Well, there’s no use whining, so I’ll just say it straight.
The written exam, that is.
At one of the top schools in this world, a prestigious academy aiming to master magic, naturally with an amazing organization, I took the written exam.
Without a doubt, the hardest test in the world. The most difficult exam on this planet, without question.
And… it was ridiculously easy.
Wow, I didn’t expect I could do this well.
I did so well that I almost thought someone must have pulled strings behind the scenes.
I’m starting to be scared of my own talent.
To think I could reach this level in only three months.
Others have called me a meathead or worse, but maybe it’s time to transition into an “intellectual” persona.
If that’s the case, I need to buy glasses first.
Because intellectuals are all about glasses. My eyesight’s probably around 20/20 in both eyes anyway, so they’d just be for show.
Ah, no… actually, never mind. Glasses just seem like a nuisance.
Anyway, if I think seriously, they do exist.
Our associates are hiding all over the world.
An evil organization is basically a secret society. Placing people everywhere? That’s just standard procedure.
Even while taking the exam, I noticed that a lot of the trivia that idiot leader mentioned was being used.
That can’t be a coincidence. Clearly intentional.
Ah, poor students this year.
They studied seriously, yet they’re getting crushed by problems clearly outside the exam scope.
Well, tough luck. Just accept it.
Don’t worry; failing and retaking the exam is normal. Come back and try again next year.
Anyway. After the written test comes the practical exam.
Everyone—gather in the schoolyard!
Wow, so many people.
Two thousand, maybe?
How long is this going to take?
Creeping around in a massive swarm… gross. Why do I even have to do this?
Ah, no. Thinking like that just makes the wait feel even longer.
Let’s just get it over with. Don’t act, don’t think.
…………
Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, hurry up…
“Oi, girl.”
Ah… I’m getting a bad feeling.
My instincts are usually right.
Maybe I should just pretend to be a plant.
That troublesome guy will surely let me be if I mimic a perfect plant.
Right? Right??
“I’m talking to YOU!”
“…………”
Someone’s calling me.
Did I run into an acquaintance by chance?
I get it, you’re excited, but yelling like that isn’t great.
Yeah, yeah… ‘you’ should identify yourself quickly.
No one wants to be messed with by someone obviously dangerous, but for everyone’s sake… hurry up.
“How many times must you mock me!?”
“…………”
They grabbed my shoulder, but that’s not directed at me, right?
I mean, why would someone resent me?
Hmm… oh yeah, there was that guy who poked me before the written exam.
But the practical exam is sorted by candidate number… did I just happen to be in front and behind him?
How many examinees are there anyway!?
Some kind of curse? When did it happen?
“Don’t ignore me… bghuh!”
“Ah!”
Damn it, I did it again.
Why does my hand move on its own?
It’s clearly against my will. So technically, it’s not my fault.
Everything is someone else’s fault.
Maybe I deserve a little more rough treatment, who knows.
“You! Not once, but twice…!”
And seriously… why isn’t anyone stopping this guy’s tyranny?
Teachers, at least, shouldn’t they intervene?
Why is this being ignored? Is the world’s top school really weak against power?
“Heh, I’ve never been treated with such disdain before! That man back then, and now… why are there so many fools who don’t know their place!?”
“…………”
Yeah, I see it, I noticed, but they’re letting it slide.
As long as you have skill, attitude doesn’t matter?
No mercy for the weak, huh.
“What!? Say something!”
“…………”
“Is your mouth just decoration!?”
Why bother engaging with someone annoying?
If you hate it, just avoid them.
Wait—could this be the social skill of someone raised as nobility?
Wow, that level of social finesse!
You have to confront even unpleasant people to preserve your pride!?
Incredible… almost impressive.
“That man, and now… disrespecting me!”
“…………”
“I am the third son of the Aguinor Oak family! People like you, mere peasants, are far beneath me!”
This school is hopeless.
Or maybe I judge it as hopeless because I’m used to Japanese schools teaching the whole framework systematically.
Or maybe it’s my own bias pulling me down.
It’s mostly faded, almost gone… yet still there.
I hadn’t noticed because I don’t meet people much.
Wait… maybe I thought this same thing a century ago.
“Hey, are you listening!?”
Oh no, I wasn’t paying attention.
Sorry, got distracted.
“I am destined to be the top student here! I could forgive your rudeness, if I wanted!”
Looking forward, the line still continues.
How long until it’s my turn?
Do I have to deal with this guy until then?
Ugh, not fun. Who’s compensating for this mental damage?
“I, the noble Aguinor Oak heir, shall explain my family’s history to you, foolish peasant! Listen, cry tears of awe, and lick my feet in gratitude!”
“…………”
“The founder, Licht Aguinor Oak, in the early days of the Klein Kingdom…”
Ah, I give up.
※※※※※※※※
The practical exam has two main parts.
First, a magic power measurement.
It measures a person’s magic capacity and quantifies it.
Of course, higher is better.
Magic.
Humans in this world have organs that convert the energy called “mana” from the stars into their own, storing it for use.
The performance of these organs, called “magical organs,” combined with body capacity and affinity, generally determines magical talent.
You can visualize part of someone’s talent.
It makes sense to use this for entrance exams.
They use something like a crystal… who invented that?
I don’t think it existed 400 years ago.
Well, let’s take the test. New cultures are exciting.
After an hour of that noble’s bragging, it’s finally almost my turn.
“Fuhahaha!!”
But first, it’s the noble who attacked me earlier.
Wow, staring right at me. Sparkling eyes and all.
Hurry up. Waste of time. Don’t grin like a fool.
“Behold, commoner! This is my power!”
12246
Is that high? I don’t know. Over ten thousand seems high. Or maybe low? I’ll bet it’s relatively low.
“Over ten thousand!?”
“Still just a student?”
“Highest ever?”
“Of course, Aguinor Oak family…”
Ah, so ten thousand is high. Huh, interesting.
Kinda annoying with that smug face.
…
Hey, noble, step aside.
Why are you showing off while staring at me?
“Now, commoner, it’s your turn! Feel despair! Admire me! Especially admire me!”
“…………”
Annoying. Step aside. Next exam is waiting.
Hmph. Measurement, huh.
I never cared about magic capacity before.
If I pour my full power, will the number appear accordingly?
Maybe I’ll ask the leader to prepare it next time.
Here we go.
“Huh?”
At least now I know the noble’s passing line. That idiot was useful after all.
Numbers appear on the crystal. 10,000.
“Ten… thousand?”
“Another prodigy besides the Aguinor Oak family…?”
I focused my magic to reach 10,000.
Too much and it would be suspicious; I can control it precisely.
Even if decimals appear, I can adjust it to exactly 10,000.
Well, now I’m a fairly promising candidate.
“Fuhahaha… quite impressive, aren’t you…”
“…………”
Ah, the noble stopped bothering me.
Good. Stay gone, please.
“Not equal to me, but… impressive. I could even make you my right-hand!”
Next exam.
Use magic freely: defend, assist, destroy.
I can only really show destruction.
Target practice in a barrier with guaranteed durability.
“Observe, peasant! Behold my power!”
Still competing… enough already, tedious.
“‘Burn away, glory. Erase all roots of misfortune! Turn good and evil to ash, purify everything! Manifest, hellfire! I am the King of Flames! Obey me, spread and explode!’ ‘Flame Inferno Realm!’”
Long incantation. Quite a lot of magic gathered, but not uniform, somewhat chaotic.
Volume is fine, control… questionable.
Meanwhile, a fireball forms in the noble’s palm.
Scientifically, red means low temperature—but magic.
Could be around 6,000 degrees.
Safety prevents him from burning himself. Clever.
Hit the target. It melted.
“How’s that!?”
No idea. Reactions?
“The target melted…!? From that distance!?”
“Wow, elite!”
Impressive. Middle-tier power, though.
He’s around 15?
Forgot, most others live hundreds of years.
Seventh-tier magic, ‘Flame Inferno Realm.’ For his age… impressive, I guess. Standards are broken.
Magic tiers 1–10. Fourth tier = competent wizard? Or third? Fifth? Forget.
Seven-tier at his age? Impressive.
“Your turn! Hurry!”
“…………”
Why compete? Annoying. Obnoxious.
Zero-point-zero-three-second cooking:
Gather magic in finger. Solidify it. Propel it. Done.
Bang!
Magic ball pierces target. Easy.
Difficult for others to destroy. Passes minimum.
“What happened?”
“Notice a hole in the target…”
Noble is stunned. He doesn’t understand what I did.
Finally done. Ugh, what a pain.
Turn my back. Schoolyard is huge. Takes forever to leave.
I did my part. Mission complete.
No one can stop me.
Concealed skill, passed exam. I’m talented.
Associates and allies… surely they admire me now. Kneel and lick my feet if you like.
Wait. Our associates are here, aren’t they?
Exam questions were clearly rigged… could’ve just used the backdoor.
That idiot made me study for nothing!
I’ll complain later. Need to calm down…
!
“W-what!?”
Sudden strong presence behind me. Massive magic power.
Not the noble’s level. Hidden until now… output at will?
A student? No way.
Why here? What happened?
Ah…
“Chrono Dizaus. Pleased to meet you.”
Sound of something breaking. Crystal measurement? Ten times the noble?
Huh… familiar face. Noble says, “that time…”
Still a candidate? Really?
Chrono extends his hands. Magic storms forth. Geometries float. Spell forms. High-level magic.
More complex than the noble’s…
“Flare Burst.”
Teachers add extra barriers. Heat doesn’t reach here. High-level staff. Target? Gone. Separate dimension from others.
“Oops, went too far…”
Déjà vu. Entrance exam prodigy showing off. Handsome, helped a girl before exam, annoyingly good person.
Moves beyond the level, steals focus. Mob reaction: “Who is that!?”
I liked this a long time ago… four hundred years ago…
“Who are you!? A mere commoner… impossible!”
“Me? Talking about me, noble?”
Ah, the noble attacks again. Chrono’s hyped too.
“Chrono Dizaus. Remember my name.”
Ah, right. Template-protagonist move.