Overpowered Archmage Doesn’t Hide His Talent

Chapter 39: Professor, You Can Evaluate Now

Six days until the Sports Competition.

After dinner, I was suddenly summoned by Violet. It wasn’t just me; all A-rank students were called.

*[All A-rank students are to gather at the Tower Plaza]*

The notice was delivered through Trivia.

It wasn’t the usual gathering in a classroom. We assembled on the first floor of the Tower, which could be said to be the essence of the Magic Department.

Given the time, the outside was already quite dark. Violet, who suddenly appeared, approached us.

“It seems everyone is here. One, two, three… yes, no one is missing.”

After confirming the number of students, Violet nodded.

The students around me all wore puzzled expressions.

It was only natural. We were told to gather but weren’t given any information about why.

However, I had a feeling I knew the reason.

Finally, Violet spoke.

“From now on, we will conduct a physical examination using the facilities of the Tower.”

“Wow, we’re finally doing it.”

“I’ve really been wanting to try this!”

Excited reactions erupted from all around.

Is a physical examination such a rare event in this world? Just as I was thinking that, a faint scent of cotton wafted by.

“Sir Flan! Sir Flan!”

Yusia, with her snow-white hair fluttering, tried to hug me. Naturally, I avoided her.

“Huh?”

Yusia, momentarily dazed while hugging the air, quickly corrected her posture and raised one hand high.

“Sir Flan! I’ve missed you!”

“Sure.”

Once again, I felt a strange sense of discomfort from Yusia. I find myself unusually lenient towards her.

…I need to figure out the reason soon.

“A physical examination in the Tower! Isn’t it exciting, Sir Flan!”

“What exactly is exciting about it?”

This too was odd. Normally, I would have said something like, “There’s nothing exciting, so shut that noisy mouth of yours.”

Yusia clenched her fists tightly and her eyes sparkled.

“The Tower’s facilities are so famous! As a magician, they measure your aptitude, mana flow, elements… and most importantly!”

She pointed her index finger towards the top of the Tower.

“Having a physical examination at the Tower also means we get to spend a night at the Tower’s hotel! This is the most important part!”

“Is that really so important?”

I found Yusia’s curiosity simply amusing. Moreover, coming from the Third Princess Yusia, her words seemed to have a double meaning.

Was she implying that the Tower’s hotel facilities surpass those of the royal palace, or was she just fascinated by the commoner experience?

Honestly, I don’t feel the slightest anticipation for either the examination or the hotel. The Tower in this world is far too shabby compared to the one in my previous world.

Yusia was still jumping with excitement.

“Of course! It means I might get to share a room with Sir Flan! I was so excited that I brought this!”

Yusia pulled something out from her backpack. It was a rectangular box.

*[Glow-in-the-Dark Puzzle]*

Only four letters were written on the surface.

“Sir Flan! This is really fun when you turn off the lights! You just fit the pieces together perfectly!”

But at that moment, someone rudely wedged themselves between Yusia and me.

“What do you mean by fitting pieces together with the lights off? And sorry to burst your bubble, but boys and girls are assigned separate rooms.”

It was Becky. Despite being squeezed between us like the filling in a sandwich, she managed to hold her ground.

“Oh, Miss Becky! Nice to see you!”

Yusia extended her hand, but Becky ignored it.

“Not particularly.”

“Pardon? Aren’t we friends?”

“I thought so, but you just ruined our friendship.”

“Pardon? I don’t understand what you’re saying!”

It was like listening to two sparrows chirping. Just as I was about to furrow my brow, Violet spoke.

“So tonight, we’ll be staying at the Tower’s hotel, and tomorrow morning, there will be evaluations.”

The previously bright atmosphere instantly turned gloomy. Just the word “evaluation” caused sighs to erupt all around.

“An evaluation out of the blue? I failed the last quiz, so I really need to do well on this…”

Becky clutched her head in despair. She wasn’t the only one disheartened; everyone looked similarly concerned.

Violet continued speaking nonchalantly.

“For reference, it’s an absolute evaluation. How about that, doesn’t that make you feel better?”

Violet was right. The sighs from the students disappeared as if by magic after her statement.

“The Sports Competition next week. We will reselect the first-year representatives for the combat event.”

Becky’s eyes widened at Violet’s words.

“There are also additional benefits for the selected representatives.”

“Benefits?”

Yusia tilted her head in curiosity. It seemed Violet had heard her murmur.

“Yes. Benefits. Not to mention various supports, there’s also a recommendation letter for the Magic Conference… well, more details will be given to the selected representatives. Any other questions?”

“Professor Violet.”

Someone raised their hand. It was Hailey.

“Wasn’t Louis already selected as the first-year representative for the combat event? I don’t understand why we need to select again.”

“That’s a very good question. As a professor, it’s a bit embarrassing to say this, but…”

Violet spoke with a serious expression.

“The Magic Department has completely neglected the Sports Competition until now. We need to correct that immediately. From now on, we won’t be an embarrassment.”

I quietly nodded.

I felt a bit satisfied because Violet had said what I had been waiting to hear.

‘At least she has her head on straight.’

If she had announced that the Magic Department was withdrawing from the Sports Competition, I would have seriously considered leaving the academy.

Hailey still seemed somewhat anxious.

“So how will the new selection be made…?”

“I was just about to explain. Everyone, focus.”

When Violet snapped her fingers, a large mana barrier spread out in the air, serving as a makeshift blackboard.

“The Sports Competition, with its 24 events, typically reveals the representatives of each faction on the day of the event. But.”

The professor snapped her fingers again, and a knight’s face appeared on the blackboard.

“The Knight Department has already revealed their first-year representative for the combat event. They’re basically saying there’s no way they can lose to us.”

Black short hair and black eyes.

Naturally, I didn’t recognize her. But it seemed everyone else did. The room was filled with murmurs.

“Ivan Rose…?”

“I didn’t believe it, but it’s really Ivan. Insane.”

Even Yusia seemed to recognize her, so I asked her.

“Yusia, do you know this knight?”

“Yes. I know of her.”

Yusia nodded and continued.

“Her unique ability has been mentioned several times among the Royal Knights. Exceptional, a supernova… such titles have been attached to her.”

“Explain her unique ability. I’ll listen.”

“Flash! I heard her agility truly lives up to the name.”

“Indeed, it seems she’s confident she won’t lose, just as the professor said.”

If she’s talked about even among the Royal Knights, it must mean that her reputation isn’t just bluster. She must have the abilities to back it up.

But more importantly, our side also has no intention of losing.

I’m curious to see just how fast her unique ability, Flash, really is. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt such curiosity towards another person.

Violet continued her explanation.

“The representative has been revealed. So what should we do?”

Along with the professor’s question, an octagon was drawn on the blackboard.

“What do you think? We need to find a way to win by any means necessary. We will precisely measure how each of you fares against the Knight Department’s representative across eight criteria.”

Violet was right. The eight criteria—vision, resistance, accuracy, focus…—were written at each point of the octagon.

…It’s evident that effort has been put into this, but it’s not enough. It barely scrapes by with a passing grade.

“Of course, the more mismatched you are against Ivan, the higher your score will be. We’ll use your strengths to our advantage.”

This is why it’s not enough.

Winning by such means feels utterly petty to me. In other words, it’s not befitting of a magician.

“Everyone, keep in mind that right now, we need to think only about winning.”

“Um, Professor.”

Hailey raised her hand once more.

“Hailey, go ahead.”

“With less than six days left until the competition, and with Louis already chosen as the representative…”

“Yes.”

“Wouldn’t it make more sense to just go with Louis? I think making changes now could just cause more confusion.”

Violet tilted her head slightly.

“Hailey.”

“Yes, Professor?”

“If Louis is qualified, won’t he naturally be selected?”

“…”

Hailey clamped her mouth shut. Violet then shifted her gaze to Louis.

“What about you, Louis? Do you have any complaints about reselecting the representative with these new criteria?”

“I have no complaints. I also think this is the fairest way.”

Louis answered calmly.

“The person in question says so. Hailey.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Hailey bowed her head, still looking somewhat dissatisfied.

There was a moment of silence.

Violet, too, looked somewhat unsettled after Hailey’s question. She frowned slightly as she spoke.

“I’m asking just in case.”

The professor wiped her face with her hand before continuing.

“Does anyone else think like Hailey? That this will just cause more confusion, or that there’s no point in reselecting the representative?”

The surrounding students began to hold their breath.

I could sense it.

Violet was angrier than she had ever been before, at least from

what she had shown in front of us.

“Or maybe you’re thinking this? That Louis will be chosen again anyway, so there’s no point in trying? If anyone feels that way, just say it. I’m not going to stop you from leaving.”

The students remained silent. Hailey looked completely embarrassed, staring only at the floor.

Violet emphasized once more.

“If all this change is bothersome and you’d rather just go with the flow, then do so. But I won’t teach students like that. Don’t be afraid to raise your hand. I’ll just give you a B grade and send you on your way.”

Her anger made me feel a bit proud.

Violet is a magician to her core. She resists reality, striving to elevate the pride of magicians to the highest level through sheer effort and determination.

She firmly believes that these things are right.

But her methods are still immature.

Among my disciples, there were those like her. Their abilities were somewhat lacking, but their burning will was second to none—students like Violet.

Those students eventually became great magicians.

Thanks to my advice.

I slowly raised my hand. My gaze met Violet’s in mid-air.

The professor glared at me as she spoke.

“Only Flan? Anyone else? Don’t hesitate. And Flan, return to the dormitory.”

“…This is why.”

To a promising magician, advice should be given.

I opened my mouth and carefully enunciated my next words.

“A magician always walks the path of defeat.”

The atmosphere around us grew cold. Violet’s expression also turned blank for a moment.

“What can possibly change from barely scraping out a victory after a muddy struggle?”

Everyone stared at me with shocked expressions. I continued speaking, facing Violet’s glare.

“A petty magician. A narrow-minded magician. Unable to win through skill alone, and ultimately winning through underhanded means. That’s what they’ll say. And they wouldn’t be wrong.”

“Flan, are you saying it’s wrong to look for a way to defeat the Knight Department?”

“Yes. It’s better not to even try.”

I cut off Violet’s words decisively. I didn’t avoid her gaze.

But I added one more thing.

“Unless it’s a complete victory, nothing will change.”

Overwhelming victory (壓倒).

The victory needed to bring about change must be anything but ordinary.

Only by subduing the opponent with such undeniable strength and skill that no one can argue otherwise will change finally come.

“A complete victory…?”

Violet repeated the word. I addressed her.

“I heard Ivan’s unique ability is Flash.”

Engaging in multiple rounds of combat means that both sides are evenly matched. Each additional round brings us further from overwhelming victory.

“To manifest magic faster than Flash, and to subdue the opponent with a single blow. That is what I believe a representative should be.”

Violet belatedly understood my intention and asked.

“…That’s an idealistic notion. But you should know that there’s often a gap between words and reality.”

“Professor.”

I called out to her.

Something slowly began to rise from deep within my chest. The driving force of my life.

“You can evaluate now.”

Innovation, ambition, and…

Proof.

“I will become the representative.”