The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 32

32.

“Teams 1 through 20, you have 10 minutes to discuss and prepare before entering. Please note that time will be measured from the 10-minute mark, even if you haven’t entered the labyrinth.”

The labyrinth (迷宮), or *meikyuu*, is, as the name suggests, a ‘house of wandering.’

It has a single entrance, but once inside, it splits into numerous paths, making it virtually impossible for students to completely conquer it in a short amount of time.

Professor Kyle was well aware of this, so he created a total of twenty routes and assigned one team to each passage.

“What kind of magic should we use?”

“Illumination magic! We need to maintain it for the entire exploration time.”

“Idiot, we can’t use magic infinitely. What if we run out of mana using illumination magic? We need to find branches to use as torches first!”

The students, immersed in confusion, engaged in heated discussions within their teams, but most of it was ultimately pointless. The situation inside the labyrinth could only be truly understood by experiencing it firsthand.

“Professor, you’ve insisted on this exam for every freshman midterm. Is there a specific reason for that?”

Professor Kyle, who was observing the murmuring students with interest, answered his assistant’s question.

“It’s when they are thrown into adversity they’ve never experienced before that you can truly see a magician’s talent.”

“……?”

“In these situations, their minds go blank, their judgment deteriorates compared to usual, and their movements become sluggish.”

“Ah, yes, that’s true.”

“But unlike others, there are those who stand out even in such adversity.”

The first quality required of a magician is composure (*chinjaku*). They must be able to maintain coolness in any situation.

“This is just a basic assessment to identify that quality… Magicians who only study theory at their desks can never become first-rate.”

Until now, the Magic Federation’s education system lacked this sense of urgency and tension. Perhaps that’s why the development of magic has stagnated.

“……”

Then, Kyle’s gaze turned to Krista Warden and Logan, who were known as the golden generation.

‘To enable those children to expand their thinking from an early age, that is the duty I must fulfill now.’

Next to Logan, a handsome boy with black hair and red eyes opened his mouth.

“What should we do, Logan?”

“Wouldn’t it be over if we just entered the labyrinth and beat everything we see?”

“Kid, your way of thinking is simple, I like it. But it’s better to have a proper plan for something like this.”

*This is a really interesting evaluation method. If we enter the labyrinth, we need to use magic efficiently.*

*Illumination, defense, attack… If you don’t understand your limits and devise a strategy, you’re likely to suffer a setback.*

As I squatted on the floor, organizing my thoughts with a twig, Krista approached and scoffed.

“Distribution of illumination magic, defense magic, and attack magic, huh… Do you really think you can take the top spot with such a predictable method?”

Then Logan, who was next to her, bristled.

“The magic you can use in the labyrinth is limited. How different can it be, no matter how hard you try?”

“It’s faster to see it for yourself. If you’re curious, watch closely. Lane, you said you’re aiming for valedictorian, right?”

“……?”

“Sorry, but I’ve never given up the top spot to anyone. Today will be no different. I’ll show you clearly this time. The difference between your skills and mine.”

Krista tossed her hair back and strode towards the entrance of the labyrinth, followed by a timid-looking man who seemed to be her teammate.

“Team 2, let the test begin!”

Krista shouted confidently, and Professor Kyle nodded. The assistant manipulated the magic tool on his wrist.

ㆍTeam 2 – Passage 2.

ㆍTime – 00:00.

ㆍTarget – 32nd class.

The competition was about eliminating the targets in the assigned passage faster and more accurately than the competitors. Krista spread her palm.

“Arise, soldiers!”

The magic circle constructed on it was a double rectangle, and the runes engraved were *Sa* (使) and *Jong* (縱). Earth attribute magic with the qualities of ‘*Sa* (使: obeying orders)’ and ‘*Jong* (縱: unraveling lengthwise)’ engraved.

Sss sss… Chwaaaak!

As soon as the magic circle shattered on her palm, sand soldiers wearing earth-colored armor rose majestically from the soil.

“Wow, what’s with the casting speed?!”

“How many summons are there?”

“More than ten!”

“Hoo…” Kyle’s eyes lit up.

The Warden’s bloodline limit created by the 2nd Sage, Riot Warden. It’s 2-star magic, so the casting speed goes without saying, but to be able to control twelve at the same time at that age…

The assistant next to him opened his mouth.

“Is it because she’s Professor Caroline’s protégé? I can’t help but admire her.”

In front of Kyle and the assistant, a window was open, showing the overall progress of the labyrinth. It was Kyle’s specialty, the 3-star detection magic, Clairvoyance.

“Anyone can increase the number. The key is how perfectly you can control them individually.”

But that was also perfect.

When Rumlow, another teammate, found the targets with illumination magic and detection magic, the sand soldiers rushed to the location and annihilated the enemy of the caster.

Her skill was so overwhelming that the students even forgot to devise their own tactics and focused on the window that Kyle had opened.

“Crazy, she moves twelve summons so freely…?”

“It’s like the summons are all really alive…?”

“Wasn’t the Warden’s summoning magic inorganic…?”

To put it simply, summoning magic is divided into organic summoning and inorganic summoning.

Organic summoning is a method of summoning by making a contract with a living spirit, and inorganic summoning is a method of creating and controlling non-living beings like the Warden’s sand soldiers.

It is natural that the latter requires the caster to have the ultimate ability to control mana.

“The amount of mana it takes to maintain all those things must be no joke… She’s really something?”

As Lane whistled without realizing it, Logan made a dumbfounded expression.

“Isn’t that obvious? Krista is the most promising magical genius of our generation.”

“Was she that good?”

“Everyone knows it. The elders of our faction have repeatedly told me to be careful of Krista.”

“Then what about me?”

“……”

“……?”

“Are you and I enemies? Aren’t we comrades who love muscles together?”

*Oh, this guy is using his head?*

Lane chuckled, and Logan also chuckled. They had only chatted for a moment, but the situation was already wrapping up.

“Remaining number 3.”

“Remaining number 2.”

“Remaining number 1… Team 2 situation ended. Time taken 4 minutes 13 seconds.”

And as the assistant said in an astonishing voice, the students gasped and exchanged glances.

“Crazy, that’s too fast!”

“The other teams haven’t even finished discussing yet…”

“They’ve already finished the test…?”

Such an overwhelming test result was quite surprising not only to the other students but also to Logan, a postgraduate of the Eight Great Factions.

‘To handle twelve summons so freely… Now I know why the elders were so wary of her.’

And also the reason why Hubert, that rude but smart guy, had never beaten Krista in a test.

‘There was a reason why she’s been mentioned as the next leader of the Magic Federation since she was fifteen…!’

While the other teams hadn’t even come up with a strategy on how to attack the labyrinth, Krista Warden was already walking out of the cave with a light step.

“Since I took the teaching position, your team is the second to pass this test in under 5 minutes.”

To Professor Kyle’s praise, she smiles as if this result is natural.

“‘With overwhelming power.’ That’s our family’s motto. This much is natural.”

Professor Kyle also smiled. 80% of the land in the east, where the Warden family is rooted, is mountainous.

‘The members of eastern families like the Wardens and Pantons, who grew up in such highlands, always have such vast stamina and mana as their strengths.’

But Krista Warden, this child is completely different in terms of standards compared to other Wardens. Is she a genius and a hard worker at the same time?

‘But… she’s not the type of talent to change the horizon of thought. Not yet.’

As he swallowed a regretful breath and scribbled on the evaluation form with a fountain pen, Associate Professor Kyle offered praise.

“Krista Warden, Rumlow Besley. I don’t think I need to say that you’ve passed. I think it’s safe to say that Team 2 will get an S grade, right?”

Krista Warden slightly lifted her skirt with a noble arrogance and paid a graceful courtesy.

“Hmph, you flatter me!”

However, her gaze was directed not at Kyle but at Lane Ludwig… That provocative gaze was saying.

‘This is me.’

‘This is me, Krista Warden.’

‘I will never give the valedictorian spot to anyone.’

Lane’s lips finally curled up as he impassively accepted that silent outcry, that gaze filled with harmless fighting spirit.

“Tests might be more fun than I thought?”

* * *

Eastern Holy Human Empire.

The Warden family is the magical family that supports the Duke of Tissiria, the Eastern Elector.

“Our family has the shortest history among the magical families, but we are the only family besides Page whose founder was a sage.”

Producing a sage was originally the pride of the bloodline, but at some point, it began to feel more like a burden.

“Did you hear? The head of the Warden family finally obtained the Limites (2-star) rank this time.”

“Is it really a magical family? Only dullards come out. I don’t know if they should hand over the position to another family now.”

“Keuk keuk, where did the sage’s genes go?”

The family’s rise was faster than any other family in the empire, but its decline was also faster than any other family. In such a situation, Krista Warden was born.

Her father was a magician who barely obtained the Limites (2-star) rank at the age of forty-two, and her two older sisters were dullards who barely obtained the Bandoran (1-star) rank.

She felt sorry for her family, who were despised by the world.

Every time she saw her family being ignored in public, she felt resentful.

“Why are Mom and Dad being ignored by people?”

“……”

“Because they’re not capable magicians? If a great magician comes out of the family, will that disappear?”

“Krista……”

“Then I’ll become the pinnacle of magic. I’ll become a great magician. So that the day will come when Mom and Dad won’t be ignored.”

*So I will correct the tarnished honor of my parents and the prestige of my family with my own hands.*

*So I won’t lose to anyone. I will be the best in all environments. At school, at university, and at the Magic Federation.*

The girl was only six years old when she set that goal.