The Academy's Barbarian-Chapter 79.2 - A Changing Future (2)

The first exam finding mana traces on mana stones.

If we focus solely on this part, it seems like an exam easy enough to induce a yawn. Why? Because finding mana traces on mana stones could be accurately determined just by letting mana flow through them.

However, now that magic cannot be used, it was a completely different story.

To be precise, it was safe to say that the difficulty level had become significantly challenging.

Of course, there is a method of differentiation, as Professor Dirac mentioned earlier. The problem, however, lay in the fact that 30 minutes was too short a time to use this method.

"Isn't 30 minutes a bit tight?"

"Not a bit, but very tight."

"I bet if we ask the second-year students right now, there probably won't be more than a few who can complete it in 30 minutes."

Watching the students struggle with the exam, the assistant supervisors exchanged opinions.

"I thought they would have at least an hour."

"Indeed, it's typical of Professor Ormine."

"There's no mercy in his exams."

Professor Dirac Ormine had long been notorious for setting difficult exams. If the exam duration was generous, it implied an incredibly difficult difficulty level. Conversely, if the difficulty was easy, then the exam duration was woefully inadequate.

"I guess half of them will fail this exam."

"Hey, if half is okay, then it's even better."

"I'm guessing at least twenty people will be disqualified."

As much as this exam was stringent, the supervisors anticipated that out of the twenty-six students, only about six would pass.

However, at that moment,

"Exam, over."

a student approached the supervisors.

A silver-haired girl with an expressionless face.

It was Dilia Arpen, and the supervisors were visibly startled at her unexpected visit.

"......Huh?"

"B, you found the traces?"

"Yes. Here, the answer sheet is."

Dilia handed over a note; the number 26, written in clear letters.

The supervisors checked the answer sheet and blinked their eyes in surprise.

"Dilia Arpen, 1 minute 32 seconds."

"That's correct. It's the correct answer."

It was the fastest time ever.

As she turned around, the supervisors let out a collective gasp of admiration.

"Wow, that was fast."

"I can't believe she's this fast without magic."

"Is this the genius mage of the kingdom?"

"This is true talent."

The supervisors continued to marvel; they had every reason to be.

It would take Professor Dirac, the examiner, at least ten minutes to find the mana traces without using magic.

But it was too early to be surprised.

"Excuse me."

Following Dilia, one more girl.

There was a girl who came to the supervisors.

"I'm finished too, but can I submit it?"

The black-haired girl hesitantly handed over the answer sheet.

A girl with the same talent as Dilia. It was Noah Darshen. Once again, the supervisors looked surprised.

"Noah Darshen, 2 minutes 15 seconds."

"Excellent. It's the correct answer."

The second fastest time, behind Dilia.

The supervisors were stunned and hooted in amazement at the speed that defied all common sense. In the meantime, Noah turned to go back to her seat when she heard a voice out of the corner of her eye.

"You, are, good."

It was Dilia.

Was it the sudden praise? Noah smiled bashfully with a silly face.

"Hey, I'm still far from it. You're faster than me."

"That, because, I, better than you."

"......."

Noah clamped her mouth shut.

It was a rude answer, but it was true. Right now, based on the character ratings, Dilia was an SS-grade, and there were less than five characters with such grades.

"And Ulan?"

That's when Dilia looked around; curiosity in her eyes.

Noah shrugged and answered, "As you can see, he's struggling."

White fingers pointed to a spot where Ulan held a mana stone, silently scrutinizing its surface. He seemed to be making no progress.

Observing this quietly, Dilia approached him with light steps, "Ulan." She called out his name softly, in a low tone, "Can I, uh, help you?"

She could do more than just help, she could slip him the answer. Dilia was Blessed by Mana, afterall.

She could see mana with her eyes, making it not difficult to identify traces of mana.

"Thank you for the favor, but I'm fine."

But Ulan shook his head, as if implying that it was unnecessary.

"I can do this on my own."

"But, Ulan, you have no mana......."

"This is my exam. It's only meaningful if I can do it with my own strength, with no help from anyone else."

A stubborn response came one after another. Dilia closed her lips. After a moment, she puffed up her cheeks with a pouty face.

"......I, why, it's me."

A tiny voice flowed out, escaping her lips. Ulan didn't seem to notice, though, and continued to stare at the mana stone.

And so, as the minutes ticked by

And Ulan finally realized.

I don't understand.

In the first place, he didn't even know what mana traces were. Although he speculated that they might look like dots, there was no sign of them on the surface of the mana stone.

That means theyre inside.

But he couldn't blindly check the inside. After the exam, he had to return the mana stone. While pondering this dilemma,

'That's.......'

suddenly, something caught his eye. A stone in Dilia's hand; a mana stone engraved with a temporary attendance number. Seeing it, Ulan spoke up, "Dilia."

"...... Huh?"

"Don't you have to turn that in?"

"No. Don't think, they take them, away."

A stone that has lost all of its mana was worth exactly the same as an ordinary stone. There was no need or reason to collect them.

Immediately after her explanation, Ulan's eyes twinkled.

"Do you mind if I take them, then?"

"Don't mind, but whatyou going, to use it for?"

"To test something."

What was he testing with this? Dilia was puzzled, but she didn't dwell on it for long and handed it over.

"Here."

"Thank you," Ulan smiled.

Dilia silently observed his actions, seemingly curious about what he was planning. Meanwhile, Ulan tightly grasped Dilia's mana stone with both hands. And then, tore it apart.

"Ah......?"

The mana stone snapped into two halves in an instant.

It seemed so natural that one could have mistaken it for slicing an apple. Truly immense strength. Staring blankly at Ulan's actions, which went beyond common sense,

his question echoed, "Are these traces of mana?"

"......? Uh-huh. It is," Dilia nodded, a beat late.

She pointed to the white marks inside the split mana stone and explained, "Here, the white ones, all of them, they're, traces of mana."

"I see. Thanks for letting me know."

With that, the hesitation was gone.

After dropping Dilia's mana stones on the ground, which had been split in two, Ulan grabbed his own.

Crack! Swish!

Once again, the mana stone split into two and soon, white traces came into view.

As Ulan puzzled over them, Dilia nodded as if she had come to a sudden realization.

"Earlier, you said, you would solve, your strength alone... you meant, solve it with real strength."

".......?"

Although it seemed like a misunderstanding had begun, he didn't bother to correct it. At the moment, counting the number of mana traces was more important.

"It's a total of twenty-eight."

He counted again, and the result was the same. Ulan immediately filled out the answer sheet and submitted it.

Soon, the results were announced. "Confirmed. Correct."

"Ulan Bator, 15 minutes and 24 seconds."

When the results were announced, Ulan slightly bowed his head and returned to his original position. The supervisors murmured, seemingly surprised.

"It's much faster than I thought."

"Indeed."

"He seems to have quite a good talent for magic, despite his appearance."

Although slower than the two girls who had submitted their answer sheets earlier, overall, it was a swift pace. After all, only Dilia, Noah, and Ulan had submitted their answer sheets so far.

"He looks like he's the type of person who would just start swinging an axe, regardless of whether it's an exam or not."

"You can't judge a book by its cover."

Ignoring the supervisors' admiration, Ulan returned to his seat. Curious, Dilia asked, "How did it go?"

"They say it's correct."

Of course, it was. He had split the mana stone and confirmed the number of mana traces with his own eyes. There was probably no more reliable method than this.

After submitting the answer sheet, while quietly passing the time, "You know, Ulan," Dilia spoke, her voice sharp. She looked a little nervous.

"You know, midterms, when they're over, what are you doing?"

Well, I guess Ill go eat.

"No, not that, I mean."

"Then?"

"Ill rephrase the question.

Dilia decided that she needed to be more direct. Clearing her throat with a meaningless cough, Dilia finally brought out what she intended to say, "Do you, happen to be free this, this, weekend?"

I have plenty of free time.

"Really?"

Her complexion brightened. As if she'd heard the answer she wanted.

"Then, do you want to hang out, together, in the capital?"

"In the capital?"

"Yes. With an Outing Pass..

"I'm sorry. I already have plans for that.

"......Plans?"

A straightforward rejection came swiftly and Dilia's expression froze. The smile that had lingered around her lips disappeared, and a chill settled in her golden eyes.

After a moment, she asked in a dry tone, "Who is it, if I may ask?"

"Ibella Elearde."

The moment she realized who Ulan was going out with, Dilia's brow furrowed.

"How unfair, to pick someone so audacious.

Her fine eyebrows knitted together. As if she were deeply offended. However, just for a moment, Dilia stared at Ulan intently and said, "Then, next time, go with me."

"Next time......."

"Next week, I mean."

Her golden eyes flashed. A gaze that held a strange obsession. It was a gaze that refused to budge. On the other hand, Ulan, with a puzzled expression, asked, "Isn't it said that each person is only allowed one outing pass..."

"I can get more."

"Is that possible?"

"Yes, it is."

Starting with a confident answer, she placed her hands on her chest and continued, "Because I am the princess of Arpen."

Getting an additional outing permit was not a difficult task. Therefore, at this moment, it was more important to get Ulan's definite response.

So, with a tense expression, she asked, "...Will you, go out with me?"

"If you have the outing pass, I don't mind."

"Really? Truly?"

"Yes."

"Okay. It's a promise."

After repeating the word "promise" over and over again, Dilia's complexion returned to its normal color.

And at that moment,

Beep!

a sharp bell-like sound echoed.

"The examination is over!"

"If any students haven't turned in their answer sheets yet, please hurry up and do so!"

"If you don't submit your answer sheet, you will be disqualified!"

After the first exam of Mana Detection, all the students wore disappointed expressions. Naturally. Out of the twenty-six students, only five had turned in their answer sheets.

"We'll take a ten-minute break, and then we'll start the second exam right away!"

"Students who need to go to the restroom, please use the temporary restrooms over there."

Upon hearing the supervisors' announcement, Ulan immediately stood up from his seat. It was perfect timing as the signal came. At that moment, Dilia also stood up.

"I'll go, too."

"The women's restroom is that way."

"I know. We'll go together, just not all the way."

As she exchanged these words with a pouty face, Dilia suddenly shivered.

"......!"

Eyes that had suddenly widened the size of lanterns.

She immediately averted her gaze. The smile that had been on her lips vanished completely, and a hint of coldness even appeared in her golden eyes.

"Whats wrong?

"......."

Ulan, puzzled by her sudden reaction, asked, but she didnt answer. Dilia just stared at the other side of the Fountain of Magic; her eyes wide open. So he spoke again, "Dilia?"

"......Nothing, no." She finally answered, shaking her head, I just felt a strange, uneasy feeling.

"An uneasy feeling?

"Yeah. It's hard to put into words, but......." Her words trailed off, and she looked away again; beyond the thick fog that enveloped Zone 2. "It's ......probably, nothing, nothing serious."

This was the Fountain of Magic; a magical realm where the common sense of the outside world did not apply. So it was only natural that such an uneasy phenomenon would occur, which was difficult to explain in words.

Therefore, she tried to ignore it. That was the intention. However, despite that, her gaze involuntarily continued to be drawn to the place.

The place where Dilia's gaze was drawn.

The place she could see through the fog, the direction Professor Dirac had disappeared in earlier when he said he had to run some errands.

It was the Fountain of Magic, Zone 3.

(End of Chapter. . . . . . . .Thanks for Reading. . . . . . . . . )

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