The Obsessive Regressor of The Academy

20. Entrance Exam (6)

The blood of mages tastes different depending on what kind of magic they have mastered. To ordinary people, it all tastes the same: fishy. But vampires can discern the difference with certainty.

The blood of a flame magician tastes spicy, while the blood of an ice magician tastes cool. Those who use destruction magic taste sharp, and those who were magicians of unique magic had all different tastes, but they all tasted sweet.

Among these, the most favored mage’s blood was, without question, that of a mage who mastered unique magic. Because various tastes flowed into the deep sweetness, everyone liked it without exception. However, because the supply was scarce, it was traded at a very high price, and even if you had money, it was difficult to obtain, making it a rare resource that even nobles might only consume once every ten years.

That blissful taste of blood swirled on Elena’s tongue.

“…Delicious.”

Elena, by vampire standards, was barely an adult. She’d tasted the blood of a mage with a rare specialty only once or twice in her life, and even then, it was a treasure hoarded by the Archduke, so she hadn’t had much. But she remembered how incredible it tasted.

But Acel’s blood far surpassed that level. Not only had he mastered a unique brand of magic, but he wielded a multitude of magical disciplines. The varied and complex mana contained within his blood naturally made it taste far better than that of other spellcasters.

Of course, Elena didn’t know these fine details, and frankly, she didn’t care. What mattered was that Acel’s blood was more delicious than she could have imagined, and a mere few drops had already flooded her with mana.

“More… I want more…”

Her face flushed with ecstasy, she lapped at the droplets clinging to Acel’s fingertip. The slick, hot sensation startled Acel, and he recoiled, snatching his hand away.

“…What are you doing?”

“Ah, ugh. My blood bag…”

“Who’s a blood bag?”

Acel glanced at Elena, her mouth drooping with longing, and hastily bandaged his wound, rising to his feet. Elena, too, stood, smacking her lips. Even though hardly any blood remained, the way she kept pursing her lips suggested she’d found it quite to her liking.

*’Am I going to get ambushed later?’*

A beast that tasted human blood soon craved human flesh. For some reason, Acel felt the look in her eyes was predatory, and he spoke.

“Now it’s your turn. Use any Blood Art you want.”

“…”

“Answer.”

“A-ah! Okay! I’ll show you!”

Elena, who had been staring blankly at Acel, seemed to snap out of it, responding with an eager voice as she lightly bit her finger, drawing blood.

A tiny wound. From this little cut, which should have produced a mere trickle, blood gushed forth like a waterfall, forming a rounded sphere beside Elena. As Elena focused her will upon the sphere, it began to transform into an elongated spear.

[Bloodflow Shaping]

[Blood Spear]

The formed spear settled into Elena’s hand. She immediately gripped it in reverse, and hurled it beyond the thicket.

[Bloodflow Acceleration]

[Body Enhancement]

Explosively coursing blood amplified her physical abilities. She weaponized blood into a spear in body of warrior, and threw. The sound of something slicing, practically tearing, through the air echoed, and beyond the thicket, a resounding sonic boom reverberated. Acel focused his mana into his sight, discerning what she had struck.

It was a golem. The lower half of a golem, which had been sluggishly crawling in their direction, was utterly pulverized and lay scattered across the ground.

Elena watched the destruction, then extended her hand, retrieving the thrown spear. The crimson weapon returned smoothly into her grip.

She flicked the speartip, dusting off the stone fragments, and turned to Acel, beaming with pride.

“How was that, how was that? Amazing, right?”

“…That was quite something.”

Acel readily admitted it. Frankly, it was impressive.

He knew that Blood Arts were a power entirely distinct from magic. The power they wielded as a race was more akin to a supernatural phenomenon. A miracle that allowed them to freely control their blood, arbitrarily twisting its form and properties. Thus, they were unbound by things like mana or aura.

The techniques Elena had just wielded were much the same. Drawing forth the spear resembled magic, and strengthening her body, something akin to Aura. Their race’s unique aptitude was a blessing, allowing them to use all these disparate powers.

‘Blood magic must be a power closer to blood flow manipulation.’

He’d never witnessed their magic firsthand. But since blood art, to the blood clan, held a power akin to magic, then it must be related. Asel replayed Elena’s blood flow manipulation in his mind, formulating the incantation.

“Hmph, I *am* pretty amazing!”

Elena muttered, watching Asel lost in thought, when someone emerged from beyond the river.

A girl with striking, long blonde hair and pink eyes. She carried a massive double-bladed axe on her back, and drops of blood dripped from the robe she wore. In her right hand, she clutched the severed head of a wild boar.

It was a disconcerting sight. Asel sensed her clean energy and turned his gaze. The girl seemed to feel his stare, glancing at him momentarily before turning to Elena, speaking.

“Elena. So you were here.”

“Ah, Elen!”

Elena waved her hand, her voice filled with delight. Elen nodded, focusing Aura into her legs and leaping. She crossed the river in an instant, standing between Asel and Elena.

“I secured the meat. All that’s left is to start the fire.”

“I already ate!”

“……? Weren’t we supposed to eat together?”

“Were we?”

Elena tilted her head. Elen tilted her head as well.

“Then I’ll just eat it myself. More importantly… who’s the man?”

Elen asked, pointing at Asel. Her gaze wasn’t that different from before, but the emotions within were. A slight wariness and animosity. Asel felt that open emotion and chuckled.

He looked at Elena, opening his mouth.

“Did you have company?”

“Yeah. I met him yesterday and we decided to travel together. This is Elen!”

“…What’s your name?”

Elen inquired. Asel readily answered.

“Asel.”

“No weapon. Not a martial artist… a caster then.”

“A mage.”

“A valuable asset.”

Elen murmured, scrutinizing Asel with an appraising gaze.

“Energy so well-contained that it’s hard to gauge his exact level. Seems like a high-ranking mage. Are you traveling with a group?”

“No. This trial is enough on my own.”

“That’s true, but it won’t be easy enough for a mage to pass alone. Are you perhaps a summoner?”

Acel shook his head. He stretched out his palm towards the golem poking its head from beyond the thicket.

[Lightning Web]

*Krazzzzzzzz!*

A net woven of lightning shot forth with blistering speed towards the golem. The golem, instantly enveloped in the net, thrashed wildly. But as Acel amplified the net’s output, it was reduced to ashes in a blink. Acel snagged the lone core left amidst the scattering ash with his Mana Thread and stowed it in his pack.

“So, a mage who uses magic like that…”

“…Lightning. They said a disciple of the Genesis would be participating; so it was you.”

“The rumors spread?”

“Some know. Not all.”

“Hmm…”

That rumors had spread even before entering the Academy was unexpected. Not a bad thing, though. No harm would come from being known. Seemed there was no need to fret over it.

“I have a proposal.”

Ellen spoke, her words directed at Acel, who was still unraveling his Mana Thread.

“How about we move together?”

“…An offer to accompany you?”

“That magic you just showed. If you’re a mage strong enough to dispose of a golem in one hit, I have no objections. We’ve gathered a total of fifteen cores. I’ll give you a portion of them; let’s cooperate for the duration of the test.”

Fifteen, huh. It was quite a lot. But Acel didn’t feel a significant merit in her proposal. There was no need to cooperate.

“Fine. I’ll cooperate.”

But Acel accepted her proposal.

If one considered only the cores or passing the test, there was truly no need to accept her proposal. But Acel was deeply interested in both Elena’s Blood Arts and the Aura that Ellen wielded. He wanted to see firsthand how they manipulated and controlled mana.

He had glimpsed Pol and Sevia’s Auras last night, but it was over so quickly. He hadn’t had a chance to observe them in detail, which he regretted. Since this opportunity presented itself, there was no reason to refuse. He was planning on accompanying Elena during the test to observe her Blood Arts anyway, due to their promise. So, there was nothing bad about Ellen being added to the mix.

“Thank you. We’ll distribute them right away.”

Ellen immediately pulled out five cores from her pouch and handed them to Acel. Acel didn’t refuse and placed them into his pack. Now feeling quite weighty, Acel slung the pack over his shoulders and gestured with his chin towards the thicket.

“Let’s go. There’s a cluster of golems over there.”

“You used a search spell?”

“I did.”

“When?”

“When I pointed.”

A ridiculous answer. Ellen suspected for a moment that Acel was lying, but she caught the faint signatures of golems in her expanded senses and let out a dry laugh.

“…Impressive. A magic you can just use without any incantations or anything?”

“Instead of marveling, how about we get going?”

Acel turned his head, asking a question. Elen simply pointed to the boar collapsed on the ground.

“We need to eat.”

“…Ah.”

As if understanding only then, Acel let out a short sound and scratched his cheek.