Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 6

Entrance Exam

‘An entrance exam?’

Titania had told me in advance that there was no such process at the entrance ceremony.

‘She just told me to go.’

[Well, it must have been too trivial to mention.]

‘Is that so?’

I nodded. Well, it’s just an entrance exam. It’ll probably just be a simple background check.

“Alright, alright! Parents, please step back for a moment.”

The instructor, who introduced himself as Alloy, raised his voice again.

“Ah! You, the red-haired mother over there! Don’t go home yet!”

“Yes?”

“If you don’t pass the test, your admission will be canceled. Then you’ll have to take your child back!”

He gave a mischievous smile.

‘What, there’s a chance of failing?’

Sighs leaked out from among the parents who stepped back.

“Admission will be canceled?”

“There wasn’t supposed to be an entrance exam!”

“I know. We’ve already come all the way here, and now we can’t even get in?”

As the parents’ complaints erupted, Alloy had no choice but to speak again.

“Everyone, calm down! Don’t ask me why! It’s what the Lord ordered. I’m just an instructor.”

The noisy auditorium was instantly filled with silence. No one objected to the Lord’s command.

‘As you said, the Delema’s power must be enormous.’

[What did I tell you? Their momentum is soaring these days.]

The recent situation I heard from Oberon was quite different from what I remembered.

The empire that existed 1,000 years ago, Brasel.

In my memory, that empire, which was at its peak, collapsed after my death. Its shining prosperity disappeared surprisingly quickly and secretly.

After that, a new empire appeared, Kargas. It is said that the magic families, centered around Delema, made great contributions to establishing that empire.

‘The Delema’s influence is bound to be strong.’

It was already a powerful family, but now it had gained power close to that of a founding contributor.

[Now, even ordinary kingdoms can’t hold a candle to them.]

The people gathered here must also be people who hold positions somewhere. However, under the name of Delema, everyone was equal.

“Well, then, I’ll assume everyone has agreed and proceed with the test.”

Aloy smiled, seemingly satisfied.

That ominous smile cast a shadow over the faces of the parents and children.

“Ah, right! It’s not all bad news! We should give a prize to the student who shows the best performance on the entrance exam!”

Alloy then rummaged through his pockets and held something.

“It’s a White Jade Apple! It’s occasionally found deep in the Xylo Mountains.”

The white apple was enough to surprise the adults in the back.

‘Crazy…….’

[Is that real?]

Of course, both of our mouths dropped open. The surrounding children, who couldn’t possibly know its value, were tilting their heads.

‘No matter how well the Delema are doing, isn’t it a bit much to be handing this out here?’

[I know. Even after a thousand years, that’s still precious.]

White Jade Apple.

A spiritual medicine that increases the sensitivity of mana or aura when consumed in childhood. It is one of the best spiritual medicines for both mages and swordsmen.

However, the problem was that it was not easy to obtain due to the monsters guarding the Xylo Mountains.

Oberon and I made eye contact at the same time.

‘We have to work hard, right?’

[You bet.]

Aura that I had been trying to build up since I took my first steps.

However, accumulating aura in muscles without a dantian [energy center] was not an easy task. Even though I had gained enlightenment, this Delema’s body had no talent for sensing aura.

‘That would definitely be a big help.’

Our eyes lit up as we looked at the White Jade Apple.

* * *

The test method was not grand.

“This instructor will send mana into your bodies. Then do anything with it. You can resist, or if you can, you can use my mana to create magic.”

Most of the children would have no mana or only be at the 1-star level. The method was to supply mana for those children and have them do whatever they could with it.

It sounded easy, but it was bizarre.

‘How difficult is it to control someone else’s energy?’

They were just children who were now ten to eleven years old.

‘Moreover, to apply it and create magic? What nonsense.’

[It’s probably because the kids have almost no mana of their own. Anyway, let’s watch.]

The test proceeded sequentially from the children standing in the front. As we slowly waited for our turn.

“Ah…….”

Someone tapped me on the arm.

“As expected! Red eyes! You’re a Delema!”

When I turned my head, a boy with chubby cheeks was smiling brightly.

“……Who?”

“Ah! I’m Drew Gibson!”

My eyebrows twitched at his confident answer. It wasn’t just because of his sociability, which was unusual for his young age.

‘Gibson? Is that the Gibson I know?’

[Seems like it. It’s not a common surname.]

‘But why is he at the magic academy?’

The Gibson family. I couldn’t forget that name even if I tried. It was one of the orthodox martial families a thousand years ago.

[Since the Pentagram guys are cracking down on the knights, many families have had no choice but to change their identities. It’s not just Gibson.]

For a family that worshiped the sword to abandon the sword would be more humiliating than giving up their lives.

‘Did they really have an unavoidable reason…….’

Drew, unaware of our conversation, tilted his head.

“Are you uncomfortable with me talking to you?”

“Not at all.”

I was rather glad. When I was busy forming a knight order, there were colleagues from the Gibson family.

“And let’s speak comfortably to each other.”

“Oh! Really? Great!”

Drew nodded cheerfully.

[Hey, isn’t your *malteu* [speech pattern] too old-fashioned?]

‘I guess so. I should use a more childish *malteu* from now on.’

But Drew didn’t seem to care.

The order proceeded quickly.

“Alright! Alright! Next in line, hurry up.”

Most of the children couldn’t control the mana that was being forcibly injected into their bodies. They couldn’t last more than 10 seconds per person.

“Ugh……! Ugh!”

The guy who’s taking the test now is sweating profusely. That’s a good performance. Most of the guys tried to do something and collapsed foaming at the mouth.

‘It’s natural if they haven’t learned.’

Simply feeling mana and operating it were worlds apart.

“Ooh!”

“What?”

At that moment, exclamations began to flow out. There was no distinction between parents and children. All eyes were on the girl who was taking the test right in front of Instructor Alloy.

‘Wow, her talent is crazy.’

A drop of water was forming on the girl’s palm.

Drip-.

It was a humble level to call it magic, but she was clearly creating water.

“Wow, look at her?”

Aloy’s eyes were also wide open. He said it himself, but he clearly didn’t think there would be a child who could succeed in this at once.

[Is she from a prestigious family?]

It wouldn’t be easy to awaken such a sense at once without even receiving early education. Moreover, it wasn’t even her own mana!

Huh- huh-.

The girl was breathing heavily, and soon a deep smile formed on Alloy’s lips.

“Good! Everyone saw that, right? It’s possible, this!”

Of course, no child performed such a feat after that. Dozens more turns passed, and it was a long time before Alloy’s bored eyes lit up again.

“Oh! This time it’s the Delema family.”

It was McDuff’s turn.

“Since this is an academy, I’ll omit honorifics.”

Aloy was also affiliated with the Delema family.

However, since this was an academy, there was no need to use honorifics. In this space, there was no one above him, the instructor.

A blue stream of mana stretched out from Alloy’s hand. McDuff boldly reached out and grabbed the mana stream, but.

“Ugh!”

He let out a loud scream.

‘Tsk tsk.’

Operating the other person’s mana is not something to be taken lightly. Still, his persistence was commendable.

“Th- This……!”

He must have felt like his organs were twisted, but he didn’t give up. It was closer to venom than will. Alloy also twitched his eyebrows as if he was interested.

After about 30 seconds of doing that. McDuff’s whole body was soaked with sweat.

Chik!

A small spark flashed on his palm.

‘Oh?’

It was too short a moment for most people to see, but a flame had clearly bloomed.

‘Is this the Delema bloodline?’

But that was the end of it. Immediately after the spark flashed, he lost consciousness.

“Wow, amazing.”

Drew, who was watching the scene together, clapped his hands.

“Did you see it too?”

“Yeah. Wasn’t it a small spark?”

It was a fleeting moment, but he didn’t miss it either. He was quite observant.

“Next! You, the chubby friend!”

Soon Drew’s turn was approaching. That meant that the next turn was mine, right next to him.

‘Wow, I’m getting nervous.’

It was natural since I had never handled someone else’s mana before.

[It won’t be much different from the mana in your body. It’s all about how well you understand the flow of mana. I think you’ll do well? You’ve already gathered 3-star mana, and you used to be a 9-star knight.]

Well, I was more confident than anyone in controlling energy.

‘Let’s give it a try.’

Fortunately, the unfortunate event of Drew fainting did not occur. He just stumbled back with an “Ugh!” and sat down.

“Tsk tsk! You could have done better! Next is……. Oh, another Delema!”

Aloy’s eyes were alive again. As soon as I reached the front, he immediately raised his hand.

“Let’s see what you can do.”

Wooong-.

The flow of mana slowly shot out like a gentle breeze. When it first touched my hand.

‘……Kuh!’

I almost let out a sound without realizing it. The mana refined by others was quite unfamiliar.

[Oh, how is it?]

‘……I think it’s okay.’

But that was only for a moment.

‘No, it feels good?’

[Huh? It feels good?]

‘Yeah. It feels a bit different from mine, but I don’t think it’s bad.’

[Geez. Just because you say that, it’s not that easy to accept someone else’s energy?]

‘I know. I guess this is what the Delema bloodline is like.’

Once I got used to Instructor Alloy’s mana, the rest was smooth sailing.

The amount was quite large, but I had operated 9-star aura like breathing. This was nothing. After all, whether it was mana or aura, it was ultimately a type of energy flowing through my body.

The flow of vast energy that I had been operating for a long time. It couldn’t be more refreshing.

‘This is awesome.’

I had gathered mana equivalent to 3 stars, but it felt terribly insufficient to me. In my previous life, I had controlled a 9-star tidal wave of energy.

But now, the instructor is directly injecting mana!

[Look at him smiling. Wow, I’m getting goosebumps.]

I moved the mana and sent it deep into my body. It traveled through my muscles and moved to my limbs. I sent it here and there as if I were operating aura.

[Ugh. Is this why they hire experienced newbies?]

No matter what Oberon said, I gradually fell into a state of ecstasy. I closed my eyes and focused on the present.

I need more! This amount of mana is not enough! How long has it been since I felt this sensation? I can’t end it like this.

Hoooook!

I pulled the mana even more fiercely. As if it were my mana from the beginning. As if I had been handling mana instead of aura from the beginning. I craved it more strongly.

‘Yes! This is it!’

The mana stream connected from Alloy’s body became even stronger. Like a pouring stream of water, the mana was naturally exploring every part of my body.

‘Oh, what’s this again.’

The mana that had been rummaging through my whole body was flowing faster in one particular place. It was my heart.

‘Could it be…….’

A thrill ran through me.

‘Is that what I got during the appraisal?’

The energy around my heart was attracting mana. The energy wriggling as if curious about Alloy’s mana. I was about to send more mana around it…….

[Hey.]

He’s talking to me again at this important moment.

[Hey, hey!]

Why do you keep interrupting me?

[Stop it!]

I opened my eyes at his urgent voice.

‘Huh!’

Aloy was biting his teeth and sweating profusely. Mana was constantly leaking from his body, whose eyes were half-turned over.

The mana flow, which was only the size of a fist at first, had grown to the size of his upper body.

‘Oh no!’

I hurriedly controlled the mana. I spat out all the mana that had been in my body.

[Geez. Don’t overdo it. Are you going to use his mana to circulate your energy?]

‘…….’

I had nothing to say. If Oberon had been a little late, something terrible would have happened. It was a sign that mana backflow, which turns many mages into cripples, was in progress.

“Hoo……. Hoo…….”

Fortunately, such an unfortunate event did not occur. Alloy wiped away his cold sweat and took a rough breath.

[But why didn’t that guy control the mana? He could have stopped injecting it himself.]

‘I don’t know…….’

If I had to guess.

‘Is it because of the energy from that card?’

The energy that had settled in my heart was generating tremendous attraction.

* * *

McDuff is shouting at the top of his lungs. He’s blaming Alloy, saying, ‘That guy didn’t do anything, why is he in first place!’

Aloy has named me as the first place.

‘It’s inevitable.’

I showed him how well I could control mana. Moreover, didn’t I push Alloy to the brink? Alloy, who had directly experienced the phenomenon, had no choice but to choose me.

However, those who watched from afar would not be able to know the detailed inside story. I understood why McDuff was raging like that.

‘Still, this is mine.’

The corners of my lips went up at the White Jade Apple already in my hand.

“Eesh!”

McDuff glared at me. I stuck my tongue out at him.

“Aeuo!”

With his angry cry, the entrance exam came to an end.

The passing criteria for the test were simple.

“Those who created something with mana or did not faint have passed! It’s already late at night, so the students who passed should go to the dormitory and get some rest! Students who failed, go home with your parents!”

Aloy seemed quite tired. The playful voice from before was gone.

[What a funny guy, he almost fainted himself.]

‘Was I too harsh?’

Well, what can I do since it’s already happened. I just hope he doesn’t harbor resentment because of this.

‘Then let’s go to the dormitory and eat this.’

I held up the White Jade Apple in my hand.