Chapter 9
This was where Allenās notorious reputation was fully revealedāhe was known to be just as demanding when it came to evaluations as the Mars Mercenary Corps was famous.
The candidates were immediately moved on to the second test.
They would have to face off against skilled combat mages from the same class.
Just then.
The doors of the mercenary corps headquarters opened, and a group of people entered the training grounds.
However, since it had nothing to do with him, Kain paid no attention to them and focused solely on the test in front of him.
āCommander Alkaine, what brings you here?ā
Allen, who was overseeing the test, temporarily halted the examination and greeted him.
āAlkaine?ā
At the familiar name, Kain turned his head.
Now that he heard it, he remembered the name.
His full name was Alkaine Cosbalt. Unlike Duke Carlton, who represented the hardline faction in the magic circles of the Rohan Empire, Alkaine was one of the mages who represented the moderate faction.
He was also one of the few white mages who had opposed the war with the Magical Kingdom of Zergard.
However, because of that opposition, he had incurred the Emperorās displeasure shortly before the war and was said to have withdrawn from the front lines at the time.
Now Kain understood that he had apparently joined the mercenary corps afterward.
āYouāre working hard, Allen.ā
āWhat do you mean by that? These people are the ones who will become the foundation of the mercenary corps. But the person beside you isā¦ā
Alkaine had not come here alone.
Duke Radianāthe man who was said to be one of the most powerful figures in the Empireāwas with him.
In truth, there was no reason for Alkaine Cosbalt, who commanded all the mages of the Mars Mercenary Corps, to visit this place.
But this time was different.
Even though the mercenary corps officially stayed out of politics, Frey, the Duke of Radianās son, was here. Naturally, the Duke could not help but pay attention.
Officially, the visit was presented as an occasion to boost and encourage the morale of the mercenary corps.
In reality, however, it could be considered an unspoken pressure meant to ensure Freyās acceptance and preferential treatment.
Duke Radianā¦
Kainās hand clenched into a fist.
He was face-to-face with his sworn enemy.
The very man who had betrayed him ten years ago and was the root cause of his empireās downfall.
As if that were not enough, Duke Radian approached the successful candidates of the first test and began shaking hands with them one by one.
āYouāve worked hard. I hope you will become a light that illuminates the future of the Empire. If you distinguish yourselves, you can be transferred from the mercenary corps to the Imperial Mage Corps or one of the Mage Towers at any time.ā
āThank you.ā
Whenever Duke Radian extended his hand, the applicants nervously shook it, unsure of how to act.
Perhaps merely seeing his father appear had boosted Freyās confidence, because he straightened his shoulders and back and looked around proudly.
Duke Radian seemed pleased with Frey as well. Instead of shaking his hand, he gave him a couple of light pats on the shoulder and smiled with satisfaction.
Duke Radianās footsteps gradually brought him closer to Kain.
Ten years ago.
The very man responsible for bringing about the downfall of his empire through a devastating betrayal was now standing just one step away from him.
A torrent of emotions surged through Kain.
If he put his mind to it, he felt as though he could kill Duke Radian somehow.
If he did, perhaps the pent-up rage twisting inside his chest would finally be released.
But reason was faster than emotion.
Kain suppressed his boiling emotions and continued staring at Duke Radian.
āYou have an unusual look in your eyes, young man. You seem to be about the same age as my Freyā¦ Hmm? It seems you may become my sonās rival. You should also devote yourself to the Rohan Empire. The path of white magic is limitless, after all.ā
āYes.ā
āLetās shake hands.ā
Clench.
Their hands met.
To Kain, Duke Radianās rough and coarse hand felt more repulsive than filth containing every vile thing in the world.
He wanted nothing more than to cut off the hand that was gripping his own.
For the briefest momentāno longer than the blink of an eyeā
In Kainās imagination, Duke Radian died and came back to life dozens of times.
But Kain soon regained control of himself and quietly lowered his head.
He reminded himself that someday, he would have a chance to turn this unbearable rage into reality, and forced his emotions back under control.
And so, with Allen, Commander Alkaine, and Duke Radian watching, the second test was conducted.
Since it was not a fight to the death, any mage applicant with sufficient skill could earn a good score.
However, their opponents were so experienced that many applicants struggled. Even while wearing protective armor, some were unable to compensate for their lack of skill, resulting in several injuries.
But Kain, Frey, and four other mages were able to pass the second test with ease.
That was because the evaluation was not based on simply winning the battle. Instead, the applicants were scored according to how systematically they could cast and utilize magic.
And with that, Kainās admission to the Mars Mercenary Corpsāthe foremost mercenary corps in Romanesāas a combat mage was decided.
Kain was twenty-six years old.
It had been only three months since he had begun dreaming of a new future in a new world.
