So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

Though Obern's questions were much harder, Amain completed his answer sheet around the same time as Obern.

"Let's evaluate directly ourselves."

"Ah."

The receptionist was flustered. The Masters had snatched away the answer sheets.

"We can grade them too. We're Masters after all."

"That's true but... Yes, please do so."

What would normally have taken some time, they seemed to want to grade on the spot.

First, Amain's.

The test Amain took was just to be recognized as a 2nd rank magician.

Since it wasn't anything special, the Masters determined pass or fail just by reading through it once.

"Paaaass!"

"Excellent."

Though it seemed they evaluated rather carelessly, the receptionist's expression completely changed.

"Every time they look at answer sheets, they tell me to fail them because they're terrible."

"What do you mean every time, you're exaggerating again."

"Haven't you done that every time I've seen you?"

The toothless Master Alcandura briefly held out Amain's answer sheet.

"You read it too."

And the receptionist also looked at Amain's answers.

This time it took relatively more time.

But even the receptionist had to grudgingly acknowledge it.

"Perfect. Wasn't he said to be just a first year at Emerald School?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Huh. I didn't know the school's level was this excellent."

It's not that the academy's level is high, it's that Amain's level is high.

I wanted to say that but held back.

"You could take the 3rd rank test right now without issue. Please visit again in the near future."

The receptionist's tone changed slightly.

Like a senior meeting a promising junior.

And next was Obern's turn.

Alcandura and Dezaka put their heads together amicably and read the answer sheet.

It was five pages densely written, a length that could be considered long or short.

The Masters read with smiles all over their faces, as if expecting something.

Their expressions gradually hardened.

Rustle... rustle.

Only the quiet sound of turning pages rang out.

As if one reading wasn't enough, they read it again from start to finish.

And so the two Masters who read Obern's answers had opposite reactions.

First, the handsome old man Dezaka's reaction:

"...Beautiful."

It was admiration.

"Such beautiful organization. How is this possible? Isn't this his first time seeing these problems? How can the process of deriving these solutions flow so beautifully like water?"

His face was like that of a traveler who had witnessed a beautiful natural phenomenon.

Like the moment of realizing that an ice waterfall encountered during a winter mountain hike.

Looks like flowing clouds as it freezes while falling.

A refreshing smile rose on his face.

"What's in that head? Does it contain the universe and all things!"

And Pelerian next to me snorted.

"Hmph, even tower folks have properly working eyes it seems."

Pelerian's proxy test-taking was very successful.

However, a problem soon emerged.

It was too successful, if anything.

"You're joking!"

The toothless old man Alcandura burst out angrily.

"You derived this organization just in your head? Dezaka you crazy old man. Aren't you ashamed of being so fooled by a youngster?"

"Hmm, why the fuss?"

"This guy is playing with us. Even if Caspian came back to life, he couldn't organize an unseen problem like this!"

It seems we wrote too perfect an answer.

Obern admirably showed not a hint of emotion.

"Caspian could do it. Those guys don't even properly know their tower master's ability."

That's not what's important, resolving the current situation was more important.

At this rate, that old man might challenge Obern to a duel to test his skills.

'What should we do...!'

'Calm down Obern, let's handle this smoothly.'

I directed the acting like a director with a megaphone.

Obern performed admirably like a great actor.

"You seem to have misunderstood. I have seen this problem before."

"Right? See! ...But where? It's a difficult problem I created."

"My master taught me."

"Master?"

The receptionist whispered.

"So that person's name is..."

"S-Snake Snake."

Obern swallowed hard.

But the Masters:

"Hmm, a name with magical presence."

"Has the gravitas of a grand mage."

They accepted the name Snake Snake.

"Whether that person had the same insight as me, or read my paper, either way it's a delightful thing. Ho ho ho."

All Masters are people obsessed with magic.

Alcandura rather became satisfied with Obern's answer.

"That's great, shall we have a talk about you and your master?"

"But... Master Alcandura. The practical test..."

"Hey kid, with written results this perfect what practical test? Let's replace it with an interview."

"Ah..."

Anyway, to be promoted to 6th rank mage requires approval from at least one Master.

The two mages practically dragged Obern and Amain away.

"So what kind of person is your master? There are truly many reclusive geniuses in the world. The world outside the tower is so vast."

"Ah... They're from the Empire."

"I thought so. Are they still alive?"

They seemed to have many questions about Grand Mage Snake Snake.

"They should be. But it's hard for me to meet them too..."

"Ho ho what refined taste. Let's talk in more detail."

We were dragged to their research lab.

We were released after the sun had set.

==

On the street stained red by sunset.

Obern, me, and Amain walked the street.

Brooches were pinned to Amain and Obern's chests.

Obern's brooch was made of silver, with the rune for 6 inscribed.

And Amain's was made of bronze with 2 inscribed.

"...Thank you, Master."

Amain muttered so.

It was clearly meant for me.

'We'll meet again.'

"Definitely."

On the departing path, I was on Amain's shoulder.

And.

Though I wouldn't be able to wear it always, I wore a brooch like a necklace on my neck.

A brooch with the rune 7 carved in silver.

The two Masters must have been in a very good mood.

They acknowledged Obern's master Snake Snake.

And though not normally permitted, they awarded a 7th rank brooch as Obern's master.

Just wearing this would allow one to be treated as a 7th rank magician at any magic tower across the continent.

Of course, it's meaningless unless one actually appears and registers.

"Well well, these days tower folks have no sense. Promoting to 7th rank a magician they've never even met."

Pelerian sarcastically criticized.

'Don't be jealous about not having a rank.'

"Who's jealous!"

It feels like shoulders I don't even have are shrugging.

Grand Mage Snake Snake.

Someday that name will spread across the continent.