Chapter 14. Departmental Exam (7)
“Is this even possible?”
One week later.
After the Written Exam ended, Benjamin was reviewing the cadets’ examination papers when he found himself too bewildered to speak.
This year’s Department of Command exam had been exceptionally difficult.
The Speedrun-format Curse Goblin Dungeon had been difficult enough, but the Written Exam had also focused primarily on dungeons whose peculiarities defied ordinary common sense.
Many cadets had indeed struggled with the Written Exam, and some had not even managed to answer every question.
Benjamin had expected Auston, in particular, to face considerable difficulty this time.
There was a reason.
The Written Exam did not simply ask how a dungeon should be cleared.
It tested one’s understanding of the dungeon’s characteristics.
The Curse Goblin Dungeon was among the relatively easier dungeons.
The reason was that its internal workings still obeyed the laws of physics to a reasonable extent.
But among the dungeons humanity had discovered were places that disregarded even those laws.
Ice storms might rage beneath the blazing sun of a desert.
A barren desert where not even a blade of grass could grow might stretch across the ferocious polar regions.
In extreme cases, tremendous currents of mana could even distort the axis of time and cast explorers into some ancient era.
Questions like these existed because command ability alone was not enough to clear every dungeon.
All manner of bizarre phenomena occurred within dungeons, and an exceptional commander needed to remain calm even amid such abnormalities and find a solution.
However, understanding those phenomena required a fundamental understanding of mana.
And that inevitably required the ability to wield mana oneself.
Auston could not wield mana at all.
And Shane faced a similar problem.
Although Shane was a Second-Circle Mage, had he not always been known for his poor Mana Affinity and sensitivity to mana?
Benjamin had therefore expected both of them to struggle with this exam.
Yet the scene unfolding before him thoroughly rejected that prediction.
“This is difficult. Very difficult. I have never seen a theory approach the matter from this perspective.”
“Even so, isn’t it a little unreasonable to declare this correct?”
“No, no. It is equally unreasonable to dismiss it outright. Theoretically speaking, if you consider the mana patterns of the Mezaia Great Forest, the possibility cannot be ruled out entirely.”
“I share that opinion. If Cadet Auston’s logic is correct, it would also explain the phenomenon of the ‘Unrelenting Swamp.’”
“Rather than considering only particle density, he proposes that mana alters the properties of the particles themselves. Yes, I believe it is possible as well.”
“If the phenomenon is caused by mana altering the properties of the particles rather than gravitational energy and particle density, then his theory explains that inescapable swamp perfectly!”
The people gathered before Benjamin were experts who had assembled to contribute questions for the Written Exam.
There were Mages from the Magic Tower who researched dungeons, scholars, and even current leaders of veteran Adventurer Parties.
And now those experts were passionately debating the answer Auston had submitted.
“This is absurd…….”
Every one of them held a prominent position in their respective field.
And yet they were discussing an answer written by a boy who had not even reached adulthood with such fervor and sincerity.
Of course, it was not as though these experts had been wholly incapable of understanding the phenomenon known as the ‘Unrelenting Swamp.’
There were simply far too many dungeons in the world.
And within those dungeons were countless strange phenomena that could not be understood through ordinary human knowledge.
When they turned to Shane’s examination paper, however, even those experts fell silent.
“This is…….”
“Difficult.”
“He submitted something on the level of a Magic Tower research paper as an exam answer.”
“Are we certain he solved this in only one week?”
Shane’s examination paper was densely covered in writing, accompanied by five additional sheets of documentation.
“So while he answered the other questions relatively conventionally, he devoted this much effort to this one alone.”
“Which means…… even we have no way to prove immediately whether this theory is correct.”
Eventually, the Senior Mage from the Magic Tower raised the white flag.
The effective declaration of surrender from the most accomplished Mage among them in theoretical matters was enough to make the others frown.
“Head Professor Benjamin. I believe…… we will need somewhat more time for this question.”
“……Is that so?”
By now, Benjamin was so dumbfounded that he could barely respond.
He simply nodded.
“He answered every other question properly, so there should be no issue with his passing. We will merely have to delay announcing the rankings for a little while.”
“Thank you. Give us one week, and we will provide a conclusion regarding this answer.”
Benjamin carefully handed Shane’s examination paper to the Mage from the Magic Tower.
[Strategy for Clearing the Great Rainy Season of the Mezaia Great Forest]
The Mezaia Great Forest.
One of the Five Great Cradles currently posing the greatest obstacles to humanity’s continued exploration of the Cradle.
During its Great Rainy Season, so much rain fell that entire rivers could change course within a single day, perpetually tormenting every subjugation force that entered.
And now the secret behind that phenomenon had been unraveled on an Academy Written Exam.
—
Three days later, the list of successful applicants was announced.
And the cadets immediately found something strange.
“Why was the release of the rankings delayed?”
One question led to another, giving rise to countless rumors.
It did not take long for the reason to become known.
“It was because of one cadet’s answer?”
No one knew precisely who the cadet in question was.
There were countless rumors and theories, but above all, the cadets simply found it difficult to believe that Shane could have produced something significant enough to cause such a delay.
Meanwhile, Delilah stood before the Academy notice board to check the list of successful applicants.
Beside her stood Auston, wearing his usual gloomy expression.
“Oho~ Auston. You really passed.”
“Y-Yeah. It wasn’t t-that difficult.”
“Heh…… ‘Not difficult,’ my foot. I heard this year’s Department of Command exam was absolute hell. There are only about twenty people who passed.”
“…….”
Auston scratched his head awkwardly, while Delilah looked at him with satisfaction.
There was nothing particularly strange about the friendship between Delilah and Auston.
Delilah was ostracized by society for being a Demi-Human, while Auston had effectively been abandoned by his family.
The two had recognized each other’s abilities and grown close rather quickly.
“Still, this works out for me. Since you got in, let me join whatever team you command.”
“M-Me? With your ability, wouldn’t o-other people already be interested in recruiting you?”
“Right. Of course they would.”
Delilah gave a bitter smile at Auston’s words.
Would there really be a cadet in the Department of Command willing to recruit a Demi-Human like her?
The only person who came to mind was Pollon, but joining his faction would obviously lead to nothing pleasant.
‘Or am I being too picky considering my circumstances?’
GRIND.
At the thought, Delilah habitually ground her teeth.
She simply could not grow accustomed to this human-dominated world.
At least things had never been like this when the Commander was still around…….
“Never mind. Sorry. Forget what I just said.”
Delilah turned away as she spoke.
Now that she thought about it, even if she joined Auston’s command, having a Demi-Human like her around might make it harder for Auston to recruit other cadets.
She would only become a burden.
Just as Delilah was about to give up on the idea—
“Well, there are more interesting people in this world than I thought. I imagine at least one of them has already noticed what you are worth.”
Auston’s quiet voice from behind stopped her.
“Huh? What did you just say?”
“H-Hmm? N-Nothing.”
When Delilah turned around, Auston wore his usual gloomy expression, stammering as he gave her a foolish smile.
That was strange.
She could have sworn he had not stuttered just now.
The surrounding cadets were making so much noise that she had not heard clearly, so Delilah dismissed the matter and continued walking.
“Ah! There’s Klein!”
“Shane is beside him too.”
“You’re right. Come to think of it, that idiot Shane passed the Department of Command exam too?”
“I heard his score was even better than Klein’s.”
Hearing the conversation of several nearby cadets, Delilah unconsciously turned her head.
Klein.
A genius among geniuses, so overwhelmingly gifted that even the envy and jealousy rampant throughout the Academy seemed meaningless before him.
She had heard that he had cleared the dungeon in the Department of Command Practical Exam with a fairly ordinary score.
‘Life would probably be easy under someone like him…….’
But Klein was already at the very center of every social circle in the Academy.
Meanwhile, she was as much of an outsider as anyone could possibly be.
Just imagining the threats she might receive from Klein’s followers merely for approaching him was enough to make Delilah look exhausted.
Shane, on the other hand, had recently become the subject of strange rumors throughout the Academy.
More than anything, Delilah was astonished that he had outperformed even Auston in the Department of Command Practical Exam.
Among the cadets, he also appeared to be receiving considerable praise for having surpassed Lintberg J. Aneis, the daughter of the former Commander of the Judgment Knight Order.
She had heard that his unsociable personality remained unchanged……
‘Actually, being commanded by him might be more comfortable.’
At least he seemed equally dismissive toward humans and Demi-Humans alike.
‘Haah. How did my life end up like this?’
As she thought that, Delilah suddenly stopped walking.
Perhaps it was because of what she had just been thinking, but Shane seemed to be looking in her direction.
No.
He was not merely looking.
He was actually walking toward her.
Klein followed behind him.
Shane rarely paid much attention to other people, so Klein seemed curious as to why his brother’s gaze had lingered upon one person for so long.
Delilah tilted her head beneath Shane’s stare.
After spending so much of her life enduring other people’s scrutiny, she had become exceptionally sensitive to the way others looked at her.
And what she sensed in Shane’s gaze was……
A very faint trace of pity?
What is this? Does he know me?
Just as the thought occurred to her—
“Did you prepare well for the exam?”
The person who answered Shane’s question was not Delilah, but Auston standing behind her.
Shane’s gaze had already left Delilah and shifted toward Auston.
“Y-Yes. D-Did your exam go well too, S-Shane?”
“Well enough. You may look forward to the result.”
“This should b-be interesting.”
Auston answered, and Shane briefly shifted his gaze back toward Delilah.
This time, there was not the slightest trace of the pity she had sensed earlier.
His expression was as emotionless as usual.
“Th-This is Mayer Delilah. Sh-She is a fifth-year c-cadet like us.”
“I see.”
Delilah stared at Auston in disbelief after he suddenly introduced her for no apparent reason.
But standing there in silence would have been awkward, so she spoke.
“Ah…… I’m Delilah from the Department of Magic. I think we’ve seen each other a few times in class. Right?”
“I remember.”
“Uh…… Right. Good.”
“…….”
For some reason, Delilah found it difficult to meet Shane’s utterly emotionless face directly.
Meanwhile, Klein was looking at his brother with an expression of inexplicable emotion.
“Brother…… You finally made a friend.”
At least, Delilah thought that was what she heard.
What does that mean?
While she was still wondering, Shane turned away without another word.
Klein gave Auston and Delilah a charming smile, made some incomprehensible remark asking them to take good care of his brother, then followed Shane.
“Hey, Auston. Why did you suddenly introduce me to that man?”
“H-Huh? Oh…… J-Just because? Delilah, you d-don’t really know anyone besides m-me.”
“Damn. You went straight for the wound there.”
“S-Still, I don’t think knowing him will h-hurt you.”
“Oh~ Is that so?”
Delilah was briefly bewildered, but decided it had merely been an insignificant encounter and resumed walking.
She had more important things to worry about than a meaningless little incident like this.
“I should go do some tutoring…….”
—
As Shane walked down the corridor, he found himself remembering the past for the first time in a while.
They were not memories he particularly wished to revisit.
But seeing the face of someone he had known during his time with the Organization naturally brought them back.
[Hey. They told me to support you.]
[Is that so?]
[‘Is that so?’ Is that so? Damn it, do you think I don’t know what you’re planning? You’re going to use my people as shields, then raise them again as those filthy corpses of yours once they die. You think I can’t see through that?]
[I never asked our superiors to give such an order.]
[Do not give me that nonsense! Why should we superior Subterraneans have to serve under some gloomy bastard who plays with corpses? Forget it. You tell the people above. They never listen when I say it.]
[If that is what you want, I will. I doubt the outcome will change.]
[You call that an answer?]
[Every member of the Organization joins my Legion when they die. Wherever you go, if your Subterraneans die on the front lines, they will come under my command.]
[You bastard!]
They had certainly had their share of conflicts.
Then again, it was rare for any of the Legion Commanders representing the Seven Deadly Sins to get along with one another.
But Shane and the Third Legion Commander had been particularly incompatible.
And for good reason.
How could Shane, who represented Envy, possibly coexist peacefully with Delilah, who represented Pride?
They were opposites in every sense.
Delilah, the Traitor to Humanity, had been like oil and water with Shane in his previous life.
[Hey, corpse-fucker.]
[Do not call me that.]
[Then how about getting rid of that ‘Traitor to Humanity’ nonsense first?]
[I have never called you that.]
[Then order your underlings to stop. Those little bastards practically drop dead whenever you give a command.]
[Why would I bother with something so troublesome?]
[You damned bastard.]
Ironically, because their mutual dislike had been so obvious, they had also understood each other’s intentions better than most.
[‘Traitor to Humanity,’ my ass. It’s not as if they ever treated me like a human in the first place…….]
Once, Delilah had muttered those words atop Shane’s ancient castle while drinking alcohol that could not even make her drunk.
So perhaps it was only natural that seeing the Delilah of the present would remind him of the Delilah from back then.
Lost in those thoughts, Shane eventually stopped before an enormous door.
“Is this the place?”
“Indeed. This is the Academy’s Artifact Repository.”
The Artifact Repository.
There was no need for him to visit so urgently, as it was not a place containing anything overwhelmingly extraordinary.
However, seeing Delilah had reminded Shane of a particular incident that occurred around this period, so he had decided to come here now.
‘I thought I would have more time to prepare, but it seems time will not permit it.’
Early in their fifth year at the Academy.
Back then, Delilah had vanished from the Academy without a word.
It had been a minor incident, one that had quickly faded from everyone’s memory.
