furrowed, sparks seeming to fly from her dark eyes. Rain continued calmly.
"See, I kept a friend waiting too long already."
"A friend?"
"If I make him wait any longer, who knows what lecture I'll get."
Was that some kind of declaration of war?
Lilian stared into Rain's eyes for a long moment before letting out a low sigh and turning away.
"Then you'd better stay out of my sight in this exam."
* * *
Group A's exam had ended.
The two who claimed S grades were Christa Warden and Weiber, with points of 361pt and 338pt respectively.
As soon as Group A exited the barrier, Group B finished preparations under the proctor's guidance and entered the barrier.
"Please select your deployment point."
Upon entering the illusion barrier, examinees had to choose where to start the exam, from A District to H District.
'Dimensional gate transfer method...'
Rain's eyes sharpened as he scanned the deployment point info projected in the air.
'Deployment area is your choice.'
Open plains or mountainsides had plenty of treasures and monsters but high risk of early combat...
Forests or peaks might be safer at first but disadvantageous for scoring.
As he calculated in his head, a beep horn blared. Wind swirled, and examinees began vanishing one by one into light.
[Current remaining: 48.]
A District: Mountainside.
F District: Mountain plain.
These two widest districts had the most monsters and treasures. Most students would pick them.
B·C Districts: Peaks.
Visual high ground advantage, but risk of encirclement by others.
D·E Districts: Forests.
The best spot for me right now... Where to go? Rain closed his eyes for just a moment, taking a deep breath.
[Current remaining: 26.]
When he opened them again, his eyes gleamed with calm resolve—like back in the day, as the archmage dominating battlefields.
Alright. Let's begin.
* * *
All Group B examinees had transferred. Some interesting results.
Battlefield info was projected hugely via Clairvoyance magic. Then central F District enlarged.
"Lilian chose F District from the start, just like Christa Warden."
"A show of confidence. Highest risk means highest potential score."
High risk, high return.
Plenty of treasures and monsters meant plenty of competitors... Elin rested her chin on her clasped hands, thinking.
'And...'
Central hub for easy, fast travel to any district.
"In contrast to Lilian, Rain Ludwig's choice is quite modest."
The window shifted from F (plain) District to the outskirts of the remotest E (forest) District.
"Aiming to avoid fights, steadily rack up points, and survive?"
"Hmm, unexpected, but not a bad call."
The professors assessed it that way, but the students waiting for the young master's fight could only groan in disappointment.
"Aw, what a bore."
"Would've been fun if those two clashed in F right away."
Regardless of the jeers, Rain knew his limits, hence the choice.
'To get near S-grade high score, minimize fights with other students.'
Mana and stamina have limits.
He pushed through underbrush, grabbed treasure from a hidden chest, picked up a suitable branch, and nodded.
"See? Watching him really gets on your nerves, doesn't it? That little punk."
To Elin Ludwig's words, Professor Carolline, watching intently, replied.
"Definitely. Too cautious. He took down an Eight Great Academies post-grad, yet acts like that?"
No sooner had she spoken than Rain encountered another examinee on the field.
"……!"
"……!"
The examinee's eyes widened in shock upon spotting Rain—in an instant.
She was a capable student from a mid-tier academy among the Eight Great and Sixteen Mids.
Mana gathered menacingly in her palm. Carolline's eyes lit up with anticipation.
'Alright, what will he show us now? He even snagged an S from Senior Kaiyle.'
Everyone held their breath, the room falling silent.
"No way?!"
Carolline blurted out in disbelief at the shocking event.
"Huh?"
"What?"
"For real?"
It didn't take long for everyone, who had vague high hopes for the rumored prodigy, to doubt their eyes. It was inevitable.
"H-He ran away?"
Elin muttered blankly.
Yes. Rain Ludwig... was sprinting full speed from the scene.
The moment Christa saw it, she tilted her head—not 90 degrees, but 180.
"You're kidding, right?"
What was this? Everyone watching, and he pulls that annoying stunt?
'Forgot who you are? Heir of a great house.'
Amid the students' bewildered murmurs, Chief Professor Marhena burst into laughter, clutching her belly, sparking stifled chuckles here and there.
"That punk's gotta be Skalji's damn grandson—no surprise there. One weird nut!"
"Chief Professor, is this funny?"
"What's wrong with it, you fool? Huh? Why so disappointed? It's way more fun now."
"The exam should be solemn, not fun!"
Ignoring the grumbling nearby professor, Marhena smirked at the Clairvoyance window, intrigued.
'Conserving strength... That kid's gunning for a big one. No idea what, but.'
Rain Ludwig stirred things up oddly, but students from Eight Great and Sixteen Mid academies began pulling ahead in PT acquisition one by one.
This was a lush mountain wilds in nature.
Red broadleaf trees unique to the Crimson Mountains, grotesquely protruding roots burdening stamina on untamed paths, beast cries eroding mental fortitude.
In that environment, the top ten examinees hunting treasures or monsters appeared on Clairvoyance.
"Lower peak performance than Group A at same time, but still excellent."
Current leader: Gertrude Fenton, daughter of Viscount Fenton house. Overshadowed by Christa, but no one doubts her prowess.
Like Christa, raised in the rugged eastern highlands, Gertrude leveraged her overwhelming stamina to roam paths freely, stacking points.
"The second group isn't bad either."
"Hope they don't get caught in the leaders' pace. Could miss when the frontrunners slip from overextending."
"But where's Lilian from Rivendel?"
Then ranks 11 to 20.
Oddly, no sign of Lilian anywhere, even rubbing eyes.
"Kaiyle."
At Marhena's call, Vice Professor Kaiyle instantly displayed the rankings via the linked magic tool.
"Hm?"
"Huh?"
"Is this right?"
Professors rubbed eyes, murmuring. No wonder.
"Points... 0pt?"