Chapter 47 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family
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"Is it really just the general magic test?"
"Yes."
I arrived in Bayern once again in the form of Nicolaus and headed to the testing site at the Royal Mages' Association to formally obtain my mage registration card.
Since everything related to the core that goes on official documents should be revised all at once when the school inevitably screws up, it was best not to dawdle and get it done quickly.
"His Excellency is…"
"Not me."
Leo, standing beside me, waved his hand lightly.
The staff member smiled, nodded, and said to me,
"Then, Lord Nicolaus, you can head straight up to Testing Room 1 on the floor above."
"How long does the test take?"
"There are five categories, each taking one to five minutes. Including the time to compile the results, figure on about 40 minutes total. Ah, it might take twice as long for you, Lord Nicolaus."
Twice as long?
In any case... while schools do a simplified core-only test, this place measures values for your ID card, so there are many more items checked.
"What are the categories?"
"You'll take the core test first, then purity, intensity, and total amount of mana. Finally, we'll have you cast a spell at maximum output to check for any blockages in the manifestation process."
It matched exactly what I'd looked up in advance.
I gave a brief greeting and headed upstairs, opening the door to the testing room.
The testing room was completely empty, not a soul in sight.
I released all my artifacts into the storage bin and stood in front of the red tape marked on the floor.
There was a single instruction panel in front of it.
'Place your dominant hand on it.'
It said this comprehensively evaluated hardness, capacity, stability, and various other factors of the core.
Since I was doing it anyway, I hoped for at least an 8 out of 10.
'Where's your conscience?'
Going from 0 to 8 points after just two months of training the guy who was at rock bottom was a bit much.
Anyway, below that, it noted that the skin might sting when the test mana flows.
What a... discouraging line. It really made me hesitate to put my hand on it.
But there was no point delaying something I had to do anyway, so I placed my hand on it right away.
Zap—!
"Ugh!"
I yanked my arm back and took a step away without thinking.
It felt like a blood draw needle had traveled up my vein and stabbed right into my heart.
'Whoever wrote this doesn't know the meaning of "sting."'
More importantly, since I pulled away midway, did I have to do it again?
I didn't want to... but let's check once.
Beep—
The moment I looked to see if anything had changed, an alarm sounded, and red text lit up above the instruction panel.
Below the self-assessment score, a percentile appeared.
Core rating: top 1%
"...1%?"
I couldn't believe my eyes. I closed them for a long time, then opened them again, but nothing had changed.
It really was 1%.
'Even accounting for all the combined factors... there's no way a core pickled in poison for over half a lifetime could be that good.'
Test complete. Proceed to Testing Room 2.
As soon as the message appeared, I left Testing Room 1 and moved next door.
And...
I pulled out the grade printout from the final room and returned to the staff counter.
"All of them are within the top 1%. What's going on?"
"That's par for the course for you, Lord Nicolaus. What do you mean, what's going on..."
Leo muttered from behind.
The staff member nodded in agreement.
"It's because of the recent adjustments to the test. Anyone who scores in the top 1% across all categories has to move to the special test for a re-measurement."
"There's another test, huh."
"Yes. It's a new addition, so it's understandable if you didn't know."
Top 1% goes to special, right?
That meant I'd at least cleared the general level.
'It's a bit surprising... but I must have underestimated my condition.'
Looking at status windows, a lot of people have mana stats between 0 and 1.
The world doesn't really call them mages, but strictly speaking, they are.
With basic core aptitude factored into the score, and them making up about 78% of the mage population, out of 100 mages, I've surpassed 78 of them.
Even with my stamina score not being high, that probably contributed to the core rating hitting top 1%.
From here on, it was competition among people like me who'd beaten 99 out of 100.
I had no idea where I'd rank among them.
I stroked my chin, lost in thought.
'Guess I have to do that test again.'
Feeling my pulse quicken oddly, I headed back up to Testing Room 1.
I stared down at the instruction panel telling me to place my hand, shook off the thoughts, and slapped it with my right hand. Just get it over with.
Thud—zap—!
"Phew..."
Fortunately, knowing the intensity this time, I handled it smoothly.
Beep—
Core rating: top 40%
'Hm.'
Among the top 1%, my core placed a bit above the middle.
'Not bad.'
Luca's core had been 9th grade.
In two months, I'd surpassed about 100 average mages, and now, among those top 1% mages who passed, I'd beaten roughly 60.
I'd expected lower, but coming out above average meant my innate core qualities were strong enough to offset the damage.
Test complete. Proceed to Testing Room 2.
I stepped out and told Leo my percentile. He clicked his tongue with a dissatisfied look.
"Definitely a weak core. Let's get it treated in Wittelsbach later."
"..."
I almost asked why he was using formal speech even here, but shut my mouth.
When going around as Nicolaus, it was necessary to maintain decorum just in case.
I nodded to Leo and asked,
"What's your percentile?"
"...What kind of speech is that.... Anyway, the first time I tested after it was introduced, it was 1%."
"In the special test."
"Of course."
"..."
I just moved to the next room without a word.
I could see how he'd reached this level without much magical talent. With a solid core backing him, effort could carry him. Even dumping mana potions wouldn't overload it much.
'This test is mana purity.'
I knew from the previous round.
Fortunately, this one wasn't the machine attacking me; I just had to channel mana into the holy water.
I briefly infused mana into the water infused with divine power.
Beep—
Top 0%
'Hm.'
The instruction said they rounded the values.
Anyway, it was 0% in the general test too, and 0% here.
I'd suspected as much since I could wield divine power freely, but seeing it with my own eyes felt even better.
After that, for mana intensity and total amount, I hit top 4% and top 1%.
"I knew from how you warp six or seven times a day, but top 1% total amount on this test? It's real."
Leo let out a hollow laugh.
Warp magic consumes excessive mana, so for our school students, once or twice a day is the max.
But... for someone saying that, I'd never seen Leo struggle with warps.
"How much was your total amount... sir."
"Around top 13% or 11%.... I thought it wasn't low, but now I don't know."
Our school friends would want to punch him if they heard.
He was standing behind 89 out of 100 top 1%ers, and it wasn't "low"? No way.
'Anyway.'
Core top 40%, mana at worst top 4%.
Such a huge gap between core and mana makes it hard to perform at full potential, and the core keeps getting damaged.
Even with steady enhancer training, it's at this level now, so time to try other methods.
'Really need to get treated in Wittelsbach or something.'
Another issue...
If he sees only the core score is bad, my brother might get suspicious.
I cast a soundproof spell and spoke.
"Leo, who here can access test results?"
"What, you use formal speech fine normally, but not now?"
"Yeah."
Normally, it felt like a workplace.
He was a student and politician, raised using formal speech even with parents, so he wouldn't think much of it, but I wasn't.
Of course, with no telling who might overhear, the soundproof was necessary.
Leo nodded, accepting my discomfort readily.
"Fair enough. The only one who can see your info is the person who guided us earlier. She's the overall supervisor here."
"Really? Thanks for the info."
"Worried your brother might check?"
"Yeah. He's exactly the type."
"Don't worry. No leaks since it was established. And more people have bad cores than you'd think."
"Hmm, true..."
Plenty of people do have just bad cores.
Good contents, bad vessel. Innate, nothing to do about it.
Anyway, now the last one.
I entered the testing room at the end of the hall.
* * *
The percentile for the final spell demonstration category was top 10%.
Not thrilling, but considering the core's poor state, it wasn't a bad score.
Waiting on the first floor, the staff called us over.
"Comprehensive results are done. This printout includes weighted calculations."
4th grade, three 1st grades, one 2nd.
The weighted average was 92.2.
"You're final 2nd grade, my lord."
"2nd grade within the top 1%, right?"
"Yes, exactly."
Much better than expected.
If I fully recover the core, it'll go even higher.
The staff handed over two palm-sized ID cards.
Unusually, one was printed on bright blue paper.
"You'll normally use the standard general magic certification. The blue one is mainly for special situations required by institutions."
I looked down at the certification silently.
'General Magic Standard 1st Grade, General Magic Special 2nd Grade.'
I'd lived fine without it, but this plugged the hole in my records.
This was clearly a talent test.
Sure, recovering the core was effort, but excluding what my brother ruined, it should've been beyond this anyway.
A result Luca could never achieve in his life. Wonder what he'd think seeing it.
"Let's go, my lord."
At Leo calling from behind, I pocketed the certification and left.
* * *
The next day, school predictably brought up the core test.
They'd said not until two days later, and sure enough, they planned to announce it the day after tomorrow—right before the restricted area trip.
'Got dorms and they schedule like this...'
Anyway, after chugging two and a half bottles to kill the core, all I wanted was sleep.
Enhancers have similar components, so taking one now would just backfire.
But actually sleeping might mean never waking up. Had to stay awake as much as possible.
Anyway, the results were a success.
I checked the chart the school handed out.
Core rating: top 97%
General Magic Standard — Core 9th grade
'9th grade on standard? Way off from Nicolaus.'
Everything else was 9th grade too, so Luca's ID would read perfectly [General Magic Standard 9th Grade].
Still, 9th overall from 9th grades was perfect for fooling my brother.
Now I could relax a lot.
Then Naruke warped in to the meeting spot, slapped my back loudly, and cast purification magic.
"What's got you grinning alone?"
"Got the grade I wanted."
"Haha, you're the only one who'd want 9th grade. I know it's better for you... but still weird."
"Fair. Thanks for the purification."
Thanks to it, my heavy body was lightening up bit by bit. Even the drowsiness lifted a layer.
Time to check survival odds.
Dawn777
—Until final ending 'Chapter X. Death': 702 days 23 hours 31 minutes 58 seconds
—Change probability: 15.4% (+1.0%p)
'15.4?'
I couldn't close my mouth at the number, letting out a dumb breath.
Two weeks ago, last I checked, it was 7.9%.
'Up 7.5%p in that time.'
In two weeks, it rose as much as two months' worth.
And getting 9th grade messed with brother's info enough to bump it another 1%p.
Even without that 1%p, 6.5%p showed Nicolaus's impact on survival clearly.
Naruke nodded at my words.
"Come to think of it, the kids mentioned something. Your grade, Luca's, has been famous since last year? Even knight department averages 3rd grade, but magic department has a 9th grader."
"...Cutting deep."
Heard all sorts today.
From 'how the hell did you get here' to 'top 97% on standard, what now?', 'that guy really needs to study hard', etc.
Not to my face, but I heard it all.
'Truth is, they're not in a position to worry about others.'
Most magic department students ranked in the top 5% on standard tests.
High in the overall mage pool, but not enough for special tests.
Whatever... not my problem. Worry away.
"Haha, still good for the situation~ It was your guided result anyway. More importantly..."
Naruke paused thoughtfully, then grinned and continued.
"Feels like getting special 2nd grade but 9th on standard? That's what I'm really curious about."
"..."
When did I ever say that? Never, obviously.
All I could do was let out a hollow laugh at Naruke's words.
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