Ch.8181. Riding Aptitude Test (2)

The artificial magic stone is ready, now I just need to take the test.

Led by Junon, students who had successfully created magic stones one by one arrived at the Mizar Building, unable to contain their joy.

However, what greeted them was cold hostility.

“Why are unqualified losers like you even coming here?”

“Qualifications? What qualifications?”

“What? Are there really idiots so stupid that they need to be told about the required materials for the Magic Armor Compatibility Test?”

“There’s bottom of the barrel, and then there’s whatever you are. As expected of the weakest vanguards!”

—Hahaha!

The male student blocking their path, along with others who had just finished their tests, laughed mockingly.

But too bad. They won’t be laughing anymore.

“I suppose this is the required material you’re talking about?”

“…You, where did you get that…!”

“Am I facing someone so stupid that I need to explain where I got my materials from? Oh, let me correct myself—someones.”

The noble who had been spouting off about the bottom of the barrel scowled as if he might throw a punch if one more word was added.

With so many eyes watching, I think I heard someone snickering.

But what can they do? With these magic stones of mysterious origin, we can legitimately take the Magic Armor Compatibility Test.

“Move aside, unless you’ve rented this space?”

“…”

Junon pushed aside the tall figures blocking the way, and the lower-class students from last semester followed behind him nonchalantly.

Though unintentional, it somehow looked like Junon was taking the lead, clearing the blocked path.

‘Are those the guys from earlier?’

The other students must have all left already, as the testing room that should have been crowded was quite empty.

Seeing the additional students arriving, the instructor came out to check.

“Hmm. Artificial magic stones?”

“Yes. We made them with Professor Dahlia’s permission.”

“Well, as long as you have magic stones, it doesn’t matter. Come in one by one.”

Following the administrator’s instructions, they each took their places. Soon, transparent walls formed around each of them in their compartments.

Not long after, their bodies were fixed in place, causing the nervous freshmen to panic, while some others watched thinking, “I was like that too.”

“Since we have freshmen here, I’ll explain the process this time. For safety during the test, the bodies of students taking the test are immobilized. This is to create an environment where you can maintain concentration, so you can rest assured.”

The confused freshmen began to understand one by one as their questions were answered.

“What’s most needed for manifesting Magic Armor is concentration, and the self-restraint to know your limits and stop when necessary. If you disregard this and harm your body, we’ll ensure you never set foot in here again, so keep that in mind.”

Shortly after the instructor gave this warning, my vision went dark.

“It’s been a while.”

This feeling of floating alone in a space where nothing exists.

Having attempted the Magic Armor manifestation test countless times, this sensation felt all too familiar.

“Well then…”

With half expectation and half worry, I placed my hand on the magic stone.

Meanwhile, while the students with their senses blocked were walking their own paths trying to manifest Magic Armor, a notable figure visited the place.

“Hmm. I see the Magic Armor Compatibility Test is in progress.”

“Ah, no way, that’s…!”

The instructors rushed over and bowed their heads. The man slowly making his way through them was someone no one living in the Empire could fail to recognize.

“We greet the Grand Duke, Your Highness.”

“There’s no need for such formalities. I’m merely the Academy’s chairman here, am I not?”

Despite his words, considering the Grand Duke’s position as the king of this country, no one treats him merely as a chairman.

“…May I humbly ask what brings you here today?”

“For some reason, I wanted to observe the students experiencing Magic Armor manifestation today. They are our growing sprouts, aren’t they?”

“Yes… of course…”

The Grand Duke went up to the upper level where he could overlook all the students taking the test.

Through the glass below, the students could be seen in various states of Magic Armor manifestation behind transparent walls.

Among them, the Grand Duke’s eyes remained fixed on one person.

‘That child.’

With such distinctive appearance, it wasn’t difficult to find him.

And not long after, the boy was the first to open his eyes there.

“Oh… He looks ordinary on the outside, but what’s inside seems quite different.”

The Grand Duke intended to carefully examine why Ophelia had hidden such a person.

***

“Damn it…!”

The magic power I had put into the magic stone bounced back. It meant failure.

“This is ridiculously difficult.”

I know the answer.

Whether it’s a naturally formed magic stone or an artificial one created through synthesis, the method for Magic Armor manifestation is the same.

You need to properly mix the raw magic power and refined magic power maintaining their ratio inside the magic stone, then absorb it into your body.

If you can get that far, Magic Armor manifests naturally.

But that’s not an easy task.

“Sigh… This must be my tenth attempt…”

Others might hear the theory and think, “Oh, I see,” and move on.

As if it’s just a matter of mixing magic power and putting it in your body. There are occasionally geniuses who say exactly that… but the point is, I’m not one of those geniuses.

It feels like forcibly mixing two substances that don’t want to blend.

One so viscous it barely flows and another that flows smoothly and softly. Yes, it felt like trying to mix water and oil.

Mixing water and oil? As I keep racking my brain for a solution, my mind grows hazy.

Of course, since Magic Armor manifestation is one of the two major pillars of growth along with enhancing unique magic, it wouldn’t be easy.

Having failed dozens or hundreds of times before my regression, my mental fortitude isn’t shaken by this level of difficulty.

“Phew… Let’s rest a bit first.”

Getting impatient will only make things worse. Besides, you can reach exhaustion, so taking breaks is necessary.

I decided to reflect on my past memories until my magic power returned to normal.

How did others succeed in manifesting Magic Armor?

Most people said they succeeded by either hammering in magic or by channeling magic power into weapons.

The common thread is that listeners still don’t understand.

I once heard someone say:

Magic Armor manifestation is an achievement that can only be realized by becoming more familiar with oneself.

Most students would tilt their heads at this. I too dismissed it as nonsense back then.

The strange thing is that unlike me who failed, everyone else who manifested Magic Armor admitted that statement was correct.

So the point must be valid.

“Becoming more familiar with oneself…”

Another puzzling, incomprehensible sentence.

You know your own body best, and sometimes the image others have of you is your most authentic self.

But telling someone “know thyself” like Socrates—how could anyone understand that?

“Sigh…”

I couldn’t help but feel frustrated.

This Magic Armor Compatibility Test was clearly going to be used by the nobility, who had hoarded magic stones, to gain an advantage.

Their goal was obvious—the downfall of vanguard and support positions.

Though we prevented the rampage at the banquet hall in the third semester of the second year, that was merely a vaccination.

The true despair for Academy students at the hands of high nobles begins today.

If things proceed as they are, the vanguard and support position students will collapse, following the same path as before my regression.

Unlike the vaccination, this situation must be addressed immediately or it becomes irreversible.

The Second Inferior Student Rampage Incident.

It all begins when none of the former lower-class students succeed in manifesting Magic Armor in this test.

Artificial magic stones are inferior in quality to naturally occurring ones, so they naturally affect Magic Armor manifestation.

Due to the lower ratio of refined magic power, manifesting Magic Armor requires much more effort.

So while it’s fortunate we can attempt Magic Armor manifestation, the increased difficulty is the problem.

Without Magic Armor, it’s like going into battle unarmed, and positions that heavily rely on Magic Armor feel even more pressure.

Under this pressure, what ignites the fire in the inferior students is the nobles’ atrocities.

Having tasted a glimmer of hope with artificial magic stones only to fall back into the abyss, their mental state completely shatters.

The enraged inferior students blame the test itself, occupying the nearby Dube Building and staging a protest.

Despite mediation attempts by faculty and professors, they resort to force, leading to the misuse of dangerous materials in the Dube Building, resulting in numerous magic contamination cases and the building’s collapse.

It would be great if Lenias actively stepped in to resolve this as before, but this time the circumstances are different.

On the surface, this incident stems from the powerlessness of lower-class students.

Help from others is ultimately someone else’s strength.

Accepting help under the guise of goodwill only proves “we cannot change.”

So… the only option left is to show that manifesting Magic Armor is possible. To demonstrate that we vanguard and support positions can do it too.

“Right. This is something I have to solve alone. There’s no turning back.”

Though I’ve never succeeded before, I must succeed now.

After steeling my resolve and taking a few breaths, I grabbed the magic stone once more.

Let’s think.

Gather all the keywords.

“Magic Armor is manifested by extracting magic power from a magic stone, absorbing it into the body, and then the excess magic power is released and manifested.”

This is the commonly known theory of Magic Armor manifestation.

…But this alone isn’t enough. It doesn’t tell me anything.

“Magic stones contain both refined magic power and unrefined turbid magic power, coexisting in a balanced ratio.”

“The two types of magic power, which don’t mix like water and oil, must maintain a certain ratio to keep the stone form.”

“If the ratio in a magic stone is disrupted by external magic power, a magic storm or splash-out occurs.”

These are the characteristics of magic stones.

“The difference is that I’m using an artificial magic stone… but the same rules must apply. It’s a compressed magic lump with forcibly injected refined magic power to balance the ratio.”

…Wait, what did I just say? Artificial magic stone?

No, no. That’s not it…!

“Forcibly injected to… balance the ratio?”

Something seemed just within reach in my brain, yet still elusive, like I was at a precarious threshold.

It felt like adding just one more piece would allow me to reach the essence of what Magic Armor truly is.

And at that moment, a voice I knew flashed through my mind.

-‘Unique magic is most influenced by the nature of magic power, but Magic Armor is completely different. It’s literally about making it fit your body.’

Professor Jake’s advice given to help me.

…Yes, that was it.

The magic power coursing through my body begins to seep into the stone-shaped magic lump.

The process is infinitely precise and dense. And simultaneously familiar.

Others must have experienced the same.

Those who said they hammered in the magic they were used to casting and Magic Armor was created.

Those who infused magic power into magic stones the same way they would swing a blade to cut down magical beasts.

In the end, everyone used the method they were most familiar with, the one they used without conscious thought.

That’s why they all said they couldn’t believe they hadn’t been able to solve such a simple task until they did.

Just as you breathe naturally without thinking about it, the way you’re most accustomed to using magic power is what fits your body best.

It may seem disappointingly simple, but the answer was to stimulate and draw in the magic stone’s power using the method you’re best at in your field.

So what am I best at? It’s the same before my regression and now. The technique of injecting magic power, stirring it up, and preemptively blocking the opponent’s magic.

Anti-cast.

-Whoosh.

The magic stone became transparent as if emptied, and the magic power that penetrated and exited various parts of my body resonated with a humming sound.

Finally, I reaffirmed what I’m best at. But.

“What… is this?”

Something was different.

Magic Armor manifestation is said to materialize the most optimized weapon for the user. That’s why everyone checks their compatibility.

If that’s the case, my compatibility should have produced a shield, which had over 30% compatibility, not those items that all showed 0.1%.

“Not a… shield?”

Something strange appeared before my eyes. And with an astonishing compatibility rate of 99%.

***

“Oh, welcome, Professor Jake. Looks like you’ve been out having fun somewhere?”

“…Not fun, I was evaluating students’ Magic Armor, Your Highness.”

“Hahaha! Isn’t that the same thing? Anyway, I’d prefer if drinking buddies didn’t use such formal titles.”

“…”

“Alright, alright. I’ll be satisfied with ‘Your Highness’ for now.”

The Grand Duke greeted Professor Jake with a hearty laugh.

“Didn’t you have the same experience when you first created Magic Armor? Wondering by what principle it’s absorbed?”

“Of course. I was quite flustered myself.”

“Indeed. Few people realize that they need to match the ratio inside the magic stone with their internal ratio and then absorb it. Not many can understand the theory from your wife’s published paper.”

Even the finest instructors and outstanding talents have only ever proposed hypotheses about Magic Armor and unique magic.

At best, Dennis has published numerous papers with theories closest to the truth, but they’re too complex for students to understand.

Therefore, even if they hear this theory, most don’t actually comprehend it.

How can one make the magic stone’s ratio completely identical to their internal ratio, which can be checked on indicators?

It’s so difficult that those who realize it are the ones who succeed in manifesting Magic Armor.

“So I wanted to ask, how long did it take you?”

“Hmm… About 25 minutes by internal time.”

“Oh, that’s quite fast. Easily within the top 3%, no, the top 1%.”

“…You flatter me.”

Not just the Grand Duke, but anyone who heard would exclaim in admiration—25 minutes was an impressive record. But…

“Then what percentage of talent would you say that student who manifested faster than you falls into?”

“…?”

Professor Jake’s puzzled gaze followed the direction of the Grand Duke’s pointing finger.

‘No way…!’

Even from a distance, Professor Jake’s eyes widened at the sight of the black-haired student.

In this academy, there was only one student with black hair.

Seeing his disciple who had succeeded in manifesting Magic Armor exceptionally quickly and was now looking around in confusion, Jake couldn’t help but gape, forgetting he was in the presence of the Grand Duke.