...And then, as one hour passed, and two hours passed, my turn finally drew near.
Yeah, that's the downside of being at the back of the line.
Just when it was down to three people before my turn, an examiner from another group approached the examiner in charge of my group.
"Our group has finished the exams for all the candidates we were assigned. We can take on a few more."
Oh, I know that slightly high-pitched, sexy voice of this man all too well.
Look, it's my brother, Aldio!
When I saw the face of the examiner who had spoken, I nearly collapsed to my knees.
What are you doing, brother?
Can't you see? Every other examiner, once their group was done, just packed up and left without helping.
Please, just go home!
I glared at my brother with all the intensity I could muster.
But to no avail, my brother was assigned to take charge of the three of us, including me.
...Whatâs it like to have your own brother handle both the first and third exams, which determine the pass or fail?
Even if I pass, wonât this lead to complaints later?
As I agonized over this impossible situation, my brother gracefully stepped onto the examination platform.
"Wait, 'Ice Knight' himself is going to be our opponent?"
"Awesome, this is a real honor!"
The other two candidates whispered excitedly.
No, itâs not an honor at all.
My brother doesnât hold back. The three of us will be utterly crushed.
...Sure enough, as predicted, the first candidate gave up after two minutes, and the second after one and a half minutes.
Wow, itâs been a while since Iâve seen my brother in action, but his sword skills are still textbook perfect.
Accurate and precise sword movements.
...Thereâs no way I can win by fighting him head-on. The skill gap is too wide.
Itâs a one-hit kill, or a one-hit success. I need to use a special attack.
"Fia, come at me with the intent to kill."
...He quietly provoked me.
Ha ha ha, Iâm not buying it. Heâs trying to get me to attack recklessly.
I decided to cheat subtly.
I took a magic stone from my chest pocket and inserted it into the hole at the pommel of my sword.
Of course, itâs a magic stone I processed from the one given to me by the Black Dragon Zabiria.
Whether itâs a weapon or armor, the material determines the maximum magic that can be imbued.
For an iron sword, the limit is double attack power and double speed.
In contrast, magic stones are easier to imbue with magic compared to other materials. A 5-centimeter magic stone, which can only be obtained from A-rank monsters, is valuable and can imbue powerful magic.
"Brother, try my ultimate move, the 'BiriBiri Sword'!"
I faced my brother on the examination platform and proudly announced the name of my ultimate move.
"...You should expand your vocabulary. Thatâs just an onomatopoeia."
He narrowed his eyes slightly and replied in a flat tone.
Always lecturing! I should be allowed to name my ultimate move whatever I want!
As the signal to start was given, I lunged at my brother.
Clang!
One exchange.
Just one exchange, and my brother collapsed to his knees.
"Ha ha ha ha ha, did you see the power of the 'BiriBiri Sword'!!"
I stood with my hands on my hips and proudly announced the name of my ultimate move again.
My brother, still on one knee, supported himself with his sword and glared at me intensely.
"What did you do..."
"Itâs a status effect, brother. Touching this sword causes paralysis with 100% probability."
"Wha..."
My brother glared at me in disbelief.
"Where did you get such a powerful magic sword! Did you ask the Black Dragon? And when will this paralysis wear off?!"
"Thirty minutes or an hour? At least, it wonât wear off in three minutes. But the examiners wonât know that, so if I stand here with my sword ready for three minutes, you wonât be able to move, and Iâll win and pass."
"...Is it okay to win like that, with such a cheap trick?"
"Ridiculous question, brother. The loser has no right to speak. A win is a win."
"I never taught my sister such chivalry..."
"Of course not. Youâve been ignoring me lately. I donât remember learning it from you."
I answered with a smirk, and he glared at me with intense eyes.
"Remember this, Fia..."
Oh, scary. Thatâs quite a dramatic line.
For three minutes, my brother glared at me from his position, and the time ran out.
The examiners and the crowd present stared in shock at the "Ice Knight" who had collapsed to his knees after just one exchange.
It wasnât until I returned to the inn that I realized I had stood out again, just like in the first exam.