Chapter 181 — Catching the Emperor’s Eye
1
Kael swallowed hard.
Outside the tower, there were monsters this powerful?
Perhaps it would be easier to fight inside the tower after all.
Golems.
It was her first time facing a creature with such high magic resistance.
No, wait—she had fought one like this before.
In this situation, there was no choice but to use Cadenza.
Lately, her main focus had been on learning different spells to expand Cadenza’s repertoire.
“Kael, leave this to us.”
“Yes, even if you just support us, we can handle the golem.”
Duarin, and another warrior friend, spoke confidently.
So far, Kael had been the party’s main attacker.
The others had mostly played supporting roles to assist her.
But this time was a little different.
Golems were difficult for mages to handle.
Even so, Kael shook her head.
“It’s fine. Let’s stick to what we always do.”
“You don’t have to overdo it. You can trust us this once.”
“Of course I trust you. But we still need to do things as usual.”
She said with a gentle smile.
Even if the situation had changed, her role hadn’t.
Business as usual.
As long as she continued to unleash powerful magic as always, even the golem would fall.
So, she would push forward, as she always did.
Creating new magic and firing it at her enemies—that was her job, and it hadn’t changed.
“Senior Manus would do the same. So, I’ll do it too.”
“You must really like Senior Manus.”
“He’s a role model for all mages. I understand why she admires him,” Gradi said, nodding.
Kael would be the first to act.
The others would assess the situation and form strategies accordingly.
But so what?
Kael had always ascended the tower by relying on her own instincts—figuring out the enemy’s patterns, attributes, and weaknesses on her own.
This time wasn’t any different.
“Let’s get going.”
Kael’s confident expression made Duarin and their fellow Eagle House member nod in agreement.
From afar, Senior Manus watched them with a smile.
She was beginning to show the true qualities of a leader.
The very qualities he had hoped for her to develop.
[From Group A to Group E of the third-year class, please proceed to the stage.]
“Manus, you got this?”
“Of course.”
“Then let’s do it like we always do.”
Aden, with her newly acquired shield, ascended to the stage.
Elena took her position, ready to exploit the golem’s weaknesses and create the right moment for Manus’ attack.
Even a golem had vulnerabilities.
Especially its joints, which remained a critical weakness in need of improvement.
As they ascended the stage, Manus felt the intense gaze of the Emperor and other dignitaries upon them.
It was far more intense than the way students usually looked at them. It felt heavier, more palpable. Manus frowned slightly at the sensation.
‘If they want a show that badly, I’ll give them one.’
In the past, he might have buckled under the pressure and failed to perform.
But now, he was brimming with confidence.
Before them stood the colossal, shimmering blue giant— the golem.
“Is everyone ready?”
“Yes.”
The overseer, prepared to intervene at any moment, asked.
Those in formation nodded in response.
Thud!
With a heavy step, the golem began to move, signaling the start of the trial.
Simultaneously, Manus’ eyes gleamed with the surge of mana.
2
“Your Majesty. It’s been a while.”
“Indeed, Nyx. Have you been well?”
“Quite. Not much happens when all I do is sit at a desk.”
The Emperor and the Chairman sat side by side in a prime location that offered a clear view of the arena, watching the students.
Manus’ match had just begun.
How would he break through the golem’s tough defenses?
That was one of the questions on the Emperor’s mind.
“As you requested, few will pass this trial.”
“That’s fine. Even in failure, there are always those who shine.”
“You always think several steps ahead, Your Majesty.”
“When running a nation, there are many things to consider.”
The Emperor smiled.
It wasn’t just because of the Chairman’s compliment.
Boom!
A powerful sound reverberated through the arena.
Manus’ spell had struck the crystal golem directly.
As the smoke cleared, the scene revealed something unexpected.
The golem was intact, but the mana barrier surrounding it had vanished.
‘Hmm, impressive…’
The Emperor’s eyes gleamed as he focused on the match.
Others too would be paying close attention to Manus’ magic.
Anyone who could perceive the flow of mana would have noticed the change in the golem.
It was the first time even the Emperor had witnessed such a phenomenon.
‘A spell that shaves down barriers… This will surely become a major topic at the upcoming symposium.’
The Emperor was well aware of the symposium, which would take place in two months.
It was one of the largest magical gatherings on the continent, with many mages from the imperial court participating.
The Emperor, Bradley, had intended to attend, but his busy schedule wouldn’t allow it.
It was a disappointment, as there would certainly be many talented individuals at the event.
If only there weren’t so many important events scheduled in July…
“How is Manus as a student?”
“He’s the finest mage. Far surpassing even his sister, Invidea.”
“Good news for the Caesar family, then.”
The Chairman nodded.
Manus was an invaluable asset.
All the students climbing the tower relied on him.
The Chairman kept his thoughts to himself as he continued.
Come to think of it, the Caesar family had recently gone through a territorial war.
The report would have reached the Emperor as well.
He wondered what the Emperor thought of it.
“After overcoming such trials, I’m sure they’ve grown stronger.”
“The Caesar family needs to become an even sturdier pillar.”
“No one would dare go against Your Majesty’s will.”
The Emperor gave a small nod, signaling the end of the conversation.
The Chairman understood the Emperor’s intent.
A sturdier pillar.
That meant the Emperor was ready to fully back the Caesar family.
The reason?
The answer was likely clear.
Manus.
His dazzling talent must have sparked something within the Emperor.
‘Emperor Bradley… I’ve heard he’s always had an appetite for talent, but I didn’t expect it to be this intense.’
The Caesar family was one of the Empire’s key pillars.
Rather than suppressing the nobles, the Emperor had strengthened them to consolidate the Empire’s power.
The Harrison family had grown that way, and so had other houses.
Now, it was the Caesar family’s turn.
From the academy’s perspective, this could only be a good thing.
The stronger the Caesar family’s position, the better Manus would be able to grow in an ideal environment.
Boom!
This time, the sound came from elsewhere.
“Who is that?”
The Emperor turned his gaze toward a young woman with flowing blue hair.
Kael.
A student whose talent rivaled even that of Manus.
Although her personality differed, she shared many similarities with him.
“Her name is Kael. She’s a commoner.”
“A commoner, you say? Using magic like that in her first year… Intriguing.”
Slurp.
The sound of the Emperor sipping his tea rang loudly.
The power to push back that sturdy golem—it was truly impressive.
The Emperor’s eyes sparkled.
“A commoner, huh…”
It occurred to him that she might soon receive a noble title.
A family name—a symbol of honor that signified the right to establish one’s own lineage.
In this era, only those capable of protecting the world could earn such a name.
Kael, with her dazzling display of magic, had certainly caught the Emperor’s eye.
Roar!
The cheers echoed throughout the entire arena.
Dust billowed in the air, and the referee stood with a stunned expression.
“Indeed, the Caesar family shines brightly.”
“It’s not easy to break a crystal golem like that.”
“True. But look at the others. After all, gems shine brightest when surrounded by ordinary stones. Manus knows how to make himself shine.”
I’m looking forward to his future.
The Emperor quietly smiled as he took in the sight of Manus.
What he had accomplished would certainly make every mage in the arena uneasy.
Time?
To him, the time others spent rushing ahead must seem slow and dull.
That’s how the Emperor felt, and so did the other geniuses.
He slowly rose from his seat.
The birth of a new star—a brilliant one.
He stood to witness it with his own eyes.
3
Rumble…
The massive golem collapsed.
Manus took a breath, absorbing the weight of all the attention on him.
This was the first time he had revealed the [Yugosus] spell to the public.
An evolved form of [Altus].
It wasn’t a 2nd-Class spell, but a 4th-Class level enhancement spell.
Everyone was in shock.
They had never seen or even heard of such magic before.
“Is it so weak because it’s made for students?”
“There’s no way… Given how expensive the materials are.”
“Haha… Well, that makes it even worse.”
Monster.
If this had been a real crystal golem, Manus’ value would skyrocket even more.
Even battle-hardened mages struggled against crystal golems.
The residual mana still roiled in the air.
Just two spells.
And the time it had taken to bring down the sturdy crystal golem? Less than five minutes.
The referee stared dumbfounded at what had once been the golem.
“Is it over?”
Manus, now controlling his mana, asked.
The referee quickly came to his senses and nodded slowly.
“Third-year Group D, assessment complete!”
Waaaaah!
Thunderous applause once again shook the arena.
Even those who had created the golem, those who had watched it, and even the teammates who had fought alongside him, stared at Manus in disbelief.
“Is this real?”
“Didn’t I tell you? Our Manus would do great!”
“Who said our Manus? Anyway, good work.”
Manus nodded with a calm smile.
As he turned to leave the stage, he left behind just one comment.
“It was nothing.”
No one could have predicted how deeply those simple words would resonate.
Leaving behind that lingering sense of awe, Manus stepped down from the stage and glanced at Kael.
At the same time, he saw her carrying the same burden he did.
While everyone else had their eyes fixed on Manus, those on the stage had no time to watch him.
They had to focus on the immediate threat in front of them, unable to afford any distractions.
‘She’s doing well.’
Kael understood how to deal with the golem.
Even if its magic resistance was high, that didn’t make it invincible.
The core of the golem’s resistance was its magic core.
“Good! Keep pushing!”
“One more big hit should do it!”
Gradi, wasn’t it?
If he remembered correctly, they were from a mercenary family close to the Flois family.
In the future, he would join their ranks as a Guardian.
It wouldn’t hurt to start coordinating with him now.
‘Is Senior Nia doing well?’
Nia had seemed anxious earlier.
Group D and Group B weren’t far from each other, so it wouldn’t take long to check on her.
As Manus turned his head, he saw something rather amusing.
Without realizing it, he let out a small laugh.
–TL Notes–
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