I had no idea where the JC Ground Field was. Fortunately for me, people who were passing by and were part of the participants knew where it was and kindly gave me directions before walking away.
I followed the instructions given and twelve minutes later, I found the JC Ground Field at last. The field was very grand, even grander than a stadium. Seeing the end of it was difficult as it was nowhere in sight. Like a tunnel without an end, that was exactly what the JC Ground Field actually looked like.
" I'm Tatsuya Marashi. I guess that you're here for the preliminary round, just like I am. What's your name?"
A sturdy and tall gentleman approached me. Looking at his demeanor, he looked friendly and easy to talk to. That was my first impression of him, and I wasn't wrong.
" I'm Yuichi Hanagawa. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
" I'm also enchanted."
We started talking randomly as if we knew each other from before. In the middle of the conversation, he wanted to ask me something but was hesitating to do so.
" Is there something you'd like to ask me?"
…
He kept silent and looked the other way to avoid my gaze on him. He looked disturbed; that's the feeling I got anyway.
" If you'd like to ask me something, then go ahead and ask!"
…
At the sound of my words, he looked at me as he finally decided to speak to me.
" I was wondering where you chose this field."
?
" There are a lot of careers in the world, so why did you choose to be a thief instead of picking something more normal and realistic?"
…
" Let me return the question to you. Why are you here for this examination? You also have many options to choose from, so why did you pick this one in particular?"
…
Tatsuya looked at me perplexed. I had just returned his question in reverse mode, and now he had to answer the same one he asked me. He slightly grinned at me and responded by saying the following:" That's because I want to save lives by making it a better living world."
" There you have it. That's the answer to the question you just asked me."
…
Tatsuya's impression of me was of a very interesting being. More and more people were gathering around the ground field. There were about two hundred of us in total.
According to what my grandpa told me, we were eight hundred participants in total divided by four simultaneous locations, with two hundred in each location. To think there were two hundred of us here. How many of us were going to pass through the preliminary round was a question that wasn't leaving me and was constantly on my mind.
" Let both pass the preliminary round with flying colors!"
" Yes! Let's do our best!"
…
Five minutes after that, a man in his thirties showed up at the JC Ground Field. He had an imposing presence. Judging by how he was looking at us, he was probably the one in charge of the preliminary round.
" I'm Arata Sugawara, and I'll be in charge of this qualification round. Whoever qualifies for this round gets to move on to the next."
His wording and way of speaking were composed. All the participants were listening with much attention.
" There are two hundred of you and only half of you if not less will be moving to the next round."
At each sound and word of Sugawara-San, the atmosphere was tenser and tenser. All of us present for the preliminary round did our best to prepare for this event, and imagining that less than a hundred of us would be able to move on to the next round was frightening and worrisome. This makes me wonder even more what we would be tested on in this first round.
" So for this preliminary round, you'll be tested on athletics."
" Athletics?"
" What does he mean when he says we'll be tested on 'Athletics'?"
…
In Yoshu City, my dad and Ayame were both wondering how the preliminary round was going. They were very preoccupied with me and how I was performing out there.
" Don't be so tense! Yuichi will do just great."
" How can I not be tense, dad? We don't even know what he'll be tested on for this round."
" Don't you know anything, grandpa!"
…
" If you happen to know something, then please tell us."
…
" The only thing I can tell you is this: For the preliminary round, the test will solely focus on Yuichi's worst weakness."
" His worst weakness?"
" What do you mean, dad?"
…
" Also, for this round specifically, no magic of any sort will be applied. So to say that Yuichi won't be at a disadvantage in that sector."
…
…
" This round won't be at all easy for Yuichi, but I believe that he'll be able to pull through. If he doesn't, then his journey will unexpectedly come to an end before it even starts."
…
…
Returning to JC City, Arata Sugawara was giving ample information on the preliminary round and what it would be solely about.
" By athletics, I meant that you'd be tested on endurance. For this preliminary round, you'll be doing an obstacle course."
" An obstacle course?"
" An obstacle course?"
" An obstacle course?"
The participants were surprised by the theme chosen for the preliminary round, but there was more to come.
" Additionally, no magic of any sort will be applied. For this round, you'll have to solely rely on yourself and your capacity to succeed."
" What?"
" We won't be using our magical powers at all."
" Are you kidding me?"
" What kind of theme is this?"
All the participants were furious with the additional information given by the examiner. Thinking it was a bad joke, all became certain to them when Mr. Arata Sugawara started pulling limiters on all the two hundred participants present.
" I can't use my magic."
" Is this for real?"
These limiters that were put on us prevent any use of magical attributes. If forced, the limiter would overcharge electricity of 200 volts, if not more.
For those who possessed magical powers, these limiters were an inconvenience and also a huge disadvantage on their part. For someone without an ounce of magical powers whatsoever, these limiters were of no discomfort at all. The only inconvenience I had however was—--------------------
" You'll be running all the way forth and back. Whoever reaches the exit will be immediately qualified for this round and move on to the next."
…
" Is he kidding?"
" The exit is nowhere in sight. How exactly are we supposed to pass this round?"
" This is nearly impossible."
…
" We can't even use our powers to give us some kind of advantage."
Before coming, I knew this preliminary round would be far from ordinary, but I never expected this kind of test. As I was still plunged in my reflections, Mr. Sugawara was getting ready to give the mark to start.
" Is everyone ready?"
…
…
" Form ten teams with only twenty individuals per team."
…
…
We formed and started forming our teams as instructed by Mr. Sugawara. The teams were almost formed—-----------------------
" Would the two of you be interested to be part of our team?"
Tatsuya and I were the only ones left who weren't part of a team. We were wondering what team to join when a participant approached us, offering both of us to join his team.
" Of course!"
…
We kindly accepted the offer presented to us. All ten teams were now formed.
" As everyone has formed their team, let's begin. The first team, please step forward!"
…
The first team stepped forward as instructed. They were given the starting mark and started running afterward. There was a time limit of three minutes before the following team stepped up.
" Are you okay, Yuichi?"
…
" Yes, I'm fine!"
…
" Why are you sweating so much if you're okay?"
…
" I'm excited and can't stand in place—------ That must be why I'm sweating this much."
…
The three-minute countdown given came to a close, and then the next team stepped forward. It went on and on. Five teams had already gone for the obstacle course. It was called an obstacle course for a thing. Just as its name suggests, along with the endurance, there were many obstacles on the way before reaching the exit.
" Team 6, please step forward."
" Yes!"
Out of all the hundred participants that had already gone, approximately thirty-five participants returned. The remaining sixty-five participants were either held back or collapsed somewhere on the way.
" Team 7, please step forward."
Either way, there weren't many of us who were going to be advancing to the next round.
" Team 8, please step forward."
As the team was going one by one, our turn was fast approaching, and I was sweating even more. No one could have predicted why I was sweating so much.
" It'll be our turn soon. Are you ready?"
…
" You bet I am!"
" Are you sure to be perfectly alright?"
" Of course!"
There was a reason why I was sweating so much, and that was because I'd be facing my worst weakness. As for what that weakness I'd be facing was—----------------------
" Team 9, please step forward."
" Yes!"
(Yuichi, you can do this. Believe in yourself and you'll be victorious.)
Our turn was coming next, Tatsuya and the other participants started doing some stretching before we were called. I was practically doing the same thing as the rest of them.
(I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.)
" Last team, please step forward."
" Yes!"