New chapter of Control Engineer is out! (2/2 chapter)

 

 

Second Examination (2): Misunderstandings

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From within the draped practical examination area of the martial arts hall, examinees began emerging one after another. All of them looked slightly worn, and among them were some who appeared rather exhausted.

After a short while, a voice called.

“Next group of examinees, please enter. Once inside, follow the examiner’s instructions.” (Examiner)

It was finally my turn. However, since I aspired to the Department of Science and Technology, the practical examination would serve only as a reference evaluation. I could remain at ease.

I stood and offered a gentle smile to the person beside me, who returned a slightly awkward smile in turn.

“We shall enter.” (Leon)

I lifted the drape and stepped inside, where a towering apparatus loomed before me. It was unmistakably a magical apparatus. Even without employing detection magic, I could sense the demon world intensity radiating from it.

The apparatus was enormous. A massive brown magic stone was affixed at its center, with a diameter of approximately three hundred millimeters. I had never seen a magic stone of such magnitude before. I wondered about its cost.

Several other magic stones were also embedded within the apparatus. I was tempted to analyze it further, but restraint was necessary for the moment. Oddly, my ears felt heavy, as though the atmosphere itself pressed upon them. The adjacent examinees’ areas should have been nearby, yet I could hear nothing.

“Please draw two pieces of parchment from this set. Do not flip them over yet.” (Examiner)

The examiner, whose eyes were narrow, indicated the parchment placed upon a small desk.

I selected the two rightmost pieces, and the examiner swiftly retrieved the remaining ones.

“Place one upon the desk. You may begin now.” (Examiner)

I flipped it over.

Hmm. This activation symbol corresponded to airflow magic. Lately, even without initiating SimConnect, I could discern the nature of the magic at a glance.

I did not intend to employ my internal system for this test. Although it was only a reference evaluation, I could not risk being accused of cheating. I needed to direct the airflow carefully. If the wind caused the drapes to flutter, it would disturb neighboring examinees. Upward seemed most appropriate.

I extended my arm and activated the symbol. Mana flowed into my right arm, and a vortex of wind erupted. Fascinating. This was how the magic functioned. Yet, unexpectedly, the wind curved sharply and was drawn toward the magical apparatus.

Ah, the magic stone is absorbing it. Incredible.

Even when I lowered my arm gradually and altered the wind’s direction, the spiraling air still curved toward the magic stone, being absorbed efficiently.

Remarkable. Such a magic art existed indeed.

*Kaaan*

The bell rang. One minute had already passed. The next magic symbol beckoned. The interval was surprisingly brief. Upon glancing at the desk, the parchment I had flipped was no longer present.

I revealed the remaining piece. It was fire magic.

I activated it, directing my arm straight toward the magical apparatus from the beginning. Flames surged toward the large magic stone and. No, wait. Observing more closely, the activation symbol materialized just before the stone. I understood. The magic was drawn into a subspace. Not only could mana be extracted, but it could also be absorbed.

I focused, exerting only enough mana to maintain activation, avoiding any waste.

*Kaaan*

Again, the bell rang. There was no parchment left on the desk. The subsequent activation required repeating the previous airflow magic. I initiated it.

 

—

 

*Kaaan*

The bell rang for the tenth time. That concluded the test.

Turning around, I observed the examiner with narrow eyes, his expression stern.

“Um…” (Leon)

“The examination is complete. The afternoon session will be the interviews. The venue is in the northern building.” (Examiner)

“Thank you very much.” (Leon)

As I lifted the drape and exited, the next group of examinees gazed at me intently.

Why are they staring? My attire bore nothing unusual.

The examiner glanced back toward me once more.

“Please remain seated and wait.” (Examiner)

I bowed and prepared to depart, but the examiner hurriedly returned to the partitioned area I had just left.

I stepped outside the martial arts hall.

It was hot. The sun had climbed high into the sky. My system clock indicated 10.40. Though it was already August, summer lingered. The dining hall would open after eleven, according to the guidelines, so I had some time. I noticed a bench beneath a tree, shaded perfectly. I decided to rest there.

I drew a hand towel from my bag to wipe my sweat. This place was pleasant and cool. Though it was lower in elevation than Emilia and thus warmer, the humidity was low, making the air crisp and dry. I felt I could grow fond of this climate.

The magical apparatus had been astonishing. I wondered how it operated. I longed to analyze it, yet using SimConnect felt inappropriate. Moreover, it was a Lennart-type Magic Flux Measurement Magical Apparatus, if I recalled correctly.

I opened the relevant documentation and searched the index.

Lennart, Lennart… nothing.

I supposed that was natural. it sounded like a human’s name, and the documentation was Elven in origin. Next, I recalled the activation symbols for the assigned magic tasks and decided to review them using SimConnect. The block diagram for airflow magic appeared behind my eyelids.

I had sensed it was a simple magic during activation. Indeed, it was not of significant scale. Its designation was “Strom”. The magic was twofold. By blowing the wind to slightly oppose itself, a vortex was formed. A simple mechanism, yet cleverly conceived. However, while the design was clever, the method of defining classes and creating multiple instances would have made activation easier.

Ah!

Of course. The activation was deliberately cumbersome to serve as an examination challenge. How clever, and perhaps slightly malicious.

Next, the fire magic.

“Excuse me, may I sit here?” (Female Examinee)

Her voice overlapped the block diagram. It was the female examinee from earlier.

“Yes, please. I shall step aside.” (Leon)

As I rose, she grasped my hand.

“No, why? It is perfectly fine. We are both female, after all.” (Female Examinee)

“Female… both?” (Leon)

Ah, she must have mistaken me for a girl. I realize she had been protecting me from those military students earlier. Well, the robe was unisex, and I had grown to a decent height. Adele-san and others had caused similar confusion.

“Um, I am actually male.” (Leon)

“Eh?” (Female Examinee)

She widened her large eyes even further.

“Ah, I see. I apologize. I misunderstood.” (Female Examinee)

She finally released my hand.

“Then…” (Leon)

As I attempted to depart, she spread her arms.

“No. It is not as though I asked you to leave. You may sit slightly apart. Yes, perfectly fine.” (Female Examinee)

She seemed to be convincing herself as well.

“Yes, of course.” (Leon)

We took positions at opposite ends of the bench. It was cooler here, and more comfortable than wandering about.

“I have a question I wish to ask.” (Female Examinee)

“Ah… of me? What might it be?” (Leon)

“Well… you are–…” (Female Examinee)

“Leon.” (Leon)

“Indeed. I am Claudia, but you may call me Dia. When I completed the practical test, Leon was not here, correct?” (Claudia)

Yes, that implied I had exited the martial arts hall before her.

“Indeed. When I emerged, only the next group of examinees remained inside.” (Leon)

“How long did it take you? I finished slightly before the time limit.” (Claudia)

“I am…” (Leon)

It was 1 minute 10 times, so it was probably a little over 10 minutes. But I wonder if it would be okay to answer it as it was.

“No, I don’t think I was that quick either.” (Leon)

“Is that so?” (Claudia)

“Yes.” (Leon)

“Ah, I see. I exited alongside three others, but Leon was not among them, so I was uncertain of the timing for passing. I am somewhat relieved.” (Claudia)

Ah, perhaps that was a minor issue.

“So, Dia-san, you aspire to the Department of Skills, correct?” (Leon)

“Yes. And you, Leon-san, aspire to the Department of Science and Technology?” (Claudia)

“Yes.” (Leon)

“Hmph. That makes things somewhat complicated.” (Claudia)

Her expression darkened.

“I suppose it is because the airflow and fire magics were ones I had practiced before, so I was accustomed to them.” (Leon)

“I have trained in magic for many years as well.” (Claudia)

“Many years? Ah, pardon my intrusion in asking.” (Leon)

“It is quite all right. Leon seems like a younger brother… or rather, a younger sibling. I apologize. I began at the age of ten, so it has been seven years.” (Claudia)

“Ah, I see.” (Leon)

Seventeen years old. The same age as Adele-san.

“And you, Leon?” (Claudia)

“I am in my fifth year of training.” (Leon)

“Fourteen years old. Truly youthful. Perhaps talent, indeed.” (Claudia)

No, it is thanks to the internal system. I could not reveal that.

“By the way, what of lunch?” (Claudia)

“The guidelines indicated that a dining hall exists.” (Leon)

“Then, let us go together.” (Claudia)

 

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