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Translator/Editor: Coughing Baby

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◈ Surviving in the Magic Academy

Chapter 194

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194. (Revised)

I saw countless mirrors floating above the enormous bed that filled half the room. Each mirror held innumerable screens within it like shards, and magical power flowed from them.

I slowly approached the bed and bowed my head. Then Professor, who had been half-buried in the bed and quietly watching the mirrors, glanced up at me.

“It seems the exam is about to begin, so I came to see you.”

Professor nodded. Then light began to enter the small screens engraved in the mirrors. The blurred images soon came into focus, each showing similar scenery.

Should I call it the scenery of a small cave? It was the place where this exam would take place. I could see people appearing in those rooms one by one.

They were all examinees taking this exam. Their appearances, realms, and auras of magical power all differed, and each of them reacted differently on their respective screens.

After confirming how vivid they looked, as if I were watching them from right beside them, I glanced at Professor. The places they were in were all part of the same dimension. But right now, they could not perceive one another at all.

It was because of the magic Professor had carved into the exam site. Her magic was splitting the same dimension apart, branching it into many versions like this. The examinees would take their own exams inside those branched dimensions.

I watched Professor yawn and nodded. A deep boredom could be felt in her eyes. Even though she was maintaining such large-scale magic, she looked perfectly fine. I could not help but admire her.

“Then please wait just a little. I will return once the exam ends.”

I bowed to Professor. She glanced at me, then lightly waved her hand. It meant I could leave. At that, I slowly backed away and left the room.

Once I left the room, I found myself facing a magic circle that gave off dense magical power. It was the magic Professor had created. The magic circle containing the examinees was splitting the dimension and naturally guiding them inside.

Feeling the complicated flow of magical power that I could not understand no matter how long I looked at it, I shook my head. Such beautiful magic. I needed to make this exam succeed as much as possible so I would not disgrace Professor, who had laid down magic like this.

Not simply by holding the exam, but by making sure everyone could be satisfied. So now it was time for me to move too. I slowly reached out toward the magic circle.

Like the other actors, I also needed to dissolve my body into this magic circle. Only then could I interfere with the examinees’ dimensions. I also needed to watch them from close by for a more detailed evaluation.

When I touched the magic circle, I felt my magical power naturally flow into it. Feeling that flow, I stepped beyond the magic circle. Along with that, my body and mind slowly melted into the magic circle.

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I quietly swallowed inside an all-white space. This was already the third time I had come to this place. This time, I would definitely succeed. Definitely!

I made that vow and clenched my hand tightly. Then the scroll I had been holding tore a little and scattered into the air. Damn it, I had forgotten I was holding this.

Startled, I unfolded the scroll. The words I had read over and over came into view. Maxim 1. No matter what happens, do not get worked up. Watch the situation.

Maybe because I had opened it so many times, the scroll was in terrible shape. It was worn enough that a little force, like just now, could make pieces fall off. Still, thankfully, it did not seem to have any major problems.

Unlike how it looked, this was an extremely precious item. It was something I had barely obtained after spending a whole ten mana stones. I had scraped together what little I owned to get it. How much effort had I put in to obtain these teachings?

“I will pass this year no matter what. No matter what!”

I shouted loudly as if making a vow to myself. Then I felt the small Sapling in my chest give off magical power as if cheering me on. Encouraged by its support, I clenched both fists.

This was my last chance. This year was already my third attempt.

There was something many mages in front of the university said. Usually, three years were enough to judge whether someone could enter the university or not.

If they challenged it any longer, they would only run into the limits of their talent. That was why many people gave up after their third attempt.

I could understand why they gave up. The cost of taking the exam even once was truly brutal. Hadn’t I taken on a bit of debt to participate this time too?

If I failed this time, I would end up being worked to the bone for years by the sword-user from the slums who had lent me mana stones. When I thought of that ominous future, my chest somehow twitched.

I gulped. They said people who worked under sword-users never ended well. Maybe I had made the wrong choice... This ominous feeling was a little worrying too...

When I felt those thoughts wrap around my head, I shook my head hard. Worrying again. I had to stop thinking like a coward. With this kind of mindset, I would definitely not be able to pass the exam.

I thought back to my last two attempts. The first time, I had taken it right after leaving the island, so I had no idea what was going on and failed. The second time, I failed because I did not have enough points.

Back then, I had not known why I had failed that way. But now I could clearly tell.

I carefully unfolded the scroll and read the sections written about the two recent exams I had participated in. Then I had no choice but to click my tongue.

The exam content written on the scroll was utterly lacking! It was hard to recognize even for me, someone who had participated in them directly. To think they tried to sell something like this for mana stones. As expected, sword-users could not be trusted.

Even so, I bought it because it had more than enough value to make up for that. I unfolded the scroll further and moved down. Then I began checking the records from ten years ago.

It was the part that described making magic, building a fortress, and then going on to face magical beasts. I quietly closed my eyes and savored the words.

Mm, even though this was written in text, it was incredibly vivid, as if it were unfolding before my eyes. Every time I looked at it, I naturally imagined what I would have done.

Maxim 11. Do not be arrogant, and if you cling to someone else, you can make it halfway. With that commentary as the final line, the story of the exam from ten years ago ended.

I engraved that maxim in my heart again and folded the scroll. There were as many as eleven maxims like this written on the scroll. The memories of the past year, when I had learned so much while studying those maxims, were clear.

I could say my last two failures had happened because I did not know these maxims. On top of that, the knowledge contained inside this could not be ignored. It also contained the contents of the university exams from the last fifty years.

Should I call it a kind of past exam collection? It was full of predictions about what actions had to be taken in each task to receive high points.

Detailed commentary like this continued up to about twenty years ago. It did not simply contain information, but also advice and personal experiences. In that sense, this scroll was no different from my greatest teacher.

And now, I could say with confidence that I had learned everything in this scroll. That was why I planned to get results this time no matter what. Of course, since it was not perfect, I did feel a little anxious.

I smacked my lips with regret. The scroll’s maxims cut off at ten years ago. Everything after that had been written carelessly.

I had heard a little about why that had happened from the sword-user who sold it to me. Apparently, the person who had originally sold this had passed the university exam ten years ago and left. They said it was a result he had earned after a whole eleven attempts.

After he left, the sword-user had shaken his head, saying the information network that followed him had never recovered. In that way, the writer of this scroll had truly analyzed the exam thoroughly. He must have passed the university because he poured in that much effort.

I quietly closed my eyes. What kind of person could the one I called my teacher be? I felt a little excited from curiosity. With that kind of analytical ability, he might have an incredibly solemn appearance.

I would find out if my imagination was correct once I went to the university. So I also planned to follow his example and pass this time no matter what. There was a high chance this exam would suit me well, after all.

I lightly tapped the backpack on my back. According to the probability calculation method the scroll had taught me, there was an over eighty percent chance that this exam would be survival-type. The things inside were what I had packed according to the advice in that scroll.

Do not be arrogant. Watch other people’s reactions. Repeating the advice engraved in the scroll, I steadied my mind. Then I faced the face in front of me. Now it was time to enter the exam site.

When I carefully approached the face, it opened its mouth toward me.

“Please submit your participation fee.”

I searched my chest and took out one thin pouch. One hundred mana stones, containing the hardship of my past year. It was also the fee for this exam. I quietly fiddled with the pouch, then squeezed my eyes shut and threw it at the face.

The face swallowed the pouch whole, smacked its lips a few times, then nodded in satisfaction and opened its mouth wide.

Inside its mouth, pitch-black darkness rippled. I carefully stepped beyond the darkness. Along with that, I began to feel as if my body were being split into several pieces.

Then at some point, I realized I had arrived in another place. Feeling the high-purity magical power around me, I slowly opened my eyes. I saw a wide table.

There were five chairs placed around the table, where a small candle was lit. And there was one person sitting in one of those chairs, leaning back. It was a man holding a sword in his arms.

I cautiously sized him up. Then I carefully sniffed. A thick metallic stench began to come from him. It was the unique smell of a sword-user.

I looked around and hesitated on my feet. To think I had to stay in the same space as a sword-user. What kind of disaster was this? Perhaps sensing my movements, the man’s magical power stretched toward me sharply.

“Oh my, hello there.”

I immediately bowed deeply. Then the man slowly opened his eyes and looked at me. Along with that, his magical power brushed past me. I had no choice but to swallow at that sharp sensation.

Just from this magical power alone, I could clearly tell that he was stronger than me. Still, the gap did not feel that large. I should be able to run away.

But maybe not here. I glanced around. Walls blocked every side. If I fought a sword-user in this sealed space, it was obvious that no one could handle it.

He was probably an examinee like me. I carefully watched the man, then sat down in one chair too. Judging from this setup, it seemed five people would form one group.

I had also confirmed in the scroll that exams with group members often appeared. But to think I would end up in the same group as a sword-user. While watching the man, I examined the top of the table. My eyes caught one small candle and an hourglass.

The sand inside the hourglass seemed to have just begun falling and was slowly flowing down. Did the exam begin once it all fell? Feeling tense, I focused on the Sapling inside my chest.

Then the Sapling responded to me and softly released magical power. It slowly melted away my tension. Until the exam began, I planned to relax my body like this at least.

And in the middle of that response, I felt my senses sharpen. It was because of a presence that had appeared suddenly. When I glanced in that direction, I saw a person.

It was a woman dressed with an air of elegance. She was looking around while waving a fan densely studded with jewels. She met my eyes and lightly released magical power.

Then I felt a small twitch in my chest. It was a kind of warning. At that, I quickly lowered my head and avoided her gaze. Soon, the twitching settled down, and the woman slowly walked over and took one chair.

The next one to appear was a man wearing a shabby robe. The moment he appeared, I had no choice but to frown slightly. For some reason, a deep stench came from him.

The man naturally took a chair and sat down. I glanced over them. A woman who looked like she was obviously from a good family, a sword-user, and even a man giving off bizarre magical power. All of them were incredibly strange.

Getting involved with people like this felt a little unlucky. I quietly held my breath, hoping the last person would at least be someone easier to deal with.

Perhaps my wish had been heard, because the young man who soon appeared looked very ordinary. With one puppet standing beside him, the young man looked at us and scratched his head.

“It seems I’m the last one.”

There were deep dark circles under the young man’s eyes as he approached the table. Looking full of fatigue, the young man plopped down in his seat. He looked around and lightly nodded.

“Mm, shall we all get along? Considering they prepared a place like this for us, it seems the five of us are meant to move forward together in this exam.”

The young man smiled brightly. He looked very innocent. But as I looked at him, I somehow felt one side of my chest sting.

The Sapling inside my chest seemed to feel something similar, because it shook its branches with slight caution. While soothing it, I looked at the others. I could feel a little of this sensation from them too.

But it was not as clear as the warning aimed at the young man. I swallowed and watched him. He looked very ordinary on the surface.

Still, since my body was giving me this warning, I needed to pay attention to him. This was a specialty I had possessed since I was young.

Should I call it the ability to read others? How many crises had there been from the time I left the island until I reached this place? I had been able to get through them largely thanks to this instinctive warning.

This special sense was enough to make even Ojo, the mage of the island, voice admiration. Thinking of Ojo, I smiled bitterly. I had remembered getting tricked by Ojo again.

Ojo said that with this sense, it would be possible for me to enter the university. I had completely believed those words and left the island. But after coming outside, I learned that most of the things he had said were useless.

No wonder my chest stung whenever I looked at Ojo. He could be called the first swindler who awakened my instincts. After that, through many crises, I came to trust this instinct a little more.

So I needed to watch that young man a little more closely. This sense would not be warning me for nothing. Perhaps the young man felt my gaze, because he smiled lightly and looked around at the others.

“Then shall we introduce ourselves? I think it would be better to do it while we have a seat like this, rather than exchanging names after the exam begins.”

The young man smiled softly and slightly raised a hand. Then the puppet waiting behind him brewed tea with magic and set it in front of us.

When I lightly touched the teacup, I felt a gentle fragrance rise from it. The young man sipped the tea and continued.

“Since I brought it up, I will introduce myself first. I am Evron. As you can see, I specialize in handling puppets. I will take care of miscellaneous tasks, so everyone can simply relax and enjoy yourselves.”

The young man scratched his head and bowed. Evron. When I heard that name, I blinked for a moment. It was a name I had heard somewhere.

Where had I heard that? After being lost in thought for a moment, I slightly raised my hand. At that, the young man sipping tea met my eyes.

“Um, do you happen to know Manjo Island, located east of the continent? It is a small island where an airship comes and goes once every twenty years.”

The young man who had introduced himself as Evron narrowed his eyes and stared at me. After a short time, he lightly tapped his chin, then shook his head.

“Manjo Island, is it? That is the first time I have heard that name. To begin with, I am a native of the inland, so I have never had a reason to go to an island. But why did you suddenly ask that?”

He tilted his head. Mm, had I mistaken it? Feeling a little awkward, I scratched my head.

“I heard before that there was someone with a similar name on the island. They also handled puppets... So I asked just in case, but I suppose I was mistaken.”

The name Evron was something I had heard in passing from Ojo. Apparently, he was one of the people who had left the island. Since it was not a common name, it had remained in my memory.

I looked over Evron. Then I shook my head. My thought had to be wrong. He had left the island decades before me. There was no way someone like that would still remain an examinee.

“I see.”

Evron quietly nodded. Then he lightly tapped the table. Somehow, I felt like a flicker of interest in me passed through his eyes.

I quietly watched the others, then gave a brief cough. It seemed I would be next. Since I had already opened my mouth, should I continue with my introduction? I rolled my eyes and bowed my head.

“I am Ivrio. I am confident in hunting and tracking, so if you need a scout, please leave it to me!”

There was no need to go into anything deeper. The exam had not properly shown how it would proceed yet. After me, the man in the shabby robe opened his mouth.

“Jaun. I can handle corpses a little.”

For some reason, I could feel an ominous presence in the words of the man who introduced himself as Jaun. Corpses, huh. Was that why he smelled so bad? Jaun closed his mouth and stared at the remaining two.

The woman ignored that gaze and continued leisurely fanning herself. The sword-user slowly opened his eyes and looked at that woman. Then he soon nodded and opened his mouth.

“Please call me Gang. As you can see, I am a swordsman.”

He tapped his scabbard. Then sharp magical power clearly revealed itself from there. Among the sword-users I had faced so far, it was powerful enough to rank near the top.

But even he was not the main figure in this seat. There was someone here who had magical power surpassing his. The woman folded her fan and leisurely looked around at us.

“Is it this one’s turn? Call me Emery. I shall grant you that special permission.”

I lowered my head slightly at the magical power rippling from her. Her magical power was stronger than anyone else’s here. I needed to respect that. The others seemed to think the same, because they paid respect to her as I had.

Perhaps satisfied that everyone had lowered themselves like that, the woman, Emery, picked up the teacup in front of her and savored the fragrance. After taking a sip of tea, she narrowed her eyes and stared at Evron.

“Ho, it tastes good. I like it. You, stay by my side if you can. Then I will take you to the end of the exam.”

“Thank you.”

Evron smiled and nodded. I looked at him enviously and fiddled with the scroll inside my chest. Was that why my instinct had warned me?

Emery was obviously someone from a good family at a glance. That was why, from the moment I saw her, I had been aiming for the seat beside her. Hadn’t the scroll advised it too? Cling to the strong, it said.

But to think he would get the first move like that. I had lost. I quietly looked down at the teacup placed in front of me.

Just how good was this for Emery to like it? I lifted it and smelled it. Then a deep fragrance seeped into my body. And when I held the tea in my mouth, a taste even deeper than that wrapped around my mouth.

My eyes widened at the magical power softly brushing the tip of my tongue. The tea was melting magical power in my mouth as if a flower were blooming. Feeling my body naturally awaken within that flavor, I let out a sound of admiration.

This was a taste I had never experienced before. To think he could brew tea like this. It was something I could not do. Damn it, should I have practiced brewing tea too?

It was my defeat. So I needed to aim for the next chance. After introductions ended, everyone began sipping tea. None of them seemed to intend to talk anymore.

And that was the same for me. I did not know what kind of exam would unfold from now on, after all. They might make it look as if they were forming groups like this, then suddenly tell the five of us to fight.

I quietly stared at the hourglass on the table. The exam would definitely begin once all that sand fell. Quite a long time passed after that, and at last, all the sand settled.

Along with that, a small screen appeared before us. Looking at it, I laughed softly. It surely contained the contents of this exam.

Then shall I check it? I leisurely tapped the screen. My preparation for this exam was already thorough. With the scroll’s advice, I was confident I could handle any type of exam that came my way.

But that confidence of mine quickly crumbled before the writing that appeared on the screen. The words shown by the screen in front of me were far beyond my expectations.

Reach the end of the story as a randomly assigned group of five. (100 points total, pass with 60 points or more)

(10-point deduction if a group member drops out or dies)

Chapter 1. Black Mage

Chapter 2. Ballroom

Chapter 3. Treasure

Chapter 4. Trial

The screen contained no explanation. I could not tell what kind of exam it was at all. But there was no time to be flustered by that content. The surroundings suddenly began to change.

The moment I blinked, we were in the middle of chaos. I felt the thick scent of blood and the sound of explosions disturb my senses. It meant the exam had begun.

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