Bahil's assistants appeared and prepared a set of exercises for each student.
On the right side is placed a cactus-like plant on a sandboard, and on the left side is placed a 'magic circle frame' that resembles a mold or mold. It is a magic circle correction tool for novice necromancers.
"It's unfortunate for Kizen students to use repair tools, but since this is our first class, there's nothing we can do about it."
Bahil said.
"It's good to master it, but please be careful not to rely too much on the repair tool as it can develop bad habits. Now! Let's start practicing the curse of fatigue, 'Exhaust'!"
Bahil kindly taught how to use the straightening tool, and Simon followed exactly as instructed.
He grabbed both handles of the rectifier, squeezed out the jet black liquid, and poured it into the handles.
Jet black color flowed in the rectifier and gradually formed a magic circle.
"The key is how well you build the main rune."
Simply put, 'Runes' are letters with magical powers, and by writing these letters using jet black, magical effects can be created.
Simon concentrated on writing the main runes and activation formulas on the edge of the magic circle.
Of course, since this was an operation done using a mold, he could draw the magic circle without understanding the structure in his head.
"Now, students who have completed it, please float the magic circle into the air."
Simon swallowed his saliva and tried to raise the completed magic circle. A jet-black, dark blue magic circle emerged from the mold and floated in the air.
'Wow!'
It was a real magic circle. He was able to create the same technique that his father, Richard, sometimes used!
He had some doubts whether this would actually activate the black magic, but he couldn't help but look forward to it.
Looking around, about half the students in the class had magic circles floating in the air.
'Ah!'
While he was lost in thought for a moment, one side of the magic circle Simon had created turned into liquid and flowed down.
"I can see some students whose magic circles are broken."
Bahil said immediately.
"It happens when the jet black color is not properly purified or when the solidarity of the magic circle weakens. Try again."
Simon gritted his teeth and started over again.
"And for those students who can keep their magic circles in the air, let's get to work! Use the curse on the plant in front of your desk!"
The successful student took a deep breath and activated the magic circle at once.
Good grief!
The black gas shot from the magic circle was directed at the cactus-like plant.
Half of them showed no change, and the other half had drooping plants.
"Congratulations. If there are significant changes in the plants, the magic circle is working properly."
"Yes!"
The male student next to Simon clenched his fists.
Simon held back his envy and continued his magic circle work.
"The gap can already be observed. For students who succeed, please repeat it to increase the speed of completing the magic circle, and for those who feel the speed is enough, let's practice making a magic circle in the air without using a rectifier." ."
Time passed quickly, and Simon felt his fourth failure.
There was no problem in creating the magic circle, but it turned into a mushy mess and fell to the floor as he floated it in the air.
'What's the problem here?'
Simon became nervous as the number of successful students increased.
Of course, Kizen is a gathering place for the best talents on the continent, and most students come after preparing for lessons beforehand.
It was understandable that Simon felt confused—this was his first time encountering black magic—but such self-justifications were not in Simon's head.
Why did it fail?
-But it still has mana properties. Seeing it surge like fire means it hasn't been able to leave its gaseous form yet.
-He needs to learn to use his core more effectively.
As he recalled the voices of Nefthis and Lorain, whom he had met in Langerstine, Simon removed his hand from the repair tool. He then closed his eyes and focused on the mana in his body.
'Back to basics.'
Drawing mana into the body through breathing and transferring mana to the core below the heart.
Same so far. However, Simon didn't drain mana into his core right away, but gathered as much mana as he could first.
'Ugh!'
He felt a tingling sensation at the bottom of his heart, but he clenched his teeth and endured it. Then, he injected the lump of mana he had gathered to its limit into the core at once.
When he forcefully infused a large amount of mana at once, the jet black color became harder and flowed out from his core. It was a temporary measure made by Simon, who had not yet learned how to use the core.
'Now, here it is!'
Simon opened his eyes and reached for the handle of the repair tool.
The purer jet black color was placed into the mold faster than before. Simon quickly finished his runes and formula before floating his magic circle into the air.
'Work!'
Now it won't break.
Simon moved his magic circle and aimed it at the plants on the sandboard. He wanted to succeed as long as he mastered it.
'Exhaust!'
As the magic circle was activated, grey smoke from the center of the rune hit the plants.
Desir.
The plant's stiff body drooped.
'Succeed!'
"Now, enough, everyone."
Bahil clapped his hands.
"For students who have not made it to the end, please continue practicing in the dormitory."
Frustrated voices were heard from here and there. Bahil returned to the platform and raised his register.
"Now! We will be having a practice match with the magic we learned today for the rest of the time. For those students who were called, please come forward."
Suddenly, great tension gripped the lecture hall. The students were busy avoiding Bahil's gaze.
Bahil smiled and looked at the register.
"Oh? Special Admissions No.1 is in this class, huh?"
The students looked back simultaneously.
"Simon Polentia. Please step forward."
"...Ya pak."
I felt a bit uncomfortable, but it ended up like this.
Simon calmed himself down as he went to the platform.
There's no reason to be nervous because I finally made it. Keep the ball rolling.
The students flinched, avoiding Bahil's gaze. Bahil looked through his scroll with a smile, as if seeing the students act like that was fun.
"There are two students with impressive entrance scores."
Bahil, who had been thinking about who to contact between the two of them, finally opened his mouth.
"Hector Moore. Please step forward."
"Ya pak."
It was the big male student that Bahil thought he would remember. Hector got up and went up to the platform.
Soon, the two of them stood facing each other on the platform.
* * *
* * *
Simon held his breath. The male student named Hector felt much bigger when he was face to face like this.
"I will start explaining the rules."
The assistants put a standing desk in front of Simon and Hector. In addition, there is an Exhaust repair tool that they use in class.
"Only Exhaust is allowed for both of you. Equip Exhaust and use it on your opponent! Whoever touches the floor with their knees or butt first loses."
The rules are simple.
Simon strengthened his resolve. Since it was like this, standing in front of everyone, he wanted to win.
"Teacher."
At that moment, Hector raised his hand.
"Yes what is it?"
"I will fight without using the rectifier."
Wah-
You can hear the whistle from the room. The students are now relaxed and ready to enjoy their second match.
"What a great mindset."
At the beginning of the lecture, Bahil felt a little uncomfortable using the straightener. When Hector observed this, he improved his skills and confidence while getting scores with offers that Bahil liked.
He is smart, contrary to his rough, bear-like appearance.
Bahil turned to look at Simon.
"What about you, Simon?"
Simon's mouth went dry. Everyone here was watching him with expectant eyes.
Honestly, it was a difficult situation for him to refuse the offer, but…
"I will use the repair tool."
It is better to face reality than to be arrogant.
It would be worse to accept the offer and be reduced to nothing without a single successful Exhaust.
Bahil looked at Hector with a bitter smile, and Hector replied as if waiting,
"I have no intention of taking back what I said."
"Very good."
Hector takes full advantage of the audience's influence.
Hector gives the impression that Simon is a petty Special Receiver No. 1 and he is honest and confident.
It's pretty clear who the people watching will be supporting.
"Start the match on my signal. I hope you two will show a great match in front of your classmates."
Hector lowered his posture and Simon reached for the handle of the repair tool.
"Start the match!"
Simon picked up the jet black he had prepared and put it into the straightener. The jet black quickly spread and filled the magic circle mold.
'I can do that!'
Perhaps due to the tension, the jet black color wouldn't expand as much as it did during practice, but he patiently waited for the magic circle to complete.
Just as he was about to continue with the detailed formula after the main rune in the middle was written…
"...!"
Suddenly Simon's body felt heavy and his legs started to shake.
'Impossible!'
Simon raised his head. Hector smiled triumphantly, having completed his first spell.
"Wooooow!"
"Very good, Hector!"
"He's very fast."
Hector took advantage of the momentum and immediately began preparing a second spell, while Simon clenched his teeth and tried to maintain his speed.
'My body feels heavy, even though it's only one injection!'
He was sweating and his legs were shaking.
Simon could feel why the curse was threatening and an effective way to attack his entire body.
As Simon floated the magic circle complete with straightening tools into the air, one side of the circle collapsed like porridge.
Ah~ A groan was heard from inside the room.
Even if he could activate it, it would have no effect since the formula was broken. Simon released it and prepared a new magic circle.
'Kuh!'
And Hector's second exhaust exploded on Simon. He felt his stamina draining, and his body getting heavier.
It was the worst. Even focusing on casting was hard, and now standing up straight was tiring.
A situation where you cannot concentrate.
The progress of the battle was one-sided.
Hector activated the 3rd, 4th, and 5th exhausts and fired them at Simon mercilessly. Simon's knees trembled as if about to give up.
The students had once loved Hector's fierce attacks, but now they looked at Simon with pity.
'This is over. He is no match for her.'
'He can't even land a single attack?'
'Is he really Special Admissions No.1?'
Simon failed to construct the magic circle twice in a row because his condition and concentration were very low.
Hector spoke as he fired the 6th Muffler at Simon.
"Just give up. You look pathetic."
Simon became desperate and gave strength to his legs.
I can't, I can't back down like this.
'Again!'
After the third attempt, Hector sighed and prepared his 7th Muffler.
'...…Hmm.'
Bahil watched the fight between two students with crossed arms.
The boy named Hector was truly great. In addition to being talented in Curses, he had a good mindset as a student.
Someone who could survive until the 3rd year. He thought he would definitely take this person.
'On the other hand, special entrance ticket No.1...'
Honestly, he was terrible. Learning the next lesson was the entry level for Kizen, and there were students who had even gone through actual combat.
However, the student who holds the title of Special Admission No.1 has no basic skills at all. It's as if this is his first time learning black magic.
'Why did Nefthis choose this child as Special Admission No.1?'
* * *
* * *
Special admissions 1, 2, 3, and 4 who were officially invited to Kizen by skipping the cruel entrance exam were truly the talents of the century.
Among them, the selection of special admission No.1 was the authority of Nefthis, the ruler and president of Kizen, and each of them had grown into great people.
However, for the students chosen by Nefthis herself, she had no hope.
If there was something special about him, it was probably his physical strength.
Usually students kneel after doing 4 exhausts. But now, Simon persisted even after being hit nine times.
He was born with physical strength. He must have been training his body as well. And seeing as he still held onto magic in a situation where it was hard to stand, his mental strength was pretty good too.
However, that was all. If it was Professor Hong Feng of Combat Magic, he would definitely drool, but it was not very interesting to Bahil.
"Whoah!"
Simon opened his eyes and floated his fourth magic circle above the mold. This time it was fully formed and did not flow into the air.
Simon immediately activated his magic. Gray gas came out and hit Hector's body.
"...!"
Hector, who was preparing a spell, stumbled massively. For example, he almost lost his balance when his knees bent, but he barely managed to hold on by putting his hands on the floor.
'Finally it worked!'
Simon clenched his fists. A look of confusion appeared on Hector's face for the first time as he raised his head.
'What? Why is it so heavy?'
Hector had felt Exhaust as a preparation beforehand.
But was the curse this heavy? He was almost knocked out with just one shot.
Even so, the score was 9:1. He was undoubtedly in an advantageous position.
But Hector, who allowed Simon's first shot, felt an unknown nervousness. The opponent who followed him like a leech grabbing his trouser leg was very annoying.
'It's fallen!'
Hector used all his concentration and activated the 10th magic circle that was floating in the air.
Dust.
Finally Simon who took Exhaust 10 times, knelt with one leg on the floor.
"Stop. The match is over."
Bahil stepped forward and said,
"The winner is Hector Moore."
The students' applause filled the room.
Hector looked away, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
He saw Simon sitting there, sweating.
'...'
He didn't feel like he had won.
When Hector first hit his Exhaust, he knew that his opponent was a newbie.
Someone who has never studied black magic. So, the fight should have ended there.
It should have ended there, but…
He won't fall.
Even after taking 9 shots of Exhaust, despite his trembling legs, he managed to complete his magic and hit Hector once.
'…Scary bastard.'
Before he grew up.
Before, one day, he became so big that no one could stop him,
Wouldn't it be better to destroy it while I still can?
Hector thought about it seriously.
"You did a good job too, Simon. Please return to your seat."
When Bahil snapped his fingers, the 10 piles of Muffler curses that had been holding Simon back were lifted.
The curse was gone, but the tiredness he had been feeling all this time was still there. A sour smell came from his mouth.
But still.
'Phew.'
He had no regrets. Simon woke up feeling relieved.
'That is fun.'
He felt happy to come to this school.
"Alright. I'll dismiss class for today."
Bahil immediately announced the end of class. The students moved out of the lecture hall, and Bahil sat back in his chair. Then he closed his eyes and was silent, as if meditating.
"P-Professor."
At that time, a student who read Bahil's face came to him.
"I have a question about class—"
"Please wait a moment."
"Please come to my lab after all classes are over today. I will answer all your questions."
"R-Really? T-Thank you very much!"
What a welcome windfall.
The student ran out of the lecture room while screaming because she was invited to Bahil's lab.
Bahil stared at his back with blurry eyes.
'I have to fight myself.'
Insult rose in his throat.
This feeling.
This emotion now.
He didn't want to waste his remaining feelings on something as cheap as that.
Bahil closed his eyes again and recalled the class, as if enjoying it.
'...Simon Polentia.'
All he could think about was Simon.
At first, she thought he was just a man with great physical strength, but that wasn't it.
Everyone in the class probably thought Simon was crushed one-sidedly with a score of 10:1.
But that one Exhaust attack he fired at Hector in the end.
In the eyes of the professor, who read the talents and possibilities of the students, one Exhaust that Simon had cast several times, no, at least ten times was more valuable than the 10 Exhausts that Hector had cast.
Simon's exhaust pipe was constantly playing in his head.
'This is the best!'
The sides of Bahil's mouth were open.
"I have to make a genius like that major in Curses, no matter what!"
Bahil's innate desire began to itch.