Chapter 47: A One-Sided Beating
Eight o’clock.
Will wasn’t taking the exam seriously. He stood on the sports field, where the practice area had been prepared, watching the crowd of onlookers with great interest.
To Will’s surprise, there were too many teachers present today. He knew they were teachers because they had specifically worn mage robes, as if afraid everyone wouldn’t know they were all high-ranking.
Had he done something wrong?
Even a doctoral defense wouldn’t attract so many professors.
The small grandstand of the sports field was filled with over a dozen teachers. This was clearly a situation not mentioned in the original work. But upon closer inspection, many of these teachers had photos appear in the research exhibition, and some were even old and gray-haired, not looking like they’d be masterminds behind the scenes.
A few students had also come sporadically, including even… Hunter, who had presumably moved past his recent betrayal.
This wasn’t what they had agreed upon…
He could only observe more carefully.
Just then, he heard Felix’s classic cannon fodder taunt from behind him—
“Oh? You didn’t run away? I thought you would obediently flee from the practical exam, considering you didn’t even take it the first time.”
“Hmm? I’m more surprised you didn’t run away? After all, you’ve already passed. If you lose here, will they investigate whether you cheated back then?”
Felix glanced at the bandages on his hand, seemingly reassured, and then lifted his chin.
“Why would I run when I can win?”
“I’ll give that line right back to you.”
“Will Systom?”
The supervising teacher called his name.
There were a total of five supervising examiners. All five were mages from different fields, with only one representing them.
“Here, I’m ready. We can start anytime.”
“Then, let’s begin with the sword skill exam and the basic magic release exam.”
“No problem.”
Will had smoothly completed the preceding individual events. Judging by the expressions of the scoring teachers, Will had performed exceptionally well, and his score would definitely not be low.
Of course, for the physical technique-related events, although he completed them smoothly and wouldn’t be deducted points, it was evident that Will’s movements were somewhat awkward. His balance and physical coordination weren’t outstanding, and it was clear he had achieved his current level through immense training.
“Hoo…”
Felix, watching from the volunteer’s seat, felt increasingly uneasy.
What was going on with this guy? Didn’t he injure his right hand? Wasn’t he supposed to be a useless young master? Didn’t he fail to take the entrance exam because he was incapable? How was he performing more smoothly and scoring higher than I did during my exam?
“Do you need a short break? The next event is the magic combat practical exam.”
“Mm…”
Will took a breath, took off his jacket, and placed it aside.
After the sword skill and physical technique exams, his body was already warm. The next exam would involve activating his entire magic circuit, so it was better to remove his jacket to facilitate heat dissipation.
“I think it’s unnecessary.”
“Alright, please come up, volunteer. For the fairness of the exam, please take this seriously and act as a sparring partner. We will grade impartially.”
The examiner who spoke was a kind and gentle young female teacher, but the other middle-aged, bald examiners with their large magic hats covering their heads were less predictable.
Felix felt their stern gazes.
Although he knew these gazes weren’t directed at him as a volunteer, they were definitely targeting the candidate on the field.
However, having been given a passing grade that barely qualified him for the elite class, he felt as nervous as if he had been caught cheating while the teacher was glancing at your table.
“It’s okay, it’s okay… He’s just someone with an injured right hand. His injury heals slowly and affects magic circuit rotation, so I’ll definitely win this match…”
Felix closed his eyes and turned around, trying to hypnotize himself.
However…
He opened his eyes under the glaring morning sun.
He saw his opponent, so thin he was wearing a white T-shirt, unwrapping the bandages on his right hand.
One wrap, then another, then another.
The shadow of the unwinding bandages writhed on the ground.
Then, his right hand, which was new—well, not exactly new, since he had only been injured, not replaced it—and had healed perfectly without any visible scars, shone brightly in the sunlight.
“Wh-wh-wh-what’s wrong with your right hand?! Didn’t you…?”
“Ah, this.”
Will smiled at him, his right hand even clenching into a fist twice, as if to provoke him.
“It’s already healed.”
“Then why were you still wearing bandages?!”
“To trick you.”
“You—!”
“What? You don’t believe me? Want to try?”
Will rubbed his hands together, a look of eagerness on his face.
That magic combat practical exam probably lasted only about ten minutes, far shorter than the average duration of a practical magic exam.
Two minutes into the match.
While they were cautiously circling each other, Will used a speed-enhancing incantation to close the distance with Felix before he could react.
At this moment, Felix was still pondering how to pronounce the first word of the speed-enhancing incantation.
Three minutes into the match.
Felix could only recall the best defensive magic for surviving encounters with monsters in the wild.
However, he cast it too late and incompletely, and was blasted out of bounds by two meters by Will’s lightning bolt.
Five minutes into the match.
Will blocked Felix’s un-enchanted physical punch with his left hand, which was infused with Ice Armor.
Seven minutes into the match.
Felix finally remembered how to cast the speed-enhancing incantation and quickly used the magic.
Then he began circling the arena, dodging Will’s pursuit.
Nine minutes into the match.
Will predicted Felix’s escape route and blinded him with a flash spell.
Felix fell to the ground.
Ten minutes into the match.
Felix took a solid hit from Will’s fist, which was infused with flame—let’s call it Flame Fist.
It’s worth noting that thanks to the five examiners scoring within the ten-minute mark, Felix might have been beaten even more.
Moreover, Will wasn’t solely focused on fighting him.
He was observing the expressions and movements of those watching their battle from the stands, trying to identify the possible mastermind among them.
But…
After looking around, the teachers who came to watch his exam seemed serious, even more serious than him, the student taking the exam. They would even lower their heads to take notes when he used a spell?!
The only suspicious one…
Was a student who stood there with his arms crossed, watching for two or three minutes. Based on his height and clothing, he was likely from an upper grade.
He had already left.
The exam was over. Will clapped his hands, looking at Felix, who was lying on the ground, with an exceptionally “villainous” smile.
“I… I quit… What elite class, what volunteer… it’s all a lie—!”
“I’m going back now.”
Felix was utterly dejected. He clutched his scraped face and scurried out of the arena.
“Go-go-goodbye?”
That’s it?
The practical exam, which had been hyped up so much in the original work, was just this?
