Chapter 13: Teachers and Staff Recruitment test (3)

“What?!”

The man’s jaw dropped at the sudden, unilateral announcement.

He wasn’t the only one.

The applicants, who had barely passed the written test and were looking forward to the practical test, protested in unison.

“What are you talking about! How can there be a successful candidate without even taking the test?!”

“How can there be such unfair treatment? We all passed the first test!”

“That’s right! Who decided that on their own? Call Professor Bishop! I’ll protest directly!”

At the applicants’ outcry, the old professor, who had come forward as a representative, sighed inexplicably.

He stroked his beard, which had grown below his aquiline nose, and opened his mouth in a tone devoid of any emotion.

“One blow.”

“Pardon?”

“Is there anyone here who can subdue a top-class combat golem in one blow?”

Saying that, the professor took out the golem’s mana heart from his wide sleeve.

“If there’s even one more person, I’ll reconsider the decision.”

As he played the recording device in the heart, the people who had been protesting until just now became speechless.

The young female warlock standing next to them.

The scene of her shattering the golem with the attack spell Shadow Slash was broadcast in its entirety.

A fragment of monstrous talent that any magic practitioner would immediately recognize, with no tricks or staging.

No one would be brazen enough to continue arguing after seeing that.

“I’ve already spoken to Professor Bishop. I heard Miss Anastasia also ranked first in the written test, right?”

The old professor smiled and put the mana heart back in his sleeve.

He extended his arm to the woman as if asking for a handshake and acted friendly.

“Welcome, Miss Anastasia. From now on, at our academy, together…”

“Damn it! Stop talking nonsense!”

It was at that moment.

The man who had been silently watching the situation finally exploded.

When I came to the training ground for the practical test, I was surprised by three things.

The fact that the academy faculty suddenly appeared and blocked my way.

The fact that they suddenly declared me the final successful candidate.

And the fact that the reason for that was the golem I had defeated.

‘Was it that strong?’

Judging by the way they were talking about it being top-class, it must not have been an easy opponent.

I truly felt how much stronger I had become as a witch.

Still, not all the witches in history would have been as strong as me.

If that were the case, the witch hunt would still be ongoing, and the Altra clan might still be alive.

‘Is it the influence of Altra herself?’

“Welcome, Miss Anastasia.”

While I was reflecting on my ancestor, who gave me mixed feelings, the old professor with an aquiline nose smiled broadly and extended his arm.

“From now on, at our academy, together…”

“…What the…!”

I flinched at the man’s sudden shout.

I turned my head and saw a man, red as a tomato, fuming.

He seemed very angry at the academy’s unilateral decision to appoint me.

“Is the appointment test a child’s play? You’re going to choose a young girl with no experience or seniority based on her appearance? Just because her magic is a bit strong?”

“Now, now, please calm down. We didn’t mean it that way…”

“What do you mean you didn’t?! I can’t accept this!”

The old professor tried to stop him with a hearty laugh, but his carefree attitude only added fuel to the fire.

The male mage, with veins bulging on his temples, shouted, his face red with anger.

“Everyone gathered here has long-standing experience in the magic world! We have achievements and results suitable for employment, and more than enough certificates to prove it! But what about that woman? She’s just a warlock from the Northeast, nothing more!”

He thrust his index finger forcefully.

Pointing it right at my face, he protested vehemently.

It seemed he was extremely upset that the staff position had slipped away.

Then, the old professor, calmly stroking his beard, asked.

“Is that so important?”

“What?”

“Experience, achievements, results, certificates. Aren’t they all just measures of proving one’s magical ability? Like official proof of defeating a certain magical beast in a certain danger-level dungeon, or participating and performing well in a certain monster subjugation.”

“That’s right! But that woman doesn’t have any of those…!”

“Didn’t she just prove it even without those?”

The old professor replied, glancing at me.

“A mage who defeated a top-class golem in one blow, with a basic spell. Do you think such a person wouldn’t have the skills to obtain similar certificates? Or the sense that transcends experience?”

“Th-that’s…”

The male mage closed his mouth at the logical rebuttal.

He was just too excited to realize, but it was essentially a chicken-or-egg argument.

In the world of the Magic Tower, exceptional magical talent is a guaranteed ticket to success.

Therefore, talented individuals who stand out from a young age are provided with full support and convenience.

A definite talent that surpasses others’ hard work and years of experience.

If you have that, everything else is just superficial.

‘It’s quite intense.’

I muttered, chewing on the shrinking grape lollipop.

Honestly, I didn’t care what he said, but I certainly understood why he was so furious.

That man must also have a carefully built tower, accumulated until his forties.

Anyone would be mad if it suddenly collapsed due to an unexpected wall.

Before becoming a witch, I was also a powerless, inferior being, so I could empathize with his feelings.

“Damn it, this still doesn’t make sense!”

But.

“Can such an arrogant woman teach others? A novice who, drunk on her own talent, has never made any effort and only ridiculed those who work hard!”

There are lines that should not be crossed.

“Hmm? What are you talking about? I’m sorry, but I don’t quite understand the situation.”

“Ha! Isn’t it obvious? Do you think a young person born with genius has ever made any effort? She would have just played around, relying on her talent!”

When the old professor asked as if he was genuinely curious, the man sneered.

“Those kinds of people are all the same! They live comfortably with their innate blessings, and when they see people struggling diligently, they just mock them! The hardship of achieving even a small result? Does that woman even know what that’s like…!”

Crunch-!!

The sound of the candy between my molars shattering.

The man’s mouth finally closed at the loud cracking sound.

And the next moment.

“Kuh?!”

The shadow that rose from my feet pushed him towards the wall.

Shadow Bind, an application of the basic black magic spell Shadow Slash.

It’s an arresting technique mainly used to subdue enemies without bloodshed.

Bang! He collided violently with the wall and became tightly bound like a butterfly caught in a spiderweb.

“Wh-what is th-this…?!”

Of course, I didn’t forget to apply a Shadow Gag to prevent him from chanting a counterattack.

I’ve been listening to him go on and on, what’s his point?

He says I don’t know hardship? That I’ve never made any effort?

That I just lived comfortably, blessed with innate ‘blessings’?

“…”

I turned to the bound man and narrowed my eyes.

Since my employment was already confirmed.

I thought it would be okay to punish him for this level of insult.

“J-just now, that was?”

One of the applicants, horrified by the sight of the writhing shadow tentacles, opened his mouth wide.

Anastasia, the warlock, burning with cold fury in the center of the jet-black tentacles.

The woman, staring at her intimidating figure, muttered softly.

“How… how, without any incantations?”

The one-hit destruction of the top-class golem.

Captivated by that shocking scene, the fact that everyone had overlooked finally surfaced.

Anastasia, the young warlock from the Grand Duchy of Hriulia in the Northeast.

She was freely using all kinds of black magic without any incantations.

Without even a simple chant, just by lightly waving her hand.

“M-Miss Anastasia! What are you doing! Immediately…”

“Leave it.”

“Pardon?”

When the professor who was trying to mediate with the warlock expressed his bewilderment, the old professor stopped him, chuckled, and replied.

“Well, she’s a ‘family’ member of the academy now, isn’t she? We have to guarantee her autonomy according to the school rules. Besides…”

A fresh, young mage with unspeakable talent.

He didn’t know how Nathaniel had persuaded her, but she was an exceptional warlock who had voluntarily come to the academy, wanting to get a regular position.

The old professor, carefully observing her, added in a meaningful tone.

“I’d like to see her use magic.”

“You there. Mr. Applicant with no name.”

Anastasia walked towards the man, who was struggling while bound to the wall, and spoke quietly.

A calm tone with no emotion or intonation.

But even a deaf person could read the anger contained within.

From her expression to her slightest gestures and actions, and even her voice.

A chilling hostility emanated from everything she did.

Staring at the man, who was flapping like a freshly caught carp, Anastasia asked.

“Do you know what moldy bread and rotten meat taste like?”

“Mmm? Mmm?!”

“You don’t know? Then, do you know the weight a child would feel while carrying bricks with a jigae? Can you even fathom how much it would be?”

When the man widened his eyes at the sudden question, Anastasia furrowed her brows and continued.

“Or how about the feeling of self-disgust when you find the meat of a freshly caught sewer rat delicious? The feeling of having the little money you earned snatched away by thugs? The depression and fear of not being able to sleep peacefully for even a single day? And above all…”

Her jewel-like eyes gleamed like a cat’s in the middle of the night.

“The feeling of helplessness when a loved one is dying, but you have no money for medicine and can only watch? Do you know what that’s like?”

Silence. A silence where no one dared to speak followed.

Not only the man whose mouth was gagged, but also the surrounding applicants and faculty members didn’t make a sound.

They instinctively held their breath, a sound that any human would naturally make.

They just stared blankly at the black mage, burning coldly.

“I’m sure you’ve lived a difficult life, too.”

“Honestly, I’m not even curious, but you must have done your best in your own way. That’s how life is, a mess.”

Rip. Unwrapping a new candy, Anastasia held the stick as if she was smoking a cigarette.

She sighed, putting the pink candy in her mouth.

“But you know. No matter how hard you’ve lived.”

She then glared at the man and growled.

“You shouldn’t talk carelessly about other people’s lives without knowing anything about them. You f*cking condescending old bastard.”

“Mmmph! Ggghhh!!”

The terrified male mage struggled desperately.

The Shadow Bind that firmly bound his entire body.

Thorny vines sprang from it and approached his face.

If she left it like this for one second, just one second, not only his skin, but even his eyeballs would be torn to shreds. It was a critical moment.

However, the surrounding people, overwhelmed by Anastasia’s energy, didn’t dare to intervene.

Only one person maintained a relaxed smile in this situation.

It was the old professor with a white beard who had been controlling the faculty.

Just before the thorny vines were about to pierce the man’s protruding pupils.

“Phew!”

The restraints finally loosened, and he fell to the hallway floor.

He rolled ungracefully and finally raised his head, looking at the person standing in front of him.

“Hieek!”

Then, he turned pale and let out a squeak, not even as loud as a mouse.

The silver-haired warlock, holding a lollipop like a cigarette.

She, who had caused his fear, looked down at the trembling male mage and coldly ordered.

“Ugh, uwaak!!”

The man, who had almost been caught off guard, screamed and jumped up from his spot.

And contrary to his open defiance, he flailed his arms and legs and ran away.

With the representative of the crowd gone, the other applicants didn’t dare to protest any longer.

They too, cautiously gauging Anastasia’s mood, quickly retreated towards the exit.

“Phew.”

As the situation finally settled, Anastasia put her hand on her forehead and sighed.

It seemed like the unpleasant encounter had inevitably caused her a headache.

Clap, clap, clap. It was then that the old professor clapped and stepped forward.

“Excellent. Truly excellent skills, Miss Anastasia. As expected, my eye as the dean wasn’t wrong.”

The skill to subdue a senior, almost twice her age, in an instant, albeit a surprise attack.

A decent and unassuming character, not corrupted by her innate talent.

And a moderate level of self-control, not swayed by impulsive emotions.

She was a valuable asset, not only as a mage, but also as a member of the academy.

Pleased with this, the old professor grinned, revealing his teeth.

As the young warlock turned around, he spoke in a gentle voice.

“Congratulations on your official appointment, Professor Anastasia. I hope you will make a significant contribution to the academy as Kamala’s successor.”

“Pardon?”

Anastasia suddenly looked bewildered at the words of the old professor, the dean of the academy.

Almost dropping the lollipop from her mouth, she blinked and asked.

“Professor… you say?”