Please, Just Read It

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Chapter 55

Final Test (2)

“Hey, kid.”

“……….”

“What’s that book?”

Yan Irantes broke the suffocating silence with his words.

Riley’s body stiffened at his cold and chilling voice.

She’s nervous, huh?

Well, I guess that’s understandable.

The aura of magical power radiating from Yan Irantes was inevitably terrifying.

At that level, even a high-ranking magician would have felt discomfort.

It looked like he was deliberately releasing such a ferocious aura to suppress Riley’s spirit.

[Well, setting that aside…]

I need to help Riley relax quickly.

I’ve never seen her so rigid.

The best way to ease someone’s tension is to ensure they have enough time, so I said something to Riley.

[Let’s stall for a bit.]

‘…Okay.’

As soon as she finished answering, Riley immediately channeled her magic to activate “Time Acceleration.”

Very discreetly.

So Yan Irantes wouldn’t notice.

Whoosh──!

As magical energy surged into Riley’s brain, the world began to flow more slowly.

Well, this should buy us some time.

I quickly shifted my gaze back to Riley. Her body was still stiff with tension.

‘Magician.’

[What?]

‘Could it be Yan Irantes figured out your true identity?’

[No way.]

Aside from me and my disciple, no one in this world knows of my existence.

Ah, well…

Sure, a few cheeky fairies or vampire types might know about me, but that’s irrelevant since I made a “Pact” with them.

‘So why did he ask about you, then?’

[It’s obvious.]

Riley had been carrying me around throughout the Selection Test.

Really, without skipping a single day.

It was the same when we scoured Wilhelm’s territory during the first test, and when we battled for our lives in the ruins during the second test, and even at the after-party banquet…

Of course, the administrators must have been aware of this fact.

They probably recognized the black book that Riley had been carrying. That report must have reached Yan Irantes’ ears.

[Isn’t it more strange not to ask about me in this situation?]

‘…That’s true.’

There’s really no need to worry.

I had been thinking of my answer to this question well in advance.

[Just reply like this.]

I relayed the excuses I had devised to Riley.

By the time about three minutes had passed in sensation…

[You remember everything, right?]

‘Yes.’

Once Riley had heard all of it, she immediately released “Thought Acceleration.”

Fortunately, it seemed that she had relaxed a bit.

Whoosh─.

The actual time taken was barely over a second.

Now that time flowed normally again, Riley faced Yan Irantes with a blank expression.

“Are you curious about the identity of this book?”

“Indeed.”

With that, Riley pulled me out from her embrace.

“This is my mother’s diary. It’s the only memento she left behind.”

“…….”

“And at the same time…”

Tap tap─.

As she touched my cover, she continued.

“It’s an item with a minor effect.”

“……An item?”

“Yes.”

Riley nodded.

“When I hold this book, my heart feels much more at ease.”

“…….”

“It also helps me have fewer nightmares when I sleep.”

Afterward, she began to weave together the lie I had taught her seamlessly.

Ever since her mother passed away, she claimed she had been plagued by nightmares and panic attacks every single day.

However, the moment she took me into her arms, those symptoms vanished entirely.

“Later, I discovered that what was originally a simple diary left by my mother transformed into an item due to magical influence.”

“…….”

“The memento from my mother became an item that brings me psychological stability.”

In reality, there are cases where an ordinary object transforms into an item.

Like a cherished plush doll gaining sentience after being with someone for years.

Or a long-worn ring acquiring embedded magic.

Or someone’s first gift, a fountain pen, gaining auto-writing capabilities.

In the magical world, this special phenomenon where common items turn into magical artifacts is referred to as “Transformation.”

“Hmmm…”

And after hearing Riley’s story, Yan Irantes pondered for a moment before responding.

“That’s not an unreasonable claim.”

Fortunately, he seemed to believe us.

‘He’s surprisingly easy to convince…?’

[That’s the natural response.]

In truth, simple lies tend to work better.

[Hey, think about it.]

“…….”

[If you had told the truth, you would have been treated like a madwoman instead.]

Wow, the Master of Irantes Magic Tower is impressive!

You truly recognized the value of this book, didn’t you?

Yep, the truth is this book is a legendary spellbook that has survived for thousands of years as a key piece of magical history!

It has served as a mentor to many great magicians!

Ta-da, cool, right?

Right?

Who would believe such nonsense?

‘…That makes sense.’

Riley agreed with my sentiment.

[Hoo…]

Anyway.

It seems we managed to pass the first question safely.

Of course, we still can’t relax our guard.

The final test has no time limit. It would be absolutely foolish to become complacent when we don’t know when the interview will end.

“Hey, kid.”

Just as expected, Yan Irantes, who had been sitting on his throne, called Riley again.

“Don’t just stand there, come closer.”

“……”

[…….]

He motioned for Riley with his hand.

Yet despite his invitation, Riley couldn’t bring herself to move.

She slowly glanced down at her feet.

A red carpet stretched beneath her. Just moments ago, it had been marked with a death line.

Yeah.

Of course, right now there was no unusual energy there, yet…

‘…I’m hesitant to step over it.’

[Right.]

Crossing this line still felt daunting.

The chill of standing at the brink of death was still vivid and fresh.

“Don’t worry.”

Did Yan Irantes perhaps sense Riley’s inner thoughts? His tone softened a bit.

“My murderous intent was merely an experiment. I was only evaluating whether you could sense it.”

“……”

“Now that you’ve passed the test, I won’t harm you.”

Riley kept her mouth tightly shut, seemingly trying to discern the truth behind Yan Irantes’ words.

About ten seconds passed.

Finally, Riley cautiously asked her question.

“Master.”

“……”

“If I hadn’t sensed your murderous intent and had taken one more step… What would you have done to me?”

It was a question posed out of doubt.

Heh──.

Hearing that, Yan Irantes let out a small laugh.

He genuinely seemed to find Riley’s question ridiculous.

“Kid, I don’t understand why you’re asking such an obvious question with that clever head of yours.”

He countered.

“Didn’t you feel it yourself?”

“……”

“If you had crossed that ‘line’, you would have lost your head in that instant.”

Losing her head, huh?

In other words, he would have killed Riley.

[Huh…]

Yan Irantes spoke such a chilling declaration as casually as if it were nothing.

Of course, I knew he wasn’t just boasting.

That intense murderous intent could not be artificially fabricated.

“……”

[…….]

Silence hung in the air.

Amidst the chilling atmosphere, Yan Irantes, who had been gazing intently at Riley, finally spoke.

“Do I need to explain what happens to those who lose their heads?”

“……No.”

“Good.”

Yan Irantes nodded slowly.

“Now, come closer.”

“……”

“You must come forward for the second test.”

Hearing his words, Riley cautiously stepped onto the carpet.

Step.

One step, then two.

Step─.

After about ten paces…

“Stop.”

“……”

She halted abruptly.

“Do you happen to know how to play chess?”

It was such an unexpected question.

Chess, huh?

‘Magician.’

[What?]

At that moment, Riley spoke to me with a slightly flustered tone.

‘I don’t know how to play chess.’

[……?]

Wait a minute.

What?

You don’t know how to play chess?

[…Are you telling me you don’t even know the basic rules?]

‘Nope.’

This doesn’t make any sense.

[But you’re from Lutemis.]

“……”

[Don’t the students usually play chess during breaks? And they even have class tournaments during lunch?]

The idea that she had gone through Lutemis filled with noble kids without ever playing chess was utterly incomprehensible.

It was as if she had never played marbles or hopscotch during primary school back on Earth…

‘I didn’t have friends to play with.’

[Ah.]

That’s right.

She didn’t have friends.

[Hmm… That’s fine.]

I could play for her, anyway.

In fact, the moment I heard “chess,” that was already my intention.

‘So, you’re good at chess, huh?’

[Yep. At least I’m not bad enough to lose.]

Having lived for thousands of years, I’ve played countless matches.

I never forget anything I experience. Therefore, all the games I’ve played are stored in my memory.

Based on all that accumulated data, I calculated the best moves.

[I’ve lost very few times, so it’s hardly noteworthy.]

‘Oh….’

Hearing my comment, Riley expressed genuine admiration.

‘Then there’s no reason to worry.’

[Of course not.]

Just trust me.

*

What Yan Irantes proposed to us wasn’t your typical chess game.

On a massive chessboard.

The pieces stood as tall as adult men, moving of their own accord. They were intricately carved marble chess pieces.

What stood out were the expressions on their faces.

All the chess pieces wore expressions as vivid as soldiers preparing for war.

Before the game began, the pawns wore stern faces, but after several pieces were lost, their faces showed sheer terror.

In contrast, the knights mounted on horses remained expressionless throughout.

Fascinating.

The chess pieces felt like real soldiers.

It was a relief that they couldn’t speak.

If they could, I don’t think this would feel like a simple game at all.

[…….]

Well, moving the pieces was simple.

Just channel magic and issue orders. They would automatically move to the locations we commanded.

Zoom.

Swoosh──.

And if an enemy stood on the square they moved to…

They would use their weapons to smash the opponent.

Just like now.

Boom──!

The white chess piece shattered with a great noise, scattering white fragments everywhere.

Ah, just for reference.

The shattered piece was one of ours.

‘……Magician?’

Riley’s expression darkened rapidly.

For someone unfamiliar with chess, the situation seemed quite dire.

‘You said you were good at chess.’

[Shhh. Be quiet. You’re distracting me.]

“……?”

Ignoring Riley’s bewildered gaze, I relayed the next move to her.

After hearing my words, Riley channeled her magic and moved a piece.

Zoom─.

Swoosh.

Our queen moved to D6.

With her staff, she struck down Yan Irantes’ knight that had been stationed there.

Boom──!

The black knight shattered into pieces, and watching that, I couldn’t contain my exhilaration.

[Ha! Didn’t see that coming, did you, you idiot? Hahaha!]

Boom──!

[……Huh?]

Yet, after three or four moves…

Our queen also shattered into pieces.

[…….]

Damn.

The idiot was me.

I should have known that was a trap.

The knight that just got killed was merely a sacrificial piece to corner our queen.

‘It seems we lost, doesn’t it?’

[…….]

After hearing Riley’s words, I took a long moment of silence before replying.

[Practice game.]

‘What?’

[This is a practice game.]

Riley looked at me incredulously, but I casually continued.

[Call it a draw.]

“…….”

[It’s customary to consider the first game a practice round, so Yan Irantes is sure to understand.]

…Of course, Riley never brought that up.