The Munchkin Magic Genius is Laughing

Jeff looked at Kedrick with an indifferent expression. Kedrick spoke as if bewildered.

“I could be of great help if you use me as bait….”

“Not necessary. I don’t have the hobby of using someone as bait to begin with, and there’s no need for it. If you really feel sorry, just help me when I ask for it later.”

Wasn’t Kedrick the one who treated Jeff like a scammer from their first meeting and even tried to use his fists? Jeff’s indifferent attitude made Kedrick acknowledge his mistake, and he bowed his head in apology.

“I’m sorry. If you need me later, I’ll help you then.”

“Whatever.”

When Jeff responded indifferently, people around began to criticize him.

[That ill-mannered bastard. Is he acting all high and mighty just because he got a few extra benefits by risking his life? Disgusting. This is why when people without ability get power, they don’t know their place and just cause trouble.]

[Tsk, tsk, rejecting good fortune on his own.]

Ignoring such people, Jeff was checking artifacts at the very front of the waiting room. Jeff gathered his belongings and looked around the audience seats.

As it was an exam hosted by Inspector Mellin, many scouts from various guilds and associations had gathered. With the expectation that they might find an undiscovered gem, they also wanted to glimpse the excellence of how Inspector Mellin would evaluate people this time.

Even roughly estimated, the number seemed to be over 1,000.

‘Quite a crowd.’

As Jeff was thinking this and looking around at people, at that moment.

“Shit… why are those bitches here?”

He spotted the faces of Cloria and Lunia sitting in the audience seats.

◈◈◈◈◈

Cloria, sitting in the audience seats, spoke to Lunia.

“It seems Inspector Mellin has set her mind on this exam.”

Lunia replied to her words.

“It seems so. I heard that Inspector Mellin raises or lowers the difficulty of the exam depending on the level of applicants that year. Could there be someone outstanding enough to use Minotaurs in this exam?”

“They say that man called Kedrick is participating this time.”

“Kedrick?”

Lunia. She also knew the name Kedrick.

No, she couldn’t help but know. In a world dominated by magic and swords, Kedrick was a man who not only brought numerous people to their knees through purely bare-handed combat but also showed significant achievements in the Tower of Trials.

If there was one peculiarity, it was that Kedrick never tried to form a team. Whenever guilds tried to scout him or requested joint climbs, Kedrick firmly refused.

Cloria spoke while glancing at Kedrick’s figure visible in the waiting room.

“Kedrick. To me, a magician, he looks like a dull person, but from a martial arts perspective, there are indeed few as outstanding as him. Monstrous physical abilities. If only he could properly use magic, his reputation would have been much higher than now, which is a pity.”

Lunia slowly examined Kedrick’s appearance from afar.

A large build, and a body that appears to have been trained to death, seemingly ready to burst at any moment. The aura felt from his body was strong enough to match the title of ‘Authority King’, and his gallant expression and confident movements naturally made viewers feel awe.

“He’s different from someone like Jeff.”

Cloria laughed and replied.

“Does it make sense to compare him with Jeff, that pathetic guy who only uses shortcuts? That guy who is a 1-element magician and uses strange abilities is no match.”

There were several reasons why Cloria didn’t like Jeff. A significant part of it was because Jeff was a 1-element magician.

The number of innate elements is one of the excellent factors that can measure a person’s talent. It’s almost like a class one is born with.

From a classist perspective, Jeff’s class is untouchable.

Lunia nodded and asked Cloria.

“By any chance… Jeff won’t perform well in this exam, right? Since I have to report everything today to the Tower Master… I’m concerned.”

“Lunia, you worry about unnecessary things. Isn’t all Jeff knows how to do is using his non-functional brain in his room and enhancing a few artifacts? Rather than worrying about such useless things, you should have constructive concerns like ‘Will monsters start pouring out of the Tower of Trials tomorrow?'”

Only then did Lunia smile and say.

“Well, there’s no way that Jeff guy would show an outstanding performance. I don’t know what poor methods he used in the first stage exam, or if he just tagged along well, but in the second stage exam, with so many people watching, he won’t be able to do anything strange.”

While they were chattering, the sound announcing the start of the test was heard.

“Thank you for waiting. Now, we will begin the second stage exam for the Riness Academy instructor selection!”

◈◈◈◈◈

After Inspector Mellin announced the start of the competition, people began to enter the stadium one by one from the waiting room.

With a buzzing sound, there was a strange feeling as they passed through the barrier.

“My body feels strange.”

“It feels like it’s gotten heavier.”

“Hmm… to this extent… I think I set the synchronization rate too low….”

Those who set their synchronization rate to 10-30% regretted their choice as soon as they entered the stadium. That’s because they were overwhelmed by a strange sensation that felt very different from reality.

“Still, it’s okay. We can use magic, can’t we? If we use various enhancement magics, we’ll be able to move somewhat decently.”

A man uses magic and swings his body around.

“Hmm… now it’s a bit better. The efficiency of magic has also dropped somewhat, but it’s not to a severe level, so it’s fine.”

“Good. Let’s take turns using magic.”

People huddled together. Except for Jeff and Kedrick, everyone formed groups. It wasn’t one large group, but there were about 20 groups consisting of 5-6 people each.

Excluding those who failed the meticulous document screening, those who gave up midway through the first stage exam, and those who gave up midway through the second stage exam, the remaining instructor exam applicants were around 120.

It’s not a huge number, but considering that the initial applicants were in the thousands, and only 10 people would be selected as instructors, it was still an overflowing number.

But Jeff’s interest wasn’t in the chattering people.

‘Why on earth are those bitches here?’

Jeff’s interest was solely focused on Cloria and Lunia in the audience seats.

Are they trying to mock him? Or are they trying to interfere? To begin with, how did they find out he was taking the exam?

Many questions arose. But one thing for sure was that they didn’t seem to have come here with good intentions.

A looking-down gaze. A smile wishing for failure. Cloria and Lunia, whose eyes met with Jeff’s, were clearly mocking him.

‘Did they fix the magic tower properly and then come here? That’s unlikely.’

As far as he knew, after Movement was deactivated, the magic tower went haywire, but he couldn’t understand their intentions to be here in the midst of such a busy situation. Jeff shook his head and concentrated.

‘Let’s not care about those useless girls. I’ll make them regret it. I’ll let them clearly know what kind of person they expelled.’

With that thought, Jeff looked at the artifacts he was holding.

A capture net that can be launched. Simply put, there was a net gun, a pair of shoes that increased movement speed, health, mana, and status abnormality recovery potions, and finally a magic wand.

Net gun, shoes, potion, wand.

It seemed a bit disappointing for the price of a 200% synchronization rate, almost risking his life, but there was no doubt that he had a tremendous advantage compared to those who received nothing.

But the problem was still the Minotaurs.

— Bang!

— Grooowl!

Massive vibrations are heard from around. The Minotaurs are stomping their feet.

Jeff checks the number of Minotaurs. The total number of Minotaurs in the venue is 6. If they launch a coordinated attack, it would be a disaster.

However, the Minotaurs didn’t move and remained standing in place. Each time people move, the movements and postures of the Minotaurs also change subtly.

Catching that subtle difference, Jeff thought.

‘Could it be…?’

“Mr… Mr. Jeff… what do we do if all the Minotaurs suddenly rush in?”

Ariel asked, trembling. But Jeff shook his head and replied.

“Those creatures, they seem to respond only when someone enters their range.”

“Eh…? Really?”

“Yes. Each time people move within a certain range, the movements and postures of the Minotaurs change. Minotaurs outside a specific range don’t respond at all.”

To begin with, asking people to catch 12 Minotaurs as an instructor exam was insane, even considering they were 120 people. Roughly estimating, isn’t it about 1 Minotaur per 10 people?

If Minotaurs from all directions—north, south, east, and west—started rushing in simultaneously, these people, mostly composed of magicians, would be immediately annihilated. It didn’t seem likely that Mellin would do something so absurd.

But, only Minotaurs within a specific range respond. If one could know what that range and position are, it was a test worth trying.

“Let’s test it out.”

Jeff, equipped with artifacts, used magic with his wand.

— Boom!

A massive flame erupted from Jeff’s wand. His only element. The flame hit one of the Minotaurs directly.

“Roaaaaaaaaar!”

As the Minotaur’s cry began to echo throughout the venue,

— Thump thump thump thump!

One Minotaur began to charge towards Jeff at an insanely fast speed.

“Mr… Mr. Jeff what are you doing! I’ll cover you! Run away quickly!”

Ariel, urgently trying to use magic. But Jeff, instead, walked forward and raised his wand.

“No need to run away.”

“Roaaaaaar!”

Eventually, the Minotaur approached right in front of Jeff.

— Whoosh!

Its massive arm was thrust down towards Jeff.

— Crash!