[63] Ranking Test [3]

A monster more suited for an A-rank test than a B-rank test.

After easily defeating Magma Tortoise, I started to feel a growing appetite for more.

That one wasn't enough.

If I'm going to play around, I need a bigger toy.

"Is there a higher-level test available?"

"W-Well, for those without a license, B-rank is the highest..."

"Then when can I take an A or S-rank test?"

"At least six months to a year later..."

Six months to a year.

Considering the time I have in this world, it's not an unbearable wait, but I can't help feeling a bit disappointed.

I was hoping to take higher-level tests while I'm at it. Well, there must be a valid reason for the long intervals between tests.

'Anyway, I've already achieved my original goal. It's not a big deal.'

To qualify for the position of the Nine-Tails special operations team leader, I needed to obtain a B-rank hunter license.

That alone fulfills the minimum requirement with the association.

Yet, my feet didn't easily move away.

Just as I was feeling the urge to take more tests.

Tap, tap!

A man entered, greeted by the employees. He must be someone of considerable status.

"D-Director! Why are you here when you're supposed to be drinking coffee and watching videos in the break room...?"

"Haha, Ms. Darae. If you say it like that, people might misunderstand. I was merely taking a break after exhausting work, you see?"

"Ah, yes! R-Right!"

The Director, huh.

I'm not sure of his exact position within the association, but at least in this test room, he seems to be the highest authority.

Probably just below the association president or executives.

"Nice to meet you. I'm the director here."

"Ah, yes, nice to meet you. I'm Baek Seung-woo."

"Haha, aren't you the head of the great Cheonho Baek family? I've heard the rumors. You minimized the damage from the attack in Seven Stars and killed the main culprit. It's an honor to meet such a heroic figure."

His tone was somewhat unsettling.

He was clearly buttering me up, but there were thorns hidden between his words.

He's the type of person I'm familiar with.

The kind who looks down on others and knows how to subtly insult people. The director exuded the same tone and demeanor as those types.

"I was watching you from the break room. You want to take additional tests, right?"

"...If possible, yes."

If I could take the A-rank test and eventually the S-rank test, nothing could be better.

But isn't that against internal regulations?

Why is he asking, I wondered.

"You can take the A-rank test."

"Is that really okay?"

"Huh? Director, are you serious?!"

"All we need to do is add your name to the list. I have the authority for that."

"But if the association president finds out...!"

"Haha, why wouldn't I know? But look at that face──"

'──It's the face that was all over the news just a few days ago. You know about the incidents he caused, right? Someone like that would never pass the A-rank test. His character is at rock bottom. Even if he passes the character test, would it be credible? All those recent news articles hyping up his abilities are probably exaggerated. You know how rich people are.'

"..."

The director whispered to his subordinate as if sharing a secret.

He was blatantly looking down on me.

I know people don't view me favorably, but being so openly dismissed is a bit much.

I wanted to retort, but...

There's no need to add to my notoriety with unnecessary actions. That part is too tangled to explain.

Instead.

I'll prove my abilities right here and now.

"We've been talking among ourselves too much. So, have you made up your mind?"

His words carried the implication, 'Do you really think you can challenge this?'

I nodded and accepted.

"Yes, let's start right away. I have plans tonight."

"Haha, I see. Then let's begin immediately. Just remember, even though it's an illusion, the damage from the attacks will be real. If you mess up, you might end up hospitalized, regardless of your plans."

You never know, right?

What if you get a hole in your stomach?

Hahaha, as the director laughed, the space filled with illusions again.

This time, I didn't choose the opponent.

A randomly selected monster materialized, revealing its grotesque form.

A small figure that didn't seem fitting for an A-rank test.

It was a monkey-shaped monster.

I feel like I've seen this before.

─Ook?

I don't remember its name, but its characteristics were its swift mobility and unique abilities.

What was it again?

...I think it had something to do with throwing or spraying.

I can't recall the details.

─Hey, hey, crazy! Why is that thing in an A-rank test?! Stop the machine now!

─That's because the director manipulated it! This place was originally made for B-rank tests only!

─Excuse me? Isn't that just an illusion? Why are you so worked up?

─Just an illusion? Sure, everything except the person over there is an illusion, but the damage it causes is real!

─Huh?

─So! If it punches a hole in our stomachs, even if it disappears, blood and guts will spill out! Damn it, I didn't want my stomach to get punctured!!

─What the hell! This isn't all an illusion?!

─It is an illusion. But the association president made the illusions so realistic that their effects spill over into reality. So stop the illusion already!

─Ah! I'm trying!

The monkey swung its long arms and clapped its hands.

Each time, mana rose into the air, and the expressions of the association employees stiffened in real-time.

They felt their lives were in danger.

"...Throwing. No, at that level, it's more like javelins."

I spoke calmly, looking straight ahead.

The mana emitted by the monster solidified in the air, transforming into numerous spears. To be honest, calling them spears is a stretch given their crude quality, but with that size and amount of mana...

In the worst case, they might pierce through the test room.

─S-Stop the test now!

─It's too late to stop! The illusion has been fixed inside the space for a long time!

The spears floating in the air were pushed back slightly.

At the same time, a wind picked up. Using mana, the simple action of pulling back completed the loading of the javelins.

All that's left is to fire them.

Anticipating the carnage, the mages raised defensive spells, and the non-mages bent metal to create makeshift shields.

"Screeeech──!"

The sound of wind tearing.

Along with a deafening roar that made everyone cover their ears.

Thousands of spears were fired, piercing through the test room and aiming to skewer the people beyond.

────!!!

Simultaneous explosions and gusts of wind forced everyone to shut their eyes tightly.

Everyone had their own defensive measures, but crouching down was the best they could do in this unexpected situation.

As everyone desperately shielded themselves, forgetting even to breathe.

"Stop."

A low voice echoed through the test room's speakers, barely audible over the wind.

Then, the wind and explosions ceased simultaneously.

"...Huh?"

"W-We're alive?"

"...Why don't I feel any impact on my defensive spell?"

The shock that should have pierced the test room's walls like paper was nowhere to be found.

Looking around, it seemed the same for everyone else.

The students hiding in ice domes and the director, who had bent an iron door into a shield, slowly opened their eyes, looking puzzled.

"...Huh?"

What came into view was the pristine walls of the test room, completely untouched, and the interior of the test room, frozen in time.

"Did it stop? Did the camera stop?"

"Hey, that can't be. The timer next to it is still running."

"So, you're saying the entire test room froze in place?"

Frozen. Yes, literally frozen.

As if someone had pressed pause on a video, everything stopped.

For a moment, everyone thought the camera had malfunctioned, but seeing one person casually walking through the frozen world made them realize it wasn't a camera issue.

"...That was close."

I clicked my tongue and spoke.

In the face of the sudden barrage of javelins, I released about 30% of my total mana without considering efficiency.

The released mana spread like red smoke, and the incantation that slipped from my lips took effect in this space.

"A time-based spell... No, that can't be."

"Telekinesis? Could it be telekinesis?"

"Isn't that even more absurd? If it were time-based, maybe, but stopping an entire area with telekinesis is on a whole other level."

As they said, this isn't telekinesis.

If you delve into the details, it is a telekinesis-based spell, but as its creator, Baek Seung-woo, named it, [Pyrokinesis].

Its structure is fundamentally different from ordinary telekinesis.

Normal telekinesis merely uses mana to move objects without physical contact. However, [Pyrokinesis] releases heat in all directions and manipulates that heat to control physical objects.

It's not just about using mana.

It's my unique magic that utilizes vast amounts of mana and heat as a medium to manipulate the physical world.

...It sounds grandiose, but in conclusion, those javelins couldn't even pierce a wall, let alone reach me.

If I develop this further...

"I can even bind a living creature's limbs."

Crackle!

The heat, rippling like red smoke, spread widely in all directions.

This made it easier to interfere with the entire space.

Using this, I tightly bound the monkey's limbs.

So tightly that it was more like tearing them apart than just binding them.

"Tsk, the monster is too strong compared to the facility's setup. This makes a proper test impossible."

I scanned the area, clicking my tongue and snapping my fingers.

Snap─

A large amount of mana drained from my body.

The drained mana didn't draw any magical circles or spells.

It simply seeped into the air, amplifying the output of [Pyrokinesis].

Normally, this would focus on increasing the output of fire magic, but now, the mana was concentrated on the telekinetic aspect of [Pyrokinesis].

Hummmmm──!

The mana and heat in the atmosphere tore apart as they bent the monster's limbs. Something invisible bound the creature's limbs, and as it began to twist, the monster tried to let out its characteristic high-pitched scream, but...

I didn't give it the chance.

─Crackle, crackle!

Its spine bent.

Its limbs folded in half.

Like origami or a block puzzle, it was neatly and flawlessly folded.

─Crackle, crackle!!

How much more did it fold?

By the time there was no trace of its original form left, everything in the area disappeared. The pool of blood on the floor, the blood splatter on my face.

All of it vanished like a mirage.

'...My throat hurts a bit.'

The backlash from hastily activating the incantation without preparation and the fatigue from using a significant amount of mana in an instant were no joke.

Especially the backlash from the incantation was quite harsh.

Is it because it's still incomplete?

My throat felt as if I had swallowed a handful of chili powder.

As a result, my voice came out rough, half-choked.

How should I put it? If I had to make a comparison, it sounded like the typical arrogant villain often seen in novels or comics.

A dark, rough voice that wouldn't be out of place if I killed someone right then echoed softly through the test room.

"Next."

***

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