The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 68

68.

[Begin Calculation!]

As soon as the evaluation began, the students started drawing magic circles on parchment. The Dragon Blood Arena’s spectator seats were a grand spectacle.

“I thought it could accommodate five thousand people, but it’s completely full?”

Tirintid, from the Magic Guild’s Special Task Force, looked around with interest. The burly Lunen, with his charming mustache, nodded.

“Doesn’t this suggest a lot of interest in this golden generation? I’m sure Senior Tirintid must feel nostalgic.”

“Hmph, nostalgic? I’m from Winterhold. Unlike you southern softies, I learned real magic.”

Winterhold is a school located in the north, one of the Empire’s three major magic universities, where almost all northern magicians are trained.

The same goes for the Blado baronial family, famous as a magical lineage of the North. The Blado clan has only ever enrolled in Delaitem once in its long history.

In any case, since the seats were already full, the two had to stand in the northern passage and look down at the arena.

“So, what, are we supposed to pick our successors from here or something?”

“It seems the director already has his eye on Lane Ludwig.”

“That prodigy? Ugh, what a mess, what a mess. Look at him, picking someone as unpleasant as himself. I’m against it! I’m vehemently opposed!”

“What’s wrong with the fact that the prodigy became the top student?”

“Hey! I just hate those guys who don’t work hard like the rest of us and then suddenly act like they’re hiding their power!”

“Then who exactly do you want to pick, Senior Tirintid?”

Tirintid, who graduated at the top of Winterhold four years ago, was naturally paying attention to Krista Warden.

Her talent is undeniable, and it’s good to see her working hard. Also, she’s a woman, which he appreciates.

Perhaps that favor wasn’t unique to Tirintid, as many examiners were already gathered around Krista Warden.

“Two squares, so this is, well, earth-based magic? Am I right?”

“Yes, that’s correct. To be precise, it’s summoning magic.”

“Summoning magic? Haha, it’s not like we need something so grand…”

“It’s not grand. It’s just an all-purpose doll that can do anything.”

The magic circle rotated on Krista Warden’s palm, and the next moment, sand soldiers sprang up and stood at attention behind her, forming precise angles.

“From a minimum of two to a maximum of four. You can order these soldiers to do anything you want, from chores to civil engineering.”

As the sand soldiers lifted heavy trees, laid cornerstones, and raised pillars in the area, people marveled and frantically raised their hands.

“Give me one!”

“I’ll take two!”

“Oh, screw it, just give me all three!”

Reconstructing a bloodline limit [a unique magical ability passed down through families] with a magic circle and then reprocessing it for others to use is no easy task.

To do it so perfectly shows that her skills, which dominated both elementary and middle school, are still sharp.

Listening to the numerous magic officials whispering like that, Professor Caroline wore a smile on her face.

‘That’s right. There’s no need to be impatient at all. The world already knows your worth.’

Starting with Krista Warden, the members of the Eight Great Schools were also moving forward.

Lilian Karain of the Rivendell School with fierce flames, Kayden of the Harimun School with clear tones…

Exceptionally, Logan of the Chaihark School was in trouble for putting magic that helps muscle growth during exercise on a scroll.

‘That, that idiot…’

Professor Owen sighed and rubbed his forehead. On the other hand, the magicians of Chaihark who attended this exam were wondering why it wasn’t popular.

“Fools, it’s not Logan’s fault.”

“Vice Dean?”

“The problem is that the world is still too young to know the beauty of muscles. Logan has prepared the best magic as our future leader.”

“Kuh, I knew it! I believed in you!”

The magicians of Chaihark are truly simple.

Compared to such Chaihark, Wiber, the future leader of the Rohinum School, was rapidly updating the number of scrolls sold.

“Fan-shaped… young magician, may I ask what attribute this magic is?”

“It’s wind attribute magic. It’s our Rohinum School’s specialty.”

Wind is freedom.

And that free attribute is naturally inherent in wind attribute magic.

“If it’s just simple wind magic, is there any point in buying this as a scroll?”

“My explanation was insufficient. This isn’t just wind; it’s wind that changes freely.”

“Wind that changes freely…?”

When Wiber flicked his finger, the wind orbiting in the air changed its shape and turned into a strong gust.

That gust instantly scattered the dark clouds Wiber had created with magic, creating a clear sky.

For a moment, this time, the wind spread into a circular barrier, protecting the examiners from the drizzling rain and wind that scattered in the reverberation of the dark clouds.

“The maximum usable time is 12 hours. That time decreases each time you change it, but you can probably use it sufficiently three times.”

A wave of sincere exclamations flowed, and soon the examiners reached out as if competing to express their intention to purchase the scroll.

1. Krista Warden: 56 scrolls.

2. Nora Redon: 49 scrolls.

3. Kayden: 48 scrolls.

4. Lilian Karain: 47 scrolls.

5. Wiber: 46 scrolls.

6. Gertrude Fanton: 44 scrolls.

The string of characters that had floated in the center of the Dragon Blood Arena before the start of the exam was still shining brilliantly, exposing the students’ competitive scores.

“The top students are all showing fierce competition by leveraging the strengths of their families and schools. It’s very interesting.”

“Yes, it seems that way.”

Marena nodded at Kyle’s words, showing a slight disappointment.

That disappointment was a feeling that anyone interested in Delaitem’s trends would naturally have.

Why wouldn’t they?

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, the name of the prodigy who had taken the top student spot was not in the top 5.

“Didn’t they say that prodigy from the Ludwig family was the top student?”

“Was it just a rumor after all?”

“It can’t be a rumor. The dragon bone stone decoration string on his school uniform cloak is proof of that.”

That’s right. Lane Ludwig’s current scroll sales number was ‘0.’

Compared to Logan, who clearly intended to ruin his grades, even selling eleven scrolls, it was an overwhelmingly modest figure.

‘So, this was the method…’

Lane slowly rested his chin on his hand.

If you can’t show magic, you can’t attract attention, and if you can’t attract attention, you can’t sell scrolls.

In this simple structure, the magic Lane chose was truly the worst of the worst.

‘The range of magic is too large.’

No matter how wide the Dragon Blood Arena’s site is, there is a limit to demonstrating this magic that creates breakwaters on the spot when a flood occurs.

‘No, it’s not just limited; it’s impossible to use at all.’

Someone was bound to get hurt, potentially leading to immediate disqualification. So, what was the solution?

“What on earth is that guy doing?”

Krista, meticulously drawing magic circles on parchment while monitoring the electronic scoreboard, narrowed her eyes at Lane’s name.

‘Still at 0 scrolls… Is he serious? What was he so confident about that he was hanging out with girls during the exam period?’

‘If this is how it ends, I won’t let him off the hook. How hard have I worked, how much effort have I put in, determined to defeat him with all my might?’

“Lane…”

Casena, observing the exam beside the headmaster due to her special privilege, looked at her mother as if demanding intervention, but Madelia shook her head firmly.

“There’s nothing I can do. Even if I intervene, do you think it would help Lane? It would only bring him disgrace.”

While Casena remained somewhat passive, Serie Ludwig, biting her nails in the first-class private room as she watched the exam, jumped up.

“This is, this is wrong! People are jealous of my brother, so they’re doing this! Aunt, please intervene and protest—”

“—Stop making a fuss and sit down.”

Elin’s sharp rebuke brought tears to Serie’s eyes. Elin sighed softly.

“Watch carefully from here, you pathetic niece. The qualities required of a wizard aren’t just about casting spells quickly.”

‘Can they calmly respond and handle any situation? Those who panic at every adversity cannot become first-rate wizards.’

“Yes, your aunt is right.”

Brim pulled Serie into her arms, stroking her head soothingly.

“What Serie needs to learn from Lane isn’t just solving mathematical formulas well.”

“Then… ?”

“It’s better to see it directly than to explain it. Watch carefully.”

Regardless of the surrounding commotion, Lane remained unfazed. He didn’t collapse or blame himself for failing.

“This preliminary task seems too difficult for a young master who has been raised so preciously. Are you feeling despair?”

Huber, now visibly more relaxed, taunted him, but Lane smirked and retorted.

“Why would I?”

“You’re in a completely 망하신 [ruined/failed] situation right now. How can you say that?”

“What’s the fun in a math problem that can be solved in one go from the start? It’s just getting interesting now.”

Huber raised his eyebrows, startled by the inexplicable confidence.

A guy with 0 scrolls… is laughing now?

‘There are only 40 minutes left. No matter what bizarre things he does here, it’s impossible to overtake the five of us who are in the lead, right?’

“You can think of the previous 50 minutes as a handicap for promising juniors.”

“What?”

Before Huber could retort, a ring of light was already rising above Lane’s palm, intricately woven together.

As the three-layered magic circle shattered with a clear resonance, dark clouds filled the clear sky.

When the dark clouds poured rain, the judges initially panicked but soon calmed down.

“Uh, what?”

“What is it?”

Because the rainwater wasn’t falling randomly.

To be precise, the rainwater wasn’t falling evenly on the world but was concentrated on a single area: directly above Lane Ludwig.

More precisely, it was pouring into the circular tank, 7 meters in diameter, that Lane had created in front of his stool.

‘Concentration of rainwater… that’s truly incredible water attribute magic control…’

Professor Caroline admired the incomprehensible sight with genuine appreciation. But that was all.

‘There are 38 minutes left, and 0 scrolls sold. The problem is that it’s not a score that can be overturned now.’

But people’s curiosity was piqued, and a considerable number of judges were already heading in that direction.

“It’s really amazing. How can rain only fall here?”

“Can you do something like this with a scroll?”

About thirty people had gathered.

‘This should be enough.’

This time, the square magic circle shattered above Lane’s palm. Then the earth wriggled and began to rise, forming something akin to a work of art.

“Wow… ?”

“What is this… ?”

“A map… ?”

Among those drawn to the crowd was Willem, the court count serving the Aigen Royal Family.

“No, it’s not just a simple map. It’s like… a miniature terrain.”

That’s right.

Forests, houses, streams, and rivers.

Crown Prince Raida Aigen opened his eyes wide, dumbfounded.

“Really? But what does this mean? Are there people who want such toys as scrolls?”

Perhaps due to his imperial education, he was making sharp, 정론 [orthodox/correct] arguments that seemed beyond his years.

“That’s right. Scrolls are for when you urgently need the power of magic in real life. With this model… ? !”

At that moment, an anomaly occurred.

As the torrential rain continued to pour, the water in the circular tank overflowed.

The water not only fiercely swallowed the model forests and houses but also formed a torrent, rushing towards the watching judges.

“Ugh, ugh!”

“A, avoid it!”

The terrified judges scrambled back, and Court Count Willem stared at Lane in disbelief.

“Why, why are you doing this… ?”

Did he just want to play a prank?

In the final exam that magic university students have to risk their lives for?

Lane answered that question with a smile.

“Of course, it’s to show you this.”

The next moment, as they struggled to understand the meaning of his smile, a miracle unfolded above the boy’s palm.

The magic circle was a triple rectangle.

The runes to engrave are Closure(闋), Rising(阧), Accumulating(鞰).

To earth attribute magic,

Grant the qualities of ‘Closure(闋): closing the door’,

‘Rising(阧): soaring’,

‘Accumulating(鞰): stacking’.

The earth swelled like waves on both sides of the threatening torrent, the torrent that seemed poised to sweep through the Dragon Blood Arena, and then soared like cliffs the next moment.

The heavenly wall that blocked all the damage from the flood continued to ripple and stretch out, stopping only after reaching the drain prepared in the corner of the Dragon Blood Arena.

It was a scene where the disaster that had threatened to turn everything upside down was suppressed in an instant, like a lie. Now, the boy finishes his explanation to the judges, who are blankly stammering.

“This is the ‘Anti-Flood Countermeasure Magic’ that I have prepared. It was so powerful that I had no choice but to show it in this reduced version.”