Chapter 65: The Skill Test Finally Begins. Aim for C Rank or Higher
"Mejed Mode Change! Mejed Masaharu has arrived..."
The afternoon skill test had finally begun.
At some point, a large circus-style tent had been set up at the testing grounds.
What’s that tent for?
I was curious, but the commentator Raiden was already gone. He had left behind some cryptic line like "We shall meet again at the crossroads of history and destiny."
Ifera Ski was still missing, Lucia and Kemololi were cheering from afar, Raffilia-san was working as test staff, and I was all alone... (bocchi).
More citizens than in the morning had gathered on top of the castle walls, standing shoulder to shoulder.
A priest in blue robes appeared on top of the castle gate. Beside him stood the same group as in the morning, including Anna-san.
"Then, we shall begin the skill test! Those whose names are called, please step forward."
Since Raiden wasn’t here to commentate, I had to pay close attention so I wouldn’t miss how the test worked.
"First contestant! Exam number 1! New workshop foreman from the blacksmith shop, Ban!"
"Yeah!"
The familiar first-up contestant, Ban, stepped forward.
Huh?
He was holding a sword in his left hand, but something that looked like a bundle of straw was sticking out from the back of his pants.
"I’ll use my skill ’Heat’ to raise the temperature of anything I touch!"
Ban raised his sword and closed his eyes, concentrating.
"Haaaaah..."
Fss... Fss...
What’s that sound?
It was coming from Ban... or rather, from the sword he was gripping?
Gradually, the sword began turning red.
I see. A skill perfectly suited for a blacksmith. Or maybe it’s the other way around—he probably became a blacksmith because he has this skill.
From atop the castle walls, the citizens cheered and jeered like they were watching pro wrestling.
"Ban, do your best!"
"Don’t ruin our workshop’s reputation, Ban!"
"You’re too slow! Hurry it up!"
"Too plain!"
"Your nipples are so black—look like raisins!"
They were just as hyped up as yesterday.
Ban pulled out the bundle of straw from inside his pants and pressed it against the sword. It burst into flames with a whoosh. It must have been extremely hot.
Ah, I get it. He was demonstrating his skill in an easy-to-understand way.
The jeers from the audience decreased and the applause grew louder.
On top of the castle gate, the blue-robed priest, Anna-san, and several other examiners were talking among themselves, probably evaluating Ban’s skill.
Oh. It looked like they’d reached a decision. The blue priest announced the result in that familiar, magically amplified voice.
"New workshop foreman from the blacksmith shop, Ban. Skill evaluation: C–"
Anna-san placed a hand on the blue priest’s shoulder and gave a favorable comment.
"An excellent skill. If the opportunity arises, our order would like to request maintenance on our weapons from you."
Whoa! Applause erupted.
Ban bowed repeatedly toward the castle gate, then withdrew while basking in the cheers.
He looked satisfied, and the applause was loud. Even a C– seemed like a pretty good result.
After that, several more people took the skill test, but they all received D or E ranks.
Then, before long, it was Jard’s turn—the one whose true ability was still unknown.
Jard’s turn came surprisingly early. It seemed many people hadn’t even taken the skill test. Not everyone had a skill, apparently.
"Southern dual-wielder Jard! Step forward!"
Jard was a lean, tanned man. True to his title, he carried two swords on his back and gave off the aura of someone extraordinary. Well, not as much as me, though.
Hm?
Jard said something to the examiner on the ground.
The examiner then called up to the judges on the castle gate.
After that, instead of returning to the group of examinees, Jard walked toward the tent.
What? Is he withdrawing?
"Jard has requested a private evaluation, so he will skip the public test."
I see. So it looked like you could choose whether to do the skill test in front of the audience or inside the tent. Most people probably wanted to show off their abilities for job hunting, but it made sense that combat-oriented people would want to keep certain skills hidden.
Sparse applause came from the audience. No booing at all—what well-trained spectators.
In pro wrestling events, when a previously announced wrestler couldn’t appear due to illness or injury, you’d usually hear applause rather than boos from the crowd.
Probably because skills were common in this world, people had developed a good understanding and consideration toward them. The audience was respecting Jard’s wish to keep his skill private.
Well, of course I also wanted to keep my skill hidden.
A skill that wraps a tornado around your dick is fine to show girls, but I definitely don’t want guys seeing it.
"Next! The hope of the world!"
"..."
Who the hell is that? Hurry up and come out.
Clap clap, clap clap clap!
Hand clapping started from the castle walls.
The clapping gradually spread.
"O-Ouma Sahal!" Clap! Clap! Clap clap clap!
"Our hero!" Clap! Clap! Clap clap clap!
"O-Ouma Sahal!" Clap! Clap! Clap clap clap!
"Our hope!" Clap! Clap! Clap clap clap!
It’s me!
Damn you, Priest Gleese. Don’t call me "the hope of the world." Just call me by my name, O-Ouma Sahal. Wait, that’s not even my real name.
I hurriedly stepped out from the examinees and went before the examiner.
The mob knight examiner working on the ground looked at me with suspicious eyes.
"Y-You’re Sahal?"
"Yes, I am?"
Whisper whisper.
Whisper whisper.
The venue was buzzing.
"Could you show your face?"
"Ah, right."
I had been in Mejed Mode because I was self-conscious about people looking at me.
"Masaharu Mode Change!"
I pulled my face out from the long robe.
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
The cheers were so loud it felt like an earthquake.
"O-Ouma Sahal!" Clap! Clap! Clap clap clap!
"Our hero!" Clap! Clap! Clap clap clap!
"O-Ouma Sahal!" Clap! Clap! Clap clap clap!
"Our hope!" Clap! Clap! Clap clap clap!
This chant has really caught on, huh.
Could I bluff my way through by saying something like, "This very scene of inspiring the citizens and raising morale is precisely my skill!"?
I feel like they might buy it, but it’d be scary if the lie got exposed...
"Um, I’d also like the tent test..."
"I see. Understood."
The examiner looked a little disappointed and conveyed my request to Priest Gleese on the wall.
Priest Gleese then announced to the audience that I had requested a private evaluation.
"Our hope, the great hero O-Ouma Sahal, has requested a private evaluation, so he will skip the public test."
Boo!
Boo!
Boo!
Why the massive booing?!
When Jard did it, they gave warm applause to respect his decision. Why am I getting this treatment?
Amid the booing, I heard someone yell "Show us your skill!" But if I whipped out a tornado from my dick, the booing would get way worse, wouldn’t it?
I transformed back into Mejed Mode and moved in front of the tent.
After that, the skill test continued.
Marvela scored a solid B, but after her, almost no one got even a C. Most were D or E.
To take overall first place, I had to get at least a C, but...
Even the gatekeeper A’s "Steel Slash," which could supposedly cut off a ground dragon’s head, only got C–.
Gatekeeper Beat’s defensive skill "Shield of the Celestial Sphere," which created a strong barrier with a 5-meter radius, also got C–.
Skills that seemed way more useful than a dick tornado were still stuck at C–.
On the lifestyle side, the butcher’s mistress Jessica’s skill to dry meat for long-term preservation got C+. The flower shop’s sign girl Alice’s skill to produce water received the second-highest score after Marvela at B–. Makes sense. It would definitely make city life more comfortable and convenient.
Out of roughly 200 examinees, only about 50 took the skill test.
Two B-ranks and four C-ranks. The rest were D or E.
C-rank sounded pretty weak from the name, but it seemed surprisingly rare.
"We will now begin the private evaluations."
When Priest Gleese announced it, four men carrying instruments came out from inside the castle gate, playing music.
Raiden, commentate for me...
Since I was lonely, I did my own self-commentary.
"Those are bards. While the private evaluations are happening inside the tent, they play music so the spectators on the walls don’t get bored. The loud music also helps obscure what’s happening inside the tent."
How’s that, Raiden? Is my commentary accurate?
Only five people were waiting for private evaluations in front of the tent. Those hoping to get jobs in the city naturally wanted to show their skills to the citizens, so private evaluations were the minority.
They all had distinctive, somewhat shady faces and looked like warriors who fought with special abilities.
Hm?
Jard, who had finished his private test first, approached me.
Up close, his sharp gaze was even more striking—like the eyes of a bird of prey. If he glared at you on the battlefield, you’d probably freeze.
"It is an honor to meet you. Ouma Country’s King, O-Ouma Sahal. I am Jard."
He bowed with unexpectedly polite manners, so I released Mejed Mode and switched to Masaharu Mode.
"I’ve heard about you."
He offered his hand, so I reflexively shook it.
"Fufufu. What an unusual person. If my unique skill allowed me to freely manipulate anyone I touched, what would you have done?"
"I didn’t think about it... Hm?"
"Please rest assured. My unique skill is ’Shadow Lurk.’ It cannot be used outdoors during the day, so I simply had my evaluation inside the tent. Now then, excuse me..."
Jard gave a small bow and left.
What was that about? When we shook hands, he slipped something into my hand.
Since I was only wearing the long robe, my arms from the shoulders down were exposed, so I couldn’t hide it in a sleeve.
The fact that he passed it secretly meant he didn’t want others to see it.
No choice then.
"Fuaaaaah..."
I faked a yawn and covered my mouth, secretly glancing at what was in my hand.
It was a piece of what looked like parchment—paper made from tanned sheep or pig skin.
On the small scrap of paper were the words:
『After sunset. North castle gate.』
What the hell is this...?
Why is some random guy summoning me?
I have to help Kemololi’s comrades tonight anyway, so I’ll just forget about this guy.
While I was still feeling uneasy, it was finally my turn.
The examiner beside the tent called my name.
"Next, O-Ouma Sahal!"
"Yes."
I stepped into the tent. It was a large circus-style tent, so the inside was quite spacious. In the center stood Anna Lunametier, leader of the Red Iron Order, and Priest Gleese of the Ryute Church. There were also five other influential-looking people from the city. They were well-dressed and plump, so probably successful merchants rather than warriors. Raffilia-san was there too. She was probably participating as a priestess of the Ralmu Church.
This is bad...
Do I really have to reveal my skill of wrapping wind around my dick here?
I wouldn’t mind showing it to Anna-san and Raffilia-san.
But there were six other men present.
Having them think "Mine’s bigger" would be painful.
Shit... Even though the invisible tornado hides the penis itself, I still have to expose my dick right before activating it...
And on top of that...
Can I even get hard while being watched by a bunch of guys?
Ugh... What do I do?
