Once the school assembly concluded, the faculty began leading us transfer students out of the auditorium. According to the teacher, we were heading toward a class placement exam. With the entire student body in tow, it felt less like a walk and more like a grand procession.
"Hey, Rai. Were there always this many people?"
Yuu, walking beside me, voiced the question I was already considering.
"No, the crowd has grown significantly," I replied.
"I thought so."
Looking around as we followed the line, it was clear our numbers had swelled. The colors of the neckties—which indicated school years—varied wildly. There were easily three times as many people as there had been in the auditorium... perhaps even more.
If every person here was a transfer student, this was an incredibly large intake.
"There were only a few hundred people in that auditorium, right?" Ciel asked, looking skeptical. "No matter how you look at it, there have to be over a thousand people here now."
"Could they have been gathered somewhere else while we were in the auditorium?" Lene wondered, tilting her head.
"—Precisely."
The teacher leading our group caught Lene's curious expression and nodded in affirmation. Clad in a voluminous robe and a wide-brimmed hat, he looked like the archetypal wizard. He kept his body facing forward, glancing back at us over his shoulder as he spoke.
"Including you transfer students, there are over five thousand students enrolled this year. It was simply impossible to gather everyone in a single venue."
Everyone except me gasped. They had rounded up every youth in the country who possessed the aptitude to be one of The Chosen. It wasn't surprising that the numbers were so high.
Thanks to my memories of my past life, I wasn't shocked, but if I hadn't possessed that prior knowledge, I’m sure I would have shared the others' disbelief.
"In that case, how did the students in the other areas hear the Headmaster and the Student Council President's speeches?" Yuu asked.
"By magical broadcast. You lot were the lucky ones who got to see them in person."
The teacher chuckled and continued leading us forward. Transfer students from other districts merged into our line, and the procession grew even more massive as we approached a gargantuan structure.
It was a domed building so vast it rivaled the main school building and the student dormitory. Its entrance yawned like a great mouth, swallowing us whole.
"It's huge..." Yuu muttered, his voice full of awe.
The interior was cavernous, easily as large as a national stadium. The second floor was lined with spectator seating, where a crowd of current students looked down on us. Being sized up like that felt more than a little uncomfortable.
"I-I feel like everyone is staring at us," Lene whispered, leaning closer to me.
"Maybe they’re evaluating the new competition?" Ciel suggested with a sigh.
Under the collective gaze of the current students and the faculty, we were ushered to the center of the arena. Dozens of crystal balls had been set out there. Each was roughly the size of a basketball, resting on a plush cushion to prevent it from cracking. A faint light pulsed within each sphere; one glance was enough to tell these were high-quality magic tools.
"Oh, Mana Measurement Devices. Why are those out?" Yuu asked.
"...? What are they? These 'Mana Measurement Devices'?" Lene asked, looking confused.
Ciel gave her a small smile. "Ah, I guess you wouldn't know, Lene. Like the name says, they’re tools used to measure a person's mana. They use them when you register at the Adventurer's Guild, too."
"Oh, I see!" Lene nodded, satisfied with the explanation.
At that moment, several teachers stepped forward. The robed teacher who had led us here took the center position. He cleared his throat and addressed the crowd.
"—Silence, please."
His voice resonated clearly throughout the entire dome, likely bolstered by Voice Amplification Magic.
"We will now begin the first phase of the Class Placement Exam: Mana Measurement. The process is simple. Touch the crystal in front of you and pour your mana into it with all your might."
To demonstrate, he placed his hand on the crystal and channeled his power. As the faint glow traveled from his palm into the device, the sphere suddenly erupted with a dazzling light.
"When mana is channeled like this, the crystal glows according to the individual's Total Mana Capacity and quality."
When the teacher withdrew his hand, the light vanished instantly, returning to its faint, rhythmic pulse.
"We determine mana quantity by the intensity of the light, while quality and aptitude are judged by the change in hue."
Having finished his concise explanation, the teacher turned to face us once more.
"This academy utilizes a class system based on individual ability. We look at mana, combat skills, aptitude, and several other factors. These are evaluated comprehensively to place you in the class that best suits your needs. We will be conducting a combat exam later today, so those who are not confident in their mana capacity need not worry."
Audible sighs of relief echoed around the room.
"Now then, let us begin the measurements."
The line began to move. When the first student touched the device, it emitted a dim, flickering light—a far cry from the teacher’s demonstration. The result was D-Rank. Since the classes ranged from S down to D, he was at the very bottom in terms of mana capacity. The boy, whose name I didn't know, walked away with tears in his eyes, his shoulders slumped.
"...This is a bit awkward to watch," Ciel said, shrugging.
"They’ve really turned us into a spectacle," Yuu added with a wry grin.
The measurements continued. Most students landed in the C to B range, with the occasional A-Rank causing the room to brighten with a brilliant flash. Eventually, it was our turn.
"Next, Yuu of Harune Village."
"Alright, that's me."
Yuu stepped up to the crystal ball without any visible nerves. He touched the sphere, and a sudden burst of red light filled the immediate area. The result: B-Rank.
In game terms, his mana capacity was slightly above average. He didn't have as much as a dedicated mage, but he had significantly more than a pure warrior. It was a perfectly balanced result, fitting for a protagonist.
"Same as when I measured it at the guild," Yuu noted.
"Neither good nor bad. Just average," Ciel teased.
"Hey, don't say that! I'm actually a little sensitive about it."
Ciel gave the moping Yuu a smile as she stepped up to the crystal. She channeled her mana, and the device glowed blue. Her light seemed slightly more intense than Yuu's, but she received the same B-Rank evaluation.
"You haven't changed much either, Ciel."
"Don't remind me. Sigh... I actually had a little bit of confidence this time..."
Ciel returned to the line, and Lene stepped forward. She touched the crystal and poured her mana in, producing a yellowish glow. However, her light was significantly dimmer than the previous two. Her result: D-Rank.
"I got a D..." Lene murmured as she walked back.
She looked significantly more dejected than when she had started. I gave her a small, sympathetic smile and reached out to pat her head.
"You're a vanguard warrior, Lene. You're built to suppress monsters with physical force. It’s only natural for your mana capacity to be a bit modest."
"Ugh... I'll make up for this in the combat exam, just you wait..."
After enjoying the sensation of stroking a teary-eyed Lene’s hair, it was finally my turn.
In the original game, there was never a scene where "Rai" had his mana measured, but according to the lore, he possessed the highest mana capacity in the entire world. I felt a surge of genuine excitement as I reached out. I touched the crystal and let my mana flow—and in the next instant, the sphere shattered with a deafening roar.
"—Huh?"
I wasn't sure who let out that bewildered croak. It could have been me, the teachers, or any of the surrounding students.
For a split second, I thought I saw swirls of black and white. No, it was more than that. It had emitted a radiance composed of a multitude of colors—like a rainbow condensed into a single point—before detonating.
It happened in the blink of an eye, yet it felt like an information overload.
"...Um, so, how do we grade this?"
I turned to the Measurement Proctor standing behind the table. He was staring back and forth between me and the jagged remains of the crystal ball, his jaw hanging open. Finally, he shook himself out of his stupor and scribbled something on his clipboard.
"Rai Arkberg... result: Immeasurable."