༺ End of the Second Sester (2) ༻
“From now on, we will begin the end-of-sester comprehensive practical evaluation for the second sester of the first year for the Magic Departnt. The duel evaluation.”
Dueling grounds.
The first-year students of the Magic Departnt had filled the spectator stands.
Since the academy had divided the first-year students into four groups, each group would be taking the exam in a different location.
In the center of the arena, exam proctors and judges stood in an orderly fashion.
The host for the exam was the handso silver-haired professor, Fernando Frost. As he held the speaker and announced in a sweet voice, female students sighed and moaned with faces filled with infatuation.
Before they knew it, it was ti for the end-of-sester practical exam that would conclude the second sester.
Three exams would be conducted over three days.
The first exam was magic craftsmanship, the second was breaking mana barriers, and…
The third and final exam was dueling.
The scale was inevitably smaller than the first sester.
Due to the attack of the Floating Island, so parts of the ground split open and buildings collapsed. Unfortunately, these infrastructure damages occurred at the key location where the end-of-sester evaluation was being prepared.
It was the sa in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ as well. When seeing that the scenario was unchanged from its original form, it seed that the damaged buildings and areas were particularly weak in terms of their foundation.
‘Anyway.’
Thanks to investing ti in studying instead of magic training, I was able to achieve fairly good grades in the written exam.
Now, if I managed to conclude the remaining practical exams on a good note, I would definitely be able to secure the ‘Self-Developnt Excellence’ scholarship.
‘Fortunately, a significant amount of my mana has also returned.’
My mana recovery speed had also increased.
It was evident that I had crossed a certain threshold, thus being able to free myself from my mana depletion state.
It was such a relief that it recovered just before the end-of-sester evaluation. It truly was fortunate.
Soon after, Professor Fernando explained the rules for the duel evaluation.
It was similar to the first sester. However, there were two differences.
Firstly, there was no imdiate feedback. I wasn’t particularly interested in that anyway.
Secondly, the academy had personally chosen the opponents for the duel.
It was to correctly balance the matches of the end-of-sester evaluation. As such, no one knew who their opponent would be until they were called forth.
However, they would’ve matched students with the most similar grades based on the evaluations so far. The pairing brackets would have probably been carefully organized, even considering the most minor things.
‘I guess Luce and Kaya will duel against each other.’
It would be intensely competitive. I honestly couldn’t even fathom how fierce the competition would be.
For reference, Class A would take the exam separately in a secluded location; it was a vast field.
The academy had probably chosen this location considering their outstanding capabilities.
Incidentally, the fifth seat, Keridna Whiteclark, would compete with the top students of Class B.
Eventually, following Professor Fernando’s call, students went into the arena to begin their duels.
As students with similar grades faced each other, a fierce battle unfolded. It was quite a spectacle to watch.
Putting that aside though…
‘Most of these guys are weaker than now.’
The more I felt the mana from the dueling students, the more I realized that my mana had risen to the upper ranks among the Magic Departnt freshn.
Confidence began to bubble within as I felt that even those who once appeared threatening could now be easily defeated.
‘Ah, the good old days.’
I couldn’t believe I was still the sa person who was once ridiculed for having Grade E mana during the first sester.
Isaac Coin, once a loser, was now drawing an upward curve, just as planned.
“Hey, friend!”
“Oh, hello.”
Suddenly, a lively female student with short white hair and a black rabbit ear ribbon approached and sat next to .
It was Amy Holloway, Ian Fairytale’s childhood friend and lover.
I thought about greeting her when I found the opportunity, but she ca over on her own.
“What about Ian?”
“He’s in a different group. But Isaac, why did you just pass by last ti without saying hello to ? Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”
“You looked depressed after the written exam so I thought you might have royally screwed yourself. Didn’t you think your future was looking bleak until recently?”
“…If you’re that perceptive, you won’t be popular, you know?”
What does she want to do then…
“Anyway, a rainbow always cos after the rain.”
“Since the sester is almost over?”
“Of course~. After today’s exam finishes, the second sester is over and soon it’s the vacation ceremony. There’s no ti to feel depressed! Isaac, what are you going to do during the vacation?”
“I haven’t made any specific plans yet.”
Of course, that was a lie.
I was on a journey to defeat the Evil God. It was the most basic of the basics to always have a specific plan.
Excluding training plans and demon hunting plans, there was sothing that could be called a big event during winter vacation.
‘Gormos’ Greatsword.’
I planned to et the mythical magic beast. ‘Stone Turtle – Gormos’ and receive the Trial of Sandstone in order to obtain ‘Gormos’ Greatsword’. It was the ultimate weapon of the rock elent.
Of course, just like I did during the Trial of Frost, I would once again have to put my life on the line this ti.
It was just business as usual. I was determined to overco the Trial of Sandtone.
“Ha!”
Suddenly, an arrogant chuckle echoed from the front.
It was Tristan Humphrey, a vain blond noble who was sitting two rows ahead of .
His voice sounded like he had been eavesdropping on the conversation between Amy and I before finding an opportunity to barge in.
Tristan smirked while sitting with his arms and legs crossed. He slightly turned his head to the back, revealing the pearly whites of his teeth.
“It’s almost winter vacation now but you haven’t even made specific vacation plans! I’ve already ticulously and specifically drawn up my special training plan that pursues the pinnacle of efficiency!”
“…”
“Watch and learn, you commoner! If you continue to remain absent-minded as you are now, you won’t even reach my ankles!”
Tristan laughed with a ‘Keuhehehe’ before coughing as if he choked on sothing.
‘I didn’t even ask him to teach though…?’
Why is he suddenly acting out?
I didn’t know how to react, so I just ignored him.
“Next! Class B Jack Schneider, Class C Isaac! Co forward!”
The call of the referee.
I guess it’s my turn.
“I’ll head out first.”
“Yep, good luck~.”
After receiving Amy’s encouragent, I left the stands and went up to the arena.
Across from , a male student with long bangs covering his right eye ca up.
A tall and agile physique. To put it badly, he looked like a pair of chopsticks.
His laughter that went ‘Kikik’ complented his annoying appearance; but in a way, I was actually glad to see him.
“Kikik…! Hey, isn’t your luck with match-ups way too bad?”
Jack Schneider.
He was one of the top students in Class B who had blocked Ciel and I during the end-of-sester evaluation of the first sester.
[Jack Schneider] Lv: 88
Race: Human
Elents: Lightning, Wind
Danger: Low
Psychology: [Looking down on you.]
“I can’t believe so Class C bastard, no wait. I can’t believe the one who was once famous for having Grade E mana is actually my opponent…! Kikik…! Your luck is really baddd~.”
‘Oh, motherfu-’
I seriously can’t stand this little shit’s way of talking…
Of course, just as he said, my match-up luck seed to be quite poor on the surface. Generally, the gap between Class C upper ranks and Class B upper ranks was quite significant.
However, these match-ups were decided based on the grades shown during the second sester.
In other words, even the academy judged that my skills were not inferior to the upper ranks of Class B.
“Well, whatever. I guess it is.”
I replied nonchalantly, lightly rolling my shoulders and loosening up my body.
“Still, don’t hold back.”
Even though it was an exam, what I needed was a asure of my combat power.
My duel opponent, Jack Schneider, would perform this role excellently.
Jack started laughing once again. Well, It was actually closer to a sneer.
“What’s with that relaxed attitude? You were no different from a bug before! You were at the very bottom of the food chain! Do you think you can be my opponent just because you had a slight improvent in skill? What a delusional lunatic! Didn’t you win against an elite mber of Black Tiger because he let himself get hit? He was going easy on you! Hey, you dumbass! How are you so stupid? Can you not even judge your own skills when you’re this much weaker than ee~? Unlike last sester’s end-of-sester evaluation, the top seat isn’t here to protect you!”
‘You’re weak’, ‘You’re weak…’ I felt like my ears were bleeding because of his annoying voice.
‘But still…’
At least within the Magic Departnt freshn, there would no longer be any retards who said such things to after today.
“Any ans allowed! Surrender is prohibited for one minute. Now, show respect to your opponent and prepare for the duel. Ready, begin!”
Dududududek───!
「Ice Wall」
As the wall of ice rose from the ground, enclosing Jack Schneider, he unleashed a strong thunderbolt, shattering it into pieces.
Rumbleee───.
Kwang───!
“Kikik…! Blocking my lightning with this level of ice is imp… ossib…?”
Pukkk──!
“Eheuk!”
[Ice Wall] was intentionally made weak so it could be destroyed.
As soon as the referee said ‘begin, I casted a weak [Ice Wall].
And at the sa ti, I kicked off the ground and rushed towards Jack in an instant.
Speed, athletic ability.
‘I’m on an entirely different level compared to before.’
The now was far stronger than when I dueled with Tristan in the first sester.
I punched this little shit’s abdon, the impact lifting his body off the arena floor.
Instantaneously, I condensed ice mana into my right hand. The magic circle of [Frost Explosion] was engraved into the air.
Now, there was no need for any preparatory movents to condense the mana necessary for casting [Frost Explosion], nor did it require several seconds to gather my mana in the first place.
A surprised Jack barely held onto his consciousness and quickly gathered his lightning mana to deploy a magic circle for a counterattack.
However, I vigorously swung my right arm, detonating the condensed ice mana.
Kwaaaaaaah──────!!!
A cold wind fiercely swirled like a storm.
The cold mana explosion spread, dealing a significant blow to his body. The sheer force of the explosion dispersed the lightning mana.
The instantly ford frost created a large lump of ice, trapping him inside.
As if ti had stopped for him, his face remained contorted in pain within the ice.
Whoooooosh───.
“Hoo.”
In the aftermath of [Frost Explosion], a misty cold air flowed from my exhale.
There was no need to see more; the result of the match was clear. After activating defrost, the lump of ice dissolved.
“Keugh…”
Pale blue mana scattered like flower petals and within it, Jack keeled over before collapsing onto the arena.
His wide-open eyes were rolled back, showing only his white retinas. It seed like he had lost consciousness without even being able to close his eyes.
The match ended in an instant. The referee extended his arm toward with a bewildered expression.
“Class C Isaac wins!”
I felt the abstruse gazes of the students. Even Amy had her mouth wide open in surprise.
It was understandable.
After all, it was proven that I had at the very least reached the upper ranks of Class B.
“I learned a thing or two.”
I hadn’t learned anything, but I politely said such a lie to the fallen Jack before turning my back and descending from the arena.
“Hmm.”
Huh, I’m kinda proud of myself for that.
* * *
“Jack Schneider lost…? To Isaac?”
“Isaac just overwheld him, right…?”
“Didn’t he have Grade E mana in the first sester?”
The students in the spectators’ stands murmured quietly, making sure Isaac couldn’t hear.
Amy Holloway bombarded Isaac with questions on how he did that as soon as he returned, expressing admiration and repeatedly exclaiming, “You’re amazing, Isaac!” with a wide smile.
“…”
Tristan Humphrey’s widened eyes showed no signs of narrowing.
He had already known that Isaac’s physical abilities were exceptional.
However, just a while ago, the athletic ability that Isaac had displayed… was on a completely different level compared to when Tristan had dueled with him in the first sester.
Moreover, Jack Schneider wasn’t just one-sidedly taking a beating from Isaac.
He tried to counterattack and lightning mana had clearly been gathered.
He actually handled it quite quickly.
This implied that there was a contest of strength between their magic.
However, Jack’s lightning mana was powerlessly devoured by Isaac’s ice mana.
That ant that Isaac had undoubtedly overwheld Jack in every aspect.
‘How can… that commoner be superior to …?’
Tristan Humphrey turned his head and stared blankly at Isaac, who was chatting animatedly with Amy.
Putting aside the fact that he defeated a Class B upper-ranked student such as Jack Schneider…
What even was that mana that he had sensed from Isaac?
His level had already far surpassed Tristan’s.
‘How is this possible…?’
Tristan simply could not believe that it was true.
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