"He looks like he's doing it decently, but he made a serious common sense mistake. The scroll he chose indicates that he wants to create a purification-type spell card, but no purification-type spell card would involve demon blood. Also, the Holy Flame of Purification should be used for offensive holy attribute cards. It seems like he's just an amateur."

The examiner couldn't help but sharply critique Dekan's card-making process.

"The materials he chose are only enough to make one magic card; there won't be any follow-up attempts."

"This card has been on the verge of exploding since a while ago. It makes me a bit scared just by looking at it."

"When this card explodes later, we should be ready with fire extinguishing and rescue measures."

"Wait, can any of you understand the magic script he wrote?"

"...It doesn't seem like human-tongue magic script. These symbols correspond to syllables that humans would probably find difficult to chant."

"Is it a language of dragons or elves?"

"I don't know! I've never seen a card maker with such an exotic magical language."

...

Dekan entered a state of complete absorption, as if he had momentarily forgotten the human language. His mind was filled only with the thoughts his master had conveyed to him.

Even though this was his first attempt at creating a tier 3 spell card, for some reason, he felt great.

As if he didn't need to think, his consciousness guided his hands effortlessly. He knew exactly how to proceed with each step.

After an unknown amount of time, a faint smile finally appeared on Dekan's lips.

It was done.

And it turned out quite well!

"My master didn't deceive me."

Dekan finally completed all the inscriptions. His cautious and slow movements suddenly accelerated, becoming smooth and fluid, completing the sealing process in less than two minutes.

In the moment the mist dispersed.

An orange light instantly illuminated the entire hall!

One of the candidates nearby was distracted by it and made a critical operational error, ending his final attempt.

Even so, he couldn't help but widen his eyes and rub them, unable to resist taking another look.

Orange?!

Was this something that can appear in an examination room?

"A tier 3 epic card?"

"I actually witnessed the birth of a tier 3 epic card with my own eyes!"

"So, Dekan's true calling is a card maker!! That's why his cards are all so unique!"

"Creating an orange epic, doesn't that mean he will become a tier 3 special class card maker?"

"How many years...how many years has it been since I heard of this title!"

The audience erupted in a tsunami-like wave of exclamations.

Dekan calmly walked to the examiner's desk and handed the card over to the appraiser.

After the appraiser finished the assessment, he wiped his glasses and checked the instruments once more.

Then, he attempted to appraise it again.

[Blood Purification]

[Category: Spell Card]

[Rarity: Orange Epic]

[Tier: 3]

[Effect: If used on oneself, it can remove tier 3 and below abnormal states. If used on a different race, it will purify their blood, evaporating their blood volume. Cooldown time: 120 seconds.]

[Note: Heretic! I shall purify you!]

"You call this purification?!"

The appraiser widened their eyes, confirmed that the appraisal result was correct, and muttered in disbelief.

Then, under the astonished gaze of the examiners, this card was sent into the testing chamber.

"Is this card really safe? Are you a pure-blooded human?"

"...How about we just consider him passed?"

In no time, the card was brought out of the chamber.

It was directly determined as valid.

Neither of the two testers dared to let the other use this card.

In case their blood was impure, they might end up being purified.

...

In the audience seats, discussions and exclamations continued to erupt one after another.

It felt like a celebration was in progress.

However, unlike the joyous atmosphere of the onlookers, the air between Alice and Theresia seemed exceptionally heavy.

When Alice first saw that orange light, she seemed momentarily stunned, as if her brain had short-circuited.

"Orange... epic?"

Alice's face gradually turned red. She finally understood the current situation.

Had she been boasting in front of a card maker who could create epic cards all along?

And not just any epic card, hes a monster who could create an epic card the same tier as himself!

She sniffled and her eyes began to well up with tears.

She felt like the words she had said to Dekan earlier had turned into a spell that couldn't be dispelled, echoing in her ears. She momentarily wished she could find a hole to hide in.

"P-Princess Alice, Dekan was just lucky! After all, card making is three parts luck and seven parts skill!"

Theresia tried to reach out and touch Alice, but she was afraid her touch might shatter her, so she hesitated to put her hand on her shoulder.

"This... this kind of unique card effect... could it be that all the cards he uses are made by him?"

Alice's voice trembled; it seemed like tears were about to fall at any moment.

She looked at the publicly announced appraisal results.

This highly distinctive card made it hard not to associate it with Dekan's card deck.

This led to a terrifying speculationDekan had actually crafted all of his cards by hand. This was no mere stroke of luck; it was absolute skill.

He could easily craft purple rare cards back when he was in tier 2.

Even that Ruined Poet card was probably one of his early works!

There was no doubt that Dekan was an extraordinary card maker. Alice was feeling completely outmatched.

"..."

Theresia fell silent. She sensed that Alice's eyes were on her, questioning.

"No, Alice, I really didn't expect you to have such a lively conversation with him and I thought he could, at most, make a purple rare card..."

Theresia said somewhat timidly.

This made Alice tremble even more. Then, she turned her attention to the association staff waiting behind her in the exam room. They shifted their eyes away from her awkwardly.

Clearly, the attendants had witnessed the entire process of Alice bragging to Dekan.

Alice tried to hold back her tears, but the overwhelming sense of shame was beyond words.

Her eye sockets became even redder, and tears continued to stream down like broken beads.

Finally, she suddenly thought of something and looked at Dekan in the examination room.

She saw Dekan looking back at her. He even flashed a brilliant smile at her.

The dappled sunlight shone through the glass window onto Dekan's face but it couldn't hide the radiant smile that was even brighter than the sunlight.

"Waah..."

Alice couldn't control her tears. Sobbing, she stood up and ran from the audience seating.

It was the first time Princess Alice ran away from something...