Episode 137. The Extraction Test (3)
“Wouldn’t it be safer to go through the door that the D class kids entered through?”
Oscar said, crossing his arms.
It made sense. But if you chase after Eric’s group, you’ll inevitably run into trouble. If it’s Eric, he’ll be willing to pick a fight to create someone to drop out.
“Oh, no! After thinking about it again, I think it would be better not to overlap with them.”
Oscar, who belatedly foresaw the situation, also changed his mind.
“Let’s start here first.”
Rubin chose one door without hesitation.
Creak.
The door opened, and as expected, there were two doors beyond it, one painted blue and the other yellow.
Although faced with a choice, Rubin did not hesitate. He immediately chose the blue door and opened it.
Creak.
Beyond that, there are also two doors.
“What is this? This time, there are squares and triangles drawn on each one.”
Oscar frowned, his eyebrows drawn together. At first it was the difference in color, but now it was the difference in pattern. It felt like he was faced with a difficult puzzle.
“Ha… What the hell is this? It probably hasn’t come up yet. Isn’t that right, Dahlia?”
When I glanced back, I saw Dahlia following the two from behind, keeping some distance between them.
She made a safe choice. Instead of teaming up, she watched the situation of the two ahead. If anything happened to Rubin or Oscar, she could respond immediately and avoid it.
“Dahlia, why don’t you come here and put your heads together?”
When Oscar said this to Dahlia.
Creak.
Rubin opened the triangular door without hesitation, as if he didn’t need any help. Then he saw that each door was painted black and white.
At this point, Oscar also began to look at him with suspicion.
“Luden, are you just taking pictures of either of them?”
“Shh, be quiet. I think I know for sure now. Let’s hurry.”
“Hey, hey! What the hell did you find out, anyway! Explain it to me.”
“Yeah, why don’t you tell me? I’m starting to get curious too.”
This time, even Dahlia got involved.
Rubin shrugged and whispered quietly enough for only the two of them to hear.
“I have to get there faster than the kids in Class D.”
Oscar and Dahlia grumbled openly, but reluctantly followed along.
From then on, Rubin’s movements were unstoppable. Two options kept appearing, but he didn’t hesitate at all.
‘It’s simple.’
What you see is just an illusion to delay your choice. The answer is much more fundamental and simple.
* * *
“Interesting.”
This was an honest review of the Pondrian disguise.
Pondrian was checking the recording of the exam process on the magic stone, following the words of his immediate adjutant, that there was a cadet who was ‘both strange and wonderful’.
“But it’s hard to hear someone say something this special.”
Pondrian glared at his immediate aide. Was this all he was making a fuss about?
The actions of the black-haired candidate in the first stage were clearly actions that saw through the test’s intent.
‘Finding consistency between two choices that appear repeatedly.’
Stage 1 was a test of judgment. If you don’t make a quick choice and waste time, the test itself will end.
However, since it was only level 1, it wasn’t a seriously difficult or stressful test.
“This black-haired guy is definitely better than that orange-haired nobleman, Eric or something. They chose the door by using scouts and sacrificing one member of the team at a time.”
That was the way of Eric’s class D. In this test, where choosing the wrong option would send you back to the beginning, Eric sacrificed his scouts every time.
From a commander’s perspective, a choice like Eric’s isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But it was obvious that it was better to find the right answer without causing any harm like Black Hair.
“You definitely know the right answer. You should choose a door based on consistency of material, not appearance.”
The appearance of the door was a trick, the answer was in the material of the door.
The correct answer is iron.
While the iron door kept coming out, the material of the other door corresponding to it kept changing. It was a trick that could be easily noticed if you paid a little attention.
“It’s not like this guy is the only candidate who has gotten the answer right so far.”
Because it was only step 1.
Even if you can’t find the consistency, if you put in the effort, you can eventually find the right exit. One way to get out of the maze is to go back and check the wrong door.
Moreover, as Pondrian pointed out, there were some candidates who got the correct answer.
Even in the test held at Mohwi’s magic school three years ago, there were two students who passed the test as quickly as today.
“Adjutant, is this all you’ve got to make such a fuss about?”
Pondrian frowned. Although the black-haired man was capable, he was not ‘amazing’ as his immediate aide had said.
“Sir, you need to see step 2.”
“Stage 2? You mean the ‘Black River’?”
“Yes. As you can see from the recorded footage… that black-haired cadet. He’s no ordinary cadet.”
“Of course not, you’re a wizard.”
“What I mean is… that candidate has the qualities of a drone. And among them, it is a very unique quality.”
“Ah, so you’re a madman?”
It was faster to see it for myself than to hear an explanation.
Pondrian activated the magic stone. This time, the second stage of the test was unfolding.
‘Black River’
When stage 2 comes, the testing area undergoes a complete transformation. Except for the area where the cadets are gathered, the entire area is submerged in water so deep that the bottom appears pitch black.
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And the area of the test site is expanded by the magic tool. As the distance to the exit increases, it becomes as large as the actual area of the river.
furthermore.
‘This water has a special power. It has the power to make anyone who touches it tremble with fear.’
Whether you can jump into the water without fear and how quickly you can cross the river will determine whether you pass or fail this test.
“Why? What’s wrong with that black hair?”
“Well, let me take a look.”
Pondrian crossed his arms and looked at the magic stone.
with a plop!
After the test began, the first one to jump into the water was the black-haired cadet.
‘It’s worth praising someone for not being afraid to jump in.’
Soon Pondrian’s comments began.
“Isn’t it too hasty? In this test, you have to understand the terrain first.”
There were numerous artificial islands in the middle of the Black River. Among them, there was an exit that could end the test.
If you’re lucky, you might find the exit in a few tries, or you might have to search through everything to find it.
So, usually, before entering the water, you stand far away and plan an efficient route to visit which island first.
But this black-haired cadet moved as if he knew which island had the exit.
‘Have you figured out where the exit is? But how?’
Half in doubt about what was happening, Pondrian watched carefully to see how the black-haired man would proceed.
‘I jumped into the water and dove deep… … .’
Quite some time had passed since then. I kept waiting, but it never came out.
When on earth are you going to come out of the water? It would be normal for you to stop by a nearby artificial island and recover your strength.
“What the heck is this?”
Pondrian, who had been sitting on his chair and staring at the screen, sat up. The limit of a human’s ability to hold his breath had long since passed. And yet, the black-haired cadet still had not shown his nose.
‘Accident during exam?’
At first, I couldn’t help but think that way. In reality, accidents were common at the Black River stage.
However, under the perfect control of the examiners, cadets who cannot swim are safely rescued.
“It was not an accident.”
The immediate adjutant guessed Pondrian’s thoughts and said this.
“Then, what is it?”
“Let’s try increasing the playback speed.”
The immediate adjutant manipulated the screen of the magic stone to show a quick screen. Five minutes, ten minutes. Even after a long time, there was no sign of the black-haired cadet coming out of the water.
To the puzzled Pondrian, the immediate adjutant added:
“Sir, this student who has been submerged like this will eventually show up at the exit.”
“hmm…….”
As he said, a black-haired cadet appeared in front of an artificial island. He came out of the water, let out a deep ‘Phuha!’, and soon entered the exit in the middle of the island to complete the test.
I couldn’t believe it even after seeing it. But it was all true. It happened just before Pondrian arrived.
“You, did you manage the exam properly while I was away?”
Pondrian glared and shouted at his immediate aide. He had witnessed something absurd, and he had to figure out the truth.
“Are you sure you blocked the mana?”
“There was definitely nothing wrong with the magic tool… … .”
“Otherwise, does it make sense to find the exit all at once like that? And that diving? Is it logically possible to stay underwater for more than ten minutes without magic?”
Even if he was a magical warrior with unmanned skills, it was beyond common sense for him to swim that distance underwater.
“Let’s go down right now and take a look at the test magic tools!”
The aide-de-camp stood up and shouted. Captain Pondrian shook his head.
“Let’s go down together. It’s time to explain to the examinees anyway. All the examiners inside should also stay on the ground.”
When the order to test was given, the examiners saluted. They also used the communication seat to inform the other examiners in the bunker.
All the imperial troops on the upper level quickly descended to the lower level, and Pondrian followed suit.
Soldiers from the Jang Gyo-Kyung-Seong Committee who came down to the ground.
They dispersed in unison and checked the status of the test tools.
“… … .”
Pondrian Camouflage stood across from the cadets with his arms folded. He briefly scrubbed the dirt floor with his shoe and looked around at the cadets with a cold expression.
“What? Are those Imperial troops?”
“Ha… I feel empty.”
“Heotal? Aren’t you scared right now?”
“What does that insignia next to the Imperial Army symbol mean?”
“That? I think some of the kids in Class D know that.”
These were students who had no choice but to take the test without even knowing why.
Dozens of doors were opened, and people had to swim through their fears to find the exit. A total of 122 people were left.
It was unfair, but I couldn’t argue with the imperial officer. He just looked at Pondrian with a timid expression and eyes that demanded an explanation.
“To the students of Capotini Magic School, let me formally introduce myself. I am Pondrian, a disguised member of the Imperial Army Magic Brigade’s Educational Committee.”
The Imperial Military system is bound to be unfamiliar to civilians. Among them, there were few who knew about the Jang Educational Committee, an organization under the Magic Brigade.
“Our military education committee selects a magic school every three years and conducts a selection test for officer cadets. Since they have passed the previous two stages, the applicants are now qualified to understand the situation.”
The quiet cadets. They were all tired, unfamiliar with the situation, and most of all, intimidated by the imperial army standing before them.
Pondrian continued his explanation, secretly enjoying the situation.
“This year, the target is Capotini Magic School. All the magic students who entered this year will take the exam as candidates.”
The cadets gulped, and Pondrian’s stiff explanation continued.
The general message was that the current exam was under perfect control by the examiners and that there would be no safety issues, but it was also followed by an imperative advice that the remaining exams should be taken with a sense of urgency.
“This test is not a test of the applicants’ magical abilities. Mana will be limited during today’s test. This is because the officers we will recruit and train are not magicians who rely on mana.”
It was literally a test to draft the officer himself, Pondrian said emphatically. And he explained why the mana was limited.
“For officers of the Magic Brigade, magical ability is secondary. The practical magic is done by those below them. And many of the candidates who took the test today will one day become those below them.”
What was important as a commander was judgment, control, and strategic and tactical ability.
“Sir.”
At that moment, the examiners who had checked the condition of the test tools returned and whispered. They lined up in front of the examinees.
“What? There’s nothing wrong?”
“Yes. There is nothing wrong with the test tool.”
Pondrian did not immediately agree with his immediate adjutant, who reported in a low voice so that the cadets would not hear. He walked around the bunker holding a magic stone for personal verification.
Phew.
The magic stone emits light, and diagnoses the magic tools positioned on all sides of the bunker.
“hmm…….”
Even though he checked, there was nothing wrong with the test tool.
Then how do you explain that black-haired cadet?
Pondrian turned towards the cadets, trying to find the black-haired cadet, but stopped dead in his tracks.
“… … .”
Among the crowd of children, the black-haired cadet was staring straight at Pondrian, as if he had been observing his actions from the beginning.
Pondrian was more than intrigued; he was curious to find out what the hell this guy was doing.
“What should we do, sir?”
“Step three, proceed as is.”
