It was noon.
Light poured clearly into the conference room, whose walls were finished in soft, pale tones, illuminating the potted plants arranged along the broad windowsill and lending the space a lively, vibrant air.
Yet at this moment, the conference room of the School of Sages had dissolved into utter disarray as a controversial topic sparked an abruptly heated debate.
"Compared to that examinee in the School of Knights whose wisdom and character scored a flat zero, this one of ours seems to have wisdom and character that are far too high."
"A bit excessively high, if you ask me."
After witnessing Lanqi's maneuvers, most of the instructors felt deep shock and disbelief, questioning their life choices as they debated this extreme outlier.
Other instructors furrowed their brows in contemplation from time to time, glancing back up at the replay on the magic screen.
Just what kind of mental state had this boy been in when taking the exam?
They could not comprehend it.
Right now, the instructors not only had to fulfill their teaching and research duties and conduct a post-exam review, but they also needed to urgently produce manual evaluations for all examinees' scores.
Clearly, Lanqi had posed a thorny dilemma:
Just how were they supposed to grade him?
"You have to admit, this fellow's legal awareness is truly formidable. No normal person would immediately run off to check the law code in a situation like that."
"Hold on! While our school recruits caster classes, that means magic, not the law!"
Amidst the commotion, another instructor slammed the table and shouted:
"Perhaps he'd be better off being recommended to the Hutton National College of Finance and Law."
A chorus of groans and jeers rose in response.
Just imagining someone like Lanqi becoming a judge in the future filled the instructors present with a single overwhelming thought: *I pray I never have to see him in a courtroom in this lifetime.*
All kinds of documents, charts, and notes lay scattered across the tables in the conference room.
The clock on the wall ticked steadily.
Vice Dean Ron remained silent, jotting down the main points of several differing views on the draft paper before him as he attempted to synthesize an evaluation of this candidate.
Dean Loren was currently getting chewed out at the School of Magic Engineering.
Thus, this meeting had fallen to Vice Dean Ron to chair on his behalf.
No one in the School of Sages was willing to go over to Magic Engineering and face the eccentric, foul-tempered Professor Borao.
What was more...
If Professor Borao heard that someone had broken the artificial Shadow World activation terminal...
He would be utterly furious!
Yet there was no other choice; the third round of the examination still required the terminal.
A brave soul had to go beg Professor Borao to bring the technicians from the School of Magic Engineering and rush the emergency repairs over the next two days.
*Sigh. If I were Loren, I'd probably just drag that Lanqi kid straight to Magic Engineering with me.*
Their dean was simply too honest and good-natured.
After lamenting inwardly, Vice Dean Ron finally tapped his knuckles twice against the tabletop.
He signaled to the instructors that it was time to bring the discussion back to the main topic.
"At the core of the Shadow World, he seems to have offered an alternative interpretation of 'benevolence and righteousness,'" Ron sighed, grudgingly acknowledging the meaning behind Lanqi's method of clearing it. "Meeting violence with violence, evil with evil—perhaps that, too, is an effective means of doing good."
The study and exploration of the Shadow World was not limited to combat-oriented challengers.
The figures of theologians, historians, and philosophers were frequently active in the field as well.
The scholars' unearthing and analysis of the narratives within the Shadow Worlds could also help challengers organize intelligence and broaden their approaches to conquering them.
Over time, the School of Sages had incorporated extensive academic research into its development.
For example, *Introduction to the Shadow World*, which all freshmen entering the School of Sages were required to study, was the most widely accepted doctrine regarding the Shadow Worlds in the mortal realm today.
It pointed out that the Shadow Worlds were miraculous spell boundaries created before the gods disappeared, recording pivotal historical moments from numerous worlds and other realms—some insignificant, some magnificent, some tragic, and some thought-provoking.
Whenever a mortal world, through endless cycles of ruin and rebirth, evolved sufficient strength to explore the Shadow Worlds, that world would connect to them.
From then on, the living beings of that world could enter the Shadow Worlds and, guided by them, reenact historical projections.
These historical projections from various timelines and world lines could be considered outstanding learning materials or veritable treasuries of knowledge for any living being.
The gods intended for living beings to gain experience and reflection from each other's historical projections through cross-learning, making the mortal worlds they inhabited more stable and beautiful.
Thus came to be this dual realm where the mortal world and the Shadow World were intertwined, just like a substance and its shadow.
Once Vice Dean Ron set the tone, the meeting room gradually returned to the atmosphere of a normal review session.
"By taking this entrance exam's simulated artificial Shadow World and discussing Lanqi's solution, we might actually be able to publish a journal article."
"I find that he seems to possess even greater talent as a research scholar."
By the round table of the healing mage panel, Teacher Teresa looked at Lanqi's dossier and spoke in a soft voice.
Back during the admissions intake, she had already felt that while this young man lacked talent as a mage, his calm, unhurried demeanor and gentle, elegant air made him seem like a natural-born scholar.
More often than not, if such a person was willing to study diligently, they would find favor with many academic societies.
After all, clerical work—assisting with post-trial reviews and conducting research in logistics departments—was just as important.
"Indeed. When it comes to character, he has character; when it comes to wisdom, he has wisdom; and when it comes to morals... well, he has character and wisdom."
Quite a few instructors nodded in agreement.
"In short—ranking him ahead of Lady Hyperion Aransal, which is to say in first place, poses no problem, right?"
Vice Dean Ron lightly tapped his index finger on the tabletop, hesitated slightly, and concluded.
Since they couldn't define an exact score, they could only settle the rankings for now.
This would directly affect the team groupings for the exam the day after tomorrow.
Hearing this, many of the instructors present either nodded or remained silent.
Their attitudes were slightly delicate, even carrying a hint of wanting to avoid suspicion.
"Even though his completion time was very fast, he actually barely hit any of the originally planned scoring points. According to the algorithm set by the School of Magic Engineering, his score might not necessarily be particularly high..."
A hesitant voice came from the healing mage group's round table.
The vice dean looked over; it was Teacher Teresa, who had received Lanqi during the admissions registration, speaking up.
"Teacher Teresa, that hardly seems fair, now does it?"
However, at another table, a young instructor rested his right hand on the back of his chair, turned to look at Teresa, and cut her off.
"He rightfully deserves first place. That cannot be changed."
"..."
Teresa pursed her lips, unable to say anything more.
She knew that her argument didn't quite hold water.
Yet she truly wanted to help Lanqi.
Because first place in this year's School of Sages exam was definitely not a favorable spot.
In truth, among this year's new entrants, the most troublesome freshman for the academy was neither Frey nor Lanqi.
It was Lady Hyperion, the duke's daughter.
The vast majority of instructors were unwilling to become associated with her.
The reason the young lady hadn't held back in the second round was precisely out of concern that a poor ranking would land her with teammates in the third round who had been bribed or planted to sabotage her.
Only by securing the highest possible rank could she have a chance of being paired with powerful teammates whom even the opposing factions within the academy couldn't easily manipulate to bring her down.
Yet given the present circumstances, if Lanqi happened to be placed in first position, it would most likely suit many people's desires, conveniently turning Lanqi into a tool to drag Lady Hyperion down during the combat exam.
After all, Lanqi showed no discernible signs of outstanding combat capability whatsoever.
"Ferrat, it is not my place to say much. But no matter what, please do not step outside the rules, or Loren will not stand idly by," Ron said, casting a deep, piercing glance at the young instructor who had interrupted Teresa.
"Naturally."
The young instructor named Ferrat rose and bowed gracefully toward Vice Dean Ron.
"It is merely that, within the established rules, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the top-ranked students should fall to me to examine. In that case, I shall do my utmost to screen out unqualified candidates—for their own future safety, of course."
A confident smile remained hooked at the corners of Ferrat's lips.
"..."
Vice Dean Ron silently turned the page in his hands, eager to put an end to this topic.
Lanqi Wilfort's aptitude in the role of a white mage was barely mediocre at best.
Truth be told, he was never suited for the School of Sages in the first place.
A genuine Shadow World of Tier 1 or above required not only intellect, but also considerable combat ability.
No matter which group he was assigned to, he would almost certainly be eliminated in the third round.
So, in a sense, if fate had decreed that he be teamed with Lady Hyperion, neither could truly be blamed for dragging the other down.
After all, even apart, neither of them had much hope of admission anyway.
Chapter 20