Chapter 5

When I woke up, the reality of the second day of the recommendation exam hit me hard.

“Today’s the day… Everything will be decided today…”

Ah… I don’t want to move.

The bed feels like it’s clinging to me, refusing to let go.

I want to go back to sleep.

If I could just go back to sleep now, I know I’d sleep incredibly well.

…Oh.

Now that I think about it, my body feels sluggish.

Is it a fever?

Yeah, it’s definitely a fever.

If it’s a fever, then there’s nothing I can do.

I mean, it’s an illness. It’s unavoidable.

Nothing I can do, nothing I can do.

Alright, I’ll just stay asleep like this.

I have a feeling that when I wake up, somehow, miraculously, I’ll have passed the exam.

“Onii-chaaaan!!”

“Bwah!?”

“Hurry up! Get up! Aren’t you going to the exam!?”

With a sharp elbow jab to my stomach, the kids rudely woke me up.

I don’t want to complain in front of the kids.

Let’s get up gracefully.

“Hurry! Hurry! Onii-chan!”

“There’s still time, so it’s okay.”

As the kids excitedly pull me down the stairs, a nice smell wafts up from below.

In the dining hall, Luke was having breakfast.

Vegetable soup, bacon and eggs, and freshly baked fragrant bread.

The ultimate breakfast set. Just looking at it lifts my spirits.

“Good morning, Luke.”

“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

“Well, sort of. Woke up feeling terrible, though.”

“Stay focused, Ausel. This is the day that counts, for better or worse.”

“I-I know that.”

For the combat test, we have to bring our own weapons and armor.

There aren’t any restrictions on what we can use, but I don’t have any money, so I have to use the training clothes, wooden sword, and armor provided by the academy.

I change in the locker room.

Looking at them again, both the sword and armor are covered in scratches.

“Our gear is pretty beat up.”

“Most of the scratches were from sparring with you, Luke.”

“If that’s the case, the same goes for me.”

“…We really worked hard, didn’t we?”

“Yeah, we worked hard. We did everything we could. So, Ausel, go in with confidence. You’ve got this. You’ll pass for sure.”

“…Yeah.”

With everything prepared, I head to the arena.

At the entrance stand my homeroom teacher, Kate, and Mortes, the combat instructor.

With his rugged face and long hair flowing back, he looks like a seasoned warrior.

Teaching combat at a school filled with outstanding students means he’s far from an ordinary person.

“Good morning. First, let’s go over your results up to this point. Ausel, Luke, both of you have passed.”

I felt confident, but hearing it outright is still a relief.

If I hadn’t made it this far, there would be no point.

“We’ll now begin the combat proficiency test. But Luke… you don’t need to participate.”

“Huh…”

“Your proficiency with skills and your written test results have shown you have promise. As a result, you’re exempt from the combat proficiency test and have passed the recommendation exam.”

Luke’s admission was decided just like that.

This is the difference between someone who’s acquired impressive skills and someone who hasn’t.

He’d even worn his training clothes, but he just stood there, a bit stunned.

Luke and I looked at each other, at a loss for words for a moment.

There’s only one thing to say, really.

“Congratulations, Luke.”

“Oh, uh… yeah…”

“Ausel, let’s proceed.”

Without any time for sentiment, I step into the arena, facing Mortes.

“We’ll now begin the combat assessment for the recommendation exam. You’ll have a simulated battle against Mr. Mortes. There are no restrictions on weapons, skills, or magic. Use your full capabilities and prove your combat strength.”

“Y-yes!”

“Then, begin!”

Mortes was wielding a wooden sword.

There shouldn’t be any restrictions on weapons, but perhaps Mr. Mortes intended to fight with a wooden sword regardless of what I use.

He doesn’t seem to be planning to make the first move.

Since this is an evaluation, he’s waiting until I’m fully prepared.

“Hoo…”

I take a light breath, loosening up my tense body.

If I win, I’ll get the recommendation, I’ll be able to attend the academy, I’ll be able to stay at the orphanage, and I’ll be able to stay with everyone.

But if I lose… everything could be taken away.

Above all, being judged as lacking promise in this test would cast a shadow over my life.

I shake my head firmly, take another breath, and focus.

Right now, I need to concentrate on what’s in front of me.

I can’t let all my training go to waste.

No matter the outcome, I just want to feel satisfied with my effort in the end…

At that moment, a resolve settled in me, and I felt like I had a core of steel within, making my stance unwavering.

Channeling the magic coursing through my body into my muscles, I enhance my basic strength.

With this, I quickly close the 10-meter gap.

Mortes deflects my slashes, tilting his body fluidly.

I swing my sword for a second and third attack, but Mortes’s smooth, flowing sword movements deflect my blows effortlessly.

Even when I step in as close as possible and swing with all my might, he parries it.

I’m holding my core with magic to maintain balance.

This should allow me to generate substantial force, yet Mortes doesn’t even budge.

The sound echoing from our clashing wooden swords is unlike anything you’d expect, but I feel no impact on Mortes’s end, only a stronger rebound on my part.

It’s like swinging at a wall.

Is this man even human!?

“Spirit—good. Courage—good. Determination—good. Skill level—good.”

“…?”

“Now, it’s my turn.”

“!?”

In an instant, Mortes closes the gap.

He moves so fast it’s like he left sound behind.

I barely manage to track his sword and intercept it at the last second.

My body feels weightless as I’m sent flying seven or eight meters.

I twist in midair, landing firmly on my feet.

My hand is numb. Just one hit had that much force.

No signs of him gathering strength or needing a run-up, yet he hits with such power.

We’re in completely different leagues.

Not by one or two steps, but by several.

This is my first time crossing swords with him, but there’s no way someone lacking this level of skill could teach at this academy.