So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

"Snake Snake, huh..."

Pelerian scoffed at me.

Though not to the point of laughing out loud with a cackle.

'Why? It's similar to you, old man. Similar to that grand magician Caspian too.'

"Don't say such disappointing things."

In my view, they're completely similar and just really cool, but he's clearly criticizing for no reason.

"Mr. Snake Snake, what a wonderful name."

At that moment, the receptionist said so.

Obern's eyes widened. That guy, it's not something to be that surprised about.

"R-Really?"

"Yes. It has the gravitas befitting a grand magician."

She says so. As expected, my sense wasn't wrong.

"Magicians in magic towers are all somewhat twisted. That receptionist is also a tower magician, so it's natural her common sense is twisted."

That's what Pelerian said.

Honestly, for a mad magician who's the most twisted person himself to say such things. How shameless.

But his words weren't completely baseless slander.

"Originally, there are few magicians with ordinary ways of thinking. Now imagine putting those magicians in a tower where they only interact with each other. How twisted would they become among themselves? That's why I hate tower magicians."

'Was that Caspian guy like that too?'

Caspian was the tower master during Pelerian's active period.

Though much younger than Pelerian, it was said his magical attainment surpassed Pelerian's, and perhaps because of that, their relationship clearly seemed poor.

"That guy... didn't seem like a tower magician."

But an unexpected evaluation came out.

"In some sense he was crazy, but definitely different from the crazy old folks here. Maybe because he was young... Never mind. Let's not talk about this."

Already the receptionist was guiding Obern and Amain.

"For promotion, you need to pass a basic written exam and an interview with a high-ranking magician. Let's start with the written test first."

Obern was now a hot topic figure counted among the 8 Heroes.

The magic tower seems quite exclusive. To make even someone like Obern take a written test.

Perhaps external evaluations don't matter to them.

"Since there are two of you, just take the test in the same room. Please wait a moment. I'll bring the test papers."

It's not like they're taking a college entrance exam or something.

I quietly moved onto Amain's shoulder.

And asked:

'Amain. Want help with the test? If I help, you can get perfect marks.'

With Pel-muwiki, the tower's tests are not an issue.

The rank that can be obtained through tests at the tower goes up to 7th rank.

1st rank is for novice magicians, and people who have learned even a little magic are automatically treated as 1st rank magicians.

Amain, who hasn't registered with the tower yet, is naturally a 1st rank magician.

Amain's goal is to be promoted to 2nd rank magician.

"No! I'll take the test with my own power!"

Nobly, Amain said so.

I patted Amain's head with my tail.

'Right, you can do well.'

Amain has always studied magic diligently.

He should be able to rise easily to at least 3rd rank with his own power.

I returned to Obern again.

What Obern seeks to obtain is 6th rank.

In fact, from 6th rank, one officially gains the qualification to be called a 'mage.'

It seems mage is treated as something of an upgraded version of magician.

Being called one of the 8 Heroes, it wouldn't look right if he wasn't a mage.

'How about you? Want help?'

"Hmm."

Obern also spoke with determination.

'I'll take the written test with my own power at least.'

'Well done, Obern!'

Obern said that too.

He seems to have grown quite a bit as well.

Soon, the receptionist returned.

"I brought the test papers...!"

But the returning receptionist wasn't alone.

Two old men came in together.

Both wearing something like pointed hats that at a glance exuded a strong grand magician vibe.

One toothless magician, and in contrast, one handsome elderly man.

"Ah, these are Master Alcandura and Master Dezaka."

The title of Master is only given to those truly called grand magicians or grand mages.

In terms of rank, 8th rank or higher.

So these two old men here are extraordinary magicians even in this tower.

'They look familiar somehow...'

Something about their appearance gives me déjà vu.

But I hadn't met any tower mages before.

...No.

Had I?

I had!

Back then, when I was riding on Chimera Snake's back and was caught in the monster wave.

When Gunter brought some magicians to block our path.

Aren't these the evil magicians who created and launched flame dragons!

'Emergency!'

I'm in a state of hanging on the staff stuck like a sword at Gunter's waist.

Since I couldn't hide, I acted as much like a crystal ornament as possible.

Fortunately, those magicians didn't seem interested in me.

Well, I was in Black Snake King form using Black Scales back then.

"We came to see, hehe."

"Isn't this the one that arrogant gnome Balanyar praised while spitting everywhere?"

They came to see Obern.

"But still only 5th rank?"

"These days many young folks don't have loyalty to the tower..."

It seemed Tower Master Balanyar didn't even register with the tower.

"Well, the written test will be perfect of course."

"Do we even need to check? I'd rather do the interview quickly."

Their expectations were already sky-high.

Beads of cold sweat formed on Obern's neck.

'Um, Mr. Snake.'

He naturally glanced over the test paper and said:

'Please help me a little.'

That's more like it.

I called forth Pel-muwiki.

==

The written test results were naturally...

Destroyed!

We absolutely destroyed the test.

Of course, it's not that Obern was destroyed by the test, but that we destroyed the test.

The written test for 5th rank mage is naturally not multiple choice but essay format.

And Pelerian, after briefly looking at the questions, started reciting answers like a possessed shaman.

"Regarding phase changes in microscopic systems, when observing..."

Obern was just busy writing down those answers.

So in effect, the request for 'a little help' was reflected as essentially 'please do it all for me.'

Pelerian didn't give the answers in such a considerate way.

It was rather overwhelming for Obern who just had to write down the answers directly, so from the outside it must have looked like he was writing the answers in one smooth stroke.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Look at that one showing off. Hehe."

"As if without even thinking, so smooth."

Masters Alcandura and Dezaka commented so.