Chapter Eighty-One: The Maiden’s Companion

Facing the crowd’s confusion, Nelson continued, “Aside from talent, there are many other requirements to become a mage. I don’t want to use a single standard to judge the candidates’ qualifications.”

“Once all the groups have submitted their chosen lists, we’ll announce the successful candidates together.”

The other high-ranking members of the Mage Association exchanged looks that clearly said, “Whatever makes you happy.” They were long used to the president’s ways.

However, this pronouncement left the examiners in a quandary. They had assumed they could simply assess candidates by the president’s criteria, but now they were unprepared.

The examiners began to confer in small groups. Anna looked uncertainly at Chu Yun beside her. “What should we do, Chu Yun? Should we screen them by strength of mental power?”

Chu Yun shook his head. “Mental power is a convenient way to assess physical potential, but that traditional method would eliminate many candidates who’ve never had the chance to train their minds.”

“Then what should we do? Intelligence tests?” Anna was at a loss, especially as she felt the expectant gazes of the children from humble backgrounds.

“It doesn’t really matter. Just do as you think best,” Chu Yun replied with a smile.

Seeing that the examiners were still indecisive, the president simply called on someone directly.

“Let’s start with the last group. Chu Yun, have you decided on your selection method?” Nelson asked.

All eyes immediately turned to him. Chu Yun, without a word, took out half of the list.

Amid the crowd’s confusion, he announced, “I’ve made my choice. These people stay; as for the rest... I’m sorry, your luck simply wasn’t in your favor.”

With that, a flicker of flame danced from Chu Yun’s hand, and the remaining application forms were reduced to ash.

The candidates looked at each other, uncertain whether they had been chosen.

Nelson stroked his beard and remarked, “Not bad. Luck is indeed important at times.”

The staff took the list away, intending to announce all the names at once after every group had finished.

“Wait.”

A voice came from the special seats. Selena, who had been studying her designs, looked up at the mention of Chu Yun’s name—after all, the problem she was working on originated from him, passed to Anna as a challenge.

Upon hearing Chu Yun’s casual selection method, Selena’s interest was piqued.

Nelson frowned. Before coming, he had especially “discussed” with his granddaughter not to cause trouble during this year’s admissions.

Fortunately, Selena didn’t act out. She spoke up, “There’s no need to announce all the results at once. Let’s go group by group, shall we?”

Nelson nodded slightly. “That’s fine. The candidates won’t have to wait anxiously. Let’s see which lucky ones have been chosen first.”

With great interest, Nelson took the list and began calling names. Many of these would soon become students at the academy. As a kindly mage who cared for the younger generation, he was eager to cultivate new talent.

“Candidate 225, Mia; candidate 512, Cynthia...”

As each name was read, cheers erupted from the crowd. Those whose names were not called waited in nervous anticipation.

Yet, something was amiss.

Nelson gradually sensed something odd. After calling ten names—all female—the crowd began to notice the anomaly too.

Twentieth, thirtieth... all the way to the fiftieth candidate, and every one was a girl!

“What... what’s going on?” Nelson looked at Chu Yun, exasperated.

Everyone now understood what Chu Yun had meant when he said the unlucky candidates simply had the misfortune of meeting this unusual examiner.

Chu Yun looked a bit embarrassed. Had the president’s rule of announcing all the names together been followed, none of this would have happened. Who knew what had gotten into Selena to expose his selection method?

But Chu Yun wasn’t especially concerned, since the president had said to use their own standards for selection.

“This is actually quite simple. May I ask—who do you all worship as your deity?” Chu Yun smiled at the somewhat disgruntled association elders.

“Hmph, naturally our great Goddess of Magic.”

Chu Yun turned to the assembled crowd. “And you? I suppose many of you still worship the Goddess of Life?”

There was silence. Chu Yun was right—currently, only the Goddess of Life manifested in the world, and most people still followed her, with many former followers of other faiths having switched their allegiance.

“Most of those present today worship these two goddesses. As I understand it, the majority of the deities in the Hall of the Gods are also goddesses.”

“Women possess the unique power to nurture life, which men lack. Thus, in my view, these female candidates have a generally higher degree of divinity.”

“Yet I notice there are hardly any female mages in the Mage Association!”

“Among the elements there is light and shadow, fire and water; only in their interplay can there be prosperity. The academy’s recruitment this time is mainly for specialized mages, most of whom will train as support mages in the healing arts.”

“In matters of healing and life magic, women, being the bearers of life, possess a greater advantage.”

With his invented reasoning concluded, Chu Yun looked earnestly at Selena, the only other woman in the higher ranks.

“Inspector, do you find my argument reasonable?”

Selena was bewildered. She felt that something was off, but couldn’t pinpoint what. Hearing Chu Yun’s question, she nodded blankly. “You do make some sense.”

“How about we admit only girls this time?”

“Good ide—” Selena caught herself mid-sentence, quickly changing tack. As inspector, she had considerable authority, but she had no intention of causing trouble at her grandfather’s event—she still wanted to win some of his treasured artifacts.

“Not so fast!” Selena glared at Chu Yun, realizing she had been tricked.

Nelson stepped forward to smooth things over. “Chu Yun’s argument is a bit one-sided, but he does have a point. Each examiner has their own standard—only this way can we select interesting students.”

Nelson disliked the idea of new students resembling the lifeless recluses that filled the Mage Association. Frankly, he was not opposed to a few bright-eyed young women gracing the academy.

Chu Yun’s unconventional selection method may have angered all the male candidates, but it earned him the goodwill of every girl present. Among those he chose, many had no real talent at all.

Now, having passed the first round of selection thanks to Chu Yun, these girls would have the chance to receive special training at the academy—and perhaps even turn things around in the second round.

Moreover, with his innate charm, Chu Yun quickly became the white knight in many a young maiden’s heart.

Inspired by Chu Yun’s “brilliant” example, Anna, who was in charge of the penultimate group, grew bolder.

She still used the traditional mental power test, but when selecting students, she increased the proportion of candidates from humble backgrounds and female candidates. She believed that students born to common families were often more diligent and hardworking.

That mage, Cassido, came from an affluent family and had started learning magic earlier than Anna, but in the end, she surpassed him. This was the main reason Anna remained indifferent to him, finding him entirely uninteresting.

“Chu Yun, do you really believe that? That female mages are more gifted?” After finishing her own assessment, Anna couldn’t help but ask.

Chu Yun hadn’t thought that far ahead. He simply preferred girls. He had always worried too much before, but now he just wanted to do as he pleased.

“Actually, no.”

“Ah, Chu Yun, then did you...”

“It was mainly because I saw your situation in the Mage Association and thought it was a bit sad—you don’t even have someone to discuss magic with.”

“Sorry for misunderstanding you. Thank you.”

“So Chu Yun did it all for me,” Anna thought to herself, unable to hide her delight.

She knew Chu Yun’s character well—he could spend the night discussing academic matters with her and remain perfectly composed; there was no way he would be interested in those immature girls.

“...”