317 years after the end of the Antarctic War.
Archmage Lynn and Rain Ludwig are now fifteen years old.
In the middle of a busy street where countless people are passing by absentmindedly, the boy lets out a short but deep exclamation.
"Wow, the view is really nice."
The first magic university of the Holy Human Empire,
The Magical Mirror,
When viewed from above, this elaborately designed southern city is shaped like a rose and is always bustling with people.
"Selling grimoires! I have a ton of reference books compiled by the magic instructor of the magik class!"
"There is a magical tool that amplifies magical power! This silver-rank adventurer, Kat, personally brought it from the labyrinth!"
Most of them were merchants and magic students, but occasionally there were adventurers belonging to the Alliance (Adventurer's League).
The center of magic, hence the name "Magic Realm".
There was even a saying that all knowledge in the world first leads to
"master!"
"You are my lord!"
"master!"
The problem was that this city, the fifth largest in the empire, tended to present a very unpleasant symbol to first-time visitors.
It's complicated, but it's too complicated.
It was common for children and young people to get lost and become lost within 10 minutes. Not to mention the entrance exam day of
"Your Highness Rain!"
"Where are you!"
"Ah, my lord!"
The guards of the family, who had stopped their carriages on the side of the road and were shouting loudly, must have faced the same crisis.
"Oh my, it's going to take a lot of effort to find it."
"Which family are you from?"
"Just the Ludwig family. It's the magic house."
"Ludwig… ah, you mean the family with the prince who was famous for being untalented?"
Where is Rain Ludwig and what is he doing now?
Black silk clothes and black hair.
A boy wearing a robe with the family crest artistically embroidered in red thread on the back and sleeves, and wearing jade earrings and a necklace, was standing in a busy street.
"How much is this?"
"Please give me ten copper coins."
"Ten fairy tales?"
At every passing street stall, whenever he saw something interesting, a transparent smile played on the boy's lips as he casually asked the price.
- Are these 10 fairy tales?
In the year when the fires of the telephone had died down and the abyss was being driven south, an oil market was opened in a riverside village near the red city of Shriganakyus.
At that time, Rista would wear casual clothes and chat with merchants, asking about the prices of various things.
When I asked why I was asking when I wasn't going to buy anything, the answer I got was still vivid in my mind.
- You can tell what kind of era it was in by looking at the prices of groceries.
– … … ?
- I mean, grapes. In peaceful times, they don't even cost two. And last year, they went up to twenty. Now they're down to ten. Isn't that proof that we fought hard?
As a boy who had always been interested only in magic and his own work, I found that view both puzzling and interesting.
I see. You can think like that.
So you can see the world like that.
Then, Rista suddenly added with a sad smile:
- Lin, I don't have much longer to live. I've had to undergo physical modifications as a payquerier.
– … … .
- So later, Lin, after you've lived a really, really long time, when we meet again somewhere in heaven, will you tell me?
It seems like only yesterday that we were having that conversation, but I died before Lista, and Lista died waiting for me. Fate is truly ironic.
"Back then it was worth at least 80 coins, but now it's only 10 coins. I wonder what that guy would say if he saw this."
As I was looking at the red jewel with interest, the stall owner approached me cautiously.
"Excuse me, Confucius?"
"hmm?"
"Wouldn't it be better to go quickly? The clock tower is already ringing. The exam is about to start. It might be too late already...."
Those words brought me to my senses.
Oh my… … .
Come to think of it, when was the last time I parted ways with the guards? I don't know how many hours I've spent immersed in echoes of the past since I entered this street.
I ran like crazy through the vast streets of
"I'm sorry, but even if you're a descendant of a powerful family, it's a rule that if you're late, you'll be disqualified without mercy. And on top of that, it's already been five minutes since the test started...."
"Isn't there any way?"
This is just plain stupid.
I promised myself to go see Lista's note, but I ended up starting off like this.
"As for the method, um, there is an additional test that those who fail the written test can take. It is held at the second testing center."
"Am I eligible to apply?"
"The professor in charge will make the decision, but it's not that there aren't any. It's because those who failed the written exam for the regular admissions are the ones who see it. But from the perspective of a descendant of a powerful family, it seems a bit… um?"
The teaching assistant, who was explaining while scratching his chin as if he was embarrassed, blinked.
No, where did you go?
* * *
The second testing site was located near clock tower number 3 on the university grounds.
As I was born with bad manners, I had difficulty finding my way and by the time I arrived, those who had failed the written exam had started gathering one by one, forming a bustling crowd.
It was obvious, but most of them had dark expressions. The boy looked at them carefully.
Perhaps because it was an additional test, there were not many disciples from the Eight Great Schools. Among the minor schools, the famous Kashta School was visible, but the Great Schools and the Middle Schools were nowhere to be seen.
"But you said it was an additional test, why are there so many people?"
The boy had long ago taken off his family's silk robe, folded it carelessly, and tucked it under his arm. If the maid or butler had seen it, they would have been shocked.
This is the South, Sunset Land. It is a land whose climate is influenced by the Red Mountain Range that divides the territory of the Republic of Yongin and the Holy Human Empire.
Richland, a blessed land with a clear and cool climate all year round, is different in many ways, especially the temperature.
"Of course there can't be many. What is
Then a boy answered Rain's monologue. He had a refreshing appearance and was wearing the robes of the Epicurean school.
"This is the best magic university in the empire, where the chances of admission are as low as trying to get a star from the sky."
"?"
"If you get a diploma here, your life will be bright and bright. You'll be welcomed at any magic tower, and you'll make a lot of money as a magic tutor. There's absolutely no shame in taking extra exams."
The boy smiled and held out his hand to Lane.
"I'm Rimjo. I'm from the Epicurean school. What about you?"
Rimjora. It's definitely not a noble name. And there's no surname either.
"I'm Rain Ludwig. I don't have a school. I learned home magic."
As soon as he said that, Rimjo's face twisted into contempt. The refreshing smile suddenly disappeared.
"Ha... So you are Prince Ludwig."
"?"
"This is not a place where only those with family and bloodline can come. It is a place where only those with magical genius talents can come."
Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?
I was curious why his attitude suddenly changed 180 degrees after hearing the name.
"Look. The guy in front is a disciple of the Tolei School. The guy over there is the ace of the Rentami School."
joy....
The descendants of Sega are an additional test?
How can you be so unqualified… … Or are you just trying to get in through your connections? A female student said to Rimjo, who turned around with a sneer.
"You're so big, you're picking a fight with Ludwig's successor."
"So what if he's so incompetent? He deserves to be ignored."
"Incompetent? What do you mean incompetent? Hey, I graduated from the
At that moment, two female magicians walked into the second testing room.
"Welcome, candidates. My name is Caroline and I am a professor at Delighten. Feel free to call me Kat."
She was a young female magician with a great sense of dignity. But what was more concerning was the female student standing next to her.
A beauty with short brown hair reminiscent of wet soil. She uses a hairpin to open up the left side of her forehead. Pure beauty blooming in the midst of ruggedness.
She was a girl with the natural beauty unique to mountain dwellers, and she looked strangely familiar.
'
The boy tilted his head.
That guy must be the same age as me, so why is he already wearing his school uniform?
Cat said with a small smile.
"Actually, my teaching assistant suddenly got sick yesterday, so he won't be able to help you with your exams."
"...!"
"So this child is here to help you with your additional exam review, Krista."
Then, the female student standing next to her took a step forward. Rather than the arrogance of a nobleman, she seemed confident in everything she did.
"This child is Christa Warden. She is this year's recommended student. You all know her well. She has official approval from the school, so there's nothing to worry about."
Aha, so that's what it was like... ... .
Warden.
Warden's house.
As can be seen from his title of lord, Warden was one of the five magicians along with Ludwig. The region where he took root was the eastern part of the empire.
'I saw it once when I was seven.'
The meeting place is the Sega Conference.
This was before Lin regained her memories.
- You try hard!
- Do you like living like such a fool?
- You are a descendant of Sega! Even the eldest son! Don't you feel ashamed of yourself?
I remember him spouting off such things when we first met, but I just ignored him. I wasn't really interested in the world.
"Christa Warden...?"
Unlike the boy who nodded as if he understood, the examinees were muttering in fear.
"He's only fifteen years old, and he's already achieved the rank of Limites (2 stars) and is even eyeing the position of Atlas (3 stars)...."
"You're a magical genius that only comes once in a hundred years...?"
"I heard you also obtained the qualification of a quasi-battle mage last month...."
As if this murmuring was both familiar and strange, Christa Warden crossed her arms and looked over the candidates one by one.
"Now, we will have a magical duel between Christa and Illuweden, and whoever manages to land a single effective hit will be immediately marked as passing. No fatalities. If that happens, you will be disqualified."
"...!"
"As you all know, this is how the original additional practical exam is conducted. You don't have to win, and you can pass even if you just land a few valid hits, so don't worry and just focus on using magic!"
Cat laughed, "Hehehe."
While the other examinees blankly looked back and forth between her and Christa, Caroline lightly flipped through the officer's documents.
"Then, would you please come forward starting with additional test number 200, whose name will be called from now on?"
Candidate number 200 hesitated and went up to the stage while everyone was holding their breath in nervousness.
Just as she was about to open her grimoire and use her magic… … Christa's magic struck her chest and she fell backwards violently.
"Failed."
As soon as that happened, a notice of failure suddenly appeared. Cadet number 200 begged with trembling lips.
"This is ridiculous… Just give me one more chance, just one more chance! I've been preparing for years…!"
There was absolutely no mercy for the examiners of
"No. 201, please come up to the stage."
One more like that.
This time, he casted magic, but the coordinate calculation was wrong, so the fireball hit a strange place. Then, he was hit in the chest by the magic that Krista fired, and failed.
"Failed."
Then another one again.
Next, the picture I drew earlier.
"Failed, please come up to number 216."
"Failed, please come up to number 244."
"Failed, please come up to number 267."
Candidates who went up to the stage when their names were called and then left the examination room with dumbfounded faces.
There were many test takers who received notice of failure, but there were also a significant number of test takers who felt the difference in skills and gave up altogether.
Each examination is completed in approximately 20 seconds.
Krista sighed and shook her head as she watched the hundred or so applicants drain away like the tide in about 30 minutes.
"Those who dress like great wizards are nothing special when you look at them. How did they get the rank of Bandoran (1 star)?"
"It's proof that Christa is that great. The old saying that an empty cart makes the most noise is true."
"So is it over now? Can I go back to my studies?"
Among the students walking out of the testing center with their shoulders hunched, a bitter smile appeared on Lane's lips as he watched Christa.
okay.
I used to be like that too.
He was so arrogant to the point of being annoying, he had no empathy, and he only cared about his own self-improvement, without any regard for the circumstances of others… … If he had that kind of ability, I could have given him a little more leeway.
- Lin.
- Lin?
- Lin!
If I hadn't met those three people, I would have probably spent my youth like that and grown old like that. That kind of life is just too much of a hassle. What should I do in times like this? Should I just teach them that the world is big?
"Isn't it okay if I just overwhelm them with magic?"
At that arrogant remark, Kat and Krista's eyes almost simultaneously widened. In the place where nearly a hundred applicants had all left, only one boy was visible.
'what...?'
A handsome boy with elegant eyes redder than ruby, beneath his black hair. Rain Ludwig slightly loosened his body and waved his hands.
"You don't have to go study. I'll teach you an important lesson."