Chapter 3

Eren had been living in Hermes' mansion and had started his training as a magician for a month—today was finally the day of the entrance examination for the Royal Third Magic Academy.

"Eren-sama, do you have your examination ticket and writing materials?"

"Did you sleep well last night? How are you feeling?"

"Are you okay with the route to the venue? If you cry and beg, I can go with you to the venue, you know?"

Just as Lin, Titta, and Shar were fussing over him, Hermes clapped his hands.

"Hey, you guys, Eren is already fifteen, you know? I don't think it's good to be too overprotective."

"Y-Yes, we are very sorry..."

The three servants, reprimanded by their master, hung their heads and reluctantly stepped back.

Hermes sighed and then cleared his throat loudly.

"Eren, today is the real deal. I know you might be nervous, but don't worry. You've grown a lot as a magician over this month. No matter what the exam is, I'm sure you'll pass it."

"Thank you."

Over the past month, Eren had become much brighter.

His timidity had faded, and he was gradually regaining his naturally optimistic personality.

Still, his self-esteem was low, and he lacked confidence in many areas...

But considering the short rehabilitation period of just one month, it could be called a dramatic improvement.

"Well, it's about time. Be careful not to get hurt."

"Yes!"

"Oops, before that... Do you have your examination ticket? Your writing materials and medicine? And are you okay with the route to the examination venue? If you need, I can go with you to the venue—"

"E-Erm, Hermes-sama, you shouldn't be so overprotective!"

"S-Sorry, sorry. I just slipped..."

Reprimanded by the three servants, Hermes could only apologize.

■

Eren, seeing off by Hermes and the others, stepped out of the mansion and was moved by the vast, free world before him.

(Wow, how long has it been since I last went outside...!)

He had been training within the mansion grounds for the past month, so walking freely outside was something he hadn't done in ten years.

The people passing on the street, the birds flying in the vast sky, the faint scent of the trees—everything looked fresh and radiant.

(But, I can't just stand here. I need to head to the examination venue quickly.)

Eren took out a map from his bag and started walking towards his destination.

(Well... The magic tool shop is here, and the weapon shop is here, so it's that way, right?)

After walking through the bustling streets for a while, a huge building came into view.

"This... This is the Royal Third Magic Academy..."

The main building, which looked like a palace made of white marble, the majestic clock tower, and the beautiful schoolyard—all of it was overwhelming in scale.

(How much money must have been spent on this school...)

As he was thinking this, the words "Reception" appeared at the edge of his vision.

(That must be the reception.)

In front of the main gate, a temporary table had been set up as the reception area for the entrance examination, and a long line of examinees had already formed.

Eren joined the end of the line and waited for his turn.

"Next, please."

"Yes. I'm here to take the entrance examination for the Royal Third Magic Academy..."

Eren took out his examination ticket from his bag and showed it to the woman at the reception.

"Thank you. You are Eren, examination number 1850, correct? Please draw a lot from this box."

She said this and took out a large square box.

"Huh...?"

"The number of examinees at our academy has been increasing year by year, and last year it finally exceeded ten thousand. With such a large number, it's practically impossible to hold the exam in a single venue. This year, we have divided the venues, and this lottery will determine your examination venue."

"I see, that makes sense."

Eren, understanding the receptionist's explanation, drew a lot from the box.

The number written on it was—'Number 18'.

"Number 18. Please enter the black dimensional mirror right after the main gate."

"Understood."

Following the receptionist's instructions, Eren entered the black dimensional mirror.

He found himself in a deep forest with lush greenery.

(This is the examination venue...)

Looking around, he saw that hundreds of examinees were already waiting.

(All these people are magicians...?)

Overwhelmed by the unique atmosphere, Eren moved to a less conspicuous spot under a tree.

After a while, at the start of the exam at 9:00 AM, a large man with an 'Examiner' armband suddenly appeared from the dimensional mirror.

"Ahem. I am Professor Dahl August, a permanent lecturer at the Royal Third Magic Academy, in charge of the White Path. I have been assigned to supervise the Number 18 group."

Dahl August, 55 years old.

With short gray hair, standing at two meters tall, he boasts a mountain-like, well-built physique and a prominent Kaiser beard.

"Oh, oh... That's the 'Iron Wall Dahl' as the examiner!?"

"Sure enough, the Royal Magic Academy can easily bring out such a famous magician..."

"Ah, what a treat..."

Dahl's reputation as a warrior was known throughout the kingdom, and the examinees looked at him with admiration.

"Well, since we don't have much time, I'll start the explanation right away. This practical exam is simple and straightforward. Using your best skills—be it physical techniques, swordsmanship, or magic—push me out of this circle to pass the exam."

Dahl snapped his fingers, and a small circle with a radius of about fifty centimeters appeared at his feet.

"There are no detailed rules. You can attack from any distance—close, medium, or long—and deliver your strongest blow. However, you only have one chance. If you fail to move me, you will be immediately disqualified. Any questions so far?"

As Dahl looked at the examinees, a female student hesitantly raised her hand.

"Um... So, this exam means that if I can't break through Mr. Dahl's famous 'Iron Wall' defense and push him out of the circle, I will be disqualified, right...?"

"Don't worry. I won't impose such a harsh challenge on you, who are still growing. I won't use any defensive magic and will stand here as I am."

Upon hearing this, the examinees became noisy.

"Wait, that means... knock the standing Dahl out of the circle?"

"Maybe it's a piece of cake...?"

"Hehe, this is a golden opportunity!"

In the relaxed atmosphere, Dahl cleared his throat and looked at the list of examinees.

"Since there are no more questions, let's start. Examination number 719, Kamasse Zako."

"Got it!"

The blonde boy Kamasse stood up with a casual response.

"My partner is the strongest fire sword that can cut through anything! Even the 'Iron Wall Dahl' will die if he's not careful!"

He confidently drew a reddish-brown sword.

"Indeed, come with the intention to kill."

"…I warned you, though?"

Kamasse's sharp eyes gleamed as he kicked the ground forcefully.

"Haahaaa...!"

With a powerful cry, a sharp diagonal slash was unleashed.

The next moment—a hard, metallic sound echoed, and Kamasse's prized sword shattered into pieces.

"Wh-What...!?"

"Hmm... A dull blade like that cannot break through my 'Magic Barrier.'—Disqualified."

The Magic Barrier—magicians' bodies constantly emit a weak magical force, which acts as a buffer.

While it is usually very fragile and cannot defend against enemy attacks, for a master magician like Dahl, its strength is on a completely different level.

It can nullify light slashes and low-level magic.

"Hey, that's cheating! You said you wouldn't use defensive magic!"

"The Magic Barrier is a physiological phenomenon and does not violate the rules. Besides, my defensive magic is far more advanced than this."

"Damn it..."

Kamasse, shown the overwhelming power difference, left the examination venue in frustration.

"Next, examination number 1203, Mumei Mob."

"Yes!"

Seeing Dahl's formidable Magic Barrier, Mumei tensed and focused her magic power.

"---The eternal candle, the bottle of guilt, the crimson sunset envelops the arc! Equator 25, Cataclysmic Fire!"

A huge fireball, cast with a complete incantation, struck Dahl directly, causing a fierce explosion.

"Y-Yes...!"

Feeling the impact, Mumei clenched her fist tightly.

The next moment—

"Hmm, such a weak fire won't even cook meat.—Disqualified."

From the flames, an unharmed Dahl appeared.

"No...!"

As Mumei collapsed to her knees, Dahl called out the next name.

After that, many examinees tried, but...

"Less impact than a cannon.—Disqualified."

"Damn...!"

"Your approach was too weak.—Disqualified."

"No...!"

"Your output was insufficient.—Disqualified."

"Damn, even this won't do...!"

Over a hundred people left the venue without breaking through the ironclad Magic Barrier.

"Next, examination number 1421, Zeno Roses."

"..."

A man in black robes stood up silently.

At the same time, a small murmur ran through the examinees.

"Hey... Isn't Roses from the cursed 'Roses Family'?"

"Jet-black hair, the 'Curse Snake Mark' on his neck... It's definitely the descendant of the Roses Family..."

"Hey, is such a dangerous guy taking the exam this year...?"

Amid the hostile gazes,

"Hey, what are you staring at? Do you want to die?"

"..."

Zeno, silencing everyone with a single glare, snorted and stood in front of Dahl.

"Alright, whenever you're ready—"

"---Black Path 50, Black Phoenix Descends."

As Zeno cast his magic, a massive black crystal fell from the sky.

"This...!"

In an instant, a destruction of a different dimension struck Dahl, and a powerful shockwave reverberated through the air.

"Black Path 50 without an incantation!?"

"Sure enough, the descendant of the Roses Family has incredible magic power..."

"Isn't this too dangerous for Dahl-sama...?"

Amid the worried voices,

"Ha, did he die?"

Zeno, smirking, was suddenly greeted by a refreshing breeze, and an unharmed Dahl emerged from the dust.

"Hmm, a wonderful Black Path. If you keep practicing, you will become a great black magician in the future.—Pass."

"..."

Despite passing the practical exam, Zeno's face remained gloomy.

Being blocked by the Magic Barrier alone had wounded his pride.

"Next, examination number 1637, Aria Fortia."

"Yes."

Next, a beautiful girl with pure white hair stood up.

She moved to stand in front of Dahl and drew her magic sword from her waist.

"White Sakura Style, Third Sword—Sakura Kirin."

In an instant, a powerful slash cut through the air, and Dahl's massive body was pushed out of the circle.

"Truly a magnificent strike.—Pass."

The birth of the second pass made the examinees secretly excited.

"Wow... The speed of the blade was completely invisible..."

"Aria Fortia, huh... I've never heard of her before."

"An elegant female magic swordsman... So cool..."

As everyone swallowed their saliva,

"Well, well, I didn't expect two people to pass my exam... This year is quite a good harvest. Excellent, excellent."

Dahl, rubbing his beard, nodded happily several times.

"Next—examination number 1850, Eren."

"Y-Yes...!"

As Eren stepped forward, all the examinees' gazes focused on him.

(I expected it, but the pressure is intense... Everyone took the exam under such pressure...)

He slowly exhaled and tried to relax.

(Phew... First, I need to measure his strength.)

Eren walked straight up and gently extended his right hand towards Dahl's formidable Magic Barrier.

(Amazing...)

The Magic Barrier in front of him was as soft as silk and as hard as steel.

Most importantly, it emitted a powerful life force.

(Now, how can I break through this...)

Several options appeared in his mind.

Eren chose the simplest and most reliable method and put it into action.

"---White Path 1, Flash."

He activated a super-basic White Path magic.

It involved concentrating magic power at the tip of his index finger and releasing it.

"Hey, is he joking?"

"What has he been looking at? There's no way he can break through the Iron Wall Dahl's Magic Barrier with White Path 1..."

"Ha... Is this a 'memorial exam'? What a waste of time."

Amid the jeers from other examinees,

"Th-This...!"

Dahl took a side step and dodged Eren's magic.

"Wh-What...?"

"Even the Iron Wall Dahl... dodged...?"

"The weakest... White Path 1...?"

The magician who could withstand even a 50th-level magic without a scratch had dodged the weakest attack magic, White Path 1.

The unusual scene made the surroundings fall silent.

(... That wasn't just a 'Flash.' It was enhanced with the advanced skill 'Form Change,' greatly increasing its penetration power. Most terrifyingly, it accurately pierced through the gaps in my Magic Barrier—just a few milliseconds of a moment...)

The Magic Barrier is a physiological phenomenon, and naturally, it has fluctuations—variations.

Eren had perfectly read these and struck at the moment when Dahl's Magic Barrier was zero, the 'moment of calm.'

However, this was a god-like feat that could only be achieved by perfectly reading the flow of magic.

(... I need to confirm...)

Dahl's face had changed from an 'examiner' to a 'veteran magician.'

"Boy... You're Eren, right? Did you do that on purpose...?"

"Um, 'that'...?"

Whether it was the form change of White Path 1 or the penetration of the Magic Barrier, Eren was unsure which to answer.

Dahl quietly shook his head.

"... No, that's a foolish question. 'Secrecy of magic is the magician's basic principle'—to ask you to reveal the spell in such a public place is extremely tasteless. Please forgive my lack of consideration."

From a magician's perspective, Dahl's question was a breach of etiquette.

"No, no, don't worry about it."

Eren, who didn't have a magician's perspective, didn't understand why he was apologizing so much.

"By the way, what about the exam result...?"

"Such a thing, there's no need to say it—pass!"

"Thank you!"

Thus, Eren, who had successfully passed the practical exam, clenched his fist tightly.

■

Eren, Zeno, and Aria, who had successfully passed Dahl's exam, returned to the Royal Third Magic Academy through a white dimensional mirror and moved to the central hall of the academy