episode_0015

I stared at the skewer in my hand.

A strange appearance, with various fruits coated in sugar water and their surfaces shiny.

After hesitating for a moment, I mustered up my courage and took a big bite.

Kwajik-! Agjak-!

All kinds of fruity flesh burst in my mouth, with sugar crumbs mixed in here and there.

He grimaced slightly at the shocking taste, stuck his tongue out, and muttered a complaint.

“… So sweet.”

Because I usually only eat frozen fruit for dessert.

This dessert from the Eastern country was too violently sweet for me.

“Eugene! Next time, let’s eat that, the round bread with cheese in it!”

“What are you deciding on your own? Eugene is going to go with me to a famous afternoon tea nearby.”

Julian and Aria each grabbed one of my arms and pulled me towards them.

It doesn’t really hurt when they pull, though… .

Even without that, I feel like I get a lot of attention from passersby because of my appearance and size.

With these two people of extraordinary beauty together, it was inevitable that they would attract more attention.

‘One of them is a guy, you know.’

Anyway, since I don’t have much tolerance for being exposed to other people’s gaze like this, I felt a little burdened.

Especially because it was a shopping district with a lot of foot traffic.

‘They say it’s a school town, but it’s different.’

Merchants who came to the academy in the remote area to sell their products to students and teachers began to settle in.

Following this, various facilities such as guilds and theater companies also moved into the area.

Their families and associates came together to form a huge city centered around the academy building.

Honestly, I was quite surprised when I first came here.

I’ve visited the capital several times and it was just as splendid.

What was certain was that it was more sophisticated than the North.

‘Julian in particular, it was quite funny to see him surprised.’

As the successor to the Grand Duke’s family, and for personal reasons such as meeting Aria, I have been to and from the city several times.

First, Julian had never left the North since he was born.

When I first set foot here, I got the reaction of a country bumpkin who had just moved to the city.

-Look over there, there are things like iron trees all over the place, and there are lights on over there!

-Hey, the carriage is running without any words! Is there a ghost or something!?

-It’s so sweet and delicious that I feel like crying! I’m glad I’m alive!

It wasn’t just empty words, it was Julian who was shedding real tears from both corners of his eyes.

‘The North’s external exclusion may be a security advantage, but its inability to keep up with rapidly developing cultures is a major disadvantage.’

Seeing my friend being so fond of something so trivial, I couldn’t help but feel sorry as a member of the family responsible for the North.

Well, it wasn’t a problem that would change even if I worried about it right now.

After I take over as the leader, it will be a task that I have to slowly change so that everyone can accept it.

“Ha! As expected, you don’t know anything. Eugene, that guy is far from such a noble hobby. If you don’t know, just keep quiet? ”

“… You don’t know anything? Okay, I’ve decided. Follow me down the back alley right now. I’ll make you completely disappear while I’m at it. ”

“Tch! That’s what I wanted. I’ll personally take care of that arrogant, high-minded face. I’ll make sure you don’t ever come near my friend again!”

Even though I tried to think about it seriously, I couldn’t because of these two.

If you don’t mediate even for a moment, they will soon start growling and fighting again.

Julian bumped his fists together in a slouched, awkward manner.

Aria stared at him with dead eyes that had lost their highlight color.

“Both of you, stop it. It’s almost exam time, so there’s no time to stop by. Or, do you want to stay here while I go by myself?”

Let’s practice one of the long-standing traditions of the North, ‘Mom will go, so you stay here.’

The stone, which had been on the verge of a fight just a moment ago, was barely able to return to a calm state.

“Okay, if we can, let’s cheer each other on together. I’m also nervous about the exam.”

I took the two of them, who were still turning their heads away from each other, and headed to the testing room inside the academy grounds.

It was really a heavy burden on my shoulders.

***

“Applicants! Let’s enter the testing room!”

As a woman, presumed to be an academy official, shouted loudly, people loitering around the building began to go inside one by one.

“Okay, I’ll go and come back.”

Instead of following them straight away, he spoke to the two next to him.

“While we’re at it, let’s show the city idiots what the North is like!”

“Eugene, I’ll be cheering you on from the stands. Hey, don’t be nervous, do your best.”

Julian clenched his fists and his eyes burned, and Aria cheered, looking even more nervous than I, the person involved.

Current students at the Academy and prospective students who accepted an invitation were allowed to observe the entrance exam if they so desired.

Could this be the Academy’s consideration to get to know each other’s faces in advance?

However, it seemed that they had prepared a separate observation area so as not to disturb the test, so from here on out, I had to go alone.

“I’ll do as much as I can.”

Since the test content was not announced in advance, I couldn’t say for sure that I would pass.

Leaving those two behind, what greeted me as I entered the examination room was this.

‘It’s a sparring hall.’

There was a large training ground in the center of the building and a crowd of examinees already crowded together.

They looked startled when they saw me coming in late.

“Wow, the muscles are no joke. Is that person an applicant? Isn’t he an academy official?”

“Look at that size… For a second, I thought a bear came in. I think I’m going to die.”

Ignoring the students chattering amongst themselves, he went to a corner and took a seat.

Then he searched through his pockets and took out the paper he had been given when he registered for the exam.

‘Number 99.’

For fairness, during the test, students will be called by their assigned number rather than their name.

In addition, even the test supervisors are not informed of the test takers’ information in advance.

‘Whatever it is, I hope it ends quickly. I don’t want it to be treated like a spectacle, like some rare animal.’

How long had I been waiting like that? Someone appeared above the training ground.

“What a bustling gathering. Nice to meet you, kids. Welcome to the Academy entrance exam. I am the instructor who will be your supervisor this time, Kundell.”

The supervisor was an old man who looked somewhat gaunt.

At this, some of the examinees tilted their heads, showing signs of open disappointment.

Rather, I looked at him like that and my eyes sparkled.

‘Isn’t that great?’

It was a conclusion I reached after reading the fragmentary information that was secretly leaking out from him.

He seemed to be stronger than the knight commander of an average family.

Above all, I was impressed by the fact that even at that age, he had not neglected his training and had been managing it consistently just by looking at his standing posture.

“Everyone came here with their own big dreams, but I can’t accept all of them. So I’ll give you a chance to prove yourself.”

Even as I was evaluating him, the conversation continued.

“Come up to the training ground in the order your names are called. And if you can land even one effective hit against me, you will be marked as passed on the spot.”

The examinees gathered there seemed to think, “Is that all?”

I dare say I predicted that most of them would fall.

“Then let’s start from number 1. Get ready and come up.”

The examinee whose name was called went up holding a real sword, but the supervisor showed him a wooden sword.

However, the candidate could not last even a few seconds, was beaten helplessly by Kundel, and was carried away on a stretcher.

“Next, prepare number 2 and come up.”

The next developments were as expected.

A group of examinees who are quickly torn apart without even being able to use their hands properly.

Of course, not everyone failed without a fight, and some barely passed after a fierce struggle… .

It was a result that was almost like luck.

‘It was my turn in an instant.’

Just now, friend number 98 was carried out on a stretcher.

“Haa… 99! Get ready and come up!”

After a long and tedious wait, my name was called and I went up to the training ground while stretching.

At this, Kundel, who had been sighing repeatedly, turned his gaze towards me and began to shine.

“Wow… I was about to get disappointed because there were only mediocre guys. Fortunately, there’s at least one Moonfish among them. Is that number 99?”

“Yes, please send me the map.”

When I bowed my head and spoke, Kundel did not answer right away, but instead quietly looked at me with his eyes examining me.

Then, he burst out laughing heartily.

“Hahaha! No, I don’t think that’s necessary. I know even without trying. I’ll give you an early pass.”

“… Yes? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

I frowned and questioned the absurd, out-of-the-blue, and unfair story.

At this, Kundel’s face wrinkled and he smiled slyly.

“You, you guessed my level earlier, right? I didn’t know who it was then, but now that we’re facing each other, I know.”

Would it be possible for a beast to hide itself among herbivores?

‘Oh, I got caught.’

It’s not like I did anything I couldn’t do in the first place, and there wasn’t really any problem… .

It was a bit embarrassing when the person in question spoke so openly.

“Even so, I can’t be the only one to receive such benefits. If I enjoy such things without showing anything, there will definitely be gossip.”

It is a waste to twist things that can be easily done and get into trouble.

“You’re more sincere than you look. You wouldn’t have dreamed that you wouldn’t meet the passing criteria anyway, right?”

Although I didn’t openly agree with his question, it was definitely true.

In fact, it seemed like I could land a valid hit right now if I put my mind to it.

“Then how about this? If you compete with me seriously, I will guarantee you the top spot in the entrance exam.”

“As I said earlier, I have no intention of being treated so unfairly… .”

“Don’t worry. The head is originally decided by the recommendation of the supervisor in charge. It’s not unfair.”

“… Why do you keep bringing that up? You could have just had a simple sparring session like the other students and ended it.”

“Why are you asking such an obvious question? If you keep asking, I’ll end up not being able to have a real duel with you, so that’s why I’m asking this.”

Until then, Kundel had been acting somewhat empty, but in an instant, he took on a hostile atmosphere and smiled fiercely.

Only then did I realize.

Even though his appearance may be old, his heart is still burning hot and active.

“So? What should we do?”

Kundel is different from the vulgar bead-covered demon from the Masin Church that he had faced off against a while ago.

He was a proper warrior and an old man.

… Then it would be right for me to answer as a warrior.

He raises his fist and poses towards Kundel, who is staring at him with sparkling eyes.

And he pulled the corners of his mouth up like he had done a moment ago.

“Let’s compete so that we don’t have any regrets.”

“… Haha, that’s right. What a heart-fluttering statement.”

There is no need for further discussion.

Boom-!!

The next moment, a loud noise from the clash between the two warriors echoed throughout the testing room.