This is the venue for the practical exam.


　A student in a white school uniform is shouting to those taking the exam.
　Here too, students seemed to be giving directions to the test takers.
　Including the students in front of the gate, I counted that I saw more than ten of them.


　The number of people standing in front of the gate is quite large, but there is a reason why multiple guides are needed.
　This is because the structure of the academy is quite complicated and the passages are intricate, and without guides, it is easy to get lost.
　This was probably done to protect against intruders and in case of emergency.
　There are many meaningless doors.
　If you walk, you will soon hit a corner.
　There are several intentional dead ends.
　The stairs are the most important. The number of steps and their height are not coordinated, and you lose track of how far you've gone up or down.
　I felt as if I had wandered into a maze attraction. As a student entering this place for the first time, I was thrilled, but those who were going to attack this place would not be able to stand it. It's like a promise that you will get lost.


　In the corridor, there is an exhibition stand with replicas.
　There are also pole partitions everywhere to indicate that it is forbidden to enter.
　There is also a corridor made of arches and pillars, as in the Western castles of the man's world.


　Following the guide, we arrived at the training hall.
　This was at the edge of the Academy grounds, a short walk from the classroom used for the exam.
　The people gathered in the training hall were all boys and girls dressed in well-tailored clothes.
　Many of them seemed to be of particularly high status, and it was apparent that they were all children of noble families.
　As Kazi had said, they were probably trying to differentiate themselves from the commoners.
　Seeing that Lisha was not in sight, I guessed that she had taken or would take the exam on another day.


　After a while, the instructor, who was standing in the center of the training hall like a landmark, looked around at all the people gathered.


He said, "Are all those who wish to take the practical test present? I'll go get the person in charge, so please wait.


　With that, the instructor quickly left the training area.
　Soon after, a young man appeared in the training hall, accompanied by the instructor.
　He was a bespectacled man wearing a black vestments.
　His dark purple hair is frizzy and cut short, and his hair texture is somewhat familiar to me.
　This young man was familiar to me. He was the one who had been with Merkleya String and Frederick Benjamin when they had watched the National Mage Examination at the Mage Guild.
　He is probably a national mage. He was not intimidating, but there was an air of solemnity about him.


　He stepped in front of the test takers and began to introduce himself.


My name is Qasim Rawley, and I will be supervising this practical test. I am not an instructor at the Academy, but I will be supervising your practical examinations today. I look forward to working with you.


　When Qasim introduced himself, people around him shouted in surprise, "Oh! When Qasim introduced himself, there were surprised shouts of "Oh!
　He was, after all, the national mage. Qasim Raleigh is a mage with the nickname "Dazed". He specializes in illusion and hallucination magic, and on the battlefield, he is said to play a major role in helping allies escape during retreats.
　He is also one of the national mages who have not met at the meeting of the mage guild.
　Looking at his face alone, he looks soft and timid, but the pressure on his body is real.


　I remember hearing that he was Kazi's junior.


(I mean, that guy knows too many people.)


　His senior was the national mage Mercurial String, and his junior was the current Inspector General, Count Lisa Rousey, and the dazzling mage in front of him.
　Considering this, it must have been a pretty bad generation at the time. I can't help but feel that way.


Now we will begin the practical test. I'm not going to be too hard on you just because you're a national mage, so you can take it easy.


　He said with a gentle smile, but of course, no one would be able to relax honestly. A good performance here would lead to a good reputation in the future. Most of them were breathing hard, and their spirits were naturally high.


　Qasim looked at them calmly and continued his explanation.


In the practical test, each of you will use the magic that we have specified. Of course, you will have one shot at it, so please keep that in mind.


　Eventually, you will be given a text with a spell written on it.
　The spell specified was "Soul Ignis".
　It is an offensive magic of the flame system, a type of magic that hits the target with multiple balls of pale flame.
　The spell is just the right length for an offensive spell, and is not too difficult to use.
　The spell is not very powerful and is not cost-effective. If you want to use it, you can save your magic power by using a more powerful spell or improvising one.


　However, it is not such originality and creativity that is measured in the practical magic test.
　What this test is about is whether you can use magic correctly.
　Putting the right amount of magic power into words and phrases, and pronouncing and uttering spells correctly is a natural part of using magic.
　The spell itself is the same, but the effect can be different.
　If the movement of magic power is stagnant, the speed of casting will be affected.
　If the strength of the image is not strong enough, the quality, strength and power of the spell will be reduced.
　In the worst case scenario, the spell may fail due to insufficient chanting.
　On the other hand, the power does not increase or grow.


　You can find a lot of people who are willing to make exceptions to this rule. ...... But basically, the effects of magic tend to diminish.
　This is evident when you compare the magic that you and Risha use. When Risha uses the original spell that you created, the power of the spell goes down, while Risha's fire magic is often better than yours.


　If you want to increase the power of your magic, you have to modify your spells.
　At any rate, the focus of this test would be to see how well you could perform according to the standards.
　First, Qasim shoots his model at the target object.
　Multiple pale flames rushed towards the straw and burned it to the ground.
　The people around him said, "Oh! The people around him shouted in admiration and surprise.


　Those challenging the test began to use their assigned magic one by one.


"But the spirit that burns... Drifting through Okutsu Castle. I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it. Wander out and rush in. Homura's Dance: ......




　The blonde examinee chanted a spell, but no magic appeared.
　The magic power dissipates and the arts glyphs in the air shatter and scatter.


"Ah ......

"You failed. You'll need to memorize the spell and make sure you put the correct amount of magic into the words.


　Kasim gives some simple advice to the student who failed to chant.
　The student who had failed the exam from the very beginning slumped his shoulders in frustration and returned to his place.


　When Kasim said, "Next," a female student came forward and stepped forward.


"--Burning spirit!　Drifting through Okutsu Castle!　Flickering, flickering, flickering!　Flickering and flickering!　The light of the gown invites you!　Wander out and rush in!　Homura's flock, shine brighter!


　As she casts the spell, the Arts Glyphs appear and flail about in the air.
　But the effect of the spell was that the Artsglyphs turned into multiple blue-white flames, which also rampaged wildly through the air, and when they reached half the distance of the straw, they landed on the ground and burst into flames.


How about that?


　She's puffing out her chest with a smug look on her face, but Qasim looks a little dumbfounded.


Why are you so proud? You can't.

"Oh, .......

"You added an extra word to the spell, didn't you?

"I'm afraid I've lost control of my temper, .......

Adding extra words to a completed spell is, of course, a bad thing. It's also important to keep the tension in the chanting to a minimum, as this magic has an ethereal quality to it.

I wanted it to shine more ......

The amount of magic was good. You should control yourself more.


　What the hell is this obsession? The fire in the graveyard can't be too bright. Sports events and baseball should be more quiet.


　Anyway, that's the magic of the other test takers.
　The next student was so nervous he botched his chant and failed.
　The next student was able to generate a spell, but it was much less effective than the model spell.


　In the event that you've got a lot more than one of these, you'll be able to get a lot more.
　It's a good idea to take a look at the website and see if you can find any useful information.
　No, if you think about it, not all of these people will pass the exam.
　Since it was quite possible that some of them would fail the written exam, it was only natural that some of them would not be able to use magic.
　Currently, out of the ten students, there are only three who have succeeded in using magic, including the girl I mentioned earlier.
　In addition to the girls, the other two also have a weaker ability to burn things than the normal [Soul Ignis], or their fireballs are smaller. They could not burn up the target of the straw.


(How can there be such a difference?)


　To be honest, I was quite surprised.
　To be honest, he was quite surprised. Not one of his attacks so far had been powerful enough to meet the standard.
　No, even among the mages of the national army, the number of chanting failures changed greatly before and after the introduction of the magic meter. Before entering the Academy of Magic, this number of chanting failures would not be strange.
　That's how difficult the use of magic is by nature.
　In other words, the people around you are so proficient in magic that you feel this situation is strange.


　The student who had successfully performed the spell shouted with pride.


"I succeeded!

"Well done. It was a good spell.


　Casimir congratulates the student on his successful spellcasting.
　It was a good spell," Qasim congratulated the student.


"Now, the next one.


　It was my turn. Qasim called out to him.


"My name is Arx Raytheft.

"Oh!　Oh, you are?


　Like the others, I stepped forward, and Qasim approached me with a happy look on his face.


It's the first time I've seen you. No, it's just that I've been unable to attend meetings .......

No, the fact that you are so busy is a testament to your exceptional abilities.

No, the fact that you're so busy is a testament to your exceptional abilities." "It's just that you're more likely to be called upon for menial tasks.


　Kasim laughs, "Hahaha ......". The fact that his weak laugh made me feel pity for him was probably due to the fact that I could tell that he was a hard worker.

　I'm a witch and an age fraud mage.

　Or a troublesome and slightly evil mage.

　And to top it all off, there's a troubled mage with a belt around her neck.


　Perhaps it's because they are surrounded by people with strong personalities that they are susceptible to wrinkles.


Is Kazui doing well?

Yes. I'm working at home and cleaning with an apron.

I'd like to see her wearing an apron. I'd like to see you in an apron.


　"I'd like to see you wearing an apron," said Kasim, smiling cheerfully.
　This young man seems to be a very fast-paced person.
　He is much easier to talk to than the other national mages.
　I feel as if I'm talking to a gentle older brother in the neighborhood.




"Its ...... time to go, Mr. Laury.

Oh, excuse me. Come on.


　At the lecturer's urging, Kasim resumed the examination.
　Perhaps it was because we knew each other, but I couldn't help but make small talk.


We've already talked about your skills, but it's an exam, right?

"Yes. Yes. Drifting through Okutsu Castle. Wavering. Flickering and faint. The light of the gown beckons. Wander out and rush in. Homura's Flock Dance.


　--Soul Ignis.


　You quickly chant an incantation and cast a spell.
　The magic words scatter and fly up into the air, and eventually pale flames begin to light up on them. As if ignited by gas with an igniter, they blaze, blaze, blaze. They wandered around like demon fires in a graveyard, and soon flew toward their target.
　When the pale flames landed on the target made of straw, the pale flames burned fiercely as if they were oil.
　There was no problem at all in terms of power. I didn't run out of breath in the middle of the attack, as I had done with the [Soul Ignis] that other students had used.


　Immediately, people around you start shouting.


"You made it.

"Isn't it perfect?

It's exactly the same as the one used by Dazed and Confused.

That easy?　I used it casually, like flicking a pebble. ......?


　The voices of the students were all full of surprise.
　It's not that surprising, but it seems that there is a difference in perception to some extent.
　One of the lecturers who went to call Kasim earlier said


This is ...... the most accurate way to control magic power.


　The lecturer who had just called on Qasim said, "This is .


Was it rude of me to call you brilliant ......?

No, thank you, sir.

The power, the speed of use, everything is perfect. The power, the speed, everything is perfect. It's a model spell.

I wonder what my uncle will say if I fail. ......

"Lord Molten Iron, ...... that's terrible.


　I'm sure you can't help but chuckle.
　If I tell Crabbe that I failed the fire spell, he'll yell at me for starting my training all over again, and more importantly, if I fail a spell like this, I'll never be able to defeat Joshua.


　As for the practical test.
　It seems that there were several successful candidates in the other group, but in Arx's group, he was the only one who succeeded perfectly.