The exam areas weren't assigned at random. There was a method behind it.
To take the exam, candidates had to register in advance.
Registration could be done at any of the designated stalls scattered throughout Lofpus City.
Colt had completed his the day after he arrived.
The process involved filling out a detailed form—everything from class and attributes to basic background—and paying a fee of ten silver coins.
After that, examinees were grouped according to their classes, and in some cases, their subclasses.
Each group was then assigned to a specific exam area.
For example, area 5, where Hei had been placed, was designated for warriors and related subclasses.
Area 4 was for mages, while area 3 was for priests and similar support classes.
Myrin, as a green mage, technically fell under the mage category.
But since green mages were often treated more like support casters, she had been assigned to the priest group in area 3.
Though the system was complicated, it allowed the academy to evaluate examinees efficiently and with precision.
There was, however, one more layer of division. Seila and Colt shared the same class, so under normal circumstances, they should have been placed in the same exam area.
But that's where numbers came in.
Nobles registered early by letter, while commoners had to show up in person.
Since each exam area could only accommodate around twenty examinees, multiple zones were assigned for each class and subclass.
That was how Colt ended up in area 73.
As he walked toward his designated location, he suddenly stopped mid-step.
What the...
He hesitated, frowned slightly, then kept walking as if nothing had happened.
Up ahead, a small checkpoint marked the entrance to exam area 73.
"What's your name?" a woman asked. She had a notebook in one hand and wore the kind of uniform that suggested she was a teacher.
"Colt."
She scanned the list, then checked his ID. "You're on the list. Get in line."
She also had a pen in her hand. But because of the mana on its top end, Colt knew that it was more than a pen.
Are they recording this? he thought.
He nodded and did as instructed.
Colt knew who she was. But he would have many other opportunities to meet her later.
There were fifteen others inside, all waiting for the exam to begin.
Every one of them was a mage over level 50.
Three of them were from different races. Two beastmen and one elf.
Normally, beastmen chose close combat over magic. But there were exceptions.
Tsch. None of them will pass...
Colt had never been an academy student himself, but it was obvious—these candidates were lacking.
He didn't mean it in a cruel way, but he couldn't help wondering why they were being so foolish.
Surely, they knew they weren't ready for this academy.
And yet, by trying their luck here, they were missing the chance to take exams at other academies across the kingdom—or even in neighboring nations.
Of course, some of those academies accepted students over the age of fifteen. But next year, when they turned sixteen, their options would narrow. This was their best shot.
While he was thinking that, four more examinees arrived one by one.
The last one caught his attention.
It's her...
The gray-haired girl he'd seen at the black market on his first day in the city.
He must have stared too long, because she glanced back. Her eyes looked calm and innocent now, the complete opposite of what he remembered from that night.
At least she'll pass the exam.
A bell rang across the academy grounds. It was time.
The exam would begin with a physical test. That way, anyone who failed wouldn't waste the teachers' time with paperwork of a written test.
"Listen up. The first part is hitting the target with magic," the teacher announced. She scanned the group. "Who's Jest?"
"I am!"
"Step forward. You'll go first."
The boy smirked. This looked easy.
The target was a standard bullseye mounted on a strawman's arm like a shield. It wasn't even far away.
He gathered mana, muttered his incantation, and formed a fireball in his hand. It grew rapidly, swelling with intensity.
When the spell was complete, he launched it.
The fireball shot across the field and hit the target dead center—then blew up the entire strawman in a burst of flame.
"Jest, right?" the teacher said flatly. "You failed."
"What? I hit the target!"
"Leave the exam area. Otherwise, we'll remove you by force."
Maybe he didn't think the teacher looked strong. Maybe he just lost it. Either way, he started casting another spell.
The ridiculous part? Everyone just watched him do it.
They gave him a full ten seconds to finish the chant. Even the teacher stood there waiting.
When the fireball finally launched toward the teacher, she didn't even flinch.
With a flick of her finger, she sent it flying back.
The boy, Jest, was knocked flat by his own magic.
The teacher snapped her fingers, and a red light flared into the air.
Since the exam was held in an open field, Colt could see the same red light glowing above a few other exam areas as well.
Two men entered the area and carried the injured, unconscious boy away.
"The next one is Yomu. Please come forward."
A girl stepped out, her hands trembling after witnessing what the teacher had done with a mere flick.
She didn't know why the boy had failed, but now wasn't the time to think about that.
She had to focus on her own exam.
The two men returned, this time carrying a new strawman to replace the one that had burned.
Yomu began casting. It was a basic spell, and she finished it in two seconds.
A stream of water shot from her hand and struck the bullseye directly. It didn't break the strawman or even move it.
She looked to the teacher for a reaction.
"Yomu, you failed," came the flat response.
The girl didn't even protest. She just bowed her head slightly and walked away in silence.
"What the hell is this?" one of the examinees muttered under his breath.
Maybe he thought no one would hear him. He was wrong.
"If you don't like it, you're free to leave," the teacher said sharply.
"A-ah, sorry. I just... didn't understand what we're supposed to do."
"It's simple. Hit the target with magic."
"But the first two did that, and they still failed..."
This time, the teacher didn't respond.
It's too obvious. But I feel bad for the ones who went first...
"Which one is Niter?" the teacher asked.
The gray-haired girl raised her hand.
"Go ahead."
Ah. Now they'll start passing.
Niter stepped forward and raised her hand. After one second of focusing mana on her hand, a beam of light burst from her palm.
It didn't hit the bullseye. It struck the strawman's head instead.
There was no explosion—just a clean hole burned into the straw head.
"You pass," the teacher said.