Chapter 260

Chapter 260

Step—

The moment Roan stood on the platform without a single moment of hesitation, the test began just like that.

The seniors and Sion stood side by side, whispering.

“How many questions will Roan get right?”

“Well, since I fell at the eighth question, maybe twenty questions…”

“It’s hard. Because that test gets exponentially more difficult question by question.”

“How many questions did Nia solve?”

“I solved two questions.”

“……?”

Sion tilted her head at Nia’s performance, which was far poorer than expected.

Nia smiled brightly and spoke.

“Because I am the type who just beats them to death without using holy spells!”

“…Ah.”

There was a reason for that.

‘If that’s really the case, why is she attending school?’

Not that it was an answer that resolved all her questions, though.

In any case, Roan’s test began, and at the moment everyone was concentrating…

Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap—

“““??!??!?!!?”””

Roan’s hands were so relentless that the tension of the onlookers became meaningless.

No, in the blink of an eye, he had already broken through five questions!

By the time they blinked twice, he had already surpassed the eighth question, which was Sion’s record.

“W-What is that?!?!?!?”

Yusina was shocked by Roan’s speed, as he chose the answers without even watching the black mage completely raise his mana.

He even selected the answer for a few questions before all the choices appeared.

‘It turns out this is an easy test for a black mage.’

Roan was on the verge of yawning at the level of the practical test, which was easier than he had thought.

Clergymen would run out of time because they didn’t know what magic the opponent would cast and had to watch until the attack unfolded, but…

Roan, as a black mage, could get a general sense just by capturing the signs of the opponent moving their mana.

…Of course, not all black mages could do that.

In any case, having such an advantage, he just had to choose when something that looked like the correct answer appeared in the sequentially popping-up choices!

Honestly, Roan had not even dreamed of this level of performance when playing as a clergyman character.

Thus, fifteen questions.

“…Was a freshman capable of going that far?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never been there either.”

“Well, since it is R-Roan, couldn’t it be possible?”

Although it was extremely fascinating, they could still understand up to this point.

However, twenty questions.

“Zorv, what is that magic just now?”

“…Do you think I would have seen it?”

“I want to go to the mountains…”

Watching scenes where black magics that even the graduating class had never heard of showered down and splendid holy spells countered them, they were utterly bewildered.

And once it exceeded thirty questions, the faces of the audience had already turned pale.

“Wait, what is in the response? Summon the holy golden shield of the Saint and…”

“The one I read told to lift the curse with the holy choir of angels.”

“Keeeyit, kyakk-ang, kyuuut.”

“…Speak in human language, Nia.”

“Ah, I did it unconsciously.”

Strange black magics that they had never seen or heard of flew around.

Even though barriers, curses, and offensive spells were linked simultaneously to target Roan.

Roan escaped the crisis by choosing several options in succession without even blinking an eye.

The questions Sion was solving earlier seemed to look like mere child’s play.

Unable to watch any longer, his False Divinity vibrated violently.

Hummm—!

Stop pushing it, you bastard!

How is it that you only say you live quietly every day yet cause the loudest commotions!

‘Ah, did I work too hard? I did it unconsciously.’

Roan also realized around then that the atmosphere was slowly turning strange.

At the same time, a change occurred in the robed black mage.

Flash—!

He suddenly cast off the robe he had been wearing all this time!

What was revealed within was, surprisingly, not a human but a demon.

─ Kuhahaha! Not bad for a mere human. Let’s see you counter this too!

Rumble—

Although it was a virtual reality drawn by the barrier, the atmosphere was unusual.

The club room vibrated as if an earthquake had occurred.

“W-What?”

“Kyaah!”

Swish—

The demon created a massive gate with dark mana.

A black gate with ominous patterns engraved down to every corner.

Roan twitched an eyebrow.

‘That is…’

It was a black magic that Roan also knew.

‘Void: Polar Gate.’

As a high-level magic used by ancient demons, once that gate opened, all surrounding living things would be sucked into it.

There was no known information on where the place beyond the gate lay.

The only ways to counter it were to destroy it before the gate opened, or to endure it through the grade of one’s existence.

Before long, the choices Roan had to select began to appear.

─ 1. ?????

2. ?????

3. ????? ─

No options could be selected at his current level!

‘…Even I think coming this far was a bit too much.’

Roan stepped down from the platform without regret after looking at the listed question marks.

Then, not to mention the demon from just now, even the gate and dark mana summoned by the demon vanished without a trace.

The interior of the club room fell silent as if nothing had happened.

Ah, there was a change.

─ Clear! ─

Since these five letters had newly appeared on the barrier surface.

Roan was worrying, ‘Was coming this far too much?’ despite having already cleared it all.

However, that was not very important.

“““…….”””

Yusina, Sion, Zorv, and Nia simply stared at Roan with dazed faces.

Roan, seeing their reactions, spoke belatedly.

“Hmm. It is too difficult. As expected of Sanctuary’s practical test.”

The authorities who heard those words reacted simply.

Hummm— Thump—

You are truly…

In all my life, such a shameless master…

On the other hand, the reactions of the audience were slightly more intense than that.

“Are you kidding me right now, Roaaan!!!!”

“Roan, come to the Richmond family right away! What is it you want, just say the word!!!”

“Uaaargh! Kiiuk, kkit kyat!!!!!”

Roan couldn’t really understand what the last remark was, but in any case.

The seniors jumped up and down, spun in circles, and tore things apart (?) to express the shock they had received.

On the other hand, Sion simply stared at Roan relatively quietly.

Roan approached Sion and spoke.

“To solve eight questions of that caliber is truly amazing. As expected of a Saintess candidate.”

‘Does this person have a conscience…’

Roan’s shameless praise, enough to make even the kind Sion doubt the existence of his conscience!

However, Sion soon smiled faintly and shook her head.

“No, Roan. It was a truly magnificent demonstration of skill.”

“……?”

Roan wondered why Sion was so calm, but it was actually for the best.

Because she was a first-year and might not really know what was what yet.

However, Sion suddenly grabbed Noeul-ie and handed her to Yusina.

Meow—?

“This makes no se—huh? Sion, why are you giving her to me?”

“Thank you for everything. I’ll be leaving now.”

Sion, having decided to withdraw voluntarily after being too shocked!

Since Noeul-ie was born from the egg she received when joining Sanctuary, she intended to return her and leave.

“W-What are you talking about! Sion, why are you leaving!”

When Yusina held Sion’s wrist to stop her, Sion could not hold back any longer and exploded!

“Uwaaaang! Why are you asking me that!!”

“…….”

Yusina was speechless.

Then, unable to do one thing or another, she passed Sion over to Roan.

It meant that since this disaster happened because of what he did, he should resolve it himself.

Roan pondered for a moment, then began to soothe Sion.

“It was just good luck. Only spells I knew happened to appear…”

“Stop talking nonsense!!”

‘Well, even I think it makes no sense.’

Since she had even attained enlightenment, it seemed such simple excuses would not work.

“Actually, last night in my dream, my parents told me all the answers in advance…”

“…….”

Sion no longer cried and simply glared at Roan.

…Honestly, even with Sion’s gentle face, glaring like this with eyes red like a rabbit’s was slightly terrifying.

Roan eventually let out a deep sigh.

Although it didn’t suit his style, he had no choice but to play along a bit.

Roan brought his mouth close to Sion’s ear and whispered.

“This is a secret I am telling only to you…”

“W-What is it?”

Fortunately, there was a reaction.

“The secret information network really exists.”

“!!!!”

Sion opened her eyes wide upon hearing Roan’s words.

‘Well, playing before the possession is also a secret information network in a way.’

Strictly speaking, a secret was a secret and an information network was an information network, so it was not a lie.

“Of course, it is not of the type or scale you are thinking of—”

“Hmph, whatever!”

Sion cut off Roan’s words and whipped her head around.

‘I thought it would work, but is it indeed too forced?’

Roan pondered if he should think of another excuse.

“Heh, hehe, pfft, as expected…”

“…….”

It seemed he wouldn’t need to.

Seeing the corners of Sion’s mouth twitching and her cheeks moving slightly on her profile, it seemed to have been resolved well on its own.

Yusina asked while reading their expressions.

“Sion, then you aren’t leaving the club, right?”

“I won’t!”

Although she didn’t know what Roan had said, it was a relief Sion returned anyway!

Meow—!

Noeul-ie, who had almost been abandoned by her owner, also hopped from Yusina’s arms and returned to Sion.

“Yes, where would I go leaving you behind, don’t worry!”

Sion hugged Noeul-ie preciously in her arms and stroked her.

Roan was now about to explain (?) the clear to the seniors.

However, the seniors exchanged glances with each other and shook their heads.

“You don’t have to speak!”

“Indeed.”

“Kyaoong!”

“…Speak in human language, Nia.”

“?”

Roan wondered why these seniors were suddenly behaving like this.

Regardless, Yusina spoke with a face filled with emotion.

“I clearly understand how sincere you are about eradicating black mages and reconstructing your family!”

“I will not tell you to join the Richmond family in the future.”

“I won’t tell you to go to the mountains either!”

‘But weren’t you doing exactly that just moments ago?’

Roan was slightly doubtful, but it seemed fortunate that they wouldn’t bother him in the future anyway.

“Refined, you must take charge of the Dragon Street!”

“Instead, let’s go to the river!”

“Senior Nia, what does that even…”

…It was not exactly so.

Still, as the problems were all neatly resolved (?), Roan thought with a refreshed mood.

‘Next time, I should try to master Void!’

Seeing the high-level attribute of the dark mana used by the demon, his next goal had just arisen!

* * *

In any case, thus all skill tests were finished.

Yusina handed a shiny badge to Roan and Sion, who were sitting side by side.

“Ahem, everyone worked hard taking the exams, and you are now officially members of Sanctuary.”

She seemed to mimic Harden’s way of speaking in her own way, but it wasn’t very similar.

…If it were similar, it would likely be a rather terrible thing in its own way.

Sion, who didn’t even notice that Yusina was mimicking Harden, admired the shape of the pretty badge.

“Wow! Can we just wear this around now?”

At that, Yusina replied immediately.

“No, you can’t!”

“?”

Then why did she give it?

Sion tilted her head.