Savior! Redemption in Another World! - Chapter 41

After stepping through the doorway, I was brought to what amounts to a lecture hall with around eleven other applicants.

“The first test is going to be a written exam, testing general knowledge, knowledge of arithmetic, science, and everything in between.” The older-looking gentleman said, holding a thick stack of papers. As the older man passed out the exams, he also passed out writing utensils and blank pieces of paper.

Welp looks like I’m about to crush this exam. It’s around twenty pages long and based on the first page being literal addition, I think I’ve got this in the bag.

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Yep. I guarantee every single other person besides me bombed the hell out of that exam. Whilst the first half of it consisted of basic addition, subtraction, and basic knowledge such as air making fire stronger, the back half of it made me use the knowledge I haven’t touched since my college prerequisite courses.

How is a person who can barely read a legal contract supposed to know this stuff?

I was only able to answer most of it because I’m from Earth where this type of stuff is way more commonly available.

I mean hell, on Earth I can just look up answers, over here it took me nearly twenty minutes per question.

Thankfully, although their math is unnecessarily advanced, the science and other sections are stuff any fifth-grader could answer.

After about two hours straight of test-taking, I hand in my test to the examiner and see I’m the last one to leave.

“You sure took your sweet time, huh, you know that stuff doesn’t disqualify you from being an adventurer right? It’s the practical that matters.” One of the other applicants said as I stepped out of the lecture hall and into what looks to me like a ballroom.

However, instead of decadent chandeliers and beautiful hardwood, it’s blood-stained and scorched concrete lit by torches affixed to the walls and the six pillars within the room.

I know exactly where this is going, especially because of the figurative wall of meat standing in the center of the room, at the center of a white circle about forty feet in diameter.

“Now that everyone has gathered, we can begin the practical portion of the examination.” The man said, although he never raised his voice it carried gently all the way over to us. Sound magic?

“The practical examination is quite simple. Each of you applicants will step into the Dueling Field with me, and then we shall duel. Keep in mind, due to the nature of the exam and the presence of the Dueling Field as well as the Union Healers, it’s expected that neither of us will pull any punches.” Suddenly, the man’s relaxed expression steeled itself. “Come at me with the intent to kill, as I will be returning it in kind. I’m an A-ranked adventurer, so your ability to both survive against me as well as any damage you may be able to do to me will affect your rating within the exam.”

Also great, if the last test is anything to base this on, for the first part of the battle he’ll go easy on you, and then he’ll randomly play hardball and incapacitate you.

Another instance of the Union trying to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Before I could even imagine walking up, the larger man who accosted me for coming in after two hours walks directly up to the Dueling Field.

“I’ll take you on any day, just promise I won’t get in trouble if I hurt ya too bad.” He said, stepping inside the ring and grinning, showing his nearly rotting teeth.

Yep, I’ve seen his type before. He’s definitely a strength-based guy, definitely gonna draw that hammer on his back and charge at the instructor, and it’s definitely not gonna work.

As the man stepped into the ring, it began to light up, eventually the light traveling around the entire circumference of the circle, and a translucent white barrier sealed them in.

The moment the barrier was erected, the man drew his war hammer and dashed at the man. He’s not even as fast as Gust, there’s no chance the instructor lets him get a hit in.

As the pudgy man swung his hammer down full force on the man, the only sound that could be heard was the loud splintering of wood. The man’s hammer seemed to connect with the instructor, and once it did it snapped in half.

Shaking his head, the instructor simply put his hand up and uttered a single phrase.

I’m assuming it’s the short-hand incantation of Blowback as an incredibly powerful blast of wind hit the portly man, sending him crashing into the wall of the barrier.

“You can’t just enhance your body, you must spread your cloak to your weapons or they will fail you. If your as smart as you are strong, you’d be lucky to be an E-ranked adventurer.” With the blast and those words, it was obvious the rotund man was out cold.

The barrier dropped and peopled dressed in similar leather garb to the instructor came out and dragged the man out of the Dueling Field. I’m guessing they’re members of the Union who specialize in healing magic.

The next four fights with the instructor went along similar lines, melee fighters trying every which way to attack the instructor, with him blocking some attacks and not even entertaining the others, simply blasting them with a strong wind as soon as they got close.

Then, a person who was obviously not a meathead stepped forward. I didn’t notice her originally as the rest of the adventures here are all around the height of Teresa, and she looks to be only as big as my true form.

“A halfling huh? It’s been a while since I’ve seen of them.” One of the other applicants badly whispered to who I can assume is his friend. Instantly he caught a side-eye from both the examiner and examinee alike.

“My name is Nonie Lightfoot thank you very much, and maybe you just aren’t looking hard enough.” The snarky halfling said, drawing two small daggers and stepping into the Duel Field.

Unlike the rest of the previous fights, the halfling didn’t immediately dash or slash at the instructor.

Instead, she threw her daggers at his head. Points for creativity.

As the instructor brought his sword up to block, the halfling moved so fast my eyes and ears could barely keep up with her, ending up right in front of the instructor with an orb of blue fire in the palm of her right hand.

“Flash Fire!” The halfling yelled as it took all of my mental strength to not bust up laughing.

Did she just yell an attack name! I mean, I knew shortened casting existed, but to think it would produce something like that!

Funny scenario aside, the instructor looked genuinely off guard and took the full blast of fire magic from the halfling, giving her the opportunity to grab the daggers and jump backward, narrowly evading the slash from the instructor.

As the smoke from the blast cleared, the instructor seemed unharmed, yet amused.

“Finally, someone with a little bit of brain.”