โFuuโฆโ
โAre you tired, Headmistress?โ
I sighed, which is unlike me.
It seems my secretary, Rosemary, noticed.
Sheโs got sharp ears, that girl.
โHmph, Iโm still moving this worn-out old body, of course Iโm tired.โ
โHehe, youโre still quite young, arenโt you?โ
โHahaha! Spare me the blatant flattery!โ
โNo, I mean it.โ
โIs that so?โ
My secretary, huhโฆ
Will Rosemary be my last one?
Everyone who followed me is gone now.
My battlefield comrades, my husband, my previous secretaryโฆ
But, well, between Rosemary and me, I suppose Iโll be the first to go.
At least, I wonโt be left behind anymore.
Rosemary is a capable girl. She could have made a name for herself with her peer, Margaret, but she chose to stay with an old fool like me.
Iโve got a good discipleโฆ
Oh, right.
Margaret.
Margaret Gardnerโฆ
Margie, the pride of the Gardner family.
She sent me a letter.
Written in her characteristically rounded handwriting, despite me telling her itโs unsightly in official documents.
The letter addressed to โProfessor Angeline von Aqualondeโ in those round letters brought back memories, and I couldnโt help but caress the words.
Oops, thatโs not good.
Dwelling on memories should be saved for after Iโm dead.
As long as Iโm alive, I need to look to the future.
Now then, the contentโฆ Yes, the content was interesting.
That girl, hailed as a genius at the academy, mentioned a boy who might be the greatest and most powerful mage in history, coming to enroll.
His name wasโฆ yesโฆ
Exus Ravenโฆ
This should be interesting.
Shall I see for myself this grand-disciple who surpasses my beloved disciple?
โNow then, Rosemary. Iโm off to observe the examination hall.โ
โUnderstood. Iโll handle the documents here.โ
โAh, thank you.โ
I made my way to the examination hall of the magic department.
The exams had just started.
The fledgling mages were lined up, casting spells.
Most were using basic to intermediate spells, with little offensive power.
These are average mages.
Of course, there were some with talent.
โPop โMetal Busterโ Output Front!โ
Oh my, is that the Marquis Kleinโs daughter?
Using the Klein familyโs secret art, โIron Magicโโฆ
Now itโs an offensive spell, but the most troublesome aspect of this art is its defensive capability.
With the โMetal Wallโ spell, they can create a wall of steel in an instant.
When the Klein family enters a battle, they might not always win, but theyโre known for never losing.
Sheโs even mastered shortened incantations at this age. Impressive.
Sheโs reached a level where mediocre teaching would only hinder her. Sheโs already more than capable.
Others in this league include Grace Arclight, the โSaintโ who has mastered the Churchโs secret healing arts at this ageโฆ
โPop โShippoโ Output Trace Weapon!โ
A girl from the Zangetsu family, descended from the Eastern countryโs โDemon Swordsmanโ Sougen Zangetsuโฆ
There are some who donโt openly display their power, too.
And thenโฆ
โPop โPlasma Shooterโ Output Front!โ
That unfamiliar light spell!
How intriguingโฆ a new secret art, perhaps?
It seems to manipulate heatโฆ with cooling as a byproduct?
I might call it โBlaze Magic.โ
The magic power flowing from their bodyโฆ Wonderful!
But even this level can occasionally be seen on the battlefield with heroic-class mages.
Even I could easily annihilate everyone in this city if I wished.
But what Iโm watching for is that boy.
Tall for his age of twelve, with astonishing beauty and long black hairโฆ
That must be the boy Margie spoke of, Exus.
One look is enough to tell.
What is this?
Heโs perfected the โMagic Concealmentโ technique, usually mastered by heroic mages in their twilight years, at such a young age!
Magic Concealment isnโt just about hiding your magic power.
It can also minimize and mask the nature of your magic, making it hard to predict or counter.
โWhatโs wrong? Hurry up.โ
โItโs done.โ
A burst of magic so fast it left no trace, obliterating the targetโs head and chestโฆ
And without incantation, using the Elven โSilent Castingโ!
Do you understand?
This is far more frightening than flashy spells.
The examiner may be shouting, but probably just an incompetent hired through connections.
I asked Exus to demonstrate his magic once more for confirmation.
โSure, Iโll do it at a visible speed this time.โ
He adjusted the speed of his spell for me.
Ah, now I see clearly.
โAhahaha! I understand, boy! Youโre the top candidate!โ
I couldnโt help but shout.
Wouldnโt you?
โWell, itโs an unknown technique, but the candidate before him was more impressive!โ
One examiner protested.
I explained it to him.
โListen, magic is about using the right amount when needed. Thereโs no need for grandiose displays.โ
Most here donโt understand, but thatโs the essence.
Exus demonstrated a spell that efficiently and precisely neutralizes the enemy.
If he can do this, he surely knows much more.
Achieving the greatest results with minimal effort!
Absolutely splendid.
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
Excerpt from the Biography of Heroes of the Kingdom of Viltoria
Angeline von Aqualonde
A great mage who lived for three centuries and was instrumental in the founding of the Kingdom of Viltoria. She held the rank of Marquis and took in the kingโs third son as her husband.
She was a master of water magic and had learned two forbidden spells, which she could cast solo without rituals, a rarity in her time.
In her later years, she became the headmistress of the royal academy, where she met the demon mage Exus and foresaw the dawn of a new era.