Tokyo, Shinjuku District.
A towering building about thirty stories tall rose among the cluster of skyscrapers—this was the " League of Mage Knights: Japan Branch."
After a long three-hour car ride, Haramura Makoto and Shinguuji Kurono finally arrived.
But instead of beginning the tests right away, they were led by staff into an elevator that took them straight to the very top floor of the building.
And so, upon entering the office, Makoto saw a man.
A man with stern features, short hair, dressed in a suit.
"Hmph, so you've come, Shinguuji Kurono."
Contrary to his severe appearance, the man was sitting slouched in his chair with a rude attitude, not even bothering to stand up.
"Yes, I'll be in your care today, Deputy Chief Kurogane."
Being treated so discourteously, Shinguuji Kurono naturally showed no pleasant expression. Instead, she snapped back at him.
And it was a sharp retort indeed.
Everyone knows that for many deputy positions—vice principal, vice captain, vice minister—the word "vice" is the most sensitive nerve one can touch.
Because it's like a constant reminder that they're one rank lower than the actual chief.
This branch chief was no different.
At least in the Japan Branch, nobody ever called him "Deputy Chief." People usually called him just "Chief" or "Chief Kurogane."
But Kurono intentionally addressed him otherwise.
"Hmph—"
Another cold snort. Kurogane Itsuki didn't press the issue further, but instead shifted his gaze toward Haramura Makoto.
"So it's you?"
"Ah, yes, that's me, Kurogane—Deputy Chief."
Although he didn't know what grudge existed between Shinguuji Kurono and this man, Haramura Makoto knew that trying to please both sides would be a foolish move.
Of course, he chose to side with Kurono.
"Sharp tongue, aren't you?"
Kurogane Itsuki's expression turned even colder.
His hand slid under the desk, pulled open a drawer, and retrieved a sheet of paper, which he placed on the desk.
"Fill in your most accurate information on this. Then go down for the tests. Staff will guide you."
"Oh, oh! Then I'll go take the tests now."
Makoto stepped forward, picked up the paper, and without a glance backward, left the office.
He had no interest in meddling in this kind of clash of titans.
"In that case, I'll be taking my leave as well."
Makoto's way of leaving without looking back made Kurono's lips twitch, but she too didn't want to remain in the same room with this stubborn man.
She prepared to leave as well.
"Wait!"
Just as Kurono was about to step out, Kurogane Itsuki's voice rang again.
"What is it, Deputy Chief Kurogane?"
Too weary to even turn around, Kurono responded while holding the door handle.
"You should be well aware… that boy's existence is a direct challenge to the established system. Must you really go this far?"
Kurono's footsteps resumed, leaving behind only her resolute attitude.
"I've never liked this system in the first place. The measure of strength should be proven in battle. So throw whatever tricks you want at me."
The testing process wasn't particularly complicated.
Just like the six categories listed under branch abilities, the tests here also evaluated six parameters.
Attack power and defense power were simple.
Makoto summoned his device, unleashed his strongest offensive and defensive techniques, and had their strengths measured.
Magic capacity and magic control were also straightforward.
For capacity, all he had to do was unleash his magic at full force, and they could measure the total amount.
As for control, it was more like using chopsticks—repeatedly using a fixed attack pattern while measuring the magic consumption.
The fluctuation up or down determined the rating.
Physical ability was no different from athletic testing: sprinting 100 meters in seconds, lifting different barbells.
Luck was a more amusing test.
They placed him in a room full of laser traps, and without using magic, he had to rely purely on instinct to walk through.
The fewer times he was hit, the higher his luck rating.
"Hand it over. Let me see what kind of guy you really are."
Back in the car, Kurono had barely settled into her seat before stretching her hand toward Makoto in the back.
"As I expected, it's… well, so-so, I guess." Makoto gave the sheet one last look before passing it over to Kurono.
"So-so?"
Kurono squinted at the paper, then rolled her eyes at him.
"This is your idea of 'so-so'?!"
Name: Haramura Makoto
Age: 15
Nationality: Japan
Devices: Pistol Kūretsu ("Void Rend"), Long Sword Ametsuki ("Rain Moon")
Ability: Time-Space Manipulation, Causality Interference Type
Attack Power: A
Defense Power: A
Magic Capacity: A
Magic Control: D
Physical Ability: A+
Luck: A+
Overall Knight Rank: A
"You're seriously bragging, aren't you? With stats like this, you still call it 'so-so'?"
Even though she had already expected much from yesterday's battle with Makoto, she nearly went blind from the dazzling numbers on the paper.
Especially that A+ luck value—she had never seen such a thing.
What did that even mean?
It probably meant that even non-targeted attacks would struggle to hit him at all.
As for the A+ physical ability, that didn't surprise her.
In fact, based on Nene's explanation yesterday, she was more surprised it hadn't reached the legendary S rank.
"But your magic control is a little low. Only a D? With control that poor, I really could believe you were living as a wild man in the mountains before."
Ignition, acceleration—the car moved off smoothly.
In this world, only magic capacity was fixed. Control and physical ability could be improved through training.
Usually, poor stats were due to being tested too early, before proper training.
"Well, that's why I'll be counting on the teachers at school to guide me."
"Don't worry."
"…Wait. If I'm not mistaken, this road doesn't look like the one we took earlier. Are we taking a detour?"
The unfamiliar route piqued Makoto's curiosity just as he was about to nap.
"Coincidentally, a very important person is arriving by plane. We're going to pick them up on the way."