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Episode 55
Final Exam (2)
“Hey kid.”
“… … .”
“What is that book?”
Jan Lantes opens his mouth, breaking the suffocating silence.
Riley’s body froze at the cold, eerie voice.
I was nervous about that.
Well, actually, that was to be expected.
The magical aura that Yann Lantes was radiating was that murderous.
At that level, even a high-ranking magician would complain about the inconvenience.
It seemed like he was intentionally giving off such a murderous vibe to kill Riley’s spirit.
[Well, by the way… … .]
I think we need to ease Riley’s tension quickly.
This is the first time I’ve seen him this stiff.
Since the best way to help people relax is to give them enough time, I told Riley:
[Let’s buy some time for now.]
‘……yes.’
As soon as the answer was finished, Riley immediately used her magical power to activate “Time Acceleration”.
Very secretly.
So that Jan Lantes wouldn’t notice.
Hwaaaaak──!
As magic flowed into Riley’s brain, the world began to slow down.
Well, this might buy us some time.
I quickly turned my gaze to Riley. Her body was still stiff with tension.
‘Your Majesty.’
[why.]
‘Could it be that Jan Irantes has discovered the identity of the Book of Magician?’
[Hey, that can’t be.]
Except for me and my disciples, no one in this world knows of my existence.
Oh, what… … .
Of course, some of the ogres and vampires know of my existence, but I left them out since I made a “pact” with them.
‘Then why did you ask the question about the Magic Book?’
[It’s obvious, right?]
Riley held me in her arms throughout the screening.
Literally, every single day without fail.
It was the same when I was traveling all over Wilhelm to find the management office during the first test, it was the same when I was fighting a life-or-death battle inside the ruins during the second test, it was the same during the after-party…
Of course, the managers could not have been unaware of these facts.
They must have noticed the black book Riley was carrying around in her arms. The report must have reached Yann Lantes’ ears.
[In this situation, wouldn’t it be stranger not to ask me questions about myself?]
‘… … That’s right.’
Of course, there is no need to worry.
Because I’ve been thinking about the answer to this question for a long time.
[Just answer like this.]
I gave Riley the excuse I had in mind.
When it felt like about 3 minutes had passed.
[You remember everything roughly, right?]
‘yes.’
After hearing the whole story, Riley immediately released “Thought Acceleration”.
Fortunately, it seemed like his body had relaxed and some of the tension had been relieved.
Hwaaaaak─.
The time it took to get here was practically a second or so.
As time flowed normally again, Riley looked at Yann Lantes with indifferent eyes.
“Are you curious about the identity of this book?”
“Yes.”
Swish.
Riley said, pulling me out of her arms.
“This is my mother’s diary. It’s the only keepsake she left behind.”
“… … .”
“At the same time… … .”
Knock knock─.
She continued speaking, touching my cover.
“It is also an item with minor effects.”
“… … Item?”
“yes.”
Riley nods.
“When I hold this book, my mind feels much more at ease.”
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“… … .”
“I also have fewer nightmares when I sleep.”
From then on, she started to repeat the lies I told her.
He said that he suffered from nightmares and panic attacks every single day since his mother passed away.
But the moment I held this book in my arms, the symptoms disappeared completely.
“I found out later that my mother’s heirloom, originally an ordinary diary, had been ‘converted’ into an item through magical means.”
“… … .”
“My mother’s heirloom had become an item that only brought me psychological stability.”
In fact, there have been cases where ordinary objects have been transformed into items.
It’s like a doll that has been with you since you were little develops a sense of self.
It’s like magic is built into a ring that’s been worn for a long time.
For the first time in my life, the fountain pen I received as a gift has an automatic writing function.
In the world of magic, this special phenomenon of ordinary items turning into items is called “transformation.”
“Hmm… … .”
And after hearing Riley’s story, Yann Lantes thought deeply and answered.
“That doesn’t make sense.”
Fortunately, it seemed like he believed what we were saying.
‘You secretly believe it easily… … ?’
[That’s a natural reaction.]
Originally, the simpler the lie, the better it worked.
[Hey, and think about it.]
“… … .”
[If I had told the truth, I would have been treated like a crazy person instead?]
Wow, as expected, it’s the tower lord of the Irantes Tower!
Have you found this book to be of great value?
That’s right, in fact, this book is a legendary grimoire that has been the axis of magic for tens of thousands of years!
He is also the teacher of many great wizards!
Voila, isn’t it amazing?
Oh my.
Who would believe such nonsense?
‘… … I guess so.’
Riley also agreed with what I said.
[Phew… … .]
anyway.
I think I got through the first question without any problems.
Of course, we still must not let our guard down.
There is no time limit for the final exam. It is absolutely forbidden to be complacent when you don’t know when the interview will end.
“Hey kid.”
As expected, Jan Irantes, who happened to be sitting on the throne, called Riley again.
“Don’t just stand there, come closer.”
“… … .”
[… … .]
Knock, knock─.
He waved his hand and called Riley.
But despite his call, Riley couldn’t move easily.
Swish─.
Riley looks down at her feet without saying a word.
Beneath it was a red carpet that stretched all the way down. It was the spot where a death line had been drawn just a moment ago.
okay.
Of course, I didn’t feel any energy right now… … .
‘… … I’m reluctant to move on.’
[I know.]
I still felt reluctant to cross this line.
Because the cold feeling of being on the brink of death was still vivid.
“Don’t worry.”
Did he sense Riley’s true feelings? Yann Lantes spoke in a slightly softened voice.
“My killing was part of an experiment. I was just testing to see if you could sense the energy or not.”
“… … .”
“Since you have already passed the test, I will not harm you.”
Riley kept her mouth shut, as if trying to determine the truth of what Yann Lantes had said.
About 10 seconds passed like that.
Finally, Riley asked the question in a cautious voice.
“Your Majesty.”
“… … .”
“If I had not noticed that you were alive and had taken one more step… … what would you have done to me?”
A question I asked just in case.
Sigh─.
Hearing that, Jan Lantes let out a small laugh.
He said this with a serious expression on his face, finding Riley’s question laughable.
“Child, I don’t know why you ask such an obvious question with such a good head.”
He asked back.
“Didn’t you feel it too?”
“… … .”
“If you had crossed that ‘line,’ you would have lost your head in that moment.”
I bet you lost your neck.
In other words, he was saying that he would have killed Riley.
[her…….]
Jan Lantes was saying these eerie words as if they were so natural.
Of course, I knew that what he said wasn’t just empty boasts.
Because that thick murderous aura was absolutely not something that could be artificially created.
“… … .”
[… … .]
Silence followed.
As the cold air flowed, Jan Irantes, who had been staring blankly at Riley, spoke.
“Do I really need to explain what happens to someone who loses their neck?”
“……no.”
“okay.”
Jan Lantes nodded slowly and said.
“Then come closer.”
“… … .”
“You have to come so I can take the second test.”
After hearing his words, Riley carefully stepped on the carpet.
Damn it.
One step, two steps.
Jeokbuk─.
When I moved about 10 steps like that.
“stop.”
“… … .”
Towering─.
Yann Lantes stopped Riley.
“Do you know how to play chess?”
It was a random question.
Chesrani.
‘Your Majesty.’
[why.]
That’s when Riley spoke to me in a slightly embarrassed voice.
‘I don’t know how to play chess.’
[… … ?]
No, wait.
what?
You don’t know how to play chess?
[… … You don’t even know the basic rules?]
‘yes.’
This doesn’t make any sense.
[You’re from Letemis.]
“… … .”
[Don’t students usually play chess during break time? Do they even have tournaments between classes during lunch time?]
I can’t believe I’ve never played chess in all the noble children that I’ve seen in Letemis.
It didn’t make any sense at all.
In Earth terms, it would be like saying that you never played tag or balloon games while attending elementary school.
‘I didn’t have any friends to hang out with.’
[ah.]
right.
This kid didn’t have any friends.
[Um… … . It’s okay.]
I can just put it there instead, okay?
Actually, I thought about that from the beginning when I first heard the word chess.
‘You’re good at chess, aren’t you?’
[Yeah. At least it’s not like I’ll have to kneel down somewhere.]
It has lived for tens of thousands of years.
I have played in that many great games.
I never forget anything I’ve experienced, so all the games I’ve played so far remain in my memory.
Based on the vast amount of data accumulated in this way, I calculated the best number.
[I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve lost in chess, you know.]
‘oh…….’
Riley let out a heartfelt exclamation of admiration when she heard me say this.
‘Then there is no reason to worry.’
[Yeah. Of course.]
Just trust me.
* * *
What Jan Irantes offered us was not ordinary chess.
On a giant chessboard.
The objects, each as tall as a grown man, were alive and moving. They were intricately carved marble chess pieces.
What was quite impressive were the guys’ faces.
All the chess pieces had vivid expressions, as if they were soldiers going to war.
The Pawns, who had been wearing solemn expressions before the game started, now looked terrified after several of their pieces were killed.
In contrast, the mounted knights on horseback maintained a blank expression the whole time.
That’s amazing.
The chess pieces feel like real, living soldiers.
It was fortunate that the guys couldn’t open their mouths.
If that were the case, I don’t think chess would feel like a simple game.
[… … .]
Well, the method to move this object was simple.
All we had to do was issue an order using our magical powers, and they would move towards the place we gave them the order to.
Woof.
Ssuk──.
And if there is an enemy standing on that square… … .
They each used the weapons in their hands to destroy their opponents.
Just like right now.
Kwaaaaaaaang──!
The white chess piece fell to pieces with a loud noise, white shards flying everywhere.
Oh, by the way.
That mangled soldier was our weapon.
‘… …Master Grimoire?’
Riley’s expression darkened rapidly.
Even for her, a chess layperson, the situation looked quite unfavorable.
‘I heard you’re good at chess.’
[Be quiet. I can’t concentrate.]
“… … ?”
Ignoring Riley, who was looking at me with a dumbfounded expression, I passed the next number to her.
After hearing what I said, Riley used her magic to move the chess pieces.
Woof─.
Swish.
Our queen moves to D6.
The man struck down the cavalryman of Jan Irantes who was standing there with the staff in his hand.
Kwaaaaang──!
The black knight shattered into pieces and crumbled into dust. I shouted in exhilaration as I watched the scene.
[Ha! You didn’t know that, you punk? Puhahaha!]
Kwaaaaang──!
[……uh?]
But after three or four numbers passed.
Our queen was also shattered along with it.
[… … .]
Fuck.
The person in question was me.
I knew it was a trap.
The knight who died just now was merely a sacrifice to draw our queen into the siege.
‘I think we’re real?’
[… … .]
After listening to Riley, I gave my answer after a long silence.
[Practice game.]
‘yes?’
[This is a practice game.]
Riley looked at me with a bewildered expression, but I continued speaking shamelessly.
[Quickly say it’s invalid.]
“… … .”
[Since the first practice game is based on national rules, even that bastard Yann Irantes will understand.]
… … Of course, Riley never brought that up.
