So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

Oliver suddenly knelt down and apologized.

Then he taught me the latter part of the Ferang School Dagger Technique that he hadn't managed to teach me all day.

「The proficiency of Ferang School Dagger Technique has increased dramatically.」

「Ferang School Dagger Technique lv7 has become Ferang School Dagger Technique lv8.」

Well, it would have been nice if he had taught this from the beginning.

The proficiency of the Ferang School Dagger Technique, which had hardly improved, 'dramatically' increased.

I managed to raise the dagger technique level from 4 to 8 in just two days.

After finishing the lecture, Oliver smiled with a dazed expression.

I wonder why this gentleman is acting like that at his age.

Anyway, time passed, and the Great Unity Festival began.

The festival name feels quite familiar. Though the language is different.

"The 80th Great Unity Festival-"

The Gnome Principal's voice, amplified by sound magic, rang out clearly.

"Is now- beginniiiiing!"

Even without the magic amplifying his voice, it was excellent vocalization.

It was like watching a certain caster's opening line.

As soon as his shout ended, brilliant fireworks exploded.

Despite it being bright morning, the magical fireworks vividly decorated the sky.

Pop pop bang!

It was loud and spectacular.

The sound of students' tuition money going up in flames.

The Great Unity Festival is exactly what it sounds like - a festival.

However, this world is a world of barbarism.

The main majors at the Academy are things like swordsmanship and magic, and no matter how nicely you package it, it's teaching ways to fight.

While the Great Unity Festival has various booths and planned events, there was a separate main event.

"Simultaneously, I declare the beginning of the Solarian-!"

Solarian is the name of a 'warrior' selection tournament.

The name 'Solion' of the Solion Kingdom is an old expression referring to the sun.

Solarian was the name of the process of selecting 'Warriors of the Sun' that took place here in ancient times, even before the kingdom was established.

Now it's used as the name of an event to select 'the most outstanding student at the Academy.'

And the most outstanding student means the strongest student.

How that strength is measured would be a matter of method.

"The content of the Solarian test has changed every year. This time it's the big 80th anniversary match. We've prepared the most special and largest scale test!"

The Principal shouted.

"The preliminaries held today, and the finals a week later. Neither side will be a match you can afford to miss-!"

I was with Obern in the professors' seats.

Below, about a hundred students wearing ordered robes stood.

They were the students who applied for the Solarian.

"Out of 132 applicants, only 24 will survive and pass the preliminaries!"

Of course, they won't actually die if they fail the preliminaries.

I looked at the students below.

Naturally, my disciples were also mixed in among them.

Amain waved slightly in this direction.

Next to him stood Prince Phili with a completely tense expression, and Rania who didn't look tense at all.

"Then a big send-off for the departing students-!"

And cheers erupted.

Fireworks exploded once again, and the magic circle drawn below the students and professor seats began to glow blue.

While they could have walked to the test site, Emerald School and Principal Balanyar chose a method to show off their power.

A medium-range warp magic circle for over 100 people.

Though it was costly and risky, the Principal's grand magic succeeded splendidly.

Whoosh!

It felt like being swept up in a wave of magical power.

There was a momentary sensation of "woaaah," then everything brightened.

"That Gnome fellow, his way of using magic is quite neat."

Pelerian's review was plain.

But for me, it was an amazing sensation.

After that swooshing feeling passed, we had moved from Emerald School to the middle of a dense forest.

'I want to learn teleport magic too!'

"Don't be silly, it would take you quite a while to learn. And this is warp magic."

If Pelerian, who had praised my magic talent, said that much, it must be a very difficult magic.

"Wahaha, surprised aren't you?"

Principal Balanyar laughed heartily.

"This is Teperi Forest. Your preliminaries will be held right here in this forest!"

I looked at the kids.

Come on kids, show surprised expressions!

Fortunately, the trio demonstrated their maximum acting skills and made surprised faces.

Still, unlike Obern, their acting feels lacking.

"I'll explain the rules of the preliminaries. The name of the game is - Treasure Hunt!"

As the Principal raised his finger, three gold coins floated in the air.

And a prepared image spread out.

Each gold coin had 1, 2, or 3 written on it.

"These gold coins are hidden throughout Teperi Forest. As you can see, the numbers written on the coins are their respective scores."

It was treasure hunting, but a somewhat unique version of treasure hunting.

After totaling the scores of the found coins, the top 24 would pass.

The goal of the game is to collect as many high-scoring coins as possible.

Thinking about it carefully, it's not so simple.

First, it's clear that higher-scoring coins would be in more difficult and dangerous places.

However, there are no other rules besides 'collect the coins.'

In other words, it's possible to attack other students and steal their coins.

'This could turn into chaos!'

Though they didn't explicitly say it, quick-witted students would have immediately noticed.

Indeed, it's a world without blood or tears.

As students murmured among themselves, Obern casually went near them.

And Amain perceptively approached Obern.

Here I hop.

I moved from Obern's wrist to Amain's wrist.

And then to Phili's wrist.

For cruel rules, it's natural to make an even crueler plan.

That plan was for the master to participate directly.

This is what you call proxy gaming and direct coaching operation!

Of course, the goal was for all three to pass.

I had already prepared the most terrifying plan in history.

However, what's important is not the first test but the second - the finals.

For the preliminaries, they just need to make it into the top 24.

For a dramatic victory, it might be better not to stand out in this game.

While I was thinking that, it happened.

The Principal brought up the topic of the game's rewards.

"When the game ends, the gold coins you possess become yours!"

"Woaaaah!"

That much was already known information.

Except for a few wealthy students who have more money than they know what to do with, gold coins are not a small amount.

Those who understood the importance of pocket money cheered for the school's generous decision.

"And there will be a very special prize for first place in the preliminaries."

First place prize? Haven't heard about that.

"A chance to enter the Mirror Room that exists in the royal palace!"

A moment of silence fell.

What is it, what's this Mirror Room!