Letter of Recommendation (13)

Pekafolis-ssi’s test at the Magic Tower is hot and explosive. An indoor battle staged on the entire first floor of the Magic Tower, combined with close combat and fighting skills that are unbefitting of a mage. Anyone who steps into the test must abandon all previous common sense and prejudices and face her.

To mages who are heavily reliant on others, she was like a disaster. Closing the distance in an instant using explosions. Not giving them a moment to concentrate. On top of that, the blazing walls and floors slowly chipped away at their mental strength. It wasn’t easy to use magic in such a frustrating situation.

Overwhelming spatial control. Based on overwhelming fire resistance, she turns the surroundings into a sea of fire, depleting the opponent’s stamina. To overcome this, one needed fire resistance comparable to hers, or to mitigate the heat with other magic. The latter required dividing one’s focus, which was quite absurd for the opponent.

“Huuup!”

Pekafolis, who was covered in flames and charging right in front of me, suddenly stopped abruptly by stepping on the ground, and then unleashed a powerful punch imbued with flames in her right fist.

―Kuuuung!!!!

The flames wrapped around her right arm and extended to the end of her fist. The spiral-shaped flames resembled the form of a dragon. Flame Dragon Fist. It was similar to the technique I used when I took the test in Yujin’s body.

“Aren’t you being too serious-?!”

I hurriedly created a barrier with a shocked expression.

―Hwaaaak!! The flames swallowed the semi-circular barrier and split it vertically. The barrier wasn’t destroyed. However, the flames that spread behind it remained, greatly increasing the surrounding temperature. My hair was slightly singed. I deactivated the tattered barrier and kicked off the ground.

Telekinesis. I jumped high, not even realizing that my skirt was flipped up by the hot wind. The height to the ceiling was roughly 8 meters. I stopped rising when I was about 5 meters up and stayed in the air. Looking down, Pekafolis was about to attempt a spinning heel kick but stopped and looked up at the sky.

A slight gap. A few seconds of gap before she could correct her movements and act. I didn’t miss that small gap and seized the timing to attack. I created fireballs in both hands.

―Hwareureuk!

Ordinary fireballs. Paltry power compared to Pekafolis-ssi’s flames. But it was excessively powerful for a fifteen-year-old girl to create. I absorbed the hot air rising upwards to increase their size and threw them at Pekafolis.

However. Pekafolis didn’t avoid the incoming fireballs. Instead, she lowered her stance and reached out her hands towards the fireballs.

“…!”

She received the fireballs in both hands, twisted her body, and spun around clockwise. The fireballs didn’t explode. Their trajectory was diverted as if flowing with her movements. Receiving the attack, absorbing it, and diverting its trajectory to use it for a counterattack. After one and a half rotations, when she stopped spinning and threw the fireballs at me, they were five times larger than the original ones.

―Kwaaaang!!

“Keuk!”

I hurriedly deployed a barrier, but couldn’t withstand the recoil of the explosion and fell. I created a huge gust of wind at the point of impact to push back the flames and absorb the shock. But even fiercer flames began to fly towards me.

―Kugugung…!!

Like a flame that burns intensely before dying out, she became the flame itself and charged towards me. With each step, she created a firestorm, blowing everything away. I felt like my lungs were burning with every breath. I clenched my teeth against the murderous heat.

I had to stop that raging bull’s attack. If I couldn’t stop it, I had to avoid it. I desperately wracked my brain. Think of the optimal scenarios that a fifteen-year-old girl could create. A fleeting moment. If I couldn’t make a decision, I would collide with Pekafolis and be blown away.

―There’s nothing.

But no matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn’t think of a way to stop that crazy bitch’s attack. I was just a fifteen-year-old girl. To stop that attack using only magic, I had to surpass Sophia-ssi’s level. Then I would inevitably arouse suspicion. I didn’t want my act to be exposed.

However.

I wasn’t ‘Sophia’, but ‘Sophia Clayde’.

I recalled the legend passed down through the Clayde family for generations.

The legend that an enormous power was imbued in the shield-shaped scar inherited through generations. They said that if this power was awakened, it would grant a mighty power that could block anything――

‘…They all died in the Great Fire, revealing it as a lie.’

But.

Sophia Clayde would be different. This was a special thing that would add value to me. An ability that only I could use. A wedge that would confirm that I was of the Clayde bloodline.

“Kkeueueup…!”

The scar engraved on my left shoulder shone brightly.

Hwaaaak! An even more powerful light than the flames surrounding us struck each other’s eyes. I lifted my soot-covered face and looked at Pekafolis, who was rushing towards me fiercely. Pekafolis felt that something was wrong with my unyielding will, but she couldn’t slow down the accelerated speed.

The lies that I had been spouting day in and day out to promote the nobility of the Clayde family― paradoxically, met a bigger lie and became a belief, becoming a truth and manifesting before my eyes.

A shield.

A huge, pure white shield.

Blocked me and Pekafolis.

“Keuheok――?!”

―Teoeoong!!! Pekafolis couldn’t penetrate the shield and was thrown back miserably. Kung! She collided with the wall, causing numerous fragments to fall. She dripped blood from the corner of her mouth, then slumped down and trembled.

I contorted my face and grabbed my left arm. Necrotizing a part of my arm, turning it black. If I used this much power and was unscathed, that would also be suspicious, so I had to show that there was a corresponding ‘penalty’.

“Keuk….”

I forced my trembling body to rise and created a ring of fire. Fire Wheel. The wheel of fire rolled towards the fallen Pekafolis. But since there had to be a ‘penalty for using the shield’, its power wasn’t very great.

“What, the hell, did you. Do… Keueuk….”

Pekafolis spat out blood-mixed saliva and stood up. As much as she insisted on close combat, her stamina was considerable. She looked at my pale face and my left arm turning black, then clicked her tongue. Kung! She easily removed the wheel of fire by lightly stepping on the ground.

At that moment.

“Test End――!!”

With a loud shout, all the flames disappeared.

“Haa―.”

I reflexively inhaled and collapsed. Lukewarm air entered my burning lungs, calming my body.

“Hey! Is your arm okay?”

I nodded with a pale face. Forcing a smile, I raised my hand. But my blackened arm didn’t look okay at all. Pekafolis scratched her head and reached out her hand to me. Using her relatively intact right arm, she grabbed my hand.

“Get up. Let’s treat your arm first.”

“I’m, okay. Haa… More than that, the test.”

“I’ve grasped all your capabilities, so don’t worry. More than that, that technique from earlier. Was it magic?”

“Haha….”

I shook my head.

It was true, but I had to lie to add credibility to the claim that I was of the Clayde bloodline.

“There was a Clayde baronetcy in the southern region… Do you perhaps know about it?”

“Clayde? The guys who all burned to death?”

I made a choked expression and closed my mouth. Pekafolis looked back and forth between me and the shield-shaped scar, then gasped in surprise and held her breath.

“Could it be, you….”

“Please keep it a secret until I enter Astra. This technique is too burdensome, so I can’t use it multiple times.”

Pekafolis pondered for a long time, then opened a new portal and called someone. Someone to fix the chaotic hall and treat my damaged left arm. Soon, technicians came down and supported me.

―To think that someone blessed by the shield would appear only after the family was destroyed…

It wasn’t a lie. Pekafolis muttered. I secretly cheered and moved to the infirmary. Now, if I could just get the recommendation letter, it would be perfect. I asked, supported by the staff.

“Did I, pass the test?”

Pekafolis raised the corners of her mouth and said.

“It was pretty good. Your ability to maintain concentration during melee is excellent. And your innate resistance is also high. There are only a handful of guys who can withstand this much heat…. Above all, your fundamentals are top-notch. You have talent, but you also have guts. I like it.”

“Haa… I thought I was going to die.”

“Look forward to good results. There was a reason why you caught the eye of the Red Witch after all.”

I did it. I gained Pekafolis-ssi’s recognition. I didn’t show much, but it was amazing just that I calmly succeeded in attacking in the heat she created. That’s because she’s the Vice-Tower Master. One of only four Vice-Tower Masters in the Empire. Moreover, I not only survived the Vice-Tower Master’s all-out attack, but even managed to counterattack, albeit using tricks. It was an achievement close to impossible for a fifteen-year-old girl to achieve.

“Hehe….”

I smiled sheepishly and drank the potion. It was a slightly awkward smile, but Pekafolis guessed that it was because of the injury and slumped down on the rubble. I was terrified of being caught. Acting out a joy I didn’t feel was harder than manipulating the battlefield.

Pekafolis received a piece of dried food from the staff and began to chew it. She must be hungry because she moved so vigorously.

“Want some too?”

“Ah, yes!”

It was dried food. I don’t know what kind of meat it was. She smiled slightly as she watched me chew on the jerky.

Pekafolis said.

“But let me ask you one last thing. With that skill, why were you kidnapped in the Labyrinth? And why did you come here from the South?”

It was a question within the range of my expectations. I said a plausible excuse that I had thought of in advance.

“I encountered a group of Ogres near Pehelman. I fought hard… but I was hungry and had no strength…”

“Pehelman, you got isolated right on the southern border. You didn’t get into any trouble in the Labyrinth, did you?”

“No! Yujin-eonni saved me before that! She spewed out water and fire like crazy, and also used amazing magic…”

“But you, clearly, that. Yujin…”

“Yes?”

“…Never mind. Forget it. It seems like you liked Yujin.”

“Of course! She’s so good to me. As soon as I revealed my background, she said she would help me. Without even knowing what kind of person I am…”

My conscience pricked me for praising myself with my own mouth. I had to force myself to forget it, even if it meant banging my head against the wall. Pekafolis stroked my head and brought up the next question.

“Haven’t you been to the Blue Magic Tower?”

Each Magic Tower had its own stereotypes.

The first was that the Red Magic Tower in the West, where many adventurers gathered, had a fierce temperament.

The second was that the White Magic Tower in the East, dominated by the wealthy, had a strong sense of elitism.

The third was that the Black Magic Tower in the North, which was always dark and cold, was gloomy.

Finally, the Blue Magic Tower in the South, built by merchants, had a prejudice that it emphasized discipline and was strict.

I said that I didn’t like the strict rules of the Blue Magic Tower.

“Well… I don’t get along well with the Blue Magic Tower. The rules are strict, and the attributes don’t match either.”

“Those snobs who live there are annoying. They probably gave you a hard time for using fire, right? Am I right?”

“Uh, um. Roughly.”

“I knew it. It’s because the Tower Master and Vice-Tower Master there are stubborn. Do they still discriminate based on attributes? They’re like old fogeys. Who discriminates based on attributes in this day and age? If someone wants to join, they should welcome them with open arms and help them climb.”

“Chee―, that’s a lie. You were serious with me, though.”

Pekafolis laughed and crossed her legs.

“I don’t usually do it this hard. I try to test them according to their level, without putting too much strain on them.”

“Then what about me?”

“Speaking of that, I have something to tell you. Would you like to become my disciple?”

Hmm, that wouldn’t work.

I’m going to die soon.