NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6 - Grade Confirmation
Outside, filled with cold wind brushing against cheeks.
“What grade do you think you’ll get?”
“Honestly, wouldn’t it be at least 5?”
The cadets lined up in rows and columns in the open space.
Thud─ Thud─
I pulled my peaked cap down low and silently joined the ranks.
Among the children, I could see Rina sending me a fiercely burning gaze.
A gaze like that of a fierce cat, Rina was the owner of such a distinctive appearance that she could be recognized at a glance even from afar. For such a person to show such great interest.
“……”
I deliberately turned my head to ignore her gaze.
“Is that her? The one who fought with Wolf von Streman?”
“She’s so tiny…”
Then I had to receive the gazes of other children.
As the commotion in the square had been large, attention was focused on me. Probably by now, most cadets would at least know my name.
“I see that bastard again”
“Hey, hey Wolf, you need to control yourself”
Among them were also the group that had been chattering behind Wolf. Following Rina, I happened to be taking the test together with Wolf as well.
They seemed to still be angry about the previous incident, looking at me with burning gazes different in meaning from Rina’s.
Thud, thud!
But even those gazes were soon withdrawn.
“Hey, hey, he’s coming.”
“Be quiet now.”
The sound of stiff military boots echoed.
The noisy cadets all closed their mouths at once and turned their bodies towards the source of the sound.
“Welcome, candidates. I am Instructor Gartel, who will guide you through this examination.”
There stood a middle-aged man neatly dressed in an officer’s uniform.
“…Instructor Gartel.”
I secretly smiled at his very familiar name.
Gartel was not only an officer in charge of the main administration of the military academy, but in the future, he would become one of the ministers who would dominate the Empire.
I received a lot of help from him.
Although he was a soldier, Gartel didn’t particularly have skills in commanding troops or establishing tactics, but his administrative ability was excellent.
Thanks to that, during the past Great War, occupied territories could be systematically managed.
This instructor should be someone I’ll see in the middle part…
This too is a coincidence I’m experiencing as it becomes reality.
“As you heard in the broadcast, we will now measure your mana through this device.”
Gartel opened his mouth, pointing to an unidentifiable device he had brought from somewhere.
“This measuring device is made with the Empire’s proprietary technology, so it’s not something you can see casually. You can be proud of that much.”
Following his finger, a machine resembling a striking power meter that might be seen on modern streets was located.
A device about the size of the upper body, a jewel shining in the center, a digital screen at the top that seemed to calculate the final grade, and so on – it looked truly expensive, as the instructor said.
“Wow, that’s…”
“It’s my first time seeing it like this”
The cadets opened their mouths, overwhelmed by the appearance of such a measuring device.
More precisely, they were shocked by the purple jewel embedded in the center of the machine.
“Is, is that a mana stone, sir?”
“That’s right.”
When one of the students suddenly asked a question, Gartel nodded with a voice that felt solemn.
“The mana stone we’ve only heard about…”
“It’s the first time I’ve seen one this big…”
The more they saw, the more the children’s faces became stupid expressions like idiots might make.
I understood their reactions.
A mana stone of that size would be difficult to see even once in a lifetime.
If the principle of oil formation is that dinosaurs were buried and time passed, mana stones are minerals created when monsters from the distant past died and the mana in their bodies condensed.
It wasn’t simply a common existence like iron or gold.
Mana stones are treated as very important strategic resources because they amplify the mana of Awakened ones and enhance physical abilities.
Moreover, their efficacy is so great that one Awakened weapon made with a mana stone is worth as much as a bomber, so how much more valuable would such a large mana stone be?
In a way, it was natural for the cadets to be amazed.
Clap, clap─!
“Don’t just stand there dazed, pay attention everyone.”
The silent appreciation lasted only a moment; Gartel clapped his hands a couple of times and continued speaking.
“First, we will record each individual’s mana quantity and attribute through this measuring device. Following that, we will also conduct an evaluation of basic physical fitness, so keep that in mind in advance.”
“Now come forward one by one.”
Soon after, he took out a notebook and fountain pen from his chest pocket and prepared to write.
“Then Yanter, stand in front of the measuring device.”
“Yes!”
The mana examination finally began.
The candidates placed their hands on the mana stone one by one according to the instructor’s orders.
Zing─!
“Ugh, uuugh!”
“Grade 5. Fire attribute.”
Gartel wrote down the numbers displayed on the screen after a moment of light beams.
In a situation where everyone was achieving scores that were not too low, I wondered what grade of mana quantity would be calculated for me.
Naturally, I would rank in the lower tier.
The point, however, was how serious my mana quantity was. Since I could emit magic with the lowest power throughout history, it wouldn’t be an ordinary mana quantity.
“Now this child is finished too.”
As the procedure progressed to some extent, Gartel carelessly scanned the cadet list.
“…Next.”
Then he paused his hand.
“Rina Victor Wilhelm Hohenzollern.”
At the same time, four words came out of his mouth.
“Hey, hey. It’s finally her turn.”
“Is she the one you were talking about?”
“Yeah, I heard she’s the Imperial Princess.”
Finally, her turn approached.
The voices of those who had finished their examinations and were resting or chatting with companions instantly fell silent. Instead, they turned their bodies towards a girl walking to the center of the open space.
“Yes.”
Rina approached the measuring device with her uniquely graceful walk.
Swish─
She pulled back the white silk covering her wrist and slowly placed her hand on the mana stone.
“Begin the measurement.”
“Understood.”
And when she finally poured all the mana in her body into the mana stone,
Whoosh─!
A pure white light filled the square.
“Wooow…”
It was beyond beautiful, it was refreshing. Beyond white, it was sacred. The cadets could only exclaim in admiration at the elegant light emanating from Rina’s arm.
No gossip or chatter could be heard.
Everyone was simply basking in the white light.
“Ugh.”
I too covered my face with my palm at the brightness suddenly filling my vision.
Is this holy power?
The white light penetrating between my eyelids, the majesty of the holy power was truly impressive. It was stronger than any of the cadets I had seen so far. A warmth enveloped my entire body.
It was an aura befitting the reputation of the imperial family’s unique ability.
Whoosh─
As the light gradually subsided, the cadets opened their eyes one by one.
“A-Amazing”
“What grade did she just get?”
The children who regained their sight all turned their heads to the scoreboard at the top of the measuring device.
[2]
And everyone froze with their mouths wide open.
“The highest score in the history of the military academy. The Hohenzollern family is indeed the Hohenzollern family. Impressive, Rina.”
Even Gartel’s fingers holding the pen trembled as he barely finished his evaluation, so how much more shocked must the candidates be?
“Thank you.”
Rina lowered the sleeve she had rolled up and turned around proudly.
Click─ Click─
When she returned to her original position, she wore a smile more full of superiority than before.
“……”
More precisely, while looking this way.
I seem to be quite bothersome to her.
It wasn’t just any gaze. At this level, it wasn’t simply looking with curiosity or interest, but rather looking with some kind of feeling, whether goodwill or hostility.
I didn’t particularly cause any big trouble…
Why does she keep glancing this way? While I was pleased to have formed some kind of relationship with a person of tremendous potential, I also harbored doubts.
All I did was give Wolf a heavy insult, provoke him again despite his warning, and treat Rina casually…
“Ah.”
Listing it out like this, I understand now.
I had forgotten my place. A commoner who doesn’t care about nobility – from Rina’s perspective, I must look like a strange fellow indeed.
“You’re really amazing, aren’t you?”
Wolf welcomed Rina back to her place with open arms.
While everyone was still in shock from her overwhelming mana quantity, he alone boldly opened his mouth and conversed with Rina.
“As expected, the Imperial Princess is different, haha!”
“I get it, so could you move away a bit?”
They clearly know each other. And it seems they’re not just acquainted, but quite close.
“Not only knowing the imperial family but being a close family friend.”
I observed their relationship with sparkling eyes.
It was now clear that Wolf was the son of a high-ranking family. Even though Rina was clearly showing signs of dislike, I was certain from the way she couldn’t carelessly push Wolf away.
At least on par with the imperial family, I suppose.
“Next, Wolf von Streman.”
“Yes!”
Now, let’s see what his abilities are like.
“Begin.”
“Haha, I’ll show you my full power!”
Wolf approached the measuring device with a swaggering gait and placed his hand on the mana stone without delay.
Zing─!
“W-Wow. It’s bright!”
“Not as much as Rina’s, but still really impressive…”
A bluish, pure light.
Although not as much as the pure white light from before, a level of brightness surpassing the average of other cadets dispersed around.
“Water attribute. Grade 4, a good score.”
The final calculated grade was also high.
“Did you see that?”
“How could we not?”
After Gartel’s words, Wolf returned to his position with a grand stride and began chattering with his friends.
“I had to do better than the guys here”
“Well, it would be shameful to do worse than those nobodies”
His face was full of sneers.
As evident in his tone, with his characteristically strong sense of pride, he spoke condescendingly even to fellow nobles. No one dared to object to him, truly an impressive presence.
Unexpected.
I stroked my chin while looking at his face with its seemingly high-raised nose bridge.
I didn’t know his abilities would be excellent too. Judging by the blue light, it’s probably the well-regarded water attribute, and given the high grade, he was among the top tier of cadets.
With strong backing and excellent talent, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say his future was bright.
However, if he doesn’t change his personality of blindly looking down on others, he won’t become an outstanding officer.
No matter how powerful he is, if he loses his ability to manage and lead soldiers as a commander, he’ll become one of the many corpses born during the course of the Great War.
Well, my own concerns come first now.
I looked down at my white and delicate wrist. The pinkish skin was typical of a young girl.
An utterly insufficient amount of mana must be circulating inside this body.
Rather than evaluating Wolf’s abilities, it was more important now to strongly train my innate power.
“Next. Yena Freud.”
Gartel finally called my name.
I stepped forward, conscious of the gazes focusing on me from around.
Rustle, rustle─
“…Her name is Yena.”
Rina’s murmur was faintly heard.
“Wow, she’s really pretty.”
“Is that all you can see?”
“Did someone who looks that weak really face off against Wolf?”
Whispers tickled my eardrums.
“Are you ready?”
After passing through all of this, Gartel, exuding his characteristic cool atmosphere, greeted me.
“Yes, Instructor.”
I met his eyes directly and nodded.
“Then let’s begin.”
As soon as his permission was given, I carefully moved my hand onto the stone.
“How much do you think she’ll get?”
“Not much. With that small body, will she even exceed Grade 6?”
This time, even Wolf and his friends who had been gossiping held their breath and watched the result.
I wonder what number will appear.
Zing!
I tightly closed my eyes at the brightly shining mana stone.