Chapter 8

At the age of 12, it was finally time for the entrance examination.

The agriculture in the border barony was going more smoothly than expected.

Although the area is still small, it seems that if we continue to improve our performance, we can rent more land.

For now, our family of four is working on a small scale, and since I plan to enter the academy, we are being careful not to expand too much.

We use magic to grow medicinal herbs quickly and dry them before shipping them to the border baron's family.

This alone is enough to live modestly.

Cotton is on hold because the land area is limited.

The night before the exam, we had a slightly more luxurious dinner as a family.

Mom was still worried, but the academy is only a day's carriage ride away.

Even if I enter a boarding school, I can come home every weekend.

I studied hard for the exam, but I didn't mind if I didn't pass.

With the magic books I received from my tutor, I became quite adept at using magic, and it's not a problem for farming.

I think my magic power has increased significantly since I lived in the village.

I used magic without hiding it every day and practiced a lot of new spells.

I was told that if I use magic as much as possible, my magic power would increase.

I wish I had trained more when I was younger.

It was a small village, so I was worried about people seeing me and couldn't practice.

The border barony is vast, and no one visits because I don't have any acquaintances.

I don't think I had to worry about people seeing me while practicing fire magic.

I can now cast a fireball about the size of a soccer ball (I named it myself, inspired by a novel).

According to my father, this is quite powerful.

I also improved in water and earth magic, which I was originally good at, so I can say I have three attributes.

However, I couldn't use wind magic for some reason.

The academy is located in the center of the border barony, surrounded by many noble families.

It is smaller in scale than the academy in the capital, but it is said to be of higher level than the academies in other territories.

I am applying for the special scholarship for commoners in the magic department. Only three people are accepted.

This scholarship is for truly outstanding students who cannot afford the high tuition fees.

Of course, if I don't get the scholarship, I can still enter if I can pay the tuition.

However, if I don't get the scholarship, I don't plan to enter.

In my previous life, my mother fell ill just before the university entrance exam, and I had to give up on it.

Family is more important.

I don't think it's necessary to pay a high tuition fee to enter.

Therefore, I'm not too nervous about the exam.

I will do my best, but it's okay if I don't pass.

I am a commoner, after all.

The examination venue is separate for nobles and commoners, and there were a dozen or so children of my age.

Even though they are commoners, they are applying to the academy, so they are dressed neatly.

The written exam is a general knowledge test, regardless of the department.

Therefore, I don't know which department the other examinees are applying for.

The day after the written exam is the practical exam.

The practical exam is only for the knight and magic departments.

Since this is the border barony, I heard that many students who apply here aim to become knights in the future.

On the sports field, many examinees with swords are lined up.

The practical exam is a joint event for nobles and commoners.

There are not many examinees for the magic department.

In the training ground where I was guided, there were about 20 examinees, but there were surprisingly many girls.

Perhaps noble boys who have magic power often apply to the knight department.

Here, each examinee will demonstrate their best magic in front of the examiners.

I can also see the magic of other examinees, which I am looking forward to.

I feel excited.

"Then, let's start the practical exam. First, those who will use attack magic, please go to this side, and the rest, please go to the other side."

There are two examiners, and I walked without hesitation to the side that is not for attack magic.

I can cast a fireball, but I'm not aiming to be a knight. I'm a farmer.

Most of the girls went to the same side as me.

They seem to be mostly nobles. Oh, but there is one girl who looks like a commoner.

What kind of magic is there besides attack magic?

The male examinees who chose attack magic are apparently testing their ability to hit targets with magic.

I thought about trying it, but...

The first noble girl called was using water magic.

There is a small pool-like area, and she casts water magic there.

Water mages can provide drinking water in case of disasters, so they are favored, according to my tutor.

The girl produced about three buckets of water, and she was breathing heavily.

Hmm, I heard that nobles have much more magic power than commoners, but is this it?

No, maybe this person is just not good at it.

Next, a noble girl using earth magic.

She went to a place with many planters and made crops grow.

After about 5 minutes of pouring magic, a bud bloomed beautifully.

Impressive. Just one planter, though.

The other girls were clapping, so she might be from a famous noble family.

Then, the only girl who looked like a commoner was called and timidly stepped forward.

"Miss Marina, water magic... and a skill. Can you show us your skill?"

"Yes," she replied in a small voice and went to the pool where the other girl had produced water.

"Ice," she said, placing her hand over the water, and with a crack, the water froze.

Wow. Amazing. I want this.

In summer, we can make shaved ice.

There are no freezers in this world, so this will be very useful.

I want to be friends with her and get a lot of ice.

I want to store it in my storage.

"Then, show us your other skill."

"Yes. Ice Wall!"

Wow. An ice shield appeared in front of me!

It's quite large, a shield that can protect the whole body.

The examiner asked if she could attack, but it seems she can't throw the ice.

No, maybe she can, but it's better not to.

If she could do that, she would be headed straight to the military.

Not doing it was the right choice.

She is probably applying for the commoner special scholarship, given her modest appearance.

I was thinking that if we both pass, I would become friends with her, but then my name was called.

"Miss Aristia. Water magic, earth magic... hmm? Fire magic too? Really?"

"Yes. I'm not that good at fire magic, but I can use it to some extent."

The noble girls, who were chatting, all looked at me.

Scary.

I wrote honestly about my aptitude and skills in the application form I submitted in advance.

The information is probably written on the paper the examiner has.

"Then, let's start with your best attribute. Water magic, right?"

"Um, yes, but can I not use my full power?"

"Yes. I will see your earth and fire magic later, so please save some energy."

...So, I'll do it moderately.

If I use my full power, this small pool won't be enough.

I filled the pool with water as if I were filling a water tank.

I stopped just before it overflowed.

It's about the amount of a large bath.

When I turned around, the examiner was staring with wide eyes.

I heard this person is a high-ranking member of the magic corps, but is he so surprised?

"Next, earth magic."

"Ah, yes... please."

I made all the plants in the many planters and pots grow to a huge size.

After all, my specialty is making things grow.

I made all the fruit-bearing plants bear fruit.

Of course, I held back so the planters wouldn't break.

Still, the examination venue was strangely silent.

Even the examiners for the attack magic were looking this way.

I might have overdone it, but I'm not using my full power yet.

I decided not to hold back, though.

"Should I show my fire magic?"

"Ah, yes, please show it."

Since I'm not supposed to attack, it would be bad to throw a fireball.

So, I showed a fire about the size of a soccer ball in each hand.

The examiner took a step back in shock. Why?

I won't throw it.

When I bowed and tried to return, I was stopped.

"Do you have a storage skill?"

"Yes, I have it. I can't show the contents, though."

"How much can you store? A rough estimate is fine."

"Well... I'm not sure, but I can store as much as a cart easily."

I heard that if I can store as much as a cart, I can get hired for work, so I answered roughly.

I heard that I don't have to be completely honest about my skills.

The gazes around me were painful, but I felt relieved because I did my best.

Now, I just have to wait for the results!