Chapter 6: Admission (4)

“…I seriously thought I was gonna die.”

Stella’s warning about wringing me out alive wasn’t just talk.
Who would’ve thought she’d go that far just for wrecking an exam hall?

“That crazy woman…”

I could still vividly recall Stella’s sinister smile.
I shuddered and rubbed my arms to chase away the goosebumps.

I knew Stella was reckless, but I didn’t expect her to go to that extent.
The destructive power of a maniac who also wields power is nothing short of terrifying.

“Haa…”

Still, it wasn’t entirely unproductive.
At least I managed to gain the most crucial information.

About the skill I created by sacrificing my entire account: [Sleepwalking].

————————————————————————————

[Sleepwalking]
Rank: EX
Type: Passive
(When entering a sleep state, latent unconscious abilities are activated.)

————————————————————————————–

At first, I couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
But now I finally have a clue.

The skill [Sleepwalking] was created using the “Scales of Equivalent Exchange” system.
The equipment used in its creation was the <Dreamwalker Set>.
It’s a mythical-grade concept set that grants a bunch of overpowered buffs when the player enters a sleep state.

But maybe it was because I created a skill from such an extreme concept item.
The skill’s concept turned out to be just as absurd.

“Who would’ve thought it was literally sleepwalking…”

Exactly.
It’s literally sleepwalking.
Walking around unconsciously when you fall asleep.

The problem is that the concept of applying tons of overpowered buffs carried over into the skill itself.

“I can’t even guess what kind of buffs are being applied…”

A 6-Star spell like <Thunder Rage>, mastered to its highest level.
Just from this fragment of information, it’s hard to draw any conclusions.

“Status window.”

———————————————————–

[ Status ]
Name: Luke Richter
Level: 23
Gender: Male
Mana: 3,000

< Synchronization Rate: 1.6% >

———————————————————-

I’ve played <Eterna Online> for 15 years.
That’s why I can say this with confidence:

The stat <Synchronization Rate> does not exist in Eterna Online.

“It increased again.”

When I passed out in the Raut Great Forest, it was 1.3%.
After collapsing during the practical exam, it went up to 1.6%.

The rate of increase varies, but one thing is clear:
Every time I sleep, the synchronization rate steadily increases.

“Could it be that I took down Nike Dantalion too?”

If my theory is correct, it all fits together like puzzle pieces.

My sleeping self took care of Nike Dantalion.
As a result, I shot up from Level 1 to Level 23.

Stella, who witnessed that, mistakenly assumed I was a powerful fighter hiding my strength.
That’s why she’s been showing such interest in me.

This also explains why the synchronization rate increased significantly after the practical exam.

“This is driving me nuts.”

Nothing is for sure yet, but…
The mere fact that I wander around unconsciously whenever I fall asleep is terrifying.
What the hell am I supposed to do about this?

“No, wait. Isn’t this actually a good thing?”

At first, I thought it was just a pointless, decorative skill.
But I guess an EX-rank skill isn’t just for show.

Of course, there’s a nasty penalty that I have to be asleep, and I won’t remember anything that happens.
But still, it’s better than having nothing at all.

———————————————

< Synchronization Rate: 1.6% >

——————————————–

What exactly does the synchronization rate percentage mean?
Do I get some kind of reward when it goes up?

“Sigh, I don’t know.”

Everything’s full of questions, but there’s one thing I know for sure.
A lifeline has been thrown my way.
Though, it kind of feels like that lifeline is halfway rotted.

This world is the world from the game <Eterna Online>.

I transmigrated into it after the game service ended, stuck in Honor Mode.
Now, I have to live as Luke Richter.

I couldn’t help but lament my pitiful situation.

“You must first empty your bowl! Start by contemplating and expanding the bowl itself! Take deliberate steps with a cool-headed mind and a passionate heart! Go farther! Go wider!”

The old professor was standing on the podium, giving an impassioned speech.
The scene unfolding in front of me felt both familiar and foreign.

Makes sense.
In the game, I would always skip past the <Entrance Ceremony>.
But seeing it in reality is oddly moving.

I looked around.
Hundreds of students dressed in the same academy uniform were seated.

Some were yawning through the boring ceremony.
Others were sparkling with anticipation, dreaming of the bright academy life ahead.

Everyone was preoccupied with their own business.

“Ugh, when’s this gonna end?”
“Feels like I’m gonna die from boredom.”

Of course, most of them were just grumbling about the tedious speech.
Honestly, I agreed with them.

The speech had been going on for over 30 minutes, and somehow, the old professor was still stuck on the introduction.
Even I, a full-grown adult, was running out of patience, so how could these younger students endure?

“Yawn.”

I covered my mouth with my right hand to suppress the yawn.
Since I had nothing better to do, I decided to look around to see if I could spot any familiar faces from the game.

“Huh?”

A silver-haired, blue-eyed girl with a cold demeanor.
Our eyes met—the same girl who gave me the <Sage’s Glasses>.

“Aisha?”

She seemed to recognize me too, her eyes widening as she flinched slightly.

Seeing her, a character I had seen countless times in the game, now as a real person, stirred strange emotions in me.

Was it because of her unrivaled beauty or the unique aura she carried?
Wherever Aisha went, the other students couldn’t help but turn their heads to look at her.

“What’s going on?”

Suddenly, Aisha changed direction.
She started walking straight toward me with firm steps.

‘Is she really coming to me?’

Normally, Aisha wouldn’t have done something like that.
Maybe it was because I slightly improved her constitution with [Estellin Horn]?

Aisha’s expression looked noticeably more relaxed than the cold, distant look she usually had in the game.

“Can I sit next to you?”

Her voice was noticeably softer.
Managing my expression, I readily replied.

“It’s not like I rented this spot. Of course, you can sit.”
“Thank you.”

Now that she’s closer, I can really feel it.
Even in the game, I thought this, but—her beauty is genuinely breathtaking.

“Um… Is Elder Estelle doing well?”
“Huh?”

Oh, right. I did tell Aisha that Elder Estelle sent me.
I quickly fabricated a response based on my knowledge from the game.

“Yeah, she’s doing fine. The Magic Tower is pretty stable now.”
“Whew…”

Aisha let out a sigh of relief.
Then, as if making a firm decision, she spoke with a resolute tone.

“I understand that you’re a mage sent from the Magic Tower.”
“……”

Hmm, she’s definitely got the wrong idea.
But explaining the truth would just make things more complicated, so I kept my mouth shut.
The more I remained silent, the deeper Aisha’s misunderstanding seemed to grow.

“The reason the Magic Tower sent a mage of your mastery level….”
“……”
“It must be to investigate signs of a rift. Am I right?”
“……”

A master-level mage? A measly Level 23 character like me?
Signs of a rift? I already know all about it, so there’s nothing to investigate.

Where did she even get that idea?
Did my little lie about the Magic Tower snowball this much?

‘This is giving me a headache…’

It’s too late to explain now.
After all, the [Estellin Horn] I used to treat her, and the [Cosmic Rage] I used during the entrance exam,
Both are clearly beyond the level of a mere applicant.

“Think whatever you like.”
“As expected…!”

At this point, it’s better to just let her keep misunderstanding.
She’s an essential key character for my future plans anyway.

But there’s a problem.
What if she’s been spreading this ridiculous misconception to others?

Though knowing Aisha’s personality, that’s unlikely.
Still, I should make sure.

“Does anyone else know?”

Gulp—
Her throat bobbed as I lowered my voice.

“N-No one. I mean, how would an applicant know about rift-related information?”

Then how do you know?
I wanted to ask, but I swallowed the words.

There are only three ducal families in the empire.
Among them, the Rustichel Family, guardians of the northern seas.

< Frozen Sea Rustichel >

It wouldn’t be surprising if the treasured scion of Rustichel knew about the rift.
Rustichel has been fighting on the frontlines even before the empire was founded.

“Then that’s fine.”
“…That’s it?”
“Your physical condition has improved a lot, right?”
“Yes. I don’t know what you did, but…”
“Trade secret.”
“Of course. The master of the stingy Magic Tower wouldn’t be any different.”

Pfft—
I couldn’t help but chuckle briefly.

Aisha glanced around, hesitated for a moment, then mumbled softly.

“…Still, thank you.”
“What did you say?”
“I-I said thank you!”
“Got it.”

Aisha’s face flushed as her lips twitched slightly.
Seeing that familiar expression from the game made me unintentionally reach out and ruffle her hair.

“W-What are you doing?!”

Ah, I messed up.
Just as she was about to complain—

—This concludes the entrance ceremony!

I had officially become a student of <Eterna Academy>.