The tension eased as the young noble boy stepped forward, his expression calm and respectful. "Nice to meet you, everyone! I am Jin Rivious, and this is my sister, Jin Iris," he introduced himself with a slight bow.
From behind him, a timid voice followed. "N-nice to meet you, I-I am Jin Iris," the girl stammered, peeking out shyly.
Jin smiled gently, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Iris is just a bit shy," he explained. He gestured toward the restrained man. "And this here is Malvin, my bodyguard. I sincerely apologize that you had to witness such behavior. Malvin has a hot temper, and I take full responsibility for his actions."
The boy’s next gesture caught everyone off guard—he bowed low, his voice filled with genuine contrition. "Please forgive us for any distress we caused."
"Sir! Why are you bowing to these peasants?!" Malvin shouted, his face twisting with palpable anger.
Jin’s head snapped up, his calm demeanor replaced by fiery indignation. "Shut up! All humans are equal! We are not someone to judge!" he shouted, his voice sharp, echoing with conviction, though his head remained bowed.
The tension shifted as Ric stepped forward, his eyes narrowed with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "If you’re truly sorry, why didn’t you stop him before?" he asked, his tone steady but pointed.
Jin hesitated, fumbling for words before blurting out, "I-I was going to... but—" He paused, his voice softening, eyes lighting up with an unexpected spark. "When I saw you standing up for yourself, I was... fascinated! I’ve never seen a commoner stand up to a noble before, but when you did, you were like a hero!" Jin’s voice brimmed with excitement, his admiration unhidden.
The sudden shift in his tone and expression caught everyone by surprise. Even Ric blinked, momentarily at a loss for words.
"Oh! Talking about a hero..." Ric mumbled to himself, his gaze shifting to the restrained Malvin.
He walked closer, standing just a step away from the dangling man. His voice was calm but carried a sharp edge. "Mr. Malvin," Ric began, his tone deliberate, "did you know? The hero who saved our world was also a peasant. Someone born with nothing, just like us. So, you might want to think carefully before you look down on others. Because, in the end..." Ric’s eyes met Malvin's, unflinching. "...your life, too, rests on the mercy of people you deem beneath you."
Malvin said nothing, his face a mix of frustration and shame. Chiron finally stepped forward, waving a hand to release the chains. They dissolved into shimmering light, and Malvin dropped to the ground with a grunt, seething but silent.
"Enough," Chiron declared, his commanding voice cutting through the lingering tension. "Let’s not waste any more time. The assessment will now begin."
The children, still buzzing with the energy of the confrontation, were quickly guided to a designated area. Chiron motioned for the 15-year-olds to stand in a single, orderly line before two glowing crystal mana balls perched on pedestals.
"Hmm..." Chiron mused as he eyed the group. "So, there are 10 of you," he said, nodding thoughtfully.
The children exchanged glances, their nerves and excitement building as the assessment loomed before them. The two mana crystals pulsed gently, radiating an aura that seemed to stir the air around them.
Chiron stepped forward, gesturing toward the two shimmering orbs. His voice carried a tone of assurance, commanding the children's full attention. "Now, I will explain how the assessment works. As you can see, there are two mana balls: one blue and the other purple.
"First, approach the blue ball. Place your hands on it and close your eyes. Focus, and try to feel the mana around you. If the ball shines—??—then congratulations, you have an affinity with mana! If it doesn’t, don’t be disheartened. There are many other paths in life you can take, each just as valuable.
"The brightness of the ball’s glow will indicate how much mana your body can store. Once you’ve finished, move on to the purple ball. Place your hands on it, and you may feel a slight itching as it channels mana into your body. This ball will determine your class and display it in the Magus language. Don’t worry," he added with a small smile, "I’ll read it for you.
"Now, if everyone understands, let us begin the assessment."
The children nodded eagerly, the air buzzing with anticipation and a touch of nervousness. One by one, they stepped forward.
Some children approached the blue ball, their hands trembling with excitement. A few watched with wonder as it lit up, the brightness varying in intensity. Chiron calmly congratulated those with affinity, ushering them to the next step. For those whose attempts bore no light, he spoke gently, offering encouragement and reassurances that their paths still held promise.
The line grew shorter, and soon it was Yota’s turn. His usual bravado had softened, replaced by an expression of determination and a flicker of nerves.
"Phew~ this is nerve-wracking," Yota muttered, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple. His usually confident demeanor wavered, showing just how much he cared about the outcome.
"Don’t worry, Yota. Just stay calm—I’m sure you’ve got this!" Ric exclaimed, his tone firm and encouraging. He patted Yota on the back, giving his friend a reassuring nudge forward.
Taking a deep breath, Yota stepped up to the blue mana ball. His hands trembled slightly as he placed them on its smooth, glowing surface.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the ball began to shine—brightly. The light grew more intense than it had for any participant so far, casting radiant patterns on the gathered crowd.
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Chiron raised an eyebrow, visibly impressed. "Oh~ very good! That’s an impressive amount of mana you’ve got!" he remarked with a smile.
Yota’s nerves melted into excitement as he moved to the purple mana ball. Placing his hands on it, he held his breath. The ball shimmered briefly before displaying the Magus characters that revealed his class.
Chiron nodded, reading the result aloud. "Ah, it’s a flame magician. Excellent."
"W-Wait, Seriously?!" Yota stammered, his eyes wide with astonishment.
"Yes," Chiron replied with a calm nod.
"Yeah, hahahahah! Ric did you see my class!" Yota screamed, his enthusiasm bursting like fireworks.
Ric grinned, his own joy evident. "Yeah, buddy! Congrats! Your dream’s coming true!"
Unable to contain his excitement, Yota exclaimed, "Yes! With this class, I will @!#&#@!% defeat the demons and beat the **** out of them to become the greatest hero ever!"
"Shh—Yota!" Ric hissed, trying to stop him. But it was too late.
Behind Yota, the teacher appeared silently, his footsteps eerily calm. Placing a firm hand on Yota’s shoulder, he leaned in slightly.
"Yota, my child," the teacher began, his voice soft but carrying the weight of unspoken fury, "please meet me in my office tomorrow morning."
The teacher’s gentle smile remained fixed, but the ominous undertone in his words sent a chill down Yota’s spine.
Yota gulped, his earlier bravado vanishing. "U-uh... Yes, sir..." he stammered, realizing too late that his excitement had carried him a little too far.
"Don’t worry, Yota. I’ll make sure your funeral is dignified," Ric replied dryly, earning a nervous laugh from his friend.
Chiron cleared his throat. "Uh... If it’s alright, could the last participant please come forward?"
"Yes," Ric said confidently, stepping forward.
He approached the blue mana ball, placing his hands on its smooth surface. Closing his eyes, he focused, drawing upon everything he had read about mana.
"Feel the mana around me," Ric thought. "It should be easy if I picture it like a cup of water. Yes, a cup. Now I’ll fill it."
The process started smoothly, but then something changed.
"It’s filling... but it’s not stopping? The water is overflowing! Why?! Did I do something wrong? No! Calm down, Ric!"
Ric struggled to regain control, but the sensation grew overwhelming. The water wasn’t just overflowing—it was flooding.
"It’s too much! It’s filling everything! No—wait! Stop! I can’t breathe! I’m drowning! Someone, help me!"
Outwardly, Ric remained still, and nothing happened, the ball wasn't glowing.
Meanwhile, Chiron’s thoughts were a whirlwind. This child... He's smart, intelligent, and has the courage to match. I’m curious to see what he’ll become in the future. Even if he fails here, his potential... He could be the Royal Strategist one day.
The ball suddenly began to shine.
"Yes! Ric, you did it!" Yota exclaimed, his voice full of pride as he saw the light.
But the ball didn’t stop there. It kept glowing, brighter and brighter.
Soon, the light became blinding.
"Ugh, my eyes!" one of the children groaned, squinting against the brightness.
"It hurts!" another cried out.
Chiron’s face shifted with alarm. "If it gets any brighter, the mana ball might explode!"
"W-What?!" Yota’s voice cracked in panic. "Ric!! Get away from there! The ball might explode!!"
"It's too late!!" Chiron shouted, his voice urgent as he prepared himself.
"Nooo!!" Yota screamed, rushing toward Ric without a second thought.
"Barrier Magic! Protec!"
A shimmering barrier formed around the stage in an instant, halting Yota’s reckless charge.
Without hesitation, Chiron cast "HASTE" on himself, moving with incredible speed toward Ric. His eyes locked onto Ric, who still stood, unaware of the impending danger.
With a burst of strength, Chiron grabbed Ric and moved as fast as he could. But the ball, now impossibly bright, erupted with a deafening roar. The explosion sent shockwaves through the air, slamming both Chiron and Ric into the protective barrier with a violent crash.
"Ric, my son!!" The teacher screamed with abandon, his voice cracking with a mix of guilt and grief. His heart raced as the deafening blast of azure magic rang in his ears. Ric, caught in the explosion of swirling azure magic, while he and Yota battered the barrier with their fists, helpless to do anything.
After what seemed like an eternity. The barrier lifted, and Yota rushed in with Chiron right behind him, searching for Ric. Slowly, Ric began to regain consciousness. He blinked, seeing the blurry form of Chiron leaning over him.
"Hey! Kid! Are you okay?"
"Huh? Y-yeah," Ric muttered, rubbing his eyes as his vision cleared. "What happened…?"
"Thank goodness!" Chiron sighed with relief. "If something had happened to you, I would have been in serious trouble."
Ric squinted at Chiron, his voice laced with suspicion. "Why would you even risk your life to save someone like me? An orphan, with nothing to offer you?"
Chiron looked at him seriously, then replied simply, "Sometimes, it’s not about what you can offer, but what you’re capable of becoming. You, Ric, have something special inside of you."
"Well, that's my job," Chiron responded with a small smile, as he pointed to his clothes. "But don’t worry, I calculate the risk I take, my clothes are enchanted with magic to protect me, so it's not that big of a deal."
Ric glanced skeptically at Chiron. "Well, even if the risk you took was calculated... are you bad at math or something?" he said, noticing the torn fabric on Chiron’s leg and the wound there.
Chiron looked down at his leg, seeing the injury for the first time. "Well, looks like the blast was so strong that even with enchanted clothes, my leg got hurt," he said, dissatisfaction clear in his voice.
"Sigh. Get up. I’ll carry you," Ric said, his tone soft but firm. He helped Chiron to his feet and supported him as they began walking slowly.
"Thanks, Ric," Chiron said, gratitude in his voice.
As they walked, Ric turned to him and asked, "Hey."
"Hmm?" Chiron responded, puzzled.
"Are you really that young master's relative?" Ric asked, his voice cold and heavy with suspicion.
Chiron blinked, momentarily thrown off by the shift in Ric’s tone. "He calls me ‘uncle,’ even though I’m only 25... I guess I am? Why do you ask?"
Ric’s eyes narrowed, the air around them growing heavier. "The young master of the Jin family. He roams around carelessly, like the succession war’s nothing. Either he's incredibly naive... or he’s far more calculating."
Chiron's brow furrowed, confusion clouding his face. "What do you mean, Ric?"
Ric didn’t answer right away. He stared at Chiron, his gaze piercing, each second of silence stretching longer, colder. Then, his voice dropped, low and heavy. "If he's just a fool, then I don't care. But if he’s playing a game... using me, using my brothers—"
He took a step forward, his presence looming over Chiron, a weight of authority in every word. "If you even think about manipulating us for your own agenda... I will kill you."
