Conny guided me inside the palace, which proved to be just as austere inside as it appeared from the outside. Perhaps it was born of a strict rationalism that deemed luxurious adornments unnecessary. Hallways stretched out to the left and right from the rather cramped foyer, with servants bustling past every now and then.
"Hey, Bauer-kun. Glad to see you made it."
"What's with that getup?"
Hermann, who had evidently arrived before me, stepped forward dressed like a full-fledged nobleman. Well, he was an actual noble, so there was nothing truly strange about it.
"We're all matching today."
"Meaning?"
"They've got outfits prepared in that room over there. You should have them show you the way."
Hermann pointed toward the end of the corridor. Since my current clothes were hardly fit for an audience with His Majesty the King, that came as a relief. Or perhaps that was the whole point. They likely wanted to ensure first impressions weren't unduly swayed by our everyday appearances.
"Lord Bauer, please come this way."
Conny, who had been waiting nearby, gestured in the same direction Hermann had pointed. Looks like changing clothes really is a requirement.
"All right, I'll go get changed then. See you in a bit."
After parting ways with Hermann for the moment, I walked down the hall with Conny.
"...Well then, that completes your change of attire."
"Th-Thank you..."
The figure staring back at me from the full-length mirror felt completely alien. Perhaps because the robe draped over my shoulders was a bit on the large side, it looked less like I was wearing the clothes and more like the clothes were wearing me. I honestly had no idea whether someone like me was fit for such finery.
"You will be required to leave all personal belongings in this room."
"What's the reasoning behind that?"
"While I am certain none of the candidates would ever dream of committing an outrage, this is merely a precaution."
Sharing a table with His Majesty meant that carrying anything hazardous was strictly out of the question. Forcing everyone to change clothes was likely another measure to keep weapons from being concealed beneath our garments. Still... if someone genuinely intended harm, they could accomplish plenty with magic alone.
"Spells manifest irregularly within the examination hall. Please bear that in mind."
"Ah... understood."
It felt as though he had plucked the thought right out of my head. He must have meant that, just like in the third exam, safeguards were in place to keep magic from being cast freely.
Besides, none of us had known until today that the final exam would be a dinner banquet with His Majesty the King. Plotting any sort of scheme against His Majesty on such short notice was virtually impossible. There was no sense in overthinking it.
"Lord Bauer, do you have any belongings on your person?"
"No, none."
"Very well. Then allow me to escort you."
Led by Conny, I made my way toward the hall.
Stepping into the room alone, I was immediately enveloped by a serene, heavy hush. The deep crimson carpet sank softly beneath my feet, exuding an extraordinary presence from the very ground up.
"Whoa..."
No matter how plain the rest of the palace had seemed, the banquet hall itself was splendidly adorned. Elegant chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and vibrant floral arrangements graced the long table. Yet, with no windows and walls finished in a muted tone, the space carried a somewhat somber undertone.
"..."
The other nine candidates were already seated around the table, waiting with solemn expressions. Naturally, nerves were running high. In fact, my own pulse was quickening by the second.
"...Hm."
Even Hermann, sitting at the far end of the table, appeared noticeably tense. That was rare. If anything, I had pegged him as the type to keep his composure no matter what. But with the final exam finally at hand, even he couldn't help being on edge.
I couldn't just linger by the entrance forever, so I walked over to the table and took my seat. Letting out a quiet breath, I casually surveyed my surroundings.
First, there was the empty seat directly across from me—which had to be reserved for His Majesty the King. One seat to the right (from His Majesty's perspective) sat Elena, wearing a composed expression. She seemed slightly nervous, but compared to the others, she appeared remarkably collected. Hermann was also seated on the opposite side, diagonally to my right.
Looking around at the candidates, it didn't seem like the majority were from the first squad in the fourth exam—in other words, the ones who had won the capture-the-flag match. Just as Wittmann had noted, victory or defeat hadn't been the sole criterion for selection.
With my arrival, every single candidate was finally present. That meant His Majesty could arrive at any moment.
The ruler of this nation, commanding the court mages. A figure who maintained a delicate balance among the kingdom's powerful factions while commanding an overwhelming presence—and that person was about to appear before our very eyes.
"Everyone! Have I kept you waiting?!"
"Eh?"
"What the...?"
A voice rang out from nowhere, sending ripples of confusion through the candidates. It was bright, resonant, and overflowing with vigor—a voice that, once heard, could never be forgotten.
"Greetings, my ten chosen elites!"
"!?"
At that moment, a section of the wall facing the table swung open like a doorway. Standing there was a young woman blessed with noble blonde hair. Flaunting a rich blue cloak, the crown resting atop her head gleamed brilliantly. And held firmly in her right hand was a dignified golden staff.
"I have been looking forward to meeting you all! Let us make tonight a magnificent banquet!"
Throwing her head back with a resounding laugh, she was the very picture of a heroic sovereign. The absolute ruler who had inherited the throne at a tender age to reign over this kingdom. The visionary who upheld her predecessor's legacy by appointing mages as high-ranking officials—this person was none other than—
"My name is Hedwig Steinbach! Welcome to your final exam!"
And for us, she was our final examiner.