Chapter 41
"We won't see each other for a week... Want a hug?"
Damian's expression wasn't visible behind his mask.
He gathered his wooden sword and got out of the carriage.
"I'll be back."
Silveryn pouted. Despite giving plenty of signals that she was hurt, Damian remained cold.
He closed the carriage door and headed toward the entrance exam site.
Silveryn let out a small sigh.
Even for her, it had taken a lot of courage to say those words, and seeing Damian's response made her wonder if she had gone too far.
She could understand—he needed to stand on his own now, and he probably had a lot on his mind with the entrance exam ahead.
After walking several dozen steps forward, Damian suddenly stopped.
Then, he abruptly turned around and started striding back toward the carriage.
"...Huh?"
Silveryn looked around inside the carriage.
"He didn't leave anything behind, though?"
Damian approached the carriage and opened the door again. As he climbed back in, Silveryn opened her mouth.
"Did you forget some-—"
Without a word, Damian enveloped her in a tight embrace.
The sudden movement was so forceful that her body tilted back against the seat.
"Oh my..."
Even Silveryn was a bit taken aback. This was the first time Damian had done something so impulsive since they'd been together.
Through their contact, she could feel his rapid heartbeat.
Though he wasn't showing it on the outside, he must have been quite nervous about the exam.
Silveryn smiled and slowly stroked his back.
"Do well, my student."
Damian's racing pulse gradually began to steady.
After a moment, he released his hold and gently laid Silveryn back on the seat.
Then, without a word, he suddenly left for the entrance exam site again.
"..."
Silveryn didn't even think to close the wide-open carriage door that exposed the interior.
While Damian had calmed down, strangely, Silveryn couldn't seem to calm herself.
She sat still, repeatedly fanning her face with her hand.
"...It's hot in here."
***
The entrance exam site was a wide grass field connecting to the foot of Mount Grace on the outskirts of Eternia's fortress.
A massive barrier had been erected between Mount Grace and the exam site.
It was to prevent cheating by blocking unauthorized entry.
One by one, applicants entered the exam site after saying goodbye to their companions at the edge of the grass field.
She occasionally saw familiar faces.
They were right about many prodigies participating in this exam.
Luna, Cecil, Victor, Naias, Iris, and others. There were quite a few children from famous families who were already making names for themselves even before enrolling.
Gradually, the crowd began to grow dense.
After a while, the applicants started murmuring noisily while looking in one direction.
Someone was walking in through the exam site entrance.
Lilith swallowed nervously at the sight.
I’m finally getting the chance to see him.
The Margrave of Varianne who guarded the frontline defense against magic creatures at the northern edge of the continent.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that all countries, including the Empire, were indebted to Varianne, such was his fearsome reputation.
Gale, the eldest son of the Varianne family, was to succeed him.
At such a young age, he had already subjugated large magic creatures and earned the title of “Weapon Master” from the northerners.
With broad shoulders and tall stature, a square jaw, and aggressive eyes, he carried an axe as tall as a person on his back.
His appearance alone exuded tremendous pressure, and for some reason, he was covered in blood.
This only made his atmosphere more terrifying.
The applicants, overwhelmed by Gale's presence, cleared a path where he walked.
With Gale's arrival, she had identified half of the applicants entering through recommendation letters.
There might have been more on the recommendation list, but among those whose information was known, only “Sion” and “Damian” remained obscure.
Though she had heard rumors from the Wiesel Knights, Damian's achievements seemed minimal, and his rank notably lower compared to the others.
He was suspected of using connections to get his recommendation letter. That much could be somewhat expected. Even at Eternia, there were such questionable admissions every year.
Lilith wasn't waiting for Damian.
A few minutes after Gale passed, the exam site fell dead silent.
Lilith could sense it.
Finally, the protagonist has arrived.
At last, Sion Izarel walked into the exam site.
The crowd was so silent one could hear the grass being stepped on.
One of only ten Sword Masters across the continent.
The disciple of Geshin Grig, the swordsman dubbed “Dragon Slayer” for beheading a dragon.
Rumors had already spread widely about Sion seeking out worthy opponents for challenges.
Most of the strongest applicants, including Victor and Gale, had been utterly defeated by Sion.
She was practically the strongest one here.
There was nothing more to say, given that rumors circulated about her, even crushing some second and third-year students.
The top position in this entrance exam undoubtedly belonged to Sion.
The real competition was for second place.
Huh?
While everyone's attention was focused on Sion, a man quietly entered the exam site.
Her brow furrowed.
It was a silhouette that left a very negative impression on Lilith.
He was an applicant too? Well, should I be happy about this?
He casually looked around with one hand resting on the wooden sword at his waist.
It was that masked man she had been unable to find despite scouring the land.
***
When all the applicants gathered, their number approached a thousand.
At the appointed time, ten examiners and thirty assistants from Eternia entered the exam site.
The examiners lined up in front of the barrier. Soon after, the assistants began distributing maps to each applicant.
From the center of the examiners' line, Gael shouted loudly, "I am Associate Professor Gael of the Combat Department, in charge of the entrance exam. Listen carefully as I explain the exam’s procedure and objectives!"
Flynn stood behind the applicants with his arms crossed. He was tasked with security, helping Gael prevent unauthorized entry.
The map showed the geography of Mount Grace. It was to prevent accidents of encountering magic creatures beyond the safe zone.
"Your objective is simple. Climb to the summit of Mount Grace and place your handprint on the magic stone tablet."
Of course, this wasn't just a simple climb. There were obstacles blocking the applicants along the way.
"Along these paths, Planteras will stand firm and hinder you until they're defeated."
The map showed six routes to the summit, labeled A through F.
While routes A and B were the fastest ways to the summit, these two paths had an unimaginably dense defense of Planteras. These routes were meant to distinguish the top performers.
Most would have to take the roundabout C through F routes.
"While reaching the summit quickly is the primary objective, keep in mind that we highly value and encourage teamwork and cooperation."
Flynn recalled his own entrance exam. He, too, had reached the summit together with two Alchemy Department applicants. And received bonus points.
"Additionally, each department has extra tasks. These are specified on the back of the map, so be sure to check."
The applicants began turning their maps over.
The additional tasks were as follows:
Alchemy Department: Identify flora and collect specified herbs for submission. Additional points for creating special potions with them.
Magic Engineering Department: Freely create tools with materials obtained from Mount Grace and submit them all to the examiners after the exam ends.
Magic Department: No tasks. Additional points for healing other applicants.
Combat Department: None. Sole priority is to break through to the summit.
"Other detailed rules are also specified on the back of the map for reference. This concludes the explanation."
This entrance exam interested Flynn so much that he wanted to participate himself.
It was because of the presence of prodigy Sion Izarel, Gale Varianne, and, above all, Damian.
Most would be certain that Sion would take first place.
But Flynn was different.
The sparring match from a month ago still made his hair stand on end.
He couldn't help but smile, thinking about how a dragon comparable to Sion was quietly hiding among those applicants.
He was dying to know what kind of unexpected events that guy would cause.
Hurry and start...
The examiners began collecting the magic crystal spheres, maintaining the barrier.
"Now, we will officially begin the entrance exam. May fortune favor you all."
Soon after, the massive barrier blocking the front disappeared.
Boom— Boom—
The ground began to shake.
From the foot of Mount Grace, a legion of Planteras numbering in the thousands emerged from the forest to greet them.
This was the first gate.
The applicants began running, burning with fighting spirit.
Soon after, the Planteras and applicants clashed, leading to large-scale battles reminiscent of war.
There, Gale naturally became the vanguard commander, sweeping away Planteras with his axe at the frontline.
On one side, over ten silver wolves appeared and blew away the Planteras. Luna had manifested wind spirits.
Several Alchemy Department applicants, including Iris, threw potions. Thick vines grew where the potions fell, restraining the Planteras.
Dazzling lights burst forth from fireballs, and lightning sparked everywhere.
Flynn watched this with interest.
Some were tempted by the examiners' emphasis on the value of “cooperation”.
Others were giving their all to show off their abilities and stand out among the numerous applicants.
Everyone was pushing back the Planteras with full force, each carrying their own reasons.
Not knowing this was all a trap.
***
Lilith, running from the rear, stopped momentarily upon seeing the masked man.
What is that person doing?
While everyone was running to fight with all their might, the man seemed uninterested in fighting and was walking leisurely.
Looks like he has no intention of earning points by cooperating with others.
When several Planteras that had entered the rear rushed at the masked man, he dodged and made them fight other people instead before running away.
He kept repeating this behavior.
Lilith's jaw dropped in amazement.
"How can someone be so despicable?"
Watching him made her blood boil.
A coward without a shred of honor.
Finding him not worth associating with, Lilith took her attention off the man and ran to the frontline.
The battle continued for several hours.
And only when the sun was setting, and dusk approached did Lilith realize something had gone wrong.
Despite all that fighting, dozens of Planteras still remained.
The Planteras weren't attacking, but they were firmly blocking the entrance to Mount Grace.
Many applicants remained. But they were in no condition to continue fighting due to injuries and exhaustion.
This can't be.
Seventy percent of all applicants hadn't even managed to step out of the exam site.
She looked around at the faces of the discouraged applicants. These were all people who had fought the Planteras with everything they had.
The masked man seemed to have foreseen this outcome. No matter how much she searched, she couldn't see him anywhere. He must have already entered Mount Grace.
That guy...
She had to admit it.
Though cowardly and cunning, he had seen two steps ahead.