Mightiest Melee Magician

Chapter 8

Mightiest Melee Magician

Chapter 8

Ignit Magic Academy.

The famous academy of the 8th-class archmage Frolian Ignit, who had built it for the growth of his successors.

Even though it was a famous academy that could be picked out even from its continent’s 500-year history, compared to its ancient history, its substance was lacking.

The reasons were quite simple.

Even though the Radian Kingdom was a small nation, it wasn’t internally stable, so the Royal Party with the 1st prince and the New Party with the 2nd prince came into conflict with each other.

The many magicians of the kingdom were, of course, utilized by these people in their fight for authority.

The situation was the worst in more ways than one.

Even so, the reason the Ignit Academy was able to ensure its existence was because of just one person.

The direct descendant of the 8th-class archmage Frolian and the current director of the academy.

‘Tirion Ignit’.

A 7th-class archmage, something rare on the continent, and the last pride of the Radian Kingdom.

Thanks to this, he had received many offers from the two parties currently in conflict.

Tirion had enough power where if he were to pick a side, that side was guaranteed to become the next king.

He was that strong of a magician.

However, Tirion declined everything.

No.

He went as far as to denounce both princes.

“Your Highnesses, if you’re going to mess around, please just do it between yourselves.”

“T-Tirion…”

“Magicians aren’t dogs to authority. Do you understand?”

“How dare you say that to me…”

He was upright.

Enough to be called the last pride of the kingdom.

He researched and studied mana more than anyone else.

He lamented the current status of the magicians, who should eternally be researching for the growth and prosperity of magic but were now blinded by the taste of wealth and authority.

‘There are no good ones left. Tsk.’

This was also the case at the academy.

Perhaps because these students were all children of those filthy nobles, there was no exemplary ‘sprout’ between the students.

From his view, all these kids would become trash that would become slaves to any higher authority.

‘If only that kid didn’t get cursed…’

The one Tirion was thinking about, was Ruin.

Ruin Ardell.

The one born with more talent than himself who was of an archmage’s bloodline.

However, he was cursed with an illness as deadly as his talent.

‘The gods are merciless…’

He stopped his contemplation and shook his head.

Even though he was good-natured and tried harder than anyone else, Ruin’s life as a magician had already ended.

For Tirion, the future of the academy was more important than one regretful, potential disciple.

‘I need to find some good ones.’

That was why a ‘test’ to judge and distinguish them was necessary.

A ‘test’ to discover a potential magician that could be raised to excellence.

* * *

Tests.

A unique tool that each student could use to measure their worth.

Therefore, the results could change many things.

Some would smile brightly and dream of a better future.

While others would taste defeat and imagine a hopeless world.

I was someone who always witnessed both heaven and hell.

Every written exam I took, I would get full marks. 

But every practical exam I took was only enough to not fail out of school.

It was the same for this test.

Etc.

I received full marks for the written exams on the first day.

“Ruin, you demolished those written exams,”

Muttered my roommate, Jason, in a dull voice.

With a tone that said, ‘as expected’.

For them, this was just how it was now.

“6 years of perfect scores on written exams. No changes this time either…”

Yes.

There were no changes.

I myself didn’t get surprised anymore, since I had been able to maintain full marks on written exams for the last 6 years.

That’s just how it was.

“Well, the practical results won’t have any changes either.”

“……”

For the last 6 years, I’d always had a failing score for the practical tests.

“Sorry. Just a joke.”

Jason, this bastard.

I laughed as that dagger pierced my heart.

However, he wasn’t wrong.

My name was famous even to the new students who only just entered the academy.

Not as the genius magician who once was the centre of awe, but as the worst idiot in history.

I smiled at Jason.

“Who knows? Maybe it’ll be different this time.”

“Hmm? What’s that supposed to mean?”

While Jason asked that, I silently looked through the subjects for the practical exams.

……

That’s right.

It had to be different this time.

* * *

* * *

After the end of the exam period for written exams, we got fired up in preparation for the practical exams.

Practical exams were done over a period of two weeks, and from the exam lists, there were some pretty dangerous ones as well.

Excluding the exams with less weighting, if we looked at the main 4 exams…

The first one was,

Water, Fire, Earth, Air.

Using your most confident magic between the 4 main elements, you needed to cast 10 sphere type spells simultaneously and hit a different target with each one.

It was a test requiring intense concentration and perfect mana evocation abilities.

Of course, in my case, I would fail without even being able to try.

The second one was,

Using an artifact named ‘The Ancient Ogre Kingram’, the student casted the strongest magic they could invoke at it.

It would then measure the mana output, and therefore the magic’s destructive power.

Depending on the result, the difficulty and maximum mark of the next test will be set, so this was seen as a very important test.

Of course, I always failed.

The third test,

The students went to the Yingen territory under the supervision of the professors and the supporting knights to fight against evil spirits, as well as monsters.

The level of the monster depended on the year and level of the student, and their performance was then graded. 

Obviously, I had never even set foot into this testing ground.

And finally,

It happened inside a special mana barrier that reduced the destructive power of a magician’s magic by 99%.

It was a match between fellow students and they were graded depending on their performance. 

My results were… obviously the worst.

So these were the 4 main subjects.

Disregarding the small minority wanting to become Healers, most magicians were striving for an excellent grade in each of these tests. 

Well, it was like this every year, but this year was the most important.

Excluding the graduation exam, this was the last test we did in school.

Maybe because of that, there was already an excited atmosphere between the 6th year peers.

“Who do you think will come 1st on this test?”

“This is the last school test, It’s really important! This test decides if I’m going to be invited to the magic tower or not…”

“There’s no way you’re getting in, so don’t worry about it.”

“Shut up! You’re the same as me!”

Even in this excited state, in the corner of everyone’s hearts, they had a desire to be the main character of these tests.

Everyone was like that.

Including me.

Since I failed every practical for the last 6 years, it had to be different this year.

There was no one who desperately needed this grade more than me.

However, I was not part of their prediction for the 1st.

I wasn’t even picked as a candidate in their heads.

“Who’ll be first this time?”

“It’s probably gonna be Michael.” 

“Well, yeah. Michael’s practical results are insane.”

“Probably the most talented in our year.”

Michael Galehill.

The third son of the Galehill family, the reputable magic family that existed for a long time in the kingdom, and was considered the main magic family.

So much so that most court magicians were either from the Galehill family, or a family related to them.

Considering that he was the son of such a prestigious family, his arrogance and impudence knew no bounds.

“Who the hell’s talking about me?”

“Uh… Michael…”

“You said my name? To make me spend time with ‘friends’ who I won’t even see after graduating. They need to change how the academy does things.”

“S-sorry…”

“I endured so well for the last 6 years, right?”

His arrogance had ruined the notion that everyone in the academy was a student, regardless of their family’s authority or peerage.

But unfortunately for us, he had the talent to back up his arrogance.

It wouldn’t be too much to say he represented our academy.

“Haa… Fucking can’t be bothered doing the test. Should’ve just let me graduate.”

The third son of a powerful count family.

Outstanding grades.

A pretty decent talent.

From a glance, it looked like he had everything, but he also had one weakness.

That weakness was…

“…Ruin?”

Me.

“Yo, what are you doing here?”

Since I held on so tightly to the position of first for the written exams, Michael was always pushed to second place.

So he had always been hostile towards me.

Constantly, from enrollment till now.

Michael narrowed his eyes like a snake and asked me,

“You… There’s no way! Are you going to take the practical exam?”

And in his mocking tone, he provoked me while shaking his bright blonde hair.

“With that body and that condition?”

His lackeys nearby started laughing loudly.

“To even think about the test while being disabled.”

“I know right? He’s probably here to embarrass himself again. Kek!”

The lackeys were eating up everything Michael was doing.

That’s probably what their roles were.

To laugh with and match Michael’s antics.

So that after they graduated, they could get some help from the Galehill family and boast to others of their connection.

Ben Polt, the one who attacked me, was a similar entity.

I was used to it.

Since it was a pattern I was so used to, I shrugged without being phased at all.

“I came here to take the test.”

At that phrase, for just an instant, Michael’s eyes twitched.

“What?”

“I’m here to take the practical test.”

“You will?”

The fact that I was here to take the practical exam shocked them quite a bit.

Michael also looked a bit shocked but regained his usual composure.

“Ah. Since it’s the last test you’ve come to at least struggle a bit… Something like that?”

“You could say that.”

“Well, that’s only right. There are no rules that say a disabled can’t take a test. Whatever you do, you won’t be able to do it anyway.”

After laughing mockingly, he tapped my shoulder.

“But Ruin, I’ll give you one piece of advice.”

“……”

“It’ll be pretty bad and unsightly if you struggle that much, just to collapse in the end. If you don’t want to get embarrassed, you should probably lea-”

“I don’t need it.”

“…what?”

“I don’t need your advice.”

Seeing my smile, Michael’s face became colder.

The mood also followed his expression, as the room became frosty.

In contrast, my heart became a bit hotter.

“Hoo…”

Michael cracked his neck and put on his most threatening look.

And said to me in a tone that gave the impression that he was being quite patient,

“Ruin, I’ll give you a warning. Don’t cut me off while I’m talking. Just listen with your mouth shut. Ok?”

Ah, I didn’t want to hold back.

Why was I like this?

Maybe this was a disorder as well.

“Michael.”

“What?”

Since I had to say something as well.

“Just worry about yourself.”

Michael’s face hardened with rage.

——