'Time's tight.'
I glanced at Evangeline and Andy, then turned away. When I lightly raised a hand, a mana car pulled up in front of me.
A mana car was a means of transport that ran on a mana stone, and it closely resembled a car. As long as it was supplied with a mana stone, it could move indefinitely. Thanks to its magic-tool seats, the ride was superb, too. If it had one fatal drawback......
'It's that they're expensive.'
Since mana stones were expensive, mana cars were naturally expensive too. So much so that even nobles couldn't use one casually. Of course, money was no problem for me.
I hopped lightly into the mana car.
"Where to, sir?"
"To Elysium Academy, please."
"Yes, understood."
The mana car set off smoothly. It glided forward as if riding on a cloud. The mana car left the capital and traveled down a long-laid road.
Soon, far in the distance, enormous white towers came into view. Elysium Academy. It looked just as it had on my monitor, but seeing it in the flesh stirred fresh feelings.
'Fucking huge, and fucking magnificent.'
Endless stretches of lush green lawn, a white marble fountain, vibrant students in academy uniforms. I felt the reality of my possession all over again.
The mana car stopped in front of the main gate. You couldn't ride a mana car into the academy grounds. When I got out, I saw a man in a security uniform — blue short-sleeved shirt, black trousers — directing the way.
"The Security Corps testing ground is this way."
It matched exactly what I'd seen in the game. Still, seeing it for real stirred something different in me.
'What a sorry-ass operation.'
Carrying my leather bag, I headed in the direction the man had pointed. A crowd of tense people was packed into one place. And their number was considerable.
'At least a thousand, easily.'
It seemed Elysium Academy had massively expanded its security to handle the flood of this year's incoming students. The overall caliber wasn't high. The Security Corps had never been a major role in the game to begin with.
In a sense, that was only natural. In an academy story, if the Security Corps did its job properly, there'd be no occasion for the main cast — the students and professors — to step up. For the main cast to shine, the Security Corps had to be lax.
That was precisely why I'd chosen the Security Corps.
I intended to turn the academy into a place of study, not romance. And for that, the Security Corps had to function properly.
Just then, a man in a security uniform stepped forward.
"Right! We'll now begin the General Security Corps examination! The General Security Corps exam is divided into four stages. Stage one is—"
"Identity verification!!"
A blond, hulking man shot his hand up and shouted. At the sight of the hulk, the security man openly scrunched up his face.
"Kellin, you still haven't given up? What number is this for you?"
"My fifth! Giving up runs counter to the Security Corps spirit!"
"What 'Security Corps spirit,' from a guy who hasn't even passed—"
"My soul is already Security Corps!"
A boisterous burst of laughter went up. The man clicked his tongue and waved a hand.
"Fine, just shut your mouth and stay put. Before I cut you."
"Yes, sir—! Senior!"
"Anyway, the Security Corps exam is divided into four stages. Stage one is identity verification. The Security Corps is the gate that guards Elysium Academy. If an impure element gets mixed into the Corps, it's fatal. We've already checked you down to your grandparents. Now — those whose names I call, head home at once."
The man called out names rapidly. Those called made some excuse or other, but every last one was driven off without exception. Some were seized and dragged away by force.
I'd already spent a fortune preparing an airtight identity. One that wouldn't trip any alarms even if the imperial household investigated. As expected, my name was never called.
When identity verification ended, the number of applicants had been cut in half.
"All right, stage two is the basic fitness test. If anything happens inside the academy, the Security Corps must be the first to come running. Even if you're asleep at the time."
The fitness test was things like an armored long-distance run, hauling loads, and holding firm with a shield raised. Being simple, there was no room to cut corners.
"Damn it! Who arms up this ridiculously these days?!"
A swaggering-looking fellow grumbled beside me.
'This is heavy?'
I lightly lifted the suit of armor. It was far too light. Light enough to make me wonder if you could even call it armor. Armor this thin couldn't stop a demon — never mind a demon, it couldn't even stop a magical beast's fangs. On the front, this would've earned you a tongue-lashing about where you'd dug up some leather hide, and yet "too heavy"—.
'Feeble lot.'
Just then, a bell rang to signal the start. Everyone dashed off quickly. I ran at roughly the pace of the others. None of them got far before keeling over one after another. Some were even foaming at the mouth. It was a wretched sight, bad enough to furrow the brow on its own.
And so the stage-two test ended. Of five hundred, about a hundred and fifty were eliminated.
"Stage three is ideological screening. It's a simple test, so it'll be over quickly."
The next test was a written exam on the Empire, the mage-tower corporations, the Theocracy, and black mages. Just as the examiner said, it was a simple test. People started writing their answers the moment they sat down. Before long, some began leaving the testing room.
For me, sadly, it was not easy in the slightest.
Are you an imperialist?
'If the Republic is to be stopped, the Empire must be strong.'
Have you ever made a pact with a demon?
'It wasn't a pact, but I did have a heart forcibly transplanted into me.'
Landmine questions like these went on for quite a while. On top of that, a sophisticated magic circle was laid into the test paper.
'They hid a spell that keeps you from writing falsehoods.'
It was a magic circle precise enough to be nearly impossible to spot. Clearly crafted by a very high-level mage. Just then, the final question came into view.
Have you ever been in love with a witch?
At the witch question coming out of nowhere, my eyes sank deep. Now I understood how such an intricate magic circle could have been laid here.
'The Chairman crafted this.'
It had to have been crafted by the Chairman — the Mother of Witches.
Since it was a magic circle the Chairman had crafted herself, breaking it with magic was impossible.
The simplest way to break a magic circle is to use aura, which counters magic. But that would leave a trace. The very attempt to break the magic circle would invite suspicion. To leave no trace of breaking it, I'd need to fully grasp the magic circle's structure — but it was a magic circle crafted by an Archmage, so just analyzing it would take an age. Still, there was one other solution.
'I just use divine power.'
Magic is poison to divine power. Which is precisely why, with divine power, the traces of a magic circle were easier to find. You just trace back the parts where the divine power vanishes. It was my favored method.
'This damned blessing—.'
Pure white light, divine power, scattered faintly from my palm. By tracing the parts where the divine power wavered, I could easily make out the magic circle. I moved my pen along, careful not to disturb the circle. It made my handwriting a mess, but I didn't bother with that part.
I looked at my completed answer sheet and thought for a moment.
The Mother of Witches, the Chairman, did no outside activity whatsoever. It was because she loathed sunlight. Above all, the Chairman was thoroughly cautious. Cautious enough to lay a magic circle even into a Security Corps recruitment exam.
A chance to make contact with the Chairman like this was rare. I needed to throw out some bait.
Have you ever loved a witch?
After a deep breath, I slowly moved my pen.
'No.'
With each letter I wrote, a nausea welled up, as if all the blood in my body were surging backward. To think a magic circle merely etched into a test paper could carry this kind of force.
'A monster. An Archmage indeed.'
Thud-thud-thud! My right heart pounded like a wagging tail. My left heart trembled and quivered as if screaming.
I twisted the final answer just slightly. To anyone else it wouldn't show at all, but to the Chairman, it would.
'Take the bait.'
I muttered low and set down my pen.
"Is this going to take you that long?"
The examiner chided me.
When I lifted my head, there was only one other person left in the room besides me. The fellow called Kellin. Setting myself aside, why was that one still—.
Just then, Kellin held up his answer sheet. It was packed densely with writing.
First of all, I am not an imperialist, but I praise the greatness of the Empire. This is because His Majesty the Emperor is a graduate of Elysium Academy, my senior. The greatness of the Empire is thus the greatness of Elysium Academy—.
"The paper's too small to hold my Security Corps spirit! Just one more sheet, please! Security Corps spirit!!"
"What a goddamn pain—. Hurry up and get out!"
Thanks to the uproarious Kellin, I was able to submit my paper without incident.
***
"Chairman! Chairman!! Chairman!!!"
Angelica pounded roughly on the firmly shut door. But no reply came back.
Not that she thought anything like, 'Is no one inside?' That gloomy witch would never go out, after all.
"If you don't open up right now, no more red-vinegar candy!"
In the end, Angelica played her trump card. The instant the words left her mouth, the door flew open.
Inside was a lake ringed by forest, with a cabin. It was a truly incongruous sight, yet strangely it felt natural. At its center sat a small cat. The cat was wearing a bizarre hat and fishing. A truly surreal sight, but to Angelica it was a familiar scene.
"Chairman, why did you put a witch question on the Security Corps exam?! You, of all people, who know best how sensitive a subject witches are!"
"Meow."
"Don't pretend to be a cat."
"Meow?"
"Where in the world is there a cat that wears a hat and goes fishing?!"
"Meow."
A vein bulged on Angelica's forehead. Angelica brought out her secret weapon — a candy giving off a sharp, tangy smell. Red-vinegar candy. At the sight of the red-vinegar candy, the cat's eyes went wide. The cat hurriedly opened its mouth. Curiously, the voice of a young girl spilled out.
"It couldn't be helped. My daughter asked me to, in person."
"Your daughter?"
Angelica's expression turned grave.
The Chairman was the Mother of Witches. The trouble was that her daughters were every one of them out of their minds. They weren't called the Sisters of Calamity for nothing. And now a matter involving her daughter — that was a more serious problem than expected.
"What did she ask for?"
"To find her first love."
"A witch's first love?"
"Meow."
Witches are a breed mad for love. It sounds romantic at a glance, but the reality was the exact opposite.
A witch's love meant the two becoming one forever. Physically, and in soul.
In other words, a witch devoured the one she loved. Alive.
"And if she's found?"
"Who knows."
The cat tilted its head. A truly adorable sight, but Angelica, who knew the truth, let out a low groan. Angelica shook her head, forcing down her unease.
"A witch only loves one stronger than herself, doesn't she? Would someone with strength equal to or greater than the Witch of Calamity come in as a mere Security Corps guard, not even a professor?"
"You never know."
The cat smiled gently. At that, Angelica felt genuine relief. There was no way someone strong enough to rival the Sisters of Calamity would join the Security Corps. There'd be no real trouble.
"Meow."
Just then, the cat held out a front paw. With practiced ease, Angelica took out a red-vinegar candy and set it on the pad of the paw. Soon the sharp, tangy smell stung her nose.
"Meow."
The Chairman purred.