episode_0106

As soon as the three magic arrows from the triple casting hit the ground, a strange sense of crisis began to creep into my mind.

‘Wait, did I just fail…?’

Even though I could use only two attack spells besides Mana Blast, and could utilize triple casting, as well as Clean as a support spell, I wasn’t particularly nervous. But as soon as I attempted the target destruction test, I started to sense that I had failed.

Currently, Lillis’ luck stat was a measly 2.

Translated into the hit rate formula of the ‘Luminor Academy,’ it was a despairingly low percentage of about 4-5%.

And with the maximum number of spells I could cast being limited to triple casting, even if I used all five chances for triple casting, the total number of times I could use magic was only 15.

Oh, wait. I already wasted one chance, so the remaining number is 12… How more despairing, damn it.

There was a possibility of a disaster where I could end up using triple casting the whole time and still not be able to destroy even one target, although it wasn’t very likely.

‘This is not the time to be babbling about gum or whatever.’

It wasn’t a time to relax, thinking that I would pass for sure. It was a moment where the possibility of crashing down to the ground just like the magic arrows I had just shot was looming.

It was a moment where Lillis’ inherent limitation of luck, which didn’t rise dirty high even after reaching level 9, had properly caught up with her.

…Instead of regretting this despairingly low stat that couldn’t even go beyond single digits, I should be thinking about how to deal with this situation right now.

The problem I was facing right now was an academy entrance exam that wouldn’t be strange to fail.

“Don’t be nervous, take it slow.”

“….Yes.”

It wasn’t because of nerves that I missed. It was just that this character wasn’t designed for attack magic in the first place.

However, now that I had taken the academy entrance exam for the magic department, there was no turning back.

It was impossible to enter another department at this point.

Since taking the exam for the magic department once already meant that taking it for another department would be considered misconduct at the Luminor Academy.

…I had no choice but to try something, even if I had to rely on luck.

Relying on luck as an unlucky Lillis was a crazy idea, but at this moment, I had no other options.

The shockwave was a close-range spell that couldn’t be used right now due to its low accuracy but had some range correction, and Mana Blast consumed all mana upon use, making it a risky spell that didn’t guarantee success.

You could hit about three targets if you were really lucky, otherwise, two targets were the limit.

Moreover, even if I used the accumulated skill points of 9 points, there were no conditions to learn a useful attack spell right now.

Even with a low hit rate, the only thing I could try was probably an area-of-effect spell, but to learn an area-of-effect spell, I needed more skill points than 9.

“Magic, come to my hand.”

In the end, I made three magic arrows through triple casting like before and cast them in the same way, aiming at the three closest scarecrows.

“Pierce through! Arrows of magic!”

-Thud!

“….”

“….Ah.”

Ah.

Ah, ah, ah!

Once again, as I watched the magic arrow fly off on its own and hit the ground after grazing the target, I cursed in my mind.

Even the inexperienced exam proctor cautiously offered advice to me.

“It’s good to try triple casting, but wouldn’t it be better to hit one or two properly? If you pass the entrance exam, you can learn triple casting properly at the academy.”

“…Thank you for the advice.”

I could understand why they would say that. Missing out on a talent who could already triple cast before even entering the academy would be quite a painful loss for the academy staff.

Even though the advice was given with the intention of passing first and then developing at the academy, I could tearfully understand.

…In the first place, the problem wasn’t the lack of concentration caused by triple casting.

Just the terrible accuracy of this release’s offensive magic was the problem.

“Pierce through! Arrow of magic!”

-Boom!!

“Oh!”

“…Huh?”

Miraculously, one out of three attempts hit and destroyed one target.

Although it was only the second target in front of me, the fact that I managed to destroy it was important.

Breaking through a slim 5% probability was like witnessing a miracle in itself.

“Now, if I can hit about four out of the remaining six shots….”

Even if I manage to destroy only five out of ten targets, I could barely make it to the passing cutoff line for ordinary noble apprentice magicians. It meant having the skill to hit steadily without making a mistake during the five chances given.

In reality, hitting just one shot in the fourth attempt would be enough. By doing so, I could potentially destroy up to three targets with a close call using mana blasts in the last attempt.

Thinking this way, I launched three magic arrows of mana in the fourth attempt, similar to the third attempt, but the dismal results of Lillis with a single-digit hit rate and luck were devastating.

-Thud!

“Ah….”

“….”

The sound of the sigh mixed with the invigilator’s breath as I watched the magic arrows fall to the ground.

Even the scarecrow standing still couldn’t hit the target, and I began to feel embarrassed at my own inability.

“Examinee, how about calming down a bit and trying to use it? You seem to have enough talent from what I see….”

“….”

Really, it seemed like I could make it if I hit just one more shot.

Now, the only means left for me was to simply pour out the remaining mana and throw a mana blast.

Even if I were lucky enough to hit three targets, the moment I drifted away from the passing ticket was already there.

If I had hit just one more shot in the Triple Casting I had used so far, I could have had some hope….

“Wait a minute.”

Come to think of it, I didn’t necessarily have to use Triple Casting only on magic arrows.

Yes, the premise was wrong from the start. The premise that magic arrows were the most suitable magic for Triple Casting.

I had been consumed by the idea that the mana blast was the last resort, but thinking about it, the mana blast was the most effective magic for Triple Casting.

Since it was a magic that consumed all remaining mana, the power of three mana bullets would be similar.

Even if the power was dispersed and the range somewhat reduced, the mana blast itself was a powerful area-of-effect magic.

If I could hit a special target with three mana blasts or hit two or more at once….

“Examinee, please do your best with the remaining chances….”

“Arrow of magic!!!”

“…?!”

The moment that thought occurred to me, I began to memorize the last incantation, imbuing the sense of using mana blasts in both hands.

The mana blasts memorized along with Triple Casting immediately began to form three orbs above my hands.

There was no time to relax and make comfortable excuses about not wanting to stand out. What was most important right now was to pass without failing.

“Uh, uh?! W-Wait, examinee?!”

The invigilator, seeing the three growing mana orbs, called out to me in confusion, but once the magic had started, there was no stopping it.

Whatever I heard later, I had to throw it now.

With the force of hitting about 500 mana in one shot, the power was already certain, and there was no need to aim for a wide-area attack like the mana blast I used last time, with a range of about 5 meters.

The goal was just three.

The farthest target, the moving target, and the hard target.

If I could definitely destroy these three highest-scoring targets, I could still make it to the passing cutoff line.

If I could luckily destroy other targets as well, that would be a bonus.

“Explode!! Bomb of magic!!”

With that thought in mind, I threw the three mana orbs I had raised above my head with all my might forward.

…A while later, three explosions echoed in the magic entrance exam room.