Chapter 60: The Big Test (3)

Azure and deep blue specks of light, like a flock of homing hummingbirds, flew one by one toward Merlin’s forehead.

Each touch carried a trace of coldness, leaving a fleeting chill on Merlin’s skin.

“We’re heading back now that we’ve seen the Boss, yay!”

“Mm, today was the best.”

Another little fairy chimed in, and her figure faded away.

Merlin reflexively raised her hand, her fingertips touching her forehead, where only the coolness of the morning air remained.

As Merlin walked, she watched the gradually dissipating fairies.

“Haven’t you been here the whole time?”

Along with the scattering magic particles, the fairies’ forms became transparent, leaving only blurry outlines. Their voices seemed to become ethereal, as if separated by a layer of mist.

“Not at all! We have a home on the other side!”

“When we appear on this side, we can only stay near the Boss. We can’t go too far. We couldn’t even manifest until the Boss noticed us.”

A fairy about to disappear completely spoke with a drawn-out voice, as if complaining about her dullness.

“Sigh, silly Boss.”

‘So that’s how it is.’

“Alright, see you next time.”

Merlin gently waved goodbye to the fairies.

“When the Boss wants to see us, just call for us in your heart.”

“Okay.”

A nearby student reminded her.

“We’re here.”

Merlin looked up. The slightly peeking morning sun and the pure white beacon complemented each other perfectly.

“You go first, Merlin.”

Merlin didn’t stand on ceremony anymore and touched the beacon with the hand wearing the ring.

‘Am I in fourth place?’

Her gaze went over this peak, looking toward two even more towering silhouettes in the distant morning mist. There were two more mountains, and she hadn’t killed a single magic beast yet.

Although she heard that because the exam changed to a solo format, the difficulty was lowered, and the finish line was moved from the base of the third mountain to the summit.

“Alright, alright, quick, get ready.”

“I’ll help too.”

“Thank you.”

Merlin took the crystals and carefully buried them one by one in the soil around the beacon according to a specific geometric diagram.

“Mm… that should be enough, Merlin.”

“Yes, thank you, everyone.”

“Go for it, Princess.”

Merlin took a deep breath and stepped onto the simple scaffold constructed urgently from branches and alchemy adhesive.

At that moment, the area below the mountain became increasingly noisy. At first, it was just a faint sound, but now, the students’ arguments and fighting grew sharper. Clearly, the second group was about to reach the summit.

A female figure with a black ponytail rushing at the very front was particularly eye-catching. She shouted something, running wildly, creating dense ice spikes in front of her to clear her path and wiping out the forest ahead.

“Hey! What’s the Alchemy Department up to now?!”

She finally saw the scene at the summit, her voice sharp and full of fury.

Oz Taran.

The third-year representative of the Magic Department and the official heir of the Taran family.

Merlin had assumed she was already ahead.

Right now, Oz was running at full speed, gritting her teeth as she watched.

Jessie, standing below the scaffold, wasn’t nervous. Instead, she crossed her arms and let out a pfft. She looked up mockingly at Oz’s livid face. After all, they were both third-years; there must have been some unpleasant disputes in the past.

“Haha, she got blown back to the foot of the mountain by us yesterday. Served her right for joining the fray.”

“It’s time, Merlin.”

Merlin nodded to her classmates.

“Remember to turn on your shields.”

Everyone responded in unison.

“Okay!”

The other alchemy students also climbed onto the scaffolding. Jessie shouted through an amplifying device.

“Hey! You look down on the Alchemy Department, right? Well, then no one gets to play this time!”

“Cover your ears!”

*BOOM —*

A piercing sound rang out.

The ground beneath Merlin’s feet shook violently. She gripped the shield. Her shield was knocked into the air by a calculated force, and the mana shield shattered into dust in the air due to the intense impact.

Jessie reminded her.

“Remember your parachute!”

“You’re crazy!”

In mid-air, Oz Taran’s frantic voice could be heard.

It was followed by the laughter of the alchemy students.

“Ahahaha! It’s been a long time since I felt this vindicated. Look at those honors students’ panicked faces!”

Merlin glimpsed from the air that the summit of the first mountain, after that violent explosion, had already begun to landslide. Boulders and soil rolled down, drowning out the curses and roars of the students below.

Merlin, Jessie, and the other alchemy students flew further and further away in different directions, like a cluster of dandelions rushing into the distance.

Jessie watched the landslide on the first mountain and the roars and cracks of stone below. She shouted excitedly to Merlin.

“Merlin!”

“I’m here!”

“This time, I’m so happy! Not just because we have a princess, but because you thought of flipping the table like this! It’s so cathartic! Especially seeing Oz’s ugly face! She’s had that sour face since we were kids!”

“I just thought of it suddenly!”

And to be honest, this plan relied heavily on luck. If the alchemy students hadn’t arrived in position early, it would have been impossible.

“Even so, I still have to thank you, haha! Merlin! I love you!”

Such blunt kindness was always something Merlin struggled to handle. Her cheeks grew slightly hot. She turned her head away to hide the slight curl of her lips and mumbled, “That’s enough. I’m going.”

Based on her current height, she should be able to land directly on the side of the second mountain later. With some effort, she could reach the summit of the second mountain within today.

Merlin checked on her classmates one by one, saying goodbye with her eyes.

“Fly, Merlin!”

“Fly as far as you can!”

Hearing those encouraging voices mixed in the wind, the corners of Merlin’s eyes began to moisten uncontrollably. Even if just for her classmates who helped her, she had to stay in this academy and must not lose to Machina.

All the alchemy students had sacrificed their own time to help her.

“Everyone!”

“Princess! We’re sorry! You’re definitely number one in our Alchemy Department now!”

Seeing how the boys also worked hard for her, she decided to forget the unpleasantness from the start of the semester.

“I know!”

To maintain her balance, Merlin couldn’t wave violently, so she simply nodded. Everyone flew further and further until their voices could no longer reach each other.

Merlin was truly grateful to the alchemy students. Those who couldn’t meet on the summit had given up their scores for the first mountain and rushed to the second mountain overnight to avoid the danger.

After a long float, Merlin landed safely on the side of the second mountain.

‘Time to set off. If things go smoothly, I should be able to finish the second mountain today.’

No matter whether the students falling behind bypassed the summit or not, the alchemy students would blow it up again.

‘I must win.’