Chapter 84: Gale (3) (1/2)

Feeling powerful tremors, Epherene glanced at Sylvia. She thought it was an earthquake at first, but as time passed, it gradually subsided.

‘… Was she dumped after confessing?’

It wasn’t a bad hypothesis. Shaking her head, she focused her gaze on Deculein again.

“This test is divided into three stages, and passing the first stage will immediately promote you to Solda. The second and third phases are simply additional exams that would factor in your subsequent promotion to the next rank.”

After clearing all three stages, Soldas would get a chance to earn additional points to aid their next advancement. This system was made since not all wizards in the same rank were equal in prowess.

“Moreover, this exam will be conducted at the Training Island.”

Deculein snapped his finger, and the landscape of the venue he mentioned appeared in the air.

It was a familiar location for Epherene.

“However, while the camp will be held for a certain period, keep in mind that you will be tested on and off the property.”

Snap—!

He snapped his fingers once more, this time revealing what looked like a dormitory.

Epherene looked around, finding people that she thought came from all over the country.

“To begin, a level 0 exam will be held today.”

Assistant professor Allen then appeared and handed out test papers. Surveying the content, he found six unknown magic circles recorded in it.

“This is simply to figure out your ability to interpret magic prior to the test itself.”

Before he could finish speaking, Sylvia stood up, climbed up the podium, and presented her exam paper to Deculein.

She had already written down the answers.

“Professor—”

“Debutante Sylvia. Pass.”

“… I—”

“You may leave. Take your exam certificate with you.” He held out the exam certificate.

Looking up at him with her lips sealed, she soon quickly stretched her hand and snatched the exam certificate.

Looking at her expression as she left the auditorium, Epherene was convinced.

‘She was dumped!’

*****

Epherene and Sylvia came out together, both carrying their exam certificates in their hands.

“Congratulations. You’re number one this time too.” Epherene thoughtfully said.

Sylvia simply glared at her, muttering, “… Stupid Epherene.”

“Whoa! You talked!”

“What do you take me for? An idiot?” She walked away briskly, and Epherene followed her as she laughed.

“You were silent until now. Now that you’ve finally spoken up, let’s do well on the exam together, okay?”

“Count me in on that as well, please.”

A low-pitched voice interrupted their conversation. Turning around in surprise, she found Carixel.

A thirty-three-year-old married man with three children.

“Mr. Carixel. You solved it pretty quickly, huh?”

“Haha. Well, it only contained basic questions.”

Sylvia came at 1st place, followed by an unknown person, then Epherene was in 3rd. Carixel would most likely be in 4th or 5th place.

“Oh, are you and Professor Deculein close?”

“We’re just attendees of his lecture.”

“Is that so~”

As they talked, Epherene noticed Sylvia had already walked quite far away from them. Hastily, she caught up to her.

“Hey. Let’s go together.”

“Shut up. Leave me be.”

“Seriously, why are you like this? Why are you so mean?”

“Arrogant Epherene. How dare you say that to me?”

… Carixel watched the two quarrel, keeping a distance of about ten steps.

“Is she the Iliade’s daughter?”

Demon Blood’s secret society, “Cradle of Trees.”

Carixel belonged to it, but he had been having extremely complicated feelings lately.

“… Deculein.”

It was his first time meeting him today, but even before then, he was already considered the most dangerous person from the Demon Blood’s perspective. After all, the professor actually made his crazy plan to build a concentration camp in Rohalak come to reality.

“Should I just observe for now…”

Carixel sneakily trailed the two debutantes.

The two kids still didn’t know what would happen in the Solda test. Hence, he thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to be around them for a while. They were directly related to Deculein, after all.

“Let me come with you and treat you to a meal~” Smiling awkwardly, he ran toward them.

*****

According to the ‘Imperial Conference’ results regarding the Demon Blood treatment, the imperial family actively support the development of blood magic to identify them and have decided to enforce the Demon Blood Voluntary Report Method. When a member of the said clan voluntarily reports themselves to the empire…

Brrr—

Deep in thought, while listening to the radio in an airship flying above the Isle of Wizard’s Wealth, a small vibration occurred in my pocket.

I took out a luxurious box from my inner pocket, revealing five crystal balls in it.

—Can you hear me?

It was Arlos’ voice.

“Didn’t I say there was a risk of wiretapping?”

—It depends on the subject.

“Fine. Speak.”

—I found the location of those you mentioned. Write it. Western Empire, Viscounty Rodman, Peten…

Since her information network was reliable in tracking down people, I recently asked her to find a certain Named.

“Done.”

—What are you going to do?

“Isn’t it obvious? The Demon Blood Repression Order was issued last week.”

—Are you going to the concentration camp?

“No. I have some that I have to kill. I’ll make sure that the loach-like trash in dirty water won’t even be able to regenerate.”

—Pfff.

Arlos hung up the connection, chuckling. Perhaps she knew what kind of Demon Blood I was talking about.

My targets today were Zekrek, Zerten, and Zeketen.

Those three brothers were the Named Demon Blood that would instigate the sudden event called “The Three Brothers Terror.” They were also the inventors of the annoying trap item called “The Three Brothers Scroll.”

I wanted to kill those assholes right now, but…

—We will soon arrive at our destination.

Unfortunately, this airship was headed for the Training Island.

It was the place where the Solda promotion test would take place.

Whoong—!

The airship landed, causing a weak tremor, and a familiar voice called me as soon as I disembarked.

“Oh! Professor Deculein!”

Standing by the coast, the chairman came running and handed me a newspaper made by ‘The Journal,’ the most famous press outlet and newspaper in the empire.

“Professor Deculein! Look at this!” She pointed to a featured article in it.

This was very alarming.

“The chairman with a newspaper… Is this evidence that the world’s ending?”

“I beg your pardon? Are you mocking me now?! We just recently experienced a terrorist attack! There’s also the Demon Blood incident! The Journal specifically released this article to inspire patriotism during this trying times!”

I glanced at it.

[The Empire’s 13 Strongest Individuals: Seventh, Head Professor Deculein]

“They reveal a person per day. Anyway, you’re ranked 7th!”

The 13 most powerful people of the empire.

That title alone was strange.

“… Interesting.”

I read the article.

[The most mysterious and mystifying wizard in the site of the Demon Blood’s terrorist attack was undoubtedly Deculein. In his wake, he created a majesty that seemed to dominate both space and time. It would’ve been hard to believe if not for the clear pictures and videos that captured his excellence at that moment.

… According to rumors, he even fought the empire’s worst criminal, Rohakan, to a standstill.

After three years of agony, Head Professor Deculein’s power, which seemed to have overcome a wall, has now reached a level that no one can comprehend…]

Unable to read it to the end, I returned it to the chairman.

“Zeit’s ranked first, then Isaac. I came in third place! Have you finally reached a level similar to mine?!”

“Stop it.”

The strongest of the empire.

Except for me, the rest were indeed quite powerful.

──[The Empire’s 13 Strongest Individuals]──

1. The King of Winter, Zeit.

2. Commander of the Imperial Knights, Isaac.

3. Chairman, Adrienne.

4. The Emperor’s Knight, Chiron.

5. Beautiful Asura, Ganesha.

6. Female Demon Logan.

7. Head Professor Deculein.

────────────

The name ‘Deculein’ looked too out of place between those huge names. They definitely made a huge mistake with that guess.

“Why? Professor Deculein is being acknowledged this much! I’m mad they put me in third place, though! I’m going to find Isaac and kill him right now!”

“Don’t do that. They didn’t write this article for us to kill each other.”

“Aren’t you mad as well for being ranked so low?

“On the contrary, I feel humbled. Seventh is too high.”

I was by no means underestimating my combat power. My body and magic were at a level that could dominate against any intermediate or higher level Named in battle.

That was especially true if my opponent was a demon. After all, I carried the “Yukline” bloodline.

… But to be 7th in overall rank was too much.

“I don’t like the content of that article.”

“Really? That’s surprising. I thought you would like it.”

“Forget it. Let’s discuss the matter at hand. Why did you call me?”

“What do you mean? It’s obviously for the promotion test.” Instead of Adrienne, I heard a voice carrying quite a heavy accent. Looking towards its source, I found a chuckling pink-haired wizard. “It’s been a while, professon Deculein.”

“… Professon?”

“Professor, professor, professon Deculein.” Rose Rio, etheric-ranked, still got the pronunciation wrong. Like during the rune lecture, she was with Gindalf.

“That’s right! We’re preparing for the promotion exam, and we have a role for you!”

“What is it?”

“Security Manager! You’re the seventh strongest in the empire, after all! Terrorism is in full swing. Who knows what will happen during the exam?!”

“…”

Seventh strongest.

My head hurt from listening to it.

However, the first Solda exam was well worth participating in since the frequency of unexpected events being triggered gradually increased throughout its duration.

“Alright. However, I’ll receive the detailed information in writing. I have something to do today.”

“Something to do?”

The chairman tilted her head, and Gindalf, stroking his beard, asked, “Haha. May I ask what?”

I answered briefly.

“Hunting.”

*****

A private house’s damp basement in the city of ‘Peten’ near the Viscounty of Rodman.

“It’s done! We can now create an explosion with a scroll alone!”

Zekrek, Zerten, and Zeketen.

The so-called ‘Three Brothers’ laughed as they high-fived each other.

“Fuck! It’s time we show those damn empire bastards! Can we destroy the house next door right now, brother?! I don’t like our neighbor’s little kid!”

The eldest shook his head at the second’s venomous words.

“No. Our priority is to deliver this scroll to the high priests.”