Chapter 11: Endex (3)
Endex (3)
The monitor room of Valhalla Hall. For the first class of the College Board, today at Endex, five prestigious professors from the main department, distinguished professor from Edsilla National University, have gathered.
It was a luxury only possible at prestigious Endex.
"Any method will do. Even a tiny 'scratch' on the mana prism would be a success."
Chedric, the person in charge, explained the task for this College Board.
Breaking the prism. In a nutshell, was a 'difficult basic test.'
"—Begin."
The success condition is to understand the mana circulation structure of the prism, trace back its circuit, and break the core.
Simply scratching the prism would be a success.
It doesn't require high-level magic nerves, but one must be able to use the basics at a fairly high level.
"Hmm. What do you think, Professor Theia Esil?"
After turning off his microphone, Chedric coughed and glanced at the person next to him. There was a person there who was difficult to describe in words.
Hair reaching down to her shoulders as if grown from obsidian, eyes of unfathomable depth, every line on her face as perfect as a sculpture, Theia Esil.
She was a genius who entered the national university at the age of fifteen, graduated as valedictorian at eighteen, and was appointed as a distinguished professor at the magic university at twenty-two.
Her most popular titles were 'The Star Knight who inherited the legacy of Aton' and 'The Magic Scholar who seeks the truth'.
Being in the same space with her was an honor in itself.
"A good test, it seems."
Theia responded flatly, observing the students.
[Room 17: Gerkhen]
The first one, as expected, was Gerkhen Kal Doon.
One of the continent's promising talents, he has never missed an A+ since the moment he entered Endex Academy.
"Gerkhen is as I heard."
His calmly falling dawn-light hair gave an intellectual impression, and his good bone structure visible through his clothes was a sample of a knight who did not neglect training.
There are handsome men everywhere, but Gerkhen was different.
Moreover, he had already analyzed more than half of the prism.
"Excellent."
Theia said, brushing her hair back. Then the dean of academic affairs took a big step forward and laughed.
"Ah~ as expected, it's Gerkhen. A very good example of learning attitude-"
—I have a question.
Suddenly, the voice of an unknown student flowed through the speaker.
It was room 133.
Theia moved the main screen to that side. There was a buzz-cut guy.
Personal information floated up in the corner like a subtitle.
[Room 133: Shion Ascal]
[Average Grade: D-]
"D-?"
A wrinkle formed on Theia's forehead.
"Who's that buzz-cut guy?"
The dean frowned in displeasure.
The buzz-cut guy spoke.
—Can I use a tool?
"......Ha."
The dean let out a hollow laugh as if he couldn't believe it. The other university professors watching also wore refined smiles.
Theia sighed and relayed to Chedric.
"It's fine. Tell him he can."
"Is it okay, even if he uses a tool?"
Chedric asked back. Theia answered nonchalantly.
"If he brought his own equipment. That preparedness is worth evaluating."
"Yes."
Chedric spoke into the microphone.
"It's allowed."
And then Shion was out of everyone's attention.
There's no time to waste on a D- grade student.
The professors were observing the many test-takers on the screens. Theia Esil too, was scanning mostly the top-ranked ones.
But then, at some point.
"What is he doing?"
A voice muttered as if dumbfounded.
A sigh filled with too much sincerity.
At this, the other professors also raised their heads out of curiosity. Theia Esil also glanced at the screen.
"What is he doing...."
Even Theia frowned for a moment. Everyone had a similar reaction.
———Whack!
On the screen, a golf club struck a prism. The professors unknowingly blinked their eyes.
"......Really. What a spectacle."
———Swish!
A man with a buzzcut swung a driver with all his might. The angle of the swing was sharp, the posture was smooth, and the point of impact was accurate.
Is he a professional golfer?
Theia put her hand on her forehead. It was such an absurd act, she couldn't even guess the intention of the question, it was like digging the ground with a shovel.
"What is that guy doing?"
Theia completely agreed with a professor's words.
Clap- Clap- Clap-
A professor even applauded. It was 'Zepa', a current knight and a professor at a national university.
"Well. There are still such ignorant guys in the world. Is he stupid? No, there's no way a blockhead could enter Endex, right?"
There was a brief interest, but that was it.
The topic shifted to another news that happened to be heard.
[Elapsed time 9 minutes 43 seconds: Gerkhen Kal Doon]
"Ooh!"
Gerkhen Kal Doon. When the main screen was turned to him, the crazy golfer disappeared and Gerkhen's bland face was captured.
The prism was neatly disassembled on his desk.
"Gerkhen! He's a knight candidate, right? I couldn't see because of that strange guy. Wow, only 9 minutes."
Clap clap clap—! Zepa clapped with a different meaning than before.
"But Arkne's princess is still......"
[Elapsed time 10 minutes 03 seconds: Soliette Arkne]
Zepa nodded his head.
"As expected!"
After Gerkhen, it was Soliette Arkne.
Just as Theia had expected.
[Elapsed time 10 minutes 13 seconds: Elise Petra]
"Ah~ Petra was a pity. Only 30 seconds difference from the first place."
"Well, this much would be a difference in condition."
The professors and teachers discussing the skills of the top ranks were in a good mood.
Thanks to this, the buzzcut guy in room 133 was quickly forgotten.
Gerkhen may be a commoner, but he's a talented person with an ancient lineage, and Petra and Arkne are from prestigious families that the professors are eager to connect with.
[Elapsed time 21 minutes 57 seconds: Layla Hilton]
[Elapsed time 23 minutes 33 seconds: Kain Trixil]
[Elapsed time 25 minutes 17 seconds: Asher Dread]
"The children of the Hilton, Trixil, and Dread families."
"Familiar names are indeed in the top ranks."
[Elapsed time 34 minutes 33 seconds: Delrek Sian]
[Elapsed time 35 minutes 17 seconds: Benhur Gundo]
[Elapsed time 37 minutes 30 seconds: Kieli Berconta]
[Elapsed time 43 minutes......]
......Thud!
Just as the news of passing continued, there was a slight vibration from somewhere. The faintly trembling floor of the evaluation room.
"Hmm."
Theia frowned. Cold sweat rose on the back of the dean of academic affairs.
A professor said.
"It seems that guy is still doing something strange, shouldn't we make him stop?"
......Thud!
The sound and vibration grew a little louder, as if in defiance.
"It might affect other students."
"This is grounds for failure."
"Sigh..."
Theia also touched her temples. What on earth was he planning to do with a golf club?
No, whether he was planning something or not, did he really think it would work...
Boom——!
However, when this fourth vibration resonated loudly.
"...Wait a minute."
Theia Esil felt a sense of discomfort.
Bang——!
There was one obvious fact. A fact so obvious that it had been overlooked until now.
A well-made prism absorbs both magic and physical force.
However, precisely because it absorbs physical force, no matter how hard you hit the prism with something like a golf club...
Bang———!
Such a vibration should not occur.
[Time taken 58 minutes 22 seconds: Jecken]
[Time taken 60 minutes 57 seconds: Arang......]
While the news of passing was heard from here and there, Theia's interest was not there.
She was only looking at one person— the clueless senior who failed to grasp the intent of the problem.
An obsessive guy who was gripping the driver and hitting the prism with all his might.
Boom——!
"Damn! That guy should have noticed. I'll go and stop him!"
"Shush."
Theia stopped the head of the academic affairs office who was about to run out with a flushed face. The other professors also seemed to belatedly sense something strange and fell silent in thought.
She looked at the senior on the screen.
Boom——!
The roar echoing from the prism.
Breath mixed with heat.
Again, the golf club rising upwards.
Sweat dripping down.
A body tensed to the limit.
A swing made with rough force.
Finally.
Kwaang———!
The prism shook violently. A very small 'fragment' flew out.
Theia's eyes widened.
—...Huff.
The obsessive guy let out a rough breath. He wiped the sweat beads on his forehead. He picked up the prism and smiled.
He held it up to the ceiling and said,
—You said that even a scratch would be a pass.
The front of the prism. A crack that was small but definitely engraved.
"Hah."
Theia laughed in disbelief.
That obsessive guy, with just a golf club and his own physical strength, had damaged the prism, however slightly...
"63 minutes 43 seconds."
Chedric and the other professors were momentarily speechless, and she alone spoke into the microphone.
"Shion Ascal. Pass."
* * *
The garden behind the Valhalla building.
Under the clear spring sun, a teaching assistant dispatched from Edsilla National University is waiting for the passers. Betting with his group chat friends on who will be first.
[It's obviously Gerkhen, isn't it? They say he's not a 6-star, but a 7-star prospect.]
[But Arkne; She's from the Holy Bones Council family.]
[Ah ㅋㅋㅋ Soliette had an accident. She probably hasn't fully recovered mentally yet? I'm betting on Petra.]
The odds are 4 to 3 to 2 with Gerkhen in first place, followed by Elise and Soliette.
The teaching assistant waited, fiddling with her nose.
She was quite curious about who would come in first. After all, she was also an Endex graduate, and this batch is said to have the highest potential in a decade.
Bzzt-
Just then, a text message arrived on my phone.
"Ah."
[Time taken 9 minutes 43 seconds: Gerkhen Kal Doon]
Seeing that name, the assistant nodded and sent a message to the group chat.
[Gerken is first. Under 9 minutes. The rest of you who bet, pay up.]
[Ah shit;]
[Lol Nice]
[Under 9 minutes? Hard to believe. Send a screenshot.]
Thud- Thud-
There's a presence approaching from the back gate of Valhalla. The assistant's drooping eyes twitch every time they see him.
"Time taken 9 minutes 43 seconds. Congratulations, Gerkhen Kal Doon."
Gerkhen is perfect in every way. There's not a single flaw in his appearance. Even his reputation is spotless. He's known to enjoy volunteer work rather than indulgence.
"Thank you."
Indeed, he's a commoner, but even his manners are refined.
The assistant pointed to the stone steps in the back of the garden.
"Feel free to sit anywhere."
As soon as Gerkhen found a spot, another celebrity appeared.
With hair as red as if it were under some spotlight, it was the symbol of the Arkne family.
"Time taken 10 minutes 03 seconds. Soliette Arkne. Please, take a seat anywhere."
"Yes."
She sat opposite Gerken.
The two of them, promising talents admired not only in the academy but across the continent, don't exchange a single word.
Regardless of gender, it might be instinct. The instinct of a dominant species raised as an Alpha from birth.
Bzzt—
Another vibration. Seeing the name that came in a text, the assistant chuckled.
What a trio of elites.
"Time taken 10 minutes 13 seconds. Elise Petra."
Elize, who appeared not too late, sat between Gerkhen and Soliette. Naturally, the three of them formed a triangle.
The news of the next pass took a while.
"Time taken 21 minutes 57 seconds. Layla Hilton."
Nearly 11 minutes later, the fourth pass. Layla, the only daughter of the Hilton family, as healthy as a knight but as pure and beautiful as a doll.
"Ah~ It was tough, so tough~"
She, in her high heels, approached with strides like she was wearing sneakers.
"Of course, it's Soliette and Gerkhen. Hi~"
After waving and greeting Soliette and Gerkhen, she immediately sat snugly next to Elise.
"Time taken 23 minutes 33 seconds. Kain Traxil......"
After that, the assistant continued to announce those who passed.