Chapter 37: Cedric Despairs in the Practical Exam

Cedric, concluding the written exam with unsatisfactory results, had no time to relieve his frustration or anger before moving on to the practical exam.

Separated by academic disciplines, Cedric, taking the magic exam, followed the instructions of the exam supervisor and proceeded to the field.

“Ah…!”

As Cedric stepped onto the field, he couldn’t help but notice the figures of two young women. A beautiful girl with golden hair in a ponytail and an elegant girl with silver hair flowing down her back—these were the Rosemary sisters.

(It’s been… a year. They’ve become even more beautiful since then!)

Cedric swallowed hard at the sight. Viola Rosemary and Primula Rosemary had matured into more sophisticated figures than he remembered, exuding a feminine charm with soft curves in their chest and waist.

“Gulp…”

Cedric swallowed once more, sensing that the men around him were clearly also attracted to the two sisters. They were stealing glances at the Rosemary sisters, searching for an opportunity to strike up a conversation.

(Hey, don’t you dare look! Those are my women!)

A strange possessiveness sprouted in Cedric’s heart. Those girls were his. They must be. They had to be. As a chosen individual like himself, the beautiful sisters were undoubtedly suited for him.

(I should talk to them… yes, there’s a topic. Apologize for that incident a year ago…)

Cedric extended his upper lip, intending to approach the sisters. However, at that moment, they noticed him and shot piercing gazes that seemed to pierce him.

“…!?”

Caught in their intense stares, Cedric involuntarily halted. Viola, the elder sister, glared at him with angry eyes, while Primula, the younger sister, cast a look of contempt as cold as ice. Both expressions were filled with disdain.

Even though Cedric is a self-confident man with an unnecessarily high self-esteem, when someone looks at him like this, he knows he’s being rejected.

(H-Hey… What’s this about? What did I do…?)

Certainly, a year ago, he had taken them out and exposed them to danger. But in the end, nothing happened to them. Undoubtedly, the wolf had fled in fear of Cedric’s genius. Thanks to him being there, everything ended without a hitch.

However, being looked at with such resentment was unexpected and felt undeserved.

(Crap… They’re narrow-minded despite their looks. If it’s come to this, I need to show them that I’m a more exceptional person than anyone else!)

Abandoning the idea of talking to the sisters, Cedric was not ready to give up on having them in his hands. Though they seemed to dislike him due to a minor accident, he hadn’t given up on capturing their hearts.

As Cedric ignited the flames of determination within him, the female exam supervisor stepped forward and began explaining the practical exam.

“Now, shoot magic at that target one by one! The target is equipped with a special magic device that measures the power of the magic applied. You are allowed to use only one magic shot at a time. However, if you fail to hit the target, you may use multiple spell!”

“……?”

Cedric tilted his head at the confusing explanation, but the sense of discomfort quickly vanished from his mind.

(If I’m going to shoot, it should be an advanced magic. I’ll use my newly acquired top-tier magic and astonish everyone here!)

Especially since his scores on the written exam were not as desired, he needed to earn a high score in the practical exam to compensate.

(After they witness my magnificent magic, Viola and Primula will undoubtedly change their attitudes!)

“Then, please come to the front in order of examinee number. First, Baron Jean Queste’s son.”

“Yes!”

As the called student approached, various types of magic were fired at the target—flames, lightning, ice, wind. A variety of spells hit the target, displaying different numbers.

(Hmph… An average of 80 points, I suppose. These guys are trash.)

Indeed, they were nobles, and their scores were relatively high. However, all of them were casting intermediate and lower-tier spells. There was no examinee who could cast advanced magic.

“【Fire Cannon Fire Bolt】!”

“【Ice Cannon Ice Bolt】!”

The turn for the Rosemary sisters had also come… Viola, the older sister, scored ‘137’, and Primula, the younger sister, scored ‘129’. Both achieved scores exceeding one hundred.

(Hmph! Since they are going to be my wives, they should perform at this level! Well, it’s a shame that they are limited to intermediate magic… but that’s precisely what makes my magic stand out!)

As of now, the scores of the Rosemary sisters were the highest among the examinees present.

As a side note… among the examinees here, there is no one from a higher-ranking family than a marquis. Members of the royal family or the duke’s family take the exams separately due to security concerns and are not present at the examination venue.

(If they had the genius Third Prince Rodel or the renowned prodigy Crocus, the Duke’s daughter, taking the exam, it might have been a different story… But in this exam, Viola and Primula will likely have the highest scores.)

Of course, excluding himself from the assessment.

Cedric chuckled inwardly.

“Next is… Cedric Ebern, Honorary Viscount’s son!”

“Yes!”

Called by name, Cedric confidently stepped forward. Under the gazes of the other students, he walked up to the line drawn on the field, focusing on the target ten meters away.

(You mediocre fools, take a good look! Witness the overwhelming talent of someone like me!)

“Thunderstorm!”

Activated was an advanced magic that Cedric had recently learned. A thundercloud formed over the target, releasing a rain of lightning over a wide area.

“Advanced magic, huh?”

“Incredible…!”

“Is this a joke? To be able to use such magic…!”

“As expected of Cedric Ebern. The son of the court magician, a true genius.”

(How about that! Witness the power of a genius!)

While the other students behind him were expressing their amazement and admiration, Cedric looked towards Viola and Primula.

“”…””

(………….!?)

Surprisingly, the two sisters were indeed looking at Cedric. However, their eyes were cold, distant, and full of scorn. They were also smiles of mockery.

It was a different reaction than he expected. He didn’t understand what it means to be looked at like that.

“Cedric Ebern, 86 points”

“…Huh?”

Immediately after, Cedric was surprised by the words of the exam supervisor.

Turning around hastily, he saw the number ’86’ floating above the target. The score was slightly above the average of the previous examinees.

“Alright, you can step down.”

“W-What?! This is a lie!”

“Hmm…?”

“There’s no way my score is this low! This has to be nonsense!”

Cedric raised his voice and confronted the female exam supervisor. He had cast advanced magic, so there was no way he could have a lower score than the Rosemary sisters, who used intermediate magic.

“This has to be a mistake! I demand a redo!”

“…You can only shoot magic at the target once. No redos.”

“That’s… kuh! The target malfunctioned… No, this is a conspiracy! Someone is envious of my talent and trying to set me up!”

Blinded by anger, Cedric attempted to grab the exam supervisor by her collar. However, she immediately cast a spell to restrain Cedric.

“[Earth Bind]!”

“Whoa!?”

Bound by black earth ropes emerging from the ground, Cedric crawled on the ground like a caterpillar.

“Using violence against the exam supervisor results in a deduction. Cedric Ebern.”

“Damn it… This is…!”

“It seems you’re not satisfied with the results, but with that magic, it’s only natural.”

Looking down at the bound Cedric, the exam supervisor sighed in exasperation.

“It seems your understanding of magic is lacking… [Thunderstorm] is a magic that simultaneously attacks a wide area. Its power against a single target is not particularly high. It’s not suitable for the ‘target shooting’ exam, where you need to attack a single target.”

“T-That’s…?”

“Reaching advanced magic at your age is impressive, but I’ll record the score as it is. Don’t take it too badly.”

Cedric felt despair. His performance in the written exam was already lacking. If he couldn’t earn a sufficient score in the practical exam and even received a deduction for violence, he would fall into the failing range.

(Is this a lie…? Could I, of all people, be failing…? How do I report this to Father and Mother…?)

“Ugh, you messed up big time.”

“Embarrassing. Is this guy even a noble?”

“Even if praised as a genius, he’s just at this level.”

“This is what happens when a newly rich noble gets carried away. What a disgrace.”

“…”

Voices of mockery from the surrounding examinees reached Cedric.

He had no memory beyond this point. After the practical exam, he felt like he was made to do something individually, but his consciousness, drowned in despair, did not retain those memories. Cedric returned home to the Ebern Viscount family estate in a state of utter dejection.

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