...
{Ember POV}
I stepped into the library, and immediately a small creaking sound resonated under my feet as the wooden floorboards protested my weight.
I looked around with a mixture of curiosity and mild surprise at the size of the library.
It was astonishingly large—no less impressive than the Royal Library I am used to seeing back at the castle.
The shelves stretched high, filled with countless tomes, scrolls, and manuscripts, and the faint scent of old parchment and ink filled the air.
It was truly a wondrous sight, a haven for anyone seeking knowledge.
Without hesitation, I made my way directly to the Librarian, a solemn-looking man with glasses perched on the bridge of his nose.
I addressed him politely, yet with clear purpose, "My name is Tithonus, and I am here to borrow books on Magic Crafting."
The Librarian gave me a knowing look, his golden-brown eyes narrowing slightly as if he already understood the depth of my intentions.
Without a word of judgment, he nodded and quickly began instructing me.
He detailed the exact row and column numbers where the books I sought were located, guiding me efficiently through the labyrinthine shelves.
I offered him a quiet word of thanks and then proceeded to retrieve the books, handling them with care as if their pages themselves contained the breath of the Divine.
The books I held were titled Magic Crafting—By Athena.
One might wonder why books authored by a Goddess herself were freely available for public use, accessible to anyone who sought them.
The reason was surprisingly simple.
Firstly, the concepts introduced in these books were staggeringly complex and abstract.
They were a fusion of magical theory, advanced mathematics, intricate chemical principles, and even the foundations of magical physics—all interwoven in a manner that most ordinary people could barely comprehend.
The majority of adventurers, scholars, and even skilled mages often found these texts extremely difficult, if not impossible, to fully understand.
Secondly, despite the daunting complexity, the content of these books was still considered foundational knowledge—the essential concepts one needed to practice Magic Crafting effectively.
Altena, the city I now resided in, had gained worldwide renown for its production of magical artifacts and enchanted products.
From ships that could traverse oceans without a single sail or gust of wind, using turbines powered purely by magical energy, to refrigerators, automobiles, and even air conditioning systems, Altena's mastery of magical manufacturing was unmatched.
Every innovation, no matter how mundane it seemed, was rooted in the precise and methodical use of magic—a craft that required both creativity and meticulous understanding of the principles laid out in texts such as these.
The majority of scientific and magical advancements in the world were concentrated in Altena.
The city was a hub of innovation, combining rigorous scholarship with practical applications of magic.
After passing a comprehensive examination, one could gain entry into a manufacturing company operated directly under the supervision of Athena herself.
Employment in such a company promised a generous wage, as workers were tasked with producing magical tools and artifacts that would be distributed throughout the world.
One of the fundamental requirements for participating in the production of standardized magical products was simple but demanding: one had to be a qualified magician, possessing both practical magical skill and theoretical knowledge.
Without these, one could not hope to contribute meaningfully to the creation of magical tools capable of meeting the rigorous standards set by Altena's top craftsmen.
My personal objective was clear.
I intended to take the upcoming examination and secure a position within one of Altena's manufacturing companies.
By doing so, I could expand my horizons and gain access to resources and knowledge far beyond what I could acquire alone.
Moreover, through the connections and experience offered by the company, I would eventually have the opportunity to reach the Mystery holders of Altena—the elite individuals who truly understood the underlying principles of magic—and establish myself as a genuine master of Magic Crafting.
Although I already possessed both Mage and Mystery development skills, my level was still only two so I could not afford to expose my abilities.
Until I reached level three, my primary focus would be on comprehending the scientific principles behind magical tools and how magic could be standardized and applied systematically.
Mastering this knowledge now would lay the foundation for exponential growth in both my magical and crafting abilities in the near future.
I carefully flipped the cover of the book, and the very first page bore the heading: Basic Principles of Magic.
It was immediately apparent that Goddess Athena had undertaken the monumental task of systematizing magic, standardizing it into clearly defined attributes similar to how magic was organized in typical isekai worlds.
Although a magician could only learn three spells at a time, this limitation did not necessarily create an advantage or disadvantage based on elemental attributes.
The book soon clarified how magic had been categorized for practical application and study.
According to the text, magic was classified into five distinct types: Elemental Magic, Healing Magic, Purification Magic, Boost Magic, and Attribute-less Magic.
Each type served a unique purpose and adhered to its own principles, providing a framework for understanding, learning, and eventually creating magical tools with predictable and reliable effects.
The classification was logical and precise, demonstrating Athena's unparalleled ability to blend science and magic into a cohesive system, though a part of me said that any isekai otaku could do the same amusingly.
Any magic that manifests the fundamental elements of the world was classified under Elemental Magic.
Because every individual's magic was inherently unique, Elemental Magic could take on an almost infinite number of forms and variations.
However, there were established strengths and weaknesses among the common elemental types.
Fire Magic, for instance, was naturally weak against Ice Magic or Water Magic. Earth Magic, though resilient, was vulnerable to Water Magic, while Wind Magic was at a disadvantage when facing Fire Magic.
Interestingly, Thunder Magic stood apart from these conventional limitations, lacking a clearly defined elemental weakness.
This system allowed for strategic combat and tactical planning, emphasizing both intelligence and creativity in the application of magic.
Following Elemental Magic came Healing Magic.
As the name suggested, this category of magic provided restorative effects of various types, ranging from simple wound healing to advanced regenerative techniques.
Purification Magic, on the other hand, focused on removing or neutralizing harmful abnormal effects, including corrosion, poisons, curses, and other debuffs that could impede a magician or adventurer.
Boost Magic was designed to temporarily enhance a user's fundamental parameters, such as strength, agility, endurance, or magical capacity, providing short bursts of exceptional power when needed.
Finally, Attribute-less Magic encompassed all other types of magic that did not fall into the previously defined categories.
This category served as a catch-all for unconventional or unique magical applications that could not be classified elsewhere.
The book also provided additional details, though I decided to flip back to the table of contents to survey the list of topics before moving forward.
I then turned the page to the section on Thermodynamics.
To my surprise, the material was presented at roughly a high-school level, using clear and accessible language that made even complex concepts straightforward to understand.
Goddess Athena had intentionally simplified the presentation, undoubtedly aware that the general populace of this world might struggle with abstract scientific principles if explained in overly technical terms.
There were no convoluted formulas or excessively complex equations—only the foundational laws of thermodynamics and their direct applications to magical practice.
As I continued flipping through the pages, absorbing the content, I realized that the material was far easier than I had anticipated.
For an average person, especially one of the intelligent Elves known for their wisdom and scholarly aptitude, mastering this material could take between five to ten years before they could pass the entrance examination for a Magic Crafting company.
Humans, on the other hand, had an even slimmer chance of success; their societal tendencies leaned more toward commerce and trade than the rigorous study and application required to become a bona fide Magic Craftsman.
I continued reading well into the night, immersing myself in the explanations, diagrams, and practical applications outlined by Goddess Athena.
Eventually, I reluctantly closed the book, knowing I would need to leave the library for the evening.
I exhaled slowly, reflecting on my plan.
My goal was to become a Magic Craftsman, to combine my growing magical abilities with a solid understanding of the scientific principles behind magical tools.
Goddess Athena had clearly created a new high-paying profession, one that allowed magicians—even those without extensive Mystery development—to craft modern tools and devices powered by mana, provided they possessed a firm grasp of both magic and science.
For instance, appliances and devices such as fridges, ovens, lamps, and countless other everyday tools used throughout the world were all crafted in Altena.
Indeed, many of these innovations, including the highly efficient fridges, had been introduced by Goddess Athena herself and had revolutionized the daily lives of the populace on a global scale.
These magical tools not only made life more convenient but also showcased the seamless integration of science and magic in practical applications.
Naturally, it became my personal goal to gain a systematic and comprehensive understanding of how such advanced magical tools were designed and manufactured before attempting to delve deeper into the enigmatic and far more complex aspects of Mystery.
By mastering the fundamentals of magical crafting first, I would lay a solid foundation that would later allow me to excel in more advanced studies and experiments.
I had dedicated the past six months to rigorous hunting of monsters and practice.
To be entirely honest, I was slightly behind schedule since the entrance exam was only a few months away, but I was confident that I could complete the required preparation in time.
The syllabus for the exam was well within my capability, and much of the theoretical knowledge was already familiar to me from my previous life.
With focused effort and careful planning, I believed that I could bridge the gap and perform exceptionally well on the test.
...
{3rd Pov}
Ember devoted himself to daily study with unwavering determination.
He temporarily halted his usual solo hunting expeditions and only ventured out once a week to accompany the Thunder Lance party, treating those excursions as both practice and a means to maintain his combat readiness.
The remainder of his time was consumed entirely by books, and notes.
Every day, he poured himself into mastering theory, experimenting with magical tools such as lamp, and understanding the principles behind them.
The Magic Craftsman exam, scheduled for the end of the year, loomed ever closer, and Ember worked tirelessly to ensure that he would pass with flying colors.
His new party members were taken aback by his relentless commitment and tried, more than once, to persuade him to reconsider.
After all, the exam was notoriously difficult, even for Elves who were known for their exceptional intelligence and magical aptitude.
Typically, Elves dedicated years—sometimes decades—of study to prepare for the exam, and the intense focus required could easily disrupt a young adventurer's career.
It was generally only after retiring from active adventuring that Elves pursued the path of a Magic Craftsman, carefully transitioning from combat to scholarship.
However, Ember was still young, and his potential as an adventurer was nothing short of extraordinary.
According to Lance herself, Tithonus possessed the capability to rise to the level of a first-rate adventurer within a few decades if he trained and fought consistently.
Sacrificing even a fraction of his precious time could be seen as unwise.
Yet, Ember remained resolute.
He ignored their concerns entirely, viewing the syllabus of the exam as overly simple compared to the grueling competitive examinations he had faced in his previous life.
For him, the material was manageable, and his confidence in his ability to master it in time remained unshakable, fueling both his determination and his daily efforts.
With the added perk of his near-eidetic memory, the entire syllabus proved to be an absolute breeze for Ember.
Concepts that would normally take weeks of study for other candidates were absorbed by him in mere hours, allowing him to recall formulas, magical theories, and intricate crafting techniques with almost perfect clarity.
The Thunder Lance party, despite their concern and repeated attempts, eventually gave up on persuading him to reduce his study load.
Ember continued to accompany them only occasionally, primarily for training or hunting expeditions, while the majority of his time remained devoted to intense preparation.
In the ten months since arriving in Altena, his personal parameters had advanced remarkably.
His physical stats had reached grade D across the board, while his magical ability had soared to grade B—a level considered extremely high for someone who was not continuously engaging in combat like Aiz Wallenstein, who fought powerful monsters on a daily basis.
His growth had been astonishingly rapid.
Ember understood why.
His abilities and inherent skills were synergizing perfectly.
Despite fighting relatively weak monsters, he had steadily gained experience points, or Falna, due to his Limit Breaker skill, which constantly pushed and broke his limits, allowing him to surpass normal growth restrictions.
Additionally, his Double Croissance ability accelerated his parameter growth by twice, effectively granting him an experience multiplier that far exceeded ordinary adventurers.
Together, these skills made him practically unstoppable in terms of leveling, a combination that felt nothing short of cheating compared to ordinary standards.
Now, the first round of the Magic Craftsman exam was about to begin, and Ember had already submitted his application along with the required fee of 10,000 valis.
He took a deep, steadying breath before taking his allocated seat in the vast exam hall.
More than a hundred elves and three humans were participating in this initial round, though he knew that roughly half of them would be eliminated at this stage.
The remaining candidates would proceed to the next stage, which included interviews and practical assessments, and ultimately, the number who would successfully pass the entire examination was subjective.
Depending on the performance of the first-round passers, it was possible that all might advance, or only a select few would be deemed qualified.
Soon, the examiners and invigilators arrived, carrying stacks of meticulously prepared question papers.
The seating had been arranged with significant spacing between candidates, preventing any chance of copying or unauthorized collaboration.
Invigilators began patrolling the hall continuously, their eyes sharp and vigilant, ensuring that no one attempted to cheat.
Finally, the question papers were distributed, along with quills, ink, and dozens of blank sheets of paper for rough work and calculations.
The exam was scheduled to last five grueling hours, testing not only the candidates' knowledge and understanding but also their endurance, focus, and ability to apply their skills under pressure.
Ember, as always, was calm and composed, ready to tackle the challenge ahead with confidence and the advantage of his extraordinary memory.
The moment the exam began, Ember carefully glanced over the questions, his eyes scanning each one with precise focus.
No extra time had been allocated for reading, so he had not yet started writing on his answer sheet until this very moment.
As he read through the questions, a slight smirk appeared on his face.
They were either incredibly straightforward or merely long-winded, requiring attention to detail but not true intellectual effort.
While the majority of the other candidates were scribbling furiously, their quills scratching against the paper with urgency, Ember took his time, reading through the questions not once, but twice, to ensure he fully understood every nuance before committing to an answer.
Time passed quickly, and within two hours, Ember had already completed the exam.
'It's like sitting through a 10th-grade board exam all over again,' he thought, a hint of amusement in his mind.
Most of the questions were simple, testing basic comprehension and knowledge, though a few required critical thinking and problem-solving.
Even those, however, were well within his grasp.
With ample time remaining, Ember decided to double-check his work.
Methodically, he went through each answer, verifying calculations, reviewing theoretical explanations, and ensuring that his responses were as accurate as possible.
Another hour slipped by as he meticulously re-read everything.
He was confident about every single answer—except one.
It was a question from the subject he despised the most: Chemistry.
For Ember, mathematics was manageable, almost enjoyable, because he could brute-force his way through calculations by systematically rewriting sums and checking each step.
Chemistry, however, was a different matter entirely; the memorization, reactions, and compound interactions had always been his weakness.
After staring at the problem for several minutes, his patience waning, he decided to resort to his ultimate last-resort method—a technique that, more often than not, had worked for him in the past.
'Eeeny meeny miney moe! Mujhe chaiye pineco,' he muttered under his breath, randomly choosing an answer and jotting it down on the page.
It was a pure guess, left entirely to fate.
He silently hoped that luck would favor him this time, praying to his Goddess Aurora for guidance and perhaps a small blessing—whether divine insight or merely her good fortune, he wasn't entirely sure.
A mischievous thought even crossed his mind, wondering if her charm would somehow influence the outcome.
For the next two hours, Ember continued reviewing the entire exam, going over each question repeatedly, refining and confirming his answers where necessary.
Time dragged, but he maintained his concentration, unwilling to leave anything to chance except that single chemistry problem.
By the time the invigilator announced the end of the exam, he was physically tired from the mental exertion, though internally, he felt a quiet sense of satisfaction, confident that he had done well.
As he stepped out of the exam hall, Ember was surprised to see Jasmine waiting there, a warm smile lighting up her face. "Jasmine? What are you doing here?" he asked, clearly caught off guard.
She laughed softly, a hint of amusement and concern in her eyes.
"You had exams today, right Tet? I came here to wish you luck," she explained, her hand lightly brushing against his arm in a gentle, reassuring gesture that made his heart skip a beat.
'Damn another one?', Ember thought amused at his ability to attract woman, however he knew he had no feelings for Jasmine.
"When I arrived, I couldn't find you anywhere, so I waited until the exam ended. I just wanted to be here for you… to show my support."
Ember blinked, a mixture of surprise and appreciation crossing his features.
Her words touched him more than he cared to admit.
"So… how did it go?" she asked, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.
While the rest of her party members—including Lance—had been skeptical, doubtful that Tithonus could pass on his very first attempt, Jasmine had always believed in him.
She had seen the hours of dedication, the effort he had poured into his studies, and knew that although passing on the first attempt was difficult, it was not impossible.
After all, only about ten percent of candidates managed to pass the written exam on their first try.
Ember's expression remained calm, measured, as he replied, "I will pass."
There was no arrogance in his tone, only quiet confidence.
He knew that he would score well over ninety points, while the passing threshold for the first round was a mere forty points.
Jasmine nodded, her expression filled with understanding and reassurance.
"Cheer up! I knew you would pass! I just had faith in you all along," she said warmly, patting his shoulder in encouragement.
Then, with a playful smirk, she added, "Anyway, you must be exhausted after all that work. How about we visit a restaurant and fill our tummies? Don't worry about paying, I insist—it's my treat."
Ember grinned in response, the corners of his lips curling with amusement.
"Very well," he said, his eyes twinkling with humor, "then I shall empty your pockets in return," he joked, laughing lightly.
With that, the two of them made their way to a well-known restaurant, selecting a cozy table and ordering a generous meal to satisfy their appetites.
Ember dug in heartily, savoring the food and the rare moment of relaxation.
Little did he know that after this simple outing, there was a surprise that would catch him completely off guard.
...
After meticulously checking every single exam paper, the examiners were left completely stunned.
One candidate, in particular, had scored an astonishing 98 out of 100 points!
At first, murmurs of suspicion filled the room—some immediately assumed the student must have cheated, as no one had ever achieved such a remarkable score before.
However, when the Chief Examiner reminded everyone that the exam papers had been personally crafted by Goddess Athena herself and had been copied meticulously under the watchful eyes of several experienced adventurers, the examiners slowly realized that the probability of cheating in this case was extraordinarily low.
"S-Should we inform Goddess Athena about this remarkable score?" one of the younger examiners asked hesitantly, still unsure whether such unprecedented results warranted immediate attention.
The Chief Examiner, however, remained calm and measured, replying, "There is still the interview portion left. Let us notify her only if he successfully passes the interview. That will be the true measure of his capabilities."
The other examiners nodded in agreement, understanding the logic behind his decision.
In fact, Ember's score was unprecedented.
Not only did he pass with flying colors, but he also achieved the highest score ever recorded in the history of this particular exam.
Previously, the highest score had been a respectable 92 points, which only served to underscore how incredibly exceptional Ember's performance truly was.
A week later, the interview portion of the exam was scheduled, and the faces of the Thunder Lance party members were priceless when they discovered that Ember had not only passed but had done so in spectacular fashion.
"See! I told you that Tet would breeze through this exam without any trouble!" Jasmine exclaimed proudly, her chest slightly puffed out with pride, a satisfied smile lighting her face.
"Stop acting as if you were the one who actually took the exam," Lance muttered, rolling her eyes in mild exasperation.
She then turned her attention to Ember and said with a genuine smile, "Congratulations, Tet. You have successfully passed the written portion of the exam. Now, there is just one more obstacle to overcome, and after that, you will officially become a Magic Craftsman."
One by one, the rest of the party followed suit, offering their congratulations and words of encouragement.
Ember nodded and offered a simple, polite "thank you" to everyone, acknowledging their support, before making his way to the grand hall where the interview would be held.
"Tithonus Ber," the interviewer called, his voice calm yet authoritative.
The Chief Examiner himself, known for his strict and discerning nature, sat across from Ember, scrutinizing him carefully.
His sharp, calculating gaze measured every movement and every microexpression, as if trying to detect any hint of dishonesty or unearned brilliance.
'Let's see if you are truly a prodigy, or just a clever cheater,' he thought silently to himself, mentally preparing to unleash the most challenging and formidable questions ever posed in an interview.
Ember straightened his posture, suppressing any hint of nervousness.
This was the final test—the ultimate measure of his skill, intellect, and potential as a Magic Craftsman.
To be continued…
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