By Zephyria 
Late at night.
Polazhen Grenta, one of the great professors of Merzel Academy and in charge of Class A in the Department of Magic, was reviewing the submitted assignments of the students one by one.
Most of them were nothing particularly noteworthy.
The approximate amount of Mana they possessed and their Primary Affinity had already been grasped through the Apocalypse Exam he had created.
It was just a simple task of comparing the information he already knew with the information they had recorded again in writing.
Except for one guy. There was one guy he couldn’t do that with.
Polazhen’s eyes narrowed as he picked up one of the assignments. As the flickering lamplight seeped into Polazhen’s sharp eyes, a chilling, eerie light flickered.
The assignment that his gaze was fixed on was recorded in Ancient Script with considerable flourish.
[Name] Raymond Den Valencia.
[Primary Affinity] All-Affinity.
[Other] Possessor of a Black Mana Heart.
It was absurd. Did he really think this made sense? The team members had all written the same thing, but Polazhen scoffed, thinking it was a conspiracy.
‘But the record of Mana used during the Apocalypse Exam was also strange only for this guy. Several Mana Attributes were mixed together… and it came up as a type that even I couldn’t analyze. I had never had such an error occur in my life.’
What kind of wicked trick did he use?
Or… is everything this guy says true?
It seemed necessary to check properly.
‘If all of this is a lie stemming from a lighthearted prank, then you better be prepared. Raymond Valentasia.’
In the deep shadows, Polazhen opened his ominous eyes. Soon, he crumpled the paper and blew out the lamplight.
☠
Valhalla Calendar, May 4, 181.
Today is the day the regular curriculum begins.
Class A’s schedule for the first semester had already been transmitted through the student ID, which also served as a means of communication, and as Polazhen had said, the first class on the first day was
So that meant meeting him from the first day…
Slam!
Polazhen opened the door wide and entered. The students who had been chatting turned their heads. Among them were Zeon and Tom, who were sitting on either side of me, chattering away.
For reference, Herman, who had his seat taken by Zeon, was sitting behind me.
In the silence that came at once…
Polazhen scanned the crowd and immediately placed the assignments the students had submitted on the podium and said.
“I have checked all the assignments you submitted. And as I said last time, I plan to have you present and demonstrate today.”
For some reason, his gaze lingered on me for a long time. Tom must have thought Polazhen was glaring at him, because he shrank his shoulders with a pale face again.
In the meantime, Polazhen’s words continued.
“All of you who came the shortcut have already done some preliminary learning… so it won’t be difficult. Now, I will call out the teams one by one. When you come forward, I will check your Primary Affinity one by one. After that, you can freely demonstrate one basic Affinity Magic that matches your Primary Affinity.”
Soon, Polazhen picked up a few of the organized assignments and called out the students.
“Herman Muller, Tom Simyurel, Zeon Revygild, and Raymond Valentasia. The four of you, please come forward.”
It was our turn from the beginning.
When I got up first, they followed one by one. We stood in a row next to the platform and turned to face the front.
“First, Herman Muller.”
“Yes.”
“Transformation magic, I see. Do what you’re most confident in.”
All the students’ attention was focused on Herman.
Herman licked his lips once with a slightly nervous expression and held out his palm forward. The next moment, the wind began to swirl on his palm. The wind became a small whirlwind, swept around, and then disappeared.
“What you just saw was Transformation magic Basic Formula Type 3, Wind. Transformation magic is the Affinity that people generally think of when they think of a magician. Because it has the strongest property of wanting to change, it allows for a variety of applications.”
Then Polazhen indifferently scanned the assignment.
“Next is Tom Simyurel. You’re the same Creation System as me.”
“Y-Yes!”
“There’s no need to be nervous, so feel free to demonstrate.”
Tom, who was intimidated by the gaze and shrank his body, held out his slightly trembling hands. After a while, green Mana began to gather and condense in the center. The Mana mass soon became a round ball and fell onto Tom’s hand.
Tom, who succeeded without making a mistake, let out a sigh of relief.
“Creation System Basic Formula Type 1, Construction. The Creation System has the fastest casting speed among the four Affinities. However, the Mana condensation strength is very weak. So it’s not easy for beginners to control, but you did very well considering that.”
“Thank you.”
“Hmm. Next is Zeon Revygild. Evocation-type.”
“Hmm. Do I have to show only basic Magic?”
Zeon, resting his chin on his hand, smiled meaningfully. Then he glanced at me with sparkling eyes. He looked exactly like a puppy wagging its tail, wanting to be praised.
Polazhen frowned as if suppressing something and sighed. He seemed to know something about Zeon.
“We’re in class now, so just do as you’re told.”
“I have no choice…”
Zeon frowned with a somewhat disappointed look.
Then he raised his index finger upward.
Red Mana quickly gathered at the tip of his finger. The small Mana sphere popped up and disappeared anticlimactically.
“What you just did used several Mana spheres, so it should be seen as Evocation-type Basic Formula Type 2, ‘Multiple Burst.’ The Evocation-type is the Affinity with the strongest property of wanting to move forward like this. The condensation strength is also high, so it is an aggressive Affinity along with Power System.”
Silence fell for a moment as Polazhen finished his explanation. Just as I was about to glance at Polazhen because I was bored of waiting, his mouth opened again.
“Lastly, Raymond Valentasia.”
Then one corner of his mouth twitched upward.
“All-Affinity, I hear. And that you use Black Mana. Hmm. I’m already looking forward to seeing what you’re going to show us.”
He was openly sneering at me.
Some of the students who were watching giggled. Herman and Tom looked at me with worried eyes.
Of course, I didn’t understand why they were doing that at all. The only thing on my mind was how to do it because I didn’t know what basic Magic was.
At that time, Polazhen kindly suggested a direction.
“I want to see if you really use Black Mana. Show it to us here. And since you’re All-Affinity, it would be good if it was Non-Affinity Magic if possible. I heard your family is famous for Necromancy? You can use that.”
If what I had to do was clear, there was nothing difficult.
“I will.”
I released Mana through my Energy Aperture as I had done before. Showing the color of Mana was best done with Magical Energy.
Swish!
Dark and ominous Magical Energy enveloped my body and blazed like a flame.
At the same time, the sound of gasping for breath was heard like screams from here and there. Polazhen’s face looked like he had seen a ghost.
Since Polazhen had only shown a cynical appearance until now, it could be said that it was the most passionate reaction I had ever seen.
“Very! Excellent!”
Zeon made a flattering remark as if he had been waiting for it as soon as I withdrew my Magical Energy.
I quietly glared at him.
As expected, this guy… is somehow burdensome. And that burdensome feeling was very familiar, so it was very suspicious.
Anyway, next was my turn to show Netherworld Summoning. But Polazhen hurriedly stopped me.
“That’s enough! I’ve seen it with my own eyes, so that’s enough. To think that it really existed… amazing. Truly amazing.”
From shock to embarrassment.
From embarrassment to joy.
Watching Polazhen’s expression change from moment to moment, I wondered if he was such a human with such a variety of expressions.
“…Ahem. Good job. Go back to your seat for now.”
Polazhen said after clearing his throat once. His atmosphere was softened to the point of being blatant.
After that, he calmed down the agitated students and called out the students from other teams to go through the same demonstration. Among them, there were a few students who especially caught my eye.
Since I had only seen their names and faces during the Class A roll call, this was practically the first time I was able to gauge their skills, and a few of them that I had been watching had interesting achievements as expected.
The class ended earlier than I thought because it was the first day.
I was about to get up from my seat, thinking of taking a look around the school in this gap since I had to go to the next class after a short break.
“Raymond.”
Zeon quickly stopped me from leaving with words.
“I have something to say. Would you give me a little time to have an intimate… ah, no. An important conversation with you alone?”
I think he almost revealed his true feelings just now, but was I mistaken?
“Raymond Valentasia. Come see me for a moment.”
Polazhen suddenly called me out as well.
“Huh? Where are you going?”
“What’s wrong? Aren’t we eating lunch together?”
Tom and Herman, who were approaching while talking, also joined in.
It was a moment that made me feel tired for some reason.
Polazhen, who glanced around the group, turned around and urged me. It was an act that assumed that I would naturally follow him.
“I want to have an interview with you. Follow me.”
“…Since he says so, see you next time.”
Zeon, unable to hide his disappointment, made a sullen face like a puppy with drooping ears. After leaving a wink to my servants, I headed to the professor’s office following Polazhen.