The Master Sorcerer in Action.
Lepen Cheiser stood tall on the vast prairie, beginning his speech.
“Has the past month been pleasant or unfortunate? Either way, you have spent one month for today. And depending on how you used this fair time, the test results will differ.”
The esteemed Emperor Persotian hoped that within this ‘Academy,’ his status would be diminished.
It was because of the delayed placement exam, allowing children who had no opportunity for learning to be considered.
Back then, when Emperor Persotian was alive, the system worked reasonably well. At that time, magic wasn’t as organized, and there was no concept of ‘early education.’
Magic relied heavily on natural talent, making it possible to bridge some gaps even with just one month of learning.
“Now, before we begin the semi-placement exam, which will determine your year ahead, I shall give you one task.”
However, times change.
Magic has been highly systematized, and it has constantly advanced through various formulas and magical materials.
The gap between nobles and commoners grew day by day, and the one month’s time became more of a social gathering to make connections than an opportunity for learning.
Because—
“Regardless of the target or the number of participants, create a party and report to me. You have 30 minutes.”
The content of the semi-placement exam explicitly stated to build connections during that one month.
As Lepen finished his speech, some students immediately sought out their pre-arranged partners, while others observed the situation closely.
“It’s trivial,” Hursi mused, crossing his arms. He thought it was all too trivial.
Begging those in power for one month just for this exam? It was a mere tactic.
Building relationships with people had no relevance to magical skills whatsoever.
Hursi was proud of the Royal Academy, but this semi-placement exam was beyond his understanding.
“Minerva, my dear!”
At that moment, a woman approached Hursi. It was Sofia, with whom he had interacted frequently since childhood.
“Would you like to join our party? Oops.”
Sofia covered her mouth, chuckling lightly.
“I misspoke. Will you please welcome us, Hursi?”
Sofia extended her hand, demonstrating impeccable manners.
However, Hursi was in a quandary.
“…There’s no limit to the number of participants, but…”
Most parties consisted of 4 to 5 members. Beyond that, various issues could arise, such as ration problems and faction conflicts.
However, he wondered if Lloyd would genuinely approve.
“He dislikes large groups of people.”
Lloyd agreed to help with the exam, which meant he would participate in the party.
Over the past week, Hursi had learned that Baron and the lazy master magician, Lloyd Christopher, were extremely averse to social interactions.
“In that case, it’s better to decline until Lloyd arrives. But wait…”
Hursi felt slightly restless.
“Why isn’t he here yet?”
Classes had already started, and Lloyd was nowhere to be seen.
Still, they had an agreement. As a noble of the Windsor family, he wouldn’t dismiss their agreement lightly.
Hursi decided to decline Sofia’s proposal.
“I’m sorry, Sofia.”
“Yes?”
“I… have a prior commitment.”
“A prior commitment?”
“With whom?”
It was initially an uncomfortable situation, but since Sofia and Hursi were close, she didn’t mind.
She was just curious why the prideful Hursi was forming a party with someone else.
“…With Windsor’s master, Lloyd Christopher.”
“Lloyd? That lazy master?”
“Yes.”
Sofia seemed surprised. Looking around briefly, she whispered:
“That’s interesting, Hursi. You’ve always said you had no interest in him, but now you’re trying to get close to him? Mischievous, indeed.”
Hursi tried to rebut quickly, but Sofia beamed with a refreshing smile and interrupted him.
“Well, do your best, Hursi! I’ll give you a moment to think it over.”
Before Hursi could reply, Sofia had already turned away.
“Too bad, but let’s do it together next time. See you then!”
Hursi sighed and scanned the surroundings.
“Hurry up. Hurry.”
Now that he had told Sofia, he couldn’t turn back. He had to make a party with Lloyd and recruit other members. At least, he had to do it before the exam started, which left him with at least ten minutes.
However, there was no sign of Lloyd anywhere.
“3 minutes remaining.”
Hursi had a desperate expression as he stared at the ground, not thinking of anything at all.
Lloyd still hadn’t arrived.
And the fact that he hadn’t arrived yet meant he might not come at all.
“Fool. How foolish of you to believe that. That lazy Lloyd Christopher would never form a party with someone like me.”
Hursi couldn’t blame anyone but himself for not forming a party.
He could approach Sofia now and ask to join her party, but his pride wouldn’t allow it.
He had already made a promise, after all.
“How foolish… How foolish of me, Hursi.”
It was too late for self-reproach.
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More pressing than the test itself was…
“Hursi Minerva.”
“…!”
“You still haven’t formed a party.”
The icy voice came from beside him. It was Sofia, her arms crossed and her lips pouting.
“Are you not feeling a bit late, Lloyd Christopher?”
Sofia was right. She looked disappointed.
“I’m sorry, Sofia.”
“Yes?”
“I… have a prior commitment.”
“A prior commitment?”
“With whom?”
Though it was an uncomfortable situation, Hursi and Sofia were close enough that it didn’t bother her.
She was merely curious why the proud Hursi was forming a party with someone else.
“…With Windsor’s master, Lloyd Christopher.”
“Lloyd? That lazy master?”
“Yes.”
Sofia seemed surprised and whispered as she looked around.
“That’s interesting, Hursi. You always said you had no interest in him, but now you’re trying to get close to him? Quite mischievous.”
Hursi wanted to refute, but Sofia beamed with a bright smile and continued.
“Well, do your best, Hursi! I’ll give you a moment to think it over.”
Before Hursi could respond, Sofia had already walked away.
“So close, but let’s do it together next time. See you then!”
Hursi let out a sigh and scanned the surroundings.
“Hurry up. Hurry.”
Now that he had told Sofia, he couldn’t turn back. He had to form a party with Lloyd and recruit other members, all before the exam started, which left him with only ten minutes.
However, there was no sign of Lloyd anywhere.
“Lloyd…”
**
Lloyd looked around absentmindedly.
All the students had disappeared, and he found himself in a dense forest.
“Let’s talk, Lloyd Christopher.”
A cold voice reached his ears. It was Hursi. She pouted and crossed her arms.
“Aren’t you feeling a bit late?”
Lloyd felt a slight sting from Hursi’s words, but he couldn’t let that show.
-Oh no, Lloyd!
If Amelia hadn’t come to wake him up, he would have been late for sure.
But boldness was a virtue of the unemployed.
“I’m not late. I came on time.”
“Well, that may be true, but…”
Hursi let out a deep sigh.
“Never mind. You’re here now anyway. But if something like this happens again, please come early. You have no idea how worried I was.”
“That’s my bad.”
When Lloyd properly apologized, Hursi straightened her back.
“Well, since there’s still time, I’ll explain things slowly. First, we need to decide on our shelter.”
To briefly describe the semi-placement exam, it was a “Survival Battle Royale” within the ‘Silent Highland.’
The goal was to survive for a week in this forest. There were occasional events, but fundamentally, students either eliminated each other or “camped” to wait it out.
“I guess I’m on time. I should aim for first place and avoid the protagonist group as much as possible.”
Lloyd’s game plan was simple.
Win first place and avoid getting entangled with the protagonist.
It’s obvious that if they meet, they’ll end up fighting right away.
Especially when he’s already feeling annoyed due to his lateness, encountering the protagonist here could make things even worse than the original storyline.
Securing first place was a piece of cake.
And avoiding the protagonist was also a piece of cake.
Lloyd knew exactly where the protagonist was hiding in this vast forest.
“First, we need to set up a base camp near the riverbank. Water is an essential resource.”
The place where the protagonist was located was a spot with two large rocks in front of a waterfall.
“Wow, luck is on our side. I can already hear the sound of water. Let’s head that way!”
And there were plenty of food sources like fruit trees and mushrooms around…
-Thunk.
“Wow!”
“Look at this fruit! There’s a waterfall right in front of us.”
“?”
“This stroke of luck…! It’ll make the difficulty level much easier.”
…It was exactly the place they saw right now.
Lloyd knew where the protagonist’s hideout was.
“I don’t like it.”
“Huh?”
“The area in front of the waterfall is too noisy to sleep. Let’s find a spot further away.”
Lloyd started to force the issue.
‘I need to get out of this unfortunate place quickly.’
He was almost in big trouble.
Luckily, he found it quickly, and thankfully, they didn’t encounter the protagonist.
“What’s with the insistence! I’m telling you, you won’t find a better spot than here in the Haemook Highlands.”
He knew that. The reason the protagonist quickly got eliminated in the beginning was that they chose a spot that was too good.
“Well, quit the nonsense…”
Avoiding this spot was the best move. So, he tried to pull them away, even forcibly.
-Rustle.
“….”
He felt movement nearby.
Lloyd raised an eyebrow.
Hersy quickly drew her staff.
“Get ready, Lloyd.”
Lloyd wondered. Could it be, could it be the protagonist?
But, well, premonitions of misfortune always seem to come true.
“Huh? Sophia?”
“Hersy?”
Even without mentioning the main heroine’s name, he could instantly tell from the face of the handsome young man at the back.
They encountered the protagonist’s group.
Lloyd hit his forehead.
‘I lost.’
