I'm sorry.

　The Master apologized as he led us to the basic combat power test room.

The boy who was making that noise, he's a noble, right?　My guild is not a powerful organization that can ignore the words of a nobleman. If we get into trouble, it'll be a problem for the other registered members.

　I guess the master wanted to keep things as quiet as possible.

No problem. I didn't come here to quarrel with nobles either.

"That's very kind of you.

　The Master said with a smile.
　It seemed as if the tension in the air had dissipated and the matter had been settled.

I'm sure you'll be able to figure out how to get the best out of it.

　Elysia whispered to me.

It's not just the fact that you're hiding your abilities halfway through school that causes these misunderstandings. I'm sure you're not the only one.

"It's true that I can't use D rank magic. Fighting is not going to change that.

...... Well, maybe it does.

　Elysia's face became complicated. She seemed to be saying, "I don't get it.

This is the testing room.

　The Master's words stopped us in our tracks.
　We stopped and tilted our heads at the sight before us.
　There were a number of rooms lined up.

"The ...... room?

　Mize asked, and the Master nodded his head.

As you can see, it is a private room. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do that. ...... There are some people who don't want to expose their magical abilities, but not their actual combat abilities. This is a consideration for such people. The room assignments, from left to right, are Elysia, Gran, Twate, and Mize.

　With that, the Master opens the door to the room in front of him.

Take a look inside.

　Following the Master, we stepped into the room.
　It was an enclosed room with white walls and floor. It was not very spacious, to say the least.

　In the center of the room, there was a mysterious doll.
　It was humanoid, and it gave off an eerie vibe.

It is a freestanding doll called a golem. According to one theory, it was born during the Second War of Heroes and Demons,......, but the truth is not clear. To put it simply, it is a mysterious doll that moves with technology that is too old to understand. The test of basic combat ability is passed by defeating the golem. Specifically, the test is passed by making the golem lie down on the floor.

　So you literally just have to defeat it.
　I'm sure you've heard of it.

...... Are you sure you don't want to use something that looks like that?

I've been using it for decades, and I've never had an accident, so there's no need to worry. Incidentally, the golem has a function to adjust its strength. The golems in each room are adjusted to a strength inversely proportional to the magic power of the examinee, so the exam is fair. Also, the golem will start moving ten seconds after the door is closed.

　Elysia looked skeptical, but was satisfied.
　If the test results show that the strength is inversely proportional to the magic power, it means that if the test results show high magic power, the golem will be weaker. In other words, even if your magic power is low, you can pass the test if you can defeat a slightly stronger golem.
　This would be a kind of remedy. As long as one of the two is above the standard value, there is no problem.

　This time, Mize expressed his doubts in an uneasy manner.

What if we can't beat it? What happens if I can't defeat it?　I mean, if I can't beat it, can I just give up? ......?

"Yeah. In that case, if you command the golem to stop, it will actually stop. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're doing.

"Yes, .......

　I'm sure Mize has no intention of cheating. I'm not sure what to make of it, but it's a good idea.

That's it for the explanation. Each of you may begin the test at your leisure.

　With the Master's words, each of them entered the designated room.
　When I went into the room, ...... the master followed me, as a matter of course.

It's complicated that I'm the only one who can't be kept in the dark, even though it's a fraud prevention measure.

It's unfortunate for both of us. ...... But you've been spotted by some very cagey people too.

　The Master looked down the hallway.
　The students of the Heroic Department were watching us from a short distance away. They were checking to see if Master was watching me.

　It's easy to forget when you're in a school where nobles and commoners sit in the same room, but commoners are essentially creatures who can't stand up to nobles.

　Since we are students of the same school, we have a good reason to condemn the misconduct of our schoolmates, but this is not the case for outsiders. Last month's incident with Zeke was flamboyant, but I'm sure there are other students of the Heroic Department who are always exercising unreasonable power somewhere.

　Together with Master, I entered the room that was assigned to me. 　
　As soon as you enter the room, you are shielded from the outside world.

"Before we start the ...... test, can I touch the golem for a moment?



"Oh.

　With permission, I touched the golem.
　The dirty, spherically jointed doll was a little cool and hard.
　This hardness might not be penetrable by the Magic Bullet.

　--This is going to be more trouble than I thought.

　There's one thing I've learned since I left the agency and started attending the academy.
　My magic is too extreme and inflexible(・・・・・・・・・・).

　If you think about it, it's obvious.
　I was originally raised as an assassination and surprise specialist in an institution. Both assassination and surprise attacks are basically based on the ideal of a single blow to kill, and you are instructed to finish the job with the first move whenever possible.

　In other words, if I may say so myself, all the cards in my hand are trump cards.
　Instead, there are very few of them, and many of them are countered when their seeds are revealed.
　In other words, I'm not very good at holding back.

　--I wonder if there is a way to avoid exposing my hand.

　As a friend of Mize's, the bandits are wary of me right now.
　As long as Master keeps his mouth shut, there's no problem, but if the information here gets out, there's a chance that my tactics will be exposed.

"...... Master. Can I ask you about the rules of surveillance?

"Surveillance rules?

　I ask the Master, who tilts his head.

"In short, all I have to do is defeat the golem in this space where the Master is, right?

Yes.

"There are no other conditions (・・・・・・・・・・), right (・・・・・)?

　The Master tilted his head curiously at the question, but eventually answered.

"Well, yes.

　As soon as the Master affirmed, a decision was made in my mind.
　I moved away from the golem and closed the door of the room. Ten seconds from now, the golem will start moving.
　I start counting down in my head and call out to Master, who is watching me from a corner of the room.

Master.

"Hmm?

　The countdown continues.
　Nine seconds left, eight seconds, seven seconds, six seconds.

"I can hear you calling out for the Master through the door.

Are you sure?

　The Master turns toward the door.
　And just as the countdown reaches zero, ----.

　-- "Shunjin".

　Extend the index and middle fingers of your right hand and extend a thin blade constructed with magical power from the tips of them.
　No need to move your whole body. A snap of the wrist is all that is needed to swing the blade.
　The blade, which has been sharpened to the extreme and appears almost transparent, instantly chops off the golem's head as it tries to move.

　As you watch the golem's head fall, you let out a small exhalation.
　After a period of concentration, he brought his deeply submerged consciousness back to the surface.

"It's done.

"Hey. No one called me ----?　What did you just say?

　As soon as the Master turned around.
　As soon as the Master turned around, the golem's head fell to the floor with a thud.

"What the hell is that ......?

　The Master's eyes widened in astonishment.