EP.91 Practice test where screams echo (2)
I was sitting alone in the professor’s office, my head tilted back, looking at the ceiling. The flowing hair seemed as if it would touch the floor.
I had a lot of worries.
I was in charge of supervising the practice exam. He said he would rather break his fingers, but… he couldn’t really break off the students’ fingers.
‘If you had asked me to train knights, I would have done so.’
Because these people are students first.
So I was a bit worried.
‘Battle magic.’
A department that deals with the Battle Mage class.
In the past, I thought it was a department without much foundation, but after learning the truth…
‘If I had known this would happen, I would have retired with at least one thesis.’
That’s what I think about every time I see it.
If you think about it, it’s inevitable that the Battle Mage class seems basic.
The ancient dragon wizard who created the Wizard class left dozens or hundreds of books.
The ancient alchemist who created the Summoner class also left his memoirs.
‘What’s more, those gloomy shamans were left behind too.’
In any case, there is bound to be at least one book that contains the basis of the class. However, there is no battle mage. There is no choice but to be there.
‘Because I didn’t leave anything behind.’
I wasn’t even aware that I had created a class in the first place.
“Hmm.”
I threw my head back and moaned briefly.
How should this practice test be conducted so that students can properly understand this combat method?
‘One practice test.’
If there is a concept that should be embedded in students’ minds through the test, what would it be?
“The basis.”
I suddenly muttered.
“What is the basis?”
Battle-mage.
If you were to write a thesis in this class, what would be the fundamental point you would leave as the first sentence?
There is a word that comes to mind.
I put it in my mouth.
“How to beat a skull gourd.”
No, not this.
Although it was a fighting method to defeat Skebal, I decided to look at it a little broadly.
After all, this is the class I modeled after myself.
With what mindset did I use my spells on the battlefield? That’s what I had to think about. And, when I thought about it that way, the answer came quickly.
“flexibility.”
I said the words that came to mind.
Certainly, flexibility was a key word throughout this magic system. When you get stuck, don’t give up and sit down, but find another way right away.
That was what I valued most on the battlefield.
‘How will we convey that to students?’
I looked at the paper in front of me.
The outline of the test is written on the paper along with the big word ‘Survival’.
-Main topic: Survival.
-The Battle Mage class is a class that uses the battlefield as its main stage. In this test, an environment similar to a battlefield is created using magic tools to test students.
-The concept of breaking through a kind of ‘labyrinth’.
···Are you okay?
It was a test that would have been perfect with just a little bit of modification.
-The primary goal is to indirectly experience the battlefield through practice. The secondary goal is to naturally make people notice the Battle Mage’s strengths.
“oh···.”
I was involuntarily impressed.
McHart, that guy may be a bit strange, but he has roots. Certainly, that was correct.
‘Discussing practical magic without experiencing the battlefield?’
That’s ridiculous.
Those things have no basis.
‘It’s a good method.’
However, there were some disappointing things visible.
I briefly clicked my tongue as I looked at the list of demons to be projected through the illusionary magic tool.
‘You’re only going to solve this?’
This will only result in a mediocre test.
Rather than stimulating it, there was a high possibility that it would only lead to bad habits.
“If you’re going to show it, you have to show it properly.”
I carefully changed the types of magical beasts to project. Anyway, I’m the one operating the magic tool. It was easy to project what I had seen and experienced.
Monsters that were brutally beaten in the Demon King’s army.
Things you often see when you walk around the magic world.
I wrote them down one after another on paper.
‘There has to be something like this.’
Since ancient times, practice is better when it is more realistic. I wrote down the items, remembering my experiences on the battlefield.
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A manator that eats up mana.
A flock of black wolves that sense mana.
Just by squeezing out the circuit, a dumb shadow pops out of the shadows.
Yes, it should be like this.
“hmm.”
I nodded with satisfaction.
It may seem a bit harsh, but it’s okay. It’s an illusion anyway, so you won’t die, right?
‘It may hurt a little, but…’
That’s all compared to the enlightenment I gained.
“I made these by beating them up.”
Didn’t I say it was a class where I was the model?
Then what I am saying is correct.
“This is enough.”
I lifted the edited paper.
In my opinion, it was a very satisfactory practice test.
2.
One night from Dalian.
Lark had been wandering aimlessly around the campus since early morning. It was because something felt uneasy.
“hmm.”
Lark strokes his chin and walks down the hallway.
I feel like my thoughts are not organized well. What should I do in this situation?
‘hunt?’
The first thing that came to mind was to climb the snowy mountain and hunt wild animals, but that was impossible here.
‘Uh… training?’
That also doesn’t feel like anything.
Training was like dying even after sparring yesterday.
“Uhm…”
Eventually, Lark went out into the garden and sat down on the bench. I slowly gathered my thoughts as the morning sunlight hit me.
What comes to mind is the sparring with Belnoa.
All the actions taken in that sparring are naturally pictured in my mind. It is different from simple reproduction.
‘If only it had been done like this there.’
Let’s make that assumption.
‘What if I dug in instead of blocking it? If you avoided it instead of hitting it…’
Many assumptions go back and forth in my head.
Still, the conclusion was always the same.
‘No matter what you do, you lose.’
Completely defeated.
No matter what tactic was used, Belnoa responded. Belnoa was stronger than himself. She was a little further ahead.
‘Belnoir is strong. However, it wasn’t that there wasn’t a fight from the beginning.’
At the beginning of the semester, things were boiling over.
In fact, even during the placement test… Lark had a fierce battle with Belnoa.
But, what about now?
‘You can’t win.’
The more we sparred, the more difficult it became to beat Belnoa. It’s not that Belnoa has achieved any particular growth.
He is not particularly strong compared to Lark.
Always, Belnoir is just one or two steps ahead.
Lark did not know the identity of the gap.
“Why did you lose?”
I say it out loud.
“Am I weak? “Am I weak?”
With a muffled sound, Lark adjusted the sack tied to his waist.
‘Is it because I’m weak that I feel this way?’
I don’t know why I’ve been in a strange mood since yesterday.
As he was stroking his chin like that, a shadow suddenly appeared in front of Lark.
“Hey, what are you doing here?”
Lark suddenly raised his head.
The first thing that came into view was platinum-colored hair that sparkled with gold. There is only one person in the academy who has white blonde hair like this.
“···Princess Ayla?”
“Do you even deserve to be called a princess? “This is Aplia.”
“What happened to me…?”
She shrugged her shoulders.
“It looks like you have a lot of concerns. I caught my eye as I was passing by, so I spoke to him briefly. “I’m personally interested in Prince Lark, right?”
“Are you talking to me?”
Lark tilted his head.
“At Aplia, I have to build a variety of connections. “There’s a good reason.”
“Hmm.”
“Do you have any concerns?”
“There is. But, I don’t know how to explain this…”
“Just say it first. “I will listen and think about it.”
She flopped down and sat down next to Lark.
Lark slowly explained what happened yesterday. The explanation didn’t take long.
“···So, I’m feeling a bit uneasy right now.”
“hmm···.”
After hearing the entire explanation, Ayla made a very strange expression. Then, he looked at Lark and blurted out.
“Aren’t you just annoyed because you lost?”
“petulance?”
“Why, that’s right. Do you feel competitive with people who seem to be at a similar level to you? Something like that.”
“But why does that annoy you?”
Lark tilted his head.
For him, the word ‘annoyance’ and defeat were rarely combined.
“I learned that accepting defeat is what it means to be a warrior…”
“lakh.”
Ayla’s golden eyes looked at Lark.
“Accepting defeat is different from competing.”
“······.”
“Don’t you want to beat Belnoa?”
“I think I want to win…”
“But there is no answer?”
“yes.”
“Then why don’t you ask for some advice?”
She shrugged her shoulders.
“There are many great professors at Aplia. “There are some very strong professors.”
Strong professor.
The moment he heard those words, an image of a person flashed through Lark’s mind.
‘Professor Rania.’
A professor with the energy of a wild beast.
And, the one who fought a fierce battle with the famous royal hound.
“Uhm…”
This was when Lark stroked his chin and groaned.
“lakh!”
“Lark, the bachelor’s bulletin board over there… uh, king and princess?”
Several students in the same class as Lark approach Lark and then stop. He then bows his head towards Ayla.
Seeing that, Ayla shook her head.
“Let’s talk. “I’ll just go now.”
“Yes, yes.”
Leaving behind the princess who is leaving, the students urge Lark to quickly go to the academic bulletin board.
“I heard that a notice for the Combat Magic Department practice test has appeared.”
“But, something’s a little strange.”
“weird?”
“Yes, just go and have a look.”
As I walk down the hallway, I see several students gathered in front of the academic bulletin board. Among them is Belnoa. Belnoa pointed to the bulletin board with his thumb.
“hmm.”
Lark nodded and checked the notice.
It was a notice with an outline of the practice test.
-Test location: Forest owned by the Krefeld family.
-Test topic: Survival.
-Test period: up to 3 days.
There is a murmur that something big is happening. However, the murmur gradually subsides.
“···uh?”
“Why a test proctor?”
One line of name written at the bottom of the notice.
The students who confirmed the name asked questions. And, the same goes for Lark.
-Supervisor in charge: Rania Van Trias.
Rania van Trias.
The proctor of the test was Professor Rania, not Machart Krefeld.
‘Why Professor Rania?’
Lark blinks at the name.
I don’t know why Professor Rania, who is in charge of the basics of Mana trading, is the supervisor.
However, one thing is certain…
‘Something, something sinister.’
It seems like something absurd is going to happen.
This is closer to prediction than intuition. Predictions are made through past experience.
Rania van Trias.
Lark remembers all the incidents that occurred whenever the unique professor was involved.
“Um, um…”
The more I think about the incident, the more ominous it feels. Lark felt a ray of cold sweat running down his spine.
3.
About a week later, the practical exam began.
As originally scheduled, the test will be held in the forest owned by the Krefeld family, to which McHart belongs.
tweet.
Early in the morning, students gather at the entrance to the forest where even the sounds of birds can be heard. And, there is a professor standing in front of them.
A professor with flowing gray hair.
A professor who looked like a student at first glance stood in front of the students and began guiding them through the test.
“The topic of the practice test, as instructed, is survival. And, the main grading item is improvisation. “I hope you respond calmly in any situation.”
She hands out bracelets to each student.
“This is a bracelet that reacts to illusionary magic tools and records the impact. When you receive a certain amount of shock, you are forcibly ejected from the illusion labyrinth. “You can try again in an hour, but points will be deducted.”
A bracelet that transmits and records shock.
Professor Rania continued her explanation while the students wore their bracelets.
“Advice before the test: I recommend using only the circuits you have. If you do not have a circuit in stock, we recommend that you do so before entering the forest.”
······Don’t carve a new circuit?
The students tilt their heads. Even if you’re a battle mage, don’t you draw circuits when necessary?
match.
However, there is no time to raise that question.
As soon as the professor clapped his hands, the forest shook. A huge barrier surrounds the entrance to the forest.
“I am confirming all of your locations, and all the demonic beasts that appear during the practice test are demonic beasts created with illusionary magic tools. “Please don’t panic.”
She pointed to the forest.
“Let the test begin.”
Soon, one by one, they start heading towards the forest.
The moment you step into the forest, a portal activates. The students who were randomly dropped into the forest began to slowly explore the forest.
There are one of two conditions for ending the test.
Or survive for three days.
Hunt boss monsters hidden in the forest.
Most students aim for the latter. Because I had no intention of staying in this forest for three days.
and.
“···uh?”
They realize it right away.
“What is all this…?”
They thought they were mistaken.
They blink and look around. The atmosphere of the forest is strange. It’s scary. It’s dreary. The fog hangs low, and the air is stuffy.
Something is foreign.
The students, embarrassed by the sight being different from what they imagined, take a step back. Someone triggers the circuit. Another person forgets the warning and tries to draw a circuit.
Tests have no mercy on those who forget the warning.
I hear the sound of something falling. The student looked up from drawing the circuit. The tree branches were shaking.
Thump, thud.
Something falls from a shaking tree branch.
Something that fell lands on the back of the hand of a student who was trying to draw a circuit.
‘···bug?’
I try to shake it off by swinging my hand, but I can’t shake it off. Eventually, the student realizes that it is not just a bug. The student turns pale.
‘Mana-Eater.’
A monster that reacts to mana and blocks mana.
“Ugh, wow!”
As soon as he can scream, the Manateer places a poisonous needle on the back of the student’s hand. The Mana Eater’s sting disturbs mana.
The process of disrupting mana causes quite a headache. At least, it is not something that a student experiencing it for the first time can endure.
dump.
A student falls down.
Students who saw it up close held their breath and stopped their fingers from drawing the circuit.
Mana Eater exists in the forest.
That alone raised the difficulty level significantly, but it couldn’t be the only thing. The students looked around.
And then, I discover something in the fog.
Crrrrr.
Red eyes flash in the fog.
A low howling sound spreads along with the fog. Demonic beasts reveal themselves in the fog.
A magical beast specialized in mana tracking.
Black wolf.
And, wolves always flock in flocks.
“This is crazy.”
Students realize it at that point.
The main topic of the test was survival, and it really meant ‘survival’ in the literal sense.
and.
“Ugh, wow!”
The difficulty of the test is beyond imagination.
“Well, what is all that!”
“Ugh, wow! “f*ck, f*ck!”
“Aaaaaaaaaah!”
“Bee, bug! “Aaaah!”
The students’ screams echoed throughout the forest owned by the Krefeld family.
A word from the author (author review)
A practice test with echoes of screams.
