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Chapter 20: Arte Exhibition

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“…Krone.”

“Hm?”

Krone turned to the red-haired beside him. She rarely spoke, and when she did, it was only meant for necessary things. Seeing that Arte Exhibition was just about to start, she could not endure asking any longer. They were standing just outside the hall, waiting for an evaluator to come and explain the rest of the rules.

Standing a little further away, her fingers pinched his sleeve, prompting him to distance himself from the others. The twins and Doran was busy talking among themselves, a little anxious themselves.

“What is it?”

“Actually, I only have two Artes.”

“That and what?”

“Air Sliding.”

“I see. Do you have confidence?”

“Ten metre, I can slid ten metre without a problem.”

“Ten… Can you do so continuously?”

“En, I can do it twice, maybe thrice.”

“Thrice… then?”

“Um, I’ve to rest for ten seconds or so.”

He pondered. Ten metres, three times, and ten seconds interval.

That would mean she was a solid beginner already.

But would that be enough?

She stared at him, waiting his response. He hummed for a while before opening his eyes, decisively.

“No worry. That should be enough.”

“But, others might have two, or three Artes. For me to just perform one, that’s—”

“Ha, are you not confident?”

He laughed lightly. She rarely said so much, and she always had that air of confidence around her. Thus for the current her, he found it amusing.

“No that, I’m just being rational.”

“Sorry, just teasing you. But like I said, no worry. Trust in your Arte, and just inform the judges you have a family Arte you could not perform right now.”

“Will they understand? Wouldn’t they see that as…”

She hesitated.

“…You not trusting them?”

Pursing her lips, she nodded, meekly.

‘This child, I can’t believe she could be so cute!’

Feeling adoration, he raised his hand, almost patting her head, but he stopped just in time.

He patted her shoulder instead.

“Like I said, no worry. The knights aren’t immature brats. They’ll understand.”

Her eyes widened. The way he said it was as if he was not a youngster himself. She was used to that way of speaking; it was when her uncle, the only one who cared about her, was giving her life lesson.

It was inspiring hearing it from him, a veteran in life.

However, it was equally inspiring hearing it from this boy, no, perhaps even—

“You mean it?”

“Yeah, I mean it. I know how they think.”

“So I don’t have to show them… Flamme Vyrusha?”

“If you really want to, I won’t stop you. Just remember the risk.”

“Hm. Alright.”

She decided to trust his evaluation. She had considered to show the evaluators her Flamme Vyrusha, then asked them to keep it a secret.

Doing so would be risky.

It would mean risking the fact that her family would be informed of her being here.

That, was worrying her.

She had registered with the identity of an orphan, supported by the church. In addition, her not notifying the evaluators of her family connection, could also be seen as withholding crucial information.

That could be devastating.

She wanted to pass.

She decided she should no longer stay in the cathedral, even with the kind Fathers and Sisters there.

She had stayed there for many months; she was worried she might have overstayed her welcome.

Plus, she had her own aspiration anyway.

‘I need to be independent. I need to be strong. I need to…’

She stopped her deliberation as she noticed two staff members and a guard walked to the front of the hall. The guard clapped his hands a few times, silencing the candidates.

A staff member nodded, thanking him. He stepped forward, holding a paper.

“Alright, listen. I don’t want to repeat myself, so just listen. Ask others for confirmation later.”

He explained about the Arte Exhibition.

First, about the hall. The hall had a mana shielding shrouding it, preventing outsiders from sensing their specific mana channeling; preventing them gaining information in any of their secret Arte. In conclusion, the candidates should not worry.

There were five rooms separating the hall. Within each, three judges would be evaluating their Artes. Each candidate could perform a maximum of three Artes for evaluation.

“If you have less than three, then make sure to inform them and perform as good as possible.”

He then announced the numbers designated to each room. Along with Julia, Krone was in the second, Doran and the twins in the third, and Athea in the fifth.

Ryan and Ron were in the first.

“Alright guys, let’s pass this one together.”

Krone turned to his team; a team of anxious youngsters. Witnessing his confidence, their anxiousness had somewhat eased. Him clenching his fist, right in front of his face, infected their thinking.

‘What’s with this confidence, really? He’s just like Dad!’

‘Hm, hm. Right, Krone wouldn’t be wrong.’

‘Brother said I can do it. So I can… I think? No, I definitely can!’

‘…Yeah.’

“Aww, come on, guys… I thought we already agreed with it? Don’t back away now.”

Krone protested, seeing the four of them was silent.

For a moment, they could not catch what he was referring to.

…?

Ah!

“Do, do we really have to, brother? I think, uh,”

“Won’t they see us as, um, childish?”

“Err, I had to agree with sis there, Krone.”

“…Mm.”

Krone shook his head, making a tsk, tsk sound while moving his finger.

“Only weak ones, afraid of doing the right thing in front of others. Do you want to be weak?”

They blanked out, then shook their head.

“Um! Then, do you want to be strong?”

They blanked out again, then nodded.

“Then, what’re you hesitating for? Let’s pass this one together! What say you—”

He raised his hand high over his head. The four, without thinking much, followed suit.

Their hand came down into a fist, together.

UR RAAAHH—

Their war cry echoed outside the hall, startling everyone.

=====

…

“Sounds lively outside.”

“Weird, I can hear familiar voice?”

“Huh? I thought so too…”

“Nah, must be your imagination.”

“Gosh, that boy… I forgot to lecture him!”

The knights inside laughed. Never did they think there would be candidates who were bold enough to do a war cry outside the hall.

That however, did not break any rules.

Since they were military, they could understand the need for one.

The hall’s gate opened.

Steps from two hundred sixty candidates resounded.

Wow…

Ah…

Gehh…

They gasped.

The hall was wide, ancient.

Within, golden colours filled the view, with an open space of over twenty metres high. Crystal lights cleared the hall against any darkness, with artworks of legendary battle and knights filled the walls.

In front, the five rooms mentioned before were actually just partitions, placed within the hall. There were second and third floors around the walls, where officials who came to observe stayed.

“Alright, it’s time. Let’s all do our best.”

They nodded.

With that, his team split up. Krone went to the second room to his right. Seats were arranged in front of each room. Fifty-two candidates gathered for each room, taking their seat according to the numbers in place.

Four seats away from him, Julia took her seat.

‘Don’t think too much about her for now…’

In front of the door, two staff members were sitting by a table, calling the first among them in. A candidate with a silver spear stood up, walking right into the room.

“Hm?”

At the time, he noticed Ryan just next to his room. He took a spear out all of a sudden; revealing the fact that he had a spatial ring all along.

Considering his noble-like attire, many just raised their brows and lament their fate.

‘No surprise there, but that weapon...’

The weapon was a spear; yet resembled a glaive with one edge. The head holding the blade had the carving of a black dragon head, with eyes of red. Multiple red crystals were embedded along its metal shaft.

Red, shining crystals; almost like a diamond.

Instantly, the other candidates knew the spear had enourmous value.

‘Why does it seem so familiar?’

Krone had a tingling feeling he knew the weapon, but he was confident he did not exactly see it. He had of course seen weapons with a dragon head, but not this one.

‘Someone’s doodles? It was quite terrible… No, acceptable, just…’

His mind recalled a familiar voice.

Many of them already perish. However should you meet someone with these weapons, you should inquire them of their origin.

‘Wait, it was Shurran’s!’

The old general’s reminder echoed.

The weapon was among the weapons the old general had drawn for him, and forced him to remember; just in case. It was an identification of sorts.

Identification of their respective family.

Krone’s eyes shone.

‘Should they stay loyal to their ancient oath, they’ll prove to be an asset.’

From the distance, he inspected the spear carefully. It was not long before Ryan was called in.

‘No doubt, it was the Black Dragon Descent. So Ryan’s a scion of the Five Guardian Families.’

He trembled.

He had known the importance of knowledge, yet this experience of reliving his life actually opened his eyes, widened his view of how crucial having knowledge meant to being able to see things around.

To see things, for what they actually were.

Just today, this premise continued to be proven.

‘Thank goodness Shurran forced me to learn all those things. So-called just-in-case stuff.’

Among the things the old general hammered into his mind, around half of it he resented.

However, since Shurran treated him well, he did not complain.

At least, not to his face.

“So he’s from that family.”

Among the murmurs and noise, Krone picked up the voice from behind him.

The confidence and amusement within the voice piqued his interest.

‘Who?’

He did not turn immediately, waiting a little while. He turned around, while acting like admiring the arts around the hall.

His eyes soon fell onto the origin of the voice; behind a mirror.

His vision penetrated it.

The voice came from a senior official on a black suit, sitting on the third floor. He was surrounded by his subordinates and guards. Krone did not keep staring, only moving his gaze around.

It was for just a moment, but he recognized him.

‘The hell’s you doing here… You actually recognized Ryan’s family, damn!’

Behind him, the man in mid-fifties smirked.

He turned to his assistant to his left.

“The window can’t be seen from outside, right?”

“Yes, Minister. It’s like a mirror outside.”

“Hm, must be my imagination then.”

“Minister?”

“Nothing.”

Krone heard him.

‘Damn you, I only stare you for a split second, you already knew?’

Krone cursed him. He knew who it was behind the mirror; a senior official.

A very senior one.

‘Minister of Finance, Arren Logansha.’

In fact, it was the boss of Kharlussian Finance.

The traitor of Kharlussia, the one whom the Supreme Guardian ordered his arrest during the seventh year of the war. Unfortunately, he was able to flee; given political refuge within Evrisian Empire.

Evrisian Empire was the oldest empire within the Alliance. It was the one Shurran had his eyes on; the one he said most crucial to be defeated first before anything.

Evrisian Empire; the mind of the Alliance.

They had everything well-placed, well-timed.

The damage which originated from him then, was well-hidden. Due to the backings this guy possessed, the Supreme Guardian had to wait for solid proof to dismiss him.

Mere suspicions would not suffice.

‘Among others, the development of our Air Cruisers, and the delayed delivery time. Not only that, locations of research centres, bases and other crucial information, so much information… Bits of information, had fallen into the Evrisian’s hand. Damn.’

Shurran held the exact information of things relating to military.

The Minister of Finance did not have such information.

This guy however, knew the flow of money.

By knowing the flow of money, it was enough for Evrisian to know much more about what Kharlussian was planning. They were expert in that.

The damage this guy had done was more than enough to brand him as a traitor.

Enough, ten times over.

Of course, he did his job well. Plus, he had a lot of personal and family connections.

These were among the reasons the Supreme Guardian could not indict him much earlier. Doing so could backfire, and even threaten his own position.

‘If you can’t do it, then I’ll help you get rid of this guy!’

As soon as he thought so, he shook his head.

Doing so would be too risky, he himself could be branded a traitor.

Plus, it would be foolish. They would lose a certain connection to the network of saboteurs; elite saboteurs within the government.

It would be better for him to provide whatever crucial information he had to the authorities; that which was enough to indict and actually caught him.

It must be done in a timely manner.

‘This guy’s too cunning. I’m a greenhorn in political maneuver anyway, so I better be out of it or I’ll make a mess. Let Shurran and Supreme Guardian deal with him.’

As he was deliberating, he could sense mana flowing from inside the first room.

However, with the mana shielding shrouding the compound, he could not determine what Arte it was that Ryan had performed.

While he could see through solid matter, doing so would use mana. That would alert others of his action. As for seeing through the mirror, there was no need for mana.

He could feel some air movements, followed by a violent tempest visible up in the air over the partition. Later, a piercing sound echoed.

It seemed Ryan had performed three Artes.

Performing three Artes, he should at least be confident enough in each Arte to merit exhibiting them.

‘A worthy scion of that family.’

Soon, he heard the number 105 called nearby.

Julia stood up, making her way to the room.

Looking at her, certain idea struck him.

‘Would he know?’

He focused on listening to the annoying voice from his back.

“So that’s her? The girl with Ultima mana, at Peak Affinity?”

“Yes Minister. With her talent, it would be a shame if the Knights have her. So…”

This time, the one answering him was to his right.

It was a senior official related to Aurenburg Magic Academy; the one in charge in dealing with the Finance Ministry. He had the unpleasant task requested of him by the Chairman and Headmaster; to pull some strings he had with the ministry to get the girl over.

While they had connection with the military as well, they knew how strict the military was concerning favours. That was mostly due to their old-fashioned minister.

So asking for a favour with Defense Ministry was out of the table.

It would be thrown out of the window, without the official batting an eye.

“Hmm…”

The minister tapped the chair’s arm.

“Well, I can’t influence them in any way,”

“Minister, you must know how important this is for us. We haven’t had one such talent for twenty years…”

“Don’t misunderstand, Prof. Vinn. I can’t abuse my position, but I sure can relay your wish to those responsible.”

“Oh, that would already be more than enough, Minister. We are truly grateful. In the future, should you need something from us—”

“Haha, make no mention of this. I also can’t promise you anything.”

It was just a conversation between couple of oldies making and using connection.

Krone kept his focus on listening, yet no clue came.

‘Of course, it won’t be so easy, eh?’

He heard Julia casting her Magic.

Purple colour shone, lighting up the hall a little purple.

Though it was called an Arte Exhibition, it also included magic. Krone guessed she must have performed the Daria-magic series, an Air Sliding, and another magic he could not identify.

…

She came out, sighing in relief.

Noticing him focusing on her; she smiled, then nodded.

He did the same.

Four candidates later, it was his turn.

“Number 114, come in!”

As he stood up, he grabbed his green spear, walking right into the room.

As he did, his ears picked up the annoying voice.

“So he’s the one, eh? That green spear, why does it seem familiar?”

Krone pretended never to hear that. In the room, he walked right to the front of the judges.

As he did, he cursed the poor guy, over and over.

‘Familiar, eh? Too bad for you, fucker, I kept the emblem under wrap. I’d rather gorge your fucking eyes myself than let you see!’

…

[If you felt the need to curse, do not do it out loud. Just curse in your mind. No one will hear except those who did not mind.]

- A certain youngster on the street of Saint Aurenburg.

===== Chapter 20 End =====