Chapter 25 : Don’t slap me in the face

Miss Via, ready for the test?”

The tester stood in the arena center, tweaking a magic puppet. He glanced at Via and the receptionist.

“So… fight the puppet?” Via asked.

“Correct.”

He tapped the puppet’s chest sensor.

“Defeat it by breaking this. Prove you can handle danger—adventurer qualified.”

“Simulated combat. Got it.” Via nodded.

“Puppet’s set to Iron-rank—minimum bar.” Tester explained.

Lie.

HQ puppets were adjustable—below Iron, up to near-Silver.

Normally: sub-Iron for easy passes.

Today: Bronze, edging Silver.

Via blocked.

“Ready? Start anytime.”

“Let’s go now.” Via said.

“Fine.”

Tester exited, smirking.

“No issues?” Receptionist whispered.

“Zero. Bronze-level—she’s done.”

“Danger? If she gets hurt—”

“Safe. HQ-grade, master-crafted—precise. Early clock-out!”

He waited for the show: puppet crushes pink-hair, booted.

“No complaints, no Holy Land heat.” Receptionist relaxed.

Tester: veteran—puppets never glitched.

Unfair? Tough—she forced it.

Beep—!

Puppet activated—circuits glowed, eyes locked Via as target.

Sword raised—charge.

“Fireball.”

Via’s staff flared—mana condensed, fire orb launched.

Puppet ducked mid-sprint—ball grazed, exploded behind.

“That speed?”

Via sensed wrong. Iron-rank this fast?

Slash!

Puppet closed—sword down.

“Magic Shield!”

Blue barrier—blocked, but Via staggered.

Wrong.

Not Iron.

Corner-eye: receptionist excited, tester smug—no stop.

“…Got it.”

They didn’t want her in.

Sword shattered shield.

But shield bought time—Via backpedaled.

“Iron my ass—suppressed instantly,” tester laughed. “Mana’ll tank—few rounds, done.”

“Bit harsh?”

“She asked. Warned her—her fault.”

“…Fireball!”

Distance gained—another orb.

“Same trick? Useless.” Tester scoffed.

Puppet pursued—dodged again.

But orb curved mid-air—arc, boomerang, fire trail—boxed puppet.

BOOM—flames erupted, blinding arena.

“That control?” Tester baffled.

Puppet swept flames—saw Via chanting, staff high.

Instant rush—sword slash.

Shock:

Via stood still—bisected.

Tester/receptionist gawked—halves dissolved into mist.

“Decoy—I’m here.”

Via’s voice—other side. Staff charged lightning, white arcs on her face.

High-damage spell—ready.

“Thunder Arrow!”

Bolt—back blast—puppet down.

Jaws dropped—student-level precision?

“Whew… drained…”

Via approached—staff tap—smashed sensor, held pose seconds.

Faint wicked grin—gone.

“Pass?”

“Y-Yeah…”

Tester complex.

She beat it—

“AHH!!”

Via screamed—interrupting.

Downed puppet rose—eerie screech—shoved Via, charged tester—berserk.

“STOP!”

Tester panicked—remote failed.

Out of control!

“EEEEK!” Receptionist cowered.

Tester bolted—flying kick—floored.

“Mana gone—can’t cast!”

Via helpless.

Puppet mounted tester—fist raised.

Tester pale.

“Not the face—AAAAAHH!!”