Chapter 106 [Entrance Exam -Magic Department- (2)]

 

As soon as all three magic arrows from my triple cast in my first attempt plunged into the ground, a strange sense of crisis began to swirl in my mind.

 

‘Wait, did I just fail…?’

 

Even excluding Mana Blast, I had two offensive spells I could use, plus I could utilize triple-casting, and on top of that, I could use Clean as a support spell, so I hadn’t been particularly nervous.

But as soon as I started the target destruction test, a sense of crisis began to creep up, sensing that I had failed.

Lilith’s current luck stat is only 2. [GalaxyTL/Axiomatic]

Converted to the hit rate formula of “Luminor Academy,” it was a measly figure of only about 4-5%.

The number of spells I could use simultaneously was limited to triple-casting at best, so even if I used all five chances with triple-casting, I could only use magic a total of 15 times.

Ah, no. I’ve already messed up once, so I only have 12 chances left. …This is even more desperate, damn it.

If I’m not careful, there’s a possibility of a disaster where I keep using triple-casting and fail without destroying even a single target.

 

‘This wasn’t the time to be spouting nonsense about it being a piece of cake.’

 

It wasn’t the time to be complacent, thinking I’d pass for sure. It was a moment when my possibility of crashing to the ground in the entrance exam, just like the magic arrows that had just flown, was looming.

It was a moment when Lilith’s innate limitation of her terribly low luck stat was truly holding her back.

…Instead of regretting this desperate stat that couldn’t escape single digits even at Level 9, I should be thinking about how to overcome this situation right now.

The problem I was facing was an entrance exam that wouldn’t be strange to fail right away.

 

“Don’t be nervous, take it slowly.”

“…Yes.”

 

It’s not because of nervousness that I can’t hit. It’s just that this character itself wasn’t created for offensive magic.

However, having already started the Magic Department’s entrance exam, there was no way to back out now.

It was now impossible to enter the academy through another department if things went wrong.

Once I had taken the exam for the Magic Department, applying to other departments would be considered cheating by Luminor Academy.

…I guess I have no choice but to rely on luck somehow.

Although relying on luck with Lilith, who had no luck, was insane in itself, I had no other choice at the moment. [GalaxyTL/Axiomatic]

First, Shockwave was a short-range spell with a slight hit rate correction, so it wasn’t a means I could use now.

Also, Mana Blast consumed all magic power the moment it was used, so it was truly a spell with no backup, and strictly speaking, its range wasn’t wide enough to guarantee passing.

With really good luck, it could hit about three targets at once; otherwise, the limit was about two.

Moreover, even if I used the nine skill points I had accumulated, I wasn’t in a position to learn useful offensive magic right now.

AoE magic would be the only thing I could try with a low hit rate, but it would take more than 9 skill points to learn area-of-effect magic now.

 

“Magic, dwell in my hand.”

 

In the end, I made my decision and created three magic arrows through triple-casting just like before.

This time too, I aimed at the three closest scarecrows and cast them as if throwing them, just like before.

 

“Pierce! Arrows of magic!”

 

Thud, Thud, Thud!

 

“……”

“…Ah.”

 

Ah.

Ah, ah, AHHHHH!!!!!!

 

Watching the magic arrows fly off course and crash into the ground after barely grazing the targets, I let out all kinds of screams in my mind.

It’s gotten to the point where the exam supervisor, unable to bear watching, carefully offered advice.

 

“It’s good to try triple-casting, but wouldn’t it be better to focus on hitting with one or two shots? If you pass the entrance exam, you’ll be able to learn how to properly triple cast at the academy.”

“…Thank you for the advice.”

 

I understand why they would say that. From the academy staff’s perspective, missing out on a talent who can do triple-casting before even entering would be quite painful.

While double casting might be achievable through individual effort, triple-casting was magic that couldn’t be used unless one had exceptional magical aptitude.

So, I understand tearfully well the intention behind such advice, thinking to pass me first and then nurture me at the academy.

…To begin with, the problem wasn’t the scattered concentration due to triple-casting.

It was just that Lilith’s terrible hit rate limited my attack magic.

 

“Pierce! Arrows of magic!”

Crash!!

“Oh!”

“…Huh?”

 

On the third attempt, miraculously, one out of three shots hit and destroyed a target.

Although it was the second target from the front, the fact that it was destroyed was what mattered.

It meant that I had somehow broken through the slim 5% probability and witnessed a small miracle.

 

‘Now, if I can just hit four out of the remaining six shots…’

 

If I could destroy just five out of ten, I might barely make it into the passing cut-off line.

That level would mean I’d be considered an average noble apprentice mage. Unable to use AoE magic or multi-casting, but skilled enough to hit targets steadily without mistakes during the 5 chances. [GalaxyTL/Axiomatic]

To be precise, I just need to hit one shot on the fourth attempt. If I can do that, I should be able to destroy up to three targets with Mana Blast on the last attempt.

Thinking that, I tried to shoot three magic arrows in a similar way to the third attempt on the fourth try, but the result for Lilith, with a single-digit hit rate and luck, was disastrous.

 

Thud, Thud, Thud!

 

“Ah…”

“……”

 

As soon as I saw the magic arrows crashing to the ground, I heard the entrance exam supervisor’s sigh-filled voice.

I started to feel ashamed of myself for not being able to hit even stationary scarecrows.

 

“Applicant, why don’t you try using it after calming down a bit? From what I can see, you seem to have enough talent…”

“……”

 

Really, if I could just hit one more shot, it seemed like I could somehow make it.

Now, the only means left to me was to throw all my remaining magic power into one Mana Blast.

Even if I was lucky enough to hit three targets, it was already a moment far from the passing range.

If I had just hit one more from the triple-castings I’ve used so far, I could have had some hope…

 

‘…Wait.’

 

Come to think of it, I don’t necessarily have to use triple-casting only for magic arrows, right?

Yes, the premise was wrong from the start. The premise that Magic Arrow was the most suitable spell for using triple-casting was wrong.

I hadn’t thought of it until now because I was obsessed with the idea that Mana Blast was a last resort, but thinking about it, Mana Blast was actually the most effective spell to use with triple-casting.

Since it’s a spell that consumes all remaining magic power, the power of the three magic spheres should be similarly enhanced.

Even if the power is dispersed and the range is somewhat reduced, Mana Blast itself was already a considerable area-of-effect spell.

If I could hit special targets with three Mana Blasts, or hit two or more at once…

 

“Applicant, with your last attempt, please do your best…”

“Magic!!!”

“…?!”

 

The moment that thought occurred to me, I started chanting the spell for the final sure-hit technique, imbuing both hands with the sensation of using Mana Blast.

By chanting Mana Blast, along with triple-casting, three spheres immediately began to form above my hands. [GalaxyTL/Axiomatic]

The time for being at ease and saying things like I didn’t want to stand out, if possible, had already passed.

After all, the most important thing right now is to pass without failing.

 

“Uh, uh?! W-wait a moment, applicant?!”

 

The exam supervisor called out to me in confusion upon seeing the three growing magic spheres, but it was magic that couldn’t be stopped once started.

Whatever I might hear later, for now, I had no choice but to just throw them.

As I was putting about 500 mana into each shot, the power was already certain, and I didn’t need to aim for a specific area with a 5-meter wide magic sphere like the Mana Blast I used last time.

I only needed to hit three important targets.

The farthest target, the moving target, and the sturdy target.

If I could definitely destroy these three highest-scoring targets, I should be able to put my name on the passing cut-off line, barring any extreme circumstances.

If I’m lucky enough to destroy other targets along with them, that would be a bonus.

 

“Explode!! Bombs of magic!!”

 

With that thought, I threw the three magic spheres I had raised above my head forward with all my might.

…Soon after, three explosion sounds rang out at the Magic Department entrance exam site.