episode_0011

Let’s go to the seventh stadium, where an instructor holding a large greatsword was waiting.

He was wearing light leather clothes, but his muscular figure seemed ready to burst, proving how much of a trained warrior he was.

“Is examinee number 385 Yu-Kal here?”

“Yes.”

“Basically, during the exam, examinees can choose between sparring with each other or taking a test with the instructors. Examinee number 378 is waiting for a spar, so if you choose to spar, it can start right away.”

“I would like to request instruction from the instructor.”

Seemingly pleased with my bold answer, the instructor chuckled and his gaze shifted to the sword at my waist.

“It seems like you only have a sword. Are you sure you’re fine with just that?”

“I’m fine.”

“There are training swords at the back. It’s not too late to get one now. Since this is a test that you can only take once in your lifetime, you should do your best, shouldn’t you?”

“I want to take the test with this sword.”

“Haha… You seem determined, so I won’t stop you, but don’t regret it.”

As if indicating that he would give me time to prepare, the instructor calmly looked at me, and I gazed at his back.

In the upper right corner, there were seats surrounded by protective barriers where nobles and dignitaries were watching over the entire exam venue.

More accurately, they were all individuals who seemed beyond redemption.

If you choose the rogue noble as your playable character, you can attend that place, but I almost vomited at the thought.

Betting on who would win in the spar between examinees was nothing.

Commoner women who failed the academy exams were usually targeted by these guys.

After expressing interest in their talents, they would sponsor them, play with them like toys, and then dispose of them like trash.

There was no way to stop this in Sungyong.

It was a game with considerable freedom, but regarding the entrance exam, you could only participate in the test or attend that place.

Starting as a regular Yu-Kal, the instructors and spectators would admire your talent, but you couldn’t defeat the instructors, and when you defeated them with the sword just once, the instructors would fall, but there would be no further consequences.

It must have been an “unattackable NPC” judgment.

“But not anymore.”

Now that it had become reality rather than a game, maybe it was possible.

To pass the entrance exam and give those vultures a taste of their own medicine.

“Yu-Kal examinee, will you focus on the main instructor? I can’t wait any longer.”

“I’m sorry.”

Distracted by the instructor’s voice, I cautiously gripped the sword with my right hand.

He was the guy who regretted not absorbing my stats last time, but now it felt like he understood my intentions as my output gradually increased.

“Just a little more.”

My right hand holding the sword trembled slightly.

Due to the unique ability penalty, with strength, agility, and stamina at 1, Yu-Kal found it difficult to withstand even this level of output.

“If you’re ready, come on.”

Although the instructor urged me from the front, it was okay. He wouldn’t attack before I did.

One strike would be enough.

The moment I thought that raising my output further was futile, I shouted to the instructor.

“I’ll go!”

*

The right hand holding the sword slowly and steadily moved up in a diagonal line.

The instructor seemed momentarily surprised by Yu-Kal’s slow blade, but soon began to swing his long greatsword, taller than him.

An old, worn-out sword against a greatsword, with the greatsword starting to come down.

Everyone in the stadium expected the wooden sword to be brutally chopped off.

Feeling sorry for them, someone closed their eyes as if they couldn’t bear to watch.

Soon, the wooden sword and the greatsword clashed… but what people anticipated did not happen.

Silently, as if there were none, the greatsword, and the wooden sword continued to rise diagonally.

Only the front instructor widened his eyes in disbelief.

The slow but seemingly unstoppable wooden sword finally stopped, and everyone watching the 7th arena fell into silence.

As if unbelievable, murmurs of astonishment could be heard from the crowd.

“Why wasn’t the wooden sword cut…? It clearly struck with the greatsword.”

“Was it deflected momentarily?”

“Why is the instructor stopping? Shouldn’t the match continue?”

At the moment when the murmurs grew louder, the greatsword was cleanly cut in half.

Thunk-

“What is this?”

Moreover, as people looked up at the sound of splitting, the protective barrier collapsed.

The nobles and dignitaries present there panicked and fled.

In a situation where no one could speak, the instructor placed the remaining half of the greatsword down.

“Your name was Yukal, right?”

“Yes.”

“I seem to have underestimated you. It was an honor to spar with the future Imperial Swordmaster.”

He extended his hand to Yukal.

“You managed to cut through my greatsword and the protective barrier with just an old wooden sword?”

“I didn’t feel any magic. If that’s the case, it means it was done purely with swordsmanship. Is that even possible?”

“It’s a talent bestowed by the gods. I never dreamed I would witness such a spectacle in my lifetime.”

The eyes of the people in the examination hall focused on Yukal.

Yukal, who astonished the people in the examination hall.

His words were enough to shock the people.

“I want to enroll in the School of Magic!”

Fortunately, he succeeded in cutting only the instructor’s greatsword and protective barrier.

I’d like to get rid of those bastards too, but if I do that now, I won’t be able to handle the consequences.

I hope this incident traumatizes those vermin-like individuals enough that they never lay a hand on the students again, but honestly… I’m not sure if that will happen.

【Implemented swordsmanship that is currently impossible.】

【Understanding of swordsmanship increases.】

【Swordsmanship Lv.1 > Lv.3】

For now, that’s not important.

The instructor in front asked, seemingly shocked by my words.

“You said you want to enroll in the School of Magic?”

“Yes.”

“Do you understand what you’re saying right now? With this talent, you could surpass the Imperial Swordmaster. You didn’t even support the front line during the test!!”

“I am perfectly sane. I chose the School of Magic of my own volition, and I believe cross-support is possible for the last thing you mentioned.”

“….”

Despite the instructor trying to convince me vehemently, I can’t help but think: this is pure skill.

The distorted celestial wooden sword could execute sword strikes without magic, so to others, it appeared to deliver destructive power akin to imbuing the blade with pure swordsmanship.

The instructor who faced me directly knew very well that there was no trace of magic, so he was trying to persuade me.

However, since my innate ability has shifted from ‘Sword Mastery’ to ‘Balance,’ if I enroll in the front line, it’s only a matter of time before it becomes apparent that my talent in swordsmanship is no different from that of an ordinary person.

Moreover, it is uncertain whether one can perform well in battle without the unique ability of “Geomseong.”

If it were a game, I would have certainly given it a try, but this is undeniably reality.

Having never tried sports, I am more likely to be a hindrance.

Choosing the Department of Magic is the best option as my life is at stake and I want to save everyone.

“Really… will there be no regrets?”

“Yes. I want to enroll in the Department of Magic and attend Ardent Academy.”

“If that is truly your wish… understood. In the name of Kris Kyle, instructor of the 7th Arena, I declare Yuca’s acceptance into the Department of Magic!”

As the instructor declared my acceptance into the entrance exam, a scenario completion notification appeared before my eyes.

[Main Scenario #0-1 Clear!]

[Reward settlement in progress…]

[Difficulty ‘Extreme’ or higher… Threat elimination ‘A’ rank… Survival ‘S’ rank… Growth ‘B+’ rank… Reputation ‘A+’ rank…]

[Reward: Unique ability ‘Geomseong’ restored.]

“Huh…? What am I supposed to do with this now?”

Looking around, the astonished expressions of the instructor and the people nearby, as if it was already over, made me sigh and search for the next examinee.

“Shouldn’t we just forget about this?” It seemed like I couldn’t utter such words.

‘Life…’

With tears in his eyes, Yuca entered the Department of Magic at Ardent Academy.