The examination continued even after Yuri Catreia’s display left every onlooker in a state of shock.
Fresh targets were brought out as the examinees stepped forward to fire their magic in succession. With seventy percent of the group already finished, Rest’s turn was finally approaching.
"Next... Seloric Brute."
"Yes!"
A voice rang out from behind Rest, followed immediately by a sharp shove to his back.
"Ugh...!"
"You're in the way. Move, commoner!"
The boy who had pushed him was dressed in remarkably fine clothing. Since he had announced a family name, Rest wondered if he was a noble.
"I am a member of the branch house of the Count Brute House! Don't you dare block my path!"
(Ah, so he’s a commoner too, then.)
Among the older nobility, there were often branch houses that had split off from the main family line. While they frequently shared the same surname, they held neither titles nor territory. In the eyes of the law, they were ordinary commoners.
(He certainly acts high and mighty for a fellow commoner... and his name is far too similar to that other guy's. He seems like a real piece of work.)
Feeling exasperated by the boy whose name, Seloric, was so reminiscent of his half-brother Cedric, Rest quietly moved aside. He had no intention of starting unnecessary trouble while the exam was still underway.
"Hmph!"
With a derisive snort, "Celery Boy" stepped up to the line.
"Watch closely, you commoners! Witness the magnificent magic of one who carries the blood of the glorious Count Brute House! Thunder Bolt!"
Seloric unleashed an intermediate-tier lightning spell. A violently flickering bolt tore through the air and slammed into the target. For all his boasting, the magic was undeniably potent.
A score of 98 flashed above the target. It was the second-highest score achieved so far, trailing only behind Yuri.
"Hmph! Just as I expected!"
Seloric laughed arrogantly, puffing out his chest with pride. He swaggered back to the group, his shoulders swaying pompously.
"Next... Rest, of the Royal Capital."
"Yes."
Finally, Rest’s turn had come. He walked toward the line, but a nasal voice reached him from behind.
"Haha! I wonder what a shabby commoner like that thinks he can achieve!"
Rest ignored him. He wondered what the boy’s problem was. Was he some kind of Cedric clone? He was certainly being persistent.
Suppressing his annoyance, Rest pulled himself together and took his stance before the line.
"Here I go."
He took a single, deep breath and activated his magic.
"Fireball."
A sphere of flame manifested before him—the same lower-tier fire magic he used every day.
"Haha! What's he going to do with a little thing like that?"
A mocking voice called out from among the examinees. There was no need to guess who it belonged to.
(Keep laughing... I’ll wipe that smirk off your face in a second.)
"Amplification."
Rest invoked a secondary spell to bolster the first. The fireball swelled, growing rapidly until it towered over the height of a grown man.
"Wh-at...!"
"Whoa, look at the size of that thing!"
The other examinees cried out in surprise. Rest didn't look back, but he was certain Celery Boy was currently gaping in stunned silence.
(But I’m not done yet.)
"Compression."
He forced the massive sphere to contract. While most of the onlookers couldn't grasp the technicality of what was happening, the density—and thus the destructive power—of the flames increased exponentially as the sphere shrank.
(I’ve already proven that this technique works on basic spells like Fireball. And now, for the finishing touch...!)
"Accelerator."
Typically used to enhance his own movement speed, Rest instead applied the velocity-boosting spell to the projectile. Utilizing a "Quartet"—the simultaneous activation of four spells—he prepared to unleash the hyper-charged strike.
"Fire!"
Accelerated to near-supersonic speeds, the fireball tore through the air with devastating force. It struck the center of the target with surgical precision, triggering a colossal explosion.
"Wh-at...!"
"Amazing... what power...!"
"No way... a commoner did that...?"
The dust and explosive flames cleared to reveal nothing but the mangled remains of the target. Although the target itself had been obliterated, the scoreboard remained functional, displaying a staggering 387.
It was, without question, the highest score of the entire examination.
"Maybe Accelerator was overkill," Rest mused to himself. "It looks like I would have passed easily even without the extra speed."
"It's a lie! A lower-tier spell couldn't possibly have that much power! He must have cheated!"
Before Rest could even savor his victory, a voice of protest rose from the crowd. Unsurprisingly, it was Celery Boy.
"It's a fraud! Void the score! There's no way I could lose to a commoner like him!"
"Silence, you there."
The Headmaster, who had been overseeing the proctors, cut through the boy's hysterics with a sharp command.
"Magic gains strength through compression. Even a lower-tier spell, when properly reinforced, can surpass high-tier magic in raw power. To say nothing of the fact that this was a Quartet—a feat fewer than five Court Mages in this kingdom can currently claim. It was a masterclass."
"Ah... ugh..."
"Rather than disparaging those superior to yourself, strive to observe and learn from them. That will be for your own benefit."
Celery Boy fell into a humiliated silence, his face flushed with frustration.
It seemed the score had been officially accepted.
(I did it... Master Dieble.)
Rest let out a long, slow breath, a sense of profound relief washing over him as he savored the results of his training.