A heavy atmosphere hung over the examination room. Wittmann glared at Number 41, his gaze as sharp as a blade.
"You heard his answers just now. Do you truly believe Number 1, who did nothing more than pore over grimoires in the countryside, could produce such an outstanding result?"
"Um... but..."
"You must have spent a considerable amount of time studying for the first stage exam as well. Do you honestly think Number 1's score is legitimate?"
"That's..."
Faced with such pointed questioning, Number 41 faltered, completely at a loss for words. Was Wittmann genuinely suspicious of my score, or was he merely using me as bait to test the other candidates? His stern expression made it impossible to read his true intentions.
"Number 41, if you will not answer, I will move on to the next examinee."
"Ah, I'll answer! Um... f-for example, secretly bringing in prepared reference notes..."
"The scope of the written exam is vast. Do you honestly think everything could be written on an amount of paper small enough to smuggle in?"
"Then, using detection magic to observe the other examinees—"
"Detection magic cannot be used in that manner. Furthermore, to think one could carelessly cast magic in an examination hall guarded by numerous court mages is nothing short of an insult to our kingdom."
"Y-yes, sir..."
It was remarkably unreasonable. For someone claiming to suspect cheating, Wittmann was shooting down every possibility himself. No wonder people called this a "dud room"...
"Enough. Next, Number 11."
"Ah, yes, sir!"
"The question remains the same. How do you believe Number 1 cheated?"
"Err..."
To be asked the exact same question immediately after Number 41 had been grilled like that—I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. What kind of answer would satisfy Wittmann? What could one say to convince him?...Nothing came to mind.
"Um, I believe there was no cheating at all."
"Oh? Your reasoning?"
"As you mentioned earlier, sir, many court mages were keeping watch over the first stage exam hall."
"Indeed. And?"
"It would be impossible to cast magic without them noticing. Therefore, I believe cheating via magic would be entirely out of the question."
"Hmm."
"Not only that, but a considerable number of sisters were keeping a close eye on us as well. Even if someone attempted to cheat using classical methods, it would be unnatural to go completely undetected throughout such a long exam."
"I see."
That felt like a much better answer than Number 41's. The logic was sound, and while somewhat general, it served as a natural explanation for why cheating would be difficult. With this, surely Wittmann would give him a passing mark—
"In other words, you have just confessed your own incompetence—admitting you lack the skill to use magic while evading the eyes of court mages."
"Huh!?"
"As a court mage, there may be times when you must infiltrate enemy territory and act as an intelligence operative. Even if you are surrounded entirely by enemies, there will inevitably be situations where you must accomplish your mission through magic."
"T-that's..."
"It seems you never once considered the possibility of using magic in the exam hall. Enough. That will be all."
No, isn't that way too unreasonable? Sure, his logic was airtight and irrefutable. It was, but... hadn't he just called doing that an "insult" moments ago? It was terribly harsh—unreasonable beyond words. It made complete sense why hardly anyone ever passed from a "dud room."
"Next is Number 21."
"Yes, sir!"
"The question remains the same. What kind of cheating do you think Number 1 committed?"
"Err..."
"What is the matter? Will you not answer?"
"That's..."
Seeing what had happened to the two before him, it was only natural to struggle for an answer. No matter what you said, you'd get skewered, making anyone hesitate before even opening their mouth.
"I-I believe this question is inappropriate!"
"..."
Examinee Number 21 raised his voice. He had likely chosen to make an all-or-nothing gamble. Since answering properly wouldn't work, his only choice was to overturn the premise itself. Yet Wittmann simply stared at Number 21 in silence.
"To assume cheating occurred without a shred of evidence, and on top of that, to demand the opinions of other candidates regarding it, is utterly outrageous!"
"..."
"I cannot fathom how this question could possibly measure one's aptitude as a court mage!"
Though his words reeked of desperation, I suspected every candidate present, myself included, was nodding in agreement in their hearts. In fact, that was the absolute truth. I hadn't the slightest intention of cheating, and any examinee would naturally be troubled by being asked such a thing.
"Hmm. So... you are telling me you cannot answer this question?"
"Y-yes, sir!"
Wittmann's expression did not change. Which was it? Had he chosen the right answer, or—
"Refusing to answer a question in an oral examination is entirely out of the question. Enough. That will be all."
"No way...!"
A total miss, then... We were truly backed into a corner. Saying he cheated, saying he didn't, saying the question itself was inappropriate—with every single option treated as wrong, the answer was an utter mystery. In this situation, only one candidate remained: Number 31....Yes, Hermann.
"Next, Number 31."
"Yes, sir."
Glancing over at him, I found Hermann looking surprisingly composed. Earlier, his complexion had made him look as if he'd already failed, but with time, he seemed to have regained his calm.
"I ask the same of you. State your thoughts on what kind of cheating Number 1 committed."
"Understood."
Aloof, smiling no matter what happened—that was my impression of Hermann. With three candidates already picked off, what kind of response would this man give? I was genuinely curious.
"In my personal opinion, I do not believe he cheated at all."
"Hmm. And your reasoning?"
"Yes, because..."
This was the crucial point. Examinee Number 11 had failed to navigate this properly and fallen. I didn't want to watch a friend get crushed by such absurdity either. Please, Hermann, find a way through this—
"Keegan Bauer... is far too incompetent to commit an act of cheating."
"Oh?"
"Huh?"
In... incompetent was quite the harsh critique. But knowing him, he surely had a plan....Right, Hermann?
With a feeling akin to a prayer, I listened intently to Hermann's answer—