"To think they'll let a cheater like you not only pass, Front, but let alone be apart of the first 100 sickens me to my stomach. "With a grim expression on his face, Joey looks at me in disgust.
This middle-aged man right here was one of the biggest reasons why I was getting a headache whenever I was thinking of this interview. He's a man who always went against Magnus, causing him to face troubles all throughout his entire life.
An extremist who favors nobles and hates commoners. He makes it a living hell for you if you are of common blood.
Let alone an orphan from the slums.
"High Elder, aren't you too harsh? He clearly was just using the system as it was when it was presented to him. How could he possibly know that Harold wasn't supposed to be there when it was his first time seeing it?" A lady who brandished long, curly green hair suddenly spoke up. She's wearing some glasses and a lab coat, showing off what she normally does.
The professor who was responsible for teaching and handling all matters that dealt with alchemy and brewing, lady Jane.
"Regardless of that fact, this guy is clearly a sham and doesn't deserve to be at the top! It's ruining our image. "Joey doesn't back down, even standing from his seat just to make his point straight.
"Still, he clearly won because he has skills. Besides, that incident with James Bons proves his skills."
"That incident just makes Front look bad! Isn't that enough proof he's tarnishing the academy's name? He's doing it on purpose too, I bet."
" Silence. "But as they continue fighting, it seems like I wasn't the only one who's grown sick and tired of Joey that the person I was betting on had finally spoken up.
Miss Scarlet
"We're not here to argue about this matter again. You've been going on and on about him, Joey. I'd like to hear you shut up for once. "With just a single sentence from her, the ever-violent Joey couldn't help but look down on his desk.
It seems like the sentences I blurted out yesterday paid off. It's time for the one responsible to finally speak up.
She looks at me with interest—the same look she had back then for Magnu, wondering what my actual potential is.
Now that the auditorium had calmed down, it was finally time for the actual interviews.
"First of all, we'll decide on the specialization you want to focus on. "The staff member who was at the arena with me mutters.
"As for your combat style, it was clear you are incredibly knowledgeable with unarmed techniques. From wrestling to striking, you seem to be well experienced in combat in terms of those things. So, the heads have decided to recommend you to Mr. Krill, who specializes in finger techniques," He says with a casual expression, as if what he read was normal and wasn't plainly absurd.
Mr. Krill?
The moment the staff said that name, I could see the grins and small smiles from Joey's and all of the people who were by his side earlier.
Finger techniques? Is he serious?
It was clear he was messing with me now that he knows I can't utilize a marital technique as such.
Even the fist technique instructors looked at me in regret, as if I were a victim of politics, and despite wanting to teach me and possibly learn the techniques I knew, he couldn't do anything.
As for Miss Scarlet, it was clear she was waiting for this interview before she decided what to do.
This is so annoying.
"What's your decision, young Master Julius? "
…
I guess regardless of how honorable the cause might be, a corporation filled with ambitious people is bound to be corrupted in some form or another.
"Yep, I've decided. "I say with a blank face.
"Alright, does that mean you accept the recommended specialization? "The staff asks as the multitude of expressions, disappointment, satisfaction,and the feeling of wasting someone, filled the entire auditorium.
" No? When did I say that? I want to be a mage. An illusionist in that matter. "
...
The moment I said so, the expressions of everyone suddenly shifted to confusion.
Is he an idiot? They all thought, regardless of which side they were on earlier.
Is he wasting his talent like this?
Did we really have to do all of that when he wants to waste himself?
" What? "Even the staff who was handling everything suddenly exclaimed in confusion.
"I said I wanted to be a mage. "I say it with the same expression as I normally have.
"This..." With a troubled expression on her face, Scarlet holds her forehead as she looks down at me, wondering if I was actually worth helping. Whether me being a fan of hers, was enough reason for the troubles.
Don't worry, miss; I'll remove all those doubts soon. Trust me for now.
"Are you certain, young Julius? "Joey, who had a grin on his face, suddenly acted polite as if he just didn't want me removed earlier. Like he wasn't just pushing me towards this 'stupid' decision of mine.
I couldn't help but let out a small giggle as I looked into his eyes.
Keep the same energy.
"Yeah"
"You don't even have any mana on you right now. Which means you haven't dabbled at all with magic. I can say the same for Aura, but you have clear talent in martial arts. This is clearly destructive. Are you certain you aren't being forced by those old frogs? "Lady Jane then looks at me in worry, in case I was doing something I didn't want to.
Which obviously wouldn't happen. I won't let anyone force me like that.
Sigh. I guess it's time.
"It seems like most of you don't understand why I'm doing this. Since I don't have mana, could I borrow any talisman of illusion magic of some sort? "I said out loud.
" What? Why? "They wonder, looking at me with even more confusion than before.
"I've learned about it. A certain branch of illusion magic, to be specific. " I say, causing the confusion and the enjoyment of the crowd to vanish, turning the mood back to when I had just entered.
" Oh? "Surprised by my remarks, a certain individual to the left suddenly mutters.
[Magic Theories: Illusion Specialist Gio Edwards]
"I've never heard of other branches of illusion magic. Are you sure what you're saying is true? "he says with a low and disgruntled voice.
Gio Edwards…
This bastard.
"Yes, would everyone like to see it? "I say with a poker face, acting like I wasn't badmouthing Gio in my head.
"Well, he's another matter for later."
"Alright, here, "Gio says, before throwing a talisman in my direction.
"That's a F-ranked spell. Excite."
Nice; that's exactly what I wanted. It's the most common illusion talisman in this world, so I knew it would be this.
Now that everything is set, I'll rely on your bad personalities from now on.
Let's proceed.
Let me show you the magic of my world.
With the talisman still in my hand, I grabbed a hat from my pockets, which I bought yesterday to use for this exact moment. I placed the scroll inside the hat before putting it on my head.
I then called out for the staff, who was on the same level as me, to perform the trick on him.
I proceeded to pull out a few playing cards before performing a classic magic trick.
The classic choose your card, trick. Which won't help me at all in increasing their opinion of me, yet is an important step in the process.
"This… "
As I go along with the trick. I could already see the expressions of the others up top starting to look grim, especially Miss Scarlet. Joey was nearly about to burst out laughing, while Gio's interest completely faded.
"Now then, Mr. Staff, is your card this? "I say as I put up an ace of diamonds.
" Yes. "He says blandly, as if he already knew I pulled out the right card even before showing it.
Well, of course they did. They're high-ranking individuals whose senses couldn't be fooled by some sleight of hand.
"Then should I pull out the talisman you hid in my back pocket? "The staff grew increasingly disinterested, bored by the small antics I was doing.
"Oh, you've seen me do that? "
" HAHAHA! You might actually have talent, now that I see it. Those quick hands of yours might make you a good thief! "Joey says before laughing out loud, unable to hold his laughter any longer.
Scarlet's expression became disconnected, as if she wasn't expecting anything more from me. And had totally given up on helping me at all.
…
"Then what if I activate that talisman at this moment? "I say with an unchanged expression.
" What? "With my sudden words, the laughter suddenly turned quiet, confused by what I meant.
"Now that everyone's looking at the talisman, won't everyone here be affected? As we all know, illusion targets the senses of people, and low-ranking spells like that usually utilize sight. Although it would just be a tickle to you, wouldn't you all be affected by that talisman?" I say, still acting oblivious to what was happening around me.
"This..." As if I couldn't look any dumber, Joey couldn't help but feel dumbfounded by my words.
"This idiot... do you think you can do all those mumbo jumbos in a fight? Would they just let you pull cards like some idiot? This is why I hate uneducated people. "Joey continues to laugh even louder, causing the people who were just defending me earlier to go completely quiet.
This person isn't worth anything; we were wrong.
"Then we will all lower our senses just for you. If you manage to grab our attention just like that, we'll give you high grades. "He laughs even louder, causing the others to giggle with his remarks.
Everyone then proceeded to lower their senses, even Miss Scarlet, who was looking at me without interest whatsoever.
Finally…
"Are you sure? "I say with a smile on my face, changing the casual expression I always had.
Seemingly stupefied by my change in expression, Joey stops laughing, looking at me like I was another level of idiot who didn't know his limits.
"Hah, maybe I'll even make you rank one in the entire school," he says with a wide grin on his face, excited for what was about to happen.
'This is going to be funny, ' He probably thought.
Well, so did I.
You're easier to manipulate than I thought, Joey.
[Attention Seeker]
!!!
In the matter of milliseconds, the head who had their senses lowered down to be that off a normal person flicked their heads towards my eyes, which were smoking from my blessing.
I pulled up the talisman towards my face before opening it in front of the many eyes in my direction.
"Rule number one: don't look at an illusionist. "