Academy Entrance Exam (5)

1.

After watching the entrance exam for the Swordsmanship Department, I returned to the temple.

“Huff… huff…”

I stayed at the training grounds for too long.

I only meant to watch a few matches and come back.

But each match was so interesting that I couldn’t tear myself away.

“Heave-ho…!”

I jumped and started climbing a tree.

Since I snuck out, entering through the main gate was impossible.

I hope no one came looking for me while I was gone?

If they did, the temple would be in an uproar by now.

‘The Saintess has disappeared!’

Or something like that.

It’s quiet, so thankfully, it seems no one came.

I climbed through the window and entered my room.

It was at that moment that I heard a knock.

“Saintess, it’s Rael.”

With impeccable timing, I hiccuped in surprise, taking off my robe as I answered.

“J-just a moment…!”

I took off the robe and stuffed it under the covers.

I smoothed out my disheveled clothes as I rushed over.

I neatly combed my hair and put on my veil.

Sweat was running down my back and gathering uncomfortably under my breasts, but there was no time to wipe it off.

I spread open a holy book on the table as if I had been studying.

I straightened my posture and cleared my throat.

“Ahem… ahem… Come in.”

The door opened, and Rael entered.

“I apologize for disturbing you while you were resting.”

“What is it?”

“I came to inform you about the third exam tomorrow.”

Rael began to explain the third exam.

“As you know, the third exam is a comprehensive assessment.”

Comprehensive assessment.

As the name suggests, it evaluates the examinee’s overall abilities.

Stamina, Magical power, Divinity, agility, reasoning, and so on.

Various other factors are also included in the evaluation criteria.

It is said that the evaluation is complex in order to select the right talent to enter the Imperial Academy.

“This year, it is said that you will enter the forest and complete a quest.”

“The same as last year?”

“That is correct.”

Last year, the Divinity Studies exam was a bead hunt in the forest.

The score is based on the number of beads.

It seems like child’s play, but the beads are special beads that can only be detected with Divinity. And in the process of finding them, trials are given at random.

There are traps.

Someone is injured.

Someone is in danger.

Besides that, there are said to be dozens of trials for comprehensive evaluation.

“However, there is a change. This year, all departments will be taking the exam together.”

“Yes? So, you mean the Swordsmanship and Magic Departments will be taking the exam at the same time as the Divinity Studies Department?”

“That is correct.”

This has never happened before.

Originally, each department takes the exam in the forest over three days.

“One person from each department. A total of three people will form a party and proceed with the quest in the forest. The academy will decide on the party composition and announce it tomorrow morning.”

This was good news.

I thought I would be taking a boring third exam.

How difficult could finding beads be?

I am already proficient in controlling Divinity.

There are trials in the middle, but they are mostly to evaluate character.

There is hardly any fighting.

But if the Swordsmanship and Magic Departments are together?

There will be combat.

The most likely scenario is Magical Beast hunting.

I’m already looking forward to it.

“Is there anything known about the quest? What kind of quest is it?”

“That will also be announced tomorrow morning.”

“I see.”

Please let it be Magical Beast hunting!

And if possible, I hope it’s a terrible party.

That way, I can catch even more with my own hands.

“Ah! And I also passed the second exam.”

Rael looked at me with eyes like a puppy wanting praise.

“I know.”

“Yes? You know?”

Oops.

I made a mistake.

I was too caught up in happy fantasies about tomorrow’s exam and was too careless.

How would the Saintess, who has only been in the temple, know about what happened at the swordsmanship training grounds?

“W-well, I heard. Yes, I heard. People were talking outside the window. They said the Holy Knight who applied to the Swordsmanship Department this time was really amazing. As soon as I heard that, I knew it was Rael Hyung. Because the only amazing Holy Knight I know is you, Hyung.”

I put on a straight face and spewed out lies.

“Haha, you flatter me.”

It worked.

It was a really clumsy lie.

Rael doesn’t seem to suspect that the Saintess would lie at all.

“I heard the opponent was formidable as well?”

“Yes, it was a warrior from the Southern Kingdom, and his endurance was incredible. No matter how much I attacked, he kept getting back up.”

“But if you look at pure swordsmanship skills, Rael Hyung was ahead. The swordsmanship you showed before the supervisor ended the match was really amazing. I thought to myself that Rael Hyung is truly worthy of being one of the Holy Nation’s five Holy Knights.”

Rael looked at me strangely.

“You’re talking as if you saw it at the training grounds yourself?”

“…I heard. I imagined it myself based on what I heard. If I ever get the chance, I would like to see Hyung’s swordsmanship in person.”

“I will make time to show you next time.”

“Yes, I’ll look forward to it.”

I gave a subtle smile.

It’s amazing that this kind of excuse works.

It seems they trust me infinitely just because I’m the Saintess.

I’m wondering if I should be happy about this loyalty or scold them.

“By the way, I also heard. That the Saintess was amazing as well.”

“Me?”

What did I do?

I blinked and thought about it.

I didn’t do anything particularly amazing.

“I heard you not only filled the Goblet of the Giant, but you made it overflow?”

“Ah…”

I was wondering what it was.

“It just happened when I did it?”

I could have added more, but I thought it was enough, so I stopped halfway.

“Is that a big deal?”

“Yes, it’s a really big deal!”

I don’t know.

Are there people who can’t do that easy thing?

It was as simple as filling a cup with water from a kettle.

“So far, there are only two people in the history of the academy who have filled the Goblet of the Giant to the brim. One is the previous Saintess, and the other is you, Saintess.”

Rael pointed at me with both hands.

“Hmm…”

I know it’s amazing because you said there are only two people in the history of the academy.

But I don’t feel much.

Because it was really easy for me.

Push-ups are more difficult.

I can’t do even one without Body Enhancement with Magical power.

It can be said to be a disadvantage of this body.

Muscles don’t build easily, so no matter how much I exercise, my strength is terrible.

Above all, it’s really hard to lower and lift my upper body because my huge breasts, like my head, are heavy.

How many times have I fallen forward… It’s embarrassing.

I am grateful and thankful once again that I can use Magical power.

2.

The next day.

Those who passed the second exam gathered in the forest behind the academy.

The surroundings were bustling and noisy.

It was because of the presence of a few children.

Attention was focused on the children who had performed well in the previous exam.

Some with envy.

Some with jealousy.

And some were being shown as if they were curious.

I was where the students’ eyes were glancing, as if they were looking at a strange animal.

It must be because it’s the first time they’ve seen the new Saintess.

Rumors about me had already spread throughout the academy.

80% of the conversations whispering while looking at me were about yesterday’s exam.

The amount of Divinity is beyond imagination.

She is the person who will become the greatest Saintess of all time.

Etc.

I don’t know why they’re making such a fuss.

I was preparing for the exam while receiving stares that poked at my body.

At exactly 8 o’clock, the exam supervisor came up onto the platform.

“Ahem!”

The supervisor’s cough silenced the commotion.

“Before we start the exam, there will be a brief explanation about the exam. The academy’s final entrance exam is Magical Beast hunting.”

Wow!

I cheered inwardly.

“We have released Magical Beasts into the forest. You will hunt those Magical Beasts, and the score will be based on the number of Magical Beasts you hunt. And the score will vary depending on the Magical power of the Magical Beast. The more dangerous and powerful the Magical Beast you hunt, the higher the score you will receive, right?”

The surroundings began to buzz again at the words ‘dangerous and powerful Magical Beast’.

“You don’t have to worry too much. I said they are dangerous, but they are not Magical Beasts that will threaten your lives.”

That’s a bit disappointing…

But that was right considering the children.

It would be troublesome if there were any deaths while taking the academy exam.

“I will continue to explain the exam rules.”

First, when the exam starts, the examinees will be Teleportation Magic Circle to random locations in the forest, and the three examinees from each department who are Teleportation Magic Circle to the same location will form a party.

Second, there is no need to collect a part of the Magical Beast separately after hunting it.

“We have given the Magic Department examinees Magic Tools that can measure the Magical Beasts they have hunted in advance. When you catch a Magical Beast, the Magical power of the Magical Beast will automatically be entered into it.”

Third, it is possible to interfere in order to take the prey.

“Combat between parties is allowed. But please don’t go too far.”

It shouldn’t become a competitor hunt instead of a Magical Beast hunt.

“Finally, the exam time is until 6 PM.”

Thump, thump.

My heart is pounding with anticipation.

I can’t run around freely considering the Saintess’s reputation, but I’m happy just to be able to catch Magical Beasts after a long time.

“Then! Let’s start the exam!”

With the supervisor’s shout, dozens of Teleportation Magic Circles spread out in the sky.

The Magic Circles flashed.

The flash of light turned my vision white.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

The light that covered my eyes slowly dissipated.

I slowly lifted my eyelids.

And at that moment.

“Euaaah! It’s battle! Battle!!”

“Kyaa!”

A loud roar struck my right ear.