Chapter 87: Solda Promotion (1) (1/2)

Inside the airship heading to Training Island.

Betan muttered bluntly. “She didn’t eat that soup in the end.”

“Don’t be obsessed about it. It’s not a foolproof method anyway.”

“… Well, that’s true. I should’ve eaten it instead. Maybe then it wouldn’t have been spilled on the floor. Such a waste.”

40g of Rotaily was enough to render Demon Bloods unable to breathe properly and their complexion to turn red. However, in the case of mixed blood, the reaction that would occur in their physiques would be subtle. Hence, it couldn’t be said to be a very reliable discrimination method.

It wasn’t possible to randomly use the delicacy Rotaily, which was much more expensive than gold and whose demand outweighed supply, to distinguish Demon Bloods. Even if it were, it wouldn’t be cost-efficient.

Nevertheless, if Primienne had eaten it, her face would’ve turned deep red. Her true race ran deep in her blood, after all, since she was an important Named.

“Is it true that you open their heart to check their origins, Betan?”

“Ah, yes, but that’s an inefficient method since I can’t confirm anything until I kill them. I need to know if they’re demon-blooded while keeping them alive. That way, I’d be able to torture them. I can’t just feed those insects with the precious Rotaily, though, so I’m focused on developing blood magic these days.”

Betan smiled, and I averted my gaze from him.

His expression was disgusting.

[The Villain’s Fate: Death Variable suppressed.]

◆ Acquired Reward: Store Currency +1

I didn’t know what kind of action Primienne would have taken if Betan’s provocation continued, but it didn’t matter now. I at least gained another story currency as my she exuded for a short moment.

I pondered back then if I should tell her that I already knew she was a Demon Blood or leave it like this for a little while, considering I would surely need her cooperation someday. It seemed too early, though, so I twisted the course instead.

“The Rotaily soup really was delicious, though. As expected from the mountain’s treasure.”

Bethan licked his lips, recalling the dish. His eyes seemed dazzled, expressing his satisfaction.

“Your estate is very fertile. You even have enough Rotaily here to turn into soup.”

It was close to an elixir, making it impossible to be put on the same level as ordinary mushrooms. A delicacy that grew only in a demanding environment yet blessed by nature.

After Marik opened, its price showed signs of a sharp increase. Nothing was as good as Rotaily in detoxing demonic energy, after all.

“I don’t know if it’s because it’s a special menu, but… Slurp— its flavor is still lingering in my mouth.”

“It’ll be difficult to do this during winter because there isn’t much supply, but anytime in the summer, go ahead and tell them my name. You’ll be able to eat your fair share of it.”

Betan looked moved.

*****

By the time I arrived at the Training Island, it was already morning, and I no longer had the time to fulfill the rest of my previous schedule.

Yesterday, I went to the Imperial Palace, Hadekain, Isle of Wizard’s Wealth, then rode an airship to this place.

Even though I had [Iron Man], I was mentally exhausted.

“Oh?! You’re here!”

As soon as I disembarked, the chairman greeted me. She seemed to have been walking with her dog on the seashore.

“Our seventh strongest!”

“…”

I grew a little dizzy upon hearing that.

“I see you came with Betan!” She expressed her surprise upon noticing my company.

“Haha. It’s always an honor to be with the Professor.”

… It was gradually getting uncomfortable to be with Betan.

“More importantly, Professor Deculein! Have you heard?!”

“What?”

“One of the overseers died on the way!”

“…”

The way she said such serious news brightly made it seem quite eerie.

I shook my head and walked side by side with the chairman. Betan followed us three steps behind.

“You don’t seem shocked!”

“What’s the cause, and who’s the culprit?”

“I don’t know! I haven’t done any research yet, but I’ll let you know when the results of the investigation come out!”

Like a woman living in luxury, she had lots of interests and liked gossip. If I waited patiently, she would give me the information I needed on her own.

“I see. Where’s my accommodation?”

My heavy workload prevented me from doing any magic training, which had the utmost importance among my agendas.

Nevertheless, I was close to reaching the peak of [Intermediate Psychokinesis]. I needed a place to practice alone now more than ever.

“Oh! Follow me!”

The circumference of ​​Training Island was 3km², which was similar to Yeouido or the collective size of 300 soccer fields, and in its vast territory was a total of five buildings: the student dormitory, supervisor dormitory, control tower, supply station, and the Yukline auditorium.

Among them, I was guided to the control tower, an infrastructure standing tall like a lighthouse at the northeastern tip of this island.

“You can stay here!”

The chairman opened the door, revealing its plain interior, though its decoration was arranged to make it look like a luxury mansion. It at least seemed to have been deep-cleaned in advance since its atmosphere didn’t bother me.

“And this!”

The chairman handed me a crystal ball.

“The external security team will keep an eye on the exam! If something happens, we’ll contact you!”

She then ran back and pointed at the glass on the right side of the control tower.

“This is a magic mirror for the general manager. Do you know how to use it?!”

I approached and injected a small amount of mana into it, causing its reflection to change. It was like looking down at the Training Island from an artificial satellite.

I touched the ‘student dormitory’ with my finger.

In response, it displayed the place.

Swiping across its surface, I caused the landscape to move in that direction. It was like a modern road map.

“Oh! You’re using it quite well! That’s the most cutting-edge, state-of-the-art magic technology these days!”

“…”

To me, it was as familiar as breathing.

I even missed it a bit.

A world in one hand, a smartphone.

“So you don’t need an explanation! I’m going to go for a walk with Adrienne II again!”

“Okay.”

“Woof! Woof!”

Adrienne went on an adventure with Adrienne II.

Through the magic glass, I looked all over the island.

On the sports ground of the dormitory, wizard-adventurers played soccer, and in the restaurant, Epherene ate with a certain Named.

Among them, I found ‘significant figures.’

“… As expected.”

There were many loaches in the first Solda test. After all, all events on the continent would be heavily interfered with by the Altar or the Underworld from now on.

“That’s amazing. It seems all magical skills have been gathered on this island, and you noticed such an uncanny fact with but a glance. You’re simply impressive.”

Betan’s long praise entered my ears.

“… Betan.”

He still hadn’t left.

“Yes?”

“You should go take a rest.”

“Oh~ okay. Alright. I’ll be going, then. Please rest well, Professor.”

It was fortunate he wasn’t completely blind.

After Betan left quickly, I went up to the roof of the control tower while looking through the glass.

Wheeeeng—

A gust of wind.

To my right, I could see cliffs and clouds in the distance, and to my left, an overview of Training Island. The mana that this place’s nature contained was two to three times more pure and abundant than that of the continent.

I sat cross-legged on the floor, basking in this wide view, then used [Vision] on myself.

◆ Understanding Status

– Beginner/Intermediate Psychokinesis (49% progress)

┏ Beginner/Intermediate Fire Control (23% progress)

┣ Beginner/Intermediate Earth Control (18% progress)

┗Metal Enhancement (80% progress)

I engraved the [Psychokinesis]’s magic circle all over my body.

As soon as I began this arduous training, the grass, stones, branches, fallen leaves, and sand in my vicinity trembled profusely.

Whooong───!

Resonance and vibration occurred in the hot spring area. The surface shook slightly, and a tornado rose. An instantaneous magnetic field was generated, and the atmosphere twisted like a haze.

As I gradually upgraded my [Psychokinesis] to an intermediate level, magic that was too large and complicated was conjured by itself…

*****

Carixel sighed as he spied on Deculein with a telescope a distance away from the control tower.

“He seems strong enough.”

“What? Really?”

Someone answered his complaint.

“Yeah. I don’t know what he’s trying to do, but it’s like he’s trying to rip the ground apart with [Psychokinesis].”

“I want to see it too.”

“Here.”

He handed the telescope to his company and shrugged.

Carixel’s magical talents were related to equipment. That was why his telescope could see into areas several tens of kilometers away.

“[Psychokinesis]? Isn’t it [Earthquake]?”

“Yeah. Anyway, attempting to assassinate that professor is absolutely impossible. Failure will only make things worse. Even if we succeed, there still wouldn’t be a good outcome for us.”

“… I know. I already expected it would turn out in vain.”

The person with him nodded, their long hair fluttering, as Carixel took back the telescope.

*****

While my training was in full swing, I tilted my head at the notification that popped up.

[The Villain’s Fate: Death Variable avoided.]

◆ Acquired Reward: Store Currency +1

“… Huh?”

There seemed to be someone here trying to target me.

It was a little surprising, but it was good that I avoided whatever was about to happen.

After accepting it with gratitude, I immersed myself in training again.

*****

The next day.

As soon as morning came, professors, adventure leaders, advisors, and wizards from and companies, arrived one after another on the Training Island.

Their purpose was scouting and networking.

All of them gathered in the ‘Yukline Auditorium’ on the eastern side of the island. As the name suggested, it was built with Yukline donations.

Divided into the ground floor and grandstands on the upper floors, about 1,000 test participants were expected to arrive on the ground floor soon, while the official who wanted to scout them stood by on the grandstand.

“Please take your assigned seat.”

I sat down in the first-class seat, which offered a clear view of the auditorium through the glass.

“Professor. Good morning. Hahaha.”

Betan attended on behalf of the Beorad family. Millet, the representative wizard from [Crumakto]. Louina, the representative of McQueen, Essecil, the representative of the Bran family, etc…

“Everyone, please take this acrylic plate.”

The staff handed me an acrylic plate with the names of the wizards on it. Since Sylvia was at the top of the first page, this list was probably sorted by grade.

It wasn’t comfortable to see her name.

“… Oh, Deculein. Aren’t you the seventh strongest?”

Glitheon, the representative of Iliade.

Sitting next to me, I calmly greeted him.

“Long time no see, Glitheon.”

In an instant, the atmosphere around us grew colder.

The chairman’s ‘antenna’ seemed to have been activated while she was looking at us, considering she immediately intervened.

“Glitheon! I saw you were the tenth strongest! Deculein overtook you by three ranks!”

“Haha. That’s right. It’s a bit sad, but it’s only natural. I’m aging, and this man’s still growing.”

“Still, shouldn’t you compete at least once?!”

“Well. That wouldn’t be bad either. It seems like they ignore me too much these days since I don’t go to the frontlines anymore.”

“That’s right, that’s right! That’s right!”

The chairman was very excited while stimulating us to fight. Glitheon smiled.

“Ha! Aren’t you too old now to be able to attack the Professor?”

Betan, who seemed to have become my henchman, joined in.

Glitheon looked at him with a slightly puzzled look.

“What… Gosh. Have you become friends now?”

“That’s right! Why not challenge each other to a magic duel?! That would prevent either side from getting too cocky!”

“What nonsense is this?”

Louina von Schlott McQueen stopped the chairman, who immediately glared at her.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

“I mean, what’s the point in encouraging them? Since when did wizards line up only by combat power? If that were the case, only the destruction-type wizards should be considered, right? Glitheon and Professor Deculein’s ranks are even lower than Rose Rio here.”

“Hmm? Haha. I was just having fun watching this. Why are you getting me involved? Hahaha.” Rose Rio scratched her pink hair and smiled bitterly.

A genius in the ‘soft/assistant’ type, she reached the etheric rank in her mid-20s due to her legendary feat of building a gigantic castle in a single day.

“That’s a shame. I wanted to compete with the seventh strongest man. Who knows? They say an old eagle is better than a young crow, so this old man might win. No, I think I’ll win.”

Glitheon’s words bothered me.