episode_0017

After using Estelle’s teleportation magic to move to an inconspicuous place, standing in a waiting line that was definitely not crowded, showing my online application, and being given the 32nd turn, my work before the exam begins is finally done.

“Would you like to go home first? I have a magic test in the afternoon. Wouldn’t it take too long to wait?”

It took about 30 minutes to even handle the small amount of work before the exam started.

Since I had to wait for the test in a separate waiting room, I couldn’t be with Estelle.

Being the 32nd number means that it is actually quite late in the exam order, so after the exam is over, you have to eat lunch right away, and then in the afternoon, you have to be given the same order for the magic exam, and then go to the magic exam waiting room again to wait.

“I’m bored at home.”

“Help your parents with the farm work.”

“Oh, I guess so. That would certainly help.”

There is no situation where Estelle can’t help.

Basically, this guy seems to be good at everything and is good at learning.

Compared to him, I am…

[ Status Window ]

Name: Theo (Kim Min-seong)

Age: 20 years old

Occupation: A really cool villager

Titles: Proud Son, Best Juggler in the Village, Swordsman with Great Swordsmanship, Dummy Slayer, Dummy Harpooner, Mana Man, Magician with Good Magic, Farming? That’s just chewing gum.

He’s just a really cool townsfolk with a lot of weird titles.

No, but when on earth is that fucking annoying villager going to go away?

Shouldn’t it be changed to something like a student preparing to enter the academy?

“Then I’ll go in first, so take the test well and come back. Oh, right. I’ll put the scarecrow over here.”

After Estelle puts down the bag containing the scarecrows she brought, and leaves, we finally enter the waiting room.

There is absolutely no reason to feel ashamed about holding a scarecrow.

Because inside the waiting room, most people come in with scarecrows.

… but no one brought as much as I did.

If you want to show a lot of something, wouldn’t it be best to bring a lot in case it breaks?

“Wow, you brought a lot of scarecrows.”

As I was thinking that, a man sitting next to me spoke to me.

“Oh, yes. I saw it written that if it breaks during the demonstration and there is no spare, that’s the end. ”

“That’s true, but you don’t really think that sturdy scarecrow will ever break, do you?”

Huh? Is it not okay to think that way?

I don’t know how sturdy the scarecrow is, but I got it from Uncle Duncan.

It’s just a scarecrow that’s been broken hundreds of times already, so I just prepared a spare.

“Haha, mine is a bit weak and breaks easily.”

“Huh? This breaks easily? It looks like it’s made entirely of strong materials? ”

Is this guy a scarecrow expert?

“You used really good wood, but this is weak? That one must be really strong. Oh, dear. I didn’t introduce myself. My name is Marty. I live in Wesker County. ”

Wesker County is a place that is a bit closer to the capital than the Deir County where I live, and is famous for having a fairly prosperous commercial district.

Among the commercial districts, the most famous are the food and bakeries, and it is said that even the royal family from the capital sometimes comes down to eat there, so it can be said that it is a considerable place.

So, if we compare it to Korea where I lived before Ice Age, it would be roughly like Daejeon.

One difference is that while Daejeon is known as the city of the Holy X, Wesker County has developed a reputation for delicious delicacies in addition to bakeries, and above all, it is a coastal city.

“Oh, my name is Theo and I am a farmer in the Derr County.”

My parents are farmers, and although that’s not my job, I’ve made a living farming, so I’ll introduce myself as someone who does farming.

“If it’s the Derr Viscounty, it must have taken a long time to come.”

At a time when the endless chatter felt a bit noisy.

“Now, we will begin the test. Please come in one at a time as you were informed in advance. You may use your smartphone in the waiting room, but please refrain from making phone calls. Please note that you cannot use your smartphone after the test begins.”

The test supervisor comes in and begins to give a brief explanation about precautions and test times.

“The test time is a maximum of 1 hour, but there is no minimum time limit. Please do not be too nervous and take the test comfortably. Does anyone have any questions?”

The fact that there is no minimum time limit for the test tells us that whether you show everything in one minute or show everything over the course of one hour, it doesn’t really matter how much time you have, as long as you see the power and outstanding talent.

So, whether you show the same power for one minute or one hour, the score is the same.

“Ah, I heard that the royal family came to visit today… Do you happen to know who came?”

Oh, by the way, Iris also had to go on a field trip and went back early. I wonder if she came back safely.

“Today, His Majesty the Emperor, His Majesty the Empress, and Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess have come to visit us together.”

“Wow! Awesome!”

“It was real!”

“Wow! It’s true?!”

As the supervisor entered, the previously quiet waiting room suddenly became noisy.

What? Are you cheering because the Emperor and Empress came? Wasn’t everyone supposed to come originally?

“Quiet, quiet. Be still. Any other questions?”

“Ah, me!”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“If, during a swordsmanship demonstration, something like a piece of debris accidentally bounces off and injures the spectators or supervisors… What happens then?”

Oh, that’s definitely an important question.

Basically, all the supervisors are people with noble titles.

Even if you started out as a commoner, if you have the skills to rise to the level of supervisor, the system grants you a title of nobility and appoints you as an supervisor.

Moreover, the people in the audience are not nobles, but rather members of the royal family!

If any harm were to be done to the royal family, it could cause huge problems.

“First of all, the area where the audience and the supervisors are is basically protected by the magic of the imperial wizard, so you don’t have to worry about that… But, if you have the skill to attack through that magic, it means you can beat all the nobles and become the top student of the academy. Of course, that hasn’t happened since the academy opened, but anyway. I won’t take responsibility for anything that happens here, so please don’t worry and take the test.”

After the supervisor’s brief explanation, everyone became quiet as if there were no more questions.

“If there are no more questions, let’s start the test.”

Since it was my turn, I was number 32, so I figured it would probably take quite a while. As soon as the supervisor disappeared, I listened to Marty’s chattering that became noisy again, and slowly thought about how the exam would be conducted in my head once more.

***

“Hello! I am Peter, the 31st applicant!”

“Yes, Peter. Show me what you have prepared.”

The grass-covered testing room was reminiscent of a wide meadow.

Inside, the applicants were showing off what they had prepared one by one, but even though the 31st applicant had already appeared, the expressions of the supervisors judging them were just indifferent.

“There aren’t any good applicants this time.”

“How many applicants will be able to meet the cutoff line?”

“I think we’ll see some successful candidates after taking the magic test.”

The supervisors were constantly chatting among themselves, out of earshot of the applicants who were busy planting the scarecrows they had brought into the grass.

“This applicant also looks so immature… .”

He was struggling to properly place the scarecrow, and he was even staggering due to the weight of the sword on his waist.

“Let’s start with minus 10 points.”

Most examinees thought the test started from the moment they drew their swords until they showed something, but the real test started from the moment they left the waiting room and entered the testing room.

“Then I will try my best!”

The 31st applicant, who had barely managed to plant a scarecrow, tried hard to show off his sword skills, but ended up dropping the sword that he had prepared, which was heavier than he had expected.

“Yes, thank you for your hard work.”

It didn’t matter if he showed everything else, but at least for the inspector, dropping the sword meant death, so if he dropped the sword, the test would end right away.

“Sigh, sob… I prepared the sword to be heavy for nothing.”

The supervisors sighed deeply as they watched the 31st applicant leave in tears.

“Please tell the next applicant to come in.”

“Yes, I understand.”

After the judging process, which could be seen as somewhat pitiful, was over.

“Hello, I am Theo, the 32nd applicant.”

A man, who was extremely plain and holding a wooden sword instead of a real one, walked slowly into the examination room with light steps, carrying about ten scarecrows on his back.

“How many scarecrows did you bring?”

I don’t remember ever seeing an examinee bring more than two scarecrows during an exam.

The supervisors couldn’t help but look a little surprised as they watched Theo come in carrying what appeared to be more than a dozen items, and they were all very light.