222 Episode
The Izhise entrance exam date was approaching.
Izhise’s entrance examination consists of three stages: the first, second, and third tests, with the total scores being tallied to determine the successful candidates.
It was known that the types of exams varied slightly each time.
While there was no limit to the number of successful candidates at Izhise, typically more than half of the applicants failed.
Considering that only somewhat verified talents could participate in the entrance exam, the pass rate was extremely low.
Before heading to the exam venue, Ray adjusted the bracelet imbued with Aptel, owned by the Prizzran Clan inside their fortress.
The bracelet, which had been lent to Luna, had been retrieved when they were heading to the Imperial Capital. However, for the Izhise entrance exam, the use of any artefacts was prohibited.
Ray asked Aptel,
“Aptel, is it impossible to store this bracelet in an A-Space?”
[It is impossible.]
“Isn’t that also not allowed?”
[…No.]
“Tch, it performs worse than expected…”
[…]
Scratching at Aptel, Ray eventually decided to temporarily hand over the bracelet to Speira.
Only with Ray’s permission could someone else use his bracelet, and even if stolen, there were many ways to track it.
Thus, without much worry, Ray handed over the bracelet to Speira and changed his clothes.
After changing into shabby clothing and stepping out into the courtyard of the fortress, Ray found Johanna and Delun testing their movements while dressed in similarly rustic attire.
Ray smirked.
Johanna and Delun were feeling awkward about the cheap fabric touching their skin, having gotten used to finer city garments.
“Hmm…”
Johanna checked whether her clothes would tear during vigorous movement.
According to their documents, both Johanna and Delun were commoners who hadn’t received significant external support, so they couldn’t wear fine clothing for the entrance exam.
Approaching them, Ray said,
“Johanna, you must secure the top spot, and Delun, you must secure the second.”
At Izhise’s entrance exam, the top and second places were selected separately.
Delun, scratching the back of his head with a somewhat uncertain look, was an industrious individual with outstanding talent but struggled to gain confidence due to the formidable individuals around him.
As Ray patted Delun’s tense back, Johanna asked,
“If I get the top spot and Delun gets the second, where does that leave you?”
“I just need to barely pass.”
Ray shrugged and twisted the corner of his mouth.
“Of course! If I set my mind to it, I could probably take the top spot, but that wouldn’t be fair. I shouldn’t rob these fresh-faced kids of their chance to shine. And I’m not some street thug either.”
Saying this, Ray himself was still quite young.
Johanna, looking at Ray, muttered,
“You’re not going to mess up and fail, are you?”
“Haha!”
Ray burst out laughing.
Hearing Ray’s laughter, Johanna tapped his side with a dissatisfied expression.
“Are you planning to leave after just one semester?”
“Maybe? Actually, I’m not even sure if I’ll complete the semester…”
Johanna’s fists tapping Ray’s side began to carry some force.
“One semester is too short. Don’t you think you should stay for a full year to properly learn something?”
To Johanna’s request, Ray chuckled,
“Am I your dad now? Are you asking me to chase after you to Izhise and act as your guardian for a whole year?”
“It’s not about acting like a dad! It’s just a waste to drop out without learning anything properly!”
“Hmm…”
Ray stroked his chin and shook his head.
“There’s not much for me to learn there if I stay for a whole year.”
“Ugh, stop showing off already!”
Taking another punch from Johanna filled with emotion, Ray chuckled again.
Ray chuckled away, hiding a sense of unease.
If he had more than ten years left, staying by Johanna’s side for a year would have been entirely possible.
However, at this point in time, Ray didn’t have the luxury to casually waste an entire year.
Changing the subject with a laugh, Ray said,
“Do well on the test. If you fail, I’ll tie you upside down to the front of the carriage and drag you all the way to Phillip’s County.”
“You’re the one who should stop showing off and focus on the exam! If you fail, I’ll strip you down to your underwear, tie you upside down, and drag you all the way to Phillip’s County!”
“Yeah, sure.”
Ray remained confident.
*
Even as they approached the Izhise entrance exam venue, Ray was still brimming with confidence.
Upon arriving near the exam venue, other examinees were seen waiting, neatly dressed in uniforms.
They were all nobles or members of influential families.
Standing among them, Ray, dressed plainly, stood out significantly.
Scornful gazes came from all directions.
Most of them, being part of the privileged class, were particularly sensitive about rankings.
Of course, Ray… really didn’t care at all about the looks from around him.
‘Is this the waiting area for those applying to the knight department?’
The Izhise entrance exam was divided into several fields, but most examinees applied to the knight department.
Ray, Johanna, and Delun also applied to the knight department.
Ray was purely curious about how the institution planned to sift through the future pillars of the Empire.
Soon after, procedures began for entering the exam venue.
The identities of the examinees were thoroughly verified, ensuring no artefacts were worn, and checking for any unauthorized items.
Later, intricate tracking magic was temporarily inscribed on their bodies to prevent substitutions.
Once all procedures were completed, Ray, assigned an exam number, was guided to the exam venue located near the Imperial Capital.
The exam venue, usually used as a training ground for Izhise students, was equipped with various training facilities and a large open space.
“Hmm…”
Ray looked around.
At the exam venue were Izhise officials, a few high-ranking nobles, and exam supervisors.
None of them were ordinary individuals.
Even the exam supervisors guiding the examinees had an aura surpassing that of regular knights.
Following the guidance, the examinees lined up in the open space without needing explicit instructions.
Then, one of the exam supervisors stepped forward and spoke.
“I will explain the first test. It’s simple. Emit sword energy to strike the target. The further the target and the more effective the hit, the higher the score. When your number is called, come forward and wait in the designated area.”
“…”
Ray blinked absentmindedly before belatedly understanding the situation.
Emitting sword energy to strike a target was something everyone above Expert Level could do.
However, Ray had a significant problem.
Ray couldn’t turn his Spatial Blade on and off.
In other words, Ray only knew how to emit ‘Leaping Sword Energy.’
Even if he aimed at a target 10 meters away, the sword energy would evaporate in place, then tear through the air and fall.
“Damn…”
Ray muttered a curse.
*
Most of the Izhise entrance exam candidates hadn’t been exposed to rare high-level sword techniques.
They hadn’t received overwhelming support in their youth, nor had they learned rare mana cultivation methods, purification techniques, or exceptional swordsmanship.
Therefore, the first test at Izhise held significance.
‘To identify talent…’
For example, Jimmy, who had been a mercenary, learned rudimentary and inexpensive mana cultivation methods and sword skills late in life.
Although Jimmy’s mana was impure, by the time he retired from being a mercenary, he could destroy rocks nearly a hundred meters away with emitted sword energy.
How was this possible?
It was due to Jimmy’s immense effort and his innate superior talent.
Even with impure internal mana, sufficient talent allows one to control and condense mana.
On the other hand, if the emitted sword energy dissipates before reaching dozens of meters, it indicates poor talent and senses, regardless of the purity of the mana.
Therefore, Izhise prepared such a test.
Of course, it was quite troublesome for Ray.
Soon, the first test began.
Candidates whose numbers were called went to the designated area, received guidance, and emitted their sword energy.
The minimum distance to the targets was 30 meters, but no one started by aiming at that distance.
Most began by challenging targets 50 meters away.
Ka-gak!! Ka-ga-gak!!
All the candidates were recognized talents in their hometowns.
Most easily hit the 50-meter targets.
However, the targets made of special alloy were harder to break than the candidates anticipated.
Candidates who confidently emitted their sword energy often showed surprised expressions.
Still, everyone successfully destroyed the 50-meter targets, and the competition intensified between 60 and 100 meters.
Currently, the candidates were struggling to break targets within 100 meters, but they were still young.
With proper support from the royal family, they would undoubtedly be able to intercept targets hundreds of meters away in the future.
“…”
Watching the ongoing test, Ray’s complexion turned pale.
Realizing his predicament, Ray fidgeted anxiously as a candidate beside him lightly tapped his shoulder.
“Hi, I’m Jusephin from the Rokobia family. What about you?”
“Ah, I’m Ray.”
Looking intently at Ray, Jusephin added,
“I don’t have a notable family background. I’m a commoner.”
“Oh… impressive.”
Jusephin smiled.
“You must be exceptionally talented. Don’t be too scared. You can definitely do well.”
Despite knowing Ray was a commoner, Jusephin didn’t show any disdain outwardly and instead encouraged him.
Though Ray inwardly found Jusephin’s approach bothersome, he nodded without showing it.
At that moment, Johanna and Delun were called by the exam supervisor and ascended to the designated area.
When Johanna appeared, there was a brief murmur, but it quickly subsided as she cleanly split a target 100 meters away with her emitted sword energy.
Delun, though less skilled compared to Johanna, also succeeded in hitting the 100-meter target.
Both scored full marks in the first test.
Descending from the designated area, Johanna scanned the surroundings and spotted Ray, raising the corner of her mouth.
Under normal circumstances, Ray would have responded to Johanna, but he wasn’t in the right frame of mind now.
“…Candidate number 59, 60, step up to the designated area.”
Finally, it was Ray’s turn, number 60.
Muttering curses repeatedly under his breath, Ray slowly walked forward.
The broken targets from previous rounds were replaced, and soon the final round of the first test began.
All candidates in the designated areas, including Jusephin standing next to Ray, emitted their sword energy towards the targets.
Ka-gak!! Ka-ga-gak!!
While other candidates continuously emitted their sword energy, striving to hit farther targets,
Ray remained motionless, never swinging his sword.
Everyone else had finished their first test except for Ray.
Ray still stood frozen, unable to move.
“…”
Now, all eyes were on Ray.
Whispers spread around.
Given Ray’s shabby appearance, everyone assumed he was a country bumpkin who froze upon arriving at the Imperial Capital.
As the whispers continued,
Ray, staring at a target 30 meters away, asked the nearby exam supervisor,
“…Are there any targets closer than 30 meters?”
The supervisor sighed deeply and looked at Ray with a pitiful expression.
“Failing to hit a target at 30 meters results in failure.”
“…”
Ray fell into deep thought again.
He couldn’t reveal his Spatial Blade here.
But how could he possibly hit the target without it?
Pondering, Ray tried leaning forward at the boundary line of the designated area to reduce the distance by even a few centimeters.
From the perspective of an observer, his desperate movements were far from graceful.
This unseemly attempt was halted by the supervisor.
“If you keep extending beyond the boundary line, I’ll mark you as failed.”
“Phew!”
Laughter erupted from all around.
The laughter spread, but other supervisors couldn’t intervene because they were trying hard not to laugh themselves.
Amidst the rising sense of self-loathing, Ray reflected on himself.
I’ve just been a one-trick pony with spatial blades!
Clenching his teeth and closing his eyes tightly, Ray internally exclaimed.
Unable to bear the thought of failing here, Ray shouted loudly and steadied his breathing.
Failing here would be utterly disgraceful.
How could he face Johanna and Delun? How could he face Speira and Ernst?
Surely, all four of them would undoubtedly look at Ray with expressions of “What is wrong with this idiot?”
Biting his teeth firmly, Ray infused mana into his sword.
“…”
The previously noisy exam venue suddenly fell silent.
The momentum emanating from Ray’s sword, glowing brilliantly, was far stronger than expected.
Fully focused, Ray, oblivious to the surrounding reactions, pointed the tip of his sword towards the target 30 meters away.
Unable to emit sword energy, he had to create a 30-meter-long blade of energy instead.
Could he generate a 30-meter-long sword energy? Common sense dictated it was impossible.
Still, now he had to make the impossible possible.
Clenching his teeth, Ray infused directionality into the mana, layering it onto the sword energy.
Tsuek!
The sword energy emanating from Ray’s sword grew longer.
The base of the sword Ray held gleamed so brightly it hurt the eyes even under the sun, but the tip of the growing sword energy faded into dim light particles.
Even if the sword energy became faint, it wouldn’t possess proper lethality.
Nonetheless, Ray pushed the limits of his mana control, extending the sword energy further.
And finally,
The barely visible tip of the sword energy reached the target 30 meters away.
Geeek!
The instant the metallic scratching sound was heard,
Ray pushed the high-density mana coiled around the base of the sword forward.
Almost simultaneously as the sword energy shattered, the condensed mana flowing along the feeble thread of the sword energy struck the target.
Kwaang!!
The condensed mana exploded, breaking part of the target.
As the dust settled, the broken target revealed itself to everyone.
The hole pierced through the target was clearly larger than the required 5 cm at a glance.
Exhausting all his concentration on this single strike, Ray threw his sword aside and cheered.
“AAAAHHHH!”
Shouting in triumph akin to a scream, Ray repeatedly cried out,
“Done! Done!”
Under the overwhelming joy, Ray raised both arms high.
“I did it!!!!!!!”
“…”
In the sudden cold silence, Ray celebrated alone.
The exam supervisors, candidates, and observers of the entrance exam simultaneously realized one thing:
A genuinely crazy person had applied for this entrance exam.
