# Returner's Notebook: Episode 11
Endex (3)
The monitor room of Bahalla Hall. For the first class of the College Board, five prestigious full professors from the main college, including a chair professor from Edsilla National University, had gathered at Endex today.
It was a luxury only possible because Endex was a prestigious institution.
"It doesn't matter what method you use. If you can leave even the smallest 'scratch' on the mana prism, you pass."
The overseer, Chedrek, explained this College Board assignment.
Prism breaking. In one line, 'a difficult basic exam.'
"—Begin."
The condition for success was to grasp the mana circulation structure of the prism, trace back its circuit, and destroy the core.
Simply put, if you could so much as scratch the prism, you passed.
It didn't require highly advanced mana nerves, but one had to wield the fundamentals at a fairly high level.
"Ahem. Professor Theia Isil, what do you think?"
Chedrek, having turned off his microphone, coughed and glanced to her side. There sat a person difficult to describe in words.
Hair flowing down to her shoulders like polished obsidian, green eyes of unfathomable depth, and every line visible to the eye carved to perfection like a sculpture—Theia Isil.
She was a prodigy who had entered national university at fifteen, graduated valedictorian at eighteen, and risen to the upper echelons of her academic faction by twenty-two, appointed as a chair professor at the College of Magic.
Her most popular titles were 'Star Position Knight (星位騎士) who inherited the legacy of Atan' and 'Magus Scholar (魔道学者) who explores truth.'
Meaning she was a great figure in whose mere presence was an honor.
"Good. It seems like an exam."
Theia answered listlessly and observed the students.
[Room 17: Gerken]
First up, as expected, was Gerken Kal Dun.
One of the continent-class prospects, a prodigy who hadn't let slip a single A+ since entering Endex Academy.
"Gerken is just as I heard."
His neatly kept dawn-hued hair gave an intellectual impression, and the fine physique visible through his clothes was the very model of a knight who had not neglected his training.
Handsome men were a dime a dozen, but Gerken was on a different level.
He had already analyzed more than half the prism.
"Exceptional."
Theia said, brushing back her hair. At that, the head of academic affairs stepped closer with a wide smile.
"Ah~ as expected of Gerken. A model student with an excellent learning atti—"
"—I have a question."
Then suddenly, the voice of an unknown student came through the speaker.
It was Room 133.
Theia shifted the main screen to that side. There was some buzz-cut guy.
Personal information floated in the corner like subtitles.
[Room 133: Sion Askal]
[Average GPA: D-]
"D-?"
Theia's brow furrowed.
"Who's that buzz-cut brat?"
The head of academic affairs frowned in displeasure.
The buzz-cut guy spoke.
"—May I use a tool?"
"...Huh."
The head of academic affairs let out a hollow laugh in disbelief. The other visiting university professors each let out refined smiles.
Theia relayed to Chedrek with a sigh-like tone.
"Tell him it's fine. He may."
"Is it truly alright for him to use a tool?"
Theia answered nonchalantly.
"If he brought his own equipment. That level of preparation is worth evaluating in itself."
"Yes."
Chedrek spoke into the microphone.
"It is permitted."
And with that, Sion faded from everyone's attention.
There was no time to waste on someone with a D- average.
The professors observed the other examinees on the many screens. Theia Isil, too, skimmed over the top-ranked students.
However, at one point—
"What's he doing?"
Someone muttered in bewilderment.
A sigh of utter disbelief.
At that, the other professors looked up in curiosity. Theia Isil also glanced at that screen.
"What is he doing..."
For a moment, even Theia furrowed her brow. Everyone showed similar reactions.
———Hup!
On the screen, some golf club swung down at the prism. The professors instinctively blinked.
"...Goodness. How absurd."
———Hrrgh!
The buzz-cut man swung the driver with all his might. The swing angle was sharp, the follow-through smooth, the point of impact precise.
Like some pro golfer.
Theia placed a hand on her forehead. It was such an outrageous act—far from grasping the intent of the exam, he was digging in bare ground.
"What is that fool doing?"
Theia wholeheartedly agreed with whichever professor had spoken.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
One professor even clapped. It was Zepha, an active knight and full professor at the national university.
"Damn. So there are still such ignorant fools in this world. Is he stupid? No, how could a blockhead get into Endex?"
Brief attention was captured, but that was all.
Then, news from elsewhere shifted the topic.
[Elapsed Time: 9 minutes 43 seconds — Gerken Kal Dun]
"Oh!"
Gerken Kal Dun. When the main screen turned to him, the crazy golfer from before disappeared, replaced by Gerken's stoic face.
On his desk, the prism had been neatly disassembled.
"Gerken! You're an aspiring knight, right? I missed it because of that weirdo. Damn, nine minutes."
Clap, clap, clap—! Zepha clapped with a different meaning than before.
"But Lady Arachne is still..."
[Elapsed Time: 10 minutes 03 seconds — Solliet Arachne]
Zepha nodded.
"As expected!"
After Gerken came Solliet Arachne.
Just as Theia had predicted.
[Elapsed Time: 10 minutes 13 seconds — Ellije Petra]
"Ah~ Petra just missed it. Only thirty seconds behind first place."
"Well, at this level, it's probably just a difference in condition."
The professors and teachers discussing the abilities of the top students were in high spirits.
Thanks to that, the buzz-cut guy in Room 133 was quickly forgotten.
Gerken was a commoner, but one with talent mixed with ancient bloodlines, while Petra and Arachne were from prestigious houses that professors were desperate to connect with.
[Elapsed Time: 21 minutes 57 seconds — Raye Hilton]
[Elapsed Time: 23 minutes 33 seconds — Cain Tricksil]
[Elapsed Time: 25 minutes 17 seconds — Asher Dread]
"Raye of House Hilton, and the sons of House Tricksil and House Dread."
"Familiar names, as expected, among the top ranks."
[Elapsed Time: 34 minutes 33 seconds — Dellek Sian]
[Elapsed Time: 35 minutes 17 seconds — Benheo Gundo]
[Elapsed Time: 37 minutes 30 seconds — Kieli Bereukunta]
[Elapsed Time: 43 minutes...]
...Thud!
Just as the passing announcements continued, a faint vibration rang out from somewhere. The floor of the testing room trembled slightly.
"Hm."
Theia furrowed her brow. Cold sweat ran down the head of academic affairs' spine.
One professor said,
"I think that guy from before is still doing something strange. Shouldn't we make him stop?"
...Thud!
As if in defiance, the sound and tremor grew slightly louder.
"It might affect the other students."
"At this point, it's grounds for failing."
—Thud!
"Honestly..."
Theia pressed her temple. What in the world did he think he was doing with a golf club?
No, did he really think whatever he was trying would actually work...?
Thud——!
However, when this fourth vibration echoed loudly—
"...Wait."
Theia Isil sensed something off.
BANG——!
There was an obvious fact. So obvious that she had overlooked it until now.
A well-made prism 'absorbs' both mana and physical force.
Therefore, precisely because it absorbs physical force, no matter how hard one strikes it with something like a golf club...
BANG———!
...there was no way such vibrations should occur.
[Elapsed Time: 58 minutes 22 seconds — Jeken]
[Elapsed Time: 60 minutes 57 seconds — Arang...]
News of passing came from here and there, but Theia's attention was elsewhere.
She was looking at only one person—a dimwitted senior who had failed to grasp the exam's intent.
The buzz-cut guy, gripping the driver and striking the prism with all his might.
Thud——!
"Goodness! I should have checked on him earlier. I'll go stop him!"
"Shh."
Theia stopped the head of academic affairs, who was about to rush out with a flushed face.
The other professors, too, seeming to belatedly sense something strange, fell into quiet thought.
They watched the senior on the screen.
Thud——!
The deafening roar echoing from the prism.
Breath laced with heat.
Once more, the golf club shot upward.
Drops of sweat trickling down.
His body taut and stretched.
The swing coming down roughly.
The final blow.
CRAAAAASH———!
The prism shook violently. A tiny 'fragment' flew off.
Theia's eyes widened.
"...Hoo."
The buzz-cut man let out a low breath. He wiped the sweat from his forehead. Picking up the prism, he smiled.
Raising it toward the ceiling, he spoke.
"You clearly said that even a scratch means passing."
On the front of the prism, a minute but definite crack was etched.
"Ha."
Theia let out a hollow laugh, dumbfounded.
That buzz-cut guy had, with nothing but a golf club and his own physical strength, damaged the prism, however slightly...
"63 minutes 43 seconds."
Chedrek and the other professors were momentarily speechless, and she alone spoke into the microphone.
"Sion Askal. Pass."
* * *
The garden behind Bahalla Hall.
Under the clear spring sun, a teaching assistant dispatched from Edsilla National University was waiting for the passers. While making bets with peers in a group chat on who would take first place.
[Of course it's Gerken, right? I heard he's not a 6-star but a 7-star prospect.]
[Still, it's gotta be Arachne; she's from a Sacred Bone Council house.]
[Come on, lmao Solliet had that accident. Her mental rehab probably isn't even done yet? I'm betting on Petra.]
The odds were 4:3:2, with Gerken in first, followed by Ellije and Solliet.
The teaching assistant waited, fiddling with his nose.
He was quite curious who would be first. He was an alumnus of Endex himself, and this class was being called the best potential in a decade.
Buzz—
Just then, a message arrived on his phone.
"Ah."
[Elapsed Time: 9 minutes 43 seconds — Gerken Kal Dun]
Seeing the name, the TA nodded and sent a message to the group chat.
[Gerken's first. 9-minute clear. The rest of you who bet on others, pay up.]
[Holy shit;]
[Lmaooo nice]
[9-minute clear? Hard to believe. Send proof.]
Clomp. Clomp.
Footsteps approached from the back gate of Bahalla Hall. The TA's drooping eyes perked up each time he saw them.
"Elapsed time: 9 minutes 43 seconds. Gerken Kal Dun. Congratulations."
Gerken was perfect in every way. His appearance was flawless. Even the rumors about him were clean. Far from debauchery, he was said to enjoy volunteer work.
"Thank you."
As expected of a commoner, even his bearing had dignity.
The TA pointed to the stone stairs at the back of the garden.
"Sit anywhere."
The moment Gerken settled, another celebrity appeared.
Red hair blazing as if under a spotlight. The very symbol of House Arachne.
"Elapsed time: 10 minutes 03 seconds. Solliet Arachne. Come and sit anywhere."
"Yes."
She sat across from Gerken.
These two were unprecedented prospects, revered throughout the academy and the continent, yet they did not exchange a single word.
Regardless of gender, it was perhaps instinct. The instinct of a superior species raised as an Alpha from birth.
Buzz—
Another vibration. The TA smiled wryly at the name that came via text.
What an elite triumvirate.
"Elapsed time: 10 minutes 13 seconds. Ellije Petra."
Having appeared without delay, Ellije sat between Gerken and Solliet. Naturally, the three formed the vertices.
After her, there was a slight gap before more passing announcements.
"Elapsed time: 21 minutes 57 seconds. Raye Hilton."
Nearly eleven minutes passed before the fourth passer. A woman with the physique of a knight yet as pure and beautiful as a doll—Raye, the only daughter of House Hilton.
"Ah~ that was hard, so hard~"
Though wearing high heels, she walked with the stride of sneakers.
"As expected of Solliet and Gerne. Hii~"
She waved at Solliet and Gerken, then immediately plopped down beside Ellije.
"Elapsed time: 23 minutes 33 seconds. Cain Tricksil..."
After that, the TA continued announcing the successful candidates.