[611] The Five Great Prestigious Schools (4)
"Tormia!"
The chanting chorus shouted in unison.
"Royal School of Magic!"
The chant lasted longer than for the other prestigious schools—not simply because the phrase had more syllables.
All eyes turned toward the road by the north gate where the royal castle stood, and a gigantic carriage pulled by eight horses occupied the entire width of the road as it rolled forward.
"Wooooaaah!"
The cheers were far louder than anything before.
A king-sized carriage was used only in the capital; it was a mode of transport that couldn't operate without the palace traffic management's road control backing it up.
"Tch, the Royal, huh?"
The school had been founded under the king's order to train the mages who would lead the nation, and most of the Association's key posts were filled by graduates of the Royal School of Magic.
Four doors along the sides opened at once and thirty students from the Royal School of Magic stepped out onto the ground in a row.
Their eyes glowed with the pride of the kingdom's finest elites, and the applause of the crowd didn't shake them at all.
The gazes of students from the other prestigious schools grew sharp.
'There's clearly something unfair about this.'
Twenty graduates, huh.
Even with how fierce competition at the Royal was, having two-thirds of them pass was a massive advantage.
"Dante, you don't regret this, do you?" Sabina asked.
Dante and his group had also been top-ranked at the Royal before transferring—ranked in the thirties. If they had stayed and advanced, they might well have cleared the graduation cutoff of the final thirty, making the competition far easier.
"Don't be swayed by the name on the sign," Dante said, scanning the Royal students.
Unlike pupils from the other schools who were giving Shirone, Dante, Fermi and other watchlisted figures hostile looks, the Royal students wore confident expressions across their faces.
"The place I fight at is the top school. Have confidence."
Sabina and Closer's lips curved up.
'Right. Dante, because you're the best.'
"Students, enter!"
At the chanting chorus's command the barricades opened and 150 students in uniforms began filing into the central square in formation.
They were still students, but seniors—150 mage aspirants radiating enough presence to resemble a military force.
"All the competent ones in the kingdom are gathered here."
Two kilometers away above the central square, the current Head of the Mage Association, Rafael Lupist, hovered while casting flight magic and watched the black tide ripple below.
Pale-faced with sharp features, a torn wound at the right corner of his mouth, and eyebrows scarred as if by a beast's claws, Lupist cut an intimidating figure.
Jane, Lupist's chief of staff, spoke.
"If we judge by brains alone, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them the kingdom's top one through one hundred and fifty. But they're ultimately just the state's appendages."
Her red hair was swept up, silk robes draped around her; her face had the ferocity of a wildcat. Artificial smoothing hid her age.
"That's true," Lupist said.
He didn't value individuals.
"But they are core appendages."
So his remark was the greatest compliment he could offer to the students.
"It's time. Let's depart. I'll go to the Association and make preparations."
The moment Jane finished speaking, the two of them flew off in opposite directions.
Flight magic was prohibited inside the capital's precincts, but no one could stop Lupist as he flew toward the central square.
"Look—!"
People pointed up to the sky.
Under nearly a thousand gazes, Lupist landed on the platform with his black coat billowing.
'Flight magic in the capital.'
Kory realized that all of Lupist's actions were political theatre.
"Greetings, everyone. I'm Rafael Lupist, Head of the Tormia Mage Association."
His voice echoed through the square via loudspeakers, and the graduating students' expressions shifted noticeably.
'That person—'
First-rank Grand Mage Rafael Lupist.
Nicknamed the Iron Grand Mage, he was one of Tormia Kingdom's core powers.
'No wonder he's different.'
Shirone had lived beside Olivia, a second-rank Grand Mage, but the aura of a first-rank was on another level entirely.
'Another one of Gaold's kind.'
That was Shirone's first impression.
"Before we begin the review, I should probably give you some clarification. Mages are people who refuse to act without reason."
It was a rough tone unbecoming of a head, but that, too, was forgivable because he was the head of the Association.
"Actually, there wasn't any particular reason I called you here. I just wanted to see with my own eyes the future members of my family since I've been appointed head."
As Lupist's gaze swept the square, the students' hearts thudded.
'He's looking at me. He definitely saw me.'
Everyone thought the same, and Lupist's gaze finally returned to linger on Shirone.
"You are the kingdom's best one hundred and fifty. From you, sixty will pass. From those sixty, about ten will obtain an official mage certificate. And of those ten, only five will be able to get a job with the Mage Association."
A hush fell over the crowd.
"Of course, some will cross the red line, and some will burrow into dungeons and never return. You don't know it yet, but being a mage is a difficult profession to manage. If you want to work for the Association, you'll need patriotism, among other things."
Lupist held up five fingers.
"I want to form a team of five top elites. I don't know who among you will pass, but if you think you're the best, aim for the Association."
It was a kind of propaganda.
"You may ask, 'Why the Association?' First, you'll be followed by the pretty women and handsome men you adore."
The citizens laughed, but the students' expressions remained earnest.
"And you'll get substantial lobbying funds. Illicit money, that is."
Even in front of a massive crowd, Lupist made no effort to hide it.
"Of course I don't recommend it, but who knows? There are thousands of ways to skim without getting caught, aren't there? You're smart people."
And it was true.
"I don't control mages. Because they're uncontrollable. The only standard I demand from you is one."
Lupist's index finger shot straight out toward the crowd.
"Can you solve problems?"
The students' eyes flared.
"Whether you have a conscience or you're scum, I don't care. Need to beat someone? Then beat them. The King will stay silent. Want to kill someone? Then kill them! The King will turn a blind eye!"
Lupist's voice rose.
"Do whatever you want! The only rule you must uphold is to make the kingdom stronger!"
His fists slammed down on the podium.
"Don't whine that this can't be done or that can't be done. You're not like that! You're smart! A mage is not one who points out problems but one who solves problems! That is why you are given public authority and, therefore, a license to kill!"
The air in the square shook with the clamoring enthusiasm.
"Who here is the most outstanding mage!"
Me.
'It's me.'
Everyone thought the same.
"Destroy every factor that hinders the kingdom's development! If it's a god, kill the god! That is the kind of mage the Association wants! Do you understand!"
"Yes!"
The shout was startlingly loud.
"Chant it! Absolute power!"
"Ab-so-lute! Pow-er!"
In the still square the students' voices echoed.
"That is the greatest gift the Association can give you. If you want it, come to the Association."
Lupist cast a teleportation spell and flew toward the Mage Association building, and a thousand gazes followed him.
For the graduating students it was a familiar sight, but for ordinary citizens it was like witnessing a miracle.
"Now, we will begin the review. Please form lines four abreast with five-meter intervals between schools and stand ready."
The students moved with military precision and Shirone stood in line with Iruki and Nade, waiting.
"Phew, that was no joke. I was so nervous."
"Yeah. I've met Gaold, but this charisma isn't inferior."
Iruki said.
"Rafael Lupist. In political circles he's regarded as a representative of the far right. Showing the nation's strength rallies the people, but his talk about public authority was dangerously extreme. If he hadn't had that much charisma, the citizens might have revolted."
The review began, and as the 150 students marched forward starting with the Royal School of Magic, the citizens clapped and welcomed them.
'Still, being treated like this feels good. Maybe being a mage isn't such a bad job…'
Even Nade was tempted to consider it a possibility; Lupist's force of personality was that great.
"Huh?"
Shirone noticed first and Nade's gaze followed.
'Senior Liz.'
Among the press of people, Liz stood with a tranquil smile.
He had thought he'd forgotten, but seeing her face made his heart thump again.
'But why…?'
Even as Nade looked at him with questioning eyes, Liz couldn't give a clear answer.
'What am I even doing here?'
He had pushed her away so coldly before—what right did he have to still hold on now?
"Better to try and regret than not try and regret," his mentor's words came to mind. He steeled himself and clapped with all his might while calling out,
"How splendid, Nade."
Buried in the cheering, his voice was inaudible, but Nade felt certain he had heard.
'Senior Liz is looking at me.'
Only at me.
It felt like plunging into a bathtub emptied of restraint—exhilarating, but not enough to heal the wounds inside.
'I'm sorry, senior.'
He was still too tormented and afraid to step in there again.
"Nade…"
Liz watched Nade as he walked away with a sad expression, then she smiled.
'Okay. I'll be the one to bear the pain now.'
At last he understood his mentor's words.
Led by the military band, the majesty of the Mage Association building instantly stole the students' attention.
The eighteen-story tower rose as if to pierce the sky, the sun blazing off it, and the greatest mages Lupist had boasted about stood motionless guarding the entrance.
"This concludes the review. Please submit your exam application and enter in single file."
Passing through the revolving doors, Shirone saw the familiar front desk scene.
Because there were so many students, they moved via the stairs, which allowed them a little more time to tour the Mage Association they had dreamed of.
"This is even more impressive than I heard."
It wasn't a mansion built large just for show by wealthy nobles; it was on another level.
"It wouldn't be wrong to call this the culmination of mankind's cutting-edge technology. This will definitely be motivating."
Shirone had even lived here for a time, but his longing was no different from the other students'.
'This isn't a dream anymore.'
He'd once worried whether he'd survive to get out of heaven, but now, after submitting the application, all that remained was the graduation exam.
'Senior Flu.'
When they reached the Foreign Affairs Division, Flu stood at ease in uniform, eyes fixed forward.
She gave no one a glance aside from her front, and the professional dignity she radiated was palpable.
Royal School of Magic valedictorian.
One title alone suggested how much blood she must have shed to earn it.
'Should I greet her?'
As he drew closer and the question deepened, Flu's left hand, which had been clasped behind her back, slid out.
'Senior.'
Shirone smiled and slapped a high five against her hand as he passed by.