Chapter 74 - Magic Assessment, Second Segment 1

The classes were dismissed and everyone began heading back to their dorms, but Cecil had Lucia accompany him alone after class.

In a private room at a restaurant in the business area of the academy, a pouting Lucia and a helpless Cecil were currently having dinner together.

"Lulu... you know why I had to do that..."

"Tsk... so? It's not like you didn't have anything better to show."

"If I did better, then what about you, Lulu?"

"What about me?"

"You held back too."

"..."

"Listen Lulu, you've seen the power levels and capabilities of all our other friends... even the ones in our class... we eclipse them no matter whether it is our combat capabilities or magic capabilities..."

"I know that! It's obvious isn't it! Especially with how hard we've trained! How hard we... do you really have to undermine all our efforts when this is the place where we're supposed to shine?!"

Lucia was still a 14 year old child. Of course, she wanted others to know about the results of all their hard work and receive praise from that, but Cecil saw further past that. He wouldn't have minded if this was before, but after the opening ceremony where those 10 irritating gazes had locked onto Lucia, Cecil had to be careful.

Even if they were from the same school, he's read too many light novels in his spare time to know that each and every one of those faction leaders had their own hidden agenda. He didn't want Lucia nor him to be caught up in whatever it is they might be scheming.

"Lucia...should we care about whether or not other people praise us?"

"Eh?"

"Listen, Lulu, with how hard and how fast we've trained and progressed, it will attract unwanted attention to us. Sure, it will attract some praise and admiration from our teachers, instructors, and friends, but it will also attract bad attention too!"

"..."

Lucia could only keep silent as Cecil lectured her. Although, she still looked aggrieved, she wasn't stupid enough to not listen to Cecil's reasoning, even though it was really paranoid of him.

"I know I may sound paranoid Lulu, but what if something bad does come knocking on our door. Back on Earth there was this saying, the nail that sticks out will be hammered in. We may not want it, but if we stand out too much... you understand don't you?"

"...yes."

"Even if we want to chase after a King's title, we could do it without exposing too much of our abilities. Even your Explosion spell was overkill you know!" Cecil chuckled. This caused Lucia to let out a small smile in return.

"Ok, Cel... I'll listen to you."

Cecil smiled and patted Lucia's head.

"Thanks Lulu. I'm sorry for calling you out here only to lecture you like this... how about I brush your tails the next time we have a free day from classes."

"Really? Promise?! You better! Or I'll..."

"Yes. Yes. Now, let's eat! It's been a while since it's been only us two!"

"Yeah!"

Cecil and Lucia happily began their dinner, after they finished eating they quickly returned to their dorms.

The next day, back at the large stadium, the first year classes had once again gathered together. The layout of the stadium was a little bit different. There were now 5 small rings scattered across the large arena that were covered in a light transparent barrier.

This time it wasn't instructor Jin, but a different class' instructor that was directing the students.

"Alright maggots! This is the second segment of the assessment, Magic combat."

The instructor of class A was the one that was directing this segment. He was a bit rough with his words, but he explained the details of the second segment clearly.

The second segment, which was magic combat, was a mock battle between two students. A battle that not only consisted of using spells, but a battle where you could use training weapons, body enhancement techniques and other skills to win against your opponent.

However, to keep things fair, the students were assigned to battle against the student who was next to them in rank, this way the battle power of the competitors wouldn't have such a large divide if unluckily, rank 209 had to fight against rank 1.

So, it started from the lowest rank, rank 209 pairing up with rank 208 to a match, all the way up until the highest rank. However, this meant that the first ranked student, which was Lucia, wouldn't have any one to spar with.

It was decided however that rank 1 would fight with whoever won from the match between ranks 2 and 3.

This meant that either Cecil or Eli would spar against Lucia in the end.

There was no penalty for losing, but the winner of the match would be given access to choose a battle technique, training manual, or spell from the academy library's third floor with the exception of the top 10 ranked students.

Regardless of whoever won or lost in their match, the top 10 would get the opportunity to choose a book from the library's third floor and by top 10 and these were the individuals not from the student rankings, but from the magic assessment rankings.

Lucia didn't want to underestimate Eli, but she knew that Cecil would be the one who would most likely fight her in the end, so she began preparing her countermeasures against him.

"Well Cecil. It looks like it's either you or me who would be fighting our princess later." Eli said with a confident smile. "Hmph. I don't plan on losing though!"

"Same here Eli." Cecil responded with a faint smile.

At the instructor's cue, the first 5 pairs, rank 209 vs. 208, rank 207 vs. 206, rank 205 vs. 204, rank 203 vs. 204, and rank 202 vs. rank 201, went up to their stages and their matches quickly began.

Everyone was watching intently at the ongoing matches. Colorful, but deadly spells flew through the air. Barriers shattered and weapons smashed against each other.

To Cecil and Lucia, it was painfully obvious how inexperienced in combat the first 5 pairs were. For Cecil and Lucia, the way they fought was that every move and every spell had a meaning behind it.

Whether it was for a feint to set up another more powerful spell, arranging smaller spells into an array, pushing back their opponents into a trap they they've set up while darting around the battlefield.

Each and every action had a purpose behind it for those two. But looking at the people fighting it out in the 5 rings, it was just a show of total ignorance with each side trying to physically or magically overpower the other.

Cecil sighed and gave Lucia a 'see I told you' look.

Lucia immediately became glum since it was true. She was also disappointed since as Cecil said, 'who cares if we received praise or not.' Even if they showed any more of their abilities it wouldn't make a difference, just the things that they've shown right now had already garnered the shock and awe of everyone.

Lucia had to admit that it did not matter anymore. With how low every one's standards were, showing any more would indeed just attract unwanted and unsavory attention to themselves.

"You win Cel... but don't expect me to hold back later."

"I don't expect you too."

"Hmph. Well it's not like our magic capabilities will have any further exposure, since it's a fight between you and me. It'd be hard for either of us to actually cast a big spell."

"..." Cecil stayed quiet and smiled at Lucia's words.

Not long after, all 5 pairs had finished their matches, with the losers and winners clearly apparent.

As expected, it was mostly the higher ranked student taking the win since it was a match where each student tried to overpower each other. There was no way a lower ranked student could overpower a higher ranked one.

The only way for lower ranked students to win wouldn't be to face their higher ranked opponents head on, but to use strategy and wit to defeat them. It was listed clearly why they were lower ranked, so instead of using their muscles to win, they should use their brains.

To Cecil this was but a simple thought for him since he was drilled with it ever since childhood. For other children of his age however, this wasn't the case.

After the first 5 pairs were finished, the next 5 went up and soon began their matches.

The next pairs had no one changing their fighting styles, and to Cecil's astonishment, they still went with the head-to-head approach.

Cecil sighed exasperatedly at this. Even though it wasn't him, but his martial spirit was what triggered him to feel so frustrated. He really wanted to yell out to those lower ranks to use their brains instead of stupidly using their brawn.

'At least learn from your failing predecessors!!!' Cecil thought in frustration.

"There, there." Lucia had already started patting Cecil's head after she saw his anguished look.

Fina, Ainz, and Eli were puzzled seeing Cecil's pained look, but Lucia knew exactly what was up with him. Being a martial artist, Lucia knew it was frustrating for Cecil to see such a sloppy battle.