Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 26

26. What Happened During the Test

“Professor Andrei. That’s mine.”

The one who offered a helping hand at that moment was…

“Associate Professor Alois?”

It was Alois, wearing a troubled expression. He was just entering the Magic Tower when he came to stand beside me.

“Thanks, Ian. It’s my fault for asking you to hold it.”

He naturally snatched the black envelope and bowed his head towards Andrei.

“I’m sorry for causing you concern.”

Andrei’s hand, which had already reached out to me, had no choice but to awkwardly retreat.

“Ahem. Was Associate Professor Alois with these children as well?”

“Yes. I happened to run into them outside.”

At those words, Andrei’s eyes narrowed.

“You wouldn’t be taking special care of him outside the Magic Tower, would you? You shouldn’t give special treatment just because he’s from the same Delema [likely referring to Delema Academy].”

His hand pointed to my red eyes.

“The students of the Magic Tower should be evaluated on their skills, not their background.”

“I didn’t take special care of him; I just happened to run into him on the street. Oh, and this child has an excellent background, but his skills are even better.”

Alois smiled slyly, but he said everything he needed to say. Perhaps he didn’t like Alois’s slick attitude.

“Tsk! There’s no way someone who doesn’t even focus in class can have excellent skills. Are you covering for him just because Associate Professor Alois is from Delema Academy?”

Andrei’s furrowed brow showed no sign of smoothing out.

“So, the rumor that you were appointed as an associate professor with Delema’s backing was true.”

Andrei’s low mutter made Alois’s expression harden as well.

“……That’s not true.”

In the end, Alois’s eyes narrowed as well.

“Are you glaring at me now? Haa! Delema’s power must be great indeed, for an associate professor of the Magic Tower to disregard a full professor!”

“When did I ever disregard you? I simply stated that something untrue was not true.”

“So, are you saying I’m wrong?”

“Yes. Unfortunately, regarding what you just said.”

Even as Andrei pressed him, Alois did not yield.

“What?”

The old professor’s expression also turned colder. Telling mages with strong convictions that they were wrong was no different from trampling on their pride.

“Can you prove that I’m wrong?”

Eventually, Andrei’s expression began to sour.

“How would you like me to prove it?”

Alois didn’t seem to be backing down either. There was no actual sword fight, but the tension between the two was already soaring.

‘Haa. The situation is taking a strange turn.’

Andrei’s gaze was directed at me.

“There’s no need to go to great lengths to prove it separately. If this child’s skills are outstanding, we’ll know in a week, won’t we?”

“Are you talking about the subject tests?”

“Yes. If Ian gets first place in two or more subjects, I’ll admit that you were right.”

I don’t know why I was suddenly caught up in their battle of pride.

“I understand.”

Regardless of my will, Alois nodded.

‘What!’

Alois’s gaze also turned to me.

“You can do it, right?”

What could I say in this situation? The water had already been spilled.

“……Yes.”

An unexpected homework assignment had been given.

* * *

“Hoo. I’m sorry for speaking so rashly earlier.”

Alois patted my shoulder in the lobby of the Magic Tower.

“It’s okay. I was planning on getting first place anyway.”

Since I was doing it anyway, wouldn’t it be even better to crush the nose of Andrei, who had ignored me? I decided to think that way.

“Still, it won’t be easy. First place among all the freshmen means there are competitors from other classes. And you have to do it in two subjects.”

And if I was going to crush his nose, I had to do it properly to feel satisfied. That’s just who I was.

“Don’t worry. I’ll get first place in three subjects.”

“What? Three subjects?”

“Yes. My pride was hurt too. I need to show Professor Andrei my skills properly.”

That’s the least I could do to keep that old professor from complaining.

[That’s more like Adonis.]

Alois was smiling contentedly, just like Oberon.

“Alright. Whether it’s two subjects or three, save my face a little.”

“If possible, I’m going to get first place in Professor Alois’s subject too.”

“Good thinking. You have excellent mana sensitivity, so it’s definitely possible. Oh, are you perhaps trying to become my assistant?”

“Yes. I like you, Professor.”

I just thought it would be easier to roam the Magic Tower if I became Alois’s assistant.

“Oh, really?”

A deep smile formed on his lips.

“Is this because of me? If you really become my assistant, I’ll give you a perk.”

“A perk?”

“Yes. If you want, I won’t make you do any lab chores.”

Alois’s offer made a smile appear on my face.

‘What a stroke of luck.’

It was the best possible condition for me. Assistants help professors with their research and gain achievements, but they also have to deal with a lot of chores.

‘I can spend more time looking for Aileen.’

[This is a must.]

I had no reason to refuse.

“Okay!”

As I looked at Alois with a bright smile, his expression was unusual.

‘……Ah.’

He had already checked the contents of the black envelope.

“But where did you get this?”

Before I could even answer.

“Alright. I guess that can happen. I was curious too when I was your age.”

Alois winked, as if he understood.

[Oh, he understands?]

‘As expected! He’s an enlightened teacher.’

However, Alois was taking the black envelope into his arms.

“Still, now that I’ve seen my student carrying this around, I can’t just let you have it, can I? This is confiscated.”

I had no choice but to swallow the sigh that almost escaped my lips. I had to be satisfied that Andrei didn’t find fault with me.

‘……Damn it.’

* * *

The Magic Tower was burning with academic fervor.

“Now, you have to handle the wind attribute so fluently. Everyone understand?”

“Yes!”

The children were diligently attending class, perhaps wanting to become assistants.

We were taking a total of six subjects.

Alois’s ‘Basic Mana Manipulation’.

Andrei’s ‘Principles of Attributes’.

And basic magic classes for the four attributes: fire, water, wind, and earth.

‘First, I need to get first place in Basic Mana Manipulation and Principles of Attributes.’

[Are you going to aim for that old man Andrei’s class too?]

‘Yeah. How much would his pride be hurt if I got first place in the subject he’s in charge of?’

Besides, I had already studied the Principles of Attributes in advance with ancient language books, so it would be easier than the other subjects.

‘The problem is the remaining one subject…….’

I had boasted that I would get first place in three subjects, so I had to choose one more subject.

‘I have no idea how they’re going to test us.’

The basic magic subjects for each attribute would have to be tested with practical skills. But I didn’t know the specific method.

[Wouldn’t they ask you to implement the magic they taught you?]

‘It’ll be difficult to get first place if they do that.’

That’s because there were many children with outstanding talents for each attribute.

Whoo woo woong!

A huge wind scattering above the classroom. It was the work of Tony Glun, the child most familiar with the wind attribute in our class.

‘He definitely understands it quickly.’

He was immediately handling the wind fluently, just as the professor at the podium had said.

‘I’ll just have to try my best in the remaining one subject.’

[When you can’t find the answer, that’s the best thing to do.]

As I nodded and organized my thoughts, I heard a sigh from beside me.

“Haa……. Ian. I guess I don’t have any talent.”

It was Drew, trying to create a small wind in his hand. He was disheartened by the wind that Tony Glun had created.

“You don’t have talent? What are you talking about?”

“I can’t control it as well as Tony.”

“He’s seventeen years old. You’re much more amazing for coming to the Magic Tower at fifteen. Wouldn’t you be better than that in two years?”

“……Really?”

“Of course, of course.”

His face finally relaxed a little. Of course, it was true that Drew’s magical talent was only at the level of mediocrity, but there was no need to discourage him.

It was also true that he had more talent as a knight than anyone else.

‘It would be too much of a cheat if he was good at both.’

If the blood of the sword flows through him, it wouldn’t be fair to the world if he was good at magic too.

[Are you introducing yourself by any chance?]

Oberon was looking at me with an unpleasant expression.

‘I’m a special case.’

[You’re being inconsistent.]

‘What does that even mean? What’s inconsistent, and what’s that even mean?’

[There was a saying that was popular a while ago. It just means you’re cool.]

‘Oh, are you praising me for once?’

Oberon sometimes used strange words like bully and inconsistent.

* * *

A week later, in the morning.

Whoo woong!

I swung Fragarach [his sword] inside the dormitory.

[It’s better to have a lower stance. That’ll give you more power.]

Even Oberon was serious at this time. It was a new morning routine to practice swordsmanship to suit the current body.

Whoo woong!

As Oberon said, when I lowered my center of gravity, an even more powerful sonic boom followed.

‘As expected, the Oberon of yesteryear hasn’t gone anywhere, has he?’

[Tsk. Who are you calling a fledgling! No matter how much of a Sword Emperor you are, you’re just a rookie to me.]

Perhaps because my body was still small, the posture that Oberon corrected was much better.

‘Anyway, I should go out soon.’

As I put Fragarach back down.

Knock, knock.

Just in time, a knock on the door.

“Ian! Let’s go! It’s test day today!”

When I opened the door, Drew was waiting.

“Drew, did you prepare well for the test?”

“I don’t have high expectations. I just want to avoid being last!”

Along with his wish, we headed to the entrance of the Magic Tower, not the classroom.

[They said the test will be held at the outdoor training ground, right?]

‘Yeah. I guess it’s because we have to use magic too.’

Outdoors would be more suitable for using magic than indoors. About 100 freshmen gathered at the entrance of the Magic Tower. All the children from the four classes.

“Okay. As you know, we’re going to conduct the test today. We’re going to the outdoor training ground owned by the Magic Tower, so everyone follow along carefully.”

Associate Professor Midran, who is in charge of the fire attribute basic magic class. Following his shout, a long line began to move.

‘The instructors are all young professors.’

Young mages walking together, mixed among the freshmen. The instructors were mostly mages around the 5th to 6th circle [referring to their level of magical ability].

[Originally, these annoying tasks are for young people.]

‘Sigh. That’s a timeless law, whether now or then.’

Although they are students of the Magic Tower, most are boys and girls in their late teens. Taking 100 such children outside is quite an annoying task.

[Alois is over there too.]

He couldn’t avoid playing the role of a babysitter either. He was stopping the children who were making a lot of noise.

‘……That’s tough.’

Under the hard work of the young mages.

The place we arrived at was a forest on the outskirts of Ias. A huge circular clearing in the middle of the forest. The professors led us there.

‘This is the outdoor training ground.’

Associate Professor Midran stepped forward again in front of the children.

Jee-ing!

He cast amplification magic on his own neck and shouted loudly.

“We will now conduct the test! Gather by class!”