CH 48

Basic Combat Power Test

Translated by Hikaru

Edited by Mel

“That was bad.”

Master apologized while guiding us to the basic combat test site.

“Your boy, the aristocrat who was making noise earlier? Our guild is not an organization that is powerful enough to ignore the words of the aristocrats.”

As a master, he probably wanted everyone to be as comfortable as possible.

“It doesn’t matter, because I didn’t come to quarrel with the aristocrats either.”

“It’s helpful that you feel that way.” Master laughed as he spoke.

It felt like the rough air dissipated and settled down until…

“Well… Tweight, you also have to take some of the responsibility.”

Elysia said to me.

“Originally, you hid your abilities while in school, so that kind of misunderstanding may arise. I think it would have been to show your abilities by fighting.”

“It’s true that I can’t use D rank magic. That doesn’t change even if I quarrel.”

“…Well, maybe that’s the case.”

Elysia has a complicated look on her face.

“This is the test site.”

We stopped at Master’s words. Then tilted our heads at the sight in front of us. There were many rooms lined up in a row.

“…Private rooms?”

When Mize asks, Master confirmed.

“The basic combat power test is conducted in confidentiality. As you can see, it is a private room, and the inside cannot be seen from the outside… Some people don’t like being watched and this is in consideration for them. Room allocations are Elysia, Glan, Tweight, and Mize in order from left to right.”

With that said, Master opened the door of the room in front of him.

“Look inside.”

Following Master, we stepped into the room.

It was a closed room with white walls and floor. There is a mysterious doll in the center. It was eerie and humanoid in shape.

“It’s a self-supporting doll called a golem. According to one theory, it’s said that it was born during the Second War of the Heroes… but the truth is uncertain. It’s a mysterious doll that moves on its own. You pass the test by defeating the golem. Specifically, if the golem is laying on the floor, you pass.”

So literally just beat it.

Elysia was suspicious.

“…Is it okay to use such an unknown thing?”

“It seems that it has been in use for decades, and there haven’t been any accidents so far, so don’t be worried. By the way, the golem has a function to adjust its strength. The golem in each room is inversely proportional to the magical power of the examinee. The test is fair because it has been adjusted to the strength of the golem. The golem will start moving ten seconds after the door is closed.”

Elysia was soothed for the time being, even though she looked only half-convinced.

The strength is being inversely proportional to the magical power means that the golem becomes weaker if the applicant showed high magical power in the previous test. Conversely, even if the magic power is low, if you can defeat a slightly stronger golem, you can pass the test. It’s like a bailout. If either one exceeds the standard value, there is no problem.

This time, Mize anxiously asks a question.

“Oh, what if I can’t beat it? If I can’t win, can I surrender…?”

“Oh. In that case, if you tell the golem to ‘stop’, it will actually stop. A stopped golem will never fall, so it’s not cheating.”

“Okay.”

Mize never thought to cheat from the start. However, she had a dark expression, perhaps because she was uncertain about the result of the magical power test.

“That’s all for the explanation. Start the test at any time you like.”

At Master’s words, each of us entered our designated room. When I tried to enter the room… of course, Master came along.

“Although it is a countermeasure against fraud, it is complicated that only I won’t get any confidentiality.”

“We’re both unlucky… we were noticed by the aristocrats.”

Master looked at the end of the corridor. The Hero Department students were observing us from a distance. It seems that he wants to make sure that Master will actually monitor me. It’s easy to forget when you’re in a school where aristocrats and commoners are present, but by nature, commoners are creatures that don’t stand up to the aristocrats. A case could be made to blame the delinquency on the students of our school, but outsiders do not. The Zeke case last month was flashy, but perhaps other than that, there will always be heroes using unreasonable power somewhere.

I entered the assigned room with Master. As long as you enter the room, your line of sight from the outside will be blocked.

“…Can I touch the golem a little before starting the exam?”

“Sure.”

The dingy, ball-jointed doll was a little cold and stiff. I might not be able to penetrate this level of hardness with 《Magic Bullet》.

―It’s more troublesome than I expected.

One thing I learned after going to school is that my magic might be too extreme. If you think about it, it’s natural. I was originally raised in an institution as an assassination/surprise attack expert. Both assassinations and surprise attacks are basically ideal for one-shot killing, and you are instructed to use the first move as much as possible. In other words, as I like to say, but all I know are trump cards. It can be said that it makes it hard for me to adjust.

―Is there any way to avoid exposing my hand?

Even now, I am being watched since I am Mize’s friend. It’s okay as long as Master doesn’t say a word, but if the information from here is leaked, my tactics may be revealed.

“… Master. Can I ask you about the monitoring rules?”

“Monitoring rules?”

Master tilted his head.

“In short, I should defeat the golem in this space while Master is here, right?”

“Yeah.”

“So there are no other conditions that I don’t know about?”

To that question, Master mysteriously tilted his head, but eventually answered.

“Well, that’s right.”

As soon as Master affirmed, my plan was decided.

I left the golem and closed the door of the room. Ten seconds from now, the golem will start moving. I started the countdown in my head. I called out to the master who was observing me in the corner of the room.

“Master.”

“Hmm?”

The countdown continues.

9 seconds, 8 seconds, 7 seconds, 6 seconds left…

“I can hear someone calling you from the other side of the door.”

“Hmm, is that true?”

Master turns to the door.

And at the same time as when the countdown reaches zero.

《Flash Blade Shunjin》

Extending the index and middle finger of my right hand, a thin blade constructed by magic extended from the tip. I don’t have to move my whole body. I can swing the blade with just a wrist snap. The blade, which has been sharpened to the limit and looks almost transparent, instantly broke the golem’s neck as it tried to move. While looking at the falling golem’s head, I exhaled a little.

“It’s over.”

“Hey. Nobody called me – what? What did you say just now?”

As soon as Master turned around, the golem’s neck fell to the floor.

“What was that……?”

Master opened his eyes wide with astonishment.