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Chapter 179

Normally, he would also need to take the exam for Origins of Equipment, taught by In-Cheol, but he was exempted for the semester. Thanks to In-Cheol, who had given him perfect marks upon deeming his skill in the subject matter far surpassed the class itself before he retired, he was allowed to skip both the class and the evaluation exam.

I still can’t believe he actually applied for that... but what’s even more amazing is that it was accepted...

If In-Cheol alone had insisted that Se-Hoon should be exempt from the exam, it would have been dismissed as nonsense. However, the Dean or the Chairman had likely supported him and approved it themselves.

Since it’s such a rare case, it might be good for the evaluation of the year-wide honor student... I just have to get through the other departments first.

Deciding that he could take another one, Se-Hoon took out his phone and checked Babel\'s official website to see if there were any exams he could take immediately.

Ah, I can take the exam for Ancient Enchantments.

The schedule for the Barrier Composition exam was fixed, and he needed to consult Kwang-Soo for the Physiology Controls exam. The Ancient Enchantment exam, however, could be freely taken whenever as long as it was five days before the college-wide exam began.

Checking that he had plenty of stamina and time, he decided to head straight to the main building of the Department of Enchantments instead of wandering elsewhere.

“Haaaa... I could have done better...”

“Aghhhh!”

“If I had just ten more minutes... no, just one more minute... ugh...!”

While on his way to the Department of Enchantments, Se-Hoon saw students sighing heavily on benches, tearing their hair out and wailing, and even retching into trash cans because of the stress. With how large Babel was, the reactions to failing exams also varied widely. And they were all calmly taken in by Se-Hoon’s eyes.

...This is a good sight.

Unlike those who would scold them for making a fuss over mere exams, Se-Hoon appreciated them. To him, the current sight he was seeing was far better than the horrific scenes of battlefields and collapsing frontlines that were burned into his memories.

Well, I’m sure they won’t think the same way.

Regardless, the scene that was only possible during peaceful times made Se-Hoon smile more gently than usual.

“Hey, did he just smile at those who failed their exams...?”

“...Seems like it.”

“Wow...”

Ignorant of the various reasons other students were glancing at him in amazement, Se-Hoon soon arrived at the main building of the Department of Enchantments.

The exam location... is not in the lecture room?

Contrary to his expectation, the exam location was the second communal workshop, not the Ancient Enchantments lecture room. Now curious, he followed the map to the test site.

A few moments later, he arrived at a large door and a table next to it, with assistants seated.

“Please tell us the exam you\'re taking and your name,” an assistant asked.

“Ancient Enchantments and my name is Lee Se-Hoon.”

“Please wait a moment.”

Typing something on the laptop, the assistant handed Se-Hoon a lanyard with an entry pass from a void box beside them.

“Please wear this and sit on any empty seat inside. We will assist you shortly. Good luck~”

Taking the entry pass, Se-Hoon put it on and walked in, feeling slightly uneasy.

The interior was at least three times larger than the examination room for the Department of Blacksmithing exam. He couldn’t see a special device anywhere, just single-person workstations at regular intervals, where students who arrived earlier were taking the test. The professors and assistants, likely examiners, were all seated along the walls, monitoring the entire exam hall.

It feels oddly both relaxed and tense at the same time.

Though various people were taking their exams, they were each going at their own pace, making it seem very free. However, the atmosphere was serious.

Taking a seat at one of the empty workstations nearest to the entrance, Se-Hoon was immediately visited by an assistant.

“Here are the basic tools and the instructions. Please read them before starting.”

Taking the basic tools, which included an enchantment palette, Se-Hoon checked them and then read the instructions.

Ancient Enchantment 1st Semester Evaluation Exam

*Use the provided tools to freely enchant.

*You may enchant items brought from outside.

~Professor Rebecca~

This is simple enough.

Just as Lea had explained, the first-semester exam wasn’t that complicated. It was a bit vague, making it more challenging, but Se-Hoon had already planned out what to enchant, so he started immediately.

Whoosh!

Taking out the steel sparrow he used for enchantment practice from his void pocket, he placed it on the table and picked up the enchantment palette and brush the assistant had given him. Examining the sparrow closely, he started inscribing enchantment formulas with the brush.

Swish, swish.

His brush flowed across the surface without rest, and naturally, the professors’ gazes turned toward him.

Shouldn’t he still be taking the exam in the Department of Blacksmithing? Did he already finish it?

I heard his enchantment skills aren’t bad...

Normally, the Department of Enchantments professors wouldn’t pay much attention to students from other departments, but Se-Hoon was an exception. Apart from his status as the freshman honor student of Borsippa, rumors were circulating that he was involved in the design of the enchantment formula for mass-produced sword aura equipment.

If he could involve himself with enchantments of that level, he must be quite skilled.

But he is taking the test for Ancient Enchantments... there’s probably not much to look forward to.

In the enchantment field, ancient enchantments weren’t highly regarded because they were more easily influenced by one’s synthetic mindscape. On top of that, there were many limitations involved when mimicking specific objects.

Requiring specific talents, ancient enchantments had many constraints and low safety. That was why only a few, like Rebecca, focused on it as their main study, which was also why few students took Ancient Enchantments.

Their gazes are rather unenthusiastic.

Noticing the indifferent stares, Se-Hoon glanced around and smirked.

I can’t just let that pass.

Deciding to shake up the exam hall a bit, Se-Hoon began inscribing the symbols of the creature he would mimic in the enchantment.

Of the four cardinal directions, the south. Of the five elements, fire. And lastly, wisdom and immortality...

With ancient enchantments, the mimicked creature\'s characteristics or symbols didn’t have to be factual. What mattered was how vividly and detailed the enchanter could visualize it in their synesthetic mindscape. Essentially, it was all about reinforcing the synesthetic mindscape they imbued through self-hypnosis.

With a clear picture in mind, Se-Hoon’s results began to appear gradually.

Fwoosh!

Red flames started to bloom and gather over the completed parts of the enchantment, astonishing the professors.

“Th—that is...”

“What on earth is happening...”

Usually, if energy leaked out like that during the enchantment process, it indicated a problem with the formula. And that was especially the case with flames, which could spread and ruin the entire enchantment; the utmost caution was necessary with them.

However, Se-Hoon’s flames were different.

Fwoosh-

The flames, calm and tame, burned stably only where the enchantment was complete, looking like the feathers of a steel sparrow. Awed, the professors stared in astonishment.

This should be good enough for the base... next is the nature of the flame.

Dipping the brush in magic stone powder again, Se-Hoon lightly surrounded it with his fire mana, Scorching Wheel.

Fwoosh!

Faint flames arose from the mixture. Adjusting the concentration of fire mana, he lightly brushed the mixture over the flames covering the steel sparrow’s body.

Swish, swish.

With each stroke over the flames, the shape of the steel sparrow’s body changed. The flames turned into gently fluttering feathers, making the sparrow resemble the creature Se-Hoon knew. Seeing the resemblance to the familiar creature, Se-Hoon smirked slightly.

And for the finishing touch...

Turning the sparrow, he examined the face that had remained untouched, unlike the rest of its body. But instead of inscribing a complex enchantment on it, all he did was make the flame on his brush turn white before lightly dabbing it on the sparrow’s eyes.

And the moment he finished, the steel sparrow’s face was immediately engulfed in flames. It sprang off the workbench and soared into the air, its wings beating powerfully despite minimal enchantments for its flight and joints. Yet, its movements were more natural than when he had shown Lea.

Pleased, he looked up at the sparrow in satisfaction.

“How dare you!”

Contrary to his happiness, the steel sparrow, or rather, the flame sparrow, flared its white eyes and puffed up its fiery feathers in anger.

“Who is the arrogant fool that placed me in this ridiculous body─”

The enraged flame sparrow halted abruptly upon spotting Se-Hoon below, as if time had stopped. Then, its eyes began to tremble before quickly stabilizing and transforming into a resolute gaze.

“If you plan on escaping, you should be prepared for the consequences.”

“Grr... fine.”

The Vermillion Bird, which now inhabited the flame sparrow, had been about to sever the connection with its steel body and flee. However, upon hearing Se-Hoon’s threat, it groaned in frustration and returned to the workbench, resigning.

Once it landed, Se-Hoon carefully examined his completed project.

“Hmm...”

Normally, the Vermillion Bird still maintained a certain majesty even in its reduced head-sized form, but in the tiny, sparrow-like form, it appeared comical.

It would have been a shame if I gave that Chicken something like its original form, but this is alright.

By mimicking the Vermillion Bird with his ancient enchantments, Se-Hoon transformed the steel sparrow into a sort of avatar and synchronized its consciousness with the Vermillion Bird, and only its consciousness. His enchantment, which perfectly replicated the Vermillion Bird’s characteristics, had essentially called and established a link due to their similarity.

Enchantments aren’t just for enhancement, after all.

Confirming no adjustments were needed, he looked at the limp Vermillion Bird.

“Stay put inside this body until the exam is over, got it?”

“Why must I endure being trapped inside this stifling hunk of metal...”

“Hm? What? You feel cramped? I can create something several times more confining if you’d like—”

“Never mind; I will remain still. Just please, don’t create anything like that.”

Perhaps recalling its previous confinement by the seal, the Vermillion Bird showed an intense aversion to further confinement, prompting Se-Hoon to smile.

“Thanks for cooperating.”

Having amicably resolved things with the Vermillion Bird, Se-Hoon picked it up and stood.

“What is that...?”

“I don\'t know... but it just seems terrifying...”

Forgetting they were in the middle of their exams, the surrounding students stared at Se-Hoon blankly, while the professors and assistants, who had risen thinking there was some accident, stood awkwardly.

Under all those gazes, Se-Hoon approached the assistant in charge of submissions.

“I’d like to submit this for my exam.”

“Oh, huh? Ah... well...”

At the sight of the tiny version of the Vermillion Bird in Se-Hoon’s outstretched hand, the assistant became visibly flustered. Because it looked so alive, he wasn’t sure if it was really okay to accept it.

Luckily for him, someone spoke up to resolve his hesitation.

“Excellent work.”

Rebecca, who had come to relieve the assistant, answered instead.

“There’s no issue with your submission, so go ahead and put it there and leave.”

“Thank you.”

Bowing slightly, Se-Hoon exited the exam hall. Once he had left, Rebecca observed the slumped Vermillion Bird on the desk.

There was talk about what happened to the Vermillion Bird... I guess the Chairman was keeping it.

Otherwise, no matter how exceptional Se-Hoon’s ancient enchantment was, the Vermillion Bird’s consciousness wouldn’t have settled into this steel sparrow so completely.

Well, even if its consciousness hadn’t resided in this sparrow, I’m sure it would have been a powerful enchanted item.

Examining the enchantment, Rebecca marveled at it, noting how it went beyond mimicking the Vermillion Bird to actually recreating its essence—a result deserving far more than just full marks.

I’d heard he had a talent for enchantments, but I didn’t expect him to excel in ancient enchantments as well...

Previously, she had fully entrusted the teaching of the basics of enchantments to Lea, but upon seeing the sparrow before her, Rebecca began to think that it would be more beneficial for Se-Hoon to learn advanced enchantment techniques right away.

Lost in thought, Rebecca reflected on Se-Hoon’s talent while looking at the Vermillion Bird.

“...?!”

Suddenly, the Vermillion Bird, which had been slumped in resignation, looked around in alarm.

“What... human! Quickly put me in the storage! Hurry!”

Seeing the Vermillion Bird urgently demanding to be stored, Rebecca turned her head toward where its gaze had been.

“Dean Ryu?”

She spotted Eun-Ha, who had silently appeared at the exam hall entrance.

“...”

With half her body hidden behind the door and one eye fixed on the panicked Vermillion Bird, Eun-Ha’s expression was unreadable, but Rebecca still felt an inexplicable pressure.

Gulp-

“Ah...! Quickly, hide me in the storage!”

The Vermillion Bird began making a fuss, desperate to dive into the storage on its own. At the same time, Eun-Ha continued to stare until she eventually retreated behind the door. The door then closed silently, returning the exam hall to its usual atmosphere. Having witnessed both sides, Rebecca was left utterly perplexed.

Was that really Dean Ryu I saw behind the door...?

Together, Rebecca and the Vermillion Bird continued to stare at the closed door for a while.

Growl-

“Goodbye!”

Crash!

At the sound of a faint stomach growl echoing through the door, the Vermillion Bird threw itself into the storage.

***

Stepping outside the Department of Enchantments, Se-Hoon glanced at his watch and was slightly surprised.

“I thought I finished rather quickly, but it\'s been an hour already...”

He knew that he was focused on the exam, but it seemed he had been more absorbed than he realized.

It was still a bit early for lunch, so he pondered what he should do next instead.

I still have plenty of stamina and mana left... should I just go ahead and take another one?

While popular classes had strictly scheduled exam dates to avoid confusion, apart from Barrier Composition, the courses Se-Hoon took were all quite flexible since they were less mainstream. He honestly didn’t need to finish them all in one day, but he decided to just ride the momentum and knock out another.

It’s not like waiting an extra few days will make a difference anyway.

Having made up his mind, he messaged Kwang-Soo to schedule the exam for Physiology Controls, which didn’t have a set date for the exam. After about a minute, he received a reply.

Kwang-Soo: Come to the lecture room right now. You’re going to take the exam with Jake.

Upon reading the message, Se-Hoon became intrigued.

So, I\'ll be taking it with Jake...

He wasn’t sure if Jake was aiming to be the year-wide honor student, but it was always better to nip potential problems in the bud. Determined, he headed towards the main building of the Department of Martial Arts.

The two of them would be waiting there.