Chapter 3: Admission (1)

“I’m here to apply for the entrance exam.”
“Wow…”

The receptionist couldn’t take her eyes off my face.

Same reaction every time.
Luke’s appearance is just too striking, no matter how you look at it.
Even I get startled every time I see myself in the mirror—imagine how others must feel.

Eterna Online fundamentally pursues high freedom.
That sense of freedom also applies to character customization.

Over the years, I’ve raised countless concept characters.
Once, I created a bald old man character wielding dual axes for a massacre run.
Another time, I raised a saintess character focused entirely on assassin traits.

But Luke’s case was different.
Since the game was already on its last legs, I didn’t see the point in painstakingly sculpting the character’s appearance.

So, I just downloaded the most recommended custom file among the ones uploaded by users.
Downloaded, clicked, applied—simple and convenient.

“Y-You’re registered!”

The receptionist stammered, her face now completely flushed.
There’s always a reason when a file has a lot of upvotes.

With the registration complete, I had no more business here.
I turned my back and left the reception area without hesitation.

“Huuh…”

Eterna Academy’s entrance exam is systematic.
Every year, tens of thousands of applicants flock in.
It’s only natural to rigorously select a handful of proven talents from the crowd.

The basic evaluation criteria consist of a written test and a practical test.

“I have to make it into the S-Class no matter what…”

To clear Honor Mode, there are several prerequisites.
The most crucial among them is being assigned to the S-Class.

The reason is simple.
Most main characters are inevitably placed in the S-Class.

If I mess up the exam and get placed in another class, I’ll naturally lose out on events to come.

“I’m screwed.”

My current level: 23.
Mana: 3,300.

Considering the average level of new students is around 20, I’m just about average.

But making it into the S-Class with barely average stats?
That’s not likely.

To overcome this dilemma, I need a clever strategy.

“Where was it again?”

Eterna Academy has opportunities specifically designed for player growth.
Among the many opportunities, there’s one I need right now.

‘The Sage’s Glasses’.

As unimpressive as the name sounds, the effect is equally unimpressive.
All it does is display the composition of all magic spells, mana utilization methods, or blueprints used for equipment crafting.

In the game, just clicking the mouse would cast the skill, so who needed to look at spell structures?
The only time I used Sage’s Glasses was when I was bored, randomly spamming 10-star magic while wearing them.
Basically, they were just gimmick gear.

But now that the game has become reality, Sage’s Glasses have become indispensable for progressing through the episodes.

“It should be around here.”

I wandered around the academy courtyard aimlessly.
After passing the same spot a couple of times, I heard a familiar voice.
A voice I had heard countless times during my 15 years of playing the game.

“Excuse me?”
“……”
“Could you move aside, please?”

Silvery hair shimmering like melted sugar fluttered in the breeze.
Her porcelain-white skin and emerald-like green eyes stood out.

The Ice Empress of Frost, Aisha.

The owner of the Sage’s Glasses and a key figure at the heart of the main episodes.

[Lv 45]

A string of characters floated above her head.
As expected from the top student, her level was appropriate.

“Do you have something to say?”
“Could I have a moment?”
“Excuse me? Isn’t it proper etiquette to introduce yourself before asking such a question?”

Aisha frowned slightly, lightly scolding me.
Seeing characters I once only knew through illustrations now moving and talking was surreal.
No matter how many times I saw it, it never failed to feel strange.

“My name’s Luke. Just like you, I’m a new student.”
“…I’m Aisha. So, what business do you have blocking the way like this?”

What business?
I was just camping here, waiting for a chance to snag a rare item.

Of course, I couldn’t just blurt out my ulterior motives.
Keeping my expression composed, I proposed a deal.

“I’m here to propose a deal.”
“A deal?”
“You recently bought a pair of glasses from a junk shop, right?”
“How do you know about that…!”

Aisha’s eyes widened in shock.
I didn’t stop there.

“How about giving me those glasses?”
“Hey! I’m asking how you knew about that…”
“Overflow.”
“…!”

There’s a reason why the temperature around Aisha is always low.
It’s because of the innate attribute of her mana.

Aisha is called the Ice Empress of Frost for a reason.
She was born with the attribute of Absolute Zero, making her incredibly skilled in ice magic.

“Isn’t it troublesome when your mana leaks out unconsciously?”
“You…!”

Aisha’s innate mana attribute is so powerful that it’s difficult to control.
Uncontrolled mana naturally seeps out.
And that leaking mana continuously lowers the temperature around her.
That’s why Aisha avoids being around people.

“I can help you.”
“Haha…”
“Just hand over the glasses. You won’t lose anything from it.”

Got her.
Aisha’s face twisted in confusion.

Aisha resents her own talent.
Because of the mana that constantly leaks out and ruins everything around her, she’s lived her life in isolation.

That’s why she couldn’t easily refuse a suspicious guy’s offer.
It’s like clutching at straws.

“Is this what you’re talking about?”
“Yeah, that’s it!”

In Aisha’s right hand was a pair of round glasses with a silver frame.
It was unmistakably the Sage’s Glasses.

“I refuse.”
“…Huh?”

What the hell.
I’m practically handing her the solution on a silver platter, and she’s rejecting it?
The Sage’s Glasses are practically junk to anyone but the player!

“Now you’re stalking me? How repulsive. What makes a stalker think they can solve a problem that even the scholars of the Magic Tower couldn’t?”

Oh, so that’s the issue.
Getting straight to the deal without any relationship building—of course it was rejected.
Aisha has always been extremely wary of people.

But I don’t have time to slowly win her trust right now.
There’s no choice—I just have to bluff.

“Because the Magic Tower sent me.”
“The Magic Tower… sent you?”
“Yeah, Elder Estelle personally.”
“…!”

Before joining the academy, Aisha frequently visited the Magic Tower because of her innate constitution.
And the person who took care of her there was Elder Estelle.
This information was a confidential fact known only to Elder Estelle and Aisha.

How do I know?
Because it’s all outlined in the character setting book.
This is the wisdom of a 15-year veteran player.

“Elder Estelle sent you? Why would someone like her send a stalker like you…”
“Enough of that. Are you making the deal or not?”
“Ugh…!”

The entrance exam was just around the corner.
I didn’t have time, so I cut her off.

“Trust me. Even if it’s not a complete solution, it’ll definitely get better.”

So just hand over the glasses already.
I looked straight into Aisha’s eyes and extended my hand.

“What’s so special about these stupid glasses…!”

Thud—!
The glasses fell into my open palm.
As expected, the pair Aisha had been using felt as cold as if they had just come out of a refrigerator.

[ Accessing Magic Categories ]
[ ▶ 1-Star ]
[ ▶ 2-Star ]
[ ▶ 3-Star ]
[ ▶ 4-Star ]
[ ▶ 5-Star ]

The moment I put on the glasses, countless categories appeared in translucent layers before my eyes.

‘It works properly.’

For now, this was more than enough.
I let out a sigh of relief in my mind.

“They suit you well.”
“Really? Thanks.”

I chuckled at Aisha’s empty compliment.

“So, is this it?”
“Yeah, it’s enough.”
“Then explain how you’re going to help me. You better not say it was just a joke.”

There’s essentially only one way to improve Aisha’s special condition.
You have to build affection, receive the [Special Quest], and acquire the [Quest-Exclusive Skill] as a reward.

[Quest-Exclusive Skills] can only be unlocked by completing quests.
However, now that I have the Sage’s Glasses, I don’t need to go through that complicated process.

[ ▶ Quest-Exclusive ]

At the very bottom folder was the [Quest-Exclusive] category.
I used the Sage’s Glasses to access the information.

A long list of quest names displayed from top to bottom.
None of the others mattered.
I was looking for one specific quest.

[ Quest: Unbound ]

Reward: Estellin Horn (S)

‘Got it.’

An S-Rank Quest-Exclusive Skill, [Estellin Horn].
With this, improving Aisha’s constitution is just a matter of time.

I immediately checked the information on [Estellin Horn].

Wooong—!
A translucent formula unfolded in the air.
Like brushing paint on a blank canvas, the formula slowly spread out.

Each drawn line emitted a vivid blue glow, tracing the flow of mana.
Almost as if telling me to follow it exactly.

I knew instinctively.
This was the configuration formula to activate [Estellin Horn].

“Excuse me?”

Aisha’s voice carried a hint of frustration.
But I didn’t have the luxury to respond.

Focusing my mind, I drew out my mana.
A faint blue thread of mana seeped out between my palms, accompanied by an unfamiliar sensation.

‘This might work.’

I focused even harder.
This was the critical part.

The perfect answer sheet provided by the Sage’s Glasses was already in front of me.
My task was just to move my mana and trace it precisely.

“You…!”

Ignoring Aisha’s gasp, I controlled the mana flowing through my hands.
I carefully traced the pentagram shown in front of me.

Slowly, precisely.
I layered line over line, and once the formula was complete, I infused it with mana.

‘That’s about my limit.’

A tingling pain shot through my whole body as my mana started to deplete.
Clenching my fists, I cut off the leaking mana.

It seemed that with my meager mana reserves, achieving maximum output was impossible.
But this should be enough for a temporary fix, even if not a complete cure.
After calculating in my head, I concentrated on a strong mental image.

The formula floating in the air spun vigorously.
At the same time, the radiance emitted from the formula was absorbed into Aisha.

“……”

With wide eyes, Aisha checked her condition.
Judging from her stunned expression, it seemed the result was successful.

“All set?”
“No… no way…!”
“Alright, take care.”
“W-Wait!!”

A successful first step.