episode_0024

In the dark evening, the sound of metal rubbing against metal echoed through the training grounds.

-Kang!

“D..Finally!! I won!”

Arthur felt a sense of accomplishment as he stood before the fallen golem.

Clearly, there was a gap that could not be overcome with the regular method, but with the new technique of ‘flowing’, the golem’s attacks could be neutralized.

In fact, it was not a perfect ‘mystery of the mind’, but was only an imitation, but even with that, it was enough to deal with golems of intermediate difficulty.

Arthur, who had cleaned up the training ground, headed towards the dormitory with light steps.

Okay! At this level, you don’t have to worry about the practical test. If you do well, you can get a good score, right? You might even get first place!

Of course, since the evaluation method for practical skills was based solely on magic, Arthur had no choice but to receive a low score. In other words, Arthur’s imagination was nothing more than drinking kimchi stew.

-Bam!

As I opened the door and entered the room, I saw Alice sitting on a chair.

“Arthur, why are you so late?”

Alice got up and examined Arthur’s condition. His clothes were dirty with dirt and he smelled a little sour, as if he had been sweating a lot.

Huh? What is this? Is this a bruise? Why are there so many of them!!

Alice’s eyes began to shake as she noticed Arthur’s bruise.

“How did it turn out like this…”

Could it be that someone assaulted him?

But looking at Arthur’s bright expression, there seemed to be another reason.

“This? It’s my badge!”

“What did you do?”

“You know that practice golem in your training room? I beat it on intermediate difficulty!”

“Really?”

Alice couldn’t believe Arthur’s words. Of course, if they were the level of freshmen in the knight department, anyone could defeat them if they had time. However, Arthur was also a student of the magic department, and he was extremely weak.

It’s strange… It’s not like Arthur’s abilities can win… Did the curse get lifted?

Alice immediately used the status window to satisfy her curiosity.

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

Name: Arthur

[Ability]

Stamina-10/10

Strength-10/10

Agility-10/10

Horsepower-1/5

[blessing]

-doesn’t exist

[Skill]

-SSS (Sir)

-Mana Ruler (SSS) (Seal)

-Warrior (SSS) (Seal)

[curse]

-The Devil’s Curse (SSS)

-Curse of Insensibility (SS)

-Curse of Weakness (SS)

-Curse of Oblivion (SS)

-Curse of Incurability (SS)

-Curse of Half-Blindness (S)

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

The ability values displayed in the status window clearly haven’t changed at all…?

Arthur’s abilities had already reached their limit long before he entered the academy. He couldn’t even use mana, so he was bound to be weaker than people with the same abilities.

Finally, Alice, who had not found the answer, asked Arthur.

“How did you win..?”

Arthur chuckled at Alice’s words and answered.

“You won’t tell me? It’s a secret! I’ll show you later after the test.”

Alice couldn’t help but feel disappointed because it wasn’t the answer she had expected.

Something seems fishy… Is this a lie? But Arthur isn’t the type to lie about things like this…

Alice, who was very curious, felt the urge to lie down on Arthur and blow on him, but barely managed to hold back.

“Okay.. Okay, let me know later?”

“Okay, then I’ll take a shower first. I’m really dirty…”

Of course, Arthur had meant the shower in his purest sense, but to Alice it had a different meaning.

Now that I think about it, it’s been a while since I’ve done it, should I just do it today..?

A moment later, Arthur was seen coming out of the shower, opening the door.

“Huh? Why?”

“Nothing.”

However, Arthur’s body was covered in bruises from being beaten by the golem, and Alice’s mind quickly cooled when she saw this.

Hmm… I have a lot of bruises on my body, so I think it’s best to just rest today… My mind might still be unstable, so I’ll just have to endure it until the exam is over and then I’ll have to pay interest on it!

Alice imagined the future and made a sinister expression. However, her expression changed in an instant when Arthur turned around.

“Arthur, why all of a sudden?”

“…No, I suddenly got a cold… Ugh…”

The two, who had finished preparing so well, lay down on the bed together.

“Good night, Alice.”

“You too.”

… … …

Time passed quickly, and the midterm exam season approached.

Arthur left his room early in the morning to take the written test.

When Alice saw Arthur leave the room, she grabbed her sword and headed out for the practical test.

“Wow… I’m more nervous than I thought.”

Arthur is a genius anyway, so he’ll be good at writing, but right now I’m the bigger problem..

In the case of the practical exam for the Department of Journalism, a special exam is held only during the midterm exam in the first semester of the first year.

The evaluation items are sparring and trials. There were no problems with the sparring, but there were problems with the trials.

Trials are a special evaluation method that is unique to the Academy, and are conducted individually by entering through a door.

There were many rumors about the door at the time. Some said it was an ancient artifact, others said it was the work of a great wizard, and still others said it was made by a goddess to test her warriors.

Of course, the Academy claimed that they created it, but the truth is that they simply took it from somewhere, transformed it with magic, and used it to their liking. That’s why there were rumors that if you use a certain method, you can open the door to the real ‘trial’.

Well, you won’t know until you see it for yourself. Maybe you can find out by checking the status window?

As soon as we arrived at the designated location, we could see many students from the College of Journalism gathered there.

“Wow… It’s really big.”

Before Alice’s eyes, a large red iron gate appeared that seemed to be over ten meters high.

Alice used the status window without hesitation.

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

[Gate of Trials – Replica]

– This door was created by Archmage Cassius, inspired by the door he discovered in OO. It was created to measure growth potential, breaking away from its original purpose.

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

Archmage Cassius..? I’m hearing about this for the first time, but how long ago is he? And since it’s a door that has changed its original purpose, does that mean there’s a real door somewhere that has a different purpose?

Of course, since that location wasn’t even listed in the status window, there was no way for Alice to know.

“Somehow… there was a minus sign on the skill, there was this kind of defect.”

Now that I think about it, if the wizard Cassius is related to the Academy, then it could be true that he was created by the Academy?

While I was thinking useless thoughts, I heard the voice of the swordsmanship instructor.

“The practical evaluation will now begin, so please come in order.”

After the instructor spoke, a student raised his hand and asked a question.

“Instructor, the difficulty level and what is being evaluated were not properly announced.. I would like to know the criteria!”

“Hmm… The reason I didn’t announce the difficulty level is because it’s not set separately. When you enter the door, the difficulty level changes according to each person’s level.”

“Then wouldn’t it be difficult to make a fair evaluation?”

The instructor began to snicker at the student’s words.

“Not only will I not be evaluating your military prowess, but I cannot tell you the evaluation criteria in the first place. However, since this is an academy, the evaluation will be fair, so you don’t have to worry about that. Now that I’ve told you everything, I won’t take any more questions and will get started right away.”

Alice thought to herself.

Well, the evaluation criteria is growth potential, so if it comes out poorly, it’s likely to have a negative impact, so they’re probably hiding it, right? Those who come out high will be able to preempt it early on, and it’s not called the best academy in the empire for nothing.

Soon it was Alice’s turn, and the open door was blocked by a red curtain, preventing anyone from seeing inside.

“Just go in slowly.”

Aris nodded to the instructor’s words and began to break through the red barrier.

The view suddenly darkens.

When light entered my eyes, I saw an unfamiliar land.

With twisted trees and the ground dyed red, it had an appearance very similar to the characteristics of the magic realm I had heard of before.

“Let’s go quickly!”

“???”

When I looked to the side at the sound of a familiar voice, I saw Arthur standing there. Arthur was wearing priestly attire.

“What, Arthur, why are you here?”

“Why are you here? We were both chosen by the goddess to kill the Demon King!”

“You and me?”

“Yeah! I was chosen as a saint and followed you, the warrior!”

“… ”

Arthur’s words caused Alice to become confused. She had heard many stories about trials, but she had never heard of one where she had to become a hero and defeat the Demon King.

Just in case, I tried using the status window on myself.

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

Name: Alice

[Ability]

Stamina -55

Strength-58

Agility-63

Horsepower-65

[blessing]

-Guardian Knight of the Warrior Who Dominates the Thunderbolt (SS)

[Skill]

-Noble Sacrifice (SSS)

-Master of the Brain (SS)

– Soul Bond (S )

-Status Window (S-)

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

However, there were no changes to abilities, blessings, or skills.

This time, just in case, I used it on Arthur.

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

Name: Arthur

[Ability]

Stamina -10

Strength-10

Agility-10

Horsepower-80

[blessing]

-Saint (S)

[Skill]

-Heavenly Light (S)

-Magic Detection (A)

ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ

“??”

Alice was shocked to see Arthur’s abilities, which were completely different from reality.

Alice immediately pressed on the blessings and skills that the fake Arthur had, but no explanation came out.

Hmm… Is it because the skill isn’t working properly and it’s not real? No, but more than that, why is the magic power so high?

“That…Arthur? What was your ability?”

“Did you forget again? I told you that it has amazing healing abilities, and I can even reattach the severed parts, so don’t worry and fight!”

“Oh..I see.”

However, Alice, who had doubts about Arthur’s words, asked another question.

“If you have that ability, why are your hands and eyes like that?”

“…”

“After all… You told me I couldn’t use my powers…”

Arthur’s face turned gloomy at Alice’s question.

No… But is it really necessary for Arthur to be like this? Even the useless parts are reflected in reality…

“That’s why.. You have to protect me, Aris.. I can’t heal myself if I get hurt..”

At Arthur’s words, Alice made up her mind. No matter how unrealistic it may be, she would not lose Arthur.

“Okay. Don’t worry, I’ll protect you even if it means risking my life.”

And so began the journey of Alice and the fake Arthur(?).