A few days later.

  The individual practical assessment began.

  First up was the Ranking Battle.

  A large number of students were participating, but Manacos had plenty of Training Grounds—enough for all students to compete simultaneously.

  At that moment, Hulim Heyerar stood at the entrance of one of the Training Grounds being used as an exam venue.

  “Number Seven again...... huh?”

  Staring at the number above the Training Ground entrance, Hulim fell into thought.

  Teachers and students bustled in and out of the entrance. Spotting Hulim standing there, everyone couldn’t help but cast curious glances her way.

  “I’m drawing a bit too much attention. I should go inside......”

  Realizing this, Hulim stopped lingering and stepped into the Training Ground......

  When the time came for the Ranking Battle to officially start,

  all students in Training Ground Seven had entered their designated areas.

  And Hulim’s first opponent was......

  “I surrender!”

  “......”

  Well, before Hulim could even learn their name, the opponent had surrendered at lightning speed.

  Then, as if fearing Hulim might object to their decision, they turned and left without a moment’s hesitation.

  Hulim had no choice but to look at the referee.

  “Uh......”

  The referee hesitated too—presumably the opponent’s overly hasty surrender had caught him off guard.

  “Ahem!”

  The referee coughed twice to cover his embarrassment, then announced:

  “Student Hulim Heyerar advances!”

  With that, Hulim silently returned to the waiting area to await her next match.

  While she waited,

  other students gradually finished their first-round matches and returned to the waiting area.

  Only, everyone kept a wide berth from Hulim......

  “......What terrible luck! Why did I get placed in the same exam venue as the Top Student?”

  “Hey, keep your voice down—high-ranking powerhouses have sharp hearing.”

  “That can’t be true, we’re so far away......”

  “Yeah, no way she can hear us from here. You’re overreacting.”

  “I...... I only heard it from someone else. Besides, it’s not all bad luck, right? There are so many people in Venue Seven—only a few will actually face her.”

  “That’s true, but think about it: if you had a chance to make it to the top ten in the Ranking Battle, but you accidentally run into her early on—wouldn’t that be bad luck?”

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  “I guess so...... But do you even have the strength for that?”

  “Can we talk nicely for once......”

  “......”

  “That’s the Top Student! So cool!”

  “......Why are you staring at her like that? You’re a girl, aren’t you?”

  “So what if I am? I’m into it!”

  “Huh??? No, wait—you......”

  “What about me?”

  “N-Nothing.”

  “Is that so? Then why are you stepping back......”

  “......”

  “That’s the Top Student? I wonder how much stronger she is than me?”

  “Is this guy serious......”

  “Huh? Why are you all so far away from me?”

  “Nothing—we just think you’re definitely going to die young. To avoid getting dragged down by you later, we’d better keep our distance from now on.”

  “???!”

  “......”

  Thanks to the Wind Magic she kept active at all times, all sorts of voices from Venue Seven drifted into Hulim’s ears.

  “......”

  What on earth is this?

  Hulim was utterly speechless.

  Even though the reason was completely different, the situation somehow reminded her of when she first enrolled three years ago.

  In the end, she was still being isolated......

  Also, it felt like there was a girl with some weird ideas mixed in there—she’d better keep her distance......

  The noise in the Training Ground was too chaotic,

  buzzing in Hulim’s ears. She simply deactivated the magic.

  The moment the wind around her died down, the world fell silent all at once.

  Hulim’s mood instantly relaxed.

  She leisurely watched the ongoing matches in the Training Ground, an urge to grab something to snack on tugging at her.

  “Too bad—I should’ve brought some pastries......”

  After some time,

  the second round began.

  Her opponent this time was......

  “Top Student! Let me see just how much stronger you are than me——”

  Boom!

  “Ah——!!!”

  Uh-oh. She’d acted on instinct!

  Before she could even make out the opponent’s face, they’d been sent flying!

  Hulim cursed inwardly, then glanced at the referee nearby.

  She had no idea how this would be ruled......

  Besides, it was the opponent’s fault for charging at her suddenly—it wasn’t her fault.

  But when Hulim looked at the referee, he was standing there dumbfounded.

  He froze mid-gesture, his right hand raised as if about to signal the start, hanging in the air for ages.

  After a long while, the referee finally snapped out of it and lowered his hand.

  “......H-Hulim advances!”

  What was supposed to be a “start” announcement had turned directly into an “advancement” declaration......

  As a result, Hulim was once again the first to return to the waiting area, with almost the same timing as the first round.

  After another stretch of time, the third round began.

  Her opponent this time......

  “Surrender! I surrender!”

  Forget it—no need for introductions.

  In short, Hulim stood on the field for a few seconds before returning to the waiting area yet again.

  Next up:

  “Surrender!”

  “I surrender!”

  “I-I surrender......”

  “......”

  Hulim felt like she was going through the motions of stepping onto the field and off again mechanically. The most important part—the actual match—seemed to have vanished without a trace.

  Even the referee in charge of her venue had grown numb.

  After Hulim stepped onto the field, he didn’t even bother looking at the scene; he just counted silently in his head for a few seconds before directly announcing her advancement.

  After all, there was never going to be another outcome—he might as well cut corners.

  After this mechanical routine of entering and exiting the field for what felt like forever,

  “Hulim advances.”

  “......All matches in Venue Seven are now concluded. The final Ranking Battle will be held tomorrow in Venue One. All remaining advancing students, please prepare for tomorrow!”

  The tedious matches were finally over.

  Hulim let out a sigh of relief, stood up, and left the waiting area, heading for the exit.

  That move had definitely been too harsh......

  Originally, not everyone would have surrendered, but after seeing the fate of that person who’d attacked, even those who’d had the courage to fight had come to their senses.

  Stepping out of Venue Seven, Hulim reactivated the Wind Magic she normally kept up.

  Once again, all sorts of voices flooded her ears.

  “......See? I told you that guy was going to die young. He flew so high—he probably won’t wake up until nightfall.”

  “Thank goodness for him! I was going to test the gap between myself and a high-ranking powerhouse, but because of him, I’ve abandoned that death wish......”

  “That guy was just stupid, challenging the Top Student like that. I bet she taught him a lesson on purpose.”

  “Right! I’m glad I surrendered quickly and didn’t offend the Top Student—otherwise, I’d end up like him......”

  “......The Top Student is so cool~!”

  “Yeah yeah, I’m obsessed with her~!”

  “Hey, you guys—the Top Student is a girl!”

  “So what?”

  “You...... you...... Fine, actually I think it’s okay too......”

  “......”

  She had a feeling she was being misunderstood about something......

  But even if she explained she’d acted accidentally, no one would believe her anyway.

  And—

  Had the number of questionable people increased?!

  Thinking this, Hulim quickened her pace.

  ...