The Interview

After entering the room, Dunkel stood quietly in place.

Serie soaked her feet in the pool.

He glanced at him and said, "Court Mage — Dunkel. I know you."

Dunkel didn't understand what Serie, who stood at the pinnacle of magicians on the continent, was thinking.

He replied politely, "That would be my pleasure."

Serie said softly, "I've heard of your deeds. You were once just an ordinary mage serving in the army, but now you've become the most powerful mage in the Northern Lands."

"To be honest, I wish it were you when you were younger standing here."

"That ambitious, hot-blooded you."

Dunkel remained silent and did not answer the question.

Serie tilted her head slightly, looked at Dunkel, and continued:

"Until just now, I still thought so."

"Is anything different now?" Dunkel asked, looking at Serie was still engrossed in soaking her feet.

Serie said calmly:

"When you look at me, your first thought is probably how to defeat me, isn't it?"

Dunkel lowered his eyes and said, "... It was only for a moment; I quickly gave up on the idea."

Serie chuckled and said, "It seems you're not completely old after all. Most mages wouldn't even consider fighting me after seeing me."

You've passed.

"Next."

The next examinee, Übel, was glanced at by Serie indifferently before she said:

"Qualified."

"Huh?" Übel said, somewhat surprised, "We haven't even talked about anything yet."

Is it really necessary?

"Too."

"Next."

Lanto had only just stood still after entering the interview room.

Serie said calmly, "Are you kidding me?"

Lanto's heart skipped a beat, and he asked, "What's wrong?"

Serie glanced at the other Lanto standing in the doorway and said:

"This is the First-Class Mage Exam, how can there be an idiot like you who doesn't even show up at the exam hall?"

Upon hearing this, Lanto pointed to another Lanto behind him.

He explained, "As you can see, my true form is also present; otherwise, I would have been considered absent and..."

"During the exams, your true form must have been hiding in your hometown village, right?"

Serie interrupted Lanto's explanation and then looked in another direction.

He remarked, "Tsk, still leisurely enjoying afternoon tea."

Lanto looked in the direction of the Magic City of Äußerst with some shock.

"... That's unbelievable."

Standing at the doorway, Lanto spoke up, "Even Übel couldn't see through it."

Serie chuckled and said, "Very courageous. You've passed."

"Next."

Serie looked at Wirbel, who was standing rather casually, and said:

"You must be Wirbel, the captain of the Northern Magic Squad. As far as I know, you're the most warlike of all the second-level mages."

"The moment they saw me, they realized they had absolutely no chance of beating me."

"But this judgment is not based on fear."

Upon hearing this assessment, Wirbel smiled and said:

"A guy who keeps fighting even though he knows he can't win wouldn't even qualify as a level two mage."

"That's true." Serie for a moment and then asked, "Tell me, what's your favorite magic?"

Wirbel had never considered this question before, replied without hesitation:

"Magic is merely a tool for killing; there's no such thing as liking or disliking it."

Serie was very satisfied with the answer.

You've passed.

"Next."

Unlike the other candidates, Mette walked straight towards Serie after entering the interview room.

They stopped just a few steps apart, and he looked at Serie with a hint of expectation in his eyes.

Serie didn't understand that look, so she just asked directly.

"Do you have any thoughts about seeing me?"

"Um," Metteti hesitated for a moment, then said, "I think you look petite and very cute~"

"... What's going on with this year's test takers?"

You've passed.

"Next."

Rienta was the last candidate to be interviewed.

Upon entering the room, they saw Serie splashing water with her feet.

After Serie realized that the person who came was Rienta, she stopped what she was doing.

He turned to look at the culprit that had caused his increased workload.

He said, "Rienta, you've caused me quite a bit of trouble."

"Um?"

Rienta looked at Serie with some confusion, as she hadn't done anything strange in a long time.

Seeing the puzzled look on Rienta's face, Serie looked at Rienta with a serious expression.

He said:

"Your clone forces me to personally administer the third round of exams."

"I should have been leisurely enjoying afternoon tea and researching magic."

"Don't you think this is a big problem?"

Rienta was taken aback by what she heard, and various thoughts flashed through her mind.

Each candidate was led to another room after their interview.

Therefore, Rienta didn't know whether Fern and Frieren were qualified or not.

According to Lady Frieren, she definitely wouldn't pass.

But Fern will definitely make it.

Although Rienta trusted Frieren completely, he couldn't gamble in order to continue the journey.

Stop being so dense, think faster!

How should I explain this to Serie, who is being forced to work overtime?

Just as Rienta was having a brainstorming session.

Serie chuckled softly and said:

"What, didn't Frieren give you any advice?"

Rienta smiled somewhat awkwardly and said, "Lady Frieren said I could do as I see fit."

"... That's so Frieren's style."

After making her complaint, Serie looked at Rienta's obvious magical fluctuations.

Asked:

"I heard you've been researching and creating your own magic, and have achieved quite a bit."

"Your clone even beat up every single examinee except for Frieren and Fern."

"And they were even threatened to hand over one of their most proficient spells."

"I acknowledge your love for magic, but your methods are questionable."

"Ahem," Rienta coughed lightly, explaining, "Lady Serie, that clone is clearly not right."

"It's definitely not my fault. It must be that 'Crystal Demon' who caused my clone to do such a despicable thing to target me."

After saying that, Rienta added:

"The 'Water Mirror Demon' is truly despicable!"

"..." Serie looked at Rienta speechlessly, and continued:

"I remember the ruined royal tombs were full of treasure, but when Sense and his men went deep into the tombs, they only found scattered gold coins on the ground."

"Who did it? It's a bit hard to guess."

"Could it be that suddenly disappeared clone 'Rienta'? Or did the 'Water Mirror Demon' secretly hide them away?"

Rienta felt a little sweaty on her forehead.

Just as he was about to take out one percent to bribe Serie.

Serie chuckled and said, "You're quite an interesting kid."

Don't worry, I have no interest in those gold coins.

"There's something else that's on my mind, though."

Rienta's expression turned serious, and she said earnestly, "Lady Serie, please ask. I will answer to the best of my knowledge."

"A few days ago, a massive magical attack erupted in the city. Was that your doing?"

"How did you manage to possess such immense magical power after spending so much time studying magic?"

Rienta recalled the prying feeling she had experienced when she received the panel rewards earlier.

After a moment of silence, he said with a serious expression:

"Lady Serie, have you ever seen the sun at dawn?"

"??"