# Chapter 39. Entrance Exam (4)
Black Hole.
You’ve probably heard of it at least once.
An immensely powerful phenomenon caused by a singularity that even light cannot escape, pulling in everything that exists within its grasp.
I had a sudden thought about whether a black hole could be used as magic, and decided to test the idea through an experiment.
I focused on the center of the dummy’s interior.
When I envisioned the surrounding gravity slowly converging at this point, I could feel mana drawing in the air inside the dummy, intensifying as it did so.
But the strength was still not enough to pull in the steel dummy.
I then infused half of the mana stored in my core all at once, visualizing the image of a black hole, and…
As a result, a small yet perfectly formed black hole appeared, causing the dummy to vanish without a trace.
Of course, I immediately cut off the flow of mana after, causing the black hole to dissipate.
‘It’s not like I’d ever use my hands to bring about the end of the world.’
I felt an odd sense of satisfaction in having recreated a villain-like technique from an animated world.
Recalling how useful my scientific knowledge from my past life was, I turned around and saw an assistant who had approached me, only to stop abruptly, staring wide-eyed at the broken dummy.
Even the spectators from the viewing stand just gazed blankly at the dummy, entranced, as if by some spell.
I simply assumed that they were surprised the rambunctious person they’d been watching could wield magic so well, and quietly left the testing grounds.
“Taking two tests in a row was tiring…”
Because I’m enrolled in two departments, my workload is naturally twice as much as everyone else’s.
But what can I do? If the world is to avoid perishing, I must shoulder the burden.
After the test was over, I made my way toward the main gate where I had agreed to meet someone, only to find someone I knew well waiting there, watching examinees as they finished their tests and exited, her gaze locked on me.
“Ahh, Young Master!”
From a distance, Ria, having waited for me after finishing her test, ran up to me with brisk steps.
“You worked hard. How did the test go?”
“Thanks to thorough preparation, it wasn’t too difficult! I think I’ll be entering in the upper ranks, even if not as the top student!”
“If Ria tries, they could very well enter as the top student.”
“Hehe… Even if it’s just kind words, I appreciate them… But I really think the Young Master will enter as the top student!”
“Surely not.”
Though I demonstrated unexpected skills in the two departments I tested for, I am far from deserving first place.
One can be impressed, but not to the extent of awe.
“Among this year’s examinees, there are many unusual talents referred to as ‘Ten Stars.’ It’s likely one of them will enter as the top student.”
“Ugh… I would have preferred if the Young Master had received it…”
Though it’s heartwarming to hear, even if I were to wear the title of valedictorian, there would be people who wouldn’t believe it, starting countless disputes.
Moreover, all the professors at the Academy are renowned educators from across the continent. Do you really think they’d award the top spot to someone like me?
*
The top professor meeting of Hebrion Academy.
The professors representing each department gathered to select the top students for each department and the overall top student.
“-Therefore, the top student for the administrative department will be this examinee. Finally, we must select the overall top student.”
“Hmm… Is there someone you’d like to recommend for the overall top position? It doesn’t matter if they’ve already been selected as a department top.”
Fedrick Leonhart.
Once the head of the royal magical academy, known for the legendary act of erasing an entire mountain with magic.
Now serving as the principal of the academy, Fedrick’s question left the professors hesitant to voice their opinions.
Though usually kind and friendly like the grandfather next door, Fedrick has a strict side when it comes to education. The professors feared introducing an average candidate might invite his scorn and criticism, so they kept their opinions to themselves and waited to see what others would say.
Swoosh-
Amidst the silence, someone quietly raised their hand.
“Ah, James. Do you have someone you’d recommend?”
James and Fedrick were long-time drinking buddies. Though they excelled in different fields, they respected each other’s abilities. Everyone knew James’s opinion carried significant weight.
With his scholarly yet keen eye for identifying talent, a candidate recommended by James would surely be someone capable of leading the year with distinction.
“I found quite a few interesting individuals, but there’s one in particular I’d like to mentor myself.”
“Ho? You?”
Fedrick looked at James with a hint of intrigue.
Knowing James’s character intimately, Fedrick found this statement incredibly fascinating.
“He’s the one who took down the second son of the Grace family, Maytan, with a single kick.”
“Hmm? That boy… I’ve heard of him. He was a promising prodigy known for his martial law within the Grace house…”
“The more interesting part is what you’ll hear next.”
“What?”
“That fellow… uses magic instead of aura.”
“!!”
With this statement from James, a wave of murmurs erupted among the professors.
“Professor James, is that true?”
“A martial artist who uses magic instead of aura… This is ridiculous!”
“It is intriguing, but isn’t he just some sort of heretic?”
From professors criticizing him as “lacking in discipline” to others finding him interesting but unsuitable for the academy, opinions varied.
The appearance of a close-range magician, an unprecedented concept, caused quite a stir.
“Silence.”
…
With just one quiet word, Principal Fedrick silenced all the professors.
Fedrick paused in thought for a moment, then quietly inquired of James.
“Though it’s certainly intriguing—a rare occurrence—I think it’s still quite a stretch to consider him for the overall top spot.”
The overall top.
Representing not just a single department but an entire year, this position is the face of the academy.
As a representative of the student body, a student’s conduct greatly influences the public perception of the entire year.
Therefore, placing an average candidate in such a position could tarnish the academy’s prestige, a valid concern by Fedrick.
“I expected you’d feel that way. But I heard something interesting.”
“Hmm?”
“I heard this student also applied to the Department of Magic, seeking dual enrollment in both the Combat and Magic departments. I hear he also left quite an impression there…”
“Ho? Not just using magic for melee combat, but also seeking specialized training? Tell me, Claudia, didn’t you handle his evaluation? Do you know who this is?”
“Eh… I was only focused on the magic itself… so I didn’t really pay attention to the examinee’s background…”
Claudia Magikelly.
A noted enthusiast from the prestigious Magikelly family, known for her obsessive interest in new forms of magic.
“Can you at least tell me what kind of magic the student used?”
“Hmm. Not exactly… I just heard that there was nothing visible. The target was reduced to rubble after the examinee extended his arm and remained still. But is that even possible?”
At this, Claudia’s eyes lit up, and she spoke with excitement.
“Ah! That must be the one! It was amazing! Though nothing was visible, it seemed like something was being manipulated, and then the dummy just disappeared! It felt like there was some manipulation inside the dummy, and how it could lead to such destruction was incredibly fascinating! …Oh, but I don’t remember the student’s name…”
“Why is that, Claudia? Someone who caught your attention surely should’ve been memorized by you. You want to take them as your assistant, don’t you? Just tell us their name.”
Prompted by the principal to identify the examinee, Claudia hesitated, looking around nervously, before tentatively mentioning the name.
“…Rab, Rab Netoire…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
The meeting room fell into a sudden silence.
It was hard enough to believe that such a feat could come from someone notoriously known as a troublemaker, but now they were even considering him for the top position.
“Principal, this can’t be. With that character, he must have used some unsavory method to achieve passing results.”
“Though his talent is remarkable, his personality is a problem. I personally witnessed his true nature at the Marquis Altero’s mansion last year. Appointing such a person as the top student would cause unrest in the academy.”
“Enough-”
The professors silenced under the weight of the stern command.
“No one’s opinion is more important than yours right now, James. What did you think of him?”
Ignoring the other professors’ opinions, Fedrick focused his attention solely on James’s view.
“…Though I’m unclear on exactly how much of the rumors are true, the eyes I saw… reminded me of my younger self.”
“Your younger self…”
The legendary warrior, James, who had fought countless battles, recognized in Rab’s eyes a glimpse of the fear of the future and the determination to protect everything.
Knowing James’s past and character, the principal smiled faintly and then reached his conclusion.
“That’s sufficient. Very well, then, it’s decided. The overall top student for this year’s intake is-”
Thud.
“Rab Netoire. By the way, no objections will be entertained.”
