(2)
4.
Fountain of Magic, Area 2.
Professor Direk, who arrived at the test site, made eye contact with the students gathered in a huddle. Then, he went up to the podium and opened his mouth.
It was to explain the test content.
“Today’s test is largely divided into three parts.”
As soon as Direc finished speaking.
Assistant supervisors waiting behind the podium came out pulling a cart. All that was inside was pitch-black rocks.
“First, pay attention to the magic stone here.”
It was a magic stone.
A magic stone is a magic stone whose magic power has been completely exhausted. And each of the magic stones currently in the cart had a number engraved on them.
“The number written on this magic stone represents the attendance number. All you have to do is take the corresponding magic stone, figure out how many magic marks there are inside, and submit the correct answer.”
Magical power marks.
This refers to the small traces engraved inside the stone according to the curves of the magic flow when the magic stone was a magic stone.
After finishing the explanation of the first test.
Just as I was about to start the next explanation, several students suddenly raised their hands.
“Uh, professor.”
“Can I use magic power?”
The intention of the question was simple.
This is because if you can only use magical power, the difficulty of the test becomes much easier. Of course, I won’t give you permission.
So, I was nervous and waiting for an answer.
A quite unexpected answer came back.
“Yeah, it doesn’t matter.”
“yes? Is that really true… … .”
“However, keep in mind that this is Zone 2, and if you can take responsibility for everything that happens in the future, you can use it as much as you want.”
“… … .”
The students who asked the question kept their mouths shut.
It seemed like he had finally remembered that this was the fountain of magic, especially the second area.
‘Area 2 has two characteristics.’
This means that magic tools do not work properly and the possibility of magical power surge increases by up to 20%.
‘In other words, the moment you release magic power out of the body, you take on the risk of magic runaway.’
No student would be willing to take that kind of risk just for a midterm exam, not a graduation exam or assignment.
And Direc’s prediction was correct.
The proof is that the rebuttal was not returned.
“More than anything, the purpose of this test is to find traces of magic power without using magic power. Anyone can do it if they have listened to my lectures carefully.”
After spitting out a final word.
The explanation continued.
“The second test is to go around Area 2, find a substance with as stable a flow of magical energy as possible, and submit it. “The fewer bends in the flow, the higher the score.”
Is it because of the easy-to-understand explanation?
There were no special questions this time.
“The third exam consists of a written exam and a simple test. “This will be the final exam after taking the previous two exams.”
This concludes the explanation.
Direc immediately came down from the podium and handed the baton to the assistant supervisors. He meant relinquishing the powers of the inspector general.
“For your information, I will be away for a while because I have personal business, so from now on, please follow the instructions of the assistant supervisors.”
After saying that he would return by the time the third test started, Direc turned around.
Then.
An assistant supervisor followed him.
Because the hood was pressed down too deep, I couldn’t see her face, but judging by her petite and slender figure, I felt like she was a girl.
“… … .”
Ulan quietly stared at the back of the assistant supervisor. Then Noah, who discovered this, tilted his head and asked back.
“Ulan?”
“why?”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I felt a familiar smell.”
“Yes? “The smell?”
However, no answer came back.
Ulan could only stare at the back of the girl who was moving further and further away.
‘I think I’ve seen this before somewhere.’
The gait was also very familiar.
However, since he couldn’t remember who it was, Ulan soon lost interest.
If you can’t remember him even after thinking about it this much, it probably means he’s not that important.
Around the time I turned my gaze like that.
“We will start distributing magic stones now!”
“Please come out and collect them in order of attendance number.”
Preparation for the exam soon began.
Ulan also received a magic stone with his attendance number written on it, following the instructions of the assistant supervisors.
Some time after that.
Once the magic stone distribution was finished, the assistant supervisors placed a large clock on the podium.
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“The time limit for the test is 30 minutes.”
“It is important to know the number of magic marks, but submission time is also a very important item, so submit it as quickly as possible.”
“Then the test will start now!”
Cue the cries of the supervisors.
The final exam of the midterm exam has begun.
5.
The first test, finding the magic trace of the magic stone.
If you look at this part alone, this is an easy test that will make you yawn.
This is because finding the magical power traces of a magic stone can be accurately identified simply by flowing the magic power.
But now I can’t use magical power.
The story is completely different.
To be precise, it would be correct to say that the level of difficulty increases rapidly.
Of course, as Professor Direc said earlier, the distinction itself exists.
However, the problem was that 30 minutes was too short to use this classification method.
“Isn’t 30 minutes a bit tight?”
“It’s not a little, it’s very tight.”
“Even if we ask second graders to do it right now, not even half of them will be able to complete it in 30 minutes.”
Watching students struggling on exams.
The supervisors each exchanged opinions.
“I thought you would give me at least an hour.”
“As expected of Professor Ormine.”
“Ilho is very merciless in exams.”
Direc Ormine has long been notorious as a professor who gives difficult exams.
If there is enough time on the test, it means that the difficulty level of the questions is extremely difficult, and on the other hand, if the level of difficulty is easy, there is not enough time for the test.
“I think half of you will fail this test as well.”
“Well, if it’s half that, it’s actually fortunate.”
“I think at least twenty people will be disqualified?”
That’s how difficult this test was.
So the supervisors expected.
Out of twenty-six students, only about five or six would pass.
But then.
“The test is over.”
There was a student who came to visit the supervisors.
A silver-haired girl with an expressionless face.
It was Delia Arpen. And the supervisors were visibly perplexed by her visit.
“… … what?”
“Burr, you’ve already found the traces?”
“yes. Here is the answer sheet.”
Delia held out a note.
The number 26 written clearly.
The supervisors checked the answer sheet and blinked in surprise.
“Dilia Arpen, 1 minute 32 seconds.”
“That’s accurate. “That is correct.”
It was literally the shortest time.
Afterwards, when Delia turned around, the supervisors burst out in admiration without anyone else being the first to say so.
“Wow, that’s incredibly fast.”
“This much speed even without horsepower.”
“Is this really the genius wizard of the duchy?”
“This is real talent.”
Supervisors continue to express their admiration.
Well, it was worth it.
It would take even Professor Direc, the test taker, at least 10 full minutes to find the magic trace without using magic power.
But it’s still too early to be surprised.
“Hey, I’m sorry.”
One more person after Delia.
Because there was a girl who visited the supervisors.
“I finished it too, can I submit it?”
A black-haired girl hesitantly handed out the answer sheet.
Has the same talent as Delia.
It was Noah Darshen. The supervisors who received the answer sheets looked surprised again.
“Noah Darshen, 2 minutes and 15 seconds.”
“Great. “That’s correct.”
Second fastest time after Delia.
The supervisors looked surprised and made a fuss at the speed, which was far beyond common sense. Meanwhile, Noah turned his body to go back to his seat.
At that time, I suddenly heard a voice.
“As expected, it’s pretty good.”
It was Delia.
Is it because of the sudden praise? Noah let out a bashful laugh with an embarrassed expression on his face.
“Oh, it’s still far away. “I’m later than you.”
“That’s right, because I’m better than you.”
“… … .”
Noah closed his mouth.
It was an unlucky answer, but it was actually true. If you look at the character level right now, Delia was SS level, which means there are less than five people.
“Rather, what about Ulan?”
At that time, Delia looked around.
With eyes full of curiosity.
Noah shrugged his shoulders and answered.
“As you can see, I’m struggling.”
Where the white finger points.
There, clutching the magic stone, was Ulan, silently glaring at the surface.
Just by looking at it, it looks like there is no progress.
Delia, who was looking at this in silence, took light steps and approached him.
“Ulan.”
After gently calling my name.
He spoke in a subdued tone.
“Shall I help you?”
She could go beyond simply helping and even sneakily reveal the correct answer.
Delia is the one who receives Mana’s love.
Since magic power can be seen with the eyes, it is not difficult to identify traces of magic power.
“Thank you for the favor, but it’s okay.”
But Ulan shook his head.
As if you don’t have to do that.
“Because I can do it on my own.”
“But, Ulan doesn’t even have magical powers… … .”
“This is my test. “It is meaningful to solve problems solely with one’s own strength, without receiving help from others.”
Stubborn answers came back one after another.
Then Delia closed her mouth. After a while, she puffed out her cheeks with a sullen expression on her face.
“… … “Why am I a stranger?”
I pursed my lips and a voice as small as a mosquito came out. However, Ulan didn’t seem to notice this and was still only looking at the magic power.
So time passed gradually.
Ulan finally realized.
‘I don’t know anything.’
I don’t even know what magic marks are in the first place.
Speaking of traces, I assumed they looked like dots, but I couldn’t find anything that looked like dots on the surface of the magic stone.
‘So does that mean it’s inside?’
However, I couldn’t just check the inside. After the test is over, you will have to return the magic stone. So while I was thinking about it.
‘That… … .’
Suddenly something caught his eye.
A stone in Delia’s hand.
It was a magic stone with a temporary attendance number engraved on it. After confirming this, Ulan immediately spoke.
“Delia.”
“… … why?”
“Do I not have to submit that?”
“huh. “I don’t think they collect them separately.”
A magic stone whose magic power has been completely exhausted has the same value as an ordinary stone. So there was no need or reason to collect it.
Immediately after her explanation.
Ulan’s eyes sparkled.
“Then can I take it?”
“It doesn’t matter, but where should I use it?”
“I have something to test.”
What are you testing with this?
I had a strange feeling, but my worries didn’t last long. So she willingly handed over the magic stone.
“Now, here.”
“I accept it gratefully.”
Ulan grinned.
Delia watched his actions in silence. Like I was wondering what he was going to do.
Meanwhile, Ulan held onto Delia’s magic stone tightly with both hands. Then I tore it right up.
“ah… … ?”
A magic stone that was split in half at once.
It felt so natural that I thought I was splitting an apple. Truly incredible power. There was a time when I looked at Ulan blankly at his behavior that went beyond common sense.
His question was heard.
“Is this perhaps a magic trace?”
“… … huh? Uh oh. that’s right.”
Delia nodded a beat late.
She added an explanation, pointing to the white traces visible inside the magic stone.
“All the white things here are magic marks.”
“Right. thanks for letting me know.”
With this, the hesitation disappeared.
After placing Delia’s magic stone, which had been split in two, on the floor, Ulan grabbed his own magic stone.
Kaduk! Ugh!
This time, the magic stone splits in two.
Soon white traces came into view.
As Ulan was thinking about this, Delia suddenly nodded as if she had come to enlightenment.
“Earlier, what I said about solving it with my own strength was really solving it with my own strength.”
“… … .”
It felt like there was a misunderstanding, but I didn’t bother to correct it. Because counting the number of magical power marks was more important now.
“A total of twenty-eight.”
Even if I tried again, the result was the same.
Ulan immediately filled out the answer sheet and submitted it.
Then the results came out quickly.
“Confirmed. “That’s correct.”
“Ulan Bator, 15 minutes 24 seconds.”
When the results were announced, Ulan bowed his head slightly and then returned to his original position. The supervisors muttered in surprise at this.
“It’s a lot faster than I thought?”
“That’s right.”
“Contrary to appearances, it appears that your magical talent is quite outstanding.”
Of course, it was slower than the two girls who submitted their answer sheets earlier, but overall, it was fast.
Because so far, only Delia, Noah, and Ulan have submitted answer sheets.
“On the outside, it looks like he’s going to swing an ax for everything, whether it’s a test or something… … .”
“After all, you shouldn’t judge people by their appearance.”
Leaving aside the admiration of the supervisors.
Ulan returned to his original position. Then she asked as if she was curious about Delia.
“What about the results?”
“They say it’s the correct answer.”
That was natural. I split the magic stone and checked the number of magic marks with my own eyes. There is probably no surer way than this.
After submitting the answer sheet.
It was a time when I was just spending time in silence.
“You know, Ulan.”
Delia hesitantly spoke up.
It was with a somewhat nervous expression.
“By any chance, when the midterms are over, what are you going to do?”
“Well, I guess I’ll go eat.”
“No, that’s not it.”
“then?”
“… … “I will correct the question.”
I should say it more bluntly.
Delia cleared her throat with a meaningless cough and blurted out what she had originally intended to say.
“Do you have time this weekend?”
“There is a lot of time.”
“really?”
Her complexion brightened.
As if I had gotten the answer I wanted.
“Then, do you want to hang out together in the capital?”
“In the capital?”
“huh. I used my exit permit… … .”
“sorry. “If that’s the case, I already have a prior agreement.”
“… … “Pre-order?”
The answer was a sharp refusal.
Delia’s face remained frozen. The smile that had been hovering around her lips disappeared, and even a coldness appeared in her golden eyes.
After a while, she asked in a dry tone.
“Can I ask who you are?”
“Ibella Eleaad.”
The moment when the person going out is revealed.
Delia’s brow furrowed.
“Disgracefully, the player… … .”
Her pretty eyebrows also twitched.
As if he was very uncomfortable.
But even for a moment, Delia looked at Ulan intently and spoke to him.
“Then, next time, come with me.”
“Next time… … .”
“I mean next week.”
Golden eyes sparkled.
A gaze that exudes a strange obsession. The look in his eyes showed that he could not give even an inch. On the other hand, Ulan asked back with a puzzled look.
“From what I heard, there is one permit per person…” … .”
“It’s okay if I take more.”
“Is that possible?”
“Yes, it is possible.”
Start with a confident answer.
She said, placing her hand on her heart.
“Because I am the princess of Arpen.”
It’s not that difficult to get an extra ticket to go out. Therefore, it is even more important now to receive confirmation from Ulan.
So I asked back with a nervous face.
“… … Are you going to go out together?”
“It doesn’t matter as long as you have permission.”
“really? “Really?”
“okay.”
“huh. “It’s a promise.”
Only after saying the word promise several times did Delia’s complexion return to normal.
And that moment.
Beep!
A sharp whistle was heard.
“Exam is over!”
“If there are students who have not yet submitted their answer sheets, please submit them quickly!”
“If you don’t submit your answer sheet, you will be disqualified!”
After the first test of magic detection was over.
All the students were in tears.
Of course.
Of the twenty-six people, only five submitted correct answer sheets.
“We’ll take a 10-minute break now, and then we’ll start the second test right away!”
“Students who want to go to the bathroom should use the temporary bathroom provided over there.”
After hearing the supervisors’ instructions, Ulan immediately stood up. It was because the signal came at the right time. Then Delia also left her seat.
“I want to go together too.”
“The women’s bathroom is over there.”
“know. “Let’s go together, just halfway.”
The moment he responded with a sullen face.
Suddenly, Delia began to tremble.
“… … !”
The eyes became as big as a lamp.
She immediately turned her head. It was with a very surprised expression.
“What’s going on?”
“… … .”
Ulan asked as if puzzled by this sudden reaction, but there was no answer.
Delia just stared beyond the fountain of magic with her eyes wide open.
So I spoke again.
“Delia?”
“… … Nothing.”
The answer has finally come back.
She shook her head.
“For some reason, I have an uneasy feeling.”
“Feeling uncomfortable?”
“huh. It’s hard to explain in words, but… … .”
She blurted out her words and looked away again.
Beyond the thick fog that enveloped Area 2.
“… … “It’s probably not a big deal.”
This is a fountain of magic.
A magical world where common sense from the outside does not apply.
So it would be natural for an unpleasant phenomenon like this to occur that is difficult to explain in words.
So I tried to ignore it.
That was my intention. But even so, I couldn’t help but keep looking at him.
The place that caught Delia’s attention.
This is the place visible through the fog and the direction where Professor Direc disappeared earlier, saying he had some business to attend to.
It was the fountain of magic, ‘Area 3’.
Chapter 22. a changing future
fantasy,
