The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 67

67.

“H-Huge……!”

Kasena shouted, eyes shining, at the gathering place: the Dragon Blood Arena. It was a massive, dome-shaped stadium constructed in the northern district of the school.

“Are we really taking the exam here?!”

Looking at her, one could hardly believe she was an adult. Even Rain couldn’t help but feel a sense of novelty, and for good reason.

“Young Master.”

Wasn’t this the very place where he had faced Logan, the promising disciple of Chaihark, who was now walking towards him, muscles twitching all over his body, back at the beginning of the semester?

However, there weren’t nearly as many people back then. The atmosphere wasn’t as tense, and the stands weren’t packed like this.

“Oh, Logan! Prepared well for the exam?”

“Eheheh, no need to ask twice! You better be scared, Young Master.”

As they laughed and chatted, Rain felt a sharp gaze. Turning around, he saw Kasena looking at him, seemingly wanting an explanation.

“This is Logan. He’s a promising disciple of the Chaihark school.”

“O-One of the Eight Great Schools?”

“Yes. No need to be so wary. He taught me spellcasting, which was a huge help to you, so you should thank him.”

Although he couldn’t say what kind of help due to the gag order… Kasena seemed to understand immediately, turning her head away with a slightly embarrassed expression.

“T-Thank you……”

But Logan, regardless of her greeting, was staring intently at Kasena. More specifically, at her legs.

“Not just lacking body fat, but practically devoid of it… You can’t be a mage with legs like that.”

“???”

“You should drink this Magic-Protein to replenish your body fat.”

He then handed Kasena a flask that had been hanging from his pocket. Kasena accepted it, not knowing what to make of it.

“But the most important thing is exercise! If you ever feel like working out, come to the training room with the Young Master!”

“O-Okay!”

Overwhelmed by Logan’s energy, Kasena shouted back without understanding the situation. Hmm, with their simple personalities, they might become friends quickly.

‘This is the last time you’ll be grinning like that, Rain Ludwick.’

Just as he thought that, lumps of clay fell from the sky and landed on the ground. Five of them, to be exact. And a small foot could be seen flattening them one by one.

“I’m going to crush you for sure in this final exam. Just like these lumps of clay!”

As expected, it would have been strange if this girl hadn’t shown up around this time.

“I’ve always wondered, where do you get those lumps of clay every time?”

“Of course, I have my servants buy them from a stationery store outside the city, all for this one moment to talk to you, Young Master. Ah, what devoted affection!”

Gertrude Fenton interjected in an exaggerated, theatrical tone. Krista’s face turned red as she immediately grabbed Gertrude by the collar.

“T-That’s not important! What’s important is that I’ve declared war on you!”

The scions [descendants] of the great houses were cheerfully chatting, but the expressions of the 8th and 16th Circle powerhouses glancing at them from all around were not so bright.

‘Hmph, scions of the great houses.’

‘I’ll crush them this time.’

‘Three noble house prey to smash.♪’

After a few minutes, at exactly 10 o’clock, the center of the Dragon Blood Arena rose like a tower. At the top, the greatest mage of the modern era was dramatically fluttering her leather long coat.

Madelia Page.

In the silence where everyone was holding their breath, she spoke to the students in an imposing voice.

“This Dragon Blood Arena has never been just a place to take final exams. It is closer to a martial arena where life and death are decided.”

“?!”

“Why is that? Because the magical knowledge, experience, and inspiration that you students have accumulated until now will clash, break, and bleed against that of your opponents!”

Indeed, that was true. Krista nodded at the Headmaster’s words.

‘The final exam is a time to show everything a student has built up during the semester.’

Just working hard isn’t enough. That’s how it is structured. You have to be so good that you overwhelm others.

“Only thirty gems can shine in this martial arena! And only one of those thirty, who maintains their peak until graduation, will earn the honor of engraving their name here at the graduation ceremony!”

The tower walls were actually engraved with magical inscriptions. From the first valedictorian to the 1385th.

[Isol Page]

……

……

[Riot Warden]

……

……

[Scald Ludwick]

……

……

[Madelia Page]

[Keibyn Ludwick]

……

[Doran Slade]

……

[Kyle]

……

……

[Runen Differsh]

As expected, my grandfather and father were also valedictorians.

A strange tension crept in.

Is engraving my name there the only way to meet Lista?

“Tch……”

From the audience seats, Elin Ludwick looked at the stone tablet with a regretful gaze. If it weren’t for that detestable Kyle, my name would be there.

‘But if it’s you…….’

And that gaze turned to the black-haired boy standing in the middle of the students. To her beloved nephew. Soon, a smile appeared on her face.

“Compete. And prove yourselves! And engrave your names here in three years! On this stone tablet that holds a thousand years of history, and will hold a new thousand years!”

Encouraged by Madelia’s inspiring speech, the students burst into cheers one by one. Enthusiastic applause poured from the audience seats.

“Students except for Group A, please leave!”

“Only Group A remains, the other students this way!”

And the teaching assistants busily began to guide the students.

The first to take the preliminary exam were the top 30 students in Group A.

While Groups B, D, C, E, and F took the exam all at once, only Group A took the exam individually like this.

‘It may seem disadvantageous to show your hand first, but this is also a test given to those who are ahead.’

Brim Ludwick swallowed nervously as he watched Rain move to his designated spot inside the Dragon Blood Arena.

‘Accept that weight with joy. Just like your father did.’

* * *

At each assigned location for the students of Group A, there was a portable chair, and on it were a hundred sheets of parchment imbued with outstanding magic.

To maximize the use of the space, the students’ seats were arranged so close that they were back-to-back.

The student next to Rain in the back row was Wiber, a promising disciple of the Rohinum school and also in the same class.

“Oh, Wiber! Let’s do our best together.”

“Are you provoking me right now?”

Wiber had never been on good terms with Rain from their first meeting, so he reacted sharply to this greeting.

“That’s not it, but if you pull any nasty tricks like you did at the beginning of the semester, I won’t let it slide. I’m a bit serious right now.”

A spine-chilling pressure was conveyed. But that’s only until this time…….

He had always been waiting for this moment.

The moment to face this guy head-on and crush him for sure. Who knew that opportunity would come so quickly.

“Hmm?”

As he steeled himself and glanced back, the form of the magic circle that Rain was drawing on the parchment for demonstration unintentionally caught his eye.

“A square…… Are you planning to create a scroll with earth-based magic?”

“Yeah. You see, before coming to school, I remember making something that was quite well-received. I think it’ll work well this time too.”

Wiber examined the magic circle again but couldn’t understand it at all, so he narrowed his eyes.

‘Is he planning to give up the top spot?’

Or is it that he has almost no academic background and doesn’t know the essence of this exam at all? At this rate, he won’t even pass the preliminaries?

[Attention, I will now explain the preliminary evaluation.]

Associate Professor Kyle’s voice echoed clearly and distinctly throughout the arena with amplification magic.

[First, let’s define and revisit the definition of a scroll. A scroll is not just a ‘thing’ that only Archmages can create. It is an ‘obligation’ that Archmages must fulfill.]

A shift in perspective, one could certainly see it that way.

[As you all know, the founder of magic, Emissa Page, spoke about the duties of a mage in the past.]

For some reason, it felt like he could hear the voice of the Headmaster from Lynn’s time, repeating it until it was ingrained in his ears.

– Mages must control the wind and bring rain to enrich the lives of the people, and they must summon fire and raise earth to establish peace in the lives of the people.

He had never seriously contemplated this teaching as a child, but, hmm…… it’s strangely stirring.

[This exam is a test to thoroughly evaluate the capabilities of you all, who will become the leading figures of the new era.]

This exam will assess how much the students care about the lives of the people. And that assessment will be made more objectively than ever. Because.

[Let me introduce the judges for this exam.]

Rain had to blink in surprise. The judges walking into the arena…… were numerous. Extremely numerous.

From those wearing the robes of nobles to those wearing the worn cloaks of travelers.

Not only were they of all ages, but there was no distinction between social classes, as countless people were entering the arena.

[We have given everyone, from the courtiers serving the electors to the village chiefs who came as representatives from small villages, the right to purchase up to three of your scrolls as needed.]

As expected, is so meticulous in this approach that I like it. Krista Warden crossed her arms confidently and smiled.

‘It’s similar to the existing scroll scoring method, but it’s even more to the point.’

In other magic schools, the evaluation is ultimately done by teachers.

But this?

It can be seen as an evaluation that maximizes the effectiveness of scroll sales indicators by having actual buyers choose directly.

[The judges who have come here will only take what they really think is necessary for their daily lives. I believe you students are well aware of what that means.]

As Kyle snapped his fingers, a cluster of light spread in the air and unfolded into a string of fantastic characters. Each had a student’s name written on it, and the number 0 was entered next to it.

[And here! Only the top five students who sell the most scrolls will be granted the qualification to advance to the main tournament!]

Here, those who have not attended a magic school may have a question.

“But aren’t only Gladtos (4-Star) level mages able to create scrolls? How can these fledglings create scrolls?”

Lyda Eigin, the young Crown Prince of the Eigin Royal Family, who was also a super guest of this exam, pointed out the question to the courtier attending him. The sixteen-year-old boy.

“Your Highness, do you see those papers?”

“Hmm, of course.”

“They are scrolls with magic seals imprinted by Headmaster Madelia and Head Professor Marchena.”

In other words, those papers are already completed scrolls, just without the magic circle. It takes about a year for two Gladtos mages to prepare this many.

“Tch, they’re just fledgling mages anyway. How great can their magic be?”

“This year’s freshmen at are called the Golden Generation. It will surely be an enjoyable entertainment and a good learning experience for you.”

As Lyda narrowed his eyes suspiciously, Professor Kyle, who had finished his explanation, stretched his hand forward and shouted boldly.

[The exam time is 90 minutes! Then let the exam begin right now! Start calculating!]