Chapter Nineteen: The Deliberately Difficult Test

After uttering that sentence in a fit of rage, not only the magician but even Bill standing beside him was momentarily stunned! The magician was shocked because he'd never been insulted like this after his identity as a mage was discovered—even his own mentor had never dared such a thing. As for Bill, it was the first time he'd seen his employer so utterly exasperated. Veil had always struck him as confident, composed, in control; even when taking a life, his expression never wavered. Yet now, Bill was astonished to witness Veil losing his composure so thoroughly.

Veil took a deep breath, gazing at the magician who had been left speechless by his tirade, a trace of disdain flickering in his eyes. He hadn’t expected himself to be so provoked by such filth, but in another sense, venting a little wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. He’d long harbored disgust for the irresponsibility displayed by the Mage Guild, and letting off some steam before entering might prevent him from losing his temper again upon encountering more “magicians” of the same caliber.

Bill had intended to calm his employer, given that their purpose here was to join the Mage Guild rather than cause trouble. However, he watched as Veil regained his composure almost instantly, his demeanor returning to its usual tranquility. Bill finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Veil snorted coldly at the magician, ignoring his reaction as he strode into the guild. Only then did the magician, snapping out of his daze, let out a shrill cry and, like a shrew, threw himself at Veil in a fit of rage.

“Boss! Wa—” Bill’s heart leaped; he hurried to warn Veil, but before he could finish, Veil spun around and flicked his arm. A crimson blaze erupted, swirling in midair to form a ring of fire that instantly trapped the magician inside.

“Bill, let’s go in,” Veil said calmly, paying no further attention to the captured magician as he turned and walked into the guild.

The commotion outside had already drawn considerable attention. As Veil entered the Mage Guild, five or six mages in robes approached him. The leader was a young man, no older than twenty-six, with delicate features and a conspicuous string of earrings dangling from his ears. Even from a distance, one could smell the heavy perfume he wore. Anyone meeting him for the first time would immediately categorize him as one of those pretty-faced types.

“Who are you?” the pretty-faced mage asked, frowning. He hadn’t seen what happened outside, but the wails and shrieks had reached his ears. His pride as a mage was about to flare, but upon seeing Veil’s distinguished bearing and the handsome boy trailing behind him, he realized these newcomers were likely people of status and refrained from showing anger. Instead, he turned to a seductive female mage behind him and said, “Lise, go see what’s going on outside.”

“Alright,” the female mage named Lise replied, giving the two youths a curious glance before sashaying out the door.

Seeing these mages, Veil felt his tension ease. He had feared encountering more riffraff like before, but it was clear the Mage Guild wasn’t entirely filled with garbage. For instance, the female mage Lise who had just walked past him bore a badge denoting her as a sixth-rank magic adept, while the pretty-faced leader was a second-rank mage, and the others behind him were all at least fourth-rank magic adepts.

“We are—” Bill began, about to introduce them, but Veil waved him off and, with a hint of scorn, asked the pretty-faced mage, “Excuse me, what is this place?”

“This is the Mage Guild, of course,” replied a mage beside the pretty-faced leader, a fifth-rank adept.

“Oh? Is it?” Veil said. “I’ve come in from outside and felt nothing of the Mage Guild’s presence. The entire guild, not just its exterior but even its internal structure, is built exactly like the cathedrals of the Holy Church from the previous era. If I didn’t know this guild was constructed only two hundred years ago, I’d really believe it was just a repurposed Holy Church cathedral, with the sign changed from ‘Holy Church’ to ‘Mage Guild’!”

“You insolent brat! What did you just say?” Several mages beside the pretty-faced leader were instantly enraged, but he waved them off. His own expression was grim, but he could not refute Veil’s words—they were the truth.

At that moment, Lise returned from outside, her alluring face tinged with curiosity. She whispered a few words to the pretty-faced leader.

“Hmm?” After hearing Lise, the pretty-faced mage’s expression shifted, his eyes suddenly sharpening as he stared intently at Veil. “Are you a magician as well?”

“No, I’m not. But today, I’ve come to apply for mage status.”

“Oh? It’s been years since we’ve seen an applicant like you. Usually, people come in clutching piles of gold coins, hoping to buy their way in. But you, you fought your way in from outside!” The pretty-faced mage’s words carried a mocking tone, though he smiled slightly, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “You’re clearly prepared for the magic assessment, aren’t you?”

“Of course,” Veil replied proudly.

“Very well, then follow me. But let me warn you in advance: for certain reasons, your assessment will be far more challenging and tricky than usual. If you’re not ready for that, get out now!” The pretty-faced mage was surprisingly candid about what should have been concealed, and Veil was taken aback. He nodded, saying no more.

“Your servant stays here. Lise, go make preparations. And you—wait, what’s your name?” the pretty-faced mage suddenly asked Veil.

“Veil—Sualan Veil.”