episode_0027

“First, let me explain. This is a virtual space created by Professor Rollin, who teaches magic classes.”

I opened my mouth to look at the freshmen who were looking at me.

“A place called Daeseolsan that was realized through my memories. You can think of it as a habitat for those who are swarming with demons everywhere.”

In the North, there is a practice of slaughtering demons at regular intervals during the breeding season to control their population.

Among them, Daeseolsan Mountain is the largest habitat and breeding ground for demons in the north.

However, Daeseolsan was a formidable place even for the people of the north, as there were casualties and missing people every year during the suppression process.

Thinking about that, I looked at Julian, who was standing among the freshmen with a stiff face.

“You will now have a limited time of 3 hours to roam around here and subdue the demons of Daeseolsan. The test is about that.”

It is set in advance so that when you defeat a demon, the points are automatically converted.

You will be assigned to a class appropriate to your level based on your final score at the end of the test.

“Also, the points assigned are different depending on the danger level of the devil, but don’t go past the beginning of the mountain and into the middle.”

The higher you go up Mt. Daeseol, the more it has a pyramid structure where stronger individuals take up positions.

The closer you get to the top, the more predators at the top of the food chain you will encounter.

This is a place created from my memories, so all those things must have been realized.

I expected that most of those I evaluated would have a hard time dealing with the demons at the beginning.

“That’s what I’m saying, don’t be reckless. If you die here, you won’t actually lose your life, but the test will end.”

Even if I say this, there will be those who cannot objectively view my abilities and become greedy.

But that would also be a good experience.

Because greed is prevalent everywhere, regardless of age or gender.

And in reality, the moment you experience the results of that greed, that’s the end.

There are no second chances.

“You can gather your colleagues to take the test, but be aware that the points will be distributed based on your contribution to the conquest.”

Are you willing to take risks and go it alone to monopolize the points?

Do you want to work as a party to safely and quickly divide and take the points?

The process of choosing these well will also be part of the fun of the exam.

“That’s the end of the explanation. Do you have any further questions?”

I asked that, but at that time, no one raised their hand.

“Is it okay if I ask a question?”

A student who looked like a nobleman raised his hand.

“Are attacks and knocking down of opponents allowed between test takers?”

I frowned at the question, which seemed to have impure intentions, and said:

“… It’s not impossible.”

“Is that so?”

“However, please be aware that the situation here is being watched by faculty and staff from outside at the same time.”

That is, it meant that you should give up the idea of doing something so detestable in order to get a good evaluation.

This isn’t some evil organization… How could I look favorably on a student who betrays and attacks his fellow students?

“Any other questions?”

This time, no one came forward, and a group of freshmen just stared at me blankly.

“I see. If so, I will start the class assignment test now.”

Taking that as a signal, the students began to move quickly.

***

Test begins in 10 minutes.

Students were divided into three major groups.

The first are those who immediately start climbing the mountain in order to earn more points faster than others.

The second is those who form parties based on each other’s specialties or gather as many people as possible to increase the size of the group.

The third group was those who did not belong to any of the groups, but watched from a distance and observed how the situation developed.

What is noteworthy here are those who fall into the first and second cases.

Those who began to climb Seolsan Mountain alone were often commoners who entered through entrance exams.

Most of those who were leisurely socializing were nobles who had come in after receiving an invitation.

Of course, there are noble students who are confident in their abilities and climb the mountain alone.

Some common students, who believed that the benefits of working in a group were important, took the initiative to form a party.

However, unfortunately, these people only make up a handful of the freshmen.

Watching this from afar, I decided that they were diamonds worth polishing.

‘On the other hand, there are students who do not seem to have any value as rough diamonds at the moment….’

Turning our gaze, we see the densest group at the entrance of Seolsan Mountain.

I looked at the place where people gathered around one person.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince! May we do this together?”

“I want to join too!”

“Okay, okay, I’ll put you to good use.”

I looked at the blond man who seemed to be smiling smugly and burst out laughing.

‘That guy never changes with time. He’s always the same arrogant person.’

I visited the imperial palace several times when I was young.

At that time, the crown prince… no, at that time, he was still a prince, so I often ran into him.

‘I’ve been picking fights with people every time I see them because of an inferiority complex that I don’t know where it came from.’

Then one time, he went too far and started nagging me, so I personally broke his high nose.

After I burst into tears like that, I never saw him again even when I went to the palace.

‘I thought you came to your senses when I heard the news that you had become the crown prince… but that wasn’t the case.’

When I first showed up earlier, you didn’t recognize me.

As soon as he heard my name, he started looking at me with that old inferiority complex.

If anything has changed, it is that fear has been added to that inferiority complex.

‘But that guy. He’s been rolling his eyes since a while ago. It looks like he’s looking for someone. What is he doing?’

While accepting noble students who flirt with her regardless of gender.

The crown prince’s gaze habitually scanned the other students around him.

‘Well, it’s not my place to get involved unless it causes trouble.’

There’s also a guy like the crown prince.

There were also students who took noteworthy actions.

For example… .

“If it’s okay with you, would you like to party with me?”

“Yes? I don’t have anything special about me… .”

“It’s okay! Me too? Let’s work together!”

Like the red-haired schoolgirl who seeks out and talks to talented people who don’t show it on the outside.

[Wow, he’s cutting down the demon’s hand like a bamboo shoot. Is that the disciple of the swordsman…?]

Like Professor Rollin’s exclamation echoing in my head.

There is a student who is sweeping the world with such a wide spread of influence that even my senses can catch him.

Kwakwang!

When I turned my gaze to the loud noise coming from the direction of Seolsan, I saw a small pillar of fire rising up.

[… It’s a little bit! I guess it’s true that he’s called the next magic tower master. Well, of course not as much as me!]

Maybe it’s because we’re in the same industry, but the evaluation is lower than before… .

That student who had been using powerful magic like crazy since earlier was also worth keeping an eye on.

‘But it might be favoritism… .’

As expected, the students I was most concerned about were those students.

“Why are you so quiet? I thought you’d be the first to jump out, given your personality.”

“Don’t worry about it and just leave quickly. I’ll take care of it myself.”

“Are you going to keep making me repeat the same thing? I’m definitely a great wizard, but I need your spirit-like vanguard, right?”

“Ha… Just find someone else.”

“I don’t like it. Most people who take the vanguard are men, right? I have no intention of getting involved with any man other than Eugene.”

“… You, you’re annoying. And I’m a guy too.”

“ Okay, let’s go quickly, right?”

The third group of people I mentioned as examples are onlookers who take no action.

The people who belonged there were Aria and Julian, faces that were very familiar to me.

And of the two, the one I noticed was Julian, who had a gloomy expression on his face.

‘It’s been a while, but this place still feels awkward.’

For him, Daeseolsan is a place that holds many bad memories.

However, the reason I chose this place as the testing site is because it is the habitat of demons, so it is suitable for testing.

It was because I wanted my friend to overcome mentally, even if it was only a fantasy and not reality.

‘… But I guess I was too hasty.’

I wanted to go and console my friend whose past pain had been brought up, but I told them before I left the dorm today.

As an instructor, I want to be fair during the test, so I would like you to stop talking to me first, and I also said that I will not talk to you.

At a time when I was unable to do anything.

“Oh my, is there a brown-haired brother over there who can help? That’s great, I just needed it.”

A girl with impressive green hair.

As I watched Aria and Julian approach the place where they were gathered, smiling, I couldn’t help but think.

‘This, this, I don’t know why… .’

I had a feeling that a rather dangerous combination was about to be born.