Chapter 209: Qualification Test (1)

Early morning.

I sat on the bench I visited every day and received Luis’s report.

[So you decided to teach her Magic after all?]

[That is correct.]

[It is a good judgment. Since her mobility is hampered, using her head for Magic or Spirit Art is much better than Visions that use the body.]

Of course, if we consider the long term, strengthening the body with an Aura Training Method like Qi Gong Technique to self-heal her left leg could be considered.

But this is literally from a long-term perspective. No one can be certain how long it will take to train Aura, restore the body, and treat the leg.

‘Since it is solely dependent on Reina’s talent. It would take at least a year though.’

It was an impossible option for Reina, who had to take the qualification test in a few days.

[Ah. I gathered the Secret Tomes I stole in the archives. Aren’t most of them magic?]

[Yes. I am teaching them focusing on those very things.]

[That is good.]

If I think about it now, there were no thieves in our Shadow who properly delved into Magic.

Luis and Evan were physical fighters.

Although Dayle is a ranged support type, he can only use Mana Interference utilizing the power of the Musket and Evil Eye, but cannot directly use Magic.

Rachel, who will join in the future, is also a physical fighter.

If Reina were to pass the qualification test and join Shadow, properly raising her as Shadow’s number one Mage didn’t seem bad.

‘I hope the specialness that Gaius’s Insight found is also related to Magic.’

It was a personal wish.

[Anything else? What is her usual demeanor?]

[She is lively. Also, excluding meal times, she is training the low-grade Thievery Art and Magic I taught her from morning until she falls asleep.]

[It wasn’t just a verbal resolution?]

[Yes. Ms. Reina is sincerely working every minute, every hour to become a thief. Perhaps because she is Ms. Rachel’s sister, she may seem endlessly frail and eccentric on the outside, but her core is hard and strong as a stone.]

I widened my eyes.

Because I hadn’t expected Luis, who was usually taciturn and not expressive, and stingy with compliments, to evaluate Reina this highly.

It seemed he was very pleased with the mindset, attitude, and conduct Reina showed while teaching her.

‘But the request given for the qualification test cannot be completed with effort alone.’

Finally, I asked the most important thing.

[So. The special aspect? Did you find it?]

There was an instruction I gave to Luis and Dayle before leaving Lunatic.

To fully support her so she could take the qualification test, but if there was an outstanding part, to definitely find it and bring it out.

The outstanding part here meant a natural talent or potential, and it was naturally an instruction given with ‘Gaius’s Insight’ in mind.

I was certain that such power existed somewhere.

Luis hesitated for a moment and answered.

[Her vision acquisition ability is fast compared to others……but.]

Luis trails off.

[……I don’t really know yet if that is the ‘outstanding part’ the Master ordered.]

Simply put, it was the answer ‘it is vague.’

Indeed, the speed of acquiring Visions does not necessarily lead to the result that the person’s talent is outstanding.

Because other factors cannot be excluded.

Luis might have taught well, or it might be the result created by Reina’s effort. Plus, she would also be consuming Lumigan Grass.

‘It is certainly vague. It is hard to draw any conclusion. The time I spent watching her was also insufficient.’

[How about Rachel?]

[She has been moving busily lately. It seems she is making inquiries here and there to treat Ms. Reina’s leg.]

[I see. Anyway, keep watching Reina.]

[Understood.]

After that, we talked some more and parted ways.

On the way back to the dormitory.

Perhaps because of the story I heard from Luis, my concern about Reina would not leave my head.

Honestly, I was looking forward to it.

Why, you ask?

Think about it.

To destroy the Dimensional Pillar, Uriel’s request, we had to pass the Forest Keeper’s gate, and the required personnel here were five, and Roland’s condition was that they had to be ‘not just five, but all of them had to move as one body and their skills had to be outstanding.’

‘The period is half a year.’

Excluding me, that leaves four.

However, since Shadow’s situation was not favorable, who should fill those spots was a matter of concern.

It was at that moment that Reina appeared like fate.

“And having even received the K Mark certification.”

The K Mark here meant ‘Gaius’s Insight.’

……Anyway.

So personally, my expectations for Reina couldn’t help but be high.

Fast Vision acquisition, good adaptability, positive and lively…… these were all good news.

They were right.

‘It is lacking.’

The specialness that would make Gaius’s Insight activate was not something like that.

It was a power that anyone would feel was an Irregular.

Therefore, if Luis had seen that, he wouldn’t have given such a vague answer.

‘Well. There is no choice but to trust and wait, for now.’

There was no other choice besides that.

Even if I wanted to help, I didn’t even have a sense of what kind of specialness it was.

‘Still, I hope it manifests at least before the qualification test begins. That way, performing the request will become easier.’

And that slight ease would become the decisive factor in saving Reina’s life.

Because the escort request given for the qualification test harbored that level of danger.

Recalling the content of the original work’s side quest ‘Oliver and Sabrina’ in my head, it was definitely a difficult difficulty for Reina, even if not for Rachel.

“I am worried. Because if chaotic melees unfold everywhere, looking after someone becomes difficult by that much. Even if Rachel has a lot of experience, it would be difficult for her.”

From Rachel’s standpoint, she could be placed in a difficult situation where she had to protect the escort target while also worrying about Reina.

No, she would be.

“Hmm. This won’t do.”

After pondering this and that, I decided.

That I would participate too.

While I was worried about the two of them, the failure of the request was also something I couldn’t stand by and watch.

I trust Rachel’s ability, but there is the variable named Reina.

If her sister was in danger, Rachel would clearly give up on the escort target and choose Reina.

‘I must prevent such situations. And I might get lucky and discover Reina’s specialness then.’

Either way, me going along was the way to cope with all situations.

‘A kind of difficulty adjustment, you could say.’

So, as soon as it became afternoon, I headed toward the Student Affairs Office.

“Who is it…… Oho, look who it is? Isn’t that my younger brother Gerard?”

As I opened the door and entered, the glasses-wearing staff member poked his head out and pretended to know me.

But, my younger brother?

“Since when were you my older brother?”

“I’ve thought that since the beginning? Gerard. My younger brother.”

He answered like that, smiling slyly.

Well, since it wasn’t important, I just let it slide.

“More importantly, what’s the matter? The Student Affairs Officer is not here right now. He is busy because of the Demon incident.”

“It’s fine. I didn’t come to see Baron Officer.”

“Ah, really? Then what is it? Don’t tell me, you came to see this big brother?”

……Would I.

“I came to see what extracurricular activities have come in.”

“Aha. That’s what it was? You should have said so earlier.”

He was humming a tune and busily gathered something from his seat.

And he held it out to me.

“Here it is. It’s a list of recently received extracurricular activities.”

“Recently? Why are there so many?”

And the state of the list was so poorly managed that it was hard to even call it a list.

“Sigh. It’s because of the Demon incident. Because of that, all the kids got hurt and can’t go out, right? There are many requests for help from everywhere, but they aren’t processed and just keep piling up. If it didn’t come from a public institution like the Royal Knights, they just shove everything aside.”

Is that so?

It seemed the aftermath of Lilith’s attack on the Academy was greater than I expected.

I had so many things to worry about outside, like Uriel’s request and Reina, that I didn’t really know how the Academy was running.

“Are you planning to go out?”

I nodded at the glasses-wearing staff member’s question.

“Yes. I am planning to, since it is vacation. Is there perhaps an issue?”

The glasses-wearing staff member scratched his head and smiled awkwardly.

“Well, the grade classification hasn’t finished yet.”

“Ah…….”

“But, it shouldn’t matter if it’s you, Gerard.”

“?”

“Honestly, who would see you as a cadet? You’re better than most active Knights. Keke. Go ahead and choose one. Your older brother will take responsibility and approve it for you.”

It was a scene that instantly showed what my image was like within the Student Affairs Office.

Huhu. The merit I had accumulated was demonstrating its true value like this again.

I offered my thanks, then sat on a chair and went through the documents.

Since they were extracurricular activities that hadn’t even been classified yet, it took some time, but soon after, I was able to find the corresponding request form.

“Here. I will take this one.”

“Good. Shall we see which one you chose? Hmm? Oliver? Do you happen to know him?”

“No. I just chose it because it seemed appropriate. I realized I haven’t had any experience escorting anyone.”

“Oho, is that so? If that’s the reason.”

He, who was nodding his head alone and moving his pen, suddenly asked.

“But are you going alone?”

I hesitated for a moment and answered.

***

After finishing my business at the Student Affairs Office, the place I went to was the female dormitory building.

The reason was to take Yuria on an extracurricular activity.

I originally intended to go alone.

But, when I thought about it carefully, I realized that I needed to stick with Yuria even more starting now and solidify our trust.

The reason was because of Uriel’s request half a year later.

Honestly, I was considering Yuria for one of the four required spots for Uriel’s request.

Because I don’t know how the situation will turn out when that time comes.

As an extreme example, I could have all four people chosen, but they could end up in prison right before the day of.

As a thief living a precarious life, it was a sufficiently possible situation, and thus, the more candidates, the better.

Although Yuria belongs to the Academy, she is a girl who is mentally prepared to change her path at any time.

Isn’t that why I prepared a membership application for her alone in Shadow beforehand?

Her skill is also steeply rising to the point where she could rival Ivan.

As for coordination, we could just practice to match our steps.

‘From now on, I will stick with her and gently lure her. While also praising Shadow without making it noticeable.’

In professional terms, it was time for gaslighting.

“Senior?”

I looked back in surprise.

It was Yuria.

“Huh? What? Why did you come out from that side?”

“I was just coming back from the main building. But why are you so surprised? Like someone who committed a wrongdoing.”

Haha.

Since I was planning a scheme, my conscience bothered me, so I couldn’t deny it and smiled awkwardly.

“Well, I was going to meet you.”

“Me?”

“Yeah.”

Yuria smiled faintly without any particular suspicion.

“Why?”

When I brought up the story about the extracurricular activity, Yuria answered immediately without hesitation.

“I like it.”

As expected, I knew it would be like that.

“Then what do we need to prepare? We should go down to Icata first……”

It seemed she was already looking forward to the extracurricular activity we were going on together.

She suddenly became talkative and started making various preparation plans.

Seeing Yuria smiling brightly and happy, ugh, suddenly one side of my chest ached sharply.

It felt like I was plotting something wicked against such a good kid.

So I decided to change the subject.

“Say, why did you go to the main building?”

“Ah. Sir Isaac called me, so I went.”

“Sir Isaac, you mean Sigaro Isaac? Why that person?”

“I told you before. He said he would come once in a while to interview me and look after my training. Did you forget?”

No. How could I have forgotten?

I heard it from you, and I also knew it by eavesdropping through Peter.

I just pretended not to know because I wanted to show my displeasure.

Anyway.

“Does he look after you well?”

“Yes.”

The answer immediately popped out as if I had asked something obvious.

However.

“But there is something a little strange.”

Inside that, something not obvious was also included.

“Strange? What is?”

“He keeps asking about Senior.”

“Me?”

“Yes. This is the third interview so far, and all three times he asked about Senior.”

“…….”

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