Chapter 16

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on January 22, 2025

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(1)

1.

Ulan’s final special skill exam.

The Magic Detection exam was held outdoors.

Looking around the large circular arena, Ulan headed towards where the other examinees were. And once again, all eyes were on him.

However, unlike during the Great Duel, most of the gazes were filled with interest and curiosity. Those who harbored wariness towards him were few and far between.

‘Looks like the supervisors haven’t arrived yet.’

There were 10 minutes left until the exam started.

So he decided to wait leisurely. While casually looking around the exam venue as if sightseeing, his gaze suddenly fixed on one spot.

Unlike the other examinees who were gathered in groups, there was a girl sitting alone, aloof. Ulan narrowed his eyes slightly.

‘That girl······.’

Lush silver hair.

Calmly shining golden eyes. A figure with a sculpturally beautiful appearance. Thus, she exuded a presence more intense than anyone else.

Ulan knew who she was.

‘Delia Arpen.’

A half-human, half-fairy.

The fifth princess of the Arpen Duchy.

A mage beloved by mana.

There were countless names to describe the girl, but the most famous one was undoubtedly this.

‘The Witch of the Stars.’

The strongest mage who could summon meteors.

Delia was one of the seven heroes and was among the top three most powerful mages on the continent at the time.

The second comrade from his past life, following the Sword Princess Ivella. However, this time he wasn’t as surprised. Delia often mentioned that she was from Arsen Academy.

‘She was still this small back then.’

She was clearly the same age as Ulan.

But just by looking at her face, she seemed much younger than Noa. You could believe she had just outgrown her childish appearance.

Did she sense Ulan’s gaze?

Suddenly, Delia turned to look at him.

“······.”

Interest flickered in her golden eyes.

But it was only for a moment.

Delia quickly averted her gaze.

Her quiet personality wasn’t much different from what he remembered from their past life. Feeling an inexplicable nostalgia, Ulan smiled silently.

At that moment.

The supervisors appeared.

Clomp, clomp!

There were seven in total.

It seemed like there were several assistant supervisors included. The exam venue quickly fell silent. While observing them, Ulan suddenly locked eyes with a man.

A middle-aged man with a well-groomed mustache.

Presumably the exam supervisor, he immediately frowned upon meeting Ulan’s gaze.

A fierce hostility emanated from his eyes.

It was a cold, blatant gaze, as if looking at something disgusting. Sensing this, Ulan suddenly recalled Noa’s words.

「Professor Dirck will probably try to fail Ulan no matter what. So he’ll use every trick in the book to give you an F-rank.」

At first, he thought it was absurd.

But as soon as he saw the supervisor’s gaze, he had a gut feeling that it might be true.

He didn’t know the exact reason.

But the hostility in his eyes was unmistakable.

While silently recalling the advice Noa had given him, a familiar voice reached his ears.

“······Diplyn?”

It was Delia’s voice.

Her usually expressionless face showed a flicker of emotion. Surprise, and then confusion. What was she looking at? Ulan followed her gaze.

There was another girl there.

The girl, with apricot-colored hair swaying, waved her hand towards Delia. At that moment, Delia’s face stiffened.

Grit!

Delia bit her lip.

Surprise and confusion soon turned into anger.

From her reaction, it seemed they knew each other.

And not in a good way. As he thought this, the supervisor stepped onto the podium. It was the same man who had shown hostility towards Ulan.

“I am Professor Dirck Ormin of the Magic Department. I am the supervisor for this《Magic Detection》exam.”

A brief self-introduction.

Just from his tone, you could tell he was strict.

After introducing the assistant supervisors one by one, Dirck finally pointed to the girl with apricot-colored hair.

The girl who had waved earlier.

“And this is······ from the Magic Department, here to observe this exam.”

“I’m just a regular spectator.”

The girl cut off Dirck’s words.

With a gesture to be quiet. It was somewhat rude, but Dirck immediately closed his mouth. Without showing any sign of displeasure.

“Ahem! Then I’ll explain the exam content. This special skill exam is divided into three parts.”

First. A test to verify how quickly one can perceive the flow of magic and locate the magic core at its center.

Second. A test to locate the magic core within a magic-infused medium and then trigger a magic response to complete a set task.

Third. A test where pairs of two must retrieve as many intact magic cores as possible from multiple magic golems.

Each test aimed to assess the examinees’ aptitude for magic detection, application, cooperation, and precise magic manipulation.

“Each test is scored from 0 to 5 points. The top scorer gets 5 points, and the last gets 0 points. The rest will be distributed according to their performance.”

Other scores might overlap, but only one 0 and one 5 would be given to the last and first place respectively.

“Any student who receives a 0 even once or has a total score of 5 or below will be given an F-rank, so be careful. If a student scores a perfect 15, they will automatically receive an S-rank.”

After explaining the scoring.

The assistant supervisors struggled to bring something in. A large orb the size of a watermelon. It was used to measure the magic capacity of mages.

“Before starting the exam, we’ll begin with a magic verification. This is to assess your capabilities, so please cooperate.”

Dirck paused for a moment.

Then he continued with a serious expression.

“Oh, and if anyone’s magic capacity is measured below ‘100’, they will be immediately given an F-rank, so keep that in mind.”

As soon as Dirck finished speaking, laughter erupted from all around. The assistant supervisors, and even Diplyn, who was nearby, laughed.

“Ahaha! I see, Professor Dirck. I heard you were the most boring person in the department, but I didn’t know you could make jokes like this.”

It was understandable to laugh.

Having a magic capacity below 100 meant you weren’t even a mage. So everyone thought it was a joke and laughed.

Ulan, however, didn’t laugh.

‘Just as Noa said.’

For some reason, Professor Dirck is determined to fail Ulan. Otherwise, there would be no reason for such a verification.

Ulan was deep in thought.

For a moment, he considered using Spirit, but the mana used by warriors and the mana used by mages were fundamentally different.

As a professor of the Magic Department, Dirck would surely notice. So he kept pondering what to do.

‘Huh? Wait. This is······.’

His eyes widened slightly.

A moment later, Ulan gently stroked his stomach. He had discovered something unexpected in an unexpected place.

His eyes soon sparkled like stars.

As if he had found a way to break through the obstacle.

2.

Not long after.

The magic measurement proceeded smoothly.

“Roxcent Sharreer. 825 magic power.”

“Kashan Alekain. 680 magic power.”

The magic capacities of the examinees were being recorded on the board. Dirck, who had been silently watching, soon turned his gaze to Ulan.

‘This will definitely finish him off.’

He’s a warrior from a barbarian tribe.

He doesn’t even have magic, let alone magic power. The information from Count Dermore was reliable.

Dirck smiled triumphantly.

Imagining the massive research funds he would receive from the Count. As Ulan’s turn approached.

“D-Delia Arpen. 2,885 magic power!”

The assistant supervisor measuring the magic power shouted in surprise. Along with him, everyone’s gaze turned to Delia.

Dirck was no exception.

It was understandable.

Just in terms of magic power, it was three times the highest measurement recorded so far.

“Hehe, as expected of my disciple.”

Diplyn chuckled and smiled.

It seemed that the former disciple she mentioned was this girl. Dirck decided not to mess with Delia.

How much time had passed?

Finally, the target arrived.

Ulan Bator. With heavy footsteps, he appeared, and Diplyn looked amused.

“He doesn’t seem like a mage, more like a warrior.”

Well, he is a warrior.

Dirck smirked inwardly and looked at Ulan. Then, as a warning, he spoke.

“Just so you know, warriors’ magic power is basically undetectable.”

So give up any false hopes.

He meant to say this, but Ulan surprisingly showed no sign of agitation. It seemed he had given up. Dirck smiled bitterly.

“Please place your hand on the orb.”

Ulan obediently followed the instructions.

The result came quickly. But the assistant supervisor’s expression was somewhat awkward.

‘Well, it’s understandable.’

He must have detected no magic power.

Thinking it wasn’t an error, he was about to tell them to announce the result quickly, but the assistant supervisor spoke first.

“Ulan Bator, 100 magic power.”

“······What?”

Dirck’s expression turned blank.

What did he just say?

100 magic power? Not 0?

While he was too stunned to speak, the exam venue buzzed again. The same reaction as when Delia’s result was announced.

“What? Only 100 magic power?”

“Is he really a mage?”

“Why does he have so little magic power?”

But they were surprised for a slightly different reason.

Amid the flood of questions, some examinees raised objections.

“Wait, isn’t that a fail?”

“Right! Didn’t he say below 100 is an F-rank?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“100 is not below.”

Amid the examinees’ chatter.

Dirck’s face twisted grotesquely.

‘Damn it! Damn it all!’

If I had known this would happen, I should have said “below or equal to” instead of just “below.” A wrong word choice ruined the opportunity.

No, more importantly, how does he even have magic power?! He’s clearly not a mage!

While Dirck was still in confusion.

Diplyn, who had been silent, narrowed her eyes. She then stared intently at Ulan’s back as he returned to his seat.

“What an unusual student. Most mages accumulate mana in their hearts, but to think he stores it in his small intestine of all places.”

There were other peculiarities.

The vessel of mana, which usually stays fixed in the heart, seemed to slowly descend. Also, his abdominal area appeared slightly blue.

‘One last thing.’

It might be a mistake, but Ulan seemed to have not one, but two mana vessels. Although they were as small as glass beads.

“Hehe, it seems there’s another freshman worth keeping an eye on besides Lia.”

Diplyn’s eyes curved like crescent moons.

As if she had found a new toy.

After a considerable amount of time.

All the examinees’ magic verification was completed.

And Dirck finally emerged from his confusion. Barely suppressing his rising anger, he stepped onto the podium and spoke.

“······Then we’ll begin the exam now.”

Even though he failed this time.

Next time, I’ll definitely fail him!

Dirck’s eyes shone with determination. Whether he knew it or not, Ulan was just quietly picking his ear.

And so, the main exam began.

3.

With the start of the exam.

The assistant supervisors struggled to bring in large boxes. Inside were thousands of orbs. Each contained a minuscule amount of magic power.

“The first exam perfectly matches the name《Magic Detection》. Each of you will be given a hundred orbs.”

As soon as Dirck finished speaking.

A hundred orbs stuck to the wall. Maintaining a considerable distance. He pointed at the wall and continued explaining.

“Each orb contains 10 units of magic power. However, there’s one orb with 15 units. Find it and destroy it. That’s all there is to this exam.”

After the brief explanation.

The atmosphere in the exam venue darkened. The examinees’ faces showed perplexed expressions.

If the exam was simply about finding and destroying an orb with magic power among ordinary orbs, it wouldn’t be too difficult.

‘But finding an orb with just a slight difference in magic power is quite challenging.’

Especially with only a 5-unit difference.

To detect this, one needs a certain level of talent in reading the flow of magic. Or be a student who has consistently attended magic detection lectures.

In other words, it’s not a level of difficulty meant for examinees. Knowing this, Dirck added one condition.

“Of course, I’m aware that this exam is above your current level. So I’ll add one special condition.”

After a brief pause.

Dirck smiled kindly.

“Even if you destroy the wrong orb, there will be no penalty. The purpose of this exam is solely to find and destroy the target as quickly as possible.”

All other factors were excluded, and only the time taken to find and destroy the target would be considered.

The examinees’ expressions brightened immediately.

This made it manageable.

But his words weren’t finished yet.

“However, the use of all tools is prohibited in this exam. Wands and magic books are no exception. And if any part of your body touches the orb, the candidate will immediately receive an F-rank.”

“······.”

The examinees’ expressions became微妙.

Not using tools and not touching the orbs with their bodies meant they had to destroy the orbs using only magic.

But this balanced things out.

As the examinees understood the exam content, Dirck glared at Ulan again.

‘This is really the end.’

Ulan is a warrior. A warrior who can’t destroy orbs without using weapons or his body. And even if he could use magic, it didn’t matter.

‘He only has 100 magic power.’

Even the least mana-consuming attack magic, ‘Magic Arrow’, consumes 50 magic power per use.

So the best Ulan could do was to accurately read the flow of magic and find the correct target to destroy.

But Ulan couldn’t do that.

‘His orbs are special.’

All hundred magic orbs given to Ulan contained the ‘same’ amount of magic power.

Meaning, no matter what he did, it would be treated as a wrong answer.

‘I’m tired of seeing you, never see you again.’

Go back to the grasslands, you barbarian.

Dirck smirked sinisterly.

Meanwhile, the examinees’ exams were proceeding smoothly. Most examinees achieved their goals within about 3 minutes. Then, a result that caught many eyes appeared.

“Delia Arpen. 24 seconds!”

Once again, it was Delia.

From reading the flow of magic to finding and destroying the anomaly. It took less than 30 seconds. Five times faster than the other examinees.

“As expected of my disciple.”

Diplyn grinned again.

Dirck also nodded in agreement. Delia’s skills were truly exceptional.

And finally.

Ulan stepped forward.

A weirdo who applied for the magic specialty despite having only the minimum magic power of a mage. It was natural for all eyes to be on him.

Thud! Rustle!

The orbs stuck to the wall as if waiting.

Ulan stared at them with an expressionless face.