Chapter 8 (1/2)
Mightiest Melee Magician
Chapter 8
Ignit Magic Academy.
The famous academy of the 8th-class archmage Frolian Ignit, who had built it for the growth of his successors.
Even though it was a famous academy that could be picked out even from its continent’s 500-year history, compared to its ancient history, its substance was lacking.
The reasons were quite simple.
Even though the Radian Kingdom was a small nation, it wasn’t internally stable, so the Royal Party with the 1st prince and the New Party with the 2nd prince came into conflict with each other.
The many magicians of the kingdom were, of course, utilized by these people in their fight for authority.
The situation was the worst in more ways than one.
Even so, the reason the Ignit Academy was able to ensure its existence was because of just one person.
The direct descendant of the 8th-class archmage Frolian and the current director of the academy.
‘Tirion Ignit’.
A 7th-class archmage, something rare on the continent, and the last pride of the Radian Kingdom.
Thanks to this, he had received many offers from the two parties currently in conflict.
Tirion had enough power where if he were to pick a side, that side was guaranteed to become the next king.
He was that strong of a magician.
However, Tirion declined everything.
No.
He went as far as to denounce both princes.
“Your Highnesses, if you’re going to mess around, please just do it between yourselves.”
“T-Tirion…”
“Magicians aren’t dogs to authority. Do you understand?”
“How dare you say that to me…”
He was upright.
Enough to be called the last pride of the kingdom.
He researched and studied mana more than anyone else.
He lamented the current status of the magicians, who should eternally be researching for the growth and prosperity of magic but were now blinded by the taste of wealth and authority.
‘There are no good ones left. Tsk.’
This was also the case at the academy.
Perhaps because these students were all children of those filthy nobles, there was no exemplary ‘sprout’ between the students.
From his view, all these kids would become trash that would become slaves to any higher authority.
‘If only that kid didn’t get cursed…’
The one Tirion was thinking about, was Ruin.
Ruin Ardell.
The one born with more talent than himself who was of an archmage’s bloodline.
However, he was cursed with an illness as deadly as his talent.
‘The gods are merciless…’
He stopped his contemplation and shook his head.
Even though he was good-natured and tried harder than anyone else, Ruin’s life as a magician had already ended.
For Tirion, the future of the academy was more important than one regretful, potential disciple.
‘I need to find some good ones.’
That was why a ‘test’ to judge and distinguish them was necessary.
A ‘test’ to discover a potential magician that could be raised to excellence.
* * *
Tests.
A unique tool that each student could use to measure their worth.
Therefore, the results could change many things.
Some would smile brightly and dream of a better future.
While others would taste defeat and imagine a hopeless world.
I was someone who always witnessed both heaven and hell.
Every written exam I took, I would get full marks.
But every practical exam I took was only enough to not fail out of school.
It was the same for this test.
Etc.
I received full marks for the written exams on the first day.
“Ruin, you demolished those written exams,”
Muttered my roommate, Jason, in a dull voice.
With a tone that said, ‘as expected’.
For them, this was just how it was now.
“6 years of perfect scores on written exams. No changes this time either…”
Yes.
There were no changes.
I myself didn’t get surprised anymore, since I had been able to maintain full marks on written exams for the last 6 years.
That’s just how it was.
“Well, the practical results won’t have any changes either.”
“……”
For the last 6 years, I’d always had a failing score for the practical tests.
“Sorry. Just a joke.”
Jason, this bastard.
I laughed as that dagger pierced my heart.
However, he wasn’t wrong.
My name was famous even to the new students who only just entered the academy.
Not as the genius magician who once was the centre of awe, but as the worst idiot in history.
I smiled at Jason.
“Who knows? Maybe it’ll be different this time.”
“Hmm? What’s that supposed to mean?”
While Jason asked that, I silently looked through the subjects for the practical exams.
……
That’s right.
It had to be different this time.
* * *
* * *
After the end of the exam period for written exams, we got fired up in preparation for the practical exams.
Practical exams were done over a period of two weeks, and from the exam lists, there were some pretty dangerous ones as well.
Excluding the exams with less weighting, if we looked at the main 4 exams…
The first one was,
Water, Fire, Earth, Air.
Using your most confident magic between the 4 main elements, you needed to cast 10 sphere type spells simultaneously and hit a different target with each one.
It was a test requiring intense concentration and perfect mana evocation abilities.
Of course, in my case, I would fail without even being able to try.
The second one was,
Using an artifact named ‘The Ancient Ogre Kingram’, the student casted the strongest magic they could invoke at it.
It would then measure the mana output, and therefore the magic’s destructive power.
Depending on the result, the difficulty and maximum mark of the next test will be set, so this was seen as a very important test.
Of course, I always failed.
The third test,
The students went to the Yingen territory under the supervision of the professors and the supporting knights to fight against evil spirits, as well as monsters.