045 Dekan’s Holy Magic
“He seems to be doing a commendable job, but in reality, he’s made a serious common-sense error. The scroll he’s chosen indicates that he intends to create a purification spell card, but there is no type of purification spell card that uses demon blood. Additionally, purifying holy flames are typically required for attack-type holy attribute cards. It appears he’s merely an amateur.”
The examiner could no longer hold back their sharp critique of Dekan’s card-making process.
“The materials he’s chosen only suffice for one attempt at creating a magic card, leaving no room for subsequent trials.”
“From the start, this card has looked volatile, as if it’s on the brink of explosion, making me quite apprehensive.”
“Once this card detonates, we should prepare the firefighting and rescue measures.”
“Hold on, can you understand the magical words he’s writing?”
“……They seem to not belong to human magical scripts. The phonetic syllables corresponding to these words are probably even hard for humans to chant.”
“Is it Draconic? Or Elvish?”
“Unsure! I have never encountered a Cardmaker who uses foreign magical languages.”
…
Dekan entered a state of utter absorption. For a moment, it was as if he forgot all human language, hearing only the notions conveyed by his Master in her initial teachings to his mind.
Despite this being his first attempt at creating a third-rank spell card, he felt inexplicably well.
It was as if without any need to think, his consciousness naturally guided his hands forward. He was completely clear about every step to be taken next.
Without knowing how much time had passed, a faint smile finally graced Dekan’s lips.
He succeeded.
And performed excellently!
“My Master has indeed not deceived me.”
Dekan finally completed all the inscriptions. His cautious and slow movements suddenly accelerated, becoming as fluid as water, and within less than two minutes, he completed the sealing procedure.
As the mist dissipated in an instant,
An orange glow instantly illuminated the entire hall!
A neighboring examinee, blinded for a moment, made a critical operational error, losing their last chance.
Even though this was the case, he still had his mouth wide open, blinking repeatedly and persistently staring again.
Before he even had time to get angry, he was frightened speechless.
Orange?!
Is this something that should appear in an exam?
“Third-rank Epic Card?”
“I actually have the honor of witnessing the birth of a third-rank Epic Card!”
“Turns out Dekan’s true profession is a Cardmaker!! That’s why his cards are all so peculiar!”
“To create an orange Epic, then he…… isn’t he about to become a top-class third-rank Cardmaker?”
“How many years…… How many years have we not heard of this title!”
The audience stands erupted into a tsunami of astonishment.
Dekan calmly walked to the proctor’s seat, handing the card to the Appraiser.
After the Appraiser finished the evaluation, they wiped their glasses and checked the equipment.
They then attempted the evaluation again.
【Purification of Blood】
【Category: Spell Card】
【Grade: Orange Epic】
【Rank: 3】
【Effect: If used on oneself, it can remove all abnormal states up to the third rank. If used on other races, it purifies their blood and evaporates their blood volume. Cooldown 120 seconds.】
【Note: Heretic! I shall purify thee!】
“Do you call this purification?!”
The Appraiser’s eyes widened in disbelief as they confirmed the evaluation result was correct, murmuring in incredulity.
Then, under the shocked gaze of the examiners, the card was sent to the testing chamber.
“Is this card truly safe? Are you of pure human blood?”
“……Perhaps we should just let him pass?”
Shortly after, the card was sent back.
It was directly ruled as effective.
The two testers didn’t dare to let the other use this card.
Should their bloodline not be pure, there was a good chance they’d be purified themselves.
…
The audience stands continued to erupt with discussion and astonishment.
It felt like the celebration of a festival.
However, unlike the cheerful atmosphere of the spectators, the air between Alice and Trecia was exceptionally tense.
When Alice first caught sight of that orange glow, for a moment, she was stunned as if her brain had short-circuited.
“Orange… Epic?”
Alice’s face gradually turned warm, as if she finally understood the current situation.
She had been boasting in front of a Cardmaker capable of creating Epic cards!
Even more shockingly, one who could craft Epic cards of the same rank!
Her nose twitched, and her eyes began to well with tears.
It felt as though the words she previously spoke to Dekan had transformed into a curse that continued to echo in her ears, refusing to dissipate.
At that moment, she wished to find a hole in the ground to hide.
“Princess Alice, Dekan was just lucky! Cardmaking relies on three parts skill and seven parts luck!”
Trecia, with some panic, wanted to touch Alice but feared she’d break at her touch, hesitating to place her hand on Alice’s shoulder.
“Cards with such unique features… Could it be that all the cards he uses are made by himself?”
Alice’s voice trembled, as if her tears were ready to fall at any moment.
Looking at the public appraisal results,
the distinctiveness of such cards made it hard not to associate them with Dekan’s deck.
This gave rise to a terrifying assumption —
All of Dekan’s cards were likely handmade.
This wasn’t luck, but absolute skill.
He had clearly been able to manufacture second-rank purple cards even back when he was in the second rank.
Even that Ruined Bard card was very likely one of his early works!
There was no doubt that Dekan was a super-standard Cardmaking prodigy, surpassing anything that Alice could even dream of reaching.
“…”
Trecia fell silent as she noticed Alice’s eyes couldn’t hold back the tears any longer, so she dared not further provoke her.
“Did you… Did you know about his cardmaking prowess beforehand?”
Alice had realized Trecia’s implication.
“No, Alice, I really didn’t expect you two to chat so freely, and I thought he would manage to make at most a purple-rare card…”
Trecia said hesitantly.
This made Alice shake even more violently.
Then she turned her attention to the several association staff members waiting in the back, who had already awkwardly shifted their gaze away.
Apparently, these stewards had all witnessed Alice boasting to Dekan.
Alice tried to hold back her tears, but the overwhelming sense of shame threatening to consume her made it unbearable.
Her eyes became increasingly red, and tears poured down incessantly like a string of broken pearls.
Finally, she suddenly remembered something and looked at Dekan, who remained stationed in the examination room.
There, Dekan was also looking at her, giving her a radiant smile.
The speckled sunlight streaming through the glass window fell on Dekan’s face, yet it still couldn’t overshadow the smile that shone brighter than the sun itself.
“Waaaah…”
Unable to control herself any further, Alice burst into tears and ran away from the audience seats.
It was Princess Alice’s first escape in her life…
