Chapter 200: The Knight Rides the Autumn (6)

Finally, the doors to the Royal Academy were opened to the public. Countless people poured in, and there were more than enough people who wanted to enter the Academy right away, but since there had been a series of accidents happening in the past year…

“Please show your identification.”

“Fill out this form, please.”

“You must not gather in groups of more than four while visiting the Academy.”

Unlike back in the midterm, the conditions for visiting the Academy were much stricter.

Some people grumbled and complained, but when they saw the guards’ glare, they either immediately complied or fled.

In the case of those who had fled…

“Suspicious people! Catch them!”

The guards took immediate action. This showed how eager the guards were to prevent any possible danger towards the Academy, as well as how alert the Academy—no, the royal family was.

Seeing that, anyone who had planned to visit the Academy with the slightest evil intention turned their backs. They didn’t want to risk being branded as criminals by the royal family and the countless other noble families.

At that moment…

“-Excuse me, this is my identification.”

“…!!”

“Oh, and this is my exam taker’s license. Where should I go sir?

“A-About that…”

Gulp…!

The guard swallowed his dry saliva.

W-What is this woman?

It was because the woman in front of him exuded an ‘aura’ that could only be felt from the so-called noble family. Though her short blonde hair and beautiful appearance stood out, the reason the guard was all tense was due to her aura.

One could tell just by looking at her.

She’s not an ordinary woman…

When the guard looked at the identification card she presented, it was written that she was someone of a common origin. But, from what the guard felt, there was no way that could be true.

Suspicious…

There was nothing strange about the identification card itself, but the guard could hear alarm bells inside his mind ringing loudly.

This matter needs to be further investigated—

“[There is nothing strange in my identification, isn’t it?]“

Whoosh-!

“…Ah, yes, there isn’t.”

But suddenly, the guard realized that he was ‘mistaken’. Yes, even if she was a commoner, there was no law that prohibited a commoner from having such an aura. The fact that she had it meant that she was just an extraordinary woman.

With such an enlightenment, the guard cleared the way.

“I hope you do well on the test.”

“Thank you, Sir Guard.”

The woman smiled and quickly passed through the door.

Her smile was graceful, and the guard only looked even more bewildered after seeing it.

“…Whew.”

Not long after passing through the main gate, the woman’s expression became completely blank—completely different from her warm smile just a moment ago. It was as if she had turned into a doll. Anyone who had seen her would wonder how such a quick change in expression was possible.

Then, the woman moved to a place with few people, took out a cross from her pocket, and held it to her ear.

“I’ve succeeded in infiltrating the Academy. However, it seems like it’ll be difficult to report further until the test is over.”

[—.]

“Yes, I know. I will discard it right away.”

Sensing a faint [command] in the voice she couldn’t even hear, the woman immediately shattered the red bead that was embedded in the center of the cross.

It was literally turned into dust. If she were to tell others that the price of the red bead was equivalent to three years’ living expenses for a family of four, many people would probably look at her with a blank expression.

But, the woman treated the bead as if it was just a mere tool. She then walked away, as if nothing had happened.

Crack-!

The bead pieces then scattered in the autumn wind, like sand in the desert.

The amount of people who took the Academy entrance exam was enormous. At least 30,000 people flocked into the Academy with hope of joining one of the most prestigious institutions in Pendragon, so it was quite a spectacle.

But, one thing that people might not know was…

They had filtered the number of people beforehand, and every single one of those kids were those who were called geniuses back where they lived.

Well, it was only natural. After all, though there were many other academies in Pendragon, this place was the Pendragon Royal Academy; an institution that bore the name Pendragon, that was supported by the royal family and countless other nobles.

Anyone who could enter and graduate from it would have a smooth career path.

It was literally the gateway to success.

No matter what other people said, entering the Academy was something to be proud of.

But of course, not everyone could enter the Academy.

“They’re gonna call this a great harvest, even though only 1,000 of us are gonna enter the Academy.”

“Isn’t that number too pessimistic? There are 30,000 people gathered here. Are we not geniuses and prodigies in our villages?”

“…What a country bumpkin.”

“You’re also one, what are you talking about?!”

“Yes, but you’re a country bumpkin with no sense, so you’re worse than me. You’re also short-sighted.”

“You…!”

“Do you really think that a first-place among a population of only 50 to 80 is the same as a first-place among a population of 10,000 people?”

“…”

One of the exam takers, who was about to get angry, blinked his eyes.

“Of course, it doesn’t mean that there’s no talented people in the countryside. Just like lions and eagles are born in the grasslands, ecosystem disruptors can be born in the countryside too. But, you know, those cases are really rare.”

“That…”

“Among the 30,000 people, a lot of them probably aren’t that talented. They’re like a frog in a well. They might be arrogant now, but I can tell that they’re gonna sink in despair when the exam starts. So you should take good care of your mentality. Don’t be overconfident.”

“…Fucker. Are you worried about me or nagging at me? Pick one!”

As the nameless applicant said, even though the applicants had been filtered, there were still many half-baked kids among them. For example, the eldest sons of nouveau riche families who got to participate in the exam due to their parents bribing some noblemen, as well as foolish nobles who thought they were true geniuses even though they were carried by their families.

Of course, those people would fail.

Although the people had said that the current Academy was just a shadow of its former self,  it was still a place that would never take in those with inferior talent.

At that moment…

[Ah, ah, ah, can everybody hear my voice?]

A loud voice entered the ears of the 30,000 people. The voice was transmitted through a magic item called a megaphone, which even the dean favored recently.

No one knew how long she had been standing there.

On the stage, a beautiful girl with purple hair stood.

[Nice to meet you, Candidates. I am Karin Alencia de Guinevere, the current president of Pendragon Royal Academy’s Student Council. I am one year senior to you, and if you are admitted, you will be my junior starting next year.]

“━.”

Murmurs broke out among the candidates at that moment.

Guinevere.

Hearing that prestigious name, the candidates’ reactions varied. Some were overwhelmed by that name, some ignored it and were captivated by the girl’s beauty, while the rest felt a sense of wonder and various emotions.

One thing was clear though. Everyone was focused on the girl.

[Ah, if you are wondering how could a first-year be the student council president, the answer is because the second and third-year are currently busy building up their achievements. So, the first-years can inherit the position from the second semester. Well, being the president doesn’t mean you’ll have much authority, but if you could join the student council, you could meet professors and instructors from various departments, as well as a lot of promising students, so I recommend you to at least consider joining the student council if you’re accepted in the future.]

Even though the eyes of 30,000 applicants were on her, the girl looked relaxed. Her ability to overcome the attention and gaze of others was a testament to her natural talent for public speaking and politics.

The girl kept her focus as she continued her explanation and announced various important matters.

[-First, the entrance exam will start at 9 am.]

[-Please bring your identification and exam certificate with you, because we are gonna check it regularly to prevent proxies.]

[-Countless VIPs will visit during the exam to see you, Juniors. So, I trust you to know not to embarrass yourself in front of them.]

[-If you do well, you may be scouted by a great family right away. So do your best.]

The speech was full of dreams and hopes. Even though the exam takers knew it was just a sweet talk, they couldn’t deny that it was inspiring.

Just like that…

[Last but not least, I’d like to introduce the people who lead the student council like me. By the way, the student council members will also be the ones who will be assisting you during the exam. So please welcome them with a big round of applause.]

After saying that, Young Miss Guinevere came down from the stage.

Now that the explanation was over, the exam takers couldn’t help but wonder if she planned to end it with the student council introduction.

They weren’t very interested, but they still wanted to applaud them.

After all, she had said that they were the ones who’d assist them during the exam, so—

“——.”

…However, in the next moment, not a single exam taker applauded.

Everyone, regardless of gender, just stared blankly at the appearance of a certain girl.

Step-! Step-!

Blond hair that gleamed under the morning sun.

Blue eyes that were like a pair of emeralds.

Skin that was as beautiful and clean as white jade.

A mysterious atmosphere and magic power that surrounded her.

All of those things combined made every one of the exam takers to stare at the girl blankly.

“N-Nice to meet you, I’m Irene Windler. D-Do, y-your, b-best, i-in, y-your, t-test, e-everyone.”

─A Fairy had appeared.

The exam takers couldn’t help but be dumbfounded by the appearance of such a beautiful creature.

‘I’m gonna pass no matter what!’

‘Time to risk my life…!’

More than 90% of the applicants expressed their desperate determination to pass the exam to themselves.

It was a sight that showed how great the power of beauty was.

That determination became the firewood that ignited the will of the applicants.

‘I’ll definitely enter this academy!’

‘Even if it’s just to have a word with that senior!!’

When they were saying such things to themselves,

[Oh, apparently, the professor who serves as the student council’s advisor has also arrived, everyone give an applause to—?]

For the first time, the confident Young miss of Guinevere was speechless. For some reason, her voice trembled violently.

Looking at her, who acted weirdly like that, the exam takers couldn’t help but wonder.

Thump-!

However, the moment ‘he’ appeared on the stage, the exam takers understood why she was so shocked.

“Professor Alfredo said he’s feeling unwell, so I’ll be substituting him for ‘today’.”

“…”

“Answer me.”

“Y-Yes!”

Karin Guinevere answered in surprise, as if she was a new soldier who had been assigned to a military unit.

She even dropped the megaphone.

Meanwhile, the one who made Young Miss Guinevere trembled…

“What are you looking at-?”

[…]

The moment the exam takers’ eyes met the man’s eyes, they immediately closed their eyes.

He managed to terrify all the candidates with only his appearance. His overwhelming ‘presence’ and ‘power’ was ‘too overwhelming to be called a human’, and even his ‘eyes’ were ‘shining menacingly’.

Why is there a [creature] that could fold the spine of an orc or a troll in here?!

To those who were shivering like that…

“By the way, I’m gonna give you all a warning. I hope that none of you will throw away trash on the street. In particular, whoever among you who threw away ‘glass’, turn yourself in immediately. If you don’t and this instructor catches you later, I’m going to rip your spine—no, I’m going to give you a severe punishment.”

[…]

“Answer.”

[Yes!!]

At that moment, the exam takers gave him their sincere answers. None of them wanted to have their spine folded, after all.

Meanwhile…

Tremble-!

“…”

When the word ‘glass’ came out of his mouth, a certain woman broke out in a cold sweat while her pupils dilated. However, when the woman slightly raised her head, thinking that it might be a coincidence.

“I’m gonna be watching you.”

…She found the man staring at her eyes directly, as if telling her that it wasn’t a coincidence.

After that, the entrance exam where the candidates were evaluated as the most orderly and clean as they picked every single trash they found in the Academy finally started.