"By the way, Fíliya... you said you work for the Magic Association, right? What does this First-Class Mage exam actually entail? Since we've decided to participate, we should prepare in advance."
Frieren looked at Fíliya. Her initial plan had been to gather information properly once they arrived in Äußerst, but after meeting this green-haired girl beside her, she couldn't be bothered with such trivial tasks anymore. After all, the best source of intelligence was right there.
"Oh? Frieren, am I to understand that you want to use a backdoor connection?" Fíliya looked at the other with a teasing gaze.
"I just want to ask you for a little intelligence regarding the First-Class Mage exam; surely that level of inquiry doesn't count as using a backdoor?" Frieren replied very calmly, completely ignoring the look in Fíliya's eyes that was somewhat irritating.
"Mm... When I took the Third-Class Mage exam before, it consisted mostly of practical combat segments. I assume the Second-Class and First-Class exams are similar?" Fern interjected at this point.
"Mm, that's correct... After all, the Continental Magic Association is an organization founded by that battle maniac. Even though the war with the Demon Race is largely over, the exams for modern mages still prioritize combat performance as the most important standard... Tsk, actually, I've suggested to the higher-ups several times that they should add a 'written exam' component. Otherwise, the batch of mages being taught now are all blockheads who only know how to fight... Who's going to handle the cultural development side of things?"
"Uh..." After hearing Fíliya's words, Fern felt a bit relieved. If the Magic Association had actually adopted Fíliya's suggestion and added a 'written exam', she might truly have had no hope of passing.
"Fíliya... why would you want to add a 'written exam'?" After hesitating, Fern chose to ask.
"Didn't I say? It's because modern mages only know how to fight. There are barely any people capable of doing paperwork. In such a huge Magic Association, they can barely find a few guys who can read Ancient Elvish script. Do you know how exhausted I am when I'm at work...?" As soon as the topic of work came up, Fíliya's words were instantly filled with unconcealable resentment.
But Frieren had no intention of continuing to listen to her complaints. She quickly asked in a slightly surprised tone, "Fíliya... you actually understand Ancient Elvish? That's truly rare... Even among the Elves themselves, not many understand it anymore."
"Huh? Is that a thing? Elves don't understand Elvish?" Stark, who had been spacing out, suddenly widened his eyes as if he had heard something incredible.
"It's Ancient Elvish... The elves still alive today basically use human languages... Ancient Elvish has long been on the verge of being lost."
"Exactly, so can you understand my pain, Frieren? No one is willing to learn this Ancient Elvish, but since elves live so long... many critical historical records are written in it... Translating that stuff is absolute torture."
"Is that so... Then... maybe I can help you out sometimes... consider it lightening your burden a little?" Frieren tentatively offered.
"Really? Frieren, you're the best!" Fíliya threw herself into Frieren's arms with a look of pleasant surprise, then rubbed her face against Frieren.
Heh... No matter how much of a genius this guy is, she really is just a child about the same age as Fern. Watching Fíliya's behavior, Frieren found it quite amusing, and even subconsciously reached out her hand, wanting to pat Fíliya's head. But unfortunately, in the very next second, her hand froze in mid-air.
For Fíliya continued to speak. "Ehehe... I knew Fufu knows how to care for people. I won't go around behind your back saying you're an insensitive old fossil anymore."
Fíliya herself might have thought there was nothing wrong with this statement, but Frieren's expression instantly went wrong. 'An insensitive old fossil,' huh... That really crossed two of Frieren's red lines at once. She didn't want to be called insensitive... Pfft... As expected, give this guy an inch and she'll take a mile...
Frieren, with a dark face, grabbed the back of Fíliya's collar and tossed her aside. Fortunately, the kind-hearted Miss Fern was quick-witted and caught Fíliya, saving her from having intimate contact with the ground.
"Ah... Fíliya, why did you make Lady Frieren angry again? It's going to be hard to coax her back this time, you know?" Fern let go of Fíliya with some resignation.
"Mm, I can see that." Fíliya nodded in deep agreement, though there wasn't the slightest hint of repentance on her face.
"Sigh..." Frieren's chest heaved with anger, but in the end, she sat back down in her original spot, looking somewhat dejected. "No... I can't stoop to her level." "She's just a little brat who's only lived for 20 years, and she has mental issues." "And I, I am a mature big sister who has lived for a thousand years; I shouldn't get angry at this crazy kid." After a fierce internal struggle, Frieren finally raised her head again.
"Fíliya, since you understand Ancient Elvish and know how to appraise ancient relics, do you know what this is?" As Frieren spoke, she pulled something out from her robe.
"Mm... let me see." Fíliya naturally took the small object from Frieren's hand. As for the little episode just now, since Frieren herself had 'magnanimously' chosen to ignore it, she certainly wouldn't continue to court death.
The object Frieren handed to Fíliya was something resembling a nameplate. It had a base of overlapping rectangles and rhombuses, while the outermost layer featured a cutout design carved in the shape of a staff.
"Hmm~~ This is a rare item." Fíliya's tone was full of delight.
"You recognize it, Fíliya?" Fern also stared at the object with curious eyes; after all, it was the first time she had seen Frieren take out such a thing.
"Of course. This is the 'Holy Emblem', a proof issued by an ancient magic organization... Mm, only figures of the 'Great Mage' level could possess one." "However, this is something from at least a thousand years ago. Apart from professionals like me, basically no one would recognize it." Fíliya said calmly.
"Great Mage..." Fern murmured, then looked at her mentor with a face full of disbelief. Even a self-taught mage like Fern, who hadn't received a formal magical education, knew what 'Great Mage' represented. After all, the person who best represented the title of 'Great Mage' was engraved in human history.
"Frieren, are you actually that amazing?" Fern looked at her mentor in astonishment. Although she had always known that her mentor was a member of the Hero's Party and the legendary mage who defeated the Demon King, it wasn't until this moment that Fern had a more direct understanding of Frieren's 'power'.
"So, can this thing serve as a substitute for the First-Class Mage certification? If it can, we'd save a lot of time." Frieren didn't care at all about Fern's shocked reaction. After all, she didn't think being a 'Great Mage' was any amazing achievement; rather, the deeds of defeating the Demon King with her companions were more etched in her memory.
"Of course not. This thing has enough prestige, but no name recognition. I can't just take you around and explain the prestige of the 'Holy Emblem' to every department member we meet, can I? People have to actually believe it." Fíliya said, shaking her head helplessly, and then returned the 'Holy Emblem' to Frieren.
"Is that so... In other words, I can't skip the exam after all." Frieren took back her antique with a look of regret.
___
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