The Angel Who Slipped the Exam (10)

Tsk tsk—Her finger wagged back and forth. True to form for the laziness-plagued Rusa, it was just an empty threat about going herself. Watching this, Refri thought to himself.

'I have to avoid topping the entrance exam no matter what. If I get first place and end up on broadcast... the Demon King's army will definitely take notice. They don't know much about the inner workings of Central Superhuman Academy... so if I just dodge first place...'

Topping the Central Superhuman Academy entrance exam was truly an honorable position. Famous broadcasters from around the world scrambled for interviews with the top scorer, and the faction that produced them could grow even stronger on that halo's power. If it didn't paint a target on his back for the Demon King's army, it would've been a fantastic title.

Flames sparked in the examinees' eyes. Even Yumari was flustered, frantically scanning for whoever had passed the third exam alone.

'Yumari was gunning for first too, huh.'

The Seocheon Yu family had commanded Yumari to absolutely claim the top spot. With a warning that failure would bring severe punishment. That was why the other young masters and ladies of the Seocheon Yu family had schemed to keep her from first—or even failing the exam outright. The talismans were one such ploy.

Of course, Refri had no idea about any of this.

"You gonna come out or what? Or should I make you?"

As Refri ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stepped up to the podium, he thought, 'If I forfeit first place like this, Yumari will take it. Damn, it's a bit of a shame to hand it to that girl who tried to fail me...'

But there was no helping it. Refri had no desire to get on the Demon King's army's radar already. His number one life goal was to live quietly, eat well, and thrive. Getting marked by them might let him eat well, but thriving? Impossible.

But first place paid big money too... Handing it all over to Yumari...

While Refri wore that regretful expression, the boy and Yumari locked eyes. The girl he'd once admired. Bearing complicated emotions, the boy stood atop the podium.

"Right. This exam's top scorer is..."

"Professor."

"...What?"

Refri declared boldly.

"I'll forfeit first place."

"...What the hell?"

"I just got lucky passing. I didn't even properly take the third exam."

Rusa groaned in frustration.

"This brat... Do you know how many benefits come with topping the entrance exam? Look at those kids down there. Every last one's gone mad for it."

She was right. The examinees who'd made it this far were all desperate for that sweet prize of first place.

"...Please. I'm not qualified."

"Ugh, what a pain in the ass."

Rusa waved her hand dismissively.

"You didn't properly take the third exam, so you can't claim first? Fine. Go take the test. I'll properly judge you and shove you into first place myself."

"...But I already passed?"

"What?"

"I already passed the exam."

Pinch— Rusa yanked at Refri's soft cheeks, stretching them out.

"What kinda wordplay is this?"

"Ow ow— It hurts!"

"So what the hell do you want?!"

"I did pass your exam! But it was luck, so count it as dead last pass! Please... ow!"

Plop— Rusa finally released the boy's cheek.

'Look at those soft cheeks...'

And Rusa couldn't help but laugh. Or rather, she failed to hide it.

"You know how huge the honor of first place is... but you're giving it all up for your principles? That's... really... not bad at all."

She muttered while looking at the slumped Refri. A snap judgment born of misunderstanding.

Rusa glanced at the other professors. Professor Klein looked quietly regretful, while Park Jinho kept nodding vigorously.

"Got it. We'll handle it that way, so rest over there."

Whew— ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Refri could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

'...It worked out somehow. Please let someone strong take first and draw the Demon King's army's attention instead of me.'

But Refri wasn't the only one sighing in relief. Most of the top-contending examinees inwardly exhaled the moment his words ended.

With tension released, they naturally mocked Refri's choice. He could so easily toss away first because he wasn't from a guild or family, they sneered. He had no idea how many privileges came with it, so he could just give it up like that.

"Getting lucky and passing is worthless if you're that stupid..."

"Shut it."

A voice came from behind. Furious Jack White.

He shouted with resolute expression.

"How does someone clueless about how important first place is even submit an application? How does someone who doesn't grasp its value breeze through the first and second exams?"

Only then did the examinees start seeing Refri anew. No one ignorant of first place's prestige could reach this stage.

"That's why peasants are peasants. That kid gave up first for us. He knows how bad our guilds and families want it. He knows the pressure we face...!"

The examinees momentarily agreed with Jack. Silence fell.

The ones who'd mocked Refri now looked at him differently.

'Come to think of it, he even healed Jack, who tormented him. Must've burned a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ton of holy power.'

'Yeah... for us...'

'Damn, he's basically an angel in looks too? Thanks, kid.'

Refri had no clue about the spreading misunderstanding.

And one person harbored an even deeper delusion.

'...He gave it up for me.'

Yumari, the dragon girl forged by the Seocheon Yu family's cruelty. Failure meant high risk of purge by rival factions.

Of course, Refri hadn't considered that at all when forfeiting. But Yumari couldn't help but massively misunderstand.

'He knows my life could be at stake if I don't take first. That's why, seeing me...'

Refri never hid his anger toward her. But that look on the podium earlier... it was pity. He pitied her.

'That seals it.'

So he'd forfeited first for her sake. Without him, it would've been hers anyway.

'He hates me... why...?'

Yumari's misunderstanding deepened.

'Wh-what the...?'

Suddenly bombarded by messages, Refri panicked.

'What's going on?'

With Angel Power overflowing, Refri had no choice but to reinforce his Divine Abilities right away.

'Leveling abilities consumes Angel Power fastest. Before it overflows...!'

'One's not enough. Gotta level two to burn through this!'

Thus, Refri raised both his martial arts and healing Divine Abilities to Lv.2.

'...Why the hell did Angel Power spike like that?'

Refri still had no idea.

The laziness incarnate fallen elf—her exam was simple.

"Ah... such a hassle."

Rusa had dropped her disguise, revealing her true form. Elves were inherently beautiful, and Rusa was among the finest. If not for the dark circles under her eyes, she'd be perfection.

"Let's keep it simple."

Rusa descended among the examinees. Shedding her fatigued demeanor, she was coming back to her senses.

"Beat me and exceed the benchmark—you pass. That's the plan."

She grinned fiercely.

At that moment, Refri headed elsewhere.

"Soya."

Refri murmured. His eyes caught a tense girl muttering.

"Running a barbaric combat exam like that. That professor clearly hates black magic..."

Refri approached her cautiously.

"Soya...!"

"Guh, hek."

The gray girl jumped in surprise. Teary-eyed, she muttered.

"I... I wasn't startled."

Refri thought, 'No, you totally were...' but kept it to himself. That wasn't important now.

"Sorry. Mind if I touch your head real quick?"

"Wh-what?"

As examinees panicked, Rusa was already warming up.

'No time.'

Refri yanked off Soya's wizard hat and poured heavenly oil onto her head.

"What're you doing?!"

"...Buffing you."

"You...!"

Soya muttered awkwardly.

"Touching someone else's head without asking..."

"How's your body feel? Better, right?"

"...Huh?"

Soya marveled at her condition. Mana circulation was smoother than usual, vision broader. And...

"I feel stronger?"

An absurd buff. One blessing yielding such diverse effects.

Soya stared at Refri in shock.

'A buff this potent must guzzle holy power.'

Honestly, Soya was a little moved. No one in her short life had treated her this well.

"Soya, last exam—let's do our best... Fighting!"

Words of encouragement, "fighting"—all firsts for her.

Soya couldn't help staring at Refri.

...He really was a pretty boy. No other explanation needed.

She hid her flushed face under her hat and muttered.

"...Got it."

"No 'fighting' back?"

Refri feigned disappointment. Pure teasing, of course. Seeing her embarrassed, he couldn't resist.

"F-f... Ugh, I'm not a kid—why would I?"

Grumbling, Soya gripped her grimoire and took her position.

"Anyway, you won't regret investing in me."

A complex magic circle began forming at her feet. Even to Refri, who knew little of magic, it looked advanced. By area, at least 4th circle...

'4th circle magic chantless...? Before even entering the academy?'

Chantless casting required full mastery of the circle. Did that mean Soya had mastered 4th circle already?

Refri couldn't believe it. Mages at that level were mainstays in major guilds, as far as he knew.

"I'm gonna be the greatest mage ever."

Soya declared matter-of-factly.

At that moment, from the hall's end...

An examinee flew through the air, defying gravity. The pitiful part? It wasn't by choice.

"Shall we begin?"

The culprit who launched him. The fallen elf... no, martial god Rusa grinned.