Chapter 12 (2/2)

* * *

Denial of evaluation.

The first time this happened.

A situation happened where Kingram, who would lay insults upon insults against the students, had refused to give a mark.

“S-sir Kingram. But all the assessment privileges are with you.”

“That’s right. By the rules, sir Kingram must give a fair assessment to each student in the academy. After the passing of the Archmage Frolian Ignit…”

Then, a roaring voice was heard unexpectedly.

[That’s enough! Are you going to talk to me about the rules? To me, who hasn’t been able to assess any real magicians for the last 500 years?]

“I… we apologize.”

As the instructors lowered their heads, Kingram complained with an annoyed voice,

[Hmm… these damned Ignit fools. Sure… You’re correct. The assessment needs to be finalised. Since I promised that guy.]

After thinking for a while, Kingram opened his mouth.

[If I had to give a mark… 0 points.]

“……”

[Or perhaps, 100 points.]

Kingram’s burning red eyes flashed open.

Those eyes gazed directly at me.

[Which one do you desire, oh small destroyer.]

It was like the temptation of the devil.

But, even if this was the real devil, my answer was already set.

What a redundant question.

“100 points.”

Obviously, I chose the second option.

At my reply, Kingram laughed, as if satisfied.

[Sure. I will grant you 100 points.]

* * *

“T-that’s…”

“Did I hear that wrong? 100 points…”

“No… you heard it right. I heard it as well…”

“Maybe we all went insane. Is there Hallucination Magic?”

Because of Kingram’s one phrase, the training grounds became filled with commotion.

All their eyes were locked on me with shock.

“100 points…”

The ability for Kingram to peer through the destiny of a magician was genuine.

Every magician that received 50 points or more from Kingram went on to become the greatest magicians.

However, there was no one who could get more than 70 points.

Because Kingram’s standards were too high to begin with.

But, 100 points.

A student who had received full marks had never existed before, and would probably never appear again.

“Haaaa…”

I only gave a hollow laugh.

100 points?

I was like ‘Would he really…?’

What was this?

Was this allowed?

My arms and legs were losing strength just from hearing it.

Kingram spoke to me again.

[That ‘long story’ you were talking about before. I am now intrigued. I’ll have to hear it from you.]

“Ah… yes…”

[When the tests are done, come straight to the Basement.]

The Basement.

A sort of treasure safe that housed all the artifacts of the academy.

From what the rumours say, it had more artifacts than the royal treasury.

It was only natural that student access was forbidden.

“I’m not allowed there.”

Kingram told me in a tone that said it wasn’t a big deal,

[I’ll tell that little Ignit kid.]

The little Ignit he talked about, was it Director Tiron?

To call the strongest magician in the kingdom ‘kid’.

Ah, I guess to someone who had lived for a thousand years, everyone looked like a kid.

“Yes. I understand.”

With that answer, my assessment had ended.

Kingram’s ‘eccentric behavior’ had also ended.

[I don’t know what you learned in the past 6 years. Seems you have enough time and money to waste.]

After my assessment, Kingram returned to insulting the students without hesitation.

[I won’t even feel from eating this magic. Begone.]

[This won’t do. It seems only trash has gathered here. Do you want to become a magician with that level of skill? I can only laugh at your arrogance.]

“……”

10 points, 3 points, 5 points, 1 point.

Only marks that were barely above 0 were given out.

At this, some of the students started looking at me with resentment.

“Ruin… you’re too much…”

“……”

Instantly, I became the jerk who had raised the grade average significantly.

I only responded back with a shrug.

I’m sorry.

Even I didn’t know that I would get 100 points.

* * *

“A… hundred points?”

The director of the academy.

Tirion Ignit had received an unexpected report.

The report had said a mark of 100 points that had never been given before had been given to a student, and that Kingram requested to have a one-on-one talk with that student.

And this student was,

“Ruin……”

It was Ruin Ardell.

Due to his surprise, he started stroking his white beard.

“Haha… to get 100 points… That lad is an odd one.”

Ruin Ardell.

He had thought of him as a failed talent.

But during the last few days, he appeared with magic that completely flipped that notion on its head.

And now, he had used that magic to completely collapse the wall known as Kingram.

This was a situation that you couldn’t not be surprised about.

‘Hu hu.”

Even if Tirion was confident now, about 50 years ago, when he was attending the academy as a student, how many points did he get from Kingram?

He had always remembered clearly.

A mark he received while being told he was too weak compared to his ancestors.

‘He gave me 58 points. Khm…’

58 points.

Of course, be it now or back then, you couldn’t deny it was a high score.

Tirion Ignit was currently one of the greatest magicians, and also the last pride of the small Radian Kingdom.

However, the mark he received wasn’t up to the standard of a descendent of an archmage, and even that mark had been absolutely destroyed today.

How could you compete with 100 points?

‘100 points… What part of Ruin did Kingram like that much…?’

Tirion knew this.

That no one gets 100 points just because their talent in magic was extraordinary.

One had to match Kingram’s personality to receive 100 points.

In that sense, Ruin’s unique magic could be theorised to have played a role in this.

‘And to get a one-on-one talk with Kingram… He’s quite the interesting student.’

Tirion nodded his head in satisfaction.

“I’ll allow student Ruin Ardell to enter the artifact room under the supervision of Professor Hydel.”

——