Ch.55. Exam?

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“Ah, shit.”

Elia brushed the dust off her clothes.

She had just been thrown out into the hallway by the dormitory supervisor after clinging to Darwood, trying to befriend him.

“He could’ve been more receptive. What a narrow-minded person.”

Though she grumbled, Elia’s mind was still completely filled with thoughts of Darwood Campbell.

It had been a while since she’d met someone so interesting.

Even now, people outside were saying the duel was rigged or manipulated. But Elia instinctively knew.

This man’s skill that had defeated her in one move was real.

Though she had no idea what method he had used.

‘There’s definitely something about that guy.’

At the very least, she could tell he was more suspicious than he appeared.

And she was the type who couldn’t stand having unanswered questions.

So she reached a rational conclusion.

What would be the optimal position to learn his skills and carefully observe what kind of person he was?

A friend, of course. A friend.

There’s nothing wrong with becoming friends.

‘…Though I don’t really know how to become friends with a guy.’

Having grown up in a convent with only girls since childhood, men were unknown creatures to her. She’d barely had opportunities to even speak to them, let alone make friends.

Of course, that didn’t mean she was going to give up.

‘But with that attitude…’

No matter how she tried to approach him, his attitude of thoroughly pushing her away was like an iron wall.

Even someone as thick-skinned as her felt hurt.

Perhaps it would be better to give up on forming a relationship for now…

“Ouch.”

Perhaps because she was too absorbed in these thoughts, she bumped into someone coming from the opposite direction while turning the corner at the end of the corridor.

“My. You should be more careful.”

“No, I should be the one…”

Elia’s voice stopped as she recognized who she had bumped into.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

While the student council president Elnore asked expressionlessly, Elia convulsively gripped her sword.

And immediately despaired.

‘…I can’t win. Absolutely not.’

She inwardly groaned as she instantly gauged the difference in level between them.

Though she herself possessed skills that would qualify her to be appointed as a regular knight right now, her opponent was in a different league.

No matter where or how she struck, she could only see outcomes where she would die.

‘So this is the Tristan Dukedom…’

Befitting the young lady of a family renowned as the continent’s pinnacle of swordsmanship.

Despite being only a few years older than her, she had achieved this level.

Elia removed her hand from her sword and replied.

“…I’m fine.”

After Elia bit her lip and uttered those words with frustration, the other person simply nodded slightly.

It was enough to make Elia feel indignant once more.

She must have seen her grab the sword, yet she didn’t even flinch.

As if to say, “So what?”

As if she wasn’t even worth paying attention to.

“…”

To this person, Elia was just that insignificant.

Someone who could be ignored.

Despite being a member of the family that had completely twisted her life.

A flash of anger that could turn her mind blank surged up, but instead of letting it out, Elia suppressed it inside.

There would be no point in showing it now. She couldn’t win with a sword anyway.

“Please take this.”

Elia forced a smile as she picked up what Elnore had dropped when they collided.

A packet containing simple snacks. Looking at the outside, it had “To Darwood Campbell” written in cute handwriting.

‘Why does that person keep popping up everywhere?’

Despite having such thoughts, Elia continued speaking kindly.

“Are you going to where this person is?”

“That’s right.”

“If you go straight and turn right from here, you’ll find the place you’re looking for.”

With those words, she handed the packet to Elnore and hurriedly moved away.

After all, she didn’t feel good being around this person.

“Wait.”

But Elnore called her back.

“How do you know where Darwood Campbell’s room is?”

“…?”

Though she wondered why she was asking, she had to answer.

“I was just with him until a moment ago?”

As soon as she heard those words, a surge of hostility rose from Elnore.

It was at a level that could be mistaken for killing intent.

‘…Hostility? Killing intent?’

Why?

No, seriously, why?

She didn’t change her expression even in front of someone who was openly trying to draw a sword against her, so why is she getting so angry just because I was with that guy?

While Elia was thoroughly confused, another question came flying.

“For what purpose?”

The temperature of her voice seemed to have dropped considerably from before.

There’s a feeling that if she mentioned anything about friendship here, she would really be attacked.

“Uh, just to build camaraderie among new students…?”

Elnore’s eyes narrowed.

She clearly didn’t like what Elia had just said.

“Romantic relationships between new students are forbidden.”

“…Excuse me?”

What the hell is she talking about all of a sudden?

“Anyway, it’s forbidden.”

“Was there such a school rule…?”

“I just made it.”

“…”

Right. Technically, the student council president does have such authority.

Though they probably didn’t create it to be abused like this.

“So from now on, you are not to visit Darwood Campbell’s room.”

“Excuse me, but do you have some kind of relationship with that person?”

At Elia’s question, Elnore closed her mouth.

It was such a long silence that even Elia, who had asked the question, was taken aback.

“…We are not in any relationship.”

It was an extremely difficult answer.

It also seemed to contain a tremendous amount of dissatisfaction. As if she strongly disliked the idea of such a relationship.

“That’s all. Make sure to remember what I just told you.”

Leaving only those prim words behind, Elnore swiftly departed, leaving Elia with a blank expression on her face.

“What was that all about?”

If they’re not in any relationship, why would she do something like this?

For someone who says that, it’s hard to understand why a young lady of a ducal family would write a man’s name prominently on a packet of food and personally deliver it.

I heard Darwood Campbell was from an insignificant baronial family, so why would someone like her be involved with him—

-I quite like that person.

-That’s just for show. I know that too. I roughly know what you’ve been up to.

As Elia was thinking, certain sentences suddenly flashed through her mind.

The very sentences she had heard directly from Darwood yesterday.

He had spoken as if he already knew the student council president well.

“Hmm.”

She felt her instincts tingling.

It seemed like the puzzle pieces were falling into place.

A man with a highly suspicious identity, and a student council president who outwardly claims no relationship but clearly has some connection to him…

‘There’s something here…!’

No relationship, my ass.

These two are definitely hiding something.

If she digs into this, some complicated backstory will surely emerge.

Perhaps even a great secret related to the Tristan Dukedom.

Elia’s instincts were screaming such things.

“Alright. I’ll push forward with becoming friends, if only to gather information.”

It was a resolution that would have made Darwood scream out loud if he had heard it.

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Admission and class placement at Elphante Academy takes place in two stages.

The first is group assignment based on roughly matched 1:1 duels.

After that comes the ‘class placement’ exam, which evaluates the student’s comprehensive abilities in detail.

Students are grouped according to their performance in the 1:1 duels and take the exam together.

And I was assigned to the top-tier group thanks to beating down that renowned future hero candidate.

Looking around, everyone else has faces full of confidence and pride, clearly pleased to be part of this group.

“…”

I’m the only one with a gloomy expression.

There are several reasons, but the biggest one is definitely this person.

I glanced at Elia, who happened to be in the same group as me, and she caught my eye and waved.

She’s smiling without a wrinkle. It’s enough to give me goosebumps.

“…”

I seriously gave her the cold shoulder yesterday.

Thinking about it, there’s absolutely nothing good for her in getting involved with me and the protagonist.

The more contact points you have with important characters, the more your life will be threatened, and in that respect, I already have my hands full with just Elnore.

So I can swear that I really did my best to push this person away.

< Gift-Related Person Alert >

▼ Elia Krisanax

[ Curiosity Level 4 ] >>> [ Curiosity Level 5 ]

[ Reward collection is not yet possible! ]

[ You are approaching a change in affection status! ]

[ This is an important person. Special events will occur when status change is successful! ]

But why is her affection level rising?

Seriously, what is this?

Why are there so many inexplicable things?

Come to think of it, yesterday a packet with my name on it was suddenly delivered to my door.

It was filled with food and a note saying ‘Good luck with tomorrow’s exam.’

I definitely don’t have anyone who would send me something like this, so I got goosebumps wondering if I had a stalker.

‘…I don’t know.’

I sigh with that thought.

For now, since it says reward collection is ‘not yet’ possible, it seems this person will give something too, so I should try to think positively.

But really, why won’t it give me the reward? Is it because she’s not a villain?

“Group 1! It’s your turn!”

I get up as I hear the teaching assistant’s command.

Well, that’s that.

For now, I need to focus on the task at hand.

The entrance exam is an event used as the first branch of the main scenario in Serath.

It involves evaluating students’ abilities through various tests held inside the stadium.

The protagonist showcases his abilities, gains recognition from those around him, and receives good rewards. That kind of thing.

In the original work, it’s a smooth development befitting the early stages. There’s nothing that could possibly go wrong from any angle.

Yes.

That’s how it would have been originally.

< Gift-Related Person Alert >

▼ Elnore Erinarise la Tristan

[ Trust Level 2 ]

[ A related event will occur soon! ]

Except for this.

I scan the message that appeared and look ahead.

“Pleased to meet you all. I’m Elnore, in charge of conducting and guiding the exam.”

Right. This one doesn’t seem to be a decent person either.

As expected of the top-tier Group 1. The student council president herself has come to guide us.

“…”

This is too coincidental to be a coincidence.

An event related to this person is happening today. And this person is guiding the group I’m in for the entrance exam.

It would be more strange if some accident didn’t happen during this exam.

“Then let’s move inside the exam venue. I’ll answer questions once we’re inside.”

Following Elnore, who walks ahead after saying that, I enter the stadium while scanning the surroundings with tense eyes.

Since I don’t know what might happen.

In fact, to conclude, it was all unnecessary.

Because the incident started in a very straightforward way.

As soon as we entered the stadium, the entrance was sealed with a clanking sound.

Simultaneously, all the lights inside the building went out. As if there was a power outage.

“…”

“…”

After silence briefly filled the dark interior, someone spoke up with a slightly dumbfounded voice.

“Excuse me, you said you’d take questions? Is this also part of the exam?”

Well. I think I can answer that instead.

[ An event related to ‘Elnore’ is occurring! ]

【Event: Follow-up Assassination Attempt】

– Surviving assassins are targeting this person!

– Protect this person from harm!

This is not an exam.

It’s a trap.

“…”

Darwood Campbell. Day 3 at the Academy.

Already my life is being threatened.

Fuck.

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