EP.92 Practice test where screams echo (3)
Forest owned by the Krefeld family.
The students were running through the forest with their teeth clenched. Screams are heard from everywhere. However, there is no time to listen to those screams one by one.
The demon comes out.
In the forest, in the shade, in the fog.
There is a demon wherever you step. Even the type of magical beast is unique. Demonic beasts that I have only encountered through books appear before my eyes.
It’s a magical beast I’ve never faced before.
It is a magical beast that we only know about with fragmentary knowledge.
Of course, knowledge and experience are different. There are few people who can immediately put into action what they only know as knowledge. Most students are embarrassed.
“Ugh, wow!”
“floor! Come out of the floor!”
“Bung, you dumb shadow!”
Screams pour out from everywhere. The scream summons another demonic beast. The students start to get confused.
A demonic beast is a demonic beast, but things start to get strange in this forest.
Sunlight does not come in well. Everywhere is shaded and gives off a gloomy atmosphere. The longer I run, the thicker the fog in the forest becomes.
“Where on earth am I…?”
“It’s dark.”
“It’s humid. “Why is the air like this?”
The environment itself is unfamiliar.
The forest seen from outside and the forest experienced inside were different. Originally, the forest they knew was not like this. An environment that is different from what was expected adds to anxiety.
dark.
The air is chilly.
It’s wet and feels like it’s constricting your breathing.
Now that I think about it, the shapes of the trees are a bit strange. If you look around, there are many trees with twisted branches stretching out here and there.
“Uh, uhm…”
“Wait a minute, go slowly…!”
It is a bizarre and creepy scene.
It seems like I can hear the crow caw from somewhere. Every time a crying sound was heard, the students were shocked and their shoulders shook.
“This is a forest?”
A question raised by someone represents everyone’s opinion. The students move forward in fear, wary of demons that may come out of nowhere.
······Students may not know.
The forest reconstructed through the magic tool resembles a certain landscape. And, it is a method of drawing the scenery imagined by the person using the magic tool.
The one who used the magic tool was Raniel.
What Raniel came to mind was the forest adjacent to the demon world.
The forest scenery created from her imagination is exquisite. It is indistinguishable from reality. Normally, even if characters with battlefield experience use magic tools, it is difficult to create such an elaborate environment.
Twisting of trees.
A dreary fog.
The pleasant scent of a demonic beast wafting through the fog.
Moreover, to implement even the smallest details like this without exception… unless you have lived in the devil’s land, it is impossible.
“hmm.”
And, here is a wizard.
“······Is it not enough?”
This wizard, who has a different way of thinking from others, spent five years wandering in the demon world. She stroked her chin as she looked at the forest she had created.
‘I feel sorry about something.’
Raniel.
‘Is it because I don’t have magical energy? Well, it’s a bit unfair to criticize that, I guess…’
Raniel van Trias.
“Well, this is adequate.”
A wizard who roamed the magic world as if it were his home.
She muttered, resting her chin.
“If you die once or twice, you will learn something.”
30 minutes have passed since the test started.
Students are thrown out of the forest one after another. Looking at him, Raniel smiled bitterly.
‘It was a real battle, so I searched all of these.’
Fortunately, the murmurs did not reach the students.
2.
30 minutes have passed since the test started.
Many students were ordered to wait for an hour and returned to the entrance of the forest.
“······.”
Some are stretched out on the floor, while others are sitting on stumps and looking at the sky. There is no focus in those eyes.
“excuse me.”
Suddenly, someone weakly opened his mouth.
“···What happened to you?”
“Mana Eater.”
Someone answers that question. There is no life in that voice. I feel a sense of futility. As if resonating with that voice, they begin to open their mouths one by one.
“I’m a Mana Eater too.”
“···Swarm of black wolves.”
“I am a dumb shadow. A shadow suddenly rose from the floor. “I was eliminated because my neck was caught.”
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
Mana Eater.
A flock of black wolves.
Dumb shadow.
They were demonic beasts known to appear on battlefields adjacent to the Demon World. Hell, I don’t know why it’s on a practice test like this.
Of course, you can catch it if you want to.
Mana Eaters are simple bugs. It’s annoying if it sticks to you, but it’s just a magical beast that can be easily caught by just throwing a fireball from afar.
Black wolves have low intelligence. Not only is his intelligence low, but his perspective is also narrow. Hunting is not difficult if you aim for the blind spot.
Shadow Dumb can be lured out and captured with a spell. It’s annoying to carry around, but if you know it’s there, it’s an easy beast to catch.
‘If you tell me to catch them one by one, I can catch them.’
That’s right, if you look at all the demons separately, it’s not that difficult. The hunting method is also famous enough to be included in textbooks.
‘···There is a separate problem.’
There are two major problems.
‘One is that this is a forest.’
Because the forest is covered in a lot of fog, it is difficult to secure visibility, and because the grass is thick, it is impossible to know where the demon will come out.
‘The two of them are, of course, the fact that the three are together.’
Yes, this was the biggest problem.
The three types of demons compensate for each other’s shortcomings. The arrangement itself is extremely malicious.
‘To catch the mute shadow hiding in the shadows, you inevitably have to use a spell.’
When you use a spell, a flock of black wolves will respond.
‘To subdue the flock of black wolves, a wide-area circuit must be drawn.’
When I try to draw a circuit, mana eaters are falling from somewhere.
‘Then what on earth should I do?’
In the forest, I was so busy running away that I didn’t have time to organize my thoughts. But when he went outside and thought about it, the answer came quickly.
“Stock various types of orders…”
You shouldn’t just stock simple orders.
Keeping such magical beasts in mind, you must stock up on a wide range of spells.
“ah·····.”
As I think about it, I suddenly remember what Professor Rania warned me about before the exam.
-We recommend that you stock up on enough circuits.
Is this really what it meant?
“No, no matter what, this is a bit…”
Isn’t the difficulty too much?
The students let out a long sigh.
You can feel the malice in the placement of the magical beasts.
Isn’t the level of difficulty too high? At least, it wasn’t a test worth giving to first-year students.
‘Professor McHart couldn’t have been like this.’
And, there is no way Professor McHart would have come up with a test of this insane difficulty. Although my personality is a bit dirty, the test itself is easy.
So who designed this test?
‘Professor Rania.’
Rania van Trias.
Aplia’s nightmare.
The students’ eyes naturally turn to where the nightmare will be sitting. Obviously, she was sitting on a large rock.
“···huh?”
However, the students looking at the rock tilt their heads. Until a little while ago, Professor Rania, who was sitting there, could not be seen.
“Professor Rania, where have you gone?”
“I know? “Weren’t you there just now?”
No matter where I looked, I couldn’t see the professor.
The students tilted their heads.
3.
Barracks near the forest.
Machart Krefeld was watching the students wandering in the forest with a magic tool. It was to send knights belonging to the Krefeld family in times of emergency.
“Hmm…”
It is definitely a difficult test.
It was natural for the students to be embarrassed. Because it was a difficult test to give to first-year students right away.
‘Considering the level of difficulty…’
Even if I can’t do it, it’s probably equivalent to second year field training. It’s definitely not a test worth giving to first-year students. McHart was also initially opposed to this practice test.
‘Because the difficulty level was too high.’
However, in the end, the exam was held without any changes.
It was because there was a good reason.
“······.”
McHart closed his eyes and remembered the conversation he had with Professor Rania not long ago.
-In the end, most of the students in the Combat Magic Department will go to the battlefield. Not necessarily a battlefield, but at least a place related to a battlefield.
Professor Rania said this to McHart, who was opposed to practice tests.
‘That’s true.’
Unlike other departments, the Department of Combat Magic focuses on the battlefield after graduation. In the first place, many students entered the school with that intention.
Children of a knightly family.
Children of small nobles trying to accumulate merit.
Otherwise, talented commoner kids.
After graduation, they head to the battlefield. Not everyone, but many will head to the battlefield.
-Honestly, I don’t really feel like it. I said I had a lot of time left until I graduated, but what would happen if I threw myself into the battlefield like this?
I’ll die, probably.
-Well, you will learn a lot as the school year goes by. Still, wouldn’t it be better to do this sooner?
Professor Rania said so.
-The faster the impact, the better. Originally, you would realize this while rolling around on the battlefield… but it’s much better to be able to learn through practice like this. Isn’t that what you’re trying to do in practice in the first place?
What is practice?
-If you fail, you will feel it. Ah, this is what we have to do here. I can’t do this here. That way, you’ll realize it.
It is learned through experience in the field.
Of course, not everyone learns from failure. Most people become frustrated with failure. lose motivation
However, not here.
-Here, it’s Aplia.
As Professor Rania said, this is Aplia.
“······.”
Machart slowly opened his eyes.
-It’s a place where the most talented people in the kingdom gather. Wouldn’t you learn something if you had to put them through this level of hardship?
The place where the gaze is directed is the beginning of the forest.
McHart saw students running out of the woods and waiting for an hour.
『No, here it is like this…』
『Since we’re running out of Mana Eaters, how about doing this from the beginning? If you do this…』
『Then how about getting rid of it? A flock of wolves will also attack you.』
The voices of students can be heard through the magic tool.
The students sitting together at the entrance to the forest put their heads together and seemed to be thinking of a strategy.
『Ac, just give it a try.』
『If it doesn’t work, you can do it again. In the first place, even if you fail, you get points deducted. It’s not elimination.』
『If you try it once and it doesn’t work, you can do it again.』
Eventually, they head towards the forest.
McHeart watched them. These are the students who failed in just over a minute as soon as the exam started.
However, this time is different.
『Here!』
『Fireball, fireball quickly!』
『Attracting a flock of wolves! Blow away the dumb shadow at once!』
I devise my own strategy and try again.
They lasted about 20 minutes and burst out again to the beginning of the forest.
“Hmm.”
McHart smoothed his chin.
It’s not just them. Many students fail, try again, and move deeper into the forest.
“now!”
『Quick, shoot!』
Challenge yourself.
『Miss, of course there…』
『I misunderstood the terrain.』
And fail.
『What if I lure a flock of wolves this way?』
『Circuit type is better this way.』
『Yes, I think it would be good to delete the hitting system and organize the stock in this way.』
With a regretful expression on his face, he sits at the beginning of the forest and thinks about his next strategy. Carve a new circuit for an hour and try again.
‘The most basic value of a wizard.’
Machart smiled at them.
“Challenging.”
Is that really the case?
“Is this the picture you had in mind?”
When I asked that, a voice came back from the magic tool.
“yes. It wasn’t set at 3 days for nothing.』
“Right. “It will definitely help.”
Machart nodded.
『Isn’t that why failure is not elimination, but point deduction?』
It’s okay to fail.
『I will find a way somehow. And, once you experience something like that… it looks a little different.』
Find answers in failure.
This is a practice for that purpose.
The girl seemed to want to say that.
McHeart is also a wizard with battlefield experience. Although he never stayed on the front lines, he had many terrible experiences on the battlefield.
It’s terrible, though.
If you survive, it becomes a lesson.
‘······Every single thing like that is a learning experience.’
And, McHart also knew well how valuable each of those experiences was.
“Right.”
Machart nodded.
“That is correct.”
During the three days of testing, students will learn a lot. It may be difficult, but learning is essentially an act that takes some effort into account.
“The students’ level will rise a lot.”
McHart feels grateful to the girl. Because McHart cannot organize such a high-level test.
‘I can’t handle magic tools like this.’
Creating such an elaborate illusion is no easy task. McHeart looked at the girl reflected in the magic tool with new eyes.
‘As expected, he is Professor Rossell’s student.’
There is more than meets the eye.
I ignored her at first meeting, but the more I looked at her, the deeper she became.
Certainly, it was a test of good composition.
It’s a good composition, though.
‘Even though······.’
McHeart slowly opened his mouth.
“But still?”
“yes?”
“Well, the conditions of the test. “Isn’t it a bit much to catch the boss?”
When I turn my gaze, I see the boss’s appearance reflected in the magic tool. Looking at it, McHeart let out a long sigh.
‘Catch that?’
I can’t picture the scene of students catching that thing in my head.
‘From the beginning, wasn’t the only intention to roll around in the forest for three days?’
I even think like that.
As MacHeart was thinking that, a girl’s voice came back from the magic tool.
『Hey, what?』
The girl smiled.
『What should I do when faced with someone who doesn’t have an answer? This is a very important issue, right?
Then, he placed a skull bowl on his head that he didn’t know where he got it from. Soon, the illusion magic tool marks one word above her head.
Machart slapped his forehead.
“······I guess I’ll go back.”
For some reason, McHart seemed to know why Professor Rossell often hit his forehead.
End of exam.
What is waiting for the students there is not a magical beast or anything like that. The person who planned this test is guarding that place.
Aplia’s Nightmare, Rania Van Triasga.
* * *
The students head to the center of the forest, defeating all kinds of magical beasts. The process is never smooth. Fail again and again, try again and again.
Breaking through the demonic beasts like that.
Breaking through the maze-like terrain of the forest.
When you finally clear away all the fog in the forest and arrive at the center of the forest…
Students face an open space.
There are no magic tools of any kind lying in the vacant lot. Warm sunlight illuminates the vacant lot. The suffocating air is now open, and I feel like it’s really over.
And, there is a girl sitting there.
The girl’s long, gray hair sways gently in the wind. She wears a crude, ill-fitting skull bowl on her head.
“Oh, are you here?”
She turns her head.
At the end of the line of sight stands a student.
“······Professor Rania?”
Belnoir blinks as he adjusts his grip on the shadow dagger. However, she soon seemed to understand the situation and let out a long sigh. Then he slowly opened his mouth.
“no way.”
“huh.”
“What is a boss?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
Belnoir touched his temple.
‘Should I hit him?’
I seriously thought that way.
A word from the author (author review)
For reference, the skull piece that Rania is using is Skebal’s Skull No. 3, which she once beat up! No. 1 and No. 2 are no longer there because they were destroyed, and a total of No. 5 is being stored. I couldn’t keep the skebal I caught recently because its skull was shattered…
#A word about line spacing.
As I was writing with the minimum line spacing (130%), it seemed like I had to press the Enter key twice to get the spacing right.
And in fact, in the early days of Novelpia, when you copied and pasted a writing file, it was automatically printed by pressing the Enter key twice. That was roughly the right standard. However, at some point things changed, and when you copy and paste, the Enter key is pressed once.
So, to reduce confusion, I’m hitting the Enter key once after pasting, but would it be better not to hit it?
