Chapter 9 - Qualification Test

“So, what do you think of Byranze, son?”

“It’s a lot bigger than I thought it would be for a city so far from the capital. There are so many people that we can barely move forward.”

“That would usually be the case, son, but Byranze is located on the major trading route between Raxim and Nifl. Merchants from both kingdoms constantly flow through the city, which has led to its natural expansion due to the trades conducted here.”

Byrael and Azrael were currently walking through the streets of Byranze. The crowd was so dense that they bumped into someone every few steps. Byranze was a melting pot of cultures, with people coming from all over the continent to trade.

Azrael was intrigued by the diversity of people he encountered. Since he had been born in this new world, he had only seen the villagers from his hometown. Observing these people, he could almost guess their origins based on their appearance.

People from Raxim had snow-like skin. Perhaps due to the lack of sunlight in the north, their skin was so pale it was almost albino, complemented by their red hair.

In contrast, the people from the south had tan skin from exposure to the desert sun, with brown hair to match. They wore sleeveless shirts and short pants, and the women wore sleeveless dresses.

The people from the Rhostez Kingdom, though not as tanned as the southerners, had a noticeable tan. Despite being paler than the northerners, they were well-muscled from agricultural work. They wore modest clothing, even the nobles who had guards. Their distinct aqua-green hair seemed to radiate with vitality.

Finally, the people from the Fersia Kingdom stood out the most. With their blonde hair and Pentagram holy symbol, they carried themselves with an air of superiority. Azrael felt a pang of disgust seeing them, remembering how the churches in his previous life were known for discriminating against demons, labeling them as enemies of their gods.

On both sides of the street, merchants were calling out to pedestrians from their stalls, trying to attract attention to their wares.

“Madame! This necklace would look gorgeous on you! It’s only five silvers!”

“Dear sir! Please come over here and look at my wares! I have just received a new batch from the West!”

“Special discount sale today! Everything is fifty percent off if you buy more than three items! Hurry and come! The items you want won’t last long!”

The variety of goods was astounding. Products from all over the continent were on display: swords and armor from the Sunder Kingdom, crops from the Rhostez Kingdom, jewelry from Raxim, and even potions from Nifl.

Behind the stalls, a line of houses and stores extended. The buildings, made of wood and some stone, varied in height, from single-story structures to those rising three or four stories. The uneven heights made them resemble a series of hills, creating a saddle-like appearance.

While enjoying the bustling street, something caught Azrael’s eye at a stall. He tapped his dad’s shoulder to get his attention and then headed towards the stall. Curious about what interested his son, Byrael followed.

As they approached the stall, they did not notice the large crowd gathering in a circle not far from where they were. Inside the circle, a group of women were attacking an old man. Seeing this, one of the onlookers attempted to step forward, but others held him back, shaking their heads.

“Die, you damn old ero sage!”

“M… M’lady…”

“A pervert at such an old age… it’s so creepy.”

Back at the stall, Azrael was looking at a pair of jade bead wristbands. Though not of high quality, they were pretty and would make a nice present. Byrael ruffled Azrael’s hair and smiled. Despite the new city and the upcoming test, Azrael still thought of his younger siblings and bought them a gift.

Byrael and Azela really couldn’t have asked for a better son. He was kind and courteous to others, loved his family, and always looked after his younger siblings. Not once had he acted out or been rebellious.

After leaving the stall, they walked for another ten minutes before arriving at the Magician Guild’s headquarters in the city center. The headquarters was a large, four-story marble building that stood out from the others. Tall marble pillars flanked the entrance, adding an imposing touch.

In every major city on the continent, the Magician Guild and Warrior Association maintained branches. These headquarters served as relaxation spots for members and offered equipment and goods at discounted prices. Biannually, they held qualification tests for children to assess their strength and potential.

During these tests, academies sent representatives to scout for talented children. With three Magic Academies and three Warrior Academies vying for the best candidates, the competition was fierce. A famous graduate could bring prestige to their school, so no academy held back in their efforts.

In front of the Magician Guild’s headquarters, hundreds of children were lined up, waiting their turn. Families from the surrounding areas brought their children, hoping for a brighter future. It was no surprise, as having a magician in the family could greatly improve their status and income.

Sighing at the sight of the long line, Byrael and Azrael joined the queue. The line moved slowly, advancing only inches at a time. Groups of people trickled out of the building.

It was easy to tell who had passed and who hadn’t. Some children exited the building joyfully, their parents celebrating their success. Unfortunately, these were the minority. Most children left with gloomy faces or in tears, consoled by their parents. A few disgraceful parents berated their children, yelling at them for being worthless.

After waiting for over an hour, they finally reached the headquarters. The interior was tidy, with a reception desk at the entrance and wooden tables for members to relax and enjoy meals. Mages browsed the general store, looking for items they needed.

At the reception desk, an elderly mage sat jotting down names. He wore a blue cloak partially obscured by his long, flowing brown hair, which was beginning to show hints of grey.

After another twenty minutes of waiting, it was finally Azrael’s turn.

“Next! What’s your name, child?”

“It’s Azrael Celeste, sir.”

“Which kingdom are you from?”

“Nifl Kingdom, sir.”

“Are you his parent?”

“Yes, sir mage.”

“Alright then. The two of you should go to the end of this hall and up the stairs. Someone will be waiting to guide you.”

“Thank you, sir.”

After bowing and thanking the mage, Azrael and his father walked to the end of the hall and up the stairs. On the next floor, a young lady in a suit greeted them with a smile and guided them through a door.

“From here on out, the child will go through the door on the left. Sir, you can go through the door on the right. From there, you’ll be able to see your son take the test.”

Byrael nodded and looked at his son with encouragement.

“You’ll do fine, son. Show them what a genius you are.”

“Haha, okay, Dad! See you soon.”

Laughing at his father’s words and his showy pose, Azrael entered the room. However, he was confused by its setup.

The room was enormous, almost the size of the entire first floor of his family’s house. In the center was a table with a crystal ball on top. On the left wall, a large glass panel allowed him to see numerous people.

As Azrael approached the table and looked at the people through the glass, he wondered what he was supposed to do. A baritone voice then spoke.

“Hello, child. The qualification test will be quite simple. All you have to do is place a hand on the crystal ball. It will measure your mana capacity, purity, and elemental affinity percentages. Do you have any questions?”

Ah… so it’s this kind of test. By the way, this crystal ball is quite interesting… to be able to measure all of that by just touching it… Intrigued, Azrael placed his hand on the crystal ball.

As soon as his hand made contact, the crystal ball emitted a blinding light. Surprised, Azrael quickly covered his eyes with his other arm, not daring to break contact with the ball.

After a few moments, the light slowly dimmed and then faded. As the blinking lights disappeared from his vision, Azrael removed his hand and opened his eyes. The room returned to normal.

“…. Mana capacity of a King-ranked wizard, mana purity of a Wizard-ranked mage, fire element affinity, ninety-seven percent, water element affinity, ninety-seven percent, darkness element affinity, one hundred percent! A tri-elementalist!!”

At these words, the other room erupted in chaos. Although Azrael couldn’t see clearly into the room, the commotion was evident through the glass. Almost immediately after the announcement, the testing room’s door was thrown open, and numerous people swarmed in, surrounding Azrael.

“Master Celeste! We at Wezdon Magic Academy would like to offer you a spot at our academy. Of course, tuition will be free!”

“Master Celeste! Resquite Magic Academy will offer you free tuition, board, and a stipend if you decide to honor us with your attendance!”

All around him, representatives from various academies made offers and counteroffers, trying to entice him to join their institution. Overwhelmed by the sudden attention, Azrael was at a loss for what to do. Desperately searching for his dad, he finally spotted him at the back of

the crowd, smirking at him. That old pop! He’s enjoying watching me squirm!

After attempting to be courteous and listen, Azrael quickly gave up and shouted.

“Excuse me, please! EXCUSE ME!! I am just a child and don’t know much about all your prestigious academies. Therefore, I’ll leave the decision to my father. Please speak with him about this matter!”

When Byrael heard this, his face turned pale. He had been enjoying watching his usually calm son panic a little from the sudden offers, but now the decision was thrust upon him! Seeing his father’s appalled expression, Azrael inwardly laughed while the representatives quickly shifted their attention to Byrael. Seizing the opportunity, Azrael made a hasty escape from the room as the representatives surrounded his father.