I didn't expect that the second exam would turn me into even more of a laughingstock.
"I will now be announcing the details of the second exam," spoke Kaldwin. "This one will evaluate your attack power, and the objective is simple. In each room, there is now a large rock made from sterian iron, a special material that is highly resistant to normal attacks but is extremely vulnerable to magic. There are no limitations on what kind of magic you use."
Infusing magic power into my fists would work to damage it... that is, if I was actually capable enough in doing that to accomplish anything worthwhile. I cracked the rock a bit, so at the very least, I didn't get a zero. Raw power isn't exactly my specialty.
I didn't really care about the harsh glares that were directed at me, but there were a few people trying to make it my problem.
"Not to be rude, but shouldn't you just give up now?"
Some guy with shaggy gray hair and brown eyes I've never even noticed before started hassling me, along with two others who seemed particularly intent on singling me out. They all looked at me condescendingly, thinking of me as if I were an insect.
That was about it, though. I genuinely couldn't care less, so I outright ignored them. They kept pestering me about it, but eventually gave up after noticing my complete disregard for their mockery.
It's hard to take pride in something I've only been practicing for a month, especially since the skills gained through 'Synchronization' are extremely limited. At best, I get a foundation that I can build upon with further training and experience.
Needless to say, the two top scorers were Sera and the ice mage from before. However, it was actually the latter who came out on top. If anything, it was still impressive that Sera did so well, especially considering light-based arcane arts are weak when it comes to raw power.
Shortly before the third exam was revealed, I received a rather unwelcome surprise from none other than the ice mage. A tall, blond male wearing a blue robe with unsettling, crystalline eyes that were various shades of pink. It was difficult to lock gazes with him because of how unusual his kaleidoscopic eyes were.
"I've been wondering this since earlier, but you're the person who received Merlin's mark, yes?"
He had a gentle smile that made me feel uneasy. He seemed nice on the surface, but there was something about him that was unreadable and difficult to trust.
Noticing my hesitation, he quickly followed up before I could say anything.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. My name is Galliard, from the Solyrian family of my home continent, Est'artia."
He showed me the back of his right hand, and on it was a mark of a four-pointed star. Although I hadn't gone through the trouble of researching the other Grand Arks, I could tell it was an administrator's mark like my own.
"If you're unfamiliar with it, this is the mark of Catherine, one of the administrators of the Ark of Faith. I came over because I was interested in someone similar to myself."
I gave him a weak smile, but there was little heart in it. "Sorry to disappoint you, then?" I spoke, assuming that he came over to deride me in the same way the others did.
However, he only tilted his head in confusion.
"Disappoint...? Ah, I believe I was being misleading. As a mark-bearer myself, I know all too well how the administrators lack any proper standard for who receives their recognition. When I said 'someone similar to myself', I meant to say I was interested to interact with another adherent."
I was taken aback. How did he know? How much did he know?
He chuckled, apparently amused by my concerned expression. "I apologize. These eyes of mine are capable of recognizing other adherents from a glance—a gift I received from my own divine, Satella."
I recognized the name, but my knowledge of her was limited. All I knew was that she was one of the divines belonging to the Ivory Church, a massive religious organization that was based in Est'artia. The Ivory Church was one of the few pantheons that were worshipped by adherents and non-adherents alike, treating divines as literal gods. During my studies, Heflin once told me that not all divines were aligned with each other, and they all possessed their own ideals, though their politics weren't something I was too interested in.
"If it's not too much trouble, may I ask about the divine you worship?"
I must've given him a harsher look than I expected, because he immediately bowed apologetically.
"Oh, but I haven't even inquired about your name yet! I'm sorry, the excitement is getting to me."
"...It's fine. I'm Ilyin Gray, and the relation between me and my divine is not that of reverence but of contractor and contractee. For reasons, I also would like to keep information about them private."
"I'm a fool today, I suppose. Of course, not all adherents are part of a pantheon. That's my mistake for having a narrow view. I also don't intend to pry if it poses a problem—I respect you and your privacy."
"Thank you."
He was uncomfortably friendly, but he was a good person for sure. As we continued to make small talk, I felt a strong gaze in our direction. I quickly glanced over my shoulder and noticed Sera glaring at us, or more specifically, at Galliard. I guess she really did just take interest in anyone who seemed strong, if 'interest' is even the right word to use.
After a while, the sound of a microphone booming drew our attention to the front. Back on the podium, Kaldwin was preparing to announce the details of the third test.
"Attention, attention. You are all officially halfway through with the practicals. We will now be progressing to the third exam: mock monster subjugation."
A wave of mixed emotions swept over the group. Some were restless with excitement, others trembling from nervousness. As for me, I was glad there was something I could actually do.
"Our summoners will try to avoid causing any injuries, but note that we are not responsible for your well-being. If you think that you can no longer proceed, give up and let the summoner know. As for the summoned monster, you will not know what it is until you go in, and it is the same monster for all test takers. For this exam, all cameras will be disabled and the glass of the rooms will be obfuscated. Examinees who have finished will be escorted to the other side of the exam hall to prevent sharing of information."
The examinees around me started loudly chattering with each other, anxious about the format of the exam. The proctor loudly cleared his throat through the mic, silencing them.
"The purpose of this exam is to test your critical thinking, combat skills, and tension management. In the real world, you could face an unknown monster at any time. It is vital that you assess its strength and weaknesses all while remaining calm in the shortest time possible before neutralizing it. Of the four exams, your performance here means more than just points; even if you didn't do well in the previous two, this exam can more than make up for it. Combat is the core of Lionheart."
He briefly glanced in my direction, then turned his attention back to the crowd. Was he trying to look out for me?
"Now, we will begin with the first round of exams. Group A, please enter the testing rooms."
I watched the examinees file into their respective rooms. I was curious about how Sera would fare during this exam, but come to think of it, it was probably light work for her. I wouldn't be surprised if she already had experience with live monster subjugation considering she's the adept of Viole Justiciary. I've done it before, but only in low-level zones while being chaperoned by Heflin. Still, I was a bit confident that I would be able to handle the exam.
I wasn't sure if the exam had begun or not because they also sealed off the sounds coming from the testing rooms. Did they really need to be so thorough about it?
A few minutes passed, and one by one, the examinees began exiting their rooms.
I frowned. I quickly exchanged a glance with Galliard, who also had a concerned expression on his face. Among the examinees who had finished—not dropped out—none of them were Sera. It seemed that the others were also growing suspicious.
In the corner of my eye, I saw Kaldwin leaving his post, quickly shuffling towards the testing room that Sera was in. The summoner in charge of her exam suddenly stopped him in his path... and they were wearing a black mask that concealed their appearance.
A violent burst of lightning blinded my sight and sent a deafening crack throughout the exam room. Several cries of terror echoed throughout. Before I could recover, one of the other proctors quickly got to the podium.
"The exams are being indefinitely postponed! Please exit the exam hall and leave the building in an orderly fashion!"
At first, the examinees were sticking around to see what was happening, but a massive explosion that quickly followed sent them panicking. Galliard and I started to trail behind the group, until I caught a glimpse of Sera's testing room being blown open. Spiraling through the air, she struggled to regain her balance as a hulking, bipedal creature with brown fur and four horns stalked her.
"We have to help her!" cried Galliard almost immediately.
To be honest, I wanted to be anywhere but over there. Kaldwin's fight with the unknown assailant was a vicious exchange of lightning and fire magic, causing the surrounding testing rooms to crumble. Furthermore, the beast Sera was fighting was known as a "haginn", a goblin-headed monster with a massive furry body known for its ridiculous constitution and physical strength. While it showed signs of injury in its fight against Sera, the latter was definitely worse off.
Before I could protest, Galliard ran off to help her. Reluctantly, I followed suit, carefully avoiding chunks of debris flying in our direction. As we approached, I understood why Sera was having so much trouble.
A second haginn emerged from the testing room, this one noticeably less hurt than the first.
"I'll handle it," Galliard immediately said in an urgent tone. "You help Sera."
I was anxious about leaving him alone, but there was a sort of leader-like quality in the way he spoke. Without further delay, I nodded before running off.
However, before I could reach her, the ground suddenly collapsed, taking both her and the haginn into the depths of God knows where. I peered into the darkness, realizing that there was another floor underneath the one we were on. I groaned. Before I jumped down, an idea came to me.
I grabbed something from my coat: a black mask that covers my mouth and nose. It was imbued with a special perception-blocking function. Heflin gave it to me so that I could hide my identity when I went out, but I had totally forgotten about it. I quickly slipped it on. After all, I didn't want to draw the interest of Sera again. Even if my clothes are the same, she won't be able to recall who I am.
With a deep breath, I jumped down.