“Expulsion? Is that not too severe?” Karl asked, breaking into a cold sweat, with Chloe by his side.
“Are you feeling nervous?” Chloe inquired.
“Of course! If it’s a Lumeren magic exam, it’s bound to be challenging!” Karl replied.
“Do you think they might ask questions beyond a freshman’s level?” Chloe questioned further.
“It must be nice to be a top student,” Karl muttered under his breath.
Karl, who had barely passed the entrance exam, naturally felt anxious about the upcoming test. He wasn’t the only one feeling this way, though.
“Expulsion?”
“That seems excessive!”
“Don’t the professors have the authority to expel students? Surely, everyone is aware of this,” someone remarked.
“Well, they can’t expel without a valid reason!” another student chimed in.
“Indeed, expelling without a proper reason is not permissible,” added a third student.
Professor Ren tapped the test paper with his finger.
“However, if you can’t pass an exam at this level, you are not qualified to study magic at Lumeren.”
A male student, who appeared to be from a different department, raised his hand.
“What about students who want to take magic classes as a minor?”
“You can take magic classes as part of your minor,” Professor Ren replied.
“And what about those who wish to pursue dual classes?” the student inquired further.
Professor Ren trailed off, wearing a smile.
“In temporary classes, you might discover hidden magical talents,” he said, leaving the students puzzled.
“That’s why we have the same test for minor students,” Professor Ren continued.
A few students visibly flinched at his words.
“Is it not presumptuous for someone who has never studied magic to attempt to stand on equal ground with those who have dedicated their lives to it?” Professor Ren asked, his smile contrasting with his cold gaze.
Chloe enthusiastically nodded in agreement.
“The exam is graded out of 100 points, and you must score at least 40 to pass,” he explained.
The students breathed sighs of relief upon hearing the lenient passing score.
With a snap of Professor Ren’s fingers, a large hourglass materialized in the air.
“You have one hour to complete the test. Once you’re finished, submit your papers and wait outside the classroom.”
The students quickly retrieved their writing instruments.
“Begin.”
As the hourglass turned, the sand began to trickle down.
The students meticulously reviewed their exam papers using their quill pens.
The examination comprised a question paper, an answer sheet, and numerous sheets for spell formulations.
Upon glimpsing the exam questions, Leo’s expression stiffened.
“Explain the effect when these magic formulas are combined,” the question demanded.
A headache began to gnaw at him.
“What kind of spell is this?” he wondered aloud.
If he had to pinpoint the field that had undergone the most transformation since his days as Kyle, it would unquestionably be magic.
Magic inherently remains an uncharted realm.
While the fundamental runes have endured, the application of formulas has evolved over time.
Especially in this era, magic formulas had made remarkable progress due to the Hero Records.
Having not laid eyes on a magic tome since his reincarnation, Leo was entirely in the dark about the spells of the current era.
Glancing to the side, he noticed that Karl, who had seemed downcast earlier, was now tackling the questions.
Chloe was swiftly jotting down the answers.
‘These youngsters are exceptionally sharp. Are they mentally computing these intricate spell combinations?’ Leo pondered, feeling somewhat frustrated.
‘Alright, let’s at least grasp a rough understanding of the spells of this era. Even if the spells change over time, understanding their structure can provide a decent estimate.’
Leo gathered his resolve.
‘I can’t afford to be ousted on the first lesson; that would be too embarrassing!’ He reminded himself of his pride as the hero who had saved the world.
With determination blazing in his eyes, Leo began deciphering the spells at an astonishing speed.
“Thank goodness! Only the spells I’m familiar with have appeared!”
Meanwhile, Karl, who had been diligently working on the problems, let out a sigh of relief.
Contrary to his apprehensions, the exam was not excessively challenging.
All the spells on the exam were ones he had committed to memory.
While the combinations were fairly complex, as Professor Ren had asserted, if one couldn’t solve them at this level, they weren’t deserving of studying magic at Lumeren.
‘As expected, at this level, Chloe is mentally working through spell combinations,’ Karl couldn’t help but admire Chloe, who was writing down answers without showing her calculations.
When he glanced at Leo, he saw the quill pen moving astonishingly fast.
However, despite the speed, Leo’s answer sheet remained blank.
‘What’s happening? Is Leo, aiming for a dual class, lacking knowledge of spell formulas?’ It became evident that Leo would not be able to attend the magic major classes at this rate.
Karl wore a disappointed expression as he contemplated the possibility of not being able to take the magic class together.
“Only thirty minutes left,” he muttered.
“Ugh, this isn’t the time. Let’s concentrate on the problems,” he added.
Meanwhile, Leo, who had completely filled an entire sheet of scratch paper, put down his quill pen in frustration.
‘Who in the world made these spell formulas so complicated!’ he exclaimed.
Given more time, he might have been able to decipher them. But time was the problem.
As he moved on to the next problem, he encountered yet another set of unfamiliar spell formulas. Leo scratched his head while checking the problems, and his gaze settled on the last question.
The test comprised a total of 50 questions. Questions 1 to 49 involved combinations of spell formulas, while the final question required interpreting a spell formula to arrive at a result. This particular spell formula wasn’t as complex as the previous ones.
After calculating the answer mentally, Leo noted it on his answer sheet and stood up.
All eyes in the room turned towards him.
‘He’s giving up. It’s understandable, considering he couldn’t even solve the first problem. Any more time would have been a waste,’ thought Karl, watching Leo submit his answer sheet to the assistant.
‘I guess it’s time to drop the magic class,’ Leo mumbled to himself. How could he attend the class when he only understood one out of 50 questions? ‘I’ll have to learn it on my own.’
Blaming his own carelessness, Leo left the classroom, leaving the hourglass to continue flowing.
However, no other student followed Leo’s lead. Even those who weren’t majoring in magic had some basic knowledge, having chosen it as a minor.
“Time’s up, everyone. Please hand in your answer sheets to the assistants.”
“Ugh, that was tough,” Karl sighed, stretching as he turned to Chloe.
“Hey, Chloe, what was the answer to the last question? I couldn’t figure it out.”
Watching Karl shake his head, clearly exhausted, Chloe frowned slightly.
“I couldn’t finish in time either.”
“Really? It was quite challenging.”
“What about Leo?”
“It seemed like he couldn’t solve a single question.”
“So, he left,” Karl concluded.
Chloe nodded and got up to approach someone, with Karl curiously following her.
“Brother, is this answer correct?”
“Yes, that’s correct!”
“Yay!”
Chloe had approached Abad and Chelsea.
“Chelsea, hi,” Chloe greeted.
“Hmm? Karl, who’s that girl?” Chelsea asked.
“This is Chloe Muller.”
“The North’s valedictorian?” Chelsea’s eyes widened.
“Nice to meet you, Abad Lévalin. Did you manage to solve the last problem?” Chloe asked Abad.
“I couldn’t finish it due to the lack of time. How about you?” Abad replied.
“I had the same issue,” Chloe admitted, taking out her test paper.
“I’m curious to see how our solutions compare. Can we check?” Abad suggested.
“Perfect timing. I was wondering the same,” Chloe agreed.
Chloe’s test paper was filled with workings for the last question’s spell formula, and Abad’s paper was almost as full.
Karl was astonished. “Valedictorians are really something else. With more time, they could have solved everything, right?”
“What about Leo?” Chelsea inquired.
“After he left earlier, I haven’t seen him in the magic building. It seemed like he couldn’t solve a single problem,” Karl responded.
“Well, it’s not a problem a knight could solve,” Chelsea remarked, acknowledging Leo’s prowess as a knight.
Just then, Professor Ren returned to the podium, and the students quickly took their seats.
“Everyone did their best on the exam,” Professor Ren said with a friendly smile.
“Very soon, the assistants will finish grading. But before that, I’ll briefly introduce the magic theory class I’ll be teaching,”
Professor Ren’s lecture began.
As the students attentively listened to the lecture, they couldn’t help but be filled with amazement.
The content of Professor Ren’s lecture was exceptionally captivating.
Instinctively, they understood that they were in the presence of one of the finest professors.
“I look forward to attending more lectures by someone of his caliber in the future!” one student exclaimed.
Anticipation swelled within the students.
By the time Professor Ren concluded his discourse, a male assistant entered the lecture hall.
“Professor, the test results have been released,” he announced.
“Shall we all examine the test results together?” Professor Ren inquired.
Other assistants brought a notice board to the front of the lecture hall, displaying the exam rankings.
“In reality, this test consisted of forty-nine questions, each worth one point, and one question worth fifty-one points.”
As the students murmured among themselves, Professor Ren continued his explanation.
“This examination serves not only as a preliminary test for selecting students for the magic major class but also as the cornerstone of my teachings.”
“Over the past few centuries, magical formulas have progressed rapidly. Consequently, spells that once demanded a profound understanding can now be activated simply by memorizing their triggering conditions.”
Professor Ren extended his hand, and a spell activated through mana.
With a snap, he dispelled the spell, causing fragments of magical energy to scatter in all directions.
“This progress in spells has led to the decline of wizards!”
His sudden declaration caught the students off guard.
“Among modern wizards, the prevailing trend is to memorize an increasing number of formulas! Undoubtedly, it provides an easier route to utilizing magic… But! This is not the essence of a true mage. A mage’s core lies not in memorization but in exploration and comprehension! Yet, what are today’s young wizards doing? They overlook the understanding of spells and fixate on memorization! The advancement of spells has contributed to the diminishing stature of wizards!”
Professor Ren extended both hands above his head, conjuring a vast array of magical formulas in mid-air.
“This is the essence of the magical formula I have created. It’s not a conventional activation formula that everyone learns; it’s entirely my own creation, from inception to completion. Are there any contemporary wizards who are dedicated to researching their unique formulas?”
It was unquestionably the embodiment of an individual’s distinct magical realm.
To the eyes of the wizards, Professor Ren’s magical world appeared incredibly enchanting.
“The battle of magic versus magic transcends sheer power. It hinges on who can fathom and unravel the opponent’s formula more swiftly. Relying solely on activation formulas will not propel you to higher echelons. Thus!”
The expansive magical formula created by Professor Ren vanished in an instant.
“I shall conduct a class aimed at deepening your comprehension of magical formulas! So that each of you can undergo a transformation into true wizards!”
Professor Ren fervently addressed the students.
Touched by his passion, the students erupted into applause.
The term ‘true wizard’ struck a chord deep within the hearts of the young students.
Acknowledging the enthusiastic response from the students, Professor Ren gestured towards the bulletin board.
“Please verify your scores and rankings. Those who scored below 40 points, I must regretfully request that you exit the lecture hall. That will be all.”
The students gathered in front of the board.
With an intense gaze fixed upon the students, Professor Ren was approached by a male colleague.
“Professor.”
“What is it, Associate Professor?”
“There’s a student who answered the 50th question correctly.”
“They achieved a perfect score?”
Professor Ren was genuinely astonished.
‘Such a talent has emerged! Abad? Cloe? Ah! Could I finally have a lifelong disciple?’
“It’s not a perfect score.”
“Not perfect?”
Professor Ren’s expression took on an unusual aspect.
It was evident that a student capable of solving the final question wouldn’t find the preceding 49 questions particularly challenging.
Yet, not a perfect score?
“Ah, I understand. They must have skipped a few questions to tackle the last one.”
“That’s not the case either. Apart from the last question, everything else is left unanswered. Take a look here.”
The associate professor handed Professor Ren the answer sheet.
Examining the pristine white answer sheet, Professor Ren inquired with a grave countenance.
“…Who is this student?”
***
After perusing the board, Cloe instinctively turned her attention to the top rankings.
She was left astounded.
2nd place. Cloe Muller, Abad Lewalin. (49 points)
3rd place. Chelsea Lewalin (48 points)
No matter how she looked at it, Cloe and Abad were tied for second place.
And at the very pinnacle of the list:
1st place. Leo Plov. (51 points)
With a rigid expression, Cloe shifted her gaze to the front row, where Leo was seated.
There rested Leo’s test paper.
She hurriedly approached it to inspect the examination paper.
‘What in the world is this?’
Upon seeing the spell solution that Leo had abandoned on the first question, Cloe couldn’t conceal her astonishment.
‘Leo Plov… just who is this individual?’
Cliche Novel 