Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: What Are You Looking At? First Time Seeing a Valheim?
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Entrance Exam Proctor Kairan.
With her appearance, the children's clamor vanished in an instant.
"It's the proctor! The proctor!"
Everyone except Balok Valheim, who was standing next to Krash.
"The entrance exam consists of three parts."
Krash faintly recalled the entrance exam from before his regression.
'It's one more than back then.'
There had definitely only been two tests at the time.
"The first test is an aura level check."
Krash remembered how he'd barely scraped by, just under the minimum requirement.
Still, he'd bought every elixir he could afford back then, determined to grow somehow, and trained like a madman.
That was how he'd barely made it in.
"The second test is sparring between applicants. You'll face three opponents once—someone with a higher aura level than yours from the pre-check, someone on the same level, and someone lower—for a total of three matches."
This part was the same as before.
"Finally, the third test is a mock battle against me, the proctor. For your information, anyone who passes the first and second tests will be considered admitted."
The students murmured among themselves.
It was a reaction questioning why bother with the third test then.
"The reason for the third test is simple: it's the exam for the newly established Special Class."
Special Class.
It piqued Krash's interest since he'd never heard of it before.
It was definitely a change that had arisen in this regression cycle.
"The Special Class will operate separately from the departments you applied for. It's designed to nurture exceptionally talented students early on. There will be ongoing recruitment, and even after enrollment, additional placements may occur based on circumstances."
With that brief explanation, Kairan slowly began to smile.
"Of course, if the Special Class fills up during the entrance exam, there won't be any additional recruitment."
That single line flipped the students' motivation on its head in an instant.
Everyone aiming to enter Raheln Academy had their own goals, no doubt.
But they all sensed it: getting into the Special Class would change their lives entirely.
For nobles, it was unparalleled honor.
For commoners, an unmatched opportunity.
And those aspiring to martial arts all shared one common trait.
They wanted to prove they were the strongest here.
That belligerent nature of theirs.
'This was created because too many talents gathered.'
Krash realized why the Special Class had been established.
And at the same time, that he needed to get in there too.
The Generation of the Sky would surely all gather there.
"The condition for passing the third test is simple: defeat the proctor. I expect many of you will manage it."
Kairan added this while clearly not believing a word of it.
Her expression reeked of malicious intent befitting an entrance exam proctor.
"Then we'll begin the first test."
As soon as her words fell, other prepared proctors emerged.
They swiftly set up dozens of individual one-person tents, as if they'd rehearsed it.
At the same time, Raheln Academy's mages projected letters into the sky above.
"Enter the tent corresponding to the name displayed above and place your hand on the Aurora Stone inside."
It was straightforward, just as she said.
However, about half the students would fail this test.
'The number of admits is fixed, after all.'
In the meantime, students' names began appearing one by one in sequence.
Those whose names appeared entered the tents with grim expressions.
With over a thousand martial arts applicants.
Even with dozens of tents set up, the first test took quite a while.
"Krash, you're aiming for the Special Class too, right? I'm going for it, so let's end up in the same class!"
Thanks to that, Krash had to endure Balok chattering nonstop beside him.
"I heard if you get into the Special Class, you'll get to meet Anix and Elfin too!"
Mugong's Anix Graiza.
And Elfin Emilia.
Two of Staron's Three Heroes were first-year students.
As the proctor had mentioned, since it was an early nurturing program, Special Class students would apparently attend academy life alongside the first-years.
"I wonder how strong the proctor is. Can't wait."
Krash turned to look at Kairan.
'I wonder if anyone will actually beat her.'
Not widely known to the public.
But beyond the city walls, in the near-forbidden Great Sea, a figure who had made her name.
Pirate Empress
Kairan
Just the erosion species she'd newly captured from the Great Sea for research data numbered in the thousands.
'And the only associate professor with skills rivaling the full professors.'
The reason she worked as an associate professor was her own judgment that she wasn't suited to directly running classes.
In other words, she was effectively on par with the professors in combat power.
'Malicious indeed.'
From the moment someone of professor-level strength like Kairan was assigned as proctor, the malice was palpable.
'She intends to let zero through to the Special Class.'
That's how Krash interpreted it.
He let out a short chuckle.
Just how far could he push against a professor-level like Kairan with his current strength?
It was the moment his interest ignited.
Pirate Empress Kairan.
She found the grandiose, embarrassing title embarrassing herself, but her skills were certainly worthy of it.
Today, she was overseeing the students' first tests as the proctor.
"Associate Professor Kairan."
At that moment, she noticed the exam assistant approaching.
The first test was still in full swing.
Had something happened?
Kairan glanced at him, and he hesitated with a troubled expression before speaking.
Seeing her questioning look, the exam assistant finally opened his mouth.
"Well, um, one of the Aurora Stones got cracked."
"An Aurora Stone cracked?"
Kairan's eyes widened round.
The Aurora Stone was the most suitable tool for measuring total aura capacity.
When aura was infused, it displayed an aurora-like light corresponding to the amount, showing the total output.
That's why normal aura outputs didn't faze it at all.
For an Aurora Stone to crack?
"It's not because the applicants overused it."
Kairan's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"That means someone has aura beyond what the Aurora Stone can handle."
"Yes, exactly. It's clearly off-spec."
He nodded and informed her who had cracked the Aurora Stone.
"......Mary Diana."
Kairan swallowed a short groan.
A former Empire sword candidate who had committed the insane act of attempting to assassinate imperial family members.
'I heard she was born with the Heavenly Martial Body talent.'
But to possess enough aura to crack an Aurora Stone?
Now she understood why the Empire had withdrawn her execution.
If it had been any other imperial targeting someone with almost no claim to the throne, it would have been instant execution.
But as the Fourth Princess, they'd compromised, intending to use her as the Empire's hunting dog.
'A monster has appeared.'
She clicked her tongue briefly and instructed him to replace the Aurora Stone.
'The second test will be tricky.'
Would there be anyone as strong as the one who cracked the Aurora Stone?
For Mary Diana, all three second-test opponents might end up weaker than her.
It was just as she pondered the second test.
Flash!
Suddenly, a brilliant light burst from the tent where the assistant had gone to replace the Aurora Stone moments ago.
As the startled students murmured at the sudden light.
Crash!
A clear breaking sound rang out sharply.
Hearing it, Kairan felt momentarily dazed.
Then, snapping back to reality, she forgot her role as chief proctor and hurried to that tent.
As she rushed inside, the exam assistant from moments ago stood there with a blank expression.
Their eyes met, and his lips trembled.
"A-Associate Professor Kairan, I definitely replaced the Aurora Stone."
Hearing him, Kairan shifted her gaze.
Before her lay the Aurora Stone, shattered to pieces.
'Replaced.'
Meaning the brand-new one couldn't withstand the aura output and had broken.
Kairan's eyes shook.
With her own skill level, she could crack an Aurora Stone if she tried.
But shatter one?
Even she couldn't guarantee that.
Who the hell had done this?
As she raised her head, there stood someone with black hair streaked with blue.
That color.
She definitely remembered it.
It belonged to the most headache-inducing person at Raheln Academy.
The same shade as Charlotte Valheim.
The boy with sharp eyes under his brow slowly lowered the hand he'd raised.
"Shall I do it again?"
He glanced at the shattered Aurora Stone with a look of mild regret.
The moment she saw that arrogant demeanor, she knew.
'Krash Valheim.'
One of the persons of interest, the Valheim family's youngest direct descendant.
It was him.
"......The applicant can leave now."
"Good thing. I might have broken another one."
At his following words, Kairan froze.
It hadn't been an accident—he'd shattered it on purpose.
She swallowed hard as he strolled out leisurely.
She owed Mary Diana an apology for calling her a monster.
The real monster was right here.
Leaving the stiffened Kairan behind, Krash stepped out and looked down at his hand.
'Honestly, I didn't expect it to break.'
The moment he saw the Aurora Stone, Krash remembered the past.
How pitifully faint the aurora light had been, even to his own eyes.
And the exam assistant marking it silently without a word—that sour feeling.
Maybe that's why.
When he saw the Aurora Stone, curiosity stirred.
He wondered if it would recognize World Erosion as aura.
'Well, if I'm doing it.'
Might as well go all out.
With that thought, Krash channeled his Oblivion Erosion.
Its output had grown far stronger thanks to the Thousand Kills Star.
He poured the maximum into the Aurora Stone without harming himself.
The result.
Crash!
A flash of light, and the Aurora Stone exploded into fragments.
Krash's instantaneous output was unrivaled.
When he slammed that into the Aurora Stone.
There was no way it could endure.
The moment Krash, who had unwittingly destroyed the Aurora Stone, lifted his head outside the tent.
In the silence.
Not just the entrance applicants, but even the students already in departments—all eyes were on Krash.
They'd all heard the light bursting from the tent and the breaking sound.
Crimson Garden's voice echoed from the brooch in his pocket, and Krash slowly scratched the back of his head.
Then, amid the silence, he opened his mouth.
"What are you looking at?"
Pure Valheim through and through.
As everyone stood speechless, Krash ignored them and returned to his spot.
"Whoa, Krash! How strong have you gotten?!"
Balok bounced excitedly in place, reacting just like that.
Unlike the others, he didn't care about reading the room—refreshing.
It was just as Krash halted his steps and turned.
Suddenly!
Krash's body stiffened.
The reason was simple.
Above the dozens of tents.
One name had changed to Arthur Gramalte.
'Arthur.'
Krash whipped his head toward it.
But Arthur Gramalte's name slowly faded, replaced by another.
While Krash had shattered the Aurora Stone.
Arthur had finished his first test almost simultaneously.
Their timings had just missed.
Realizing this, Krash hurriedly scanned the surroundings.
But with so many people, he couldn't spot Arthur.
'He didn't enroll first.'
For some reason, Arthur had enrolled at the same time as him.
Krash furrowed his brow.
The current Arthur wasn't the one Krash knew.
Arthur hadn't regressed, after all.
So this guy was an unpredictable variable now.
Krash looked up to find Sigrin.
Unlike before, her group was there, but she was nowhere to be seen.
Krash guessed Sigrin had gone to meet him upon seeing Arthur's name.
He'd spotted Mary too, huddled deep in her robe while taking the test earlier.
While looking around for Arthur, he'd noticed Mary was gone too.
'Fine.'
Krash stopped searching.
It was natural for them to band together somehow.
So there was no need to rush now.
'I'll walk my own path.'
While they chased after Arthur, oblivious to the fact that he'd regressed with the same memories.
Krash simply bared his fangs slowly at their necks.