Several days passed.
Irene and Precht did not fail Weston's expectations, successfully helping Erza and Makarov awaken their magic.
The magic of both was the same as they had obtained in the original timeline: Erza's was the Take Over of armor and weapons, while Makarov's was Giant Magic, which allowed him to enlarge any part of his body at will.
Regardless of which one, both were extremely useful combat-type magics.
However, compared to a pure ability-system like Giant Magic, a magic like armor and weapon Take Over, which leans toward the holder-system, required advance preparation before one could begin fighting.
Thus, before the all-guild collective examination arrived, Irene took Erza to the nearest magic shop and bought her several sets of compatible armor and weapons.
In recent years, the number of S-class requests Irene had completed in the guild likely exceeded that of everyone else combined.
Sometimes, she didn't even go to work herself, instead letting those two maidservants created with "Personality Enchantment Magic" complete them. She would then sit at home playing with Erza, waiting for the two of them to return with money to spend.
Consequently, Irene was not lacking in money at all.
So, one afternoon, Irene very domineeringly took Erza and completely ransacked every piece of equipment in the magic shops of Magnolia.
The week passed quickly, and soon it was time for the guild examination.
On this day, the sun was bright, and the breeze was slightly cool.
All the guild wizards were fully equipped and ready, gathering in the guild hall.
Weston stood on the high platform, his gaze sweeping over everyone, and then he began his speech.
"Cough, cough..."
"Now then, first I will explain the basic rules of this guild examination."
"The members being examined consist of all 123 wizards present, excluding myself as the Guild Master and the seven S-class members!!"
The wizards listened quietly to Weston's words, feeling slightly surprised.
So there are already nearly 130 people in the guild now?
I never noticed that before...
Suddenly, Weston waved his hand.
In the next moment, a unique magic rune simultaneously surfaced on the right wrists of everyone present.
"This rune can record all of your performances during this examination and transmit them to me."
"After the examination ends, I will score you based on your performance and adjust your wizard ranks."
Hearing this, everyone understood.
This rune was equivalent to installing a camera on each person, filming the entire exam process and finally sending the video to Weston's Super Archive.
"And now for the most important point!"
"This examination has a total of four stages. The content of each stage is different, and there will be one Question-Setter and one Interferer per stage."
"What you need to do is crack the puzzles given by the Question-Setter and fulfill their requirements while evading the pursuit of the Interferer!"
Four stages?
One Question-Setter and one Interferer per stage?
That should be Weston plus the seven S-class wizards in the guild...
No wonder the others weren't here; they must have already set out to lie in ambush at the mission locations.
"During the examination process, you may use any means, and you may also team up with or oppose any participant."
"But please note: this examination is not a simple combat power elimination tournament!"
"I am scoring based on your comprehensive abilities. Therefore, even if you defeat all other opponents, it does not mean you will necessarily be promoted in the end."
"Similarly, even if you are defeated by other opponents, it does not mean you cannot be promoted."
Hearing this sentence, many people present let out sheepish laughs as their hidden intentions were exposed.
"What? So knocking out opponents doesn't mean winning? How disappointing!"
"Dammit! I thought I found a shortcut..."
"Hey, hey, hey... what were you guys planning just now?! Make it clear to me!!"
"The exam hasn't even started, and you're already planning internal strife? That's... fired up enough!!"
Weston's lip twitched slightly.
Just as I thought!
He knew that in an examination like this, there would always be people wanting to "flip the table."
As the Guild Master, he knew the temperaments of this group of companions all too well!
"Do you have any other questions?"
"I do, Guild Master, I do!"
A companion raised his hand and asked: "Guild Master, how is the end of the examination determined?"
"Hmm... good question!"
Weston answered loudly: "When the examination ends, I will teleport you back to the guild via the runes on your hands!"
"Until then, everything is considered to be 'during the examination'!"
Everyone was stunned upon hearing this: "In other words, the 'remaining time' of the examination is completely unknown to us?"
"Correct!"
"Because the remaining time could be half an hour, or it could be three days. Therefore, you must make the best judgment at every moment, preserving a certain amount of magic and stamina to cope with difficulties and crises that may arise at any time."
"Additionally, even if you are knocked unconscious by an Interferer or have your movements restricted by others in a certain stage, it does not count as disqualification!"
"Rather, there is no such concept as 'disqualification' in this examination!"
"Does everyone understand?"
Everyone nodded and responded in succession.
"Got it, got it..."
"Completely understood!!"
Actually, from the beginning, the rules of this examination were not complicated.
They only needed to do their best in every task during the process; as for everything else, Weston would naturally arrange and consider it.
"Now then, the first stage begins!"
"Your mission is to head to the forest to the west, find the 'Golden Lion Coin' inside, and then hand it to the Question-Setter of the second stage to learn the content of the next stage!"
"That is all!"
Eh, eh, eh??
Everyone present was stunned.
"Guild Master, is that it?"
"Was that the entire content just now? Are there no more hints?"
"What is a Golden Lion Coin? Who is the Question-Setter for the next stage, and where are they???"
However, Weston on the high platform not only did not respond but instead his figure became increasingly faint.
Reiya in the crowd immediately saw something was wrong and shouted: "Wait, this is a Thought Projection! The Guild Master wasn't here from the beginning!!"
The crowd was instantly in an uproar.
"What?!"
"It was a Thought Projection?!!"
"In other words, that really was the entire content just now?"
"Honestly... explaining it so unclearly, how are we supposed to understand?!"
Reiya pondered for a few breaths and said: "I think the Guild Master did this intentionally. Whether it's the puzzle of the 'Golden Lion Coin' or the identity of the next stage's setter, we need to figure it all out ourselves!"
"This is also part of the examination!"
I see!
That actually makes sense!!
"In my opinion, it's more than just that!"
Darwin suddenly stepped out from the crowd: "Based on my understanding of Papa, there must be even more traps involved!"
"In any case, let's head to the forest in the west first, then act according to the specific situation!"