The Obsessive Regressor of The Academy

22. Entrance Exam (8)

The night forest is cold. Especially in winter. Without a fire or some way to stay warm, one would quickly succumb to hypothermia.

Those who had mastered mana, the superhuman elite, were somewhat free from such concerns, but not entirely. Even they had to bow before the harshness of nature. This was why mages were indispensable on long-distance expeditions or dungeon delves.

Their ability to conjure fire with a flick of the wrist, to protect the night with boundary magic without the need for sentries, and to counter intrusions with barriers, made them invaluable beyond measure. Ellen, who had experienced expeditions on a familial level, understood just how vital mages truly were.

Which also made her realize just how remarkable this Asel truly was.

A cave, set slightly apart from the golem creation zone. The group had started a fire at the entrance and made makeshift beds out of conveniently gathered leaves. Ordinarily, they would have had to sleep on the hard ground with nothing more than leaves to cushion them, but thanks to Asel’s magic, they were able to rest in relative comfort.

“Where did you learn magic like this?”

“From the maid at my estate. She was researching domestic magic and taught me a few things.”

“A maid who’s a mage?”

“Practically everyone who lives in Weiheim is a mage.”

The beds were arranged in a circle, centered around the fire pit. At the cave entrance, a windbreak was set up, preventing the frigid air from seeping inside. Like so, even in winter, one could drift off to sleep in warmth. A tent would have allowed for an even better camp, but for now, this was the best they could manage.

The camp setup was complete. Asel stoked the fire to make it bigger, then briefly ventured outside the cave to set up a perimeter ward. It was a magic that would erupt with sound should anyone enter its range. He could have set up traps that directly attacked, but indiscriminately harming someone who didn’t bear ill will just didn’t sit right with him.

‘This should suffice.’

His breath formed a visible cloud in the air. Asel checked that the ward was functioning properly, then glanced up at the sky for a moment.

After what felt like ages, storm clouds were unleashing rain. It wasn’t pouring, but it was enough that they should probably refrain from outdoor activities until it subsided. None of them were likely to catch a cold from getting rained on, but there was no harm in being cautious.

He passed back through the windbreak and into the cave. Elena was already lying in her bed, drifting off to sleep, while Ellen was meticulously honing the edge of her axe. She looked up and offered Asel a soft smile as she noted his return.

“All done?”

“More or less.”

Asel said, then plopped down heavily onto his own bed.

It was just a pile of leaves, but it was good enough. He nodded in satisfaction and leaned back.

“Don’t overdo it and get some sleep. Tomorrow’s the last day we need to endure to finish this exam.”

“Understood. Just a little more and I’ll turn in for the night.”

The exam period lasted a full week, but if one gathered the necessary amount of cores, it was possible to submit them early and finish the exam ahead of schedule. There was no point in being stuck in the woods for the full week if they didn’t need to be. Tomorrow, they’d have no more business in this forest.

‘It’s been long enough.’

Asel thought, staring up at the cave ceiling.

Five days had already passed since they left Wiheim. He was eager to return and see his teacher, Evelyn, and Hailey. Once he officially enrolled in the Academy, the opportunities to see them would dwindle, so he needed to make the most of their time together before then.

They were family, as far as he was concerned. His relationship with them was precious. Evelyn, his own flesh and blood, went without saying, and the same applied to Ena and Hailey. He couldn’t imagine his life without them anymore.

He wondered how he had ever lived before. He could barely recall the taste of the moldy bread crusts and the water mixed with stone dust that he had once eaten in the slums. That bleak life had completely vanished the day Ena took him in.

Thinking about it brought a smile to his face. Asel chuckled softly as he pictured Ena’s typically expressionless face.

‘Should I give her a hug when I get back?’

She was secretly fond of physical affection, so she probably wouldn’t refuse. Asel closed his eyes, imagining it, when suddenly—

BEEEEP!

The perimeter ward was triggered. Elena shot up from her bed, and Ellen’s face hardened as she gripped her keenly sharpened axe. Asel also opened his eyes and slowly began to gather his mana.

“Asel, could the magic be triggered by beasts?”

“No.”

At his immediate reply, Ellen instantly activated her aura. A cold glint entered her eyes. Her grip on the axe tightened, and a murderous aura, as if she would cut down anything in her path, emanated from her.

Elena also drew upon her blood energy, her nostrils flaring. Then, she furrowed her brow slightly.

“…I smell blood.”

“Someone’s injured?”

“No. There’s very little of their own blood, the rest is someone else’s.”

“You’re not exactly a welcome guest, I gather.”

The sound of footsteps grew closer. Elen spread her senses to ascertain the stranger’s level, but all she felt was a presence. No energy could be detected, as if he were an inanimate object. This signified only one thing.

The opponent was a monster standing far above her. Elen clicked her tongue and glanced at Asel.

“What do you intend to do?”

“Male. Roughly 180 in height. Weight unknown, arms a bit long. The clothes he wears are of high quality, practical for movement. Judging by the sword at his waist, likely a swordsman, and a scar remains on his left forearm.”

“…What are you doing?”

Elen frowned as she asked, but Asel didn’t answer. Instead, he continued to relay the images flooding his mind.

Barrier magic is incredibly diverse. The magic Asel had set up was his own original concoction, a combination of sound-amplifying spells that create loud noises, and surveillance spells that allow for remote observation the moment they’re triggered. Thanks to that, a wealth of information was available.

“Seeing blood dripping from the wound, it seems he was injured recently. And the blood on him, other than that, belongs to others, just as Elena said. His level…impossible to gauge, meaning he’s at least a Master.”

“…A Master? Such a monster was mixed in with the participants?”

“He’s not a participant.”

Asel’s face hardened as he spoke, the footsteps now audible right in front of them.

“He’s an outsider.”

“Correct!”

The moment the word left his mouth, the wind barrier was sliced clean through. The barrier that had been shielding them from the rain scattered into the air, and a soaking wet man stepped out from beyond. He swept the hair from his face, looked at the group, and grinned.

“Hello, friends. Enjoying the exam?”

“Who are you?”

Elen raised her axe and asked. Fernand offered a wry smile at her ferocious demeanor.

“So hostile. Have we met before?”

“I’ll ask again. Who are you?”

“An academy professor. Fernand Clarke. Ring a bell?”

“…Fernand Clarke?”

Elen chewed on the name, her face contorting.

Fernand Clarke. The eldest son of the Clarke family, and a swordsman who’d distinguished himself in the demon subjugation war. Recent rumors spoke of him reaching the Master level, a rising monster, now standing before them.

This was the first time Elen had seen Fernand’s face in person. After the subjugation war, he’d holed himself up in the academy so much that there hadn’t been an opportunity. And to meet such a person, not inside the academy, but at the entrance exam, was utterly absurd.

“…Professor, what business do you have here?”

Having confirmed his identity, she couldn’t afford to be disrespectful. Elen immediately switched to using honorifics. Fernand grinned, taking them all in with his eyes as he answered.

“I’ll tell you why I’m here later. First, let me explain the rules.”

There was no chance to ask what rules he meant. Fernand drew the sword from his waist, openly exuding murderous intent. A tremendous pressure weighed on their shoulders, interfering with the flow of mana. Elen and Elena strained their eyes, struggling to resist Fernand’s surging energy.

Asel, on the other hand, stared at Fernand with a cold expression. Fernand inwardly admired the sight and thought.

“First. I won’t kill you, but I *can* render you combat-incapable.”

“…What are you saying—”

“Second. You must attack me as if you intend to kill me. Otherwise, you fail the test.”

“…”

“Understood? Let’s begin.”

The moment Fernand finished speaking, he pointed the tip of his sword at Elen. Elen swallowed hard, watching the water droplets dripping from the blade.

At that same instant, a streak of lightning grazed her temple and hurtled forward at blistering speed.

[Chasing Thunder]

*Bzzzzzzt!!*

A bolt of black-blue lightning aimed squarely at the space between Fernand’s eyebrows. Fernand deflected the lightning with a swing of his sword. His gaze shifted toward Asel.

“Electric magic.”

“…”

“So, you were the rumored disciple of Mistress Ena.”

“It’s spread that far already?”

“The magic faculty professors blather about it every day; how could I *not* know?”

Fernand spoke, looking down at his hand, which was trembling slightly from directly receiving the lightning.

“More to the point, the power of the magic is… unusual. Even accounting for the dampness, to inflict damage on a Master’s body? And earlier, the way your mana didn’t fluctuate… Did Ena pick up some strange monster?”

“A formidable one, at that.”

Asel smiled and slammed his fist into the ground.

“I’ll go at you as if I intend to kill.”

“An amusing fellow.”

Fernand swung his sword horizontally. Aura coated his blade, and a sharp sword wave shot toward Asel.

[Thunderous Wall]

A wall of lightning formed beneath Asel’s feet, colliding with the sword wave and scattering it. Electrical current arced in every direction. The humid air crackled with electricity. Fernand smiled at the stinging sensation, and Asel clenched his fist, detonating the current.

[Thunder Burst]

The launched, violent lightning resonated with the lingering echoes of the scattered electric magic. Immediately after, a colossal thunderous explosion engulfed the cavern.

*KWA-A-A-A-A-NG!!*

The cavern, unable to withstand the power of the lightning, began to collapse. Fernand leaped backward, pursued by Elena and Elen.

The two exchanged a glance, then separated, closing the distance on Fernand from his left and right.

[Bloodstream Shaping]

[Blood-Spiked Silk]

Elena whips the blood she’s conjured into spiked threads. Ellen slams her axe down in a forceful, vertical strike. Fernand parries and cuts away the straightforward and the serpentine attacks in turn, then drives an elbow into Ellen’s gut.

“Ugh!”

A searing pain shoots up from her solar plexus, and Ellen grimaces, staggering backward. Elena, instead of concerning herself with her flailing comrade, reinforces her body and kicks at Fernand’s shoulder. Fernand easily deflects the blow with a smile.

“Princess. It seems the Royal Tutor didn’t favor martial arts.”

He seizes Elena’s legs, swinging her around roughly. Her body slams into a tree.

“Keuh!”

A ragged breath bursts from Elena’s lips. Fernand, intent on finishing her off first, grips his sword and swings.

His promise not to kill must be sincere, because the downward slash carries no aura. Thanks to that, Ellen manages to block the strike as she charges.

Crack!

Sparks fly as axe and blade collide. Ellen grits her teeth so hard her molars threaten to shatter, enduring Fernand’s assault. Fernand gazes down at her, a gentle smile playing on his lips.

“Even the Hårgelin family, blessed with innate monstrous strength, cannot withstand the power of a Master.”

“…Ugh.”

“But…even without an aura infused, blocking this is quite the surprise. Your combat experience must be considerable.”

“Compliments…appreciated…!”

“Think nothing of it.”

Fernand says, just as he’s about to apply more force to the hand gripping his sword.

“…!”

An appalling level of magic condenses in the sky above. The echo of destruction magic, forged solely for slaughter and carnage, registers clearly in his senses.

“Ha…!”

A High-Tier spell, far stronger than Mid-Tier. Moreover, an Electrical Affinity High-Tier spell. Having fought alongside Ena during the Demon subjugation, he knows its power better than anyone. Being struck directly, even Fernand would not be entirely unscathed.

Moreover, the current environment favors electrical magic immensely. Simply unleashing lightning could electrify the entire forest via the water. And if it is High-Tier magic, how much stronger will its effect be?

“This would be wise to evade—”

“No.”

The moment Fernand mutters, Asel, erupting from the forest’s darkness, seizes his abdomen in an instant. Fernand saw the wings of fire attached to Asel’s back, evaporating raindrops,

[Crimson Wings Ascend]

A fire-based flight spell boasting appalling mana efficiency, restricting Asel to only brief moments in the air. In addition to stealth magic, ‘Silence’, suppressing sound, and ‘Ghost’, erasing his presence, he had approached and reached out to Fernand’s skin, whispering quietly.

“You cannot evade.”

[Obliterating Thunderbolt]

Crackling zzzzzzzzzt!!

A thunderclap, dozens of lightning bolts condensed into one and unleashed, struck Fernan squarely in the gut.

Magic that amplified its power by compressing lightning and shortening its range. A lethal art capable of incinerating every nerve and reducing the brain to ash, emanating from the point of impact. Even Fernan couldn’t help but briefly furrow his brow.

‘A spell that destroys the core if I move my aura to defend… Troublesome.’

Fernan offered a faint smile at the fiery pain blossoming in his abdomen.

Defending against magic without moving his aura was possible. A Master’s body wasn’t so frail. However, a certain degree of stiffness was a price he’d have to pay. Even for a Master, the raw destructive force and piercing power unique to electrical magic couldn’t be ignored.

But instead of passively enduring the onslaught, Fernan manipulated his aura, purging the lightning that had infiltrated his body. He knew that even if the magic was designed to attack the aura, Asel’s current level couldn’t inflict significant damage upon him. This freed him from the stiffness, but a minor internal injury was unavoidable.

“My turn now, perhaps?”

Fernan asked, a minuscule trickle of blood escaping his lips. Asel grinned and retreated.

“Not yet.”

The instant those words were spoken, the magical energy concentrated in the sky began to churn violently. Fernan chuckled mirthlessly at the vicious surge and adopted a defensive stance.

“You used another spell while maintaining the incantation for a high-level magic? Is that even logically possible? Your head should explode.”

“I don’t do what I can’t.”

“Ah, the geniuses.”

Fernan gave a wry smile as Asel slashed his hand downwards.

It was one of the high-level magics Elena frequently employed.

An overwhelming phenomenon that the ancients called an Act of God.

[Natural Resonance]

[Incantation Stacking]

[Simultaneous Chanting]

An ominous blue light flashed in the sky.

[Lightning Strike (落雷)]

*KWA-aaaNG!!*

A colossal bolt of lightning descended, as if cleaving the very earth.