Hellmode ~A Hardcore Gamer Becomes Peerless in Another World with Retro Game Settings~

Exam 1

“Wait! How did Allen fail the test?

“Allen, did you fail the test?”

The examiner failed me, and Cecile and Kurena spoke up. Dogora was staring at the words on the evaluation board.

“Hey guys, it looks like I didn’t pass, so good luck with your exams. Let’s decide where we’ll meet after the exam.”

“Hey! What are you going on about?

I said it so matter-of-factly that Cecile gave me a tsk tsk.

(Well, even if I don’t go to the Academy, I can do other things.)

I didn’t care that I failed the test. In the first place, I knew that all my ability values would be displayed as E, so I thought I might not pass. In this situation, the letter that the Viscount had granted me was not going to help.

(Still, it’s valuable information to know that even if you have Talent, you will fail if your ability value is low.)

Not only were all of my ability values E, but I had also even seen one out of every three or so students in the line being rejected on the spot.

Why is that? The question naturally arose. It is not enough to have Talent.

I think that the following can be found by each ability value of status:

• Even if you have Talent, there are differences in ability values, and your growth rate will be different.
• The ability values will tell you how strong you will be when you grow up.

As for the former, the same Talent can produce differences in ability values. It seems that there are individual differences in ability values, such as being a Swordsman but having low [Attack]. Swordsmen are expected to have abilities typical of Swordsmen, and Mages are expected to have abilities typical of Mages. Apparently, according to the examiner’s response, Kurena, Cecile, and Dogora had abilities that matched their Talents.

For the latter, I believe that the growth rate is fixed according to the ability value. The strength after growth is known to everyone at this point with almost no margin for error. The Academy probably has no reason to take a written test or spend three years training you if you can’t become strong. They may be saying that you would be useless on the battlefield anyway.

And I concluded that this is the reason why there are no practical skills tests in this exam.

There are some students who have raised their level and some who have not. If you pass the exam because you have higher levels than others, it doesn’t mean that you have the same potential as the others.

(I see, they use the results of the Appraisal Ceremony at the age of five and the written exam to decide who passes or fails. That’s reasonable, since it also prevents Talent fraud.)

“‘What’s all the fuss about? You can’t do that just because you fail.”

“No, no, actually…”

The examiners all wore similar uniforms, but a young man with light blue hair, who was clearly not an examiner, approached me. He was a somewhat smug young man. Next to him was a mature, white-haired elf.

The examiner came over and explained the situation to them. “Is that so? I’ve never seen appraisal results like this before,” said the young man as he listened and looked at the results.

(Oh! There really are elves here.)

I saw an elf for the first time in this world.

“What is going on? It doesn’t make sense for Allen to fail!”

Cecile closed in on the light blue-haired man who was only talking to the examiner.

“Why does it make no sense?”

The young man with light blue hair reacted to Cecile’s words.

“Because Allen can take down a Madegarsh all by himself!”

Cecile’s anger seemed to be getting the better of her as she had watched the fight to the death between Madergarsh and me.

“Madegarsh at your age, that’s impressive. But all his ability values are E… I see.”

(What do you see?)

“I see. I’ve never seen such an appraisal before. I never thought that a boy with all E grades would actually come this year. It’s just as Lord Rosen said.”

“Principal, did Rosen say anything else? I don’t know what you’re talking about on this one.”

(Oh, what? What?)

“The Spirit King is not very good at foresight. It is not the domain of spirits, to begin with. And please don’t call the object of our faith by its name.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m not very good at honorifics.”

“So, Mister Helmios. I’m sorry, but are you sure about the results of this evaluation?”

“Hold on a second. I’ll look into it.”

He shifted his gaze from the elf he called Principal to me. As the light blue haired man looked at me, his golden eyes began to glow faintly.

“Principal? Helmios?”

Cecile and I reacted to the name “Helmios”. That name is the name of the ‘Hero’ born in the Empire, that the magic teacher taught us about at the mansion.

And the young man called the elf beside him ‘Principal’. If that title is true, then he is the Principal of the Academy and the ruler of the Academy City.

In spite of my surprise, the man with light blue hair stared at me with shining eyes.

(He’s the ‘Hero’, isn’t he? But why is he here?)

“Well… [Attack] 570. Oh ! 1630 [Intelligence].”

(It’s totally an appraisal skill. He is looking at my status without permission. Why can a 5-star ‘Hero’ appraise others but I can’t? I’m going to have to report this to the Gods very carefully.)

I swallowed the words, “Don’t publish without permission”. It is synonymous with knowing one’s status.

“‘An [Intelligence] of 1600 means that it should be rated ‘S’. But why is it an E?”

The Principal listened to Helmios as he stared at the evaluation board.

“‘But it’s strange, isn’t it? With this status, he can’t beat Madegarsh.”

“Is that so?”

“I’m sure I’ll be killed soon because I have better [Attack], [Agility], and [Endurance] than Madegarsh. You have high [Intelligence], but you don’t have any magic skills in the skill column. If it’s just status, I’d say it’s similar to a Great Mage but you can’t use magic.”

(Hey! but your analysis is not wrong. You are indeed a Hero.)

“A Great Mage who can’t use magic?”

“Well, I guess this unheard Talent Summoner is the answer. Allen, I think. Apparently your appraisal is out of order, so I’ve done it for you.”

“So he passed! Allen, you passed!”

Cecile looked very happy.

“‘Hmmm, but could you at least show me some of your ability as a Summoner? I don’t know any of your abilities.”

“What? Is that all you need? Allen, that big bear, mggggh.”

I instantly covered Cecile’s mouth from behind.

(Hey, Cecile, you talk too much. Mmm-hmm.)

“I’m sorry, examiner, for causing so much trouble. I’ve failed, so I’ll be leaving early. There seems to be quite a line behind, too.”

“Yes. Huh?”

Ignoring Helmios’ suggestion, I replied to the examiner that I have accepted my failure. Cecile wanted to say “What?” but she couldn’t, because I was still covering her mouth.

“I said I’ll let you pass the Appraisal Ceremony if you show me your Talent.”

Helmios walks into the conversation between the examiner and me.

“I’m sorry, but who are you? You aren’t dressed like an examiner. You’re not an examiner, are you?”

“Huh?”

The Principal and the examiner were surprised by Allen’s words. They wondered if he knew who he was talking to.

“What? Sorry. My name is Helmios. I’m a Hero.”

“Hero? I don’t know. Is that a reason for me to show you my Talent?”

“What?”

He probably never thought someone would reply like me when he called himself a Hero. Heroes appear in the stories of the Kingdom. There are no Heroes from the Kingdom, but it is an imaginary Talent that has recognition.

(Hey. Only the Empire would understand the word “Hero.”)

“Let’s leave it at that. I am the Principal. Can you show me your Talent? This will do, won’t it?”

“Oh, if the Principal asks, I’ll answer as an examinee. However, refuse.” (TLN: Daga Kotowaru)

“Huh!!?”

They didn’t expect me to still refuse.

“You’re going to have to show your Talent sooner or later anyway. Why are you so averse to showing your Talent?”

“What a misunderstanding. I never said anything about not wanting to show my Talent.”

“What?”

“I just won’t show it to you for free.”

I am planning to go to the battlefield. There will be a lot of people on the battlefield. I would be recognized sooner or later anyway. The only difference is whether it’s three years later or now.

When I was kidnapped with Cecile, I also used my summons on the Magic Ship. In the future, I plan to use my summons in public when necessary. To live a life while completely hiding my Talent is to narrow my options.

I believe that Talents are not to be revealed carelessly, nor are they to be hidden.

“What do you mean, “for free”?”

“My Talents is valuable. It is unknown even to the Principal. I would like you to pay a price for it.”

“What? Do you want money or something?”

“No, no, I’m not interested in money, but from the conversation I had with the President, it seems that he saw my ability values, so I was wondering if you could appraise him with that crystal. I think this would be a good price.”

Helmios looked at the Principal. The Principal sighed and nodded. That seems to be enough.

“… Well, I don’t mind.”

It seems that Helmios is going to do the appraisal. I headed to the appraisal crystal.



Translator’s Corner

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