Chapter 28. Imperial Magic Academy Entrance Exam (2)
Of course, it didn't matter if he was a royal or not.
Even though he had recognized him as an academy professor, that alone was not enough.
The entrance exam for the Imperial Magic Academy was by no means easy.
"It's good that you recognized me, but I can't let you pass just for that."
The professor stopped observing Radel and turned his head back to his fishing rod. Radel, not forgetting his polite attitude, answered.
“I know. We have to make a bet.”
He was prepared for it, having read the entrance exam guide. He even thought they might have to spar like last year.
'They wouldn't make an absurd bet like completely overpowering a professor, would they?'
He thought it would be at the level of successfully landing an attack on the professor at best, but he still felt he needed to know a little more information to make the bet easier.
"By the way, what subject are you in charge of, professor?"
Look at this one.
The professor was impressed with Radel, who knew how to use his head.
Gathering information about the opponent before a duel was the most basic of basics.
However, Radel's demeanor, calmly trying to find out information while overcoming the tension of having to fight a professor in an exam where pass and fail were decided, was admirable.
It was a composure that was unbefitting of his age.
However, the professor was not a pushover either.
“You think I’d tell you that already?”
The professor yawned languidly and chided Radel.
And he gestured to Radel with his chin.
"Pick one of these."
Several fishing rods were placed next to the professor.
Radel, seeing the old and messy fishing rods, looked at the professor as if he had realized something.
The professor said with an indifferent attitude.
“That’s right. What you have to do is a fishing bet.”
Radel didn't ask any more questions and carefully chose a fishing rod.
And without a word, he sat next to the professor and held the fishing rod.
Now it was a battle against himself.
* * *
The center of the island.
Boom!
A loud roar echoed.
Unlike Radel, who had started a battle against himself, there were applicants here who were actually competing against a professor.
“Come on! You brats!”
A professor with a larger build than an ordinary person beat his chest and laughed heartily.
“Hahaha! My heart is boiling with a spar after so long!”
The professor's name was Donton Murr.
He was an authority on cryptozoology, a man who had trained his body to study various monsters and handle magical creatures.
On top of that, Professor Donton had a great fighting spirit. His boldness in coming out to the middle of the island to accept challengers, even though he was supposed to be hiding, was certainly unusual.
"Only those who pass me are worthy of standing on that magic circle!"
Professor Donton pointed behind him.
There, a teleportation magic circle was shining white.
'If I get on there, I can go back!'
'If I get there, it's a definite pass!'
The fast-footed applicants among them approached the magic circle, taking advantage of the moment the professor wasn't paying attention.
"Hahaha! Not a chance!"
However, as if he had eyes on the back of his head, they were all choked by the professor's forearm that approached in an instant and thrown to the ground.
“Listen up, brats! You'd better throw away the foolish dream of getting on there without a bloody duel!”
Professor Donton grinned.
"Of course, since you're weak brats, I should show some mercy. You don't have to beat me! Just one hit, if you can land just one hit, it's your success!"
Inette and Gusto were also here.
The two had landed near the center of the island and were looking for Radel when they ran into each other and made a wry face.
“Why are you here?”
“The princess is here too……?”
However, the two had no choice but to move together. It was because their purpose was the same.
Whether it was finding a professor or Radel, they had to do something.
Then they spotted Professor Donton making a loud noise and stopped.
Inette's eyes lit up as she watched the applicants who had charged at Professor Donton being sent flying. That professor was holding back much more than she thought.
'This is doable, isn't it?'
At least, that's what it looked like to Inette.
It wasn't to the point of death, just breaking bones. The fact that they could challenge him over and over again was also an advantage.
Inette thought of Radel and felt it was a shame.
“It would have been nice if he had landed here too.”
It seemed so to Gusto as well.
Gusto rarely agreed with Inette's words.
“I agree. His Highness would have passed this as well.”
Thud!
A student who had been hit by Professor Donton and sent flying rolled past them. However, the two didn't pay any attention.
"Should we wait a bit longer? He might come here."
“It would be better to challenge him first. His Highness would want that as well.”
The nearby applicants were dumbfounded by the conversation of the two who were speaking leisurely as if they had already passed.
'What's with those two?'
'Why are they talking as if they've already passed?'
Boom!
Even at this moment, the applicants who had challenged the professor were sent flying in all directions without landing a single hit.
“Hahaha! How boring! Are there no stronger brats!”
On top of that, Professor Donton hadn't even used magic yet. He was dealing with the applicants with only his pure physical strength and skill.
'How can we beat a monster like that?'
Just as the expressions of the waiting applicants were filled with horror, Inette and Gusto stepped forward.
“We can’t just wait for him and not even try. You want to go first?”
“You don’t seem confident you’ll pass.”
"What? Are you done talking?!"
Inette got angry and rushed forward, shouting.
“Let’s see you after this is over!”
Gusto also followed Inette without another word.
'Are those two serious?'
The applicants gathered around murmured as they watched Inette and Gusto, who were not afraid at all.
Many applicants had challenged him, but not a single one had passed yet. The applicants who had been soundly beaten by the professor and were rolling on the ground let out groans.
“Ugh, can we even land a single hit on that monster professor?”
"This is definitely a trick to fail us……. We've been tricked!"
However, Professor Donton had no intention of tricking the applicants.
He just purely wanted to have a proper spar. And if there was a decent one, he would let them pass.
'Are there no decent brats this time?'
It was when he was feeling disappointed.
Whoosh!
A strongly burning flame came at his eyes.
An unexpectedly bold attack.
The expressions of the other applicants who were watching nearby changed from dumbfounded to horrified in an instant.
'What's with those two!'
* * *
While a bloody wind was blowing on one side of the island, one side of the beach was very peaceful.
Caw, caw.
A coastline where seagulls were flying.
Radel, who was sitting on a rock and fishing with an unknown professor, held back a yawn that was coming out without him realizing it.
No matter what, he was taking an entrance exam, so it wasn't good to be too relaxed.
Although not a single fish had been caught yet…….
Radel felt a sense of disappointment looking at his empty bucket. Still, just sitting here and looking at the sea made his heart feel at peace.
“Do you know something?”
Suddenly, the professor sitting next to Radel spoke.
"What is it."
Radel, soaked in the peace, wondered for a moment if he had answered too arrogantly, but the professor didn't even care.
The professor looked at the passing clouds and said.
"This exam is first-come, first-served."
“Ah…….”
Radel also looked at the horizon and answered as usual.
“I see.”
By now, the professor could clearly see that Radel was no ordinary person.
The admission quota for the academy is fixed.
And only those who find a professor and win a bet can pass, and even if they win the bet and pass, they will fail if they are not within the first-come, first-served limit.
In other words, this entrance exam was a race against time.
He didn't seem to be unaware of that, but he was overly calm. It wasn't the kind of composure a new student would have.
'He's an interesting one, that's for sure.'
Tiring.
[The subject's Affinity has surpassed 5.]
A notification rang in Radel's ear, but he didn't pay much attention.
Radel had stopped trying to guess on what basis the affinity was rising.
'He must have liked something.'
Although I don't know what it is…….
After experiencing the affinity system a few times, he learned that just because someone had a favorable impression of Radel, their affinity didn't rise quickly.
The believers of the Supreme Deity Order basically had a favorable impression of Radel, but that didn't lead to an increase in affinity.
It seemed that the affinity didn't move unless he built a personal relationship.
It also seemed to be because different people were drawn to different points.
'Well, it's good if it rises.'
It was when Radel was soaked in such peace.
“……I’ll kill you.”
A menacing voice was heard from somewhere.
Radel, who had been focused on fishing and hadn't noticed, now felt a presence. A being with strong magic power was climbing up the rock.
“……Radel Silvert Cretian. You die today.”
Radel got goosebumps at the murderous voice.
He didn't know how he had found him, but it was undoubtedly Leon, whom he had left behind with the help of the tree spirit.
However, Radel wasn't as worried about Leon as he was before.
“Do you know each other?”
“He’s my younger brother.”
"You're not on good terms?"
"No."
It was because the professor was right next to him.
Leon, who had climbed up the rock, was a mess in anyone's eyes. It seemed he had been severely dealt with by the tree spirit.
“How dare you insult me like this?”
Radel was about to say that he had never insulted him, but he just closed his mouth at Leon's murderous aura.
Leon was approaching with murderous intent, his hands covered in magic power.
Just then, the professor slowly stood up.
“An applicant?”
He had just stood up, but Leon stopped in his tracks as if he had felt something.
“……Are you a professor, by any chance?”
“Yes.”
Leon glared at Radel with murderous intent and then withdrew the magic power from his hands.
Radel inwardly sighed in relief.
He still didn't have the skill to deal with Leon alone. He was about to miss Gusto and Inette again.
"You want to make a bet too?"
The professor held out a fishing rod to Leon.
Leon's expression hardened when he saw the fishing rod.
* * *
“Hahaha! It wasn’t a bad spar, brats!”
Professor Donton praised Inette and Gusto as if he were very pleased.
However, the two did not look very happy. It was because they had come to know their own level objectively.
'To dodge the flames at such a fast speed?'
'To be able to offset divine power so easily.'
Both of them had succeeded in attacking the professor, but they knew all too well that the professor had gone easy on them.
It was an overwhelming difference in skill.
“You two may pass! You are worthy of it!”
The professor's hand pointed at the teleportation magic circle shining in the back.
As Inette and Gusto walked towards the magic circle, the other applicants watched with envious eyes.
But for the two of them, passing was not the problem right now.
"He's not here yet, shouldn't we wait a little longer."
Inette's steps did not fall easily.
It was clear who she was talking about.
She was worried about Radel.
However, Gusto, after a moment of thought, approached the teleportation magic circle without hesitation.
“I will go first.”
“Hey!”
Inette jumped up when Gusto came out so coldly.
He said he was an apprentice holy knight, and even though he was arrogant, she thought he was kind?
Gusto stood on the teleportation magic circle and added with unwavering eyes.
“Because I believe in His Highness.”
Flash!
Gusto disappeared from the magic circle with a flash of light.
Inette followed him up with a dumbfounded expression.
"Hey, so you're saying I don't believe in him?"
Flash!
Inette also disappeared with a flash of light.