Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Freshman Class Assignment Test (2)

Dean McDowell felt himself relaxing a bit in the laid-back academic atmosphere that prevailed over the school. Sitting at his desk in his office in Triss Hall, this aged gentleman stretched grandly before poring over the pile of documents again.

Even during vacation, academic administrative reports were less than half of the usual volume. Though the reduced workload was preferable, the painful reality of his position requiring work during the break was lamentable. McDowell often wished for a minimum quality of life guaranteed, despite the seniority that often leaves little room for complaint about workload.

Today is the day for the freshman class assignment test, isnt it

He scanned the submitted reports from the professors responsible for class assignments in the Combat, Magic, and Alchemy departments. The locations and contents of their exams varied, yet each provided reasonable grading criteria.

Particularly intriguing was the Magic department. Professor Glasts oversight had always governed its class assignment tests. The academy trusted his discernment entirely, leaving all matters in his capable hands.

But now, Professor Glast was absent. How would the Magic department assess and distinguish new students abilities?

McDowell found this transition quite interesting. The new point person for the test was Claire Elfin, Glasts protg. Rumors about her were so frequent among the academy elders that they bordered on tiresome.

By all accounts, she must have saved a nation in a past life; her fortune with people was said to be otherwise inexplicable. Regardless of whether they were mentors or disciples, only the finest talents seemed drawn to her. One wonders if shes blessed with a fate that attracts people, or simply that none around her are dispensable.

Such luck is the envy of any faculty member, and McDowell considered her a person consistently blessed beyond reason.

Hmm

He pondered whether she truly was so fortunate. Flipping through Elfins department roster didnt clarify his thoughts; if anything, it made him feel ambivalent.

Assuming there must be a reason, McDowell signed off on the documents.

[Research Office Roster Report Assistant Professor Claire Elfin]

Office Senior: Claire Elfin

Leading Assistant: Anis Haylan

Academic Scholarship Personnel: Yenika Faelover, Ed Rothtaylor, Clevius Nortondale

*

This isnt good Ahaha

Sitting atop Orun Mountain, Assistant Professor Claire Elfin sighed with worry. In front of the altar lay six or so damaged magical engineering devices.

It seems the circuits are twisted from an external shock. Theyre dead even with magic infused. This will require a separate repair request from a professor of magical engineering. But theres no time for that now

Illusionary Disks

These were rare magical engineering devices capable of drawing opponents into confusion with illusions of all sorts of beasts and demons.

The plan was to scatter dozens of these devices as traps on the path leading to the summit. While it wasnt a big deal that six or so had malfunctioned since many other disks remained, it was frustrating that the most important ones were the ones to break.

The most crucial disks had to break This is a headache.

The violet disks Anis had been carrying were different from the others.

They were made with intricate circuits and powerful magic meant to serve as the final challenge in the class assignment test.

While ordinary disks might produce illusions of wolves or kobolds, the violet disks would spawn formidable demon races and beasts.

As far as I knew, the majority of first-year students were quickly subdued by the gray bears, red blood gargoyles, and banshees that emerged from these disks.

When later questioned by the academy, Claire answered innocently and terrifyingly, Huh? Isnt overcoming that what A-class is all about?

Despite her apparent navet, as Glasts disciple, she was cruelly decisive when it mattered. One could not judge her solely on appearances.

No choice, then. With only two violet disks left Ill just have to proceed with the test. Well have to place them where paths overlap to compensate.

She seemed nonchalant, but she knew all too well this was not a favorable situation.

As the coverage of violet disks diminished, the test relied more on luck.

Students who inadvertently avoided the violet disks would pass easily, while those with greater potential, but unfortunate enough to trigger one, would fail quickly.

How did we manage to get all this here, only to end up not using it?!

Cleviuss gloomy appearance complemented his despondent attitude as he desperately ruffled his hair.

Wow, seriously! After all that trouble! How could this!

He held his breath mid-sentence upon noticing Anis sitting quietly in a corner near the altar.

Anis was the cause of the issue.

She had insisted on carrying the important magical engineering devices herself to prevent loss, but ended up dropping them.

While they looked sturdy on the outside, anyone unfamiliar with magical engineering might not realize how sensitive the internal circuits were and the degree of care needed in handling them.

Claires nonchalance was also problematic. She assumed Anis would handle everything properly, leading to negligence.

Im sorry. I should have been more mindful.

No, its

Clevius broke off, sweating profusely, his head bowed. Rubbing his fingertips, he silently grumbled, How can I be angry when she looks so apologetic!

The mood dampened instantly. With Claire, Yenika, and Clevius silent, I decided to speak up.

Standing here wont fix the broken devices.

Clearly, the situation was dire.Discover new chapters at novelhall.com

I knew from the main narrative of Academys Failed Swordsman that it was precisely these violet disks prepared by Claire that had frustrated the first-year students.

The details of the actual class assignment test were known to me only as distant news since I wasnt well-informed about the specifics.

However, I doubt such happenings occurred in the original story.

Anis dropped the crucial devices because she was startled by my close presence.

Considering that, one can easily foresee the subsequent events.

If the significantly lowered difficulty of the test leads to an influx of A-class passers

This will affect the upcoming Joint Combat Training event.

Freshmen driven by the desire to become the premiere A-class students surge at Taely. Taely effortlessly overpowers these new challengers while Saint Clarice observes with interest.

The entirety of this narrative structure risks unraveling.

Not only that, if the freshmens class assignments are thrown into disarray, all the ensuing incidents and interpersonal relations will also venture into uncharted territory.

Of course, not everything can be perfect. Some minor issues can be resolved, but this level of distortion is too significant to ignore.

*

When does one feel the most immersed in the realm of learning at Sylvania Academy?

If you asked Tanya, shed say its when she has the honor of interacting with her noble peers. Specifically, Saint Clarice.

It is said that the virtues of learning trump societal distinctions, allowing even those exalted as spiritual pillars to walk the halls of the academy as equals.

Few have seen Saint Clarice and those who have often glimpsed her from afar amidst crowds.

Millions recognize her as the spiritual cornerstone of the Telos faith.

Publicly, Clarice always wore her radiant white holy garb, inspiring reverence and genuflection wherever she went.

If we run to report now, itll be timely. The authorized reporter Professor Claire, that is.

With those words, all eyes turned toward Professor Claire.

Though the suggestion came from Ed Rothtaylor, ultimately the decision lay with Professor Claire.

Oh Uhmm? To write up the report now and re-submit am I to be burdened with more work?!

Is it not possible?

If I scurry back to the laboratory and quickly review the copies I might pull it off just in time for the exam results

Claire hummed in deep thought before asking Ed.

For sure, maintaining the test as is could oversimplify it, leading to an excess of Class A qualifiers that would stir up quite the aftermath But on the flip side, even with you guys defending the altar, are you sure you can face all the new students?

Precisely, we wont face everyone. We only need to deal with those who have found the magic stone and broken through the illusion enchantment field.

If theyve made it through all that, they must be at least a bit capable, right?

Most will be too exhausted to go further. It should be manageable, I think.

Without the purple disc, breaking through a mere illusion disc field would still be exhausting enough.

At the center of the gathering, Ed washed his face with dry hands once again. Brushing his wet hair back, he took a deep breath and laid out the plan.

In summary, while Professor Claire rushes to report with the updated documents, Senior Yenika will dash off for student safety supervision, Clevius will defend the southern entrance of the altar, and Anis will take the north.

What about you, Ed?

Upon Aniss inquiry, Ed casually touched the altar.

Ill guard the altar. Ive thought things through, and believe Id be more useful here. Theres not enough time to explain in detail.

After this agreement, silence fell among the group once more.

Eds alternative seemed reasonable enough.

Anis was the top student of the Elemental Department, and Clevius was the de facto chief of combat.

True, it might be difficult for the two of them to stop all freshmen who had broken through the enchantment field. But, given the exhaustion of the newcomers, the majority could likely be managed by them.

Yet, there was no guarantee things would go according to plan, and the fact that Ed intended to remain at the altar troubled him.

This mess is my responsibility I wont voice any dissent.

Anis readily expressed her decision.

Professor Claire pondered before gradually siding with Ed, and Yenika showed no particular concerns.

That left Clevius.

The focus of everyones attention now turned to him.

Ah Oh. Agh!!! Seriously!

Clevius didnt trust Ed Rothtaylor. But with the consensus pointing in one direction, even Clevius found it hard to be stubborn.

Fine! I got it!

Swiftly descending the mountainside was Professor Claire.

Yenika Faelover, awkwardly gathering her magic to hover slowly.

Anis Heilan, gathering her elemental magic and moving north to block the entrance.

Clevius Nortondale, unsheathing his sword with evident reluctance to defend the south.

With everyone gone to their respective tasks, the silence returned to the Altar of Substitution.

Only the occasional rustle of the wind disturbed the stillness, aside from which there was no noise.

Left alone, I took a moment to look up at the altar. The huge stele was so tall the writing at its peak wasnt clearly visible.

Surveying the surroundings, the panoramic view of Acken Island from the mountaintop unfolded before me.

The professors building to the southeast, the residential area to the southwest, the northern forest, the northeastern cliffs, and the coastal area at the easternmost edge.

I took a deep breath of the highland air, then reviewed the enchantment objects scattered on the ground.

[ Enchantment Object Illusion Disc (Purple) ]

Very rare grade.

A disc device that reveals the illusion of a formidable foe powered by the creators mana.

Crafted to a higher standard than regular illusion discs, it can reveal a stronger enemy.

Construction Difficulty:

This enchantment object is damaged. It does not perform to its full capability.

There were six of these.

My enchantment skills are still too rudimentary to fully repair them, but perhaps, by reassembling the internal parts well enough, I could at least achieve an output close to the original design.

If time was needed, Anis and Clevius would provide it.

I laid the discs down and returned to the altar.

The Altar of Substitution.

A mystical altar capable of extracting mana from any substance offered to it and allowing the mana to permeate the atmosphere and body.

I took out a small leather pouch from beneath the altar. Professor Claire had brought it, filled with the same material as the magic stones scattered and hidden around Orun Mountain. It seemed to be the remainder that was scattered elsewhere.

While these magic stones, filled with a considerable amount of mana, are quite valuable, it seemed adequate supplies were providedanyways, most could be retrieved via recovery spells.

I took a stone from the pouch and offered it to the altar. The sensation of flickering mana lingered at my fingertipsa feeling I hadnt experienced in quite some time.

Concentrating, I saw something resembling a flaming bat spirit.

The paltry mana within was insufficient, the bat sprite seemed to be trying to communicate, but I couldnt hear it clearly.

The mana embedded within wasnt as satisfactory as the price suggested.

After checking the quantity of magic stones left in the pouch, I sat on the altar.

The sight of Acken Island was breathtaking from beneath the gleaming altar.

I relaxed a bit, propping my elbows on my knees. In that comfortable position, I sat silently and once again gathered my thoughts.

A test for assigning new students to classes, unforeseen crisis management, maintaining differentiation, keeping an appropriate number of Class A qualifiers Id made all the plausible excuses but, regrettably, that was not where my interest lay.

Frankly, I had no intention of allowing even a single freshman to pass this test.

Regretful as it may be, it couldnt be helped.

I utilized the light cluster generator enchantment object received from Professor Claire to discharge a burst of flash magic into the sky. It was the signal for the start of the test.

There I sat, in front of The Altar of Substitution on the peak of Orun Mountain, quietly gazing downwards.

The wind blowing down from the peak seemed somewhat more than just a natural breeze.