June 25, it's the third day of the semester exam week for first to third year students at the institute.

　On the last day of the examinations, there are exams for each lecture and practical exams in the afternoon.
　It is not an exaggeration to say that practical skills are the most important part of the examinations. This is because the practical skills class is allotted six sessions a week and students receive three times as many credits as usual. So whether or not you fail it will have a significant impact on your advancement.

　The only subject that Ars struggled with in the exam is, to tell you the truth, practical skills.
　The reason for this is the fact that the chancellor is not an examiner this time. It's a good thing that it's not a matter of choice because it was a series of aberrations to begin with.

　It's a good thing that you're able to get a good deal more out of it.
　Ars has traits outside of the system. It's a good idea to be able to use magic at a high level in other areas as well, of course, but it's also important to have your own AWR.
　It's not impossible to use it. It's just that I can't adjust my magic supply.
　I'm not talking about subtlety, but rather Ars thinks this is a deficiency unique to being outside the system.


　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. That's why it's also outside the system, but because of that, he has no control when it comes to normal magic. So we're augmenting it by carving the magic formula into AWR.

　I don't feel comfortable bringing in my own AWR here. It's easy to attract people's attention, but even if it's your own, you'll be exposed to strange looks. It's also depressing to be unusually gathered together.

　But that doesn't mean that you can't throw your magic into it with all your might. It is inevitable that you will fail the unit if you end up being too lenient and failing to launch.

　There are no partitions in the exam now. I'm not sure what kind of magic you want to use, but it's up to you. It's also annoying that the subject of grading is required to be a magician's level of skill, because the strength, power and accuracy of even a first-level magic that anyone can use depends on the individual's ability.

''Oh dear.''

　I can't come up with a countermeasure even though the test is already underway with one person and then another.

　It was because of the lack of partitions, which the students could not know. I just realized the seriousness of the situation when I stepped onto the training field.

'What are you going to do?'

　Loki asked in the background so he wouldn't hear.

'I don't think the AWRs here will be able to handle the power output,'

　Many of the AWRs on display near the wall are major products on the market, so they have no quirks, but their specifications are inferior. The magic formulae carved into them are also only system-based, and in the case of Ars, a good-quality AWR is not enough.
　I took one look at the countless shoddy AWRs for training and scratched my head.

''Would you like to use my AWR?''
"Hmmm... lightning systems. I'm sure it can handle the power, but the controls.

　Loki's cheeks loosened with a chuckle when he saw Ars with such a lack of confidence.

''What!''
'No, there are some things even Master Ars can't do,'
Of course. You don't expect this kind of thing to happen to them.
Yes.

　He smiles somewhat happily in his bouncy voice and clasps his hands behind his back. It's a gesture I don't know if he's worried.
　As for Ars, though, that's not the point.

　The students in the place, both male and female, turned their gazes to Loki, who put his hand to his mouth and smiled. How much of the students' consciousness was reaped by the loveliness of her usually expressionless and dreamy appearance, smiling defenselessly.

　The reason why she returned her gaze to herself was probably because Tesfia's name was mentioned in the next exam.

　And it goes without saying that his signature 《Icicle Sword》 caused a lot of cheers.

''You're the one who likes to stand out.

　Loki just glanced at it and quickly turned to Ars.
　Noticing this, Ars's thoughts reeled the matter back in.
　While he was thinking, his turn came around to Loki, and when he arrived at his designated position, the entire class watched with bated breath, just like Tesfia... or even more so.

''《Light Nining Bolt》''

　The reason I told you the name of the magic is because it's a rule during the test.

　In the case of offensive magic, you are supposed to hit the sandbag-like doll directly in front of you.

　Three balls of thunderbolt float around. Loki waved his knife at them like a commanding rod and shot thunderbolts at the doll.

　They created an electric field and flew at high speed with the three points as the tops. When it hit the puppet, it instantly thundered with a beehive and burnt the puppet to black.

　The examiner, a female teacher, opened her mouth in the stunned room.

''Well done, Loki-san.''
Thank you.

　In terms of rankings, Loki was better, but in terms of the academy's position, it was probably because the teachers were better than him. He had a certain appearance.

''Wow!''
In an instant!
Those things would kill a demon in a heartbeat.

　And so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on.
　Loki, who returns with a cool look on his face, felt a little proudly turning his chest, which was beginning to swell with feelings.

　His eyes seem to demand something when he gets to the front of Ars.

'You're steady, I think you've raised your arm,' he complimented for once. Inwardly, I was thinking that Loki is usually very demonstrative.
　It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what you're looking for.

"Thank you.

　Ars's name was then called.

　In the end, I couldn't think of anything to counteract it.
　The gazes of his classmates varied. Most of them are looking on as if they are priced out. Some of the male students look at me with contempt.

''Loki, can you lend me one?''
Of course.

　My hands immediately went to my waist. And in the hand I brought in front of me, there were more than ten knives on it.

'I'll take that one. No, I like this one. It's the only one I've got.

　One of them was directed at this one.
　From Ars's point of view, none of them were any different, but maybe there was a favorite or something in Loki's mind.

'Oh, thank you.'

　And the designated position.
　The already charred doll has been replaced with a new one.

'Then you may begin.'

　Ars, who had never been this careful with magic on a regular basis, was more nervous than ever.

(If he traced the composition slowly and carefully, there would be no problem.)

　Magic power flows into the knife between my fingers, causing the magic formula to glow. One by one, the compositional stages of first-grade magic unfolded in Ars's brain.
　

''Lightning Arrow [Light-Ning Arrow].

　The magic spun in a non-stagnant tone is the rudiments of the first steps.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them. It means that they have a reputation for the unknown Ars, whose abilities are immeasurable.

　But--.

　Due to the excess supply of magic power, the first-grade magic stagnates unsteadily with the beehive as if the magic power was compressed to the limit.

''Ah--''

　The arrow disappeared in an instant, as if strangled to the limit, as soon as Ars let out a cry of failure.

　And the smell of burning.
　A beat later, everyone's eyes turned to the doll.

　It left a burn mark in the center, piercing a hole and allowing a view through to the back.　

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　The lightning lightning still charged Loki's knife.

''I'm sorry. I failed. I'm embarrassed that I couldn't even use that level of magic.

　Ars turned white and bothered to expose his inadequacy, as if to say it was an accident.

I'm sure you're right. It's a little unstable.

　Ars bowed and returned.

　He understood that it was a situation that could not be hidden. That teacher might have been able to understand how the current phenomenon came about. But I didn't give him time to think, so he could have gotten away with it here.

　The voices of my classmates....

''I knew it was a failure,'' how helpful it would have been if they all had been in this state.

''But can you fail and penetrate........I mean, what's the point of failing?''

　Some students are not as organized as they say they are and don't understand the questions they are asking.
　In the end, after looking around at the whole thing, they seemed to have settled on the reservation that he was still a weird guy. No, they haven't settled down, they are probably being creeped out, to be honest.

　What they call failure is the failure of magic to manifest. In this case, it was just a lack of control, and in effect, it was a power that they couldn't achieve with the primary level magic they knew.

　While several students were being called by name, the last one's name was raised.

　The problem was still Alice.
　The magic to be used for the test was the Fire Arrow, Fire Arrow, of the fire system.
　It's probably due to the fact that Arrow doesn't exist in the first level magic of the light system. Naturally, magic that wasn't of her own characteristics was weak and her magic power was not stable.

　The teacher also understands her lineage, or perhaps she doesn't interrupt, but stops at just one "good job".
　Alice's complexion is not excellent. It's also true that the magic she unleashed was something inferior to five figures.

　Was the exam more than a little exciting?　I guess. It was a test, but unlike the written test, it lacked a sense of urgency.



　♢ ♢　


　After exams, there are consecutive holidays. There are no subjects on these holidays, which are also known as exam holidays, so students work hard on their own to study.
　But because of the grading period, students are not allowed to enter the main building.
　I've held up the training area for this day in advance, which is why I've been here since morning with Tesfia Alice Loki.

　Today's training menu is the exercise of magic. We're focusing on 《Mystrotein》, which Tesfia wouldn't be able to do.

　Of course, we won't spend all our time on that.

　Alice and Loki took turns repeating the mock battle with Ars.

　Naturally, the inside of the training field is partitioned, and normally you would be exposed to the eyes of the people around you, but thanks to the three-digit wizard Loki, the partition is blacked out so that you can't see the inside.
　This is because the magic of a three-digit mage is allowed to be hidden. It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for. That's why even the academy has permission for the mastermind during training.


''Haaaaah!

　While playing a sword fight with Alice, Ars kicked at the hilt without paying attention to the public eye, and then he paid off the cleaver from Alice's hand.

''Ah!

　There is a momentary gap.
　Then, in succession, a spinning kick is slammed into her abdomen.

　Alice landed on one knee while being blown wide open.

'Don't hold back when your weapon is gone.
Yes!

　His powerful reply is something of a frustration.

　Reflection doesn't make sense against Ars. He is still inferior in ability. Therefore, he is targeted at the gap in the blade, which is outside the range of reflection.

　Alice at this time was gnashing her teeth, wishing she had more types of magic to assemble a strategy.

'Next, Loki.

　Without a signal to start, Loki, who had been waiting, runs out.
　I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what I'm going to do with it.
　I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what I'm talking about.

　Although Ars's AWR is a shoddy product for loan, it's sufficient since it doesn't use magic.
　Using the wall as a foothold, I leap high above Ars and five knives stand out around it as I leap high above him.

　The magic circle with Ars at its base floated up and electricity surrounded it.

　With an eye on Loki in the air, he releases the sword in his hand. Of course, it's not to Loki. One of the corners that make up the magic circle - the knife is flicked with the sword and the magic circle is disabled.

''-----!

　The upheaval was instantaneous, and soon Loki was in the air, firing his knife directly downward.

　Ars easily caught it between his fingers as if it was a predictable development, and then threw the projectile back as before.

''--!

　Sure enough, Loki had nowhere to run in the air and could only prevent it. It wasn't unscathed either, and even if he tried to deflect the trajectory, it stabbed him in the shoulder.

　Loki arrived at the opposite wall while contorting his face at the stinging mental damage and changed direction towards the ground, unable to step out.

　At the same time as he lands--.

You can't fly into the air unnecessarily. You should have read three moves ahead anyway.
I'm here.

　Behind Loki, he was holding the sword that Ars was supposed to have thrown.

''That's as good as three figures.''

　A recovering Alice exclaims in admiration when she sees it settled.

''No, I'm not quite a partner yet,''
Well, you're not going to be strong enough any time soon.

　I said this to Alice across the street, but I'm not sure how well it worked.

Yeah... right?

　Alice's eyes wavered for a moment as she was aware of what she was definitely lacking.

'It's not a good idea to be too biased towards magic... like that guy...'

　He pointed to a point.
　The sight of Tesfia firing a series of magic at the wall seemed to make no progress, just a series of futile strikes.

　Alice smiled bitterly and Loki didn't even look at her.

It's a good idea to have a good time with them. It's not an inexhaustible supply of magic power, there are always techniques that are essential, including bodywork. The bottom line is that you need both.

　It wasn't meant to be comforting. Just a fact.

'Yeah ...'
'But it's also true that with magic, the battle situation would be completely different. Now Alice you know that I don't have to tell you.

　I look up with a bitter smile, but I still have a section of my mind.