"Here, you're going to hit the Mad Doll with your magic. It's a 'guessing' test.

　The examiner said as the students, including me, were gathered in the schoolyard.

　A little further away from us, several dolls made of mud were moving left and right.
　They seemed to be controlled by magic.

　However, from what I could read of the built-in magic formula, it seemed that it was not of very high quality.
　When it moves a certain distance to the right, it moves to the left ......, and when it finishes, it simply moves to the right ...... and so on.

　This is the first time I've seen what looks like a magic tool, although it's a lousy one.


"Mad Doll ......!　It's the magic academy of the royal capital.
I'm pretty sure those things are expensive, aren't they?
Yeah. It's said that one of these dolls costs no less than ten gold coins.


　Looking at the moving Mad Doll, the surrounding students were talking in hushed tones.

I'll tell you more about the test. You will be standing at this line.

　I looked at my feet and saw a white line.

"Without leaving this line, you will fire a fire spear, which is also a basic spell. Aim it at the Mad Doll.

　Right.
　A test to shoot a moving target with magic.
　Simple, but profound.

...... on that mad doll?
"Can you hit a moving target like that with magic? ......

　The people around me were buzzing.

　Seeing this, the examiner said in a slow tone.

"Don't worry. Even if you can't cast a spell on the Mad Doll, your test score will be determined by the speed and strength of your Fire Spear construction. In other words, even if you can't hit it, you won't get a score of zero, so please use your strength to the fullest.

　Upon hearing this, the students around me breathed a sigh of relief.

　Hmm.
　It's okay if you can't hit the target, he said.

　But a wizard who can't hit a target of this magnitude will have a hard time in the future.
　I can't think of any other option but to "guess" from the beginning.

"Now, let's start with exam number one.

　Thus began the test of guessing the target.
　Each student in turn stood in front of the white line and cast a spell.

"Gather in my hand, flame. Gather in my hand, flame. Become a spear, pierce and burn the enemy.

　I think Cyril was also muttering something, but what are those embarrassing words?

　Could it be the ...... chanting?

　No, that's all I can think of.
　It's a method used before the magical revolution I started.
　I forgot it existed because it was too old and I didn't use it.

　A feeble spear of flame shot out from the examinee and headed for the Mad Doll.
　But it seemed to have missed.

"That's right. If you're using chanting magic, you can't control it very well.

　After all, chanting magic is a 'complete thing' in itself.
　It is no more applicable than constructing a magic formula from scratch.
　It was a nod to the fact that the spell had been removed from the Mad Doll, which was simply going back and forth.

"Next!

　One after another, the students cast their spells.

"Gather in my hand, flame. "Gather in my hand, flame. Become a spear and pierce the enemy!
"Gather in my hand, flame. "Gather in my hands, flames. Become spears, pierce and burn!

　One spell after another.

　But ...... doesn't seem to be working.
　The spears of fire that the students unleashed at the same time did not hit the Mad Doll, but landed on the ground.

"Next!　Exam number 50.
"Yes!

　I heard a cute voice, and a girl popped out from the crowd.

　Whoa.
　That's ...... Lara, isn't it?
　That's the girl I rescued yesterday.

　Well, let's see what she can do.

"...... Gather in my hand, flame. Gather in my hands, flame. Become a spear, pierce and burn your enemies.

　Like everyone else, Lara chants magic.
　...... Apparently, Lara's magic is red.

　Red. It's a magic color that excels in offensive magic.
　The flames gathered in Lara's hand and eventually formed a flaming spear that was much larger than the other examinees.

What?

　Lara herself rolled her eyes in surprise.

　The large spear of flame continued to thrust forward with a rumbling sound.
　It couldn't hit the Mad Doll, but it landed on the ground nearby and exploded with a loud noise.
　A lukewarm blast reached here.

　As if everyone was surprised to see it.



"What the hell?　What was that attack magic?
It really was a fire spear, wasn't it?　I couldn't hit the Mad Doll, but ...... if it's that strong, it must be able to annihilate the enemy.
"I'm amazed you managed to do that with your unfortunate magic.

　It's a chanting spell.

　It's a chanting spell, so it probably couldn't have a tracking function, but it's much more powerful than the other candidates.

"What, what?　What's going on?　I've never had a spell this strong before. ...... Could it be the effect of this ring?　I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on.

　Lara looked puzzled and saw the ring on the finger of her right hand.
　I remembered that I had improved the defective ring.

　But.

"Lara will make a good wizard after all.

　Good magic.
　It's only 200%. It doesn't do much.
　She's still doing inefficient chanting magic, so she can't even hit a Mad Doll, but ...... she'll be a good wizard once she's re-trained.

I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out.　Exam number 99!

　It's my turn.
　I stepped forward and looked at the Mad Doll.

"Good luck, Kurt.

　I turn around to see Lara waving at me.
　I turn around and see Lara waving at me, so everyone is looking at her and me in turn.

...... embarrassing.

　I scratch my head.
　But it's not a bad feeling.

　Okay. I don't want to look uncool.

　Analyzing the mad puppet, I put together a magic formula.
　A few people have been able to cast spells on the doll, but none have been able to destroy it.
　So it's hard to know what the strength is, but let's say it has ...... [strength +1000%].
　There are ten moving Mad Dolls.

　...... analysis complete.

"Is this enough?

　Create ten fire spears.
　Of course, I've added a tracking function to make sure they don't miss.
　Firing them all at once, the ten flaming spears headed in a straight line towards the Mad Doll.

　Every single one of them hit.
　The mad puppet exploded, and a chain of events ensued.

"Whoa!
What's happening?

　The screams of the students echoed through the schoolyard.
　By the time the gray smoke had settled, .......


"Mad, all the Mad dolls are broken!
And it looked like Fire Spear was heading towards the dolls all by himself. ......?
And that yellow magic is ...... defective magic?　No, you're looking at it wrong. I've never heard of a defective magic power being able to do that.


　Of course not. Of course not. I added a tracking function.

　But apparently the Mad Doll was made of a brittle material.
　I didn't think this kind of magic would destroy it.

I've never seen a Mad Titan crumble before!
Yeah, I'm with you. I've heard that it's ...... as durable as armor made from orichalcon.

　Orichalcon?
　Oh, that brittle metal.
　I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's a fan of your work.

"Kurt, you're amazing!

　Lara ran up to me and squeezed my hands.

"Ha, ha, ...... all the mad dolls are broken. I don't know what I'm going to do about the exam. ...... I mean, why can't I just hit one of them? ...... Why do I have to hit them all?

　On the other hand, the examiner whose glasses are off is looking at the broken Mad Dolls and is at a loss.
　I felt sorry for him, so I magically fixed the Mad Doll for him later.