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Episode 28
Screening Test (3)
I was staring blankly into space with a complicated mind.
Someone spoke to Riley. It was a familiar voice.
“Are you feeling okay? I heard that some people get motion sickness when they first experience teleportation.”
“Ah, Sir Theobald.”
Riley greeted him with a faint smile.
“I don’t feel motion sickness. My body feels fine.”
“That’s fortunate.”
I was really lucky.
Riley suffered from severe seasickness. I was worried that she would get seasick while teleporting, but thankfully, that didn’t happen.
Perhaps it is because of her excellent affinity for mana.
“By the way, is Sir Theobald’s team organized well?”
“My team?”
Garon Theobald, who briefly thought of his teammates, nodded with a satisfied smile.
“I’m satisfied. Thanks to being filtered out once in the first test, they’re all top-level magicians.”
“… … .”
[i envy you……!]
It’s the complete opposite of us.
“But are you okay? I heard on the way here that there was a bit of a problem with your team… … .”
Garon Theobald paused, glancing over Riley’s shoulder.
His expression was slightly distorted.
Because the two wizards were seen muttering something to each other with a gloomy look on their faces.
“I’m really going crazy. I’m screwed. I’m screwed. It’s all your fault. You know what? Why on earth would an idiot from Blaze Arcane who only knows ancient magic come to take the selection test… … .”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. But, I’ll never hold you back.”
Becky grumbles as she sits on the floor.
And right next to her, Olivia fidgets and wiggles her fingers.
“Phew.”
Garon Theobald, who was watching the scene with a stern expression, let out a deep sigh and muttered.
“Rebecca Duncan and a Blazearcane School wizard are on the same team… … I don’t know whether to call it a misfortune or a blessing.”
[… … .]
okay.
It was exactly as Garon Theobald said.
I ended up on the same team as a crazy serial killer, which is not a good thing to be involved with.
The only good thing was that Becky wasn’t my enemy.
Whatever her reputation, Becky was a powerful sorceress.
Since we are on the same side, she will be a great force in the exam.
At least it’s better than being on the same team as someone who can’t do anything.
[but…….]
Still, it is too early to judge that guy’s true feelings.
Once the real test begins, there’s no telling what Becky might do. Betrayal? Reckless behavior? Or worse.
This means that you have to constantly watch the back of your head without letting your guard down for even a moment.
[And there’s even an ancient magician on our team.]
I turned my gaze.
Olivia was still seen fidgeting next to Becky.
In fact, it was unreasonable to expect anything from that kid.
That would be the case, since ancient magic was not practical.
[ha…….]
To make matters worse, Olivia reportedly has no actual combat experience whatsoever.
So if something happens, it’s probably going to be up to Riley and Becky to figure it out.
While other people fought with three people, there were only two of us.
‘Hearing it like that, it really does feel daunting.’
[… … .]
What can I do?
It was the screening test we chose.
You have to endure evil with brute force, you know.
Even if adverse conditions are given, we must accept them.
Just complaining didn’t make things any better.
Think about it.
Are we the only ones who are dissatisfied?
no.
Absolutely not.
Most of the test takers are probably thinking the same thing as us.
Why is my team like this?
Why did you catch these guys only for me?
okay.
You have to overcome that mindset. You have to find out each team member’s strengths one by one. Then, you have to cooperate.
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As one community.
And as a team.
That was the gist of this second test.
“Ahhhhh! Seriously! Stop talking!”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry… … .”
“How can it take you a minute for a kid to say one sentence? Are you trying to drive me crazy? Are you?”
“Because of, uh, habit… … . I, I don’t talk to other people much… … .”
[… … .]
Of course, it might be too much to expect teamwork against those guys… … .
Well, what can I do?
[I have to do it.]
And at least that’s what I saw.
Riley was more than capable of overcoming this.
“Riley.”
That was when.
Garon Theobald, who had been looking at our team members with a stern expression, continued speaking in a very subdued voice.
“I guess I’ll be going now. I’m glad to see that you’re not as nervous as I was worried about.”
“Oh, thank you… … .”
Riley stopped talking.
‘What? You just left.’
Garon Theobald turned away without even hearing Riley’s answer.
Actions that appear to intentionally distance oneself.
For some reason, the sight of his back felt unfamiliar.
Riley, who had been staring at Garon Theobald as he walked away, spoke quietly.
‘ah.’
She muttered as if she had realized something.
‘Now Sir Theobald has become our competitor.’
[huh.]
Of course, there was no need to worry.
The preparations were sufficient.
The training I had been doing in Richie’s hideout for half a year was paying off.
I felt confident.
We are confident that we will be able to obtain the results we want through screening tests.
“ha…….”
Then I heard Becky let out a deep sigh.
When I turned my gaze, I saw her sitting on the floor.
“I’m really frustrated. I didn’t know it would be this uncomfortable to be on the same team as someone who can’t communicate quickly.”
Becky, who had been grumbling, glanced up at Riley.
“Tsk… … . Well, at least I’m glad there’s someone I can talk to.”
“Are you talking to me?”
“huh.”
Becky nodded and said.
“At least you don’t take ages to say a word like that idiot… … .”
“Oh, oh, oh, I see, Ms. Becky.”
“Oh, shit, really.”
okay.
Teamwork is a no-no.
It would be a miracle if these guys didn’t start fighting each other.
[… … Do you really have to nag Becky like that?]
‘I told you. At the very least, I’ll make you pay for deceiving me.’
A mischievous smile still hung on Riley’s lips. She continued speaking calmly.
‘We can’t even fight since we’re on the same team, so we have to tease each other like this.’
[… … .]
okay.
Do it yourself.
I don’t know.
* * *
The second test was a team battle.
No other information has been provided yet.
Still, considering that the test takers had gathered at the historic site, it was possible to guess roughly what kind of test would be administered.
[A conquest of a ruined site, or something similar… … .]
I muttered like that and looked straight ahead.
Gooooo─.
‘It’s huge.’
[I know.]
A huge gateway wide open.
Behind the door, where dark energy swirled, a dark passageway with no end was visible.
This is the entrance to the historic site.
It was also the location where the second test would be held.
“Let me explain the test rules.”
In front of the entrance to the ruins, which resembled the jaws of a giant beast, the administrator began to explain the test.
“The shape of the ruins is like a labyrinth.”
“… … .”
“Your goal is to find the treasures hidden throughout this labyrinth.”
labyrinth.
One of the representative forms of a historic site.
It was a dangerous dungeon with a complex internal structure that was difficult to escape from once you set foot in it, as well as numerous traps, monsters, and guardians.
The contestants’ goal is to find the “treasure” hidden within this labyrinth.
“These are the types of treasures you must find.”
Knock knock.
The manager tapped twice on the transparent crystal ball next to him.
Then the crystal ball emitted light and projected a picture into the air like a beam projector.
“What is that?”
Becky, who was standing next to him, asked a question.
A golden golem appeared.
This was a quadruped golem that looked similar to the Egyptian sphinx.
It doesn’t seem that big.
At a rough estimate, it looked to be about the size of a large dog.
Groan, groan, groan─.
The sudden appearance of the golden golem caused the contestants to become excited.
The manager continued his explanation.
“The test period is 24 hours. And there are two conditions for passing.”
The manager took something out of his pocket.
A golden sphere that fits perfectly in one hand. It was the core of a golem that exuded a very unique magical power.
“First, find the Golden Golem and keep its core until the end of the test.”
“… … .”
“And the second.”
The manager put the core he was holding back into his pocket and turned his gaze back to the examinees.
“Until then, all team members must remain alive and together.”
“… … .”
To sum it up, it was like this.
Find the golden golem.
2. Get the guy’s core.
3. Do this entire process together with your team members.
4. And above all, stay alive for 24 hours without dying.
Well, it was a simple test.
In a word, it was like a treasure hunt at a historic site.
There didn’t seem to be any major dangers as long as you were careful of the traps and guardians located here and there.
The test takers also seemed to have realized this fact and their expressions became lighter.
“Considering that the test is set in a historic site, the test is easier than I thought.”
“That’s right. I thought it would be like only the team that defeats the boss of the ruins would pass.”
of course.
Their delusion did not last long.
“Oh, by the way, there are only three instances of the Golden Golem.”
“… … .”
“… … .”
All the candidates’ expressions hardened as they heard the manager’s subsequent words.
The total number of applicants is 42.
However, the total number of golden golems is 3.
In other words, out of 14 teams, only three teams could pass the test.
[What? The passing rate for the second test is only 20%.]
That’s the story of when all the golems hidden in the labyrinth were discovered.
The actual passing rate is probably much lower than that.
[Here we go again, that damned testing method.]
The reason why the five great towers limited the number of golems to three was obvious.
Limited resources.
And the demand is overwhelming.
I guess I just want to see the fierce competition between the applicants in that situation.
‘It’s cruel.’
[But well, that’s the way of the five great magic towers.]
The Five Towers were those who believed that only desperate competition could bring out the true skills of magicians.
To put it nicely, they were people who rejected the idea of meritocracy, and to put it badly, they were perverts who simply enjoyed picking fights among themselves.
[Well, that’s not the important thing… … .]
After organizing my thoughts to that point, I looked straight ahead again.
The manager continued his explanation.
“Of course, finding the Golden Golem won’t be easy. There are also many obstacles prepared inside the ruins to hinder you.”
She continued speaking, tapping the crystal ball.
“Let me briefly introduce you to some of the most representative obstacles among them.”
The picture has changed.
Traps that look dizzying just by looking at them, dangerous monsters, and even various guardians protecting the ruins… … .
As new obstacles emerged that the candidates taking this second test would have to deal with, deep sighs could be heard here and there.
[Poisonous, poisonous… … .]
Not only did they encourage competition among applicants, they also continued to create dangerous environments within the historic site.
Just hearing the explanation made some teams seem to have already lost their will to fight.
“But of all these, the obstacle you must be most careful of is… … .”
The manager knocked on the sphere again.
The hologram image has changed.
“These are the guys.”
[……uh?]
The moment I saw the picture the manager showed me, I couldn’t help but let out a dumbfounded sound.
[Wait a minute, that’s… … .]
It was a chimera.
That chimera looks very familiar.
[No, what is it?]
I’m sure I’ve seen that guy somewhere.
My memory was fading away.
Just then, the manager began to explain the obstacle.
“The chimera in question is a unique entity that can use magic, and is a high-risk entity created for the purpose of destruction and killing… … .”
Riley, who was listening to the manager’s explanation, also seemed to notice something and reacted.
‘Huh? That’s not it?’
[… … .]
A chimera that can use magic.
High-risk entities created for the purpose of destruction and killing.
therefore…….
[… … Are these the guys we fought the day before we left Richie’s hideout to gain practical experience?]
It looks too similar to those chimeras to be a coincidence.
Its design, its attack method, and everything else were identical to the entity seen in Lich’s hideout.
no.
Upon closer inspection, they were in much better condition than the ones we had faced.
If the ones we had dealt with before were just prototypes, the ones the manager was showing us now looked like finished products.
“I’m sure you all know the true identity of this chimera.”
[… … .]
“Five years ago, under the command of Han Lich, these Chimeras invaded the eastern part of the empire. They were monsters that the administration had difficulty obtaining for this test… … .”
[Ah, shit, wait a minute.]
As I listened to the manager, I remembered what Richie had said a few days ago.
-Ah! I got it! I was going to conquer the world!
-Well, but he didn’t want to take the entire continent, he just wanted to take a small city on the eastern end and make it his kingdom! Okay?
oh my god.
[That fucking skullcap kid, really… … .]
