Ch.3434 – Guarantor

<34 – Identity Guarantor>

If the 1st gate was a test of autonomy.

And the 2nd gate was a test of creativity.

Then the 3rd gate was a test of combat ability.

‘I never knew getting into the Academy would be this difficult.’

Irene, who barely passed the 3rd gate, asked the examiner:

“Have you been conducting these tests every year?”

“More or less.”

“Isn’t it unnecessary to test the combat ability of those who passed the 2nd gate?”

“Why bother? Combat ability is only needed by passive inferiors who lack autonomy and creativity.”

“…!”

“Northern Duchess Irene. Served as a battle mage in the North. Participated in 13 frontlines directly. Having experienced harsh wars, you should understand better than most—combat isn’t everything.”

Irene realized it deeply.

No matter how many wars are waged, there is no end.

No matter how many are killed, all that increases are the numbers of the fallen and graves marked with broken weapons.

Tired of the long war against demon-kind, the Northern Grand Duke sought answers in the capital.

That was the background leading to Irene taking the entrance exam for Gift Academy.

“The reason is the same. Was that helpful, Sing?”

“I don’t fully agree, but if that’s the Academy’s policy, I’ll follow it.”

Talented individuals like Irene and Sing easily passed the 3rd gate.

Those who didn’t pass the 3rd gate had only failed the advanced class test; their chances of passing the retests for the regular class were more than sufficient.

‘It hurts my pride that even after all this, I’m still not rated as highly as that little kid.’

Not just Irene and Sing, but all successful candidates thought the same.

Oknodie, the most likely top candidate who had proven her superiority not once but twice.

They needed to monitor her every move and learn everything they could from her.

‘There must be some reason why she collects pretty stones too.’

Irene carefully placed a round pebble in her inner pocket.

* *

<Advanced Class Successful Candidates>

<Group A: 17 people>

<Group B: 22 people>

<Group C: 5 people>

<Total: 44 people>

<Regular Class Successful Candidates>

<Group A: 1223 people>

<Group B: 815 people>

<Group C: 48 people>

<Total: 2086 people>

<981st Class Total Successful Candidates>

<Advanced Class: 44 people>

<Regular Class: 2086 people>

<Total: 2130 people>

After several days of eating, sleeping, and resting in the lounge to recover depleted stamina and heal injuries.

The detailed list of successful candidates appeared on the mana board.

Dorothy and Rockpell, the two childhood friends, had passed but seemed uncomfortable seeing each other, so they stayed holed up in their individual rooms.

“That’s a lot.”

“Over 2000 successful candidates. That’s considerably more than I expected.”

“Hahaha! Most of them are just small fry who aren’t even as good as our little mouse!”

Unlike my excited companions, I felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Not because of my previous conflict with Examiner Minerva.

But because of the group classifications for successful candidates.

“Groups. This is the first time I’ve seen something like this.”

“It’s a regional classification.”

“Miss Oknodie, do you know something about this?”

“A is for frontier regions. B is for central regions. C is for special cases. Since the central region is vast, the continental east, west, north, and south are considered frontier regions. We’re probably in Group A.”

“It’s hard to understand why they would separate candidates by origin after selecting them.”

“They’re not separating us again. Candidates from frontier regions and central regions took their exams in different venues, so they’re naturally grouped separately.”

Giselle and Isabelle looked at me with curious eyes.

“Did they teach such things in noble households?”

“Oknodie’s knowledge seems particularly biased toward Academy-related matters.”

“I-it’s just a coincidence! I just remembered something I learned!”

As I was trying to get by with Giselle’s words, a solemn voice cut in: “That’s strange.”

The #1 ranked noble of the Western Noble Alliance.

Andersen Pretzel, who had been listening to our conversation from the next table, joined in.

“For an applicant to know something that even I, Andersen Pretzel, second son of the Pretzel Grand Ducal family—the foremost noble house of the wealthiest Deutsch Kingdom among the Western Three Nations—do not know.”

“W-well, then my papa must be a much more impressive person!”

Sorry, Papa.

If I don’t use you as an excuse now, when would I?

“Information network that surpasses the foremost noble house of the most powerful nation among the Western Three Nations. I look forward to seeing just how impressive your hidden background is, Oknodie.”

“I agree. Unless you’re royalty from some country, such information access is incomprehensible.”

The #2 ranked member of the Western Noble Alliance.

The lone female, <Arcadia>, peered over her fan with sparkling eyes, as if trying to see through me.

She wore an Eastern cheongsam.

With Southern tribal tattoos on her shoulders.

And even the fan that was an essential accessory for central noble ladies.

Following every latest trend without discrimination, she was a supporting female character ranked in the late 20s in popularity among players, known as the icon of “no roots.”

‘Tch. Arcadia, of all people, is talking back to me?’

“Little miss, your expression seems irritating. You’re not having any disrespectful thoughts, are you?”

“…Not really? I was just thinking that with a Northern fur coat, you’d have collected items from all four directions.”

“My, you have unexpected sense? I actually prepared a coat for winter too. For you to appreciate my sense, you’re quite a precocious child, aren’t you?”

The favor of a 2.5-tier supporting character less popular than Yuie, the 2-tier NTR heroine, isn’t something to be proud of at all.

“This is a specialty from our Firenze Kingdom, fried squid. I bought it from the restaurant attached to the rest area. Let’s chat about trendy accessories like women do.”

That’s what I thought until I received the fried squid.

“Arcadia is my top-tier favorite from today! No one can disrespect her!”

“…Top-tier? I’m not sure what that means, but I’ll take it as children’s praise. Thank you.”

Munch munch munch.

Nom nom nom.

While I happily devoured the fried squid, relishing the texture and chewiness that crumbled in my mouth, shaking my head from side to side with joy.

A crow tapped on the lounge window with its beak, demanding attention.

“What’s that?”

“There’s something tied to its leg.”

“It’s a messenger bird.”

The Eastern swordsman Sing said, leaning against the wall.

“In the East, instead of communication magic, we tie messages to birds’ legs and send them flying.”

The crow perched on a nearby desk, untied the string with its beak, and dropped the paper.

Flutter

Then the crow charged toward a nearby feed container!

“Just like Oknodie.”

“Hehe. I agree.”

“Hahaha! A flying mouse has appeared!”

“Ugh. Don’t call me that! I’m not a mouse. I’m still growing and I’ll get much, much taller! Like 2m 30cm!”

“Isn’t that too tall?”

When I mentioned my height from my muscular male character days, Son Ocheon burst into laughter.

If I were really a male character, I’d look down at that impudent monkey and show him what a height difference really means!

“Oknodie applicant. This note is calling for you. Examiner Minerva is summoning you to the counseling room downstairs.”

Ugh. Why her of all people?

I headed to the counseling room with reluctant steps.

“What do you want to tell me this time?”

“Today I called you for a different matter.”

Minerva showed me a chart.

“What is this?”

“The group designation dividing Groups A, B, and C. Successful candidates are divided into Group A for frontier regions, Group B for central regions, and Group C for others. These groups will be maintained after enrollment.”

“I’m in Group A anyway, right? I received my ticket from a frontier region and took the entrance exam at a frontier examination site.”

“That’s the problem. Upon checking, we found that applicant Oknodie has never been registered with the International Identity Registration Magic Repository—you’re unregistered.”

“Ah.”

I had an ominous feeling.

No way, right?

“Unregistered individuals cannot belong to either frontier or central regions. Non-existent people. People unrecognized by society. Group C is for those with unclear origins.”

“What? So what happens now?”

“You lose freedom of movement and must always be under an instructor’s supervision and permission wherever you go.”

No way!

Then I can’t collect stat stones or complete the events I need to clear in advance.

I won’t be able to sneak into the library to tear up forbidden books disguised as regular ones, fight gargoyles hidden between statues, or set fire to the garden to burn mandrakes!

“Please, can’t you make an exception just once?”

“No.”

Minerva was merciless.

“Therefore, applicant Oknodie must be accompanied by an instructor appointed by the main office 24 hours a day.”

“That’s too cruel!”

“…is what I’d like to say. But for the past 3 days—72 hours—we’ve been waiting for someone to come forward to vouch for applicant Oknodie’s identity. And a guarantor has appeared.”

With a flick of Minerva’s hand, the curtain in the corner of the counseling room opened, revealing a familiar man in a suit.

“Jona!”

“It’s been a while, young miss. Have you been well?”

I ran over and hugged his legs tightly.

The butler with 100% loyalty who never betrays you once summoned by a whistle.

The only person I can trust in this other world, my butler who never betrays me no matter the situation, Jona Wiheomhae.

“That is inappropriate.”

“Urk.”

Jona pressed my forehead with one hand and detached me.

Even though I thought I’d gotten stronger, Jona was still far stronger than me in terms of physical strength.

“An Academy examiner is watching. Maintain your dignity, young miss.”

“Tch. How can a person not change at all? It’s been so long since we met and the first thing you say is ‘That is inappropriate.'”

Doesn’t Jona feel happy to see me?

As I pouted and grumbled, Jona’s characteristically stern face lifted slightly, just a tiny bit, at the corners of his mouth.

Wow…

Even though he’s my butler, that’s too much.

Look at that savage smile like he’s about to kill someone.

This person should never smile in public.

“Jona. Smiling privileges revoked for three weeks!”

“…?”

Who else but me could tolerate such a smile?

So from now on, I should be the only one to see it.