Chapter 11: Teachers and Staff Recruitment test (1)

“Yes, here it is. The recommendation letter sent by Sir Nathaniel.”

The staff member, who was searching through personnel-related documents, adjusted his glasses and said.

A few hours after leaving Nun Pea and the impertinent kid.

I entered the academy as planned.

The portrait and fake ID I hastily made by manipulating the deceased Nathaniel allowed me to easily pass the inspection.

Thanks to that, I was immediately guided to the academy’s personnel department.

The staff member, comparing my appearance with the black-and-white portrait attached to the recommendation letter, offered condolences in a business-like tone.

“The news of Sir Nathaniel’s passing is truly regrettable. He was a promising prospect, it’s a shame. Right before reaching the 6th rank, too.”

“Thank you. I also offer my deepest condolences to the academy.”

“Yes, so your name is… Anastasia? It’s a northeastern name. Then, as expected, your origin is?”

“The Grand Duchy of Hriulia. To be precise, I’m from Kyiv, a major city. I trained in seclusion in the nearby forest.”

“Yes. The Grand Duchy of Hriulia.”

The staff member gave me a dubious look at my false self-introduction.

He stared at me and asked in a much more cautious tone.

“Your profession is a warlock, right? I mean, you might find this offensive, but… magicians from Hriulia are, how should I say…”

“They have a lot of bad rumors, right? They have a low vigilance against black magic and don’t hesitate to use barbaric superstitions and taboos. Indeed, there are countless warlocks who have crossed the line and fallen.”

“Ahem, ahem.”

He cleared his throat, as if he hadn’t said anything like that.

But even if he pretended otherwise, the prejudice in his mind would be exactly as I described.

The Northeast is known as a harsh land, barren and less civilized compared to other regions of the continent.

Even the northern part of the empire, which is treated as a backwater, is considered dazzlingly developed compared to the Grand Duchy of Hriulia.

Naturally, the sense of ethics and aversion to taboos among magicians there are extremely low.

Thanks to that, unlike the West, which avoids black magic, the warlock culture, which specializes in the study of black magic, has flourished in the Northeast.

Since warlocks usually train in isolation from civilization, there is little risk of being caught even if I impersonate one.

“But I have a stronger mentality than them. Otherwise, I would have fallen before coming to the academy.”

I tapped the recommendation letter I had placed on the desk and firmly stated.

“Above all, didn’t Sir Nathaniel personally vouch for me? That I’m sane enough to be admitted to the academy. If he were alive and had come here, things would have been quicker.”

“Well, that’s true, but… even so, it’s not me, but the academy who decides on the appointment.”

The staff member, trailing off, sighed and put the recommendation letter in a file.

Dusting it off, he shrugged.

“Sir Nathaniel’s recommendation letter only guarantees your identity and application qualifications. Don’t expect extra points just because you have a recommendation letter. There will be many competitors anyway.”

“Competitors?”

“Of course. Since it’s such an important matter, Sir Nathaniel wasn’t the only one who sent a recommendation letter. If you want to be appointed, you’ll have to prove your skills in the test.”

“Of course.”

I replied briefly and got up from my seat.

As I had roughly expected, getting a job wasn’t easy.

The academy, along with the Magic Tower, is the most prestigious academic institution on the continent.

Even getting a simple staff position would be like threading a camel through the eye of a needle.

I don’t know exactly what kind of qualities they require, but I hope I do well.

“Then when does the test start? Right now?”

“Please wait in the applicant’s waiting room. We will conduct the test in two stages: written and practical. Professor Bishop will personally grade it.”

As expected, the academy’s class was different. Even for selecting a mere staff member, they apply such strict standards.

Now I understood why Nathaniel hadn’t written the recommendation letter until now.

If he had applied with mediocre skills, he would have been greatly humiliated and kicked out.

“For your information, the written test will begin in two hours. A staff member will guide you to the exam room.”

While I was inwardly impressed, the staff member called his assistant and instructed him.

“However, please do not engage in private conversations with the staff member. We are blocking any possibility of cheating in advance. You can’t ask me any questions related to the test either.”

“Understood.”

I wasn’t curious about unnecessary details either.

Since it’s a staff selection test, the direction would be obvious, wouldn’t it?

Since the staff member told me not to ask, it would be better to take the test diligently rather than prying.

Exactly two hours later, at the appointment test site.

The lecture hall, usually used by students, was now filled with applicants vying for the professorship.

In front of them were the test papers Professor Kamala Bishop had prepared to filter out the incompetent.

Only the scratching sounds of the pens of the men and women who received the papers and sat down quietly echoed in the room.

As it was a recruitment for an international institution like the academy, the applicants were of diverse nationalities and tendencies.

Moreover, since they were aiming for a professorship, the average age was quite high.

A group of magicians who had accumulated experience in this field. They gathered and competed for this rare opportunity.

But even among this crowd, there was one particularly unique participant.

‘I was nervous because they said there was a warlock.’

The male mage, who was diligently analyzing the test paper.

He glanced at a woman sitting far away and smirked.

‘She’s just a kid? She’s still wet behind the ears.’

When they heard that a warlock had come from the Northeast, he and the other participants felt a bit uneasy.

A mysterious group of recluses known for their bold and enterprising training methods and deep knowledge of black magic.

Since she had come with a recommendation from one of them, they couldn’t help but feel like she was a dangerous obstacle.

But the moment he saw her face, his anxiety disappeared.

‘At that age, there’s no way, no way.’

Magic, whether black or white, is a skill that must be honed over a long period of time.

Those who have accumulated a considerable amount of skill are inevitably old.

So, the achievements of such a novice? It’s obvious that it wouldn’t even compare to their toenail clippings.

“Hmph.”

‘Young people these days are all the same.’

In their energetic youth, everyone misjudges their own capabilities.

Don’t they become arrogant, thinking they are geniuses of the century with just minor achievements and mediocre talent?

In the end, they just stop at a mediocre point and become ambiguous beings, neither here nor there.

The future of a magician lacking innate talent is usually similar.

That’s why he had no intention of missing this opportunity.

‘I was really lucky.’

He never dreamed that he would be able to participate in the professor appointment with the help of an influential acquaintance.

Think about it logically. To suddenly select an internal academy personnel through the recommendation of an outsider?

How is that even possible?

A miraculous opportunity that he wouldn’t have gotten if it weren’t for Professor Bishop’s quirks.

‘I will definitely secure this position…!’

With a firm resolution, the man stared intently at the drawing on the test paper.

Conjuration, operation, and dismantling of black magic.

A question asking to theoretically explain these three and efficiently break the curse in the given drawing.

Frankly, it wasn’t an easy question.

The level of the curse was high, and it was quite difficult to approach theoretically.

Even other professors would barely be able to solve it within the time limit.

But it didn’t matter. He had studied hard for today.

‘If I do well, I can barely make it in time…’

Tap!

It was then. The sound of a pen being put down blatantly disturbed everyone’s concentration.

And the young warlock, who received everyone’s attention, approached the proctor and submitted her test paper.

“Can I leave early if I’m done?”

“Yes, you may.”

With the proctor’s permission, the woman unwrapped a blue lollipop and put it in her mouth.

Then, tap, tap, she left the exam room with a leisurely gait.

What?

‘It hasn’t even been 20 minutes yet?’

The man muttered, watching the door close with a click.

It was not a difficulty level that could be answered within 20 minutes.

Didn’t they give a time limit of three hours? Even if the calculations were fast, it would take at least two hours.

‘…No. She must have given up.’

Making the most rational inference, the man focused on his own test paper.

Yes, it must be too difficult, so she gave up and ran away. That was the right answer no matter how you looked at it.

If she really solved the problem and left?

It would mean that she could calculate it as soon as she received the test paper.

Comforting himself, the man diligently moved his pen.

But his arm, which had started to tremble, showed no sign of calming down.

And his forehead, which had started to spin, showed no sign of stopping.

“It was easier than I thought.”

I muttered, tasting a blueberry lollipop.

I came out to the academy’s promenade for a walk to clear my head.

Anyway, the practical test is only for those who pass the written test.

It was best to wait patiently until the results were out.

‘…Actually, I expected this.’

I touched the black cloak, which didn’t suit the colorful surroundings of the garden where pretty birds were flying, and reviewed the test questions.

Necromancy is something that the witch Altra comprehensively revised and compiled from black magic.

It’s a groundbreaking new academic field that tore apart existing black magic and completed it in a completely new form.

Naturally, if you understand the basics of necromancy, you can also grasp the principles of advanced black magic.

Whether you learn it with your head like the men of Altra, or intuitively like the women.

Or like me, who can do both.

‘But it was too easy.’

Was it because it was just for a staff appointment? They asked unexpectedly simple questions.

It seemed complicated at first glance, but it actually asked about the basic essence hidden within.

It was a clear problem with no chance of falling into a trap if you grasped the examiner’s intention.

At this level of difficulty, the correct answer rate would be at least 90%?

Even if it took longer than me, a necromancer, not many people would get it wrong.

Unless they were complete idiots who didn’t even know the basics, they were applicants for the academy, after all.

“Ah, right.”

I belatedly remembered the golem’s power device that I had carefully kept and took it out.

I had missed the timing to return it because I went to the personnel department and took the test as soon as I arrived.

Since there was plenty of time until the results were announced, now would be the perfect time to visit the affiliated workshop.

‘Do they give a reward for subduing an escaped individual?’

With some expectation, I turned around.

Then, I followed the signs installed on the campus and headed towards the magic engineering workshop district.

“Master! Master Vitold!”

“What is it again, Krzysztof! I told you not to disturb me with trivial matters because I’m busy!”

The gnome craftsman, who was racking his brains alone, shouted at his apprentice’s call.

This is the Irminsul workshop under the Magic Tower, connected to the academy.

It was a place where gnome craftsmen skilled in magic engineering were employed on a large scale.

Since ancient times, gnomes, along with dwarves, have been known as master craftsmen.

If dwarves are those who work with traditional metallurgy, gnomes have a unique position in the field of magic engineering.

Naturally, the Magic Tower’s workshops that produce magic engineering products could only be their stage.

And Vitold Rem, the representative of those craftsmen, was currently pulling his hair out trying to deal with an accident that had occurred in the workshop.

“Those damn magicians! I told them over and over again! They kept pushing and finally made the golem escape? And it’s a top-class, high-risk prototype!”

Vitold grumbled, signing the document with his ash-covered hand.

He had repeatedly warned them.

Compared to the current level of power devices, the combat functions requested by the Magic Tower were too dangerous.

If they weren’t careful, technical defects could occur, leading to irreversible consequences.

However, the Magic Tower continued to ignore the workshop’s warnings, and as a result, a disaster occurred where the golem went berserk and escaped.

“Yes, that’s right! The esteemed Ivory Tower gentlemen don’t need to listen to the advice of a humble engineer!”

Even if it was a high-grade mana heart, there was a limit to what it could handle.

If you enhance the performance beyond a certain point, control becomes exponentially more difficult.

They overlooked this and told him to add all the fancy things they wanted, like artificial self and automatic strategic tactics settings.

And why was the organization of the subjugation team so slow?

It seemed that the work was being delayed due to disputes over the distribution of responsibility.

‘This is why those armchair theorists who only engage in empty talk are so disgusting!’

“Master?”

“What! Why! How many times do I have to say I’m busy, Krzysztof! Don’t you know a damn combat golem escaped? How do I know where and what kind of rampage it will…”

“We found it.”

“What?”

The apprentice, scratching his head at his master’s anger, respectfully reported.

“The escaped golem… a mage caught it and brought it back.”

In the apprentice’s hand was a high-grade power device with a clearly written code identification number.