Chapter 23: Lanchi's Logical Mind
Chapter 23: Lanchi's Logical Mind
In the main hall of the Sage Academy, the teachers had gathered once more in the top-floor conference room while the third round of the entrance exams was underway.
The walls were a simple white, seamlessly blending with the smooth marble floor, with the only interruption being the large magical screen in the center, displaying the ongoing exam.
On the screen, Lanchi and Shubellyan, with Ferret as their examiner, were taking their exam.
"Their luck..." one of the teachers muttered.
"Do these two students intend to take on Ferret head-on?" another asked, to which the room fell silent, with only the occasional murmur breaking the tense atmosphere.
In the 'Infinite Phantom Canyon' exam, if one couldn't escape for 30 minutes, the only option was to confront the examiner directly. While there were confident and powerful students who chose this path, the current situation was vastly different.
Even a full team of third-rank examinees would struggle to hold off a restricted fourth-rank examiner for long. But everyone in the room knew that this examiner, Ferret Savinsen, was exceptionally strong.
He was a cautious and ruthless battlemage who possessed numerous lethal spells and magic cards, capable of easily defeating regular officers of the same rank in the kingdom's army. Even without considering his rank, his years of combat experience alone would be enough to crush these two newcomers.
And now, with the ability to utilize fifth-rank strength, the power gap between them was immense.
"...”
Vice-principal Ron watched silently, his chin resting on his hand as he observed the projection in the center of the conference room. He was aware that this entrance exam involved the interests of some high-ranking individuals in the kingdom. There were invisible forces at play, working against Shubellyan's enrollment.
While those individuals had legitimately used Lanchi to increase the difficulty of the exam, the wildcard that could disrupt their plans was Lanchi's "unconventional wisdom."
However, the open plain left little room for strategic maneuvers, and Ron couldn't discern if this was by chance or design. All he could conclude was that from the moment these two newcomers had met, their luck had been abysmal.
The same was true in the Shadow World – those without luck, no matter their abilities, would find it difficult to survive.
...
On the vast grassland, dew hung from the grass tips like sparkling jewels. As a gust of wind swept across, the dew trembled and scattered like shattered transparent gems.
The fifth-rank examiner could even fly using fifth-rank wind magic.
From afar, Lanchi and Shubellyan could see a dark shadow approaching them in the sky, closing in rapidly.
"Do you have a tactic in mind?" Shubellyan asked, puzzled by Lanchi's calm demeanor. She couldn't fathom how his wisdom could be of use in this situation.
"No," Lanchi shook his head. "What tactics can there be on a plain? We either run or fight."
He knew that with the examiner going all out, they had limited options.
"Do you know anything about the examiner?" Lanchi asked, turning to the duchess beside him. He recalled that when Theresa, the instructor in the exam room, had mentioned the examiner's name – 'Ferret Savinsen' – Shubellyan had seemed to recognize it.
As a native of the royal capital and well-versed in the complex web of nobility and influential figures, it wasn't surprising that she might know something about the examiner.
Shubellyan nodded. "Ferret Savinsen, a viscount. He's a despicable and cautious coward who only picks on the weak while fearing the strong. He's also a lackey of a rival faction to House Aransal, and since my father's disappearance, they've been making things difficult for me..."
She clenched her teeth, a deep hatred evident in her voice as she spoke of Ferret, as if their enmity ran deep, "He possesses a wide array of spells, but his true strength lies in his formidable magical power, which he combines with his magic cards for maximum effect in battle..."
"Seems like he doesn't play fair," Lanchi commented.
Lanchi nodded, gazing at the examiner Ferret as he swiftly flew towards them, and murmured, "He's almost upon us."
In the brief moment they had to converse, Ferret had closed in to a distance that was clearly visible to the naked eye.
A wizard who could fly using wind magic was far faster than anyone who could run.
"Do you have a way to stall him for a short time and ensure your own safety?" Lanchi asked, as if seeking a final confirmation.
Although self-preservation magic cards were rare, it wasn't unlikely for Duchess Shubellyan to possess some.
"Self-preservation is not a problem, but I'm not sure how long I can hold him off," Shubellyan hesitated before admitting to Lanchi.
"Then trust me."
"Our compatibility is terrible, and your healing magic won't be of much use to me."
"Rest assured, after today, you'll find that I'm the best support you've ever seen, regardless of compatibility."
Like the final few seconds of preparation before the real exam began, their casual conversation lasted only a few seconds.
Then, Ferret came to a halt, hovering in the air at a distance from the duo.
He had been streaking through the sky like a meteor, but now he suddenly hung motionless, not daring to come any closer.
At this distance, he was well within range to unleash a high-powered spell that would annihilate the pair.
The examiner Ferret, hovering in mid-air, looked down at them in silence for a moment.
It seemed like he was observing their state, which was far more relaxed than he had imagined.
"You, you can withdraw from the exam now." Ferret raised his hand slightly, pointing at Lanchi behind Shubellyan, and said in a low, commanding tone as if issuing an order that brooked no argument.
However, the next second, he only saw Shubellyan's eyes fill with wariness as she resolutely stepped forward, shielding Lanchi, making it harder for him to take out Lanchi instantly from this angle.
"Why should I withdraw?" Lanchi asked, puzzled, looking up at Ferret.
"..."
Ferret tapped his finger lightly in the air, feeling that this irrelevant person, Lanchi, was a nuisance.
He had intended to convey a message from his superiors to Shubellyan alone.
But it seemed that before he could do that, there was a pesky little mouse in the way.
"Did she promise you money, status, or something else?" Ferret asked condescendingly, a hint of mockery in his voice.
In his opinion, any reward this precarious Duchess could offer would amount to nothing but empty promises.
Unless...
This foolish boy had fallen for the Duchess's beauty and was willing to help her for that reason alone.
But once he truly understood what kind of person this Duchess was, he would likely be scared out of his wits.
"Hmph." Lanchi chuckled at the question, as if he had heard something ridiculous.
Taking a deep breath, his gaze hardened slightly as he fixed his eyes on Ferret and asked, "According to the exam rules, she is my teammate. Article 13 clearly states that I must cooperate with my teammates. Didn't you, as the examiner, bother to read the rules before coming here?"
His tone was like that of a superior inspecting a subordinate, causing the hovering Ferret to stiffen momentarily.
(End of Chapter)
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