Chapter 47
Grey Gate, Foggy Mountain Trail III.
As I entered the gate, I looked around.
“Sea? Paved road? For now, it seems like there are no monsters nearby…”
Me and other examinees, including Yeonha, were all standing on a two-lane road.
To the sides of the road, vast sandy beaches and the blue sea came into view.
If you listened closely, you could hear the sound of waves mingling among the sounds of horses.
“Where does this road lead to?”
I then shifted my gaze along the road I was standing on.
Behind me, the road was cut off in the middle, leaving only a blank white world.
It meant that this gate did not reflect the world behind it.
And in front of me…
“A mountain?”
Beyond the crowded road filled with examinees, a mountain covered in fog loomed.
[I will now explain the conditions for clearing.]
[This gate has already been cleared.]
“…”
A message appeared before my eyes.
Seeing that the gate had been cleared, it seemed like the test was not about clearing the gate.
Then, a sound came from above.
[I will now explain the details of the second practical exam.]
“…”
Tiny wings fluttered in the sky, and spherical objects flew around.
It was an artifact for transmitting images.
Screen Eye.
The sound was coming from there.
[The road where all the exam candidates stand leads to the Misty Mountain.]
Upon hearing these words, the people who had shown a flustered expression all turned their heads towards the mist-covered mountain.
Nana and Yeonha also gazed at the mountain they had discovered a while ago.
[At the peak of the Misty Mountain, an exit to the gate has been created. You must find your way to the exit at the peak of the Misty Mountain.]
“….”
[Depending on the time it takes to reach the exit, grades will be given differentially. Grades based on time will be calculated in 30-minute intervals, such as Grade 1 in 4 hours, Grade 2 in 4 hours and 30 minutes, Grade 3 in 5 hours, Grade 4 in 5 hours and 30 minutes.]
Screens scattered around spoke.
Listening to the explanation, I grasped the key point.
So….
“It’s a battle against time.”
Looking into the eyes of the exam candidates, it seemed like I wasn’t the only one thinking that.
They were preparing to run.
Some exam candidates had already set off.
“Oh, that’s reckless!”
“Isn’t that guy cheating!?”
[Until the start of the second practical exam, exam candidates are requested to wait within the lines marked on the ground. Any candidate who steps out of the line will be penalized without exception. So, come back immediately if you have stepped out.]
The candidates who had been rushing ahead hurriedly returned inside the lines.
The screen characters flying in the sky then proceeded with the explanation.
[The second exam will begin shortly. Please quickly set the timer function on the gate watch.]
“….”
[Then we will start the countdown. 10, 9, 8, 7….]
As the sound of counting to 10 seconds was heard, the exam candidates no longer held any conversation.
Only the sound of waves crashing from the sidelines could be heard, tension filling the air.
[…5, 4, 3….]
Within that moment, I prepared to run.
I channeled my inner mana, warming up my body.
Finally, the countdown came to an end.
[…1, 0.]
The screen characters buzzed.
[The second practical exam begins.]
The exam candidates started running.
* * *
“Don’t dawdle in front, move aside!”
“Hey! Did you just hit me!?”
The road wasn’t narrow, but there were so many exam candidates.
With everyone running in one direction, it was difficult to pass those ahead, and the road situation could only end up in a standstill.
Because of this, while running on the road, you could hear disputes breaking out among the exam candidates.
‘There seems to be no answer to this.’
I sighed as I watched the students blocking the path and running ahead of me.
They filled the space so densely that it seemed difficult to break through.
However, just following them wouldn’t lead to high scores.
At that moment, Yeonha spoke.
“What do you think?”
“About what?”
“The second test. What exactly are the evaluators demanding from us in this test?”
Although only 10 minutes had passed since the test began.
The girl running alongside me didn’t seem out of breath at all.
Compared to the training she had undergone for five years, running on the road was an easy task for her, and she was almost sprinting to keep up with the students ahead of her.
I was no different.
‘Leaving that aside, what do you think?’
Lost in thought for a moment at Yeonha’s question, I spoke up.
“Since the first test was to confirm magical abilities, the second test is probably intended to test our physical stamina.”
If it was a test of climbing a mountain, surely it was to assess physical endurance.
So, including us students, we were running while conserving our energy instead of sprinting recklessly.
The journey to the Misty Mountain was long, and to reach the summit from there, we needed to conserve our strength as much as possible.
“I also think so. But is that the only thing they demand? They mentioned it during the test briefing. The top grade must be achieved within 4 hours.”
“That’s right.”
“If we keep running at this pace, can we reach it within 4 hours? Even assuming we don’t stop for a break.”
“It’s not impossible, but it will be tough.”
I replied without hesitation.
Even before Yeonha raised the question, I had been pondering the issue.
At this rate, we wouldn’t be able to achieve the top grade.
That was also why I thought there was no answer to this.
In that sense…
“Perhaps they’re not just testing physical stamina, but also observing how we reach the summit.”
I agreed with Yeonha’s thoughts.
Come to think of it, Screen Eye had also mentioned something about the test earlier.
‘In any way, reach the top.’
It could be said that blindly running on the road was not the only solution.
We needed to come up with a different approach.
“The problem is how to arrange that.”
“Yeah… that’s true.”
“Should we sweep them all aside? Then maybe we can lead the race.”
“But wouldn’t that just waste time on fighting?”
To achieve the top grade, Yeonha and I racked our brains.
And it was at that moment.
“What, what’s that!?”
“Are you flying?”
Someone shouted, sounding surprised.
Right after that, I could witness something quickly passing through the sky above the running road.
I focused on that sight.
“That’s…”
A woman flying on a staff, her red hair fluttering wildly.
She seemed determined to fly straight to the top of the mountain in one breath.
“…Minarin.”
As far as I knew, there was only one female student with red hair who could pull off such a feat among the examinees, possessing high magical power and abundant mana.
She was Minarin from the Mado household.
“So she was in the same exam hall.”
She was a member of Kang Hanbyeol’s party, a character in the game who was powerful, had strong self-esteem, and always had the obsession of being superior to others.
Because of that, she clashed with Kang Hanbyeol a lot in the early stages of the story.
“If I clear Minarin’s episode, I can recruit her as a party member, and her personality will change. She’ll become a character who says one thing and does another, a shy and awkward character.”
Of course, failing to clear the episode would lead to a bad ending.
Soon, my thoughts drifted elsewhere.
“Come to think of it, in the game, did Minarin take the top spot in the entrance exam?”
That’s how I remembered my past life.
Minarin would probably fly through the sky like that, achieve a grade of 1 in the second practical exam, and excel in other exams as well.
As I looked away from her, who was getting farther, I opened my mouth.
“Hey, Sky.”
“Why?”
“Can’t you fly like that too?”
“Well, it’s not impossible. I could fly in a different way from her.”
“What way?”
“I couldn’t see it clearly from afar, but it seemed like she used buoyancy magic to make herself and the staff lighter than air, maintained that state unchanged, and used acceleration magic. She also seemed to have added fire elemental magic as propulsion. In simple terms, it’s like attaching boosters to a hot air balloon, I guess?”
“…You explain it well while running. But did you figure all that out from just a brief glance?”
“If you examine the overall structure of the spell formation, you can roughly grasp the idea. And I’m using buoyancy magic myself right now. That’s why running isn’t difficult for me.”
“You were using it without me knowing?”
“You said before that it’s better not to rely too much on magic.”
“Still, you could have at least told me.”
“I just did now.”
“Fine, you’re good at it.”
“Are you sulking?”
“Finish what you were saying.”
“Right, where did we leave off…”
“How can you fly?”
“Oh, that. I was just thinking of flying with wind elemental magic.”
“Then let’s do the same.”
“But there’s a problem.”
“What is it?”
“I can fly alone, but it might be challenging to fly together with you. If I make a mistake, we could end up flying upside down. Are you okay with that?”
“…Fine.”
Otherwise, a headache was bound to strike.
I decided to abandon the idea of flying with her magic.
“So, you can do it alone then?”
“I should be able to manage on my own.”
“Then I’ll leave you be and head to the mountain peak first. No need to accommodate me.”
“I don’t want that. It’s only meaningful if we go together.”
“What if I don’t make it to the top grade?”
“I’ll be content just passing. Besides, I don’t want to stand out if I get the top grade alone. I prefer not to draw attention if possible.”
“So, you’ll conserve your energy strategically?”
“It’s not about conserving energy… It’s about saving it strategically. Think about it. What if there’s an unexpected variable on that mountain? That’s why I’ll save my internal mana just in case.”
“That actually makes sense.”
Truth be told, I wasn’t keen on spending hours climbing the mountain alone.
I hoped for a companion by my side.
So, I was grateful for Yeonhae’s presence.
“Oh? Gyenwoo, look over there!”
At that moment, Yeonhae pointed to the right.
I followed her finger.
Oh!
Beyond the guardrail, the sea spread out.
Suddenly, the sea was frozen.
And atop the frozen sea…
“…”
Someone seemed to be lightly running as if stepping on solid ground.
It was a petite woman.
“So she’s in this exam too.”
With gray hair and purple eyes.
Enhancing my vision with internal mana, I could easily discern her features and realize she was also a character in the game.
“She’s Nam Yuri of Yeongseong.”
“Oh, so she was from the Ten Clans. That’s how she can freeze the sea? Freezing the sea isn’t easy. To freeze the sea with magic, the process is intricate, and for a scale like this, it must consume a substantial amount of internal mana…”
“She probably didn’t freeze the sea in the way you think.”
“How so?”
“She might have altered the water molecule arrangement. Yeongseong’s magic is developed in that aspect. Ah, alchemy. That’s what it is to me.”
From Noble mtl dot com
Nam Yuri of Yeongseong.
She was quite a troublesome figure.
Becoming an enemy or an ally depending on the flow of the story.
“For now, it’s best to avoid getting tangled up with Nam Yuri as much as possible.”
Whether through the story or personality, getting involved with Nam Yoori was quite burdensome.
Avoiding her was the best strategy.
“Right now, everyone else is following her across the sea!”
“They’re bound to fail.”
“Huh?”
“If she doesn’t pique her interest, she’s merciless towards her opponent. But do you think those nonchalantly boarding buses are the kind to catch her interest?”
“…Do you know her?”
“I’ve only heard rumors. Look over there.”
…
As Nam Yoori passed by, the frozen sea rapidly began to collapse.
The students following behind suddenly fell into the sea as the icy floor crumbled beneath them.
Nam Yoori showed no interest in those who fell into the sea, continuing ahead without a second glance.
“Don’t try to take advantage of her. If you make a mistake, you might face even harsher retaliation than that. Remember that.”
“Uh, okay…”
Perhaps we might encounter her during the exam.
To prepare for such a situation, I warned Yeonhae to be cautious.
It wasn’t the time for us to leisurely watch others.
We needed to find a solution.
But…
“Damn it.”
I furrowed my brows.
The road was already jammed enough.
“Why do you keep pushing like this!”
“Hey! Come here!”
“Ah, I told you not to cut in like that!?”
“Wanna fight!?”
A scuffle broke out up ahead.
The scuffle quickly spread to the surrounding students.
“This is a mess, a total mess…”
Suddenly, some of them took out devices and started fighting with swords.
A large-scale battle among the students erupted on the two-lane road.
I, too, gripped my military sword.
—
Madomin’s Mina Rin.
Flying up into the sky, she watched the distant scenery of the ground.
She could see the surprised students who noticed her, and the people running around on the bustling road.
“Will running like that make a difference?”
Min Arin chuckled lightly.
Even if they ran as fast as rabbits, when viewed from above, they would seem no more than mere turtles crawling.
Slow, too slow.
To the eyes of the small griffin in the Madu village, those who couldn’t even fly and merely ran on the ground appeared endlessly feeble.
They couldn’t become her opponents.
Hence, she was superior.
Special.
Indeed, there was no one among people of the same age who surpassed her.
She felt a certain superiority.
“…Black exam tickets?”
In Min Arin’s eyes, two examinees suddenly appeared.
Wearing black exam tickets.
“Who are they?”
Min Arin felt a slight interest in those with the same exam tickets as her.
She decided to lower her altitude to get a better look at their faces.
“A man and a woman….”
From afar, she couldn’t scrutinize the two individuals closely, but the man with black hair seemed to have a fairly balanced face.
He might be handsome.
At least, that’s what she thought.
And the woman next to him….
“Rabbit ears?”
The woman was an Ain.
Whether her hair was white or blue, it was hard to tell, but her noticeable hair was waving in the air, and rabbit ears were shaking along with it.
“If she’s an Ain with black exam tickets and skills, there’s only one person I know.”
Min Arin could quickly deduce their identities from their features.
She was quite famous among magic specialists.
To be precise, the famous one was not her but the person she had as a master.
In any case, as a resident of Madu village, she couldn’t be unaware.
“She is a disciple of the Seven-Colored Witch.”
Mastering the seven elemental magics, admired by many sorcerers, Hong Ye-na, the Seven-Colored Witch.
She knew that this disciple of the respected magician, who was of the same age and had applied to Geumgang Academy, was someone she admired endlessly.
Min Arin confirmed the disciple of the sorceress she revered and ignited a sense of competition.
“No matter what, I am superior.”
Now that she had confirmed her presence.
She couldn’t afford to be complacent.
Regardless of why the disciple of the Seven-Colored Witch was racing on the road, she was determined to reach the summit of Mount Angae before anyone else, even before her.
And so….
“The top spot in the entrance exam is mine.”
She would prove her superiority.
Min Arin decided to increase her output, raising her altitude once again.
It was at that moment.
Whoosh!
A gust of wind blew from behind.
Mana could be felt in the wind.
Minarin quickly turned around.
There was a being chasing after her through the sky at a rapid pace.
“That person…”
Black hair, green eyes.
Despite spreading mana around her, the woman who showed no signs of a magic circle seemed to be not a sorceress.
A spirit user.
If that was the case, she seemed to know her identity.
“She’s from the Circulating Chaga.”
A spirit clan belonging to the Ten Clans, along with the Magic House, Circulating Chaga.
Minarin realized her identity and decided to shake her off quickly.
And in that moment of trying to increase her output.
“What!?”
The direct descendant of the Circulating Chaga accelerated.
It was an astonishing speed.
The woman who had almost caught up with her quickly surpassed her in an instant.
Unlike herself, who had to adjust her magic, the woman could simply command the spirit, which meant there was no casting time.
The difference between magic and spirit manipulation.
But still.
“She’s overtaking me?”
She didn’t want to fall behind like this.
Even if the opponent was from the Circulating Chaga, she couldn’t accept being surpassed.
“Just watch.”
Increasing the output of her magic, Minarin flew after her.
Thoughts about the apprentice of the Seven-Colored Witch vanished into the recesses of her memory.