Suitability Rate Assessment

Seidoukan Academy's Equipment Bureau was located beneath the school buildings.

Calling it underground was not quite accurate; underwater would have been more fitting. After all, Asterisk was an artificial island floating atop a crater lake. There was no underground, only beneath the water. But since there was not a single window here, entering it felt much like entering a basement, so the place was simply called the underground district.

The meaning was close enough, anyway. There was no need to fuss over such trivial details.

However, Azer, who was walking down a corridor with Claudia, very much wanted to discuss something else.

"The Student Council President's popularity really isn't to be underestimated. Everyone in our class was completely stirred up."

Azer spoke to Claudia beside him in a tone that was difficult to tell whether it was a complaint or not.

"Was that so?" Claudia wore a proper smile, as though she had no idea what an incredible thing she had just done. "Perhaps everyone was simply being polite? I don't think I'm particularly popular."

...You called that crowd of people screaming nonstop with eyes wide as saucers polite?

Then you probably had some serious misunderstanding of the word "polite"...

"What is it? Did it cause you any trouble?"

Claudia looked at Azer with an innocent expression, making him sigh.

"I don't know whether it'll cause trouble yet, but I do know that the fact that you personally came to the classroom and took me away has definitely spread throughout Seidoukan Academy's Senior High Department and perhaps even the other departments by now. The views on my personal profile should be skyrocketing, and there may even be all kinds of baseless rumors appearing online already, right?"

In other words, Azer, who had originally been just another nobody, had probably drawn the attention of quite a few people now.

And the fact that his application to borrow a Pure Star Radiant Armament had been approved, and that the Student Council President had personally brought him to the Equipment Bureau, had likely caught the attention of many interested parties as well.

"There's nothing to be done about that." Claudia continued smiling. "Even without today's events, once you successfully borrowed a Pure Star Radiant Armament, your information would be made public immediately. Everyone would still notice you then."

Information regarding the borrowing of academy-owned Pure Star Radiant Armaments was generally public.

As long as someone successfully borrowed a Pure Star Radiant Armament, the information identifying them as its user would immediately be posted online and placed before the students of the other academies.

So even if Azer wanted to keep a low profile, he most likely would not be able to after today.

Of course...

"That's assuming I pass the Suitability Rate assessment, isn't it?"

Azer said this expressionlessly.

As mentioned before, Pure Star Radiant Armaments possessed self-awareness and chose their own masters.

Only those who could bring out a certain degree of their power, those they took a liking to, would earn their recognition and be allowed to use them.

The Suitability Rate was the standard used to measure how much of a Pure Star Radiant Armament's power one could draw out, as well as the degree of compatibility between the user and the Pure Star Radiant Armament.

The higher the Suitability Rate between a user and a Pure Star Radiant Armament, the more compatible they were with that particular armament. That person would also be able to bring out more of its power and display greater abilities.

Conversely, if the Suitability Rate fell below a certain standard, then even if someone could barely use a Pure Star Radiant Armament, they would not be able to unleash much of its power. If the Suitability Rate was truly too low, they might even incur the armament's dislike, causing it to lose control and attack others.

That was why Suitability Rate assessments existed: to determine whether someone could safely use a Pure Star Radiant Armament. Once the Suitability Rate was too low, even if the armament would not lose control, the academy would not lend it out.

For one thing, an excessively low Suitability Rate meant that the person was destined to bring out little of the Pure Star Radiant Armament's abilities. Lending it to such a person would be a complete waste.

For another, the Integrated Enterprise Foundation lent some Pure Star Radiant Armaments to students in order to collect usage data. A low Suitability Rate meant little could be accomplished with them, and naturally not much useful data could be gathered.

Therefore, anyone who wanted to successfully borrow a Pure Star Radiant Armament had to pass the Suitability Rate assessment.

The standards for this assessment differed among the various academies, some higher and some lower.

"At Seidoukan Academy, permission to borrow a Pure Star Radiant Armament requires a Suitability Rate of at least eighty percent. If it is below eighty percent, then even if the academy wishes to lend it out, the Integrated Enterprise Foundation behind us will not allow it."

Led by Claudia, the two entered an elevator that headed toward the deepest part of the Equipment Bureau. They continued their conversation as it descended.

"By the way, Seidoukan Academy currently possesses twenty-two Pure Star Radiant Armaments, the highest number among the Six Academies. Seven have already been borrowed, but Azer, you still need to choose carefully."

Claudia turned to look at Azer's profile and offered the reminder with a smile.

"You only get one Suitability Rate assessment. If you choose a Pure Star Radiant Armament that does not suit you particularly well and fail the assessment, then you can only wait until next time to apply again."

Even if there was a remaining Pure Star Radiant Armament with which the applicant had a high Suitability Rate, if the applicant failed to choose it, then that assessment was over. They would not be given a second Pure Star Radiant Armament to test.

This showed just how difficult it was to borrow a Pure Star Radiant Armament.

But once someone successfully borrowed one, it was practically a complete transformation.

After all, among the top twelve students at Seidoukan Academy, no fewer than four were users of Pure Star Radiant Armaments.

It was clear just how greatly possessing a Pure Star Radiant Armament could improve one's strength.

"I hope you can become one of us as well, Azer."

Just as the elevator reached the deepest level and came to a stop, Claudia spoke those meaningful words.

Azer did not respond.

Because the elevator doors opened.

The two stepped out of the elevator and entered a vast enclosed space.

Its layout resembled an underground laboratory.

The ceiling was high, and all kinds of instruments surrounded the room. Part of one wall was fitted with glass, beyond which lay another room containing even more equipment. Many people in white coats bustled about inside; some continuously operated the instruments, while others pointed and gestured as they ran around. They seemed to be the personnel conducting this Suitability Rate assessment.

That room was completely isolated from this side, to the point that no sound could be heard. Azer had no idea what they were saying, but he could vaguely see them examining him like a laboratory mouse, causing his brow to crease slightly.

"They're ready over there."

At some point, a window had opened before Claudia. She appeared to be exchanging information with the assessment personnel. Seeing Azer frown, she tilted her head and smiled.

"Don't mind them. They can't decide anything anyway. Azer, you only need to do what you need to do."

With that, Claudia explained the necessary operating procedures and formalities to Azer, then stepped back as though her task was complete, watching from the side.

Seeing this, Azer could only cast aside those unnecessary thoughts. He took a deep breath and walked toward the open space ahead.

Beep beep!

Just as Azer reached the center, one window after another unfolded around him.

Displayed within them were weapons entirely different from ordinary Huang-style Armaments, each with distinct forms and colors.

"So these are Seidoukan Academy's Pure Star Radiant Armaments?"

Azer was immediately drawn in by the sight in the windows and could not help curiously operating them.

Each Pure Star Radiant Armament displayed there came not only with an image of its appearance, but also detailed descriptions of its functions, effects, abilities, and even combat data in every respect.

There were all kinds of weapons: blades, swords, spears, axes, and more. There were even naginatas, war hammers, and gauntlets. Each looked cooler than the last. The displays for several of them were grayed out, indicating that they were currently in use and had already been borrowed.

And now, Azer had to choose one from among them for assessment.

If he passed, that Pure Star Radiant Armament would be his.

If he failed, he would leave immediately.

Thus, Azer fell into hesitation.

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