Chapter 47: A Completely One-Sided Beatdown

8:00 AM.

Will wasn’t particularly focused on the practical exam itself. Instead, he stood on the prepared field, paying close attention to the spectators.

To his surprise, far more teachers had shown up than he had anticipated. He could tell they were teachers because they had gone out of their way to wear mage robes, as if to broadcast their seniority and rank.

Had he done something wrong? Was he missing some critical piece of context?

Even during a doctoral defense, there wouldn’t be this many professors present.

The small bleachers by the field were packed with over a dozen teachers—this was definitely not mentioned in the original story. On closer inspection, many of these teachers were the same ones whose photos he had seen in the research display cases. Some were elderly, with white hair, and didn’t seem like the type to be involved in any shady dealings.

As for students, only a handful had come to watch. Among them was… Hunter, who seemed to have moved past the whole “being cheated on” ordeal.

This wasn’t what he had expected…

He’d have to keep observing for now.

Just then, he heard Felix’s classic cannon-fodder taunts from behind him—

“Oh? You actually showed up? I thought you’d chicken out and skip the practical exam entirely, considering you didn’t even take it the first time.”

“Hmm? I’m more surprised you didn’t run away. After all, you’ve already passed the exam once. If you lose here, won’t they start investigating whether you cheated back then?”

Felix glanced at the bandages on Will’s hand and seemed to relax, raising his chin smugly.

“Why would I run? I’m going to win.”

“Right back at you.”

“Will Hysterm?”

The proctor called his name.

There were five examiners in total, each representing a different branch of magic. Only one of them spoke on behalf of the group.

“Present. I’m ready to begin anytime.”

“Alright, we’ll start with the swordsmanship and basic magic casting exams.”

“No problem.”

Will breezed through the solo segments of the exam. Judging by the examiners’ expressions, he had performed exceptionally well, and his scores would undoubtedly be high.

Of course, while he completed the physical components smoothly, it was clear he wasn’t naturally gifted in balance or physical ability. His performance in those areas was the result of rigorous training rather than innate talent.

“Phew…”

Felix, sitting in the volunteer seat, grew increasingly uneasy as he watched.

What was going on with this guy? Wasn’t his right hand supposed to be injured? Wasn’t he supposed to be a useless young master? Wasn’t he supposed to have skipped the entrance exam because he couldn’t handle it? Why did it look like he was performing better than Felix had during his own exam?

“Do you need a break? The next segment is the magic combat exam.”

“Hmm…”

Will took a deep breath and removed his jacket, setting it aside.

After the swordsmanship and physical tests, his body had warmed up. Since the next segment would involve activating his entire magical circuit, it was better to remove the jacket for better ventilation.

“I don’t think I need a break.”

“Alright, volunteer, please step forward. For the sake of fairness, please give your best effort as a sparring partner. We will grade objectively.”

The proctor, a young and kind female teacher, explained the rules gently. However, the other examiners—middle-aged men with balding heads hidden under oversized mage hats—didn’t look nearly as friendly.

Felix could feel their stern gazes.

While he knew those gazes weren’t directed at him, the volunteer, but rather at the examinee on the field, he couldn’t help but feel like a cheater caught red-handed.

“It’s fine, it’s fine… he’s just some injured guy. His recovery must be slow, and his magic circuits are probably still affected. There’s no way he can…”

Felix closed his eyes tightly and began mentally psyching himself up.

However…

When he opened his eyes, squinting against the morning sun, he saw his opponent—slim, wearing a white short-sleeved shirt—unwrapping the bandages on his right hand.

One loop, then another, and another.

The bandages unraveled, their shadow twisting and turning on the ground.

Then, his opponent’s fully healed right hand—smooth and unscarred—gleamed under the sunlight.

“Y-Y-Your hand?! What’s going on?! Isn’t it supposed to be—”

“Oh, this?”

Will smiled at him, flexing his right hand and clenching it into a fist a couple of times, as if to taunt him.

“It’s been healed for a while now.”

“Then why were you wearing bandages?!”

“To trick you, of course.”

“You—!”

“What’s wrong? Don’t believe me? Want to find out for yourself?”

Will rubbed his hands together, looking eager.

—

The magic combat segment of the practical exam lasted only about ten minutes—far shorter than the average exam.

Two minutes in.

During the initial circling and probing phase, Will cast a speed-boosting spell and closed the distance before Felix could react.

Meanwhile, Felix was still trying to remember the first line of the speed-boosting incantation.

Three minutes in.

Felix defaulted to the most reliable defensive magic he knew, something that could at least save his life in the wild.

Unfortunately, he cast it too late and too incompletely, resulting in him being blasted two meters out of bounds by Will’s lightning ball.

Five minutes in.

Will blocked Felix’s physical punch—one with no magical enhancements—using his ice-armored left hand.

Seven minutes in.

Felix finally remembered how to cast the speed-boosting spell and used it to run laps around the field, desperately evading Will’s pursuit.

Nine minutes in.

Will predicted Felix’s escape route and used a flash spell to blind him.

Felix tripped and fell.

Ten minutes in.

Felix took a direct hit from Will’s flame-enchanted punch—let’s call it a “Flame Fist.”

It’s worth noting that the five examiners gave their scores within ten minutes. Otherwise, Felix might’ve been beaten even further.

And it wasn’t like Will was fully focused on the fight.

He was observing the spectators, trying to identify anyone who might be the mastermind behind Felix’s bullying.

But…

After scanning the crowd, the teachers who had come to watch seemed genuinely invested in the exam. They were even more serious than Will, taking notes on every spell he used.

The only suspicious figure was a student who had stood with arms crossed, watching for two or three minutes before leaving. Judging by their height and uniform, they were likely from a higher grade.

—

The exam concluded. Will clapped his hands and looked down at Felix, who was sprawled on the ground, grinning like a proper villain.

“I… I’m done… Elite class, volunteer work… it’s all a scam—!”

“I’m going home now.”

Felix, thoroughly defeated, clutched his scraped face and scurried off the field in disgrace.

“Take care! Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!”

That’s it? That’s it? That’s it?!

In the original story, the practical exam had been built up so much, but this was all it amounted to?