The Obsessive Regressor of The Academy

17. Entrance Exam (3)

Knowing the location of the forest’s center at the outset was a considerable advantage.

Those with relatively quick minds would realize that where they originally stood *was* the center, but unlike Acel, that fact wouldn’t serve as much benefit to them.

The Academy’s southern forest. This parcel of land was an artificial ecosystem created solely for the entrance exam, and its size was unimaginably vast. To be blindly dropped into such a place, without a map, and tasked with finding the center was a formidable challenge. They likely wouldn’t even know their point of origin.

Acel, on the other hand, started at the center. Whichever direction he chose, finding his way would be comparatively easy. Still, just in case, he laid down a magical anchor near the center.

*Fzzzzt!*

Lightning danced on his fingertips. Acel gently cast the dark blue bolt towards a nearby tree.

[Thunder Trace]

The bolt, upon striking the tree, left a smoldering mark. Acel nodded, confirming the imprint was saturated with his own mana.

By leaving this mark, he knew he could return by simply sensing his mana, no matter how far he strayed. Redundancy was always wise.

He conjured another arc of lightning between his fingers and continued onward.

Acel headed east into the forest. Squelching mud slowed his progress, and dense foliage obscured the sun. Because it was still winter, a chilling air hung low in the sunless places. Acel, feeling this piercing cold for the first time since leaving Wiheim, layered a barrier woven with the intricacies of flame magic over his skin.

This would provide resistance not only against physical attacks, but also magic and the surrounding environment. Acel watched the faint vapor rising around him as he pressed on. About ten minutes passed before Acel spotted a form writhing within a pile of foliage.

Not human. That left only one answer.

‘A golem.’

Acel focused his mana into his eyes, confirming the nature of the creature hidden within the foliage. As expected, a golem easily surpassing two meters in height was curled into a ball, its body quivering. The pile of foliage was quite large, but not large enough to conceal a golem of that size. It must have contorted itself to hide.

It appeared to possess a higher intelligence than expected. He wondered who the golem’s creator was, crafting such an intricate design.

A surge of curiosity arose. But Acel suppressed it, focusing on the trial. There would be other opportunities to dissect golems. During the exam, he needed to concentrate on defeating the golems and collecting their cores. His goal was a high score, so he needed to move diligently from here on out.

He rapidly drew upon his mana, formulating a spell within his mind. He envisioned and manifested a magic potent enough to kill the unsuspecting golem with a single strike. A mid-level lightning spell was born from his will and unleashed into the world.

*Fzzzt.*

The lightning crackling on Acel’s hand raced forward. Faster than sound, the expelled bolt formed a rectangle around the golem, instantly constructing a lightning-forged hexahedron. Surrounded by overwhelming mana, the golem hurriedly rose to its feet, but Acel was quicker.

[Quadratic Tempest]

Cracklezapwhizz!!!

Lightning lashed within the formed hexahedron. The golem’s limbs disintegrated. An arm, reaching out to escape, shattered the instant it touched the wall. The golem seemed to roar, but the descending lightning pulverized his throat.

His powerless head rolled away, burying itself in the mud. Soon after, the golem’s movements ceased. Only the area around its core-bearing heart remained intact. Asel dispelled the magic, rummaged through the golem’s splintered chest, and extracted a translucent core.

The mana contained within was not particularly substantial. Perhaps fifty such cores would be required to operate the device he’d seen earlier.

Quite a number.

Their withholding the required number of cores must be to test the participants’ judgment, deductive reasoning, and ability to sense magic.

“Not such a difficult task, then.”

Asel muttered, placing the core in his backpack.

For a so-called top educational institution of the continent, he expected a test of monstrous difficulty. But this was more manageable than expected. At this rate, forming a team seemed unnecessary. Against golems falling with a single spell, vanguards or support would be largely irrelevant. He could pass solo with relative ease.

‘But what of the others?’

Asel recalled several of the fierce faces he’d seen before the test began, and started moving.

He scattered magic around himself, searching for the location of golems. Without hesitation, he headed in that direction.

*

“Bloody hell.”

Luhan spat out a curse, extracting a core from the golem’s chest. The translucent core, freed with chunks of stone, glinted radiantly in the light. He exhaled a long breath, taking the core and climbing off the collapsed golem.

“Anyone seriously hurt?”

He asked, surveying the fallen participants around him. Fortunately, no one was severely injured. A few had minor wounds, but nothing life-threatening. Still, everyone was clearly exhausted. They’d only just hunted down five golems, but the fatigue was disproportionate to the yield. The test’s difficulty was abnormally high.

“Damn academy. Each of these golems is on par with a seasoned expert.”

Paul, a youth with sharp features, bit out the words. He clenched his teeth, his arm trembling from the crack he’d sustained blocking a golem’s fist.

This was far beyond merely a test. Each golem was equivalent to an accomplished expert, and they hadn’t even revealed how many they needed to defeat.

Experts weren’t some common mutts. They were warriors of a level where they could easily obtain prestigious positions. Smashing walls with their fists, running at superhuman speeds, were as natural to them as breathing. They’d unleashed these monsters into the forest like wild dogs.

What’s worse, some were even hiding and ambushing them. It was enough to drive a person mad.

“Maybe it’s still a decent haul.”

Celine, a girl with ashen hair and golden eyes, leaned against a tree, muttering the words.

Coming from the Aurora Magic Tower, she held a relatively high position within the group. Perhaps that was why the others, who had been venting their frustrations, pressed their lips tightly together and turned to face her.

“No one knows the situation elsewhere. Maybe we’re the fastest.”

“…How can you be so sure?”

“That’s not what I meant. I meant let’s not lose heart and keep doing well.”

Celine snapped back, glaring at Borwell.

“Do you lack all sense? Instead of muttering complaints and dragging the mood down, just shut up and rest. It’s irritating.”

Celine finished her sentence and closed her eyes. It was a clear sign for everyone to stop the chatter. Despite their grumbles, the party quietly collected themselves, catching their breath. Considering the sheer power of the magic Celine had displayed, it was only natural.

Saint Magic, wielding the power of the stars. It required a rather lengthy warm-up, but once complete, even lower-level spells could effortlessly tear apart other magic of equal standing. Had she not cast the spell appropriately, Paul’s arm would have been shattered, not just fractured.

Not to mention, she’d also crushed a golem’s leg and pulverized another’s head. To the party, Celine was indispensable. There were ample reasons to cater to her whims.

“…The sun is setting.”

Lehan muttered, watching the sky slowly stain itself with the colors of twilight.

It felt like they had started just this morning, but already it was evening. The winter’s short days certainly played a part.

Once the sun fully dipped below the horizon, the chill would undoubtedly intensify. They needed to set up camp before it was too late. No one wanted to spend the night shivering in the cold.

They could have pushed on, but traversing a forest teeming with golems and wild creatures, without light, was akin to suicide. Furthermore, many of the animals they had seen along the way were more active at night than during the day. Stumbling upon them in the undergrowth while exhausted would make reaction difficult.

“Let’s stay here for the night.”

Lehan said, looking towards Celine. She opened her eyes, glanced at the sky, and nodded.

“Yes, that would be best.”

“Only found five cores so far? And we’re already stopping?”

“Shut your mouth, Borwell. You froze and sat down the moment you saw the golem, and now you find your voice?”

Paul snarled at Borwell. Celine agreed with him.

“If you don’t like it, leave. Nobody’s stopping you.”

“…No. I’ll help.”

“Oh? Then go gather some branches and leaves. Enough for all five of us to rest comfortably.”

“…Alright.”

Borwell swallowed hard and left to collect firewood. It was only when he was out of sight that Celine spoke again.

“Paul’s arm is fractured, so he’ll rest. Sevia, gather some firewood nearby and start a fire. I’ll set up a perimeter ward.”

“I’ll flatten the ground.”

Celine nodded to Lehan and rose to her feet, preparing the magic circle for the ward in a suitable location.

Just then, a sound like thunder echoed through the air.

*Krrrrruuumble!*

Frowning, thinking it might rain, she looked up at the sky, but there wasn’t a single dark cloud in sight. As Celine’s expression hardened at the anomaly and she prepared to cast a detection spell,

“Gaaah!”

Borwell’s scream ripped through the forest. The party immediately stopped what they were doing, grabbed their weapons, and headed towards the source of the sound.

It wasn’t long before they found Borwell collapsed on the ground. Lehan and Sevia rushed to his side.

“Borwell! What is it? What happened!”

“Wizard…! Wizard…”

He foamed at the mouth, his body wracked with tremors. Both arms were charred black, blood weeping from cracked skin.

Crack, crackle!

A deep, bruised-purple current flickered across Borwell’s form, a repeating pulse. Celine recognized it – the consequence of a direct hit by magic. Her expression hardened.

“An ambush.”

“What?”

Before Ruhan could fully react to her murmur, lightning flashed from the shadowed woods. Instantly, a bolt, outpacing comprehension, slammed directly into Borwell’s shoulder.

[Chasing Thunder]

KRaaa-KOOM!!

The ground shuddered with the deafening roar, and his bracelet activated, transporting him to safety.

Judged critically injured. Celine swallowed hard, gauging the raw power of the just-launched lightning.

The barely perceptible density of magical energy alone suggested at least a 6th Circle mage. A foe with such a staggering disparity in power, considering she was only at the 5th. Yet, she reminded herself she wasn’t alone, and waited for the source of the lightning to reveal itself.

She didn’t have long to wait. The instant she started drawing up mana, a man stepped from the darkness of the forest.

A familiar face.

The wizard whose appearance had commanded everyone’s attention. He revealed himself wreathed in lightning. He tilted his head, regarding the assembled four.

“…? A party, is it.”

“…Everyone, battle stations.”

There was no need for polite conversation. Ruhan barked, drawing his sword, while Paul and Sevia each gripped their weapons. Celine retreated to a safer distance, beginning her incantation. Asel, witnessing the scene, let out a disbelieving snort.

“Attacking first and then… what a joke.”

“Attacking first…?”

Having retreated, granting her more composure than the others, Celine heard Asel’s muttered words. She opened her mouth to urgently stop the party, but Ruhan was quicker. He surged forward, his blade already blurring.

A wizard, no matter how strong. Engaging a swordsman in close combat was akin to suicide. Unable to cast, to weave spells. A rear guard without a front was already defeated.

This was common knowledge. A truth universally acknowledged, beyond all doubt. Ruhan didn’t hesitate, aiming his strike for Asel’s shoulder.

A simple swing, offering no defense, not even attempting to evade. Asel watched the trajectory, then flicked a single finger from low to high.

That alone completed the magic.

[Ascending Thunder]

KRaaa-KOOM!!

A colossal pillar of lightning erupted from the earth, reaching for the sky.