Chapter 3 : It’s Not Magic, It’s Illusion

“What? Do you have something to say?”

“See you at the second test site.”

Leaving those words behind, the commoner enters first.

Even after I revealed my identity, her attitude remained consistent.

In short, it seems she has backing, which I’ll find out after the first test.

Depending on her abilities, I’ll know what kind of backing she has.

If it’s all bluff, I won’t let it slide.

Even if she’s the benefactor who saved my life, she will pay the price for mocking a Draconian duke family’s daughter.

Just then, something shattered in the measurement room.

The supervisors buzzed with the commotion.

“The glass orb exploded!”

“I don’t know how many years it’s been since an immeasurable grade appeared.”

Hearing that, I realized.

Immeasurable grade.

A being with the potential of a Great Magician.

If born into a noble family, they would become a great Magician who would dominate an era, and their family would rise to prominence.

But she is a commoner.

Is that why they’re sponsoring her?

But if they were going to sponsor her, they would have provided a recommendation letter as well, so why would she steal mine?

Could it really be a coincidence…?

Passing the first stage and moving on to the second, the number of people had definitely decreased.

It seems there’s a certain standard for magic power.

Commoners who enter through special admissions are exempt from the entrance exam, but they receive plenty of love and affection from the professors and walk the path of an assistant.

Just imagining it is horrifying. As if I’d ever be an assistant again.

Just then, my friend who passed the first stage appeared.

“Ernia-nim!”

“……”

her eyes, looking at me, contained about 7 parts wariness and 3 parts curiosity.

Much better than at first.

While I was making plans to create my own sugar daddy… friend through favorability farming, the examiner’s voice was heard.

“First, I would like to congratulate the students who passed the first stage. And then, we will begin the second stage test.”

The second stage test is Magic Manifestation.

You simply have to showcase the magic you are most confident in front of the supervisors.

It is operated in groups of three, and my group is group 240.

Thinking that I would have to wait a long time, I approached her and started a conversation.

Starting with how the weather wasn’t good today, I talked about everyday topics.

I was mainly the one talking, and she was just listening.

She raises her hand, stopping my words, and stares at me intently.

“To put it bluntly, who is your backer?”

“……”

What is she talking about, a backer?

There’s no way I’d have something like that, right? If I did, I wouldn’t be making plans to make you my sugar daddy… friend.

I don’t know where the misunderstanding started, but I gave her a smile, and she flinched.

“You’re quick to catch on. As expected, you are the young lady of the Draconian duke family.”

Her nose soars high into the sky at the praising tone.

“……”

“This much is basic. So tell me, which family is it?”

“……”

“I’m sorry. I can’t tell you.”

“……”

There is only one reason for saying these words.

It means she is being sponsored by someone higher than the duke family.

Realizing that the only family higher than the duke family in the empire is the imperial family, she nods.

The imperial family does not tolerate families that challenge their authority.

Even if it is a duke family.

That’s why the five great duke families became the four great duke families, as stated in the setting.

“……”

“Ahem, let’s forget what we just talked about.”

“Understood, Ernia-nim.”

I was sharing various stories to build a friendship with her, but the situation is different from before.

She is listening to my story and shedding tears.

“……”

“So, when you were living in the back alleys, you didn’t have anything to eat, so you boiled tree bark in boiling water?”

“……”

“Yes, that’s on a lucky day. If you’re unlucky, you’ll get caught by a woodcutter and get hit with an axe.”

“……”

“How could such a thing…”

“And in the winter, you have to break the ice and wash, so frostbite is frequent.”

“W-What are you saying? Don’t you have a bathtub at home?”

“……”

“We don’t even have water to drink, let alone a bathtub.”

Shocked by the story, she grabs my hands tightly and tells me to tell her anytime if I have a hard time, but it seems this young lady can’t control her sense of distance.

“Thank you, Ernia-nim. Just hearing those words is enough.”

“I’m not just saying it! Tell me anytime if you’re having a hard time! I’ll help you with everything!”

Looking at her shining eyes, I felt a pang of conscience and avoided her gaze.

And I told her what was written in the setting.

“Don’t use flashy magic. Showcase practical magic.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Just then, a voice is heard.

“Group 240, please enter!”

Finally, my turn has come.

She is in the same group as me, so we enter together, and there are three professors in the test site.

“Starting from the left, show us the magic you are most confident in.”

When the male student showcases a flashy flame, the professors’ expressions are not good.

“What are the advantages of using that magic?”

“Huh? Ah, that’s…”

The three professors stare at the male student who can’t answer.

He answers in a trembling voice.

“T-The flashy flames are so magnificent that just looking at them…”

“That’s enough, well done. Please wait.”

With those words, the professor calls me.

“Next student, show us your magic.”

Hearing those words, I took out a staff (a branch) from my pocket and swung it stylishly.

“Fly.”

It’s a trick to use magic power in the body to perform magic.

I didn’t know, but Magicians can’t use magic without a staff.

As expected, magic is better, right?

As I take a step forward, stepping on the air, the professors’ eyes widen at my floating figure.

“Fly magic…? And you haven’t even entered yet…?”

“No way…”

“How can this be…”

I politely greet the three admiring professors, and they clear their throats and ask a question.

“What did you use that magic for?”

“It’s useful for reconnaissance and can give you an advantage when fighting magic battles.”

I explained that the main advantages of aerial magic attacks are the height advantage, mobility for easy surprise attacks and evasion, and a wide attack range, and the professors are impressed.

“Ahem, well done. Then, next student.”

I take a step back, and Ernia steps forward and swings her staff.

Then, several burning flames are created and begin to gather into one giant flame.

The supervisors are impressed by the sight.

Ernia explains the magic she has unleashed.

“Multiple flames have low power, but when combined into one, they have superior destructive power.”

“That’s right. That’s the beauty of magic.”

Among the admiring professors, a female professor asks a sharp question.

“So, how long does it take to cast that magic? Do you have the confidence to stay alive during that time?”

No matter how strong the magic is, it is useless if you can’t unleash it.

But as if she had anticipated that, Ernia unfolds a translucent barrier.

“I can cast it while protecting my body like this.”

“Double casting…”

The professor’s eyes sparkle, and after marking the evaluation sheet, she announces the results.

“Number 1, fail. Number 2, pass. Number 3, pass. Those who passed, please come forward, and those who failed, please go back.”

The male student turns around with regret and goes back, and I go forward with Ernia, and a wide open space appears.

There were about 500 students gathered in it.

When I took the first stage test, there were 1,000 students, but half of them failed.

About 30 minutes passed.

The test supervisor announces that all the successful candidates have gathered in one place.

He then says that the final stage 3 interview will be held tomorrow and thanks everyone for their hard work today.

Uh-oh…? This wasn’t in my plan?

I came with nothing, thinking of passing the magic school exam and sleeping well in the dormitory, but this is a bust.

While I was thinking about where to sleep for the day, I looked at Ernia next to me.

Then she tilts her head.

“Please let me stay for one night.”

“Huh? Suddenly?”

“I have no money and nowhere to sleep.”

“……”

I give her a look that says, ‘Are you really sure you have backing?’, and she looks at me with pitiful eyes, so I sigh and tell her to follow me, which is a relief.

I was moving my excited steps, thinking that I wouldn’t have to sleep outside tonight, when.

“Of course, you know it’s not free, right?”

At those words, I rummage through my pockets and take out a coin.

“This is my entire fortune, Ernia-nim…”

“Who said anything about money!?”

She looks at me with an absurd expression.

And I realized.

She wants me to pay with my body.

“If you’re okay with my body…”

“I don’t need that! Show me that magic you used earlier! Show it to me again!”

You should have said so sooner, it just made the atmosphere awkward.

And it’s not magic, it’s a trick…