Chapter 183: Proof 5
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 183: Proof 5
After an hour of downtime in the Special Class room, the students and I headed to the venue for the club entrance exam.
Even though the doors hadn't opened yet, the roar of a massive crowd could be heard from all the way down the hall.
"Loki, it looks like even more people gathered than you predicted."
"I guess so. And I thought I was being generous with my estimate."
I already knew that rumors spread like wildfire within the Academy.
A single word whispered by one person during class is caught by the student next to them; that student tells another, and soon everyone in the vicinity knows. From there, the gossip catches the wind, slips through the cracks of the door, and drifts down the hallway into every other classroom. By lunchtime, the story becomes the main course of every conversation.
That was the Academy—a place where even the smallest rumor eventually reached everyone’s ears.
In fact, I was often the subject of those rumors. Whether it was my duel with Rophri over his harassment of Johanna, the Disciplinary Board hearing after my fight with Darun, or the revelation that I was the Emperor’s disciple—every story spread with incredible speed.
Still, I hadn't expected this many people. I’d only announced the club exam an hour ago, and even then, it was after all the Academy classes had ended for the day.
We had chosen the main auditorium, the same place where the entrance ceremony was held, as the exam site. There was no better place for dozens of people to gather for a test. Normally, the auditorium couldn't be used for private matters like this, but thanks to a professor granting permission much more easily than expected, we were able to rent it quickly.
"Alright, I'm opening the doors now. Everyone ready?"
As I raised my hand to push the doors open, a trembling hand reached out and stopped me.
"Frederick? I'm into women, you know."
"T-That’s not it! I-I’m just so n-nervous... J-Just give me a second."
I nodded. Taking that as a sign of agreement, Frederick lowered his hand.
"By the way, when I said I was opening the doors, I wasn't asking for permission. I was giving notice."
Before Frederick could gasp and reach out again, I threw the auditorium doors wide open.
Slam!
I let out a low whistle at the sight of the crowd filling the hall.
"Whoa... I knew it would be a lot, but this is beyond my imagination."
"One, two, three, four, five, six..."
Frederick’s trembling fingers moved busily as he began to count every single person in the auditorium. Judging that Frederick wouldn't stop until he’d counted every last head, Lucas grabbed his hand and pulled it down.
"Why are you counting them one by one? It’s obviously over two hundred."
"Guh..."
"Get a grip!"
Frederick nearly lost consciousness upon hearing the number, but he snapped out of it when Kuran grabbed his shoulders and gave him a vigorous shake.
"A-Are you saying e-everyone here is h-here for the e-exam?"
"Nah, of course not," I replied.
As Lucas said, while it was true that over two hundred people had gathered, not all of them were there to take the test.
"Frederick, look closely. There are professors over there, too."
"O-Oh, you're right."
"And considering the people who just came to watch because it looked fun, I bet fewer than a hundred of these two hundred are actually here for the exam."
In the auditorium, besides the students who had expressed interest earlier, there were people who clearly weren't there to join—like the president of the Swordsmanship Club and the head of the Magic Research Club. It wasn't hard to distinguish the applicants; they were the ones clutching their weapons or staring at us with expressions of extreme tension.
The Disciplinary Committee and the Student Council are here too.
On the second-floor balcony stood Joden, surrounded by Student Council members, and Johanna, sitting in a chair flanked by the Disciplinary Committee. The other students, seemingly finding it too intimidating to be near Joden and Johanna, had settled into the corners of the first floor.
Johanna spotted me, and our eyes met. When I waved, she responded by raising her hand and giving a small, shy wave back. She was mouthing something, and looking closely, I could tell what she was saying.
‘Good luck, Oppa.’
So cute!
The other Disciplinary Committee members next to her glared at me as if they wanted to commit murder, but I didn't care.
"Loki, everyone is staring at us. Shouldn't you explain something?"
Having lost the strength to speak after being struck by Johanna's cuteness, I silently pointed toward the podium.
"Ahem! I couldn't possibly miss out on something this fun as the club's faculty advisor."
Standing there with a bright smile was Professor Idra, holding a magic tool that functioned exactly like a microphone.
* * *
The students who had come for the exam were trembling at the thought of fighting the Special Class. Meanwhile, the spectators were buzzing with excitement at the prospect of watching the Special Class in action.
"I am Idra, the professor who will be conducting the entrance exam for the Clown-whatever-it-is Club today!"
Idra’s cheerful voice echoed through the vast auditorium.
"First, since it's confusing to see who's taking the exam and who's just watching, those taking the exam please stay where you are. Professors and students who are just here to watch, please move up to the second floor so you don't get in the way."
The professors moved immediately. The students on the first floor found it awkward to go up to the second floor where Johanna and Joden were, but they couldn't miss out on this entertainment, so they all shuffled upstairs as well.
"Has everyone moved? I won't accept any late entries, so if you're taking the exam, come down to the floor quickly."
"..."
"Then I'll assume there are no more participants. Special Class students? Please come up to the podium for a moment."
Loki and the Special Class students followed Idra’s instructions and stepped onto the stage.
"Now, before I explain the exam! We should check how many people are trying to join our club, shouldn't we?"
As she finished speaking, a small cube-shaped magic tool floated from Idra’s hand into the air. It unfolded and expanded into a blue holographic screen.
"Let's see, let's see. The number of applicants is...!"
[1st Years: 63]
[2nd Years: 26]
[3rd Years: 5]
[Total: 94]
"Eek! Ninety-four?"
Frederick was horrified. Ninety-four people... That was an average of eleven per person!
I might be okay in a team fight, but I'm not confident in one-on-ones. I have to deal with eleven people?
While Frederick was panicking, Idra giggled as she looked at the hologram.
"Quite a lot of students applied, didn't they? I wonder how many of these ninety-four will actually pass!"
The spectators on the second floor watched with eyes full of intrigue.
"Most of you probably know already, but I'll explain the rules once more. To pass, an applicant must choose one student from the Special Class to fight and win. I will be the sole judge of what constitutes a 'win.'"
The participants on the first floor calmed their nerves in their own ways.
"If we drag this out, it'll delay my clock-out time, so let's start right away. Applicants, please go and stand in front of the Special Class student you think you can beat!"
"As a side note," Idra added, "I doubt this would happen, but everyone ganging up on one person to win defeats the purpose of recruiting club members, so consulting with the person next to you is forbidden. If you're caught, you fail immediately!"
The students participating in the exam had already decided on their opponents before coming to the auditorium, so they moved as soon as Idra finished speaking.
Frederick closed his eyes and clasped his hands together, praying fervently.
Please, please let only a few come to me. I'll even start going to church with Ren. Please, five people—no more than five. If more come, I'll curse them. No, that's a lie. I won't curse them, so please... just let me handle five. Half of the average.
With ninety-four students moving, the hall was naturally noisy, but Frederick, deep in prayer, heard nothing. In reality, less than three minutes had passed, but to Frederick, it felt like thirty.
"It looks like everyone has decided. I'll give you one last chance to change. Is there anyone who wants to switch right now?"
Idra offered a final chance, but the applicants had all come with their own resolve. No one stepped forward.
"Hmm. Then we'll go with these matchups!"
Frederick opened his eyes and managed to lift his trembling head to look at the holographic screen.
[Lucas – 0]
[Clara – 7]
[Sepia – 9]
[Gashurin – 11]
[Kuran – 12]
[Ren – 13]
[Loki – 20]
[Frederick – 22]