episode_0009

After many twists and turns, I was able to arrive at the entrance exam venue for Ardent Academy.

‘Finally, I made it here.’

I can guarantee that among all my plays, getting to the entrance exam was the most difficult.

If one were to find out that I had pierced through Syniria, goblins, bandits with strength, agility, and stamina to arrive, even seasoned users would surely give a standing ovation.

“There are more people than I thought.”

Claire, who seemed surprised by the crowd, opened her mouth as she looked around.

“Since it’s the entrance exam for Ardent Academy, it’s inevitable. If there are this many in the morning, it will be even harder to get in later in the afternoon due to overcrowding. It would be best to hurry and register for the exam. If you wait longer, you’ll have to wait at the exam venue for a long time.”

“Yeah yeah! I think so too. Let’s go quickly!”

Even after arriving at the exam venue, Helena, who was leading me without any intention of letting me go, headed towards the registration desk, making me sigh involuntarily.

“How would you like to register? The exam is generally divided into front row and back row. If you have any special requests, please let us know now.”

“I’d like to register for the front row. My name is Yukal, no surname.”

The receptionist soon handed me an exam ticket coated with magic.

-Front Row 385th Yukal / 7 Stadiums-

‘Not bad. If I do well, I might even be able to have a late lunch.’

Although there seem to be many people in front of me, the support ratio for the front row is overwhelmingly high. In the case of the front row, there are 55 positions in total from 1 to 7 stadiums, so I am practically in the 55th position.

Helena and Claire also seemed to have finished their registration and were coming this way.

“What about Yukal? I’m number 11 in the back row!”

“I’m number 385 in the front row. It will take longer than expected, so Miss Helena, you should finish the exam first and go back for lunch.”

“What are you talking about! Wait for me so we can have lunch together! Hehe.”

‘Please just go… It will only take a few hours of waiting.’

“I think I’ll take the exam separately. What I can demonstrate directly is not much.”

Considering Claire’s unique ability ‘Blessing,’ this seems natural.

“You got it, Yukal. I have to go take the exam soon, but do you have any words of encouragement? If you cheer me on, I feel like I’ll gain strength!”

Reluctantly, I held hands with Helena, whose eyes sparkled, and spoke.

“…If it’s you, Miss, you will definitely pass.”

In the entrance exam for Ardent Academy, high-ranking nobles or those who have made significant donations to the academy undergo a separate special selection process. It’s called an exam, but it’s essentially a guaranteed pass.

Helena, who has just left for the exam venue, could do the same, but she is taking the test herself to portray her ‘kind benefactor’ image.

As Helena and her guards moved away, Claire seemed noticeably relaxed.

“It seems like the number of people in the back row is very small.”

“It seems that in order to awaken magical powers, you need to take magic awakening pills or invite a magician for training. Most examinees who can afford that usually take a special selection test beforehand.”

“Oh… I see.”

Most of those taking the exam in the back row seem to be commoners born with talent or half-and-half nobles.

“How did you come to know Lady Helena?”

“I met Lady Helena for the first time this morning on the Madol Train.”

“What?”

Claire looked surprised and turned to look at me.

Even if I were in Claire’s shoes, I would have been surprised.

It’s a bit excessive to say that she saw me for a short time on the train, given her attitude towards me and the words she exchanged.

“I only had a brief conversation on the mad train and fell asleep, but when I woke up, you said you would go with me, so I am very embarrassed.”

I didn’t want to engage with her and ignored her with minimal words, but it seemed to attract her attention instead.

“Mr. Yukal, Mrs. Helena Yeongae spoke to me very warmly, so I thought we had known each other for a long time.”

“No, not really. Actually, the lady’s excessive interest is a bit uncomfortable.”

“By the way, we are alone now, are you going to speak so formally?”

“Yes?”

“You spoke comfortably at the inn.”

“I think I got nervous being with Miss Helena. I’m sorry about that. I should be able to focus on the exam with a relaxed mind, but I made it uncomfortable by accompanying you to a place where it might be uncomfortable.”

“It’s okay. It was uncomfortable, but since I was with Yukal.”

It felt healing to see her smiling and looking at me.

“I would have had a hard time if Claire wasn’t there.”

Glancing at the 8th stadium, I saw Helena coming up.

“It looks like Helena’s match is about to start. Let’s go watch.”

The man facing Helena, who seems unfamiliar even in my memory of playing for 8,000 hours, is clearly going to fail the test.

Except for special cases like Claire, in the back row, examinees can choose between dueling and magic demonstrations, and Helena chose the former.

As the match began, the man set up a barrier against Helena’s magic, but…

“Ice Arrow.”

Sharp ice arrows appeared in the air, starting to break the man’s barrier, and soon the barrier shattered, with one arrow piercing the man’s shoulder.

If it were me, I would have dashed with a barrier and tried a gamble or two.

“Stop the match. The winner is Helena Clark.”

The exam was over, but instead of coming down from the arena, Helena approached the man she had been facing, applying a handkerchief to his injured shoulder.

“Are you okay? I’m sorry for causing you harm due to my inexperience.”

“He’s deliberately doing this and gaslighting.”

Despite blood flowing from his shoulder, the man smiled until the end, reassured Helena, and was carried away on a stretcher.

The man, who had made his heart uneasy, met him just a day before, but he was with a strange noblewoman.

Honestly, he didn’t want to get involved with nobles, but eventually he made up his mind and headed towards them when the man called his name.

Apart from looking slightly awkward, Yukal looked exactly as he remembered.

The noblewoman beside him was very beautiful. He had heard compliments about his own looks from men, but he felt a little inferior.

After a brief introduction, Yukal suddenly brought up an unmade promise.

“I had promised to take the Academy exam with Claire Yang. I’m sorry, but it’s better to part ways here. It will tarnish your reputation further.”

Although she was very surprised, she felt from his desperate gaze that he wanted to separate from Helena, the noblewoman.

She answered truthfully, but she couldn’t stop Helena’s decision, and the uncomfortable journey of the three began.

Feeling relieved to go together, Yukal seemed to relax and talk to him in various ways.

Next to me, there’s a pretty lady who only shows interest in me. I wonder why.

“Could the innkeeper really like me?”

“He said he’d marry me and take responsibility!”

As I was feeling excited, I heard unexpected words from Helena Young-ae.

Upon hearing the situation, it turned out Helena Young-ae had used tricks to accompany Yukal.

“A woman like a cat burglar.”

Even though Yukal noticed she wasn’t interested and felt uncomfortable, she kept sticking around persistently.

Moreover, she even held Yukal’s hand tightly before the exam for support.

Unknowingly, my fist clenched tightly.

When Helena Young-ae left, both Yukal and I seemed noticeably relieved.

“If it weren’t for Claire, I would have had a hard time too.”

Upon hearing this, my heart raced, my face reddened, and I couldn’t bring myself to look at his face properly.

“I will protect Yukal.”

Just as he liked and cared for her, she felt obligated to protect him from unwanted women.

“I am the woman Yukal likes.”

Watching Yukal move towards the 8th stadium, Claire steeled herself inwardly.