The completely frozen atmosphere continued.

Even during this, Elias kept looking back.

“Alright, let’s take a 10-minute break and start again.”

As soon as the professor finished speaking, Elias spun around.

But the person who got up quickly and approached wasn’t Elias, but Melvin.

The other students stared at Melvin with wide eyes.

‘…Huh?’

I was just as surprised.

Melvin swallowed hard and gestured outside, as if telling me to get up quickly.

“…Why?”

Even when I asked, Melvin wordlessly pulled me out, looked around, shoved me into the bathroom, and Warped.

Now, we were in the meeting room in the basement of the student union building.

“I didn’t know you had this kind of initiative, Melvin.”

“Ah…! I’m sorry for Warping you without asking…! But that’s not it! Are you going to use magic now?!”

Before he could finish speaking, my friends Warped in one after another.

‘What’s with everyone’s expressions?’

Seeing so many people with dazed expressions crowding into this small space just made me laugh.

But it’s understandable that they’d react like this.

It’s time to recall the logic I used when I first created the group around this point.

‘I pretended to have that nature in order to deal with the Pleroma… I said.’

Also, I mentioned that this wasn’t my sole decision, but the Askanian’s plan.

There’s no way I could say that I spread the Pleroma rumors on my own.

Right on cue, Melvin asked me.

“You haven’t infiltrated the Pleroma side yet. Are you going to be okay?!”

“It’s okay. Now that there are people like Sir Ernst who have been to the Pleroma side, I don’t think I need to continue acting.”

Shock spread across the students’ faces.

They had endured the insults until now with the goal of ‘contacting the Pleroma,’ but I could see a hint of pity, as if they thought they had been beaten to the punch by Nicolaus.

‘There’s no need to pity me.’

Because Nicolaus is me….

Actually, these guys could suspect that I’m Nicolaus, but since I had been talking about him as Leo’s attendant since before Nicolaus became famous, they didn’t even consider that possibility.

From the start, they didn’t seem to think that Nicolaus would be a high school student like them at all.

‘Of course, it wouldn’t be a big problem even if these friends knew.’

That’s because I only gathered friends who are tight-lipped and responsible to begin with.

And, in fact, they didn’t spread the group’s story anywhere for a semester.

“Don’t worry too much. Still, I’ve helped Leo’s people a few times.”

“…Really? Are you really going to be okay?”

“Lucas, does your brother know about this? Is your brother directly proving that you’re not a Pleroma?”

I nodded.

“I can’t tell you yet, but the report will go out with a different story than what I said. And… to be honest, I don’t think this is a situation where I can maintain the plans I’ve made so far.”

The students’ eyes changed at my words.

Some nodded as if in agreement.

“Don’t you guys think the same? Now that the Pleroma have even started to contaminate the water, we can’t just stand by and watch. It’s time to show that the Empire is responding firmly.”

“…Yeah. Under normal circumstances, I might not care, but the current situation… is serious.”

Fortunately, they understand.

They must have thought it was better to step up than to just lie low like now.

Before the break ended, I reassured the students and sent them back to the classroom.

I also headed to the classroom with a time difference.

It had been quiet as a mouse until now, but now that I had left, my story was coming out of the classroom.

“Can he use magic?”

“I guess he’s just going to beat them up with his fists.”

“No… can he even do that in his condition?”

“……”

Lucas may be thin, but he’s not so bad that he deserves to hear those kinds of words.

Unlike last year, when he had seriously lacked both fat and muscle, I think he’s gradually converging to the average.

‘Maybe they don’t know because I’m bundled up for winter.’

It was true, but the more I thought about it, the more it felt like I was just winning mentally, so I erased the thought and put my hand on the doorknob.

“No, he just submitted it to make up the numbers, you know? If he could use magic, he would have used it already.”

“Yeah, and if he can use magic, that means he drank blood.”

“Ah, no way….”

They didn’t really think I could use magic, so now laughter was flowing out.

Creak—

When I opened the door, the students’ whispers stopped abruptly.

Perhaps because they had been caught talking behind my back, the classroom was quiet until noon, which was the regular class time.

“Alright, you can leave now. Students who have clubs, go there, and students who will train, go to the training ground.”

Even though it was free time, no one got up from their seat.

Everyone was frozen and looking ahead, as if they had all agreed to it.

I know why, but there’s no need for me to play along.

‘I need to get my core tested and summon the advisory committee.’

Before, I had tested under Nicolaus’s name, so now I need to test under Lucas’s name.

I went to the examination room on campus and hurried the examiner, who was stunned to see me, to quickly complete the examination.

Then I moved again to the exclusive Warp coordinates that the Imperial Family had prepared for me.

About an hour after issuing the summons, the meeting was quickly concluded.

The Director of Internal Affairs, who was part of the advisory committee, summarized the discussion from the meeting.

“…Then, in the case of underage mages, considering safety issues, they will be assigned to rampagers below level 4, and in the event of an emergency where there are no personnel to handle rampagers of levels 1-3, twice the usual number of personnel will be dispatched.”

“Good. Deliver that to the Imperial Family as is, and let’s end this agenda item here.”

I briefly wrapped up the meeting and got up from my seat.

While I was in the advisory committee office, I looked through the files on the desk, and one of the mages who had spoken to me a few times here spoke to me.

“Deputy Director.”

“Speak.”

“Have you heard the news? That Pleroma student participated in the conscription qualification exam.”

“……”

To think I would hear my story here too….

I had to hold back my laughter.

When I didn’t answer, the other party continued on their own.

“It’s already spread throughout the Imperial Palace and the government, but you didn’t know. He doesn’t have the ability to pass the exam, so he must have thought that at least putting his name out there was the right thing to do….”

It was a good choice that the professor recommended that I withdraw.

It’s obvious that someone who’s misunderstood as a Pleroma, and even someone who doesn’t have the ability, would be dismissed as a transparent trick if they stepped forward.

Another mage in the same space laughed and added a word.

“He must be mistaken about something because he’s gotten some good grades lately.”

Just knowing how I got the grades makes me think they’re really interested.

How does someone usually know what grades someone else got?

I smiled and got up from my seat.

“I’m sure he’ll take care of it himself.”

“Haha, that’s probably true.”

They nodded with a laugh.

I came out of the advisory committee office and fell into thought as I walked.

Everyone seems to think that I can’t even use magic.

They just think it’s an action taken to avoid getting criticized as a noble.

‘This is something to look forward to tonight.’

The Student Military Corps exam consists of one document screening and three practical tests.

If I pass the document screening, I’ll naturally use magic in the practical tests, so the Imperial Family won’t leave me alone now that the whole country is in an uproar over the Pleroma.

‘An easy situation won’t unfold.’

So now it’s time to think about countermeasures.

It’s been largely forgotten, but it’s already a fact spread throughout the country that Lucas was born with the strongest magic power in Askanian history.

Then why is he now a human being no different from a non-mage?

‘Everyone thinks I collapsed because I couldn’t drink blood.’

The reason I can’t use magic is because I didn’t drink blood, and the reason I can use magic is because I drank blood.

What’s the cause?

It’s because of my core’s nature.

They think my brother is directly taking care of that nature.

‘And, luckily….’

The public doesn’t know about the ‘care’ method.

In the first place, my brother didn’t reveal detailed explanations about my nature to the public in order to avoid advertising that he was feeding me medicine.

In other words, even if I fill that void with my logic, the public doesn’t have the ability to judge the facts.

The response I will take is simple.

I just need to wait for my brother to respond to the act as I have written it.

* * *

In the evening, I submitted my core examination paper and returned to my room and opened the test guide that Leo had left behind.

‘The document stage selects 4 times the number of final passers….’

Since 18 people are finally selected in three teams of six, only 28 people are eliminated in the document stage.

‘There’s no need to even look at this.’

Before long, Elias, who naturally Warped into my room, asked with a grin.

“It’s time for the announcement, Lucas, aren’t you going down to the first floor~?”

“It’s going to be crowded.”

I said that and looked at my watch.

It was exactly 9 o’clock, the time to announce the successful candidates.

“Let’s go out about 30 minutes later.”

“Okay~”

Elias didn’t seem particularly curious about the results either.

That’s because if Elias fails, there’s no one here who will pass.

That’s how, 30 minutes later, we went out, but the lobby was still crowded with people.

Elias, who was looking up at the building from below the main building stairs, clicked his tongue.

“Wow~ I thought everyone would have checked by now?”

“I guess so.”

I went up the stairs first.

“…!”

The students who found me took a step back as if they had seen a ghost.

Even though there were many people here, the only sounds that could be heard were the footsteps of me and Elias.

Elias whistled, finding something fun in this situation.

As people stealthily moved aside, the letters floating in the middle of the spacious lobby began to come into view.

[1st Class of 2nd Year Student Military Corps – List of Document Screening Passers (72)]

I slowly scanned the title down to the list below.

[Magic Department 2nd Group / Philip Göring (Special Level 6)]

[Magic Department 2nd Group / Julia Zähringen (Special Level 5)]

[Magic Department 1st Group / Melanie Köhler (Special Level 5)]

…

‘Special’ corresponds to the top 1% in the Empire, but as expected of a school, there were no students without the word special attached.

‘Until now, I was standard level 9 among these, so I stood out.’

Now that I look back on it, I feel like laughing a little.

Below the many names, a more familiar name came into view.

[Magic Department 2nd Group / Lucas Askanian (Special Level 2)]

‘Hmm.’

The corners of my mouth naturally went up.

Before, my core level was Special Level 4 when I measured it in Bavaria.

Now it’s up to Special Level 2.

Considering that level, it would be stranger if my name wasn’t here, but even though I expected it, seeing the results directly is always a good experience.

While I was smiling, Elias’s arm went around my shoulder.

I made sure he had cast soundproofing magic and muttered.

“…Be a little more discreet.”

“How does it feel for the Special Minister of the Kingdom to participate in a high school magician team test~?”

“It’s fun.”

“Hahahaha!”

Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m looking down on it.

I don’t intend to use Divine Power.

For some reason, I can use Divine Power much more strongly than magic power. If I can’t use Divine Power, it means I can’t unleash even 50% of my original abilities.

Also, if this follows the system I created…

‘It will be difficult to get to the first team selection with just magic power.’

If I had known that I would experience the system, I would have made it easier.

‘I’m taking the test with the system I created….’

Anyway, there are a total of 3 teams, and six people are cut according to their skills.

I’m not worried about failing, but rather, I have to consider whether I can get into the 1st team or not.

Of course, now that my skill score has exceeded 4.5, it’s definitely worth a try.

“You have to get into the 1st team now, Lucas~? I have to work with you and the kids!”

“Yeah.”

“And I bet 10,000 Fells on you being selected for the 1st team.”

“…What?! Where?”

Then, the quiet surroundings suddenly became noisy. I heard someone walking from behind.

“Hmm?”

The moment Elias and I turned our heads at the same time, my body was caught by someone’s magic power.

Elias, who checked behind us, turned pale and cursed.

“……”

Far away, several mages wearing Imperial Security Bureau uniforms were approaching me with wands pointed at me.

‘It’s about time they came.’

It would be dereliction of duty if they didn’t come.

It’s a little funny that the Imperial Family is arresting me after officially recognizing that I’m not a Pleroma, but I can understand it since that was the case when the oath was strictly kept.

The Security Bureau mage who caught me opened his mouth.

“Mr. Lucas Askanian. You must cooperate with the investigation.”

“……”

The students’ bewildered gazes were glued to me.

I readily nodded and went down the stairs.

As soon as I went out the front gate, reporters were already spread out in front of it.

‘They thought it was just a formality, but they’re all doing a great job.’

Just thinking about them rushing to Warp here at this hour as soon as they heard the news makes me think they’re really great.

I wonder where human rights went, but it seems that it’s not yet time to demand modern sensibilities in that direction.

Of course, I’m grateful if they come out like this.

Now, I will lay the foundation for legally using magic throughout the country.

Reporters shouted at me using even amplification magic.

“I understand that you don’t meet the conscription requirements, so how will you participate in the practical test?”

“Did you drink blood?! Or were you planning to drink it in the future?”

“I didn’t drink it.”

“How will you prove that….”

“Shall we try a truth serum? You’ll have your questions answered when you see it directly.”

In an instant, all the questions stopped abruptly.

The Imperial mages who were taking me away also stopped walking for a moment.

It was a somewhat disgusting statement, but surprise seemed to be greater than that.

That must be because they didn’t expect the bum to say these things.

‘They’re finally shutting up a bit when I go this far.’

I looked around at the bewildered people and calmly opened my mouth with a smile.

“It’s thanks to my brother.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep