Chapter 17: Aptitude Test
Zero guided us to the magic training grounds. This facility, apparently personally created by the principal, was known for its exceptional magical durability. They said it could withstand any magic, and that alone tempted me to try and break it. It’s a villain’s nature, isn’t it? But unfortunately, I don’t possess magic powerful enough to break through this barrier. Well, that unique light magic might have the potential to pierce it, but it doesn’t feel right to showcase non-combat magic in an exam that’s meant to assess our combat skills.
What exactly are the criteria for scoring in this test? That will determine the fate of this examination. Would the prestigious Royal Academy just accept you for casting a high-powered spell?
No, absolutely not. The Royal Academy was established to cultivate a wide range of knowledge and skills. Can simply casting high-powered spells be considered a true measure of one’s abilities? Insisting on that would just be foolish, yes.
“…It seems that everyone else has already finished the exam.”
“Are there others besides us who used the early admission system?”
“Yeah, and the principal said you’re the last one… Finally done,” she said with a sigh of relief.
“I don’t understand the criteria they’re using, but it seems quite arbitrary.”
Well, as long as they’re picking Yuno, there must be some unique criteria set by Nova, despite it being her own selection process.
…It’s frustrating, but I do respect Nova as a magician. She never becomes arrogant about her talent and worked diligently to reach the pinnacle.
The ones she chose must surely be strong. I’m looking forward to competing with them for the next three years.
“I don’t know much about the principal either. If you’ve spent decades together and still don’t understand her, then she’s probably some kind of supernatural being. It’s better to think of her as something beyond comprehension.”
“Is it okay to treat your master like a supernatural being?”
“It’s just a complicated relationship. Even if we’re master and familiar, it doesn’t mean we have a master-servant or trust-based relationship.”
Zero spoke with a sense of exasperation. Indeed, even in the original anime, there were few interactions between Nova and Zero. Perhaps Zero acted as Yuno’s mentor in part to vent her frustration towards Nova. A subtle form of rebellion, perhaps.
But it’s not accurate to say that Nova doesn’t feel anything toward Zero.
In brief, first, Zero dies, entangled with the typical protagonist’s luck and a scumbag protagonist, as you might expect.
Skipping the details (because Yuno’s current personality is different from anime so Zero won’t possibly die this time), Nova received the news of Zero’s death, and although she outwardly remained calm, she downed alcohol heavily once she returned to her room. A single tear even escaped her eye.
There’s no way she didn’t care at all.
…Maybe it’s because of such aspects that I can’t truly hate her.
It’s infuriating!!
“Hmm, I see, that’s one way to look at it. But if you didn’t care at all, you wouldn’t have been together for decades, right? If it were me, I wouldn’t work well with someone like that. I’d either leave, or make them leave…”
Yuno nodded, his expression showing that he was saying sincerely, not with flattery or fine words.
That’s why, even if it’s meddling, I added my two cents.
“The reason why you are by your side without a master-servant relationship. Instead of pretending not to see it, you should reconsider it once. Well, it’s not a sermon from a vastly older person, though.”
“Vastly older is unnecessary.”
Saying this, Zero lightly tapped both mine and Yuno’s heads.
It was a smile I had never seen before. Even in the original anime, I had never seen such a beautiful smile. A smile filled with kindness… a smile rich in delight, yet somewhere it seemed exasperated.
“Yes, you’re right… It won’t change immediately, but… If you two, who are vastly younger, say so… Then perhaps we should spend dinner together sometime.”
Zero looks at me with a piercing gaze, emphasizing the word “vastly younger” as a retort to my mention of “vastly older.”
It won’t change immediately. This was undoubtedly her true feelings.
There’s no real conflict between Zero and Nova. It’s just that they don’t understand how to interact with each other. Yuno’s encouragement and my meddling may have served as a catalyst.
Well, I don’t have any intentions of changing the original story trying to save anyone. I’m just doing my best with my own circumstances, and I only reach out to what’s within my grasp.
Attaching pretty words to everything and trying to save everyone leads to a protagonist in the original story who is a real scoundrel. That had various flaws from the start, though.
“Alright, let’s refocus; it’s exam time.”
“!”
With those words, we switched our attention.
“First, some important points. This exam will be recorded using clairvoyant magical tools, and the results will be communicated to the instructors later. Additionally, the content of the exam will be made public through the same magical means. Please keep this in mind.”
I see… My initial guess was correct. Demonstrating our abilities to the instructors seems to be the primary purpose of this exam.
Clairvoyant magical tools… In simpler terms, it’s like a recording device, right? Quite a convenient tool they’ve got there.
“Now, please take a look over there,” Zero pointed. In that direction, there were several metallic targets.
“Your task is to destroy those targets using magic or any means you prefer. That’s the essence of the exam. You are free to discuss your approach with other examinees. However, each of you will perform the exam individually.”
“Free discussion? How to destroy them? Can’t we just blast them with high-powered magic… Hmm, that doesn’t seem to be it. What’s going on?”
“The exam has already begun,” Zero stated suddenly.
I see. Yuno seemed to have grasped at least half the purpose of this exam. It’s not just about breaking the targets, as he realized, but he hadn’t moved beyond that point.
Then, Yuno suddenly spoke, as if he were giving a speech.
“Xenon!! I don’t get it!! Give me a hint!”
“Heh… Are you assuming I already know?”
“You do, right? You’re Xenon.”
Well, we just met today.
Leaving that aside, my way of laughing has become quite cringe. I need to tone it down.
Jokes aside, I don’t know if it’s the correct answer, but I have a rough idea.
“Even if I know, you won’t hear the full answer?”
“It’s an exam, right? There’s no point in you carrying me on your back.”
I couldn’t help but want to laugh again at Yuno, who said it with an air of innocence as if it were only natural. How much more do I have to improve Yuno’s character in my mind to be satisfied? I feel like his stocks are improving. It might end up going public at this rate.
“No doubt about it. Alright… a hint, you say?”
“Yeah, I’m asking for the best hint that can help me figure it out on my own.”
“Don’t set the bar too high… Well, if I had to say, Yuno, what if you unleash your most powerful magic to defeat a slime?”
“Huh? Nah, that’s a waste of magic power.”
“That’s the point.”
“…Seriously? Hmm… Ah, I see…”
After mumbling for a while, Yuno suddenly noticed something and enhanced his eyes with magic. Magic energy gathered and formed in his eyes.
His gaze was fixed on the metal targets.
…Did he figure it out?
“I see, I get it now. Ah, so that’s what Xenon meant.”
Yuno grinned.
Then, he conjured his magic.
“[Energy Blast]”
A torrent of Yuno’s magic power shot straight toward the target, and the target exploded into smithereens.
It was a non-attribute magic, Energy Blast – a simple technique that imbues pure magic power with destructive force and shoots it out. What’s unique is that you can finely adjust its power based on the amount of magic energy you put into it.
Without delay, I cast my own magic.
“[Thunder Strike]”
The lightning formed from magic power released from my magic circle raced towards the target at a speed the eye couldn’t follow, just like Yuno’s magic. It obliterated the target just like his.
This was my original magic, an improved version of [Lighting] that I cast on Nova, enhanced in terms of power and speed. I could finally use it in real combat.
You could say half a year of hard work paid off.
“Wow… I can only think of two countermeasures.”
– Wait, you actually came up with two? Isn’t that sarcastic?
…Well, I genuinely seemed impressed, so I can’t say anything.
Gazing at the vanished target for a moment, I turned towards Zero, who had been watching from behind. Zero, noticing my gaze, looked at Yuno and me alternately, wearing a faint smile, and said,
“Both of you have passed.”
“Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!”
“[Lighting]”
“Ugh…”
Noisy.
———-
Author Note:
I’ll provide the reason for passing next time.
…It seems like Xenon’s kindness is in the fact that it’s not “[Thunder Strike]” but “[Lighting]!!” HAHAHA!!
