Chapter 8: Nightmare written test, the end of Hirsi?

The sun was shining brightly, blazing overhead.

Today was a fine day—also an auspicious one.

The Magic Test would be held at a certain location by the Magic Association, drawing countless Magicians eager to participate, making for a lively scene.

As long as you passed the written exam and then triumphed in the practical round, you could become an Apprentice Witch—ranked above Magicians and just below Witches.

It was the dream of many to become a Witch’s apprentice.

Of course, the test was extremely strict. In the end, there would be only one winner—only one person could become an Apprentice Witch at a time.

“Are you feeling confident?”

“A bit nervous.”

“Don’t be! You’ve already failed several times, haven’t you? You should be used to it by now.”

“…That’s true, but it’s Hilxi-san’s first time, so she should be prepared for defeat.”

In front of the grand entrance of the Magic Association, Magicians lined up in a long queue, the clamor of voices rising and falling.

And in the middle of this long line, Hilxi and Saya were encouraging each other.

Well, encouraging… sort of.

“I’m really skilled at flying on a broom, and my wind Magic is great too. My chances of losing are pretty slim, right?” Hilxi said optimistically, sweeping her gaze over the diverse crowd.

“Not necessarily. Some Magicians are really powerful.” Saya shook her head, secretly pleased with herself.

She’d forgotten to tell Hilxi one thing: the Magic Test included a written exam, to test the Magicians’ mastery of Magic theory.

In her mind, Hilxi-san would definitely get eliminated.

And now it was almost their turn in line, so telling her now probably wouldn’t matter anyway.

Ah… why am I so bad? Ehehe.

“…Saya-san, what are you thinking? Why do you look so sneaky?” Noticing Saya’s changing expression, Hilxi’s smile gradually faded, turning grave.

Why did her back feel so cold all of a sudden?

“Ah… hehe, it’s nothing.” Saya smiled a little foolishly, making Hilxi’s eyebrow twitch.

“There’s definitely something up. Hmm… are you trying to team up with me? Then make me withdraw at the last minute so you can win?”

“Huh?”

“I knew it. Hmph, give up on your unrealistic schemes. I won’t agree to that.” Hilxi scoffed.

“…Okay.”

“Unless you pay me.”

“……”

That’s way too realistic, isn’t it? Saya pouted, disgruntled:

“Hilxi-san, when are you going to pay back the 6 Silver Coins and 3 Copper Coins you owe me?”

“Huh? Did that happen?” Hilxi feigned surprise.

“…Look at your clothes.” Saya pointed at Hilxi’s outfit.

Hilxi was wearing a robe that looked like a Magician’s garb—half gold, half white, adorned with mysterious patterns. Paired with her soft orange-white-gold hair, her whole aura was elevated.

So, who bought this fancy, expensive-looking robe?

That’s right—Hilxi, with money borrowed from Saya.

Hilxi pretended to ponder:

“I remember some lady said, ‘Ah, little girl, you’re so pretty. Please take this robe,’ and just forced it on me?”

“What are you talking about? You’re not planning on paying me back, are you?”

Saya clenched her fists, looking ready to punch Hilxi if her answer didn’t satisfy.

“…Just kidding. I’ll pay you back, no rush. You know I don’t have a job yet.”

“…When are you getting one?”

“After I pass the Magic Test and become an Apprentice Witch.”

“So you want to drag it out for months?”

Just as Hilxi was about to ask what she meant, it was finally her turn.

“Please fill out the form—name, age, Magic level, etc.”

“Oh, okay.”

Hilxi turned and accepted the paper and pen from the male staff member in his twenties, quickly filling them out.

“Hilxi, is it…? You can go in. Turn left after the entrance, there’s a classroom. The written exam will begin there in half an hour.”

“Uh… what? A written exam?” Hilxi was bewildered. What was that about?

Wasn’t the Magic Test just riding brooms and using Magic to knock out the other candidates? Why was there a written exam?

“Yes. Any questions? Ask the proctor if you have any, I’m busy.”

“……”

Hilxi turned to look at Saya, who was filling out her form, saying nothing.

Nice going, setting me up?

No wonder she was grinning so slyly.

Soon, Saya finished her form too. Seeing Hilxi waiting for her, she walked over a bit guiltily.

“Hilxi-san, I also forgot to mention—”

Swoosh!

Hilxi hooked her arm around the panicked Saya’s neck and yanked her over.

Her expression was terrifying, as if muddy colors had smeared her face. Her voice turned hoarse:

“Saya.”

“E-ehh…”

“I’m gonna strangle you—!”

“Ah! Murder!”

In the end, under the watchful eyes of the other Magician ladies, Hilxi dragged Saya—now sporting a huge bump on her head—away from the scene.

Utter social death.

But oh well, at least she had company.

Sitting in a wide, tiered classroom, Hilxi stared blankly up at the skylight five or six meters above.

She felt dead inside.

“…Isn’t this just a waste of time?”

After a while, she summarized the situation with this one line of truth.

Letting someone who never went to kindergarten take a college entrance exam? How was this not a waste of time?

“It’s fine. The written exam is really easy,” Saya said from the side.

Hilxi stopped staring at the ceiling, tilting her head slightly to look at Saya.

“Hey, Saya, got any tips?”

“…Not really.”

“Then… do you want another bump on your head?”

“No fighting in here.”

“It’s fine. I probably won’t pass anyway, so I might as well get some revenge before I get eliminated to vent my anger.”

“…Calm down.”

“I’m very calm.”

“…I was wrong.”

“It’s fine, just remember in your next life.”

Seeing Saya really had no way to help her, Hilxi sank into despair.

Was this the end for me—Hilxi, Magic genius?

Seeing the test was about to begin, she casually grabbed the nearest Magician and tried to strike a deal.

“Ten Silver Coins. Once the test starts, pass me the answers on a scrap of paper.”

“…Sorry, I’m not very smart.” The girl with pale blue hair shook her head and waved her hands.

“Not smart? How not smart? Will you pass the written test?” Hilxi, sitting beside her, spun her pen idly.

“I think I’ll be fine.”

Wow, and she calls herself dumb? Then what am I, a Muggle?

“Great, it’s settled then.”

“…Sorry, I can’t do that.”

“It’s fine, you can.”

“…No, that’s hard for me.”

“It’s fine, you can.”

“…Sorry, I really can’t.”

“It’s fine, you can.”

“……”

The girl was dumbfounded, not knowing what to say.

“Silence means agreement.”

“I…”

“I’ll just sit next to you. That’ll make it easier to carry out the plan.”

“I…”

“It’s fine, just tear off a little bit of your answer sheet. If the proctor asks, say a passing goat bit it.”

“Ah…”

“All right, enough talking. The test’s about to start.”

I’ve had enough! You’re the only one talking, aren’t you? Hello? Hello? I never agreed to this!

The blue-haired girl’s fingers trembled as she gripped her pen, desperate to leave this bizarre weirdo.

But suddenly, her shoulder was pressed down.

“What’s your name?”

“…I Disagree.”

“Your name is I Disagree? That’s a strange name. Mine’s Hilxi, or you can call me Magic Genius Hilxi.”

“……”

Torture. Pure torture. I want to die… I want to escape this world…

“Your eyes have no light.”

“…I think so.”

The blue-haired girl looked out the window with lifeless pale yellow eyes, radiating depression.

Not far away, Saya was holding her mouth with both hands, her body shaking as she let out infuriating laughter.

Hilxi glared down at her and snapped:

“Laugh yourself to death, why don’t you.”

Time passed, and the spacious, even vast, tiered classroom gradually fell silent.

Suddenly, a surge of magical energy swept the room. In front of every Magician, a pale yellow test paper appeared.

A Witch materialized and announced that they had half an hour.

Hilxi glanced down and nearly fainted.

What were these? Heavenly scriptures?

How could she recognize every word, but not understand them when put together?

She quietly jabbed ‘I Disagree’ next to her with her elbow, whispering:

“I Disagree-san, how do you do this question?”

“……”

“I Disagree-san?”

“……”

Oh dear, she’s ignoring me.

Well, there was still plenty of time. Hilxi simply flipped the test paper to the back and started slacking off.

There were no questions on the back—nice and clean.

She glanced at the Witch on the floor at a distance, then began to sketch with her pen—just copying.

A few quick strokes outlined the Witch, then she drafted the sketch, placing the facial features and limbs…

Five minutes later.

Ah, the Witch is so pretty! My drawing skills are amazing!

To hell with the written exam!

Out of the corner of her eye, I Disagree-san was shocked to see this.

It wasn’t that the drawing was so outstanding—more that… someone was actually drawing in the middle of a Magic theory written exam?

What did you come here for, a life drawing session?

Time ticked by. The Witch on Hilxi’s test paper became ever more vivid, with more and more details.

Half an hour later, with a whoosh, all their test papers vanished.

“Magic is so convenient.” Yep, it sure is.

“Ah, crap! I didn’t finish the questions!” No worries, I didn’t answer a single one.

“Heh, these were easier than last time. This time I’m set!” Can you give me your test paper?

The written exam over, the candidates started chatting and comparing answers.

But Hilxi wasn’t in the mood. She gazed at the trees outside the window, their branches and leaves swaying… swaying, gently sweeping away her worries.

Wait, what’s there to worry about if you’re doomed?

Hmm, what should I have for lunch?

“…You’re hopeless.”

That was I Disagree-san.

Her lifeless eyes seemed to have come back to life.

Hilxi glanced at her, snorted, and said:

“You’re the hopeless one, turning down ten Silver Coins.”

Not that I could actually pay you, but I could give you an IOU!

“…Cheating isn’t allowed on the written exam. If you get caught by the Witch, it won’t end well.”

“Then as long as you don’t get caught, it’s fine.”

“There’s a Witch’s magic on the test papers. Your tricks can’t escape their eyes. Face reality.”

“What should I eat for lunch today?”

“…?”

The blue-haired girl couldn’t keep up with Hilxi’s train of thought, and froze again.

Hilxi stretched lazily, then got up and headed toward Saya.

“How’d it go?”

“Pretty good, I think,” Saya said, breaking into a delighted smile.

“Then that means it didn’t go well.”

“……”

The happy smile vanished.

Saya turned to leave, but Hilxi grabbed her wrist from behind. Trying to run? Not possible!

“…Hilxi-san?”

Saya froze. What now? Is she going to get back at me? Is she going to break my wrist?? No, please!

“Hey…”

“…Calm down, Hilxi-san! Impulsiveness is the devil!”

I didn’t even say anything yet.

Hilxi’s mouth twitched. She stepped forward, walking side by side with her.

“By the way, does the Magic Test include lunch?”

“Huh? Uh, probably not? I’ve always bought my own… Eh, Hilxi, why are you touching my waist!?”

“So you brought money! Come on, I’ll treat you to lunch!”

“Give me my money back, you jerk!!”