Offer a Tribute and Become an Archmage - Chapter 189



Only Noblemtl

Offering Tribute to the Archmage Chapter 185

The Door of Proof [1]

Episode 185.

The Bright Kingdom’s wizard exams are held once every three years.

Although wizards are not common, many people are bound to flock to the exam because it is held once every three years.

The Magical Trials building located within the Britten Palace is magnificent. It was built as a annex, and was originally a building for Archmage Ashwald, but it is now used as a magic testing ground.

The founding myth itself is that the country was founded by the Bright Knight King and the great wizard Ashwald, who is no less than a living legend.

In the countryside, people were afraid of wizards eating their brains, but in the royal capital, wizards were considered more valuable than knights since long ago.

“This is…”

Kael Djerba.

He felt his heart swell as he looked at the scene where various wizards had gathered.

The kingdom’s magic exams consist of written, practical, and duel tests, but the difficulty of the exams also varies depending on what you show, and the color of the commendation you receive also changes.

In the end, magic is something that people make decisions about.

‘You are the hope of our family.’

His father’s heavy words pressed down on Kael’s shoulders. He calmed his excited heart and acted like a nobleman wearing a mask, not an expression that suited his age.

So as not to become a disgrace to the family.

Erase yourself and put on nobility.

The Djerba family itself becomes a family.

The excited expression disappeared and a serious look, like walking on a blade, appeared on Kael’s face.

“Look over there. That sentence. Is that the successor to the Baron Djerba?”

“You mean that halo…”

Kael of the Halo.

It is already famous in aristocratic society.

The older generation recalled the halo as a past entity, while the younger generation thought of a successor who carried the glory of his predecessors on his back.

Whatever it was, Kael’s magic, which dealt with light itself, was bound to attract attention.

“I heard that you are already friends with Master Ashwald’s disciple.”

“Oh, I heard that too. I heard that you accompanied the hero of Gradas who defeated the wizard of the empire and defeated the slime.”

The rumors about Kael that could be heard faintly in the noisy crowd were not false.

All as expected.

Kael tried to control the rising corners of his lips.

Even rumors were spread in advance with money spent.

Spreading your good word of mouth is one of the easiest ways to increase your value.

There is no reason not to.

“After all, he is the son of a baron.”

Of course, there were those who did not look favorably on this. Ironically, these were nobles like Kael.

“If we’re talking about greatness, isn’t the wizard of Gradas, who defeated two wizards of the empire, even greater?”

“I thought I’d be able to meet him if I came here too… I guess a true genius isn’t interested in places like this.”

“You are the owner of unpredictable rumors. Rumor has it that you have already met with His Majesty the King and are preparing to fight against the Empire.”

“What? Your Majesty? Is that true?”

“There is even a rumor that you met secretly and have already received a surname.”

“…”

Kael ground his teeth.

It was clearly me, but it seemed like a guy who hadn’t even come to the exam was wandering around the testing room like a ghost.

“But why does that guy’s face look like that? Is that really Jerba? His face is all red and blotchy. Did he fight off a swarm of mosquitoes?”

“The magic of the Halo Wizard, who was Jerba’s predecessor, was light itself. Isn’t that why mosquitoes are attracted to it?”

“No way…. Hehe.”

Kael looked at the group gossiping about him.

‘They are the children of a count.’

Because he is of a lower rank than my father.

Because he was young and of low rank but was lucky enough to obtain magic, the nobles had no hesitation in cursing him.

That’s usually how nobles are.

If you look down on it, it will bite you.

‘I think he’d like it if I reacted. He said he’d have a little toy.’

Kael continued to ignore their whispering, even though it was becoming increasingly excessive.

Anyway, the reason he came here was to take a test, not to make connections.

Let those who want to curse curse, but those who are meant to be tangled will get tangled on their own.

“Duke Kael. I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m from the Baron Reinhardt family…”

“I’m on board the Count’s…”

Just as winter brings bundles of clothing to keep out the cold, nobles wear rumours and fame to enhance their worth.

Then, they would gather like insects attracted to honey. It would be a matter of time before they knew whether they would become butterflies or stinging bees.

That was when.

Exactly-!

An old man snapped his fingers in front of the stage where everyone gathered in the magic test room. The softly tapped sound passed through the murmur of the examinees, riding on the sound of the wind. It was a light but undeniable sign of magic.

“I am a red magician of the court. My name is Guernier. Those who know me know, but there are those who don’t. On the contrary, I am also like that. This time, the applicant is over forty, so how could that be? So prove yourself.”

The old wizard, Gernier, who was dying, spoke as he walked out through a huge door.

The audience members, who had been silently watching Guernier walk with such a precarious gait that it seemed as if he would fall if he took a step, hesitated.

“This door is the door of proof. Those who cannot prove themselves will not pass through.”

The door of proof.

It was a huge door that made people look small. It was a door carved with snakes, wolves, lions, and dragons, and Guernier placed his palm in the center of it.

“The gate of proof tests you. It is a gate that cannot be opened by those who are not qualified, and it shows how far the qualification can reach by those who are qualified.”

Kugu-kung-!!

Clang! Clang! The faint light scattered along the carved shadows, and countless snake and wolf heads moved away from the center.

Eventually, the door to proof opened by itself.

Guernier is a red spear wizard.

But even that only opened the door connecting the statues of the snake and the wolf.

‘Looking at the connections in each stage, it seems that depending on the wizard’s ability, the first stage is a snake, the second stage is a wolf, the third stage is a lion, and the last stage is a dragon’s door.’

Guernier is the Wolf’s Gate open.

Those who did not know did not know, but the nobles were generally aware of this type of test.

Test of proof.

It’s like a tradition in the Kingdom Magic Test.

This door was created hundreds of years ago by a close friend of the Great Wizard, and was intended to roughly gauge the abilities of those taking the exam in advance.

“Who will challenge the door of proof?”

Most of the test takers understood this.

But because they understood, no one came forward to challenge it with curiosity.

“I will take on the challenge.”

A noblewoman with a charming appearance appeared among the hesitating candidates.

She was a woman with pink hair.

What was somewhat unusual was that he was wearing an eye patch, as if he had lost one eye, and he had a grumpy-looking smile on his face.

“Name is.”

“Beatrice.”

Even though he didn’t say anything, Guernier flinched and moved away.

Beatrice smiled and placed her hand directly on the door of proof. When she placed her hand on the center, the door began to move with a faint light.

Clank, clank. The snake heads that had come closer as if biting a hand turned their heads, and the wolf’s head looked up at the sky.

Until then it was like Guernier.

But suddenly, the lion head carved on the door of the proof began to move.

‘The Lion’s Gate…’

It opens.

Kugu-kung-!!

It’s different from the time of Guernier.

An ear-piercing sound, like the roar of a brave lion, began to be heard from the Gate of Proof.

“… He who has proof, go to the gate of proof.”

The woman named Beatrice smiled her usual cool smile and walked out the door.

Squeak… Boom!!

The door to proof closes again.

Guernier looked at the candidates again.

“Who will challenge the door of proof?”

The reaction was mixed.

“Me! I’ll do it!”

“No, I’ll go first!”

Those who want to open it first because their competitive spirit is triggered.

“I, I’m going to take this test…”

“What if the door doesn’t open?”

These were the people who retreated in fear.

*

Proof Gate Overseer Guernier is a red wizard who entered the court at a young age and has sworn loyalty to the kingdom ever since.

When he was young, he often participated in wars, but as he got older and his body began to break down here and there, he began working as a supervisor for magic tests on a small scale for the past fifty years.

Although he had withdrawn from the front lines, his pride as a wizard remained.

The Kingdom Magic Exam is a place to select the kingdom’s talented people.

There is no reason not to be proud.

It was the same today.

The magic test after three years.

Promising young people began to laugh and cry as they stood in front of the gate of proving ground to have their future predicted.

‘Hoo. Are you the successor to Jerba?’

Some big stars were visible.

However, whether it was backed by the family’s glory or not was something that the test of proof would determine.

“Kael Djerba. I will challenge the Gate of Proof.”

“I wish you good luck.”

A young man who was given the nickname Kael of the Halo at an early age.

It was one of the old man’s few remaining little pleasures to guess how much longer the shining star would shine.

Kael Jerba had a handsome appearance and a graceful aura of magic.

‘You have great potential. As expected, you are the successor to the throne.’

As Guernier had expected, Kael opened the Lion’s Gate.

He seemed somewhat pleased, but did not lose his noble dignity.

‘You’re very observant of others’ opinions. A noble who cares about what others think has room for growth.’

At least red. If you do well in the previous test, you might be able to try white too.

‘This year is a bumper crop.’

If there was even one person who could open the Lion’s Gate, the existence of the Magic Test would be meaningful, but there are already two.

Guernier was proud of himself for the bright future of the kingdom.

“I will take on the challenge!”

“I wish you good luck.”

Many people have tried it since then.

In the first place, the Gate of Proof was a gate of proof, but it was no different from a gate to check potential. All those who come to take the magic test are magicians. The Gate of Proof will open if you have magic.

Most of them opened the wolf’s door.

A wolf as tall as a fully grown man.

The snake was smaller than that.

Even though the snake gate opens and its size is small and low, like a snake passing through, it opens anyway.

This is literally proof.

This is the door that asks you to prove your strength.

“It’s too narrow!”

Boom! The last examinee opened the snake-like door and went in.

Guernier, who had been smiling brightly, let out a sigh filled with satisfaction.

“Is this the end again?”

The next test is again in three years.

It was up to heaven whether he could administer that test or not.

“Before I die, my wish is to see the one who opens the Dragon Gate emerge.”

Perhaps it would be difficult to fulfill that wish.

-He who opens the dragon’s gate. He will soon become the future of the kingdom.

Guernier, who had deep wrinkles on his face like the depth of time, tried to leave the examination room with his luggage on his back.

“Ah… I’m not confident…”

That was when.

Suddenly, a late test taker showed up at the testing center.

A boy with dazzling blond hair and a thin figure.

He was a guy who was just starting to lose his boyish ways.

“The exam is already over. It’s a shame, but three years later…”

The moment the order to evacuate was about to be issued.

He couldn’t do it.

Because the person accompanying the boy was a person of power who lived in the palace and could never be disobeyed.

“Meet the Marquis of Bane.”

“Guernir the Redeemer. I know it’s late, but I would like you to prove this child to me.”

“…is this the will of the kingdom?”

“That’s right.”

“If so, I will gladly.”

Guernier returned to the Gate of Proof.

The only black in the kingdom.

The words and actions of Marquis Bane are in line with the will of the master of the kingdom, King Bright VII.

For such a person to appear and prove a boy’s identity.

‘Is this child the wizard of much rumour?’

A mysterious wizard who is said to have defeated the wizard of the empire. I heard he was young, but I never thought he would be this small and young.

A boy like this defeated two wizards of the empire?

Guernier’s heart pounded for no reason.

With that level of talent…

‘Can you see the Dragon’s Gate opening…?’

Even the old man’s heart was racing. A guy like “Maybe” can make people’s hearts flutter like this.

To hope when you know you will be disappointed is human folly and its only virtue… said Guernier.

“Put your hand here and prove it. Then a suitable door will appear.”

“yes?”

“…Just put your hand here.”

“Oh, here? Yep.”

He was more stupid than I thought.

But surprisingly, the miracle of magic is taken away by these foolish people.

“I wish you good luck.”

With his usual words of encouragement, he stepped back for a moment.

“I will open it.”

Guernier’s heart, which was pounding without paying the price, soon grew cold.

“Ugh!”

“…”

“Okay, just wait. Let me try one more time. Just wait. Kkeu …

But the door never opened.

Even if you just have the grimoire, you should be able to open the Serpent Gate.

“Ouch! This won’t open! I almost threw up because I was pushing so hard…”

The boy couldn’t even open the door.

Guernier answered with a cold face.

“You’re disqualified.”

“yes?”

That the door couldn’t be opened.

That’s no different from saying he’s not a wizard.

The rumored wizard slayer.

“Guardians!! There’s a conman here!!”

Since the rumor couldn’t be false, this guy had to be a scammer.