episode_0005

[The next day]

“Hmm… isn’t that more than just being ‘a little good’ with a sword? Even someone like me, who doesn’t know much about swords, can tell you’re at least a Sword Master, if not a Sword Saint… Are you sure it’s alright for you to be here…?”

Aris spoke with a slightly relieved expression.

She continued to link her arm with mine, saying that even if I was strong, being unable to see was dangerous.

Her yellow hair kept brushing against my bare skin, tickling me, but I couldn’t push her away. Thus, we headed for the second examination venue looking like a couple.

“It’s true that I’m only *a little* good. I still have many shortcomings.”

I said, looking at my status window.

It was the truth.

Quests and rewards, like those that appeared in the game, hadn’t popped up yet, nor had the affection system for conquering heroines appeared for me.

If such a system existed, I’d be able to grow quickly, but I felt a slight regret.

Of course, just having Heart Sword, the strongest technique in the Eastern Continent, was something to be grateful for, but I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed nonetheless.

“How on earth did you train to be able to cut down a bear so quickly, even though you’re blind?”

She believed I had swung my sword quickly and sliced the bear in half.

I touched the joint of my staff, briefly recalling that moment.

***

The moment the technique Heart Sword emerged from my mouth, I swiftly swung the rapier in my hand horizontally, and simultaneously, the bear was cut in half, collapsing as blood gushed from it.

I immediately put the rapier, completely unstained by blood, back into my staff and turned my head towards Aris.

With a face that seemed unable to comprehend the situation unfolding before her eyes, she sat still on the rock, utterly bewildered.

I approached her, still seated as if she had been struck, knelt, and said,

“How is it? Did that answer your question?”

She replied with a dazed expression.

“Huh? Uh… uh…”

She stared intently at my smiling face for a moment, then, perhaps still not having shaken off the fear caused by the bear, she asked me, trembling slightly,

“That… that was… you…? With… that sword…?”

Aris said, pointing at my staff.

To her, who had asked such an obvious question, I replied in a gentle voice.

“Isn’t it obvious? Didn’t I say I could handle a sword a little, Aris? Just trust me and follow along.”

I extended my hand to her, still smiling.

Then, she, whose mind had been filled with the bear attack, the academy’s acceptance, and important appointments, seemed to relax, *very* much so. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she gave me that bright smile I had first seen.

***

“Alright, Friedrich Aris, Longinus Ray, are you who you say you are?”

The instructor I had seen yesterday afternoon was also in charge of this exam today, standing before us and verifying our identities.

“We will perform a brief inspection.”

The two mages before us, dressed in robes emblazoned with the Magic Tower’s emblem, seemed to cast various spells on both of us, then simply nodded.

“Now then, let’s begin the detailed explanation for the second examination. I don’t know where you’ll be fighting. In short, it’s random. In such a place, you must combine forces with your teammate to render two opponents incapacitated or secure their surrender. However, remember that if one person contributes too little, you may be disqualified even if you win.”

With that, the instructor seemed to leave, heading to explain to another group.

“Excuse me, Instructor-nim.”

I stopped her as she was leaving.

“What is it, Student Longinus? I believe I’ve finished the explanation.”

Perhaps she had dealt with many groups today, as she was very particular about questions.

“If it appears to the judges that someone hasn’t contributed, but their teammate claims they did, will that person pass?”

She thought for a moment at my question, then nodded.

“It’s fine as long as it’s convincing. Rarely does a situation arise in a 2v2 where someone doesn’t contribute at all…”

She glanced at Aris and me, still arm-in-arm.

“If you’re worried because you like your teammate, you don’t need to be.”

The instructor left the spot, leaving only those words behind.

“You… you really are blind, aren’t you…”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Then… that’s a relief…”

Aris trailed off, but unfortunately for her, I had the ability to read magic, and I accurately perceived her emotions.

[The system is preparing to activate.]

I was so amused watching her magic that I failed to notice the blue window that briefly appeared beside me.

And by the time I realized something had been there, it was already gone.

“Longinus Ray! Friedrich Aris! Enter the second examination venue!”

The instructor’s voice echoed from afar, and the mages of the Magic Tower who had inspected us pulled back the curtain before us.

‘In the game, they said the scale of the second exam was enormous… but seeing it directly with my own eyes, it truly is massive… Though it’s probably just expansion magic…’

I entered the vast examination venue with Aris.

At that moment, a massive forest appeared before us.

Even when I scanned it with magic, it felt like a real forest.

Like the hidden place I went to yesterday, it felt as though birds and animals would approach me at any moment.

“Aris, I’m going to take out my rapier for a moment.”

I said this to her, unlinked my arm, and pulled at the joint of my staff.

Then, a rapier similar to the one I had used yesterday appeared in my hand.

“Please heal me if I get injured.”

I left those words and immediately sent my magic out to the very end of the examination venue.

And I found two objects whose magic was significantly higher than their surroundings, not natural magic.

Judging by their silhouettes, they had bows.

‘Bows, huh… Then they’ll probably use the advantage of this forest to shoot from long range…’

For a moment, I instinctively tried to slash their throats.

As they were within the range of Heart Sword—that is, within my perception—I almost used the ability without realizing it.

I briefly turned my head towards Aris.

Though her face wasn’t clearly visible, her magic was trembling slightly, even with me there, even after I had shown her my power yesterday.

“Aris, we must first wait for the enemies to attack. Please follow behind me.”

I told her that and went forward.

Although I was confidently moving forward with a relaxed smile, I was soon being treated by Aris.

A gentle tap, tap.

I once again deployed my magic and could visualize her looking at my wounds with a very worried expression.

‘Ugh… Blind… Seriously… would it kill them to let me transmigrate properly…?’

Lamenting my blindness, I showed her my injuries.

There was only one reason I was in this state.

Instead of sending magic through my staff, which was somewhat less efficient, the magic didn’t accurately render the surrounding terrain when sent too far.

As soon as I said that and took a step forward, I tripped on a branch in front of me and fell.

What’s more, the ground ahead was covered in sharp branches, resulting in me sustaining several injuries.

“Ray… you should have been more careful… You don’t even have your staff, so you don’t know what’s in front of you…”

She looked at me with eyes genuinely filled with worry.

“Anyway, I was already bothered that I hadn’t done anything during yesterday’s events, so it’s a relief I can at least help now. I have to take care of my first friend in the capital…”

“Am I… your first friend in the capital?”

With her incredibly bright expression, it was something I hadn’t even considered.

“Yeah… after my benefactor passed away, I forced myself to smile… Everyone who approached me was insincere… I had no choice but to show them a false smile too… But after meeting you, it’s been genuine, Ray. I truly believe it’s a blessing from heaven to have met you like this.”

She spoke such warm words without hesitation.

Knowing she would be treating me with a motherly smile even without visualizing it, I trusted her and spread all the magic condensed around me to discern the enemies’ movements.

And as soon as I pinpointed their location, I whispered to Aris.

“Aris, don’t be surprised.”

I conveyed those words to her in a heavy voice, and she still seemed unaware of the situation.

At that moment, I shoved her, who had been treating me, to the side.

“A shriek! Ray…?”

She let out a short shriek, then quickly regained her posture and looked at me.

In my hand was an arrow, still trembling from how much magic I had imbued it with to attack.

“It seems there are several little rats eavesdropping on our conversation.”

I picked up the rapier I had left behind.

“Aris, could you please close your eyes for a moment? It’ll be over quickly.”

I said, visualizing the two little rats rushing towards this location.