Ch.21Chapter 21. Announcement of the Inter-Grade Competition Events (1)

“Didn’t you say you only did dungeon exploration last year?”

“…That’s correct. Not just last year, but until now, there’s always been only one event.”

“Really? Then what’s this?”

Elaine couldn’t answer as I pointed to what was written on the notice board.

Well, it’s not like Elaine decided on the events, so she wouldn’t know.

“I don’t… really know either.”

Elaine hung her head and fidgeted with her sword handle.

For a moment, I thought she was about to draw her sword and got a bit nervous, but it seemed like touching the handle was just a habit of hers.

The notice board prominently displayed on the first floor of the freshman lecture hall contained detailed schedules for the inter-grade competition.

As soon as we heard that the notice had been posted, Elaine and I, who were scheduled to participate as first-year representatives, rushed down to check the contents.

<This year’s inter-grade competition will be conducted with three separate events.>

I simply accepted it with an “I see,” but Elaine read that phrase with an expression of incomprehension.

The content stated that this year’s inter-grade competition would consist of three events.

The reason given was quite plausible.

Since it’s difficult to assess whether academy students possess all the necessary virtues through just one event, from this year on, they would evaluate the abilities of each grade’s representatives more objectively by breaking it down into more specific categories.

The three tests announced were as follows:

First test: Theory.

A written exam conducted on the basis that even non-mages should know basic knowledge about magic and mana as academy students.

Second test: Application.

A test on how well individuals can apply their mana-based abilities to various situations.

The second test would be conducted as an “academy-produced” obstacle course, just like before.

And the third test: Practical.

Although grandly labeled as “Practical,” the third test was essentially the same dungeon exploration as last year.

When I first saw the notice, the first word that caught my eye was “dungeon exploration,” which made me happy at first, but this inter-grade competition wasn’t going to end with just dungeon exploration.

Of all times, I had to get such a tough schedule when it was my turn.

Talk about bad luck.

“Haah. This is like… I’d believe it if they said it was an entrance exam.”

“Really? Wasn’t the entrance exam easier?”

“…That’s because you did well, Ryuyeong. The Golem Hit test isn’t that easy.”

“Hmm. I can’t relate, but whatever.”

“Sigh, and we have to do all this with just four people…”

While Elaine was rubbing her forehead as if she had a headache, another voice came from behind.

“I heard the competition events are out?”

“Ah, Surpl… I mean, Miss Cynthia. Please look at this. Haah.”

“Huh?”

The one who approached from behind with an energetic voice was Cynthia.

Sensing uneasiness in Elaine’s behavior and voice, Cynthia calmly read through the notice with a dubious expression.

Judging by Cynthia’s reaction being similar to Elaine’s, this year must indeed be different somehow.

“This is just… you know.”

“What do you mean?”

“Sigh. You do know, right? That there are a lot of rumors going around about you.”

“R-really?”

When I asked Cynthia as if this was news to me, she shook her head and continued speaking.

I knew people were interested in me because I entered as the top student, but I didn’t know rumors were circulating.

I hadn’t been paying attention to that sort of thing at all.

“The most prominent rumor is that you colluded with the academy professors to enter as the top student. They even say you won over the chancellor.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you.”

“But I’m not even on good terms with the chancellor here.”

“…What are you saying? Anyway, I heard that certain families have officially demanded an explanation from the academy, and it seems like this inter-grade competition is the academy’s response.”

“Hmm.”

Hearing Cynthia’s words, I could picture the situation.

Nobles jealous of a commoner who entered as the top student, conspiracies circulating among them, nobles insisting that it doesn’t make sense for a commoner to be the top student, and the academy’s response to it all.

‘So they want to test me, huh?’

Considering everything, it seemed this inter-grade competition wasn’t simply an event being held earlier than usual, but one with a different purpose.

“So this is like a second entrance exam for me?”

“…It’s ridiculous, but it seems that way.”

“Ah! So that’s why the events are like this!”

Elaine, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, suddenly clapped her hands as if she’d had a realization.

Come to think of it, Elaine had mentioned earlier that the inter-grade competition events seemed like academy entrance exams.

I had just laughed it off then, but now it seemed she had foresight.

“It’s not just your test. After all, we’re also participating as representatives.”

“That’s… true.”

“Ugh. I really don’t like this. They’ve already announced that there was no misconduct. If someone else, a noble with the same score as you, had entered as the top student instead of you, Ryu, this would never have happened.”

“That’s right. Ryuyeong’s skills are undeniable.”

I wasn’t particularly bothered, but for some reason, Cynthia and Elaine seemed more upset about it.

I wasn’t sure if it was good or bad, but it was reassuring in its own way.

Knowing that the inter-grade competition wasn’t just a pure event to enjoy, but one to test me again due to various circumstances, gave me even more motivation.

I had been looking forward to winning first place and receiving a skill befitting the mage class, but now I had one more reason to do my best.

“Okay. Let’s all do well together? Looking at the content, I’m confident in the second and third tests. Can I leave the first test to you guys?”

“Ah…”

“Huh?”

Elaine and Cynthia, who had been fired up and determined, momentarily couldn’t respond to my words as I clenched my fist in solidarity.

Honestly, I could easily beat the second and third year students in the second test, “obstacle course,” and the third test, “dungeon exploration,” even without forming a team.

If I were truly a newbie who had just reincarnated to the Arcaria Continent, it would have been tough, but I was already a seasoned veteran.

However, I wasn’t confident in the first test, the written exam.

Although it was described as basics of magic and mana, I knew very well that even those basics could be headache-inducingly difficult.

It would be easier and more comfortable to directly fight with the participants rather than take such an exam; it wasn’t my style.

“Huh? Why is everyone…? It’s just the basics of magic and mana, right?”

“…Knights don’t separately study the principles of magic.”

“But it also mentions basic knowledge of mana?”

“I know a bit about mana operation, but I don’t know the details…”

Elaine trailed off and naturally looked at Cynthia.

Cynthia started waving her hands in panic when both Elaine and I turned our gazes to her simultaneously.

“A-archers don’t learn about magic either! I know the basics, the very basics of mana, but since archery also requires physical training and running around…”

“It’s the same for knights. We need to move our muscles directly, so the theoretical part is…”

“…”

So both of them weren’t confident in theory.

“But… didn’t you say you aspired to be a mage?”

“Me?”

“Yes. You said before that you wanted to properly learn magic.”

‘I did say that, but…’

Elaine’s eyes wavered momentarily at Cynthia’s question, then turned to me with a puzzled look.

Avoiding Elaine’s questioning gaze, I quickly answered Cynthia’s question.

“I want to learn, but I didn’t say I’m good at it now.”

“…”

“Come on, we have a proper mage on our team. One who seems really smart.”

“There is a mage, but…”

“Right! Emily will handle the theory. You heard her talking then. She seemed completely knowledgeable about magical theory.”

“She did give that impression.”

Cynthia wore a dubious expression, but Elaine nodded vigorously, her blonde hair swaying, agreeing with my words.

Yes, we have Emily, the research-obsessed mage.

This actually works out well.

I was a bit worried about Emily because her words and actions didn’t seem to match combat at all, but for a written exam, she seemed like she would do better than anyone.

“Um, excuse me.”

“Whoa! When did you get here!”

“I’ve been listening from behind for a while…”

“Ah, y-yeah. I see.”

Speak of the devil—just as we were talking about Emily, she appeared as if by magic.

While I was trying to recall if I had said anything negative about Emily just now, she hesitated before speaking.

Elaine was looking at Emily with a genuinely reassured expression, while Cynthia, like me, was watching Emily closely with a somewhat guilty expression, waiting to hear what she would say.

Cynthia was probably thinking the same thing I was—wondering if she had misspoken.

“Um, Professor Amillion asked me to bring all the competition participants to the training ground… and I happened to find you all gathered here…”

“…Phew.”

Seeing the sigh of relief escape from Cynthia’s lips, I felt the urge to tease her rise to the tip of my tongue, but I held back.

“Ah, right. She did mention that when I was consulting with her before. She said she would personally oversee things once the competition events and schedule were finalized.”

“You’ve already had a consultation with Professor Amillion? As expected of the top student.”

“Well… I think you’ll all get to do it soon too? Since you’re grade representatives.”

“Oh! Such an honorable opportunity.”

Elaine touched her sword excitedly at the prospect of consulting with Professor Amillion, while Cynthia ignored our conversation and turned her attention to Emily.

“Hey, Emily. You know a lot about magic, right?”

“Um… I do know some, but to say I know a lot is a bit… Though I do know a bit more than others about cold or low-temperature magic! But that doesn’t mean I know a lot… There are plenty of people in the world who know and use magic better than I do…”

Emily pondered Cynthia’s question for a moment before mumbling her response.

So does she know a lot or not?

“Ah, aah! That’s right! The professor asked us to come to the training ground…!”

It was only after a long while of mumbling to herself in response to Cynthia’s question that Emily remembered her mission.