Skip Magician 2

Test

Chapter 2. Skipping The Exam

The royal capital of the Kuria Kingdom, 'Alexia', is a city with clean water. It developed around the harbor that penetrates into the city, and ships from neighboring countries anchor in Alexia Harbor in large numbers. Alexia, the royal capital existing at the center of other countries, is indeed the hub of trade.

Despite being called the City of Water, Alexia is beautiful, but the Chronos Magic Knight Academy located in the royal capital, contrary to the sea, is near the mountains. I wonder why. The Chronos Magic Knight Academy is based on a fortress originally used during wartime.

So far, I've been rambling on about various things, but what am I trying to say? That is the Chronos Magic Knight Academy is basically a boarding school! Moreover, because the academy is insanely huge, each student is given their own room. I thought they were wealthy, but according to rumors, many students drop out or transfer to other departments midway through the academic year. In other words, even if they initially assigned roommates, eventually they end up with a single room on their own. Isn't it better to have a single room from the start? What foolishness?

"Well, never mind... Today's schedule... an exam?"

Again? We just had the entrance exam, and now there's another exam right after enrollment. But... exams right after enrolling aren't that significant, right? Alright, I'll skip and hide in the library. I wasn't interested in becoming a magic knight anyway, and if I could be transferred to another department, that would be great.

Slipping out of the classroom, I confidently enter the library. Although the Chronos Magic Knight Academy operates on a three-year system, today, only the new students seem to be actively engaged in activities within the academy, and the library is deserted.

This is fortunate. Considering that the new students are probably in the middle of some kind of exam right now. Skipping that to hang out in the library would normally be grounds for expulsion, but it's not a problem if I don't get caught.

By presenting my student ID at the entrance, some sort of magical sensing must have been done, as the door opened automatically. This aspect so surpasses the scientific technology I was familiar with before my reincarnation. Well, opening doors with an IC card touch is pretty common.

"Oh, wow..."

Stepping into the library, I am overwhelmed by the sheer number of books. Books as far as the eye can see, must be heaven for those who love reading. Although I'm interested in magic, I'm not particularly interested in books themselves, so first, I'll search for books on 'magic circles' in this library.

"Magic-related books are on the second floor."

While I was searching for the types of books while looking at the guideboard, someone seemed to have appeared behind me unnoticed. Turning around slowly to look at their face, they were annoyingly handsome.

His distinctively purple hair was perfectly groomed without a strand out of place. His gray eyes gazed at me with interest and curiosity.

I have a lot to say as well. Why was the librarian (?) so handsome, and where was he even though I didn't sense his presence?

"Um, maybe I should have introduced myself?"

"No, it's not necessary."

I don't think it's necessary to be so friendly with the librarian. Well, if I'm going to hang around here often, maybe it's better to be on good terms. After all, I'm going to be a resident here, so the librarian is like the landlord to me.

"...I apologize. Perhaps I should ask for your name after all?"

"Oh, um. Yeah. I was a bit surprised to be turned down."

"My name is Ars Kugel. I'm supposed to be the next head of the Kugel Marquis family..."

"...Next head of the marquis family?"

Huh, isn't that quite prestigious?

A marquis family. that's one step below a duke, right? It wouldn't be strange for them to be one of the top three influential families in the country? And he's the next head of such a family?

Oh no. I said something terribly rude. And I even let the person with a higher status introduce themselves first. Can I apologize and be forgiven now?

"I... I apologize for my rudeness, not knowing that you were the next head of the marquis family—"

"Ah, it's fine. I worded it poorly too..."

"...Um, am I forgiven?"

"Yeah. I don't bother mentioning every little thing to my juniors."

Alright... Juniors?

Huh, does that mean this person isn't the librarian!?

"Um... Ars-sama..."

"Ah, sorry... It's time for me to go."

Crap. I missed my chance to ask. Well, he's still a librarian.

"One more thing! If you skip the exam without permission, it's not good, new student!"

Everything is exposed. But skipping the exam is my own responsibility... so it's fine. I think.

If someone asked what they wanted to do when they returned to their student days, many people would probably say they'd study properly this time. I was also the type of person who had been thinking that for a long time, but starting a new school life after reincarnation... I don't even think properly about skipping the first exam. The saying 'the leopard cannot change its spots' is true, huh?

Instead, though, since I was reincarnated into this world, I've been earnestly studying magic. My mother always said I had talent as a magic knight, but... honestly, I wanted to be a magician, not a knight. The reason is simple—I've always wanted to use magic since I was a child... it's a story from my previous life.

"Magic circles, magic circles... Let's start reading."

Finding the shelf of books on magic, I climbed the stairs to the second floor and finally found the book I was looking for.

Beside a thick book that seemed like a dictionary, probably containing information about magic circles on every page, was a book with a title like 'Easy Magic Circles for Kids!', which seemed like something donated to an elementary school in my previous life.

From the title and appearance of the letters, it clearly seemed aimed at children, but surprisingly, it wasn't stupid. After all, it contains the basics of magic circles and magic. You can't even activate magic properly if you're not solid on this.

Magic is the miracle of absorbing magical elements from the atmosphere into one's body and converting them into magical power for use. That's the detailed explanation of magic, but there's a missing part. Magic indeed refers to the general use of magical power obtained by absorbing magical elements, but naturally, humans want to create the phenomena they desire. That's where 'magic circles' come in.

Magic circles are geometric patterns that determine the directionality of miracles that can be achieved by magical power. In other words, if you can manipulate magical power into the predetermined shape of a magic circle, you can repeatedly activate magic with the same effect.

"Hmm?"

While reading a children's book titled 'Easy Magic Circles for Kids!', I felt a presence entering the library. When I heard the sound of the library door opening, it was not just my imagination. I should probably check it out.

Glancing down at the open area on the second floor, I saw the figure of a female student with green hair, which stood out in the dimly lit library.

"Oh, calm down... I don't want to do this anymore. I want to quit the Magic Knight Department..."

"Oh, me too."

"Huh!?"

Did she not expect anyone to be here? The girl looked up at me and moved her mouth as if she were a goldfish begging for food. Maybe it's because I'm looking down at her from the second floor, but it's like she's begging for something.

"Huh? Huh?"

"I'm Theodore Anthem, a new student in the Magic Knight Department. And you?"

"I-I'm Elixira... Bifrans, a new student in the Magic Knight Department."

Elixira. the name has a nice ring to it.

"So, why are you suddenly in the library? Aren't you supposed to be taking the exam right now?"

"Can you please say that again exactly as it was? Um, well, to begin with, there wasn't anyone with the examination number 984, so I was the first one to take the exam!"

"Really? That's rough."

"Huh."

When she said examination number 984, she meant me. So, this exam thing is taken in order of examination number. This means Elixira-san must be number 983.

"Oh, are you the person with the examination number 984!? Is it alright to skip the exam just like that!?"

"Well... didn't we already take an exam when we enrolled? So, I thought it'd be fine."

"That's not good at all! Today's exam determines the students' ranking, you know!?"

"...Sorry, but what's ranking?"

I've never heard of that concept before.