Please read this
Episode 54
Final Exam (1)
The night after the banquet.
The administrative office for the screening test.
A young man was staring intently out the window, sitting on a table strewn with drinks and food.
Flash─!
For a moment, something appeared beyond the young man’s thick glasses.
“… … ?”
A frowning expression.
The young man, who had witnessed the unusual phenomenon, straightened his posture and began to look closely at the ‘something’.
At that moment, he was completely absorbed in the scenery outside.
Rustle.
He felt a presence behind his back.
“Aran Seks. What are you doing there?”
A voice heard out of nowhere.
Aran Seks, a young man who was looking out the window, flinched and trembled in surprise.
“……ah.”
Throb─.
As his body shook, his vision also shook.
Aran Seks belatedly looked out the window again, but the phenomenon he had seen had already disappeared.
“ha…….”
Aran Seks sighed deeply at the annoying situation.
He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes as if he was tired, then opened his mouth.
“… … I was just staring blankly.”
“okay?”
A high-ranking magician, “Expert”, who is in charge of the overall management of this selection test , and one of the 7 elders of the Irantes Tower, just like himself.
Isabella Mage Triwizard.
She was looking at herself with a gentle smile.
“Hmm, I was just blankly staring… … .”
dump.
Isabella, with her signature gentle smile, took her seat next to Aran Seks.
She picked up the glass on the table without thinking and asked the question again.
“So, how do you feel about meeting your disciple after such a long time?”
“You’ve grown a lot.”
“… … Is that really the end?”
Aran Seks smiled wryly.
“Of course not.”
“… … .”
“I am so proud to see you grow so quickly without me even noticing.”
Arpel Mage Stingwood, disciple of Aran Sexx.
He was the second son of the Stingwood family, a renowned magical family founded by the great wizard Crombel Stingwood.
Thanks to the family’s generations-old secret magic, “plant magic,” and the generous teachings of Aran Seks, Arpel has shown extraordinary talent for magic since he was young.
“If it’s Arpel Stingwood, I think he’ll probably be able to climb to a higher rank without any problems.”
“okay?”
“yes.”
Aran Seks nodded and continued speaking.
“At the current rate of growth, you will probably be able to become a high-level wizard within 10 years.”
“Hmm.”
Isabella raised her eyebrows in interest when she heard that and asked a question.
“Aran.”
“yes.”
“How old is your disciple now?”
“I’m 29 years old.”
“oh.”
Isabella let out a brief exclamation.
“So, does that mean that no matter how bad I am, I will reach a high level before I turn forty?”
“Yes.”
It is extremely rare for a magician to reach a high level before the age of forty.
Even Isabella and Aran Seks, who are present here right now, had to be over 50 years old to reach the highest level.
Moreover, if we consider that Garon Edward von Theobald, also known as the “Greatest Shield of the Empire,” reached the highest rank at the age of 43… … .
“… … You’re a genius?”
Arpel Stingwood was a wizard who was truly worthy of the title of ‘genius’.
The significance of being a high-ranking wizard was that great.
A top-level realm with less than 50 people in the entire continent.
Excluding mythical ranks such as Archmage 「Archimage」 , the High Rank was realistically the highest level a magician could reach.
“He’s a genius.”
“… … .”
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
“There aren’t many wizards at that age who already show signs of becoming a high-ranking wizard.”
“hmm…….”
Isabella nodded slowly.
“But, Aran.”
That was when.
She suddenly asked a question with a smile that I couldn’t understand.
“What do you think about a genius like that losing to a 15-year-old kid?”
“… … .”
Aran Seks, hearing those words, couldn’t bring himself to continue speaking.
He too would have burst out laughing, saying it was ridiculous, if he hadn’t seen the situation that day with his own eyes.
Kwaaaaang───!
6 days ago.
Inside the historic site where the second test was held.
Despite occupying the high ground known as the Garden of Giants, Arpel Stingwood is defeated mercilessly by a girl who is only 15 years old.
“Hey, do you know who the youngest wizard to reach the highest rank is?”
Isabella’s questions continued.
Because the answer and the intention were so obvious, Aran Seks answered right away without thinking too much.
“This is Martha Pargerich. She reached the highest rank at the age of exactly thirty.”
“Yeah. That’s right.”
Archmage Marta Pargerich.
Having reached the high rank of “Expert” at the age of 30 , she was considered a genius among geniuses among all great magicians in the history of the empire.
“Then do you know when Marta Pargerich, who is called the genius among geniuses, reached the level of the middle class?”
This time too, Aran Seks’s answer was quick.
“… … I was 21 years old.”
21 years old.
Marta Pargerich experienced her “Second Awakening” in adulthood, and immediately ascended to the rank of Intermediate the following year.
This is also the fastest recorded in the history of the empire.
‘no…….’
Come to think of it, this wasn’t even the fastest record.
Right today.
The amazing record of reaching the intermediate level “Advanced” at the age of 21 was achieved six years earlier by a girl named Riley.
“Your attributes blossomed at the age of 15? Wow… … That’s amazing.”
Isabella muttered to herself.
Attribute blooming is a phenomenon that only occurs to magicians whose magical power exceeds a certain level.
And today, in a public duel, Riley unleashed an attack magic with lightning properties.
This meant that Riley already possessed magical powers comparable to those of a mid-level wizard at such a young age.
“… … .”
Aran Seks, who had been silent for a moment, carefully opened his mouth.
“… …Senior.”
“Yeah, why?”
“Senior, do you think that child will be able to ascend to the position of Grand Wizard?”
Archmage.
Those who left their mark on the history of magic.
Great men of the empire who influenced the times they lived in, left behind unspeakable achievements, and had a profound influence on later generations.
“Do you think a kid with that monstrous talent could take Marta Pargerich’s place next?”
“… … .”
Can Riley take over the position that has been vacant for 300 years?
Isabella smiled again, her expression unclear, after hearing that question.
“Hmm, well?”
“… … .”
“Well, I guess that kid could be a candidate for the position of Grand Mage.”
Isabella slowly shook the glass containing wine from side to side.
The red liquid sloshed along the edge of the glass. She watched the wine’s delicate movements as she continued speaking slowly.
“But wouldn’t it be difficult to follow in Marta Pargerich’s footsteps?”
“… … .”
“As you know, there is someone who will ascend to the position of Grand Mage before that girl.
She spoke in a soft voice.
“Three months, Aran.”
“… … .”
“There are only three months left.”
Just as Aran Seks was about to open his mouth to answer after hearing those words,
Hwaak──!
But he couldn’t bring himself to continue speaking.
Because Isabella’s appearance disappeared like smoke in an instant.
“… … .”
Clang!
The wine glass left alone in the air fell to the floor and shattered into pieces.
The contents even splashed onto Aran Seks’ glasses.
“……ah.”
Aran Seks let out an annoyed sigh and lightly used his magical power.
Woof─.
The interior of the building began to be organized in an instant.
Chairs that had been strewn about moved to their proper places, and food that had fallen on the floor or table floated up and went into trash bags on its own.
As all sorts of things floated up and down on their own, Aran Seks wiped the wine off his glasses and looked out the window again.
Meanwhile.
Suddenly, I remembered what Senior Isabella had said a few days ago.
-Was I right? I told you there would be a lot to see this year.
Whew─.
A cold wind blowing at dawn.
Wilhelm’s night view unfolded before Aran Seks’ eyes.
“… … .”
As Aran Seks stared intently out the window for a while, ‘something’ began to appear in his eyes again.
Woof──.
A blue line drawn across the sky.
A magical boundary line drawn with the management offices of the selection tests located at 10 important locations in Wilhelm as the vertices.
The lines were connected together, creating one giant shape across the night sky.
“……star.”
star.
To be precise.
An upside-down pentagram.
This isomorphism acts as the central circuit that forms the basis and core of all magic circles.
Woof woof woof woof woof───.
Aran Seks exclaimed inwardly.
It was a truly beautiful circuit.
Despite containing strong magical power, the techniques of “perception inhibition” and “magic blocking” are engraved so that the flow cannot be noticed, hiding, hallucination, illusion, etc…
In addition to that, there are countless other high-level techniques.
“ha.”
How many wizards were dedicated to creating that magic circle?
3 years?
5 years?
No, that would have been enough, but it was work that would have taken decades.
“… … It’s beautiful.”
It was a truly beautiful ritual that was so impressive that just looking at it was enough to make one exclaim in awe.
But that much.
It was even more regrettable.
That magic circle, which was said to have been created for the first screening test, actually had another purpose.
“… … .”
If that magic circle hadn’t been a “trap” created to trap and kill their enemies three months later… … .
This sight would have felt much more beautiful.
* * *
On the day of the final exam, at noon.
The interior of the screening test management office building, which has become so familiar now.
“It seems like everyone is gathered here.”
“… … .”
“Then, let us begin the final screening test.”
The building had five gates prepared for applicants.
Each door leads to the top floor of the tower.
According to the administrator, beyond this door, the Matapju is waiting for the examinees in his residence.
“You can come in here.”
Riley stood at the door, guided by an administrator.
Above it was a small sign with a brief explanation written on it.
【Irantes Colorless Tower: Top floor, Jan Irantes’ room】
Riley, who had read the sign, spoke in a cautious voice.
‘So if you go through that door, you can see Jan Lantes?’
[……huh.]
Jan Lantes.
A fraud who impersonates the disciple of Archmage Martha Pargerich and is the target of our vengeance.
That fucking guy was right behind that door.
[… … .]
half a year.
That’s how long it took to get here with Riley.
It may be said to be a short time, but to me, these years felt like a very long journey.
Is it because I have been running towards only one goal, Jan Irantes?
There were so many questions I wanted to ask the guy.
Why he pretended to be Martha Pargerich’s disciple.
How he deceived the world into believing he had succeeded in the magic of immortality.
and.
And also… … .
[……ha.]
okay.
There were so many questions.
But today I cannot say these questions that are rising to the top of my lungs.
Because there are many steps we have to go through to complete the plan we have made.
Today, it was just a matter of putting one small dot on that large piece of paper.
So even if we can’t punish Jan Lantes right away.
Someday, when my ‘big picture’ is complete, the day will surely come when we can hold that damned conman accountable.
‘Then let’s go in.’
[huh.]
Squeak─.
Riley opened the door.
Ahead of him stretched a dark corridor that made it impossible to see even an inch ahead.
“… … .”
[… … .]
Jeokbuk─.
Riley took a step forward.
A space filled only with darkness.
A world of nothingness.
With each step I took, the sound of my footsteps echoed throughout the surroundings. It felt like I was floating through a quiet universe.
Jeokbuk─.
One step.
And two steps.
We continued to move forward.
Jeokbuk─.
Three, four, five… … .
like that.
The moment when dozens of footsteps were followed.
‘……line?’
line.
I saw a red line.
‘What the… … all of a sudden.’
Towering─.
A red line suddenly appeared in a space filled with pitch black. Riley, who felt something was strange, couldn’t help but stop in her tracks.
And the very next moment.
I was able to figure out what that line was.
[……diagonal.]
Death line
On the verge of death.
In reality, the line was not drawn on the floor.
It was just Riley’s senses, pushed to their limit, that made the virtual line visible to the naked eye.
if.
If only Riley hadn’t stopped here and taken just one more step… … .
okay.
She probably lost her life.
“… … .”
[… … .]
Swish.
After checking up to that point, Riley slowly raised her head and looked straight ahead.
Since when?
The corridor, which had been filled with darkness, had suddenly changed into the interior of a magnificent palace.
Hwaaaa …
Irantes Colorless Tower.
Top floor.
The residence of the Lord, Jan Lantes.
Crack, crack, crack──!
A huge throne stood in place against the backdrop of a blazing brazier.
And on top of that huge throne sat an old man.
Hunchback.
The wrinkles, the freckles beneath them, and the gray, cloudy eyes.
A high-ranking wizard with a portrait that looked exactly like the one we saw in the book smiled wickedly.
“You’re quick-witted, kid.”
Jan Lantes.
He looked down at us and muttered quietly.
“If you had taken just one more step from there, your head would have been blown off.”
“… … .”
[… … .]
Is this an illusion?
Or maybe I saw something wrong.
Jan Irantes’ eyes were not on Riley.
[under…….]
Instead.
The guy’s gaze is on the inside of Riley’s robe.
[… … Look at that kid?]
So, it was pointed straight at me.
