The next day, all eleven candidates—everyone except the Mohawk guy who had withdrawn—gathered in the lobby on time.
Examiner Randia checked his wristwatch to confirm the appointed hour, then spoke.
“Very well. We shall begin the promotion exam. As explained yesterday, the location will be the Deep Layer of the Infinite Wastelands.”
“How are we supposed to get there? I heard it takes at least a week just to reach the place.”
It was Anje who asked the question.
As she said, once you get deep into the endless wasteland, it would take days just to reach the destination.
“You are correct. However, frankly speaking, we cannot afford to spend several days on mere preparation exercises. Therefore, the deadline is forty-eight hours. You must reach the Deep Layer within that time.
From here, proceed straight north across the Wastelands. You should see a lone tower which will serve as the assembly point. If you turn back, die along the way, or fail to arrive within the time limit, you will be disqualified from the exam immediately.”
The candidates murmured among themselves.
“So that’s the first stage of the exam?”
“Oh I see… That’s how it works huh.”
“Forty-eight hours? That’s going to be incredibly difficult.”
“But… didn’t you just say it was a preparation exercise?”
Randia shook his head.
“No, no—the first stage starts from there.”
““…Eh?””
“Reaching the Deep Layer within forty-eight hours is merely a warm-up. In other words, if you can’t manage that, you won’t even be allowed to set foot at the starting line of the promotion exam. Now, even while we’re talking, a minute has already passed.”
“Wha—!?”
“It’s already started!?”
“Damn it, we need to hurry!”
The candidates rushed out of the building.
…Though really, there was no need to panic. Forty-eight hours was plenty of time—losing a few minutes was hardly significant.
“Alright, good luck guys.”
“Mm.”
“And what about you two?”
“We’ll be observing from the airship.”
“Observing…?”
Orion tilted her head, confused, and I gave her a nod.
“Yeah. With long-range observation magic, I can see you guys from afar in real time.”
“Is there really such an immoral magic like that!?”
“Ahaha, don’t worry. I’m not going to use it to sneak a look at naked bodies or anything like that.”
『You’re completely untrustworthy, Master』
(What are you talking about, Linlin? Seeing without touching—that’s practically hell, not fun.)
『…Is that so?』
A little later, Fana and the others set off as well.
Since Karen and I weren’t taking the exam, we returned to the airship. As promised, I activated the long-range observation magic, projecting the trio onto the screen in the helm.
『Why are you zooming in on their chests, Master?』
(Oops… my bad.)
The three girls sped across the desolate land.
Though they were heading along roughly the same route toward the Deep Layer, the idea of sticking together for a group finish was nowhere in their minds—they had already begun to spread out.
As expected, the fast-footed Fana quickly pulled away from Orion and Anje. Not only that, she easily overtook the candidates who had left the building before them, soaring to the very front of the pack.
“Alright, I’m going to head out for a bit.”
I told Karen.
“You’re not going to watch?”
“Nope. Those three can reach the Deep Layer without any trouble. I’ll check back when the first stage begins.”
With that, I activated teleportation magic.
My destination? Naturally—the private bath of the Edo Shogun in the Far East!
“Mamaaa! I came again to drink your milk!”
“Huh? What is this strange-looking baby?”
“W-wait… a man?!”
But the figure waiting there was a muscular man.
“Isn’t this… the Shogun’s?!”
“I am the Shogun’s husband.”
“Oh… I see. I’ll come back another time.”
I said, immediately teleporting back to the airship.
“? You’re back already?”
“Hey, Karen-oneechan, why does breast milk only come if you have a child? Wouldn’t it be great if, even without a man, milk could just come out naturally?”
“What kind of nonsense are you talking about?!”
The first to reach the Deep Layer, unsurprisingly, was Fana.
It had been roughly sixteen hours since leaving the Association headquarters. The hour was well into the dead of night.
“… a tower” she murmured.
A faint light glimmered in the darkness ahead. As she drew closer, she realized it was emanating from an artificially constructed tower.
Entering through the doorway, she found Examiner Randia waiting.
“You’ve arrived already? Remarkably quick. You’re the undisputed first to reach here,” he said.
“…Already ahead of everyone else?”
“Haha, of course, I did not run here myself. But you must be tired. There are rooms upstairs where you may rest, so please make use of them.”
According to Randia, the tower had once served as the dwelling of a demon tribe that controlled part of the Wastelands.
“There are other structures like this scattered throughout the Wastelands. Besides these tower-type buildings, there are pyramid-shaped, columnar, and even underground bunker types. Quite fascinating, really.”
About three hours after Fana arrived, the second candidate, Anje, reached the tower. The sky had begun to lighten slightly by then.
“You’re remarkably fast.”
Fana remarked.
Thirty minutes later, the third candidate, Orion, arrived, completing the trio.
“Three arriving before dawn… This promotion exam is shaping up to be rather promising.”
Randia said with a hint of anticipation.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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