And so, during the subsequent interview session, the other examinees were surprised to notice one thing: when they walked into the atrium of the Imperial Palace, they could clearly see Fíliya standing dutifully behind Serie, looking completely well-behaved.
However, obviously no one dared to gossip at a ti like this.
...
Under the scrutiny of Serie and Fíliya, Kanne stood ramrod straight, looking as if she didn't even dare to breathe.
"This one is obviously a no-go, right? Look at how scared she is just seeing ; this child is hopeless."
As Serie spoke, she turned her head to exchange a glance with Fíliya, as if seeking Fíliya's opinion.
"Mmh, she indeed lacks a bit of polish, but I wouldn't say she's hopeless, right?" Fíliya chid in casually.
"It is hopeless. Soone who is terrified the mont they see an opponent stronger than themselves cannot beco a First-Class Mage."
"Then I can only reserve my opinion," Fíliya said with a shrug.
"Is that so? Then it is a failure. You may go."
Serie issued the order directly to Kanne.
Kanne was naturally bewildered. She had never expected that after going through two rounds of testing, she would be eliminated in this final round after just a casual glance... This was truly hard for people to accept.
However, Kanne was not without self-awareness. She knew very well that she had received varying degrees of care in both rounds of the test to be able to pass... She was still far from reaching the standard where she could [stand on her own].
Thus, Kanne could only take a deep, silent breath, then stepped forward a few paces and arrived in front of Fíliya.
"Um, returning this to you."
Wearing a solemn expression, Kanne handed the book [Fíliya's Water Magic] back to Fíliya.
"Oh? Not planning to keep it?"
Fíliya raised an eyebrow slightly, clearly a bit surprised, but she didn't say much more and simply took the grimoire back.
"Mmh, I have morized all of it. Of course, I can't use it freely yet; I need to spend a little more ti," Kanne said, scratching the back of her head with so embarrassnt.
"In that case, you must practice more in the future."
"Mmh..."
Kanne nodded, yet she showed no intention of leaving.
"Hmm? Are you planning to stick around and not leave?" Fíliya asked proactively upon seeing this.
"Um... You, Miss Fíliya, could you be my teacher?!"
After taking a deep breath, Kanne finally asked the question that had troubled her for a long ti. Although it was strange to ask soone not much older than herself to be her master, she still wanted to do it.
"No."
Unfortunately, Miss Fíliya rejected her expressionlessly, without even a shred of hesitation.
"Eh... M-May I ask the reason for the refusal?" Kanne asked timidly.
"...Because you are too weak. If you want to be my disciple, at least beco a First-Class Mage first."
Fíliya's emotions remained completely unfluctuating.
But for Miss Kanne, that was enough. And so, she secretly made up her mind that in the new round of testing three years from now, she would definitely beco a First-Class Mage.
Eventually, watching Kanne's retreating figure disappear into the atrium, Serie couldn't help but shoot a doubtful glance at Fíliya.
"Do you truly believe that child has potential? I still feel she cannot beco a First-Class Mage."
"Heh heh, Serie, this is a sign that you don't understand the human heart... Let tell you a truth about humanity."
"[Do not look down on anyone who works hard]."
Fíliya looked at Serie with an enigmatic expression, but Serie rely let out a disdainful sound—
"Tch."
Next to co for the audience was Denken. The mont Serie saw Denken, she imdiately revealed a look of distaste.
"Imperial Court Mage Denken, is it? You have wisdom to spare, abundant experience, and your magic level is not bad. Furthermore, you can bring out sufficient cruelty when the occasion calls for it... It is a pity, you are too old now... I have no interest in dregs that have already burned out. Failure. You may go."
"..."
Denken voiced no objection to this; he simply stood his ground and did not choose to leave.
"Sigh... Serie, even though you are a fellow who has lived for who knows how long, it seems that sothing like [an eye for talent] is not sothing that can be honed by ti."
Fíliya rested her hands on Serie's shoulders. While kneading Serie's shoulders with gentle force, she slowly voiced her own view.
"Hmm? Is there sothing wrong with what I said?" Serie asked in return.
"Why don't you take another careful look?"
Fíliya said nothing more. Instead, she sandwiched Serie's cheeks between the palms of her hands and, slightly forcefully, turned her face to point directly at Denken.
"..."
Serie was slightly startled in her heart. After all... Fíliya was the first fellow who dared to commit such an act of [impudence] against her.
But she didn't say much, and her attention quickly focused on Denken.
"Wait..."
Serie seed to finally realize sothing.
"Denken, when you saw , you considered how to fight ... didn't you?"
Serie probed with so disbelief.
"Just for an instant... Only for an instant, and I abandoned it imdiately," Denken said honestly.
"Very good... Very good..."
Serie's tone was imdiately dyed with delight. For her, a mage who still possessed the desire to fight after [facing her terror] directly was a rare talent.
"You pass. Apologies, my eyes failed . You have indeed not burned out yet."
Serie admitted her mistake quite frankly, then allowed Denken to pass the test.
...Wait until Denken had left, a cheeky grin imdiately surged onto Fíliya's face.
"Do you have nothing to say to ? Like 'thank you' or sothing? If I hadn't reminded you, you would have missed a talent, you know?"
"Tsk, no... By the way, didn't Sense teach you to have manners when eting ? You disrespectful thing."
Serie rolled her eyes directly at Fíliya, but this was only on the surface. In her heart, she was actually becoming more and more satisfied with this young human girl.
After all... whether it was Lernen or Sense and the others, they were all far too [reverent] toward her; conversely, when she was with this unreliable lass Fíliya, she could let down many of her airs and beco incredibly relaxed.
...
Very quickly, Miss Edel also appeared here.
"Failure... I intended to say that, but Fíliya, you surely have sothing to say to , right?"
Serie turned directly to look at Fíliya.
"Mmh, Edel's level can undoubtedly be ranked as a First-Class Mage; you can certainly understand this too, Serie... As for her lack of combat power, I feel that can be solved by [Companions]."
"Is that so... Then she passes."
Serie said no more and agreed directly to Fíliya's proposal. This surprised Edel sowhat, so she hurriedly cast a grateful look at Fíliya before tactfully withdrawing with great delight.
"Since you ntioned [Companions], that child's safety will be your responsibility from now on."
Once Edel had withdrawn, Serie imdiately looked at Fíliya with a mischievous smirk.
"Eh? But I refuse. I have too many things to do in the future... I really can't bring her along."
Fíliya shook her head helplessly.
"Oh? You arbitrarily barged into soone's world, and in the end, you want to dump them and ignore them? You really are a heartless and willful fellow."
"Mmh... I didn't say I'd ignore her completely, did I? If there's a chance, I will still protect her. But with so many First-Class Mages in our Magic Association, there's no need to bind Edel to my side, right?"
"Heh... Do you know what this behavior of yours is called when judged by human standards?"
Serie seed to have found a good opportunity to mouth off at Fíliya, so she appeared exceptionally excited at this mont.
"What is it?"
It was unclear if Fíliya truly didn't understand or if she was pretending.
"To sum it up in one phrase, you really are a [bad thing]."
____
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