No Fanfare for First Place
The storm-calling, chaotic academy placement exam adventure. The grand finale of that epic journey was a cheerful first-place finish across the valley. Naturally, the moment we crossed the finish line that was also our destination, there should have been countless murmurs and endless cheers…
“Who the hell are those guys?”
“No idea.”
“Their clothes say Nartika on them?”
“Never heard of it. What kind of guild is that?”
“Looks like some random general store.”
“Ah, so they probably just slapped their family shop name on their clothes to help their parents out.”
There was murmuring, sure. But no cheers. After glancing our way, they simply turned their heads. Just the reaction of people realizing some strangers they didn’t know had taken first place. A few women whispered among themselves while looking at us, but that was it. The indifference was far greater than I’d imagined. The fact that there weren’t many spectators only made it feel worse.
I stared blankly at someone who looked like academy staff.
“Congratulations on completing the course! You may head home now!”
Even the person I’d trusted betrayed me. How could the world be this cruel?
“We can just go home?”
“Yes! The exam is over, so you’re free to leave! Ah, and please leave the measurement sensors here before you go.”
Huh? That’s it? No fanfare, no fireworks? We came in first and there’s no prize? If they were going to send us home like this, shouldn’t they at least cover the taxi fare?
But the fact that the exam had ended in such a hollow manner didn’t change. They casually collected the bracelet-shaped sensors. It was a truly deflating ending.
‘Well, the finish line is over 64 kilometers away. Who would even come to watch?’
It wasn’t even the end of vacation for other grades. Seven hours had passed since the exam began, and we were caught between the dim night and bright day. Unless complete darkness had fallen, it wasn’t exactly prime spectating time. It was normal that only exam officials and a few Ponce residents were around. How bitterly realistic.
Of course, reality being what it was didn’t stop me from hoping. Maybe if we walked around, countless hands would reach out for handshakes…
“Ah! I’m sorry! I almost forgot something!”
“Huh? Forgot what?”
The academy staff member rushed over and handed us some documents. They weren’t particularly long, but they weren’t simple either.
“You can choose to keep your ranking private. Would you like to do so?”
“Private?”
“The rankings from this exam will be posted online. Along with the rankings, information such as names, ages, and addresses is also scheduled to be disclosed!”
“Wait, even age and address?”
“Yep! But if you opt for privacy, everything will be anonymized and posted with all that information erased! What would you like to do?”
Anyone with more than a peanut for a brain would obviously choose to erase it. Opening up personal information just to chase a bit of fame was practically insane. This was a world where social engineering hacks could drain your bank account. A world where coming in first at a prestigious place meant people would dig into your background. And Palaestra Academy wasn’t exactly low-profile. Even after taking hits, its recognition and scale were still unmatched. If the exam results were going to be seen by countless people, we had to be even more careful. If we drew attention for no reason and they uncovered our tax evasion, we could end up as headline criminals.
- [Academy] Korean takes first in academy exam… Turns out to be a criminal who evaded hundreds of billions in taxes?
- [Hunter] Suspicion of tax evasion on aspiring hunter… National Tax Service launches investigation.
- [Economy] Questions about involvement in the suicide, disappearance, and murder case of a guild executive’s family: “Wait, that wasn’t my order.” Controversy erupts.
- [Economy] Using evaded taxes to seize company control and expel founder… Canadian public opinion “boiling.”
- [Society] Illegal wiretapping under orders from Hunter Kang? Testimony of unknown authenticity?
- [International] “Could this happen in other countries too?” Additional evidence on the controversial Hunter Kang secured by the FBI.
Something like that absolutely could not happen. The small assets scattered in places like Wyoming, the Netherlands in exile, and Ireland. The gifts Cheon Mari occasionally gave in the name of friendship. The various stakes I’d personally purchased and the management rights I was indirectly exercising. The authority and shares in the investment company Cheon Mari and I had founded together. Losing all of that meant death. After everything was over, these assets were essential if I wanted to laze around at home without worrying about money. And if I got arrested, there was a 140% chance Cheon Mari would be arrested too. Given everything she’d done over the past six years—and plenty I didn’t even know about—prison probably wouldn’t end with just a wheelchair. Even if she was an idiot friend, I didn’t want her rotting in jail.
So I decided to give up on becoming famous for now.
“Then please keep it private.”
There was no popular guy named Kang Sian. Only Kang Sian, living like a sea anemone.
“I’ll go private too.”
“Me too.”
Apparently, I wasn’t the only one thinking that way. I wondered if they also knew how to dodge taxes, but realistically, they had no reason to.
“I don’t want to deal with unnecessary trouble.”
“I also… don’t want my personal information getting leaked for no reason… First place is enough. I don’t feel the need to brag about it.”
That was an excellent mindset.
“Huh? I want to go public though.”
That was a terrible mindset.
I looked at the regressor grinning at the thought of becoming famous like she was pathetic.
“Why? If I get famous, I’ll build a brand and sell more stuff.”
“The problem is the losses would be bigger than the sales.”
“Come on, as long as we don’t get caught—”
Yank!
I grabbed Cheon Mari by the hair while the other two looked confused by the conversation. The girl immediately started screaming like a cat and begged to have her ranking made private too.
“Understood. Then please just write your names here.”
And so first place was hidden. One interesting fact was that even after we hailed a taxi and left, second place still hadn’t shown up. They must have been ridiculously far behind. Or they’d gotten hopelessly lost.
* * *
(Photo proving 951st place in the placement exam.)
I was just an ordinary mage in Korea, but I’m top-tier at the academy? Never seen such an intelligent exam in my life lolololol
(Photo of an extremely angry chihuahua.)
Shit^^ So you’re saying they got lucky finding a shortcut and finished? lololol Just looking at these pathetic men and women shows how ruined this place is. Seriously, why isn’t the admin banning these bastards?
(Roughly a classic game Pac-Man photo.)
I usually just lurk, but I can’t stay silent about the current situation. I thought community members were decent and kind people… I’m saying this because I hope the community returns to its former self soon, and because I want this insane witch hunt that ruins lives without giving anyone a chance to defend themselves to stop. If this post makes even one person reflect, please cooperate in normalizing the community.
(Placement exam rankings posted online)
Especially didn’t expect first place to go private whoa. Usually first place becomes famous, right? If it’s a girl guys would swarm, if it’s a guy girls would swarm, so why…
The exam was completely over. It had been a bit noisy, but compared to the beginning, the result wasn’t bad at all. And as if to prove it wasn’t a bad result, the grading process also proceeded smoothly. Not long after, a mysterious letter the size of a videotape was delivered to our house.