Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/822139844414118669/episodes/822139844939715176
Shards of shattered crystal were scattered far and wide.
The other students’ confused murmurs wouldn’t die down, and the teachers were rushing about frantically, busy collecting the shards and bringing in replacement measurement crystals. The teachers continued their work while glancing my way out of the corner of their eyes, but I couldn’t help but wonder if it was a bit much that they immediately looked away whenever our eyes met.
Do they think I’m some kind of monster or something?
(Anyway, the test is over. I should go back to where Liene and the others are.)
I’d probably just be in the way if I stood around here forever.
After saying a quick word to the teacher and getting permission, I returned to the three of them. Yu, who had been waiting, placed a hand on my shoulder with a wry smile.
“Aren’t you taking this a bit too far? I’ve never seen anyone smash a crystal before.”
“I just did what I was told. I didn’t think it would break either.”
I knew from the source material that my magical power was the strongest in the story.
But I doubt anyone expected it to be powerful enough to shatter a crystal.
This wasn’t even described in the original story, was it? If I was a monster with such immense magical power and potential, I wish the creators had made me a rival character or someone who actually played a bigger role, instead of some pathetic nobody surrounded by monsters, crying and screaming.
As I slumped my shoulders, lost in these thoughts…
“Well, I kind of expected it. Ever since I saw you fighting Gravehound before, I knew you weren’t ordinary.”
“—What do you mean?”
“I mean you are a really amazing guy.”
I gave a wry smile in response to Yu, who said that with a laugh and gave me a light pat on the shoulder.
After talking with the three of us for a while, the commotion in the venue gradually subsided. The shattered crystal was collected, and a replacement was set up. Just as the assessments for the remaining transfer students were finished—
“With that, the first exam is over. Next up is the second exam: the combat aptitude test.”
The teacher’s voice echoed through the hall once more via amplification magic.
Immediately afterward, the floor opened in various places throughout the hall with a heavy thud. The floor split open to the left and right, and a massive humanoid object rose up, shaking the ground with a rumbling “Gogogo.”
Kneeling on one knee with its head bowed, it was a colossal form composed of stone and metal.
Magic circuits extended from a crystal at its chest across its entire body, and light pulsed like blood as it coursed through its surface.
“Whoa…”
Yu let out a gasp, seemingly unable to contain his reaction.
“Are we supposed to fight that?”
“That’s correct. For the final exam, you will engage in a mock battle one-on-one with this training golem. There are no restrictions on the use of weapons or magic.”
The instructor continued matter-of-factly, then looked over at us.
Was that look directed at me?
“Furthermore, this golem is a special model designed by Sir Albert Clauser, the Grand Magus Engineer who laid the foundation for the Kingdom’s magical civilization. It won’t flinch at half-hearted attacks, so please fight with all your might.”
A murmur rippled through the hall at those words.
“Albert Clauser”—a figure so renowned that it’s said there’s no one who doesn’t know his name. He created a lantern that stays lit for half a year on a single magic stone, as well as streetlights using that technology. He also invented the magitek furnace, which uses magic stones as fuel to maintain a constant temperature throughout an entire room.
He was a great genius who created items indispensable to modern life.
Of course, his name appears in the game, and he even makes an appearance himself. He looks exactly like a neighborhood grandpa, with the personality of a kind-hearted old man who adores his grandchildren. Whenever he opened his mouth, he would praise the protagonist, saying, “That child is a genius!”—but from the mid-game onward, he seemed to become much more taciturn for a certain reason.
Now, the creation of such a man is about to come to life right before our eyes.
As the teachers placed their hands on the crystal in the golem’s chest and channeled their magic into it—its eyes flashed a pale blue. Then, with a heavy, labored movement, it stood up and looked down at us.
“…Alright, the next one should be simple.”
As the tension in the air thickened, Yu beside me clenched her fist.
“Hehe. This suits me better than the magic power test.”
Ciel materialized her dual swords and smiled quietly.
“This time, I’ll show results worthy of the title of Lord Rai’s personal maid!”
Liene clasped her fists in front of her chest and gritted her teeth in determination.
“Well then, as Liene’s master, I can’t very well show myself in a disgraceful light.”
As I said that with a “Hmph,” I felt gazes filled with a mix of envy and awe—as if asking, “What on earth are you planning to do next?”—flying at me from all directions.
Don’t you all think that’s a bit rude?
With such thoughts running through my mind, the combat exam began.
Screams and shouts mingled with the sound of explosions echoing throughout the venue. There were the high-pitched sounds of magic being cast and the metallic clang of swords striking the golem’s hard skin. Chaos unfolded before us, making the scene look almost like a battlefield.
Amidst all that, the four of us were steadily racking up good results in the exam.
“—Haaah!!”
Yu parried the golem’s attacks with his sword while forcing his way forward.
Repeating the cycle of blocking, dodging, and stepping in, he closed the distance and launched a full-force thrust at the crystal core of the golem.
The core was destroyed in an instant, and the golem came to a halt.
“Yes!”
He slung his sword over his shoulder and smiled cheerfully.
It was a victory achieved through a brute-force strategy of charging headlong into the enemy.
■
“—–!”
Next, as for Ciel: while Yu throws himself fiercely into battle, her fighting style—to put it bluntly—is to outwit her opponent and toy with them.
She always positions herself in the golem’s blind spot, launching attacks from there to gradually wear down her opponent.
Her fists missed their mark every time, and in response, a slashing blow slammed into the golem’s body.
“There!”
In the end, she exploited a gap created by the golem’s wide swing, driving her dual blades into its core and bringing the battle to a surprisingly swift conclusion.
“It was more anticlimactic than I expected.”
Smoothing her disheveled hair, Ciel claimed victory.
■
In Liene’s case, it goes without saying.
Just like in the recent battle against the Greyhound, she materializes a greatsword and, like Yu, charges head-on. She effortlessly wields the massive hunk of metal, which towers over her, and the fist swung down at her is shattered along with the arm before it even makes contact.
The shattered arm flies through the air, but before it even hits the ground, Liene swings her greatsword.
A deafening roar echoed, and the torso was cleaved in two as the upper half collapsed to the ground.
“…It’s over.”
As Liene announced this with a cool expression, not only the examiners around her but also many of the students—excluding us—stared at her in stunned silence. It was the moment when the impression of a “failure” left by the earlier magical power assessment was completely erased.
■
“Next up, Rai Arkberg.”
“Yes.”
And just like that, it was my turn.
All eyes were on me, and I could hear the whispers. “Will he finish him off in a flash again?” “Will it really be a one-hit KO?” They were saying whatever they pleased. Most of them spoke as if they were certain of my victory, and I felt a slight rush of excitement.
(If you’re so eager for a one-hit KO, I’ll show you one.)
To be honest, I don’t mind living up to expectations.
I instantly cast enhancement magic on my body. My entire body glowed faintly from the two spells, “Strength Boost” and “Nerve Acceleration,” and I felt my power surging.
“—Alright, begin.”
The golem sprang into action the moment the examiner spoke.
In an instant—I leapt into the golem’s chest and slammed my fist into its core. The blow, delivered with just a touch of force, blew the golem’s upper body—with its armor as hard as it looked—right off.
The remaining lower body flew off as well, impaling itself on a wall several meters away.
“——…………G-good work.”
The examiner’s voice echoed through the venue, now shrouded in silence.
Just like during the magic power measurement, he was scribbling on his paperwork with a stunned expression, though I couldn’t help but notice that his fingers seemed to be trembling slightly.
As the venue was enveloped in a silence so thick it felt as if the entire room had frozen solid, I scratched my cheek, wondering, “Did I get a little too carried away?” and walked away from the scene.
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