Chapter 161
Chapter 161
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 161
Chapter Title: Judicial Exam (2)
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Damcheong, who had slept soundly, woke up and asked.
“Seoran, is that Everwhite Island over there?”
“Yes. It’s quite a large island, isn’t it?”
“It’s snowing heavily.”
Snow fell on Everwhite Island year-round.
The name itself meant the eternally white island.
But to exam candidates, it was known by another name.
The Island of Enlightenment.
Once one set foot on Everwhite Island, it was impossible to leave without gaining enlightenment.
All exam candidates could only depart after mastering jurisprudence to become judges or deeply realizing their own limits.
Damcheong closely examined Everwhite Island.
On the island’s outskirts was a massive airfield.
Even early in the morning, it bustled with clipper ships taking off and landing.
The ship carrying Seoran’s group landed at the airfield.
The attendants quickly disembarked with their luggage.
They had been cooped up in the cabins since boarding in the center of District 2, so it was no wonder they felt stifled.
Damcheong strolled out empty-handed when he noticed something.
A horde of brutes was disembarking from a large vessel.
For brutes to settle on an island that snowed all year round—it was truly peculiar.
Damcheong asked Seoran.
“Why are those brutes settling on Everwhite Island?”
“Settling? Oh, those people? They’re not settling; they come to work. They arrive early in the morning, work during the day, and head back at night.”
“To commute every single day, they must live pretty close by.”
Seoran pointed somewhere and said.
“If you fly straight that way, there’s an island where lots of brutes live. The weather’s clear twelve months a year, so they call it Upper Clear Island. They import all their food, clothes, firewood, and such from there.”
“That makes sense. There’s not a single blade of grass on Everwhite Island. Everywhere you look, it’s just snowfields.”
“They say if you don’t bring attendants like we did, you hire brutes. Oh, there’s a labor office over there. Looks like that’s where they hire them.”
In the meantime, the clipper ship they had arrived on departed.
For the record, Damcheong had no idea how to get back.
He had slept the entire way to his destination, so that was only natural.
With his path of retreat gone, Damcheong activated his ultra-positive mindset.
He could refocus his lazy mind by studying with Seoran and make tons of kin friends.
It might even be for the best.
Thinking that way, Damcheong left the airfield.
*****
Such optimistic expectations didn’t even last half a day.
Damcheong made every effort to keep the spark of hope alive.
But what doesn’t work just doesn’t work, no matter what.
The moment he stepped into the academy district, he could feel the gloomy atmosphere scattered everywhere.
Sighs here, sighs there.
Everyone wandered the streets with lifeless faces.
Coincidentally, yesterday had been mock exam day.
One exam candidate was acting strangely.
“Yeah, go ahead! Fail me all you want! I’ll just take it again in a hundred years!”
Damcheong was shocked.
Not because the man was bellowing in the middle of the street, but because no one paid any attention to his outburst.
The other candidates calmly continued with what they were doing.
It was as if this was everyday normalcy.
But what was even more absurd came next.
The crazed candidate, having vented his frustration, straightened his disheveled hair.
Then he entered a nearby restaurant and ordered a meal.
As if nothing had happened, perfectly natural.
Damcheong tugged at Seoran’s sleeve and said.
“Seoran, do we really have to study here? Yeongyeong was studying through the Heavenly Net, right? Can’t we just do that?”
“Lord Damcheong, what are you talking about? You have to study here to take mock exams and get feedback on subjective questions.”
“Still, the atmosphere is a bit...”
Seoran said.
“What’s wrong with the atmosphere? The vertigo of standing on the edge of a cliff every day, rivals charging for limited spots, victory or defeat hinging on a single number. Doesn’t it already feel like your efficiency is about to skyrocket? And all the candidates here are Dragons to boot. Infinite competition among immortals... Heh heh, my blood’s already boiling.”
“I can’t relate at all...”
“Is that so? You’ll get it soon enough. There’s something unique to it, something you can never feel in physical combat. Ah, we’ve arrived at the administrative office. Let’s go sign up for classes.”
Damcheong quietly stared at the back of his friend’s head as she dashed cheerfully to the counter.
Seoran already had sky-high ambition.
But ever since becoming half-human, half-dragon, her study addiction seemed even more intense.
Lost in thought, Damcheong hurried to the counter when he heard Seoran’s voice.
*****
A young Dragon sat at the counter.
Not a Supreme Star Realm cultivator who had completed their Dragon Pearl.
She looked about 2000 years old.
The counter staff said with a bright smile.
“Hello, are you here to sign up for classes?”
Seoran nodded repeatedly and said.
“Yes. Any open spots?”
“Of course, always. How many years’ worth of classes would you like? We have them from 100-year courses down to half-year ones, fully lined up.”
“I plan to take the exam starting this round. Which course length would you recommend?”
The counter staff flipped through a booklet and replied.
“There’s a little over 6 years until the exam date. For someone like you, I’d recommend combining the ‘Complete Written Conquest’ course and the ‘Practical Basics Mastery’ course. Both are 5-year courses.”
“You mean take both together?”
“Yes, exactly. One’s morning lectures, the other afternoon. Then, a year before the exam, do the ‘All-Day Real Combat Prep’ course, and it’ll total exactly 6 years. Want to take a look?”
Seoran skimmed the course description and asked.
“But what about preparing for the third interview?”
“No need to worry about that at all. The ‘All-Day Real Combat Prep’ includes third-interview prep. Pass or fail is basically decided in the first written and second practical exams, so starting interview prep a year before is plenty.”
“Ooh, nice. I’ll go with that.”
The counter staff operated a desk terminal and said.
“Let me confirm. One 5-year ‘Complete Written Conquest’ and one 5-year ‘Practical Basics Mastery,’ right? Any interest in prepaying the 1-year ‘All-Day Real Combat Prep’? We’re running a promo—bundle it and get a special discount.”
“Oh? Then bundle them all.”
“Got it. Installments or lump sum?”
Seoran pulled out her terminal from her sleeve and said.
“Ah, hold on a sec. There’s one more person. Lord Damcheong! Lord Damcheong, sign up quick! They’ll discount if we bundle!”
Damcheong, lost in his own thoughts, hurried over.
Seoran said to the counter staff.
“Add one more set of each course.”
“Yes, sir. Six courses total, bundled payment. Installments or lump sum?”
“Lump sum, please.”
The counter staff handed over a jade tablet.
Seoran placed her terminal on it.
With a ding, the payment cleared.
The counter staff said.
“Written and practical courses start in ten days. Textbooks are included in the fee, so no separate purchase needed. Any other questions?”
“Uh... not really. That’s it?”
“Yes, all set.”
Seoran pocketed her terminal and said.
“Goodbye. Lord Damcheong, let’s go.”
“Uh, yeah? Oh, right. Farewell to you too.”
The counter staff reflexively replied.
“Thank you, have a good one.”
Seoran and Damcheong left the administrative office, poring over the course descriptions.
Once their backs had completely vanished, the counter staff spoke to her colleague next to her.
“Hey, did you see that? They were so young!”
The colleague, who had pretended not to watch, said.
“Yeah, saw it. But what the heck? How are they Supreme Star Realm at that age? Even being generous, they don’t look over 1500.”
“1500? Looked like 1100 or 1200 tops. Man, jealous. What bloodline are they?”
“Hmm, kinda annoying.”
The counter staff, writhing in envy, asked.
“Annoying? What’s annoying?”
“I’m 2100 and still haven’t completed my Dragon Pearl, but Supreme Star at 1200? No way, that’s not right. I can’t stand this.”
“Can’t stand it? What’re you gonna do?”
The colleague said in a serious tone.
“Gonna vent this frustration on Upper Clear Island.”
“Upper Clear? When?”
“Tonight...! Wanna come?”
The counter staff swallowed hard and asked.
“You covering my share too?”
“Why would I spend on a guy like you?”
“Fair enough.”
The counter staff and her colleague flew to Upper Clear Island right after work.
They had a fun time.
By the time they returned to Everwhite Island, it was dawn.
Ten days later, the first class arrived.