Libra—the battle mage training institution under the authority of the Radeus family.
As an organization responsible for cultivating warriors for the Radeus clan, one of the two great powers competing for supremacy across the continent, Libra differed greatly from ordinary academies.
“So simply finding the place is part of the entrance exam, huh.”
Libra did not judge applicants by talent alone. Of course, those lacking talent would naturally be weeded out early, but officially, that was the policy.
“Every year, around a hundred people enter Libra,” Chloe said, sharing what she knew with Nerha. “But the number of challengers approaches five hundred.”
“Members of families tied to the Radeus clan. People who reject the traditional magic towers and dream of becoming battle mages. Even ordinary fools hoping to rise in status by joining Radeus. Every year, all kinds gather there.”
“Sounds dreadful.”
Graduating safely from Libra practically guaranteed a position of importance within the Radeus family.
After all, Radeus was a colossal force that split the continent in half alongside the famed swordsmanship family, Kephren. The strength of a single household surpassed the military might of most nations.
“But is it really that difficult to get there? If twenty percent pass, it can’t be impossible…”
Naturally, Libra was unlike any ordinary educational institution. Given its purpose, it was constantly exposed to external threats, which meant security had to be extremely tight.
And yet the entrance exam was simply this:
Find Libra’s location and arrive there by a designated date and time.
If security is that important, shouldn’t they hide the place as thoroughly as possible? Why would they choose a method that practically invites infiltration? Something about this feels off…
As Nerha tilted his head in thought, Chloe frowned slightly.
“You didn’t know?”
“Know what?”
“Libra’s location.”
“Nope.”
“…Are you really part of the direct bloodline?”
There had been nothing about it in Nerha’s memories, and until now he had focused entirely on improving his strength. He had never cared where Libra was located.
When he tilted his head again, Chloe pressed a hand to her forehead as if she had a headache before answering.
“Libra is located at the summit of the Palarest Mountain Range.”
“The Palarest Range?”
The name sounded incredibly familiar.
After thinking for a while, Nerha suddenly clapped his hands.
“Ah! You mean those mountains behind the city up north?”
“To think the madman calling the Palarest Mountains ‘the hills out back’ would be my lord…”
The Palarest Mountain Range was located only a few kilometers away from Veritas, the City of Magic itself.
“Pretty close.”
“Yes, close. Climbing it is another matter entirely.”
As though recalling unpleasant memories, Chloe grimaced.
“The highest peak where Libra is located reaches around four thousand meters. And the terrain is terrible. To reach it, you have to cross multiple mountains that each rise several thousand meters high.”
Now accustomed to the world’s measurements, Nerha let out a low groan.
“Four thousand meters… that’s pretty brutal.”
Compared to the Five Great Mountains of the Central Plains from his previous life—most of which hovered around two thousand meters—it was undeniably high.
“So the real purpose of the entrance exam isn’t locating Libra. It’s climbing the mountain.”
“Exactly.”
If the institution sat in such terrain, it would indeed be nearly impossible for outsiders to invade even without concealing its location—much like the Hundred-Thousand Great Mountains where the Demonic Cult had once made its headquarters.
“But unless someone’s incredibly skilled, climbing a mountain range like that is practically gambling with your life.”
At Nerha’s question, Chloe smirked and lifted her steaming teacup.
“Obviously, most people receive support from their families. Isn’t that obvious?”
“Huh?”
“Most applicants come from magic families connected to Radeus or from wealthy households. The only ones foolish enough to climb the mountain on their own are those without family power or resources.”
Statistically, only two or three people at most succeeded that way in any given class.
“As far as I know, last year there weren’t any at all. If they fail to get in and don’t give up early, they usually die on the mountain.”
With terrain like that, even returning alive would be dangerous.
“What’s there to worry about anyway? Young Master Nerha will probably have a red carpet laid all the way to Libra’s gates.”
“……”
No matter how weak Nerha’s influence within the family was, he still lived in a three-story mansion attended by over a dozen servants.
That privilege came from Radeus—more specifically, from the wealth of his mother, Roselia Radeus.
And naturally, there was no way she would send her son to Libra without preparations.
…Mother.
During the past three months, Nerha had met Roselia Radeus only twice.
Once after escaping the cave.
And once after meeting Neiha.
She was an ambitious woman.
It wasn’t that she lacked affection for her child, but Roselia genuinely intended to make her younger sister, Neiha, the future head of the family.
Which meant she viewed Nerha as a shield—someone who would protect Neiha until she matured into a complete mage.
“Of course Mother would do that, but I still don’t like it.”
“Don’t like what?”
“Libra is supposed to train battle mages, isn’t it? Borrowing family influence and power just to pass the entrance exam feels wrong.”
“…What?”
“Kids these days…”
“……”
The person currently sitting at the very pinnacle of family influence and power in this year’s class was saying this nonsense with a completely straight face.
That was exactly what Chloe’s eyes seemed to say.
“You sound like you’re planning to challenge it with nothing but your own body.”
“That’s the plan.”
“…You’re serious?”
Stretching his shoulders, Nerha gave a long yawn. The muscles he had painstakingly built over the last few months shifted beneath his clothes.
“Why would an institution hidden deep in a harsh mountain range make ‘find your own way here’ part of the entrance requirements?”
“……”
“You could interpret it as a way to acknowledge differences between families and weed out those born without privilege… but I don’t think that’s the real reason.”
“Do you truly believe that?”
Nerha failed to notice Chloe’s expression slowly sinking.
“A ‘combatant’ isn’t someone who’s merely good at fighting. If a mage is simply skilled with magic, people call them a high-ranking mage—not a battle mage.”
During the Great War between the Orthodox and Demonic factions, the ones who had cut off the Demonic Cult’s lifeline—and the ones who survived until the very end—weren’t merely those with the strongest martial arts.
“To continue a mission to the end requires physical endurance and mental resilience. The ability to make accurate judgments in extreme situations. And above all…”
Nerha grinned.
“The guts to stab someone even when they’re far stronger than you.”
“Y-Young Master Nerha?”
“Only those who possess such qualities deserve to be called combatants.”
“……”
“If Libra truly intends to raise warriors who represent the military might of Radeus, then they must have a firm educational philosophy and vision. There’s no way they’d begin by teaching people to rely on others.”
After listening to his reasoning, Chloe stared blankly before speaking softly.
“Perhaps…”
“Hmm?”
“Perhaps Libra will become a tremendous opportunity for you, Young Master Nerha.”
Had she once shared some connection with Libra?
Her eyes seemed to gaze into a distant past.
Unable to understand her meaning, Nerha frowned.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That is…”
Chloe placed a finger against her lips and winked.
“Classified information.☆”
Crack!
At that moment, the joints in Nerha’s fist popped loudly, as though searching for something to punch.
One week later.
“Young Master, are you truly certain about this?”
Ged, the head butler of Nerha’s estate, had looked restless since dawn.
The moment Nerha announced he would bring only a single attendant, Ged had nearly fainted trying to stop him.
“Lady Roselia prepared a team of top-class explorers and a full escort unit. To leave them behind and take only Samir, a mere trainee butler, is…”
“It’s fine. I appreciate Mother’s consideration, but there’s no need to drag around a crowd of attendants like everyone else.”
“B-But still!”
Patting Ged on the shoulder, Nerha reassured him.
“Don’t worry. You won’t suffer any consequences because of this.”
“T-That is very reassuring, sir!”
Ged’s face immediately brightened. For a first-rate butler of the Radeus household, he was absurdly focused on self-preservation. Nerha had already decided he would eventually need replacing.
“Well then, see you later.”
Ged and the servants watched Nerha leave the estate with Samir following behind him, their gazes complicated.
There was no way they hadn’t noticed the changes in Nerha over the past few months.
His physique alone had transformed dramatically, muscles now visible where none existed before.
Still, because he no longer wasted entire days lounging in the mansion and instead spent his time either training or buried in Chloe’s library, very few truly understood just how much he had changed.
“Y-Young Master… are you really sure this is okay? Even now, wouldn’t it be better to bring guards…?”
Samir, the trainee butler chosen to accompany him, followed with a tearful expression.
“It’s not even that far from here to the destination. Besides, you’re not climbing the mountain anyway, so just keep quiet and follow me.”
“B-But what if we’re attacked on the way…?”
Grabbing Samir’s cheeks and stretching them, Nerha frowned.
“You’ve received combat training too, haven’t you? Why act so weak?”
“T-That’s—!”
“If I give an order, you obey it.”
Nerha had long since realized Samir’s timid behavior was an act.
Radeus butlers did not learn magic, but even trainees possessed combat abilities comparable to decent knights.
Even Ged, who constantly bowed and scraped before Nerha, was easily strong enough to be considered a first-rate expert.
And Samir, despite appearances, could probably kill both Becker and Zecron in a real fight.
Watching him pretend to be helpless was honestly ridiculous.
As Nerha boarded the carriage bound for the entrance to the Palarest Mountains, he fell into thought.
I wonder if Chloe handled things properly…
Once admitted to Libra, students were required to remain there for at least five years.
Naturally, that meant a long separation from Chloe.
She said she’d make sure to support me properly, then vanished somewhere without another word… Well, she’ll probably be fine.
She was strong enough that worrying about her felt unnecessary.
Over the past three months, as Nerha became more familiar with the Radeus family, the only person he had seen who clearly surpassed Chloe was Felix Radeus, director of the Internal Support Bureau.
As the carriage departed the city and headed north—
Quite a lot of them.
Nerha noticed a large procession of carriages traveling in the same direction.
Most were likely applicants heading to Libra, along with those accompanying and assisting them.
And as they continued farther north, the number of carriages sharing the road steadily increased.
