After Askanian entered the test site, an announcement was heard 30 seconds later that the test would begin.

Mixed with laughter, questions were exchanged around me, as if they were curious about the results.

“How many minutes do you think it will take him?”

“10 minutes? 30 minutes?”

“Just because you took 10 minutes, doesn’t mean everyone will take 10 minutes.”

“Ah, I’m going to be last place. Even if it’s just him….”

Wham! Sizzle—!

[If you abide in me, and my words abide in you.]

The students’ laughter stopped the moment the flames went up his arm.

One student who had been giggling next to Leo until just now opened his mouth without realizing it.

Red magic is considered the exclusive property of the Pleroma, along with Vitriol.

Of course, it was a false rumor, but most people still believed it.

However, no students thought of the Pleroma after seeing this sight.

‘…The color….’

All the colors that could come out of the red spectrum were diversely mixed and flowed along the staff. It was clearly in the form of fire, but it looked like Divine Power because of the light flowing around it.

“Hey, he….”

In an instant, the relay camera turned black and returned with static.

[…Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.]

Kwaaaang—!!

Flames covered the test site with an explosion. At the same time, shouts erupted from the students who were waiting.

“He said he’s never learned it?!”

“What?! Wasn’t he using it for the first time today?”

“…….”

The student swallowed hard without realizing it.

‘…Wait. What is this, really?’

Are my eyes deceiving me?

Is this the magic that bastard uses?

It didn’t make sense. This was entirely Askanian’s magic.

Of course Lucas is also an Askanian, but that wasn’t what I meant.

Askanian’s magic is famous for being flashy. The fact that magic power has multiple colors means that the user’s level is high, so mages from Askanian, whether they are direct descendants or collateral relatives, were welcomed everywhere.

But if this is the guy’s real skill, then not only the collateral relatives, but also Georg Askanian, the head of the family, and Adrian Askanian all fall short of receiving such an evaluation.

Only then did I remember the relief and ridicule of the adults when I was young, who said that the person who resembled Askanian’s founding mage was actually a Pleroma.

The student, who had been staring blankly at the screen, now turned his head in embarrassment.

“Hey, Leo….”

Leo was smiling faintly as he looked at the screen. It was a smile that even made me feel joy.

‘…Why is the guy who scowls at the impression of Askanian looking like that?’

As soon as I thought that, Leo looked at me with an indifferent expression, as if asking what was wrong.

“Why?”

“…He’s… No, didn’t he say he had never learned magic?!”

“He hasn’t. It’s amazing.”

“…….”

It’s not magic that can be dismissed as ‘amazing’.

To be honest, I, as an ordinary student, couldn’t judge the technique. I didn’t even notice that.

Right now, only two impressions were engraved in my head.

The color of magic power and the scale of magic he used without putting any strength into it.

Unlike the students who ran around and handled the attacks, he was pushing his magic power without putting any strength into it from the first place he stood.

“…….”

Askanian is a family that is said to be slowly going downhill.

First of all, it was because of Georg Askanian’s pathological lethargy and tyranny, and secondly, it was because of that Pleroma.

No, since Lucas Askanian’s nature was revealed, Duke Georg had fallen ill, so it can be said that Askanian’s decline is entirely due to that friend.

But ridiculously, thanks to that, Askanian will not fall.

Beep—

[The test has ended.]

[58.33 seconds.]

“…….”

Only silence lingered in the test site.

It was more difficult to find someone who was keeping their mouth shut, but no one made a sound.

The grade announcement, which had been heard immediately, was heard after a long time.

[…Overall 1+. Good job.]

* * *

I let out a light laugh.

‘1+.’

I barely avoided failing thanks to adding up the report scores at the end of the semester, but Lucas always received 6-, the lowest score, in the practical test.

Not only Lucas, but also I had been like that throughout the first semester.

‘I’m grateful that you evaluated me well.’

At that moment, a familiar and alien alarm sounded.

Ding—!

Favorability 50 achieved (50/300)

Huh?

“…….”

I opened my mouth and looked at the window.

It went up by 50 at once?

Even if I closed and opened my eyes, what I saw was still the same.

Instantly, the thought of raising Favorability in a wide area flashed through my head.

‘…Aha.’

It’s easy.

Not only the theater stage, but also this is a way to raise it in a wide area if you think about it.

It seems that +1 rises even with feelings like ‘unexpected’, without having the thought of ‘good’.

Suddenly, a laughter that was fundamentally different from what I had been doing came out, so I urgently hit my mouth.

I was conscious of the camera after that.

‘…….’

There are also guys who smile at the empty air for no reason.

I cleared my expression and the moment I opened the door, I almost bumped into the person standing right in front of me.

Before I could step back, another pop-up window appeared.

Favorability 60 achieved (60/300)

Why is this being a late bloomer? Is it because of the time difference in the Imperial Newspaper broadcast?

Then, Elias grabbed my shoulder with an expression as if he had caught something to tease me with.

“Lucas! Are you in a good mood~? Aren’t you happy?!”

“No. Suddenly?”

“It was all filmed that you got 1+ and laughed just now. How did you live so frustratingly when you were getting 6- until now~? Doesn’t it feel refreshing?!”

‘Ah.’

Everyone will misunderstand in this way.

It was because I was about 1/6 closer to obtaining 15 points, but there was no way to explain that, so fortunately I won’t be regarded as a crazy guy who laughs while looking at the empty air.

“Lucas, you can laugh. You protected my 10,000 Fells. I’ll give you everything if I win!”

“You said it was 10 errand tickets.”

“It’s also a clear fact that we are closer to passing the 1st team with this.”

I can only laugh at how absurd it is.

Where did he even bet the money?

“Where did you bet it? It can’t be at school.”

“Hmm~ there is. Loser meeting.”

“Why did you bet?”

“They were dissing you! It’s the best to empty the wallets of those guys.”

“Okay. What did they say?”

“……”

What did they say that he doesn’t tell me?

I hit Elias’s arm, taking advantage of the fact that he was pretending not to listen.

As I got out of his playfulness, I realized that the test site was quiet as a mouse.

“…….”

Dozens of students and faculty members who were in their seats were looking at me with stiff faces.

It’s obviously not true, but it was a reaction as if I had done something wrong.

I just faced them.

When the silence continued, Elias said in a voice that was no longer playful.

“You were the first to break 1 minute, Lucas.”

“…….”

Only then did I nod slowly.

That’s right. Most of the students finished the test in around 5 minutes.

Besides, I am someone who they have seen use magic that is barely sparks, no different from a non-mage.

I knew it from when they were betting on me failing.

It was not just a misunderstanding between the Knight Department and the Administration Department, but the sentiment of the entire school.

When I finished understanding, Elias patted my shoulder and smiled brightly.

“So let’s do the 1-2 test together!”

“Hey, you already teamed up with me.”

Leo’s scolding was heard from afar.

At a good time, the sound of another student’s test ending was heard.

Beep—

[5 minutes 55 seconds.]

[Overall 2-. Good job.]

* * *

I barely got out of that shocking atmosphere, but the rumors spread throughout the school in less than an hour.

No, it wasn’t just the school that was the problem.

[Lucas Askanian, Imperial Second Academy Magic Practical Evaluation 1+ Grade]

The Imperial Newspaper uploaded a relay video and an article with only my test scene cut out.

‘Is this news?’

Is it real?

Are you kidding me?

“Askanian’s dignity… On the other hand, the national fear of bloodsucking is still there…. What do you want me to do. Do just one.”

Elias read the article and followed me.

Elias started slowly from the day I decided to go to the test, no, even before that, and now he was just constantly following me.

It wouldn’t look particularly strange.

Elias is originally the type to drag students around as he pleases, even if he’s not close to them.

It was fortunate that such behavior reduced suspicion.

Then Elias found a student from the Administration Department passing by in the hallway and smiled and said.

“Failing~?”

“…….”

The student looked at my face, and then quickly moved his steps with an embarrassed expression.

Judging from his reaction, he seemed to be a student who participated in the bet with Elias.

“Write your name down and wait~”

Elias giggled, put his hand to his mouth, and shouted.

After all 37 people finished their tests, we returned to the classroom.

Even though everyone was sitting in their seats, neither the professor nor the students were talking surprisingly.

The professor, who had been silently looking at the record, raised his head.

“Thank you for working hard on the test. First, I will reveal the average score of 2nd Group first. The average is grade 2-, which is two steps higher than the 1st Group, which received an average of grade 3. However, in the case of our class….”

The professor looked at Narce and Elias in turn and continued.

“There were many top scorers because of the transfer of Narce Farnese, an exchange student, and Elias Hohenzollern, from 1st Group.”

It is true that the average score increased because Elias, who was the top in practical skills in 1st Group, came to our group.

However, everyone would not be able to agree with the Narce part.

In the first place, 1st Group also has an exchange student who was selected from the Vatican.

It was the same for that side to use Divine Power, and I heard the students talking in the hallway that he had already received 1+ grade.

“Leonhard Wittelsbach and Julia Zähringen received the highest scores as always, but most students’ scores decreased by one or two steps.”

It’s because of the sense of combat.

Until now, they had never faced something that spewed out Vitriol. Most of the practical tests were also individual training, not training against people.

‘Now that I think about it, today is Sunday.’

I have to stop by Bavaria tonight to purify it once, look at the current situation reports piled up at the headquarters, and handle the numerous questions from the Imperial government that have come to the advisory committee.

‘I haven’t been able to extract the Divine Power that will go into the medicine from Tuesday’s distribution yet.’

Other mages who use Divine Power are also extracting and sending Divine Power to the country every day, but in fact, that amount is not enough.

I have to extract it like crazy and send it from the dormitory.

Then the professor called me.

“And, Lucas Askanian.”

“Yes.”

“You have never learned magic, student. Have you ever learned magic in Askanian?”

“I haven’t.”

The professor nodded as if he knew it.

“I participated in grading the magic theory part. I couldn’t help but give you a perfect score, at least in my part. The results of the spell you activated were elaborate, and the delay time was very short, and even the way you maintained the magic in response to the attack was perfect. Seeing that you received the highest score means that the other professors also gave the same evaluation in each part.”

“…….”

I smiled and waited for his words.

‘…I lowered the output on purpose….’

It seems that point wasn’t revealed in the result.

The rest was the same as what I had learned, so you can judge that way.

“It took you 58 seconds to finish the test, student, right?”

“Yes.”

“All grades took the same test, but less than 10 students finished the test in less than 1 minute. How could you get this result when you have never learned magic?”

Judging from his tone, it’s not a real question. The professor also roughly knew what was going on, but he wanted to ask me to hear the answer from my mouth.

In an instant, the students’ gazes also turned to me.

“It’s thanks to focusing on theory.”

“You got these results just by studying theory?”

“Yes. I haven’t actually used magic much. It hasn’t been long since I knew that my core had become healthy, and I thought that my magic could bring confusion, so I focused on memorizing magic formulas rather than directly using magic.”

A hollow laughter was heard from somewhere.

The professor’s eyes were piercingly directed at me.

I’m a little pricked, but it’s not a completely wrong thing to say when applied to the situation.

The students have been learning magic for almost 15 years, but I’ve only learned it for the past four months.

In order to narrow that gap, I continued to study theory even during class, and thanks to that, the time to catch up with them has been greatly shortened.

Ding—!

Favorability +1

‘…He believed it.’

More than that, are you even showing it in front of my eyes now?

Then the professor’s serious voice was heard.

“Do you know what the grade 1+ means, student? You have now surpassed the students who have been making desperate efforts from the 3rd academy just by studying theory.”

“I was just lucky, I still have a lot to learn.”

“Situational judgment and quickness of wit are not luck, but your ability. Even if you learn the same theory, how, in what situation, to what intensity, and how much you modify it depends on the person.”

“…….”

“Adrian Askanian student was also like that. Even magic that he had only seen once could be reproduced exactly, or even more powerfully, as if he had been using it for decades.”

Just smiling, the professor smiled and encouraged me.

“You also had that talent. Of course, there were many shortcomings, but you can gradually change that with future efforts. I look forward to it.”

* * *

Unlike the professor’s evaluation, most of the students’ evaluations said that I had pushed with magic power.

‘It’s not like I pushed with only magic power….’

But I understand.

The camera flickered several times because of the magic power, so it’s possible that only the overwhelming amount remained in their minds rather than my strategy.

How can you analyze anything in 58 seconds?

Also, it seemed difficult to accept that I had achieved these results with just theory.

‘I don’t care.’

It’s not my goal to be recognized by the kids.

“Oh~ how many is it until now?”

Elias nagged next to me.

And even if there were students who claimed that, you could know how the real flow was going from the urgent actions of the students who had to calculate the practical benefits.

I thought so and peeled off the note attached to the desk.

Partnership requests that I had not received even once yesterday were constantly coming in.

It meant that my perception was changing.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep