Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 182: Proof 4

At the Academy, most clubs accepted any applicant without a second thought. More members usually meant more activity funds, after all.

However, that didn't mean there weren't clubs that held entrance exams.

Aside from the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠most famous organizations like the Student Council or the Disciplinary Committee, prestigious groups like the Swordsmanship Club and the Magic Research Club already had so many members that adding more wouldn't increase their funding.

Consequently, these elite clubs didn't just accept anyone who walked through the door; they only admitted students who passed a rigorous screening process.

"All you have to do is pick one of us to duel. If you win, you're in."

"When you say 'us'..." a stern-looking man standing in front of me asked.

"The students of the Special Class, like me, of course."

The applicants, who had been rejoicing just moments ago at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the news that they could join if they passed an exam, suddenly froze.

Did they seriously think I’d give them a written quiz about dungeons just because I called it an exam?

The reactions of the prospective members fell into three main categories.

"Do you really think we can beat even one person from the Special Class?"

"Haven't you noticed during lectures? They're on a completely different level from us."

"Then what am I supposed to do? My parents contacted me during lunch and told me I have to get into this club no matter what."

First, there were those who had already spiraled into despair, concluding that defeating a Special Class student was an impossible feat.

"Still, isn't it worth a shot?"

"You're not underestimating them just because they're first-years, are you?"

"Of course, we can't beat His Highness the Crown Prince or Lady Adelian. But Frederick is a mage—wouldn't a one-on-one be doable? My swordsmanship is at least top-tier among the second-years."

"Isn't that just bias against mages?"

"Besides, look at how many of us are here. No matter how elite the Special Class is, they'll ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠get exhausted if they have to fight everyone."

"Hmm... that might actually work."

Then, there were those who viewed it as a feasible challenge.

Finally, there was a small minority who, absurdly enough, complained to me about the nature of the exam itself.

"Why does the exam have to involve fighting Special Class students? Isn't that just your way of saying you won't take anyone?"

"As you can tell by our club's name, we conquer dungeons. And nothing is more important in a dungeon raid than combat power."

"That's true, but you don't necessarily have to be as strong as the Special Class to clear a dungeon, do you?"

"The main reason we clear dungeons is to become stronger than we are now. To do that, we have to tackle difficult dungeons, not low-level ones. What do you think would happen if we took someone whose skills were vastly inferior to ours?"

It would have been easier to ignore them, but the reason I answered every single question was to settle things once and for all today. I didn't want them pestering me later.

"Wasn't 'Artifact' also in the club name? I know someone who's great at appraising artifacts. Wouldn't that be helpful?"

"Since it's not you doing the appraising, why should I accept you? Besides, our club's advisor is Professor Idra. Does the person you mentioned know more about magic tools and artifacts than Professor Idra?"

"Then what about His Highness the Crown Prince and the other Special Class students? Did they have to take an exam like us to join?"

"No. In fact, I practically begged them to join."

"That's unfair! Why do only we have to take an exam?"

Unfair?

I knew the people here were students, not adults, so they were bound to be immature. But listening to these idiotic complaints and questions was giving me a massive headache.

Sigh...

Of course it's unfair. Our skill levels are worlds apart.

This isn't an elementary school built for students to play nice and make friends; it's an Academy where people learn the deadly arts of the sword and magic.

Suppressing the scoff that threatened to escape, I realized there would be no end to this if I kept entertaining every grievance.

"Admitting club members is the sole prerogative of the Club President."

Of course, only accepting specific people could potentially cause issues with the administration.

"I didn't just accept Special Class students. I scouted individuals who exceeded the standards I was looking for, and those people just happened to be in the Special Class."

Hearing this, some might argue that it was no different from favoritism.

"That's why I gave you an opening, didn't I? If you can beat even one of us, I'll let you join."

I gave them their chance.

"..........."

At my words, the students who had been complaining fell silent.

What if someone among them actually turned out to be on par with or even stronger than the Special Class students?

That would actually be great.

If they were good enough to beat a Special Class student, their skills were guaranteed. In that case, I had no reason to refuse them.

I looked around.

A significant crowd had gathered before I knew it—Special Class students, club hopefuls, and even bystanders wondering what the commotion was about. With so many people packed into the hallway, it was starting to obstruct traffic.

Clap!

I clapped my hands loudly to draw everyone's attention.

"The club selection period ends next week, and tomorrow is the weekend, so we'll hold the exam today."

There was a brief murmur at the news that the exam would be held immediately, but it soon died down as they realized they didn't have a choice.

"Today? You mean right now?"

"No. I should at least give you some time to prepare. The exam will begin in one hour."

The students hoping to join the club quickly dispersed. I doubted they'd be training for that hour; they'd likely be gathering artifacts and magic tools or frantically coming up with strategies.

"Haaa..."

Just as I let out a sigh, someone tapped me on the shoulder from behind. I turned to see Lucas staring at me with an incredulous look. The other Special Class students were watching me with similar expressions.

What was with them? Did they fall for my cool speech?

"What about our opinion?" Lucas asked.

"Pardon?"

"You just said the exam involves picking one of us to fight. Did you think to ask us how we felt about that?"

"Is it necessary?"

Hearing my response, Lucas nodded as if he finally understood.

"Ah... right. He was this kind of guy. I keep forgetting."

"Lucas, are you busy today?"

Usually, Lucas would head off somewhere in a hurry after Academy hours, likely due to his hectic schedule. But today, he was moving slowly and leisurely, so I wondered if he had no plans—or if he had something to do later.

"Haha, no. Unluckily for me, I have some time to spare."

"I'd say you're lucky. You get to see an interesting show."

"Aren't I the one being turned into the 'interesting show'?"

"You'll be part of the show and get to watch it too. You can't always do only what you want in life, Lucas. Sometimes you have to do things you'd rather avoid."

"I don't think that saying was meant to be used in this kind of situation."

The Special Class students and I gathered in the Special Class basement to wait out the hour.

Surprisingly, most of them had agreed to fight the applicants. In fact, Kuran and Gashurin seemed rather pleased at the prospect of a brawl.

However, Clara glared at me with cold eyes.

"Why do I have to fight because of something you said?"

"Aren't we in the same club? Club members should help each other out."

"Hah. I'm telling you again because you seem to be mistaken: I haven't joined your club yet."

"Yes, yes. I know you're not a member until we find the Book of Forgotten Memories. But if you think about it differently, you're a prospective member since you'll join once we get the book."

I continued before she could retort.

"Imagine if all those people out there joined the club. Wouldn't that be ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠annoying?"

"I could just ignore them."

"If we don't deal with them today, they'll come back and pester us tomorrow, weekend or not. That will definitely interfere with our plans for the dungeon tomorrow."

"........."

Clara sat down without another word and opened a book. I took that as her silent agreement.

I was thinking about taking a nap until the hour was up, but Lucas approached me again.

"Loki, each of us might have to face more than ten people. Don't you have a strategy? If we lose because we run out of stamina, your plan goes down the drain."

A strategy...

"I don't have a strategy, but I do have something I want to say."

Honestly, I didn't think it was necessary, but just in case.

"What is it? Don't let your guard down? Or maybe don't waste stamina and save as much as possible?"

Lucas tried to guess, but he wasn't even close.

"I'm being serious here: your opponents aren't Professor Elicia."

"Eh? Well, obviously."

"So, if you fight them like you're fighting Professor Elicia, they might actually die. Control your strength. No, you must control it."