Entrance Exam (6)

About five minutes ago.

While Alberto was activating the magic device on the cliff, trying to drop Ian.

‘As expected.’

Ian was now certain that the test supervisor mage was targeting him.

‘When that fireball fell on my head, I was honestly half in doubt.’

But seeing the supervisor openly channeling magic power toward him, he was now sure—he was definitely being targeted.

‘But you picked the wrong opponent.’

― Swoooooosh…!

Stuck into the magic device Alberto was trying to operate was Vladiark, which devours magic power.

― Gulp! Gulp!

Naturally, all the magic power Alberto channeled into the device became Vladiark’s feast.

“Argh, aaaargh!”

Alberto twisted in pain and screamed from the distant podium.

Ian, his expression emotionless, looked on before shifting his gaze below his feet.

― Kugugugugugugu!

The cliff was still slowly descending toward the deadline.

‘About 15 seconds left.’

If he just did nothing, in 15 seconds, both his feet would touch the deadline.

‘I’ll suck out as much magic power from that guy as possible in these 15 seconds.’

You can’t let prey that walked into a tiger’s jaw escape so easily.

To extract the maximum benefit from him, he had to increase the speed of magic power absorption.

― Kkyaaak!

Ian clenched his grip on Vladiark.

‘Hup!’

He then spun the aura in his dantian at full power, spurring Vladiark’s magic power absorption speed.

― Shuwaaaaaa!!

Already fierce, the absorption grew exponentially with Ian’s own magic power control.

It was like the deep breathing of a whale.

Ian and Vladiark mercilessly devoured Alberto’s magic power.

― ShuaaAAAAAAAK!!!

‘Good. This is far enough!’

Just before his feet would touch the deadline, Ian stopped and pulled Vladiark from the cliff, having drained Alberto’s magic power to the edge.

― Jjeoong!

― Puh-urung!

At that moment, one of the magic power circuits connecting the cliff and the magic control panel exploded.

The magic power, condensed within the circuits, blasted through with immense pressure, causing an explosion.

― Bounce! Bounce!

Confirming that Alberto had collapsed, Ian refocused on climbing the cliff.

Harnessing the kick strength from [Orc’s Strength Lv.15] and the ‘low-intermediate-stage Expert’ aura to the fullest, even the 90-degree cliff felt as easy as flat ground.

“Y-young master…!”

At that moment, a familiar voice made Ian pause.

“Sophia…?”

“Heh… Heh…”

She was clinging to the cliff, utterly exhausted, like a barnacle stuck to a rock.

“When will this unfair pattern ever end…! I’m past the point where I can even hang on, let alone climb!”

“Heh.”

Ian couldn’t help but let out a small laugh of admiration.

At this point, nearly all the other freshmen cadets had dropped out.

Even if Sophia fell now, she’d probably still get a top ranking.

‘Honestly, I thought with her current skill, even a mid-ranking finish was a stretch.’

How did she hold on this long?

Maybe it was just luck, but even then, using luck is a skill in itself.

Ian had to admit he had underestimated Sophia.

“Impressive, Sophia.”

“Hehe… Of course. Whose disciple do you think I am?”

This girl.

Even giving a line like that.

‘But…’

Sophia now looked like she was at her limit.

Trembling limbs.

Pale complexion.

Ragged, uncontrolled breathing.

In that state, even just hanging on would soon become impossible.

‘Hmm…’

Ian was contemplating how he could help Sophia, when—

“Young master!”

She made an unexpected suggestion.

“Take my sword!”

“What?”

Ian looked at the sword strapped to Sophia’s back.

A top-tier longsword costing a whopping 5,000 gold.

The pinnacle of modern metallurgy was resting on her back.

“Why would I take your sword?”

“Your greatsword, young master… It’s a pain to use freely here!”

“Hm…”

Indeed, as she said, Vladiark was much trickier to handle than a normal sword.

To begin with, it was broken in half, more like a blunt weapon than a blade, and, more importantly, its magic power absorption ability was a problem.

Vladiark absorbs the opponent’s magic power upon contact, and continues to do so until the opponent dies.

The only known way to stop the absorption is by severing the mana circuit.

That was the only method Ian knew so far.

Maybe he could stop it by sheer will, but he hadn’t tried yet, so he couldn’t be sure.

‘At the end of the entrance exam, I’ll definitely face Yuria.’

If Yuria got seriously hurt by Vladiark’s magic power absorption, that would be a disaster like none other.

Moreover, Vladiark was the sword that crippled Yuria in her previous life.

To wield such a greatsword against Yuria herself—

That was something Ian would never be able to do.

‘Accepting Sophia’s sword would definitely help.’

Yuria was now wielding the Divine Sword Genesis.

He couldn’t very well fight her barehanded.

If he took Sophia’s sword, he’d have no need to use Vladiark against Yuria or fight empty-handed against Genesis—the issue would be resolved.

But…

“Sophia, what about you? If you’re left without a sword?”

“… I’m already done for…”

― Kugugugugugu!!

Even now, the cliff was continuing to sink toward the floor.

If he didn’t keep climbing, he’d soon touch the deadline.

“I don’t have any strength left in my hands or feet… If I could, I’d have kept going and helped you to the end…! So at least, take my sword!”

“You…!”

Could her stubborn survival until now have all been just to help him?

Sophia’s current skills, if he was being objective, weren’t enough to land her in the upper ranks.

Her aura level was still at the very beginning, and her swordsmanship couldn’t compare with that of nobles who received early training.

For her, even a mid-tier finish would’ve been an accomplishment.

Yet she stubbornly endured to make it to the upper ranks.

All to help him.

Even though Sophia was two years older biologically, Ian, before he knew it, was looking at her with the eyes of a father moved by his grown-up daughter.

― Kugugugugu!

“Hurry! There’s no time!!”

The cliff was sinking even faster.

The test site was transforming into the final stage—a round arena.

If he didn’t climb up now, Ian too would touch the deadline.

“Got it.”

Ian retrieved the sword from Sophia’s back.

“I’ve got it.”

“That’s good…”

Feeling lighter with the sword gone, Sophia released her grip and loosened her legs.

“Then survive for my sake too, young master.”

“Sophia?”

“Goodbye…”

Sophia gave him a wistful look.

And threw herself off the cliff.

― Thud.

“…?”

But the cliff had already sunk so low that her fall was hardly dramatic.

It was like stepping down from a single high step.

“Ah, geez… I wanted to make a cool exit.”

“Then rest up.”

“… Please, just go. This is embarrassing.”

“Okay. Oh—hold onto this for a moment too.”

Ian handed Vladiark to Sophia.

― Thunk!

“Ugh… This thing is heavy. I really have no strength in my limbs~ Just standing is already at my limit~”

“Then I’ll count on you.”

“Yeahhhh…”

Watching Sophia drag Vladiark offstage, Ian resumed his climb.

― Bounce! Bounce!

Switching to Sophia’s longsword, his body felt much lighter.

Every cadet he passed by was utterly exhausted.

All were just waiting to fall like withered leaves.

Now, the only opponent left for Ian was Yuria.

She would be standing at the very top of that dizzyingly high cliff.

“Hup!”

Ian tensed his lower abdomen and raced up the cliff.

Though the cliff was all but collapsing, Ian scaled it even faster.

“Oh, ooooh…!”

“What speed!”

“To think the eldest son of Greysel was hiding such skill!”

The noble spectators of Hisperion gasped in awe at Ian’s burst of energy.

“The barbarian Kuga, whom Ian took down, is a famous monster rookie in the arena! Not only did he take down that well-known monster in a single stroke, but he also overwhelmed Prince Hector and his companions single-handedly! His aura mastery must be at least user top-tier!”

“Unbelievable… Who would have thought the famously hopeless Greysel heir would show such a reversal?”

“Why would he have hidden his skill until now?”

“… Don’t you get it? With talent like that, hiding it makes sense. If you openly show off, you don’t know who might try to hold you down. The wise hide their talent until it fully blooms.”

― Whisper, whisper.

“In fact, lady Yuria is also called a natural talent, but she’s been through all sorts of unfortunate incidents because of that.”

“Right. At least Lady Yuria can be protected under the Heavenly Sword Lord. But Young master Ian had no such protection. If he’d revealed that talent early, he might not even be alive by now.”

“But doesn’t Ian have Lord Hugo? He is still the heir of a great house; would anyone dare harm him?”

“Haha, think about it a little more. Do you really think Hugo could protect that boy properly?”

“Hmmm… True… Lord Hugo isn’t exactly thorough.”

“Hohoho. Let’s be blunt. Hugo is the most incompetent waste among all Greysel lords.”

“Ka-Katarina! He might hear you!”

“Let him. Frankly, I wish he would hear it.”

The long-time rival of the Greysel family.

Katarina, head of the Bellator family, fluttered her velvet fan and curled one lip up.

“There are even rumors that he disowned such a talented son himself! Ha, so foolish. He probably didn’t even know his son was hiding his skill.”

Of course, she herself didn’t know.

Who would’ve thought that Ian, the one so widely rumored to be useless, was hiding such power?

Katarina had been the first one to scoff and say it was a perfect match of fools, when Ian summoned that broken scrap metal sword during the Sword Selection Ceremony…

‘Haah… If I’d even slightly sensed his actual skill back then, I would never have made such a fool of myself…’

Katarina was now regretting her words from the Sword Selection Ceremony in real time.

Ian had exposed overwhelming talent and was now under the Heavenly Sword Lord’s protection, meaning he would become the core of Hisperion’s future.

Nothing good would come from making an enemy out of him or getting on his bad side.

‘Whew… I’ll have to make it up to him little by little, every day…!’

Determined to make up for her past mistake, katarina openly criticized Hugo even more fiercely and supported Ian.

“Hugo Greysel. That man has never done anything right since he was young. The gods must have pitied Greysel and sent them such a blessing, but Hugo just kicked his luck away with his own feet. So very foolish.”

“Khahah! Absolutely right!”

A big, bronze-skinned man laughed heartily to her remarks.

Golden hair, golden eyes.

His smile revealed prominent fangs.

As the head of the Goldhound family, the strongest vassal among the Hisperion faction—

He was Tywin Goldhound.

“Hugo is the most useless imbecile among all Greysel lords!”

“E-even Lord Tywin!”

“Haaa… Now I see why the Heavenly Sword Lord made Ian a guest at his estate. He must have been the first to recognize Ian’s hidden power.”

“Hoho. That boy really is clever—unlike his father. He must have known his father couldn’t protect him, that’s why he hid his talent until now.”

“Yeah. Now that Young master Ian is also a guest of Hisperion and under the Heavenly Sword Lord’s protection, it’s only now that he can show his true abilities.”

“Indeed, the Heavenly Sword Lord is remarkable. To recognize Ian’s talent before anyone else.”

“That’s why he stands at the pinnacle of them all. Tywin Goldhound only respects him alone. Khahah!”

Just a month ago, Ian was called a halfwit who couldn’t even use aura.

Now, opinions of him were being completely overturned at every moment.

“… Whew.”

While the noble vassals in the audience marveled over Ian, he finally reached the summit of the towering cliff.

At the top, reminiscent of a round arena.

“Oh? We meet again here?”

There, Yuria was standing alone, Genesis resting on her shoulder.

“It’s been a while, Ian. First time we’ve met since the Sword Selection Ceremony.”

Yuria smiled brightly, waving her hand.

― Tap tap.

Ian brushed the dust off his clothes and bowed slightly.

“It’s an honor that Lady Yuria remembers me.”

“Hmph.”

― Thunk!

Yuria stabbed Genesis into the ground and folded her arms.

“Of course. Do you know how many times I’ve heard your name these two weeks? Ever since Dad took a boy my age in as a guest, the Heavenly Sword Palace has been buzzing every day.”

“I see. Sorry if my name caused you any inconvenience.”

“Not really? In fact, it was nice.”

“… Excuse me?”

Yuria hid her mouth with her hand and grinned mischievously.

“Because I got to hear the name of the boy who cried in front of me. Fufufu. If you cry again, I’ll comfort you this time.”

“… Seriously.”

She was bringing up that incident during the Sword Selection Ceremony, in the hallway.

It was just a single slip, a one-time moment of emotion. Please, just forget it.

“……”

Truthfully, Ian still felt a lump in his throat, but he was holding it back.

Just seeing Yuria, alive and well, made an indescribable tide of relief wash over him—how could he not be emotional?

But.

‘Now is the time to settle things with Yuria.’

No room for reminiscence.

‘Whew…’

Ian calmed his turbulent heart with a silent breath.

His opponent was Yuria.

There was no space for carelessness.

The valedictorian reward of this entrance exam.

He had to surpass her here to claim the Heavenly Blood Pill made from the Heavenly Sword Lord’s own blood.

‘No matter about anyone else—at least, Yuria, I can’t let you have the Heavenly Blood Pill.’

It would be great for Yuria to become stronger with the pill.

But the stronger Yuria became, the more she tended to sacrifice herself.

If Yuria outpaced Ian this life as well, she’d try to shoulder everything alone, just like in their past life.

‘I never want to see you sacrifice yourself again.’

Yuria losing her dantian to the Grand Duke of Gluttony in her past life was ultimately because of her self-sacrificial nature.

She had the power to escape, but stayed to protect every last person.

‘You don’t need to do that this time, Yuria.’

From the moment he regressed, Ian resolved long ago.

That in this life, he’d become so strong Yuria would never have to step forward at all.

So she wouldn’t have to bear any burdens.

He’d become so absolute and overwhelming—a force transcendent, almost godlike—that she could rely on him completely, without any worries.

‘I’ll become someone you can trust with all your heart.’

For that, he absolutely needed the Heavenly Blood Pill awarded to the valedictorian this time.

‘So, I’ll be the one to take it, Yuria.’

He had to ingest the Heavenly Blood Pill and absorb the essence of Hisperion, to forge a body of steel.

————-= Clacky’s Corner ————-=

Finally, showdown with Yuria…

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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