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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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“Ha, what a troublesome master…”
Hines muttered, his voice laced with irritation.
Waves of furious magical power emanated from him with each stroke of his beard.
The other professors, assigned as exam proctors, averted their gazes, intimidated by the rare display of anger from the usually calm Hines.
“To think she’d disrupt the order like this. Even if she’s his master, there will be consequences if something goes wrong.”
“But the teachers are all gathered together, so shouldn’t it be alright? They were sent to their designated locations…”
Cain Aldeon, the professor in charge of “Applied Swordsmanship,” spoke casually, unfazed by the tension. He was always this optimistic.
“…Huh.”
Hines turned a sharp gaze towards the voice, then sighed upon seeing it was Cain. He decided to address Cain’s point rather than explain the gravity of the situation.
“One person is missing.”
“Ah.”
Cain finally realized Allen wasn’t present. Even so, his opinion remained unchanged.
“Well, does it matter? I doubt that monster will die anywhere.”
“That’s true, but… tsk, that’s not the point right now.”
Hines shook his head and channeled his magical power.
Azure magical power spread from his staff, forming a barrier around the entire island.
A simple spell, but its effect was significant, preventing intruders from approaching. Hines, slightly exhausted from the massive expenditure of magical power, spoke.
“This is an unexpected situation, but… everyone, move to your designated positions. Remember that the students’ safety is our top priority.”
“Yes, sir!”
The teachers dispersed across the island, leaving only Cain behind. His duty was to protect the headmaster, not the students.
“Are you alright? You look exhausted.”
“I cast a transcendental spell without prior preparation, so don’t worry. I’ll recover with some rest.”
Hines snapped his fingers, summoning a plush chair.
He sat down and quietly asked Cain,
“…Do you think there are any intruders already on the island?”
“I don’t sense anything right now, but… they could be hiding, so it’s too early to let our guard down.”
Cain’s ability to sense approaching danger was so accurate it bordered on precognition. That was why he’d been chosen as Hines’s bodyguard.
“This is troublesome. This magic is meant to block external threats. Its effectiveness is halved if the enemy is already inside.”
“Even if there are intruders, there’s nothing we can do right now. Focus on recovering your magical power first.”
“…I suppose you’re right. I’ll leave my safety to you.”
“Sure.”
Hines frowned at Cain’s casual reply, then began meditating to recover his magical power. He could trust Cain’s abilities, at least.
“Ha, this is so annoying. Why do we even have such a dangerous exam?”
Cain couldn’t understand.
Even if it was tradition, was it necessary to risk the students’ safety?
If it were held at Minerva, the second safest place after the capital, there wouldn’t be any need for such concerns.
There were plenty of people who would target these uncut gems, these students with untapped potential. Would those hyenas really miss such a golden opportunity?
The exam had concluded without incident in the past, but there was no guarantee it would happen again.
He’d feel much safer if the Imperial family sent reinforcements…
“Tsk, focus on your duty.”
Cain cleared his mind and sharpened his senses. Just then, an immense power shook the island.
……!!!
“…What was that?”
Such a powerful presence was rare.
At least Master-level. His danger sense wasn’t triggered, so it wasn’t an enemy… but there was no guarantee it would stay that way.
“This exam… I have a bad feeling about this.”
His palms were damp with nervous sweat. He gripped the hilt of his sword, his expression grim.
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“Tsk, I can’t see anything.”
He’d climbed a tree, but this height wasn’t enough to survey the surroundings. He sighed and glanced down.
Whimper…
The wolf that had been drooling moments ago was now lying on its back, displaying its submission. Next to it was the crater he’d created.
“Primordial Crushing Pillar is great, but it causes too much unnecessary destruction.”
He’d been a bit irritated when he’d used it, so the crater was larger and wider than the one he’d created at Minerva.
It looked like a construction site.
He scratched the back of his neck, looking at the devastated landscape, then at the whimpering wolf.
“I’m not sure if leaving one alive was a good idea.”
It must have been terrified, seeing its pack vanish without a trace. He nudged the trembling wolf with his foot.
Whimper! Yelp!
“Stop exaggerating… hey, can you carry me?”
Whine?
The wolf blinked, seemingly understanding.
He wasn’t going to walk across this vast island on foot.
It was an impromptu idea, but not a bad one. He smiled at the wolf.
“Your name is Taxi, from now on.”
Whimper…
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Taxi’s ride wasn’t comfortable, but it was fast. He surveyed the surroundings, enjoying the cool forest breeze.
“They should be surviving just fine. I taught them well enough.”
Aerius had messed up his original plan, but the students were destined to be scattered across the island anyway.
His role as an instructor was to observe them discreetly, a secret bodyguard.
The problem was, he had to find them first…
“How far did she scatter them?”
Aside from his adorable Taxi, all he could see were bugs.
Surely he wouldn’t fail to find a single student until the exam ended?
Just as he expanded his senses, he felt it.
“…This is…”
An ominous presence in the distance. A sticky, muddy feeling that sent shivers down his spine. ‘Dark magic’, one of his most hated things.
“You feel it too, right? Let’s go.”
Whine…
Taxi whined but obediently headed towards the source of the dark magic. All living beings instinctively recoiled from dark magic.
A beast, driven by instinct more than reason, would feel even greater fear, but it couldn’t be helped. They shouldn’t have messed with him.
He emerged from the forest onto a beach with emerald waves.
Swish swish
The sound of sand crunching under his feet tickled his ears.
“Tsk… disgusting.”
Whimper…
As he got closer, the unpleasant feeling intensified, accompanied by a foul stench.
He had to get off Taxi before his precious mode of transportation succumbed to the miasma.
“Wait in the forest. If you run… you know what happens.”
Woof!
Taxi barked energetically and ran off at a speed he hadn’t seen before. Had it been holding back?
He stared after the rapidly disappearing wolf in disbelief, then channeled his Aura, finally blocking out the nauseating dark magic. He took a few more steps, and the source of the dark magic revealed itself.
“What… what is this?”
A square patch of dark magic residue on the sand.
No special incantations, no magic circles.
Like a footprint left by a passing beast… it simply existed.
The only thing he could infer was that a dangerous being had entered the island.
Judging by the dome-shaped magical barrier visible along the coastline, Hines’s magic was working as intended.
Therefore, this being had been here before the barrier was activated. Moreover, the Island of Wisdom was a strategic location, constantly patrolled by the navy.
A being wielding dark magic, capable of infiltrating the island despite the navy’s patrols. The only beings he knew capable of such a feat were ‘Archbishops’.
“Damn it, what did I do to deserve this?”
This was the second time he’d encountered one since arriving at Minerva. He sighed and began to erase the dark magic residue.
If left unchecked, it would contaminate the surroundings.
Only divine magic, its polar opposite, could completely erase dark magic, but repeatedly crushing it with Aura achieved a similar effect.
It was inefficient, but he had no other choice.
After expending a considerable amount of Aura, the dark magic finally faded. He pondered his next move. Should he search for the Archbishop? Or inform Hines? Both options had their pros and cons.
“I should probably regroup first…”
Boom!
A massive explosion interrupted his thoughts. Seeing the rising smoke in the distance, he had no choice but to head towards it. Protecting the students was his primary responsibility as an instructor.
“Taxi! Double time!!!”
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Amy regained consciousness shortly after being transferred to the Island of Wisdom by Aerius.
“This is… the Island of Wisdom…? Ah, Aerius’s Spatial Transfer magic.”
Quickly grasping the situation with her characteristic intelligence, she surveyed the surroundings. Judging by the dense forest and the chirping birds, there didn’t seem to be any immediate danger.
“I should regroup first.”
It was difficult for a mage to survive alone. She needed to find Ariana, who could act as her vanguard. She knew about this type of exam, but… being alone on the island was unsettling.
“…I can do this. Just follow the plan.”
Amy took a deep breath and calmed herself. Composure was crucial for a mage.
‘A mage responsible for firepower shouldn’t fail to cast a spell, no matter the circumstances.’
Allen’s words echoed in her mind. Remembering his grueling training sessions eased her tension. She smiled faintly and started walking.
“Alright. First, find a signal…”
Just as she was about to move, she heard it.
Thud
“…!”
An ominous sound.
She hastily cast a protective spell and turned around to see an unknown monster staring at her.
It looked like a bear with dark brown fur, but… its eyes glowed red. Its fangs were grotesquely large.
Sticky saliva dripped from its mouth. And most importantly, its massive body, as large as the surrounding trees, was covered in bulging veins. It was clearly no ordinary beast.
“Could it be…?”
She sensed an unfamiliar energy emanating from the monster.
A terrifying energy that almost made her legs buckle. Amy realized this faint energy was the ‘dark magic’ she’d only heard of in stories. And at that moment…
Roar!
The monster charged. Amy couldn’t react to its speed, which rivaled a seasoned warrior’s.
“Kyaaa!”
Crash!
She was sent flying by the monster’s paw, crashing into a tree.
If she hadn’t instinctively focused her magical power on her protective spell, she would have lost consciousness.
“This much pain…!”
She wouldn’t have been able to react like this, to endure this pain, if it weren’t for Allen’s training. Her suffering hadn’t been in vain.
She smiled faintly and whispered.
“Now… it’s my turn.”
Crimson flames bloomed at the tip of her staff. The same spell she’d foolishly cast at Allen during their first class, but…
“It’s different now.”
A miniature sun appeared in Amy’s eyes.
A divine technique wielded only by chosen members of the Helios family, blessed by the Sun God.
It was considered a mark of the next Archmage. As the flames of the Eye of Fire flickered, the crimson flames began to fade, becoming transparent.
Intense heat distorted the surrounding scenery. This was the true Swirling Mirage, enhanced by the Eye of Fire, increasing the spell’s power.
“Die!”
Amy thrust her staff forward, and the mirage instantly engulfed the monster.
Roar!
The monster roared in agony, trapped in the vortex of transparent flames. Its dark magic-enhanced skin melted and charred, turning to ash.
The monster, writhing in pain, suddenly glared at Amy and swiped at her with its paw.
A final, futile struggle. Amy gripped her staff, watching the monster’s desperate attempt.
“Hurts, doesn’t it? I’ll end it now.”
She focused her magical power and swung her staff.
Boom!
A massive explosion shook the forest.
…!!!
“Ugh…!”
Amy covered her ears against the unknown roar.
As the smoke cleared, the monster’s massive body collapsed.
Amy smiled faintly, looking at the ash-covered monster. It was a smile that resembled Allen’s.
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