Sylvia held the remaining map fragment in her hand. Staring at the mere corner of it, she closed her eyes.
Magic series or attribute. Those things didn’t matter now.
She remembered the feel of the map she had touched. She recalled its texture, its function.
Her three primary colors appeared.
The map they stole. The object that Sylva had felt began to regenerate, wobbling from the corner.
She never tried it before, but she restored it to perfection.
The mended map wasn’t any different from the original.
Even its red circles were moving the “same way” they did before.
“Reylie of the Red Garnet Adventurers,” Sylvia muttered coldly, clenching small fists.
‘Using anger as nourishment, an Iliade grows. An ordeal that can’t be killed only makes us stronger.’
Was this the growth Glitheon was talking about?
Reylie. Dozmura.
She naively believed in their achievements from fairy tales.
However, she thought they had better start preparing for the price they’d have to pay for betraying her. Knowing they would surely meet again during this test, she decided never to forget their misdeed.
“I won’t be fooled anymore.”
Admitting that she lacked experience and learning from her past stupidity, she gradually integrated the lessons she gained from what just happened into her arsenal.
“…”
Sylvia looked up at the sky.
The sun was already setting.
Taking out a mana stone from her pocket, she weaved it into a bat, which then flew, sharing its vision with her.
After setting up a patrol around her vicinity, she looked at her map.
Why did Reylie say three maps were necessary?
As she pondered about it, the chairman’s words from just before the exam came to mind.
‘No matter how I think about it, a thousand people are too many!’
At that moment, Sylvia realized it.
They weren’t looking for a destination.
They were searching for a target.
If everyone on this map was a target…
Then this was easier than she realized.
“Reylie of the Red Garnet Adventurers.”
Her eyes had already turned cold.
*****
Walking on the outskirts of Training Island’s seashore, Dozmura murmured. “Glitheon is a very strange guy. Why is he giving us money for bullying his own daughter?”
Reylie chuckled. As part of the Red Garnet Adventure Team, they received an unreasonable request from the Iliade family Head as soon as they applied for the Solda Test.
“Don’t try to understand wizards. We’ll never understand them.”
“We’re wizards too.”
“We ran away because we didn’t like that society, remember? Well, I think I can at least deduce Glitheon’s intention. Sylvia’s young and naive. He probably thinks her being wounded by small bites from us is better than being fatally deceived all at once due to inexperience.”
Lions raised their cubs harshly.
Reylie pulled out a total of four maps, including Sylvia’s.
“Now that I’ve caught them all…”
As soon as the supervisor gave the instructions, she already knew what he meant.
The nine circles on the map represented targets. However, it wasn’t necessary to take all nine maps.
Just overlapping three maps was enough to reveal a “part” of the magic circle hidden inside. With her level of insight, that was enough for her to make an educated guess about the rest of it.
“Hey!”
Whoooooooong—
A [Short-Range Portal] in the form of a blue vertical vortex appeared.
“Done~”
Clap—!
After high-fiving Dozmura, she stopped as she tried to go inside, feeling someone approaching them.
“Huh?”
To be more precise, she found a group of people wearing robes jumping out of the Training Island’s sea and advanced into the bushes.
“How did they get here?”
“… Is it the Altar?” He asked, to which she replied with a pout.
“I don’t know. Well, we should go. Isn’t this the responsibility of the ‘Security Officer’?”
“You mean the seventh strongest?”
“Yes. Deculein’s.”
Laughing, the two entered the [Short-Range Portal] together.
*****
A dark night.
—Reylie of the Red Garnet Adventurers. I won’t forgive you.
I turned off the control tower’s glass, the screen of which reflected Sylvia.
A large moon appeared on it. I took out my [Untitled Notebook] from my inner pocket, illuminating it with the dim light.
“…”
A journal-like artifact containing Deculein’s memories.
There was a part of it that I wasn’t aware of.
Sylvia and that child’s mother.
Glitheon and Deculein.
Yukline and Iliade, as well as Deculein and his father.
However, as Kim Woojin, I was afraid of it.
If his memories in the diary and mine were mixed, then I might no longer be Kim Woojin…
“… This is funny.”
This feeling didn’t suit me. This was just a diary.
No memory could overcome the strong mental power of my ego.
─Can you hear me?
The moment I was about to explore the diary, the crystal ball in my inner pocket rang.
It was Julie’s voice.
“Yeah.”
—Oh, are you okay?
Unfortunately, she couldn’t get to the Isle of Wizard’s Wealth. She once attended my Symposium’s Place of Proof, but it had been stricter since then.
“Yes.”
—Is that so? That’s fortunate.
Her tone was very serious. I laughed quietly.
“How do you not get sick of being so worried about me?”
—Now isn’t the time to joke like that.
That was surprising.
“… What’s going on?”
—All of the airships on the floating island have stopped working due to a magical disaster.
“Hmm.”
Airships were the only means of transportation connecting Training Island and the Isle of Wizard’s Wealth.
—However, another flying object has been detected by the radar. It seems that someone’s broken into Training Island. Determining this as a state of emergency, I’m going to go over there now.
“You said the airships stopped working.”
—There is a way. Please wait. I’ll be-
The call was cut off.
An event was about to unfold.
“This is trouble!”
Louina came down from upstairs. Deciding to stay one more day, she held a fountain pen while holding her breath.
“This is trouble!”
“You mean about the airships?”
“… Did you know about that?”
Her face was strangely distorted.
“I just got the report.”
“Gosh. The project is in full swing… Why did you tell me to stay, boss?”
“…”
It was because of the it, but the fact that there was one meant that a risk factor existed around me.
But I didn’t think she would really stay.
She was oddly cooperative these days.
“… You don’t even talk.” Louina pouted and poured a cup of coffee, then handed me a piece of paper filled with complicated formulas.
It seemed to be her ongoing project.
“I’m stuck here, so can you give me a hint at least, boss?”
“A hint?”
I looked at it with [Understanding], identifying its magical structure as a ‘remote shield,’ an invention that would be quite helpful in defending against beasts.
It was related to the book [Advanced Magic Book: Principles of Protection] that I had read before.
“It’s a shield, but its circuit is too inefficient, boss. It takes 10 kg of mana stones a day to maintain it. Nobody would use it.”
“Let me check it.”
I took Louina’s fountain pen with [Psychokinesis] and edited her work as my mind directed me.
Scratch- Scratch-
With my brain in a trance, my analytical ability amplified. I swiftly gave her paper all the necessary corrections.
I consumed about 2,000 mana on it, but I considered it her reward for staying.
“… Take it.”
“Huh? That was too fast, boss. You must’ve just scribbled random…”
Her eyes widened as she pouted and read the corrections.
“… Things? My goodness.”
Louina’s reaction was honest. Like a genius, she understood it quickly. I shrugged.
“I recently read a book that can help you with your project. I’ll lend it to you when we return. In return, you can help me with my work here.”
“By work… Do you mean security?” She asked, keeping her eyes fixed on the corrections.
“Yes.”
“But would I be helpful? You’re the seventh—”
“Don’t say ‘strongest’ in front of me.”
“… Why, boss? It’s true.”
Louina raised her head and blinked in confusion, but soon after, she let out a small sigh and nodded.
“Well… They’re empty. Such titles.”
I didn’t know why, but her tone seemed melancholic.
“Alright. I’ll help you. You shouldn’t overwork yourself.”
Her mood was strange. I turned on the magic glass again without replying.
Instead of the distant sky, the scenery of the test site came to the screen.
And…
I identified a suspicious group.
*****
As night fell and it got colder, Epherene dug a tunnel. She made supports to secure its interior and covered the entrance with leaves on top, reinforcing her camouflage.
She used her experience of when she used to play ‘war games’ in the countryside, replacing the things she used to make with her hands with magic.
“This is amazing~ It’s so cozy~ Cozy~” Mayho applauded and admired her work.
“What does ‘cozy’ mean?”
“It’s a Yuren word for cozy.”
“… But you said you’re from Reok.” Epherene asked suspiciously, causing Mayho to flinch.
She laughed, then changed the topic.
“Are we spending the night here?”
“Ahhhh… I’m a little sleepy, but we shouldn’t sleep until we know what our maps are for.”
Epherene yawned as she put down her map.
“This circle keeps moving all the time. It’s annoying.”
Hearing water boiling, she looked over to Carixel, whom she found cooking.
As she licked her lips, Mayho asked her, “But where are you from, Epherene?”
“Me? I’m from the Imperial University Tower.”
“Oh! Then you must know Professor Deculein!” Mayho asked, clapping her hands.
Epherene replied bluntly.
“Oh, yeah. I also took classes from him.”
“Woah, that’s awesome! Does that mean he’s your teacher?”
“… Teacher, my ass. More like an enemy.”
“What?!” Mayho’s eyes widened, and Carixel, who was making the soup, looked at Epherene with a surprised look.
Smiling bitterly, she shrugged.
“I’m kidding.”
As expected, it wasn’t something she could openly talk about with anyone.
Epherene was still waiting for the day she could exact her revenge.
… However, it was also true that she had been constantly slapped by reality lately. Deculein and the Yukline family were just too overwhelming for her will and anger to keep burning before their might.
At first, she fought with Sylvia by pulling her hair and even resisted aristocratic professors, but every time she did, she accumulated penalty points, one after another.
Moreover, while being bullied and insulted by a group of nobles… Epherene slowly grew numb.
Little by little, she was giving up.
Was this just proof of becoming an adult?
“Okay, the soup’s ready.”
Carixel served them a bowl each. It was made with pumpkin and adventurer spices collected all over Training Island.
Epherene and Mayho took a spoonful and ate it.
“Woah. This is delicious.”
“True~ Very much so~”
“How did you make this? We don’t have water with us.”
“It would be easier to understand by thinking of it as my talent. Haha.”
Carixel took out an empty cup, and water naturally filled it up from seemingly nowhere.
“…?!”
Noticing Epherene’s great surprise, he immediately provided an explanation.
“It’s too complicated to explain in detail, but I call it [Midas’ Hand].”
“It’s very practical. If it’s magic, can’t you teach me too?”
“Unfortunately, it’s not the kind that can be taught or learned. This is innate. Haha.” He smiled shyly.
As she was about to express her disappointment, he immediately silenced all of them.
“Shh.”
He pressed a finger against his lips. Epherene and Mayho continued eating the soup in silence as he focused his senses around their vicinity with his eyes closed.
Rustle- Rustle-
Several footsteps were approaching a location near them.
No, they were heading exactly towards their hideout.
He bit his lip.
“We have to go up. An enemy’s incoming.”
“What? An enemy?”
Knowing they would soon be besieged if they remained underground, he hurriedly opened the ceiling, and the two ran out with him.
“….”
When they got up, they found people in black robes. They carried neither wands nor staffs. Rather, they seemed to be dagger-wielding beasts. Epherene immediately warmed up her bracelet.
“… I’m sorry. This is probably because of me.”
Carixel sighed in regret. She looked at him.
“You?”
Mayho then shook her head, her expression filling up with sorrow.
“No. No. It must be because of me. I shouldn’t…”
‘Who are these two?’
Even as Epherene frowned, their assailants’ murderous aura approached them with every passing moment.
“I’ll block them.”
When he stepped forward, a sense of anticipation spread throughout their enemies’ bodies. They then radiated clear mana, intertwining it with their vile aura.
He bit his lip.
“Go, you two—”
They rushed in before he could even finish.
However, a voice echoed the moment they charged in. It sounded so cold it seemed to freeze not only the atmosphere but also the very people that heard it.
“Let me give you a fair warning.”
Whoong—
The assassins rose and stopped in mid-air, disrupting their raid. They soon fell onto the ground brutally.
“No outsiders are allowed to enter the Training Island during the Solda Promotion Test.”
They stared at the darkness in the direction the voice came from.
Rustle…
Rustle…
“If you take even a single step or harm the students…”
Deculein appeared from beyond the bushes.
Whoong—
Twenty wood steels rose, standing by on his flanks.
“I will kill you.”
Listening to his words, they heeded his warning and remained in place. Cold sweat could even be visibly seen trickling down from some of them.
Deculein benefited from his fame that day.
The seventh strongest on the continent.
An enemy recognized by Rohakan.
Recalling those titles, they trembled.
It didn’t matter if they didn’t fear death. If throwing away their lives would prove futile and worthless, they couldn’t help but reconsider.
It wasn’t about survival. It was about cost-efficiency.
Since they couldn’t even touch the tip of Rohakan’s hair, there was no point in assuming they could take on Deculein.
“Let’s go. Come on!”
Taking advantage of the situation, Carixel ran away with Epherene and Mayho.
Those who had nothing to do but watch the three people disappear quickly ran away to the opposite side, seemingly giving up.
They made a remarkable escape, but in Deculein’s perspective, it was futile.
He had already commanded several wood steels to pursue them.
*****
Meanwhile, in a peaceful forest…
“H-Here. Take this, Sylvia. I’ll give it to you.”
Sylvia acquired her third map from one of her targets, then stacked all three sheets together.
After that, just like Reylie, she inferred a magic circle and opened the [Short-Range Portal].
Whoooong—!
A blue passage appeared in the air.
“…”
Sylvia glanced at the male wizard who had just lost his map to her. He knelt and swallowed hard as he looked at the magic she manifested.
She entered the vortex without saying a word.
Just three seconds later, with a cry, the male wizard also passed through it.
That made her realize it wasn’t meant for one person only. Nevertheless, she thought there was no need to fight even though she couldn’t help but feel as if she got stabbed in the back again.
“Whew, whew, whew…”
Ignoring the wizard struggling on the floor, Sylvia looked around.
They were underground. There were a few long church benches on the other side of where she stood.
About twenty wizards had already passed the test. Some slept while some ate, but more importantly, among them, she found those ‘two.’
Reylie.
Dozmura.
“Huh!”
Their gazes meeting startled her, but she soon approached with a bitter smile.
“Oh~ Miss, you came, after all, huh?”
“…”
Sylvia stared at her silently, gelid flames burning deep within her irises.
Reylie reached out to her.
“Hey~ Why are you acting like that~ I knew you would make it~”
“Don’t touch me.”
“… Haha. Hahaha. Hahahaha… The thing is… we had a reason for…”
Slightly frightened by Sylvia’s pressure that seemed could explode at any moment, she secretly looked for Dozmura, but the guy was already gone before she realized it.
Reylie cursed inside.
‘Is that so-called colleague of mine fucking kidding me?’
“Hmm. Around twenty, huh?”
Just in time, the examiner showed up. Reylie focused her gaze on him, and Sylvia clicked her tongue.
“Many are yet to come, but let me provide you with information in advance anyway. Everyone, lend me your attention, please.”
Supervisor Mimic called out to all of them.
“The second test is ‘mentor’ and ‘mentee.'”
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