Entrance Exam (2)
[Genius Alchemist Surrounded by Seven Men: Her Academy Healing Life]. This was the romance fantasy novel that caused a massive firestorm back on Earth. Your typical rofan has low-IQ high-status guys causing chaos while courting the heroine. But this one was different. After wading through nothing but idiot characters, real men you actually wanted to marry showed up, and readers lost their minds. Back when it was a novel, it was just quietly buzzing in Korea. Then the webtoon exploded, got anime adaptation in Japan after airing, and from there it was smooth sailing. Even the live-action, which everyone said was doomed, smashed records with top Korean actors starring in it. Novel, webtoon, anime, drama, movie—it dominated every category. How could I not know it? Even hermits living in the mountains knew about it.
"Just nail top rank. I'll treat you."
"Don't copy my speech."
"Nah, I won't."
I bantered loosely with Luca as we headed to the Academy for the entrance exam. The best part? The Academy was ridiculously huge, so we could go separately. Luca, being a warrior, headed off for the vanguard division exam. Naturally, I was walking toward the magic division exam.
People were crowding around somewhere, buzzing.
"Huh? What's going on?"
Curious what the fuss was, I headed over—and sure enough, something was happening.
"Lady Valter... please contact me later."
"Ha... what the hell are you even talking about? Why would she contact you?"
"...Is that any of your business?"
"Of course it is. She's a member of our empire."
The cold-impression guy scowling sharply was Radian Draken. And the puppy-faced pure-hearted guy with a frosty expression that somehow worked for him was Dierban Silver. Both powerhouses who had reached the Expert and Master realms.
"Hmm... the empire, you say. Then how about coming to our Ermadin Kingdom instead?"
"What?!"
"...Dierban. You dare try to steal a noble of the empire?!"
Radian bellowed, finally losing his patience. Dierban smirked smugly in response. A duke's heir and a Master-realm count from Ermadin Kingdom fighting over one woman—obvious love-struck rofan protagonists couldn't just walk past that.
"By the way... haha, Radian. Still just Expert, huh? When are you planning to hit Master?"
Radian's face turned icy at that. Dierban Silver was the late child of the previous Silver count. The old count retired due to age, leaving the title to his 20-year-old son. No one complained, though, because it was the archery powerhouse Silver family. And Dierban, now count, had reached the Master realm. Bow Master. The kind of guy who could blow away an entire mountain with one arrow. Who could stand up to that kind of power?
"Shut your mouth, Dierban."
Standing eternally opposed to the Silver family was Radian Draken of the swordmaster Draken house. Always rivals, Draken vs. Silver. So the matchup was count + Master Dierban versus duke heir + Expert Radian. Radian was on the back foot. Dierban had even built his rep taking down wanted dark mages.
"Come on, Radian. Cool your head a bit. Spouting such vulgarity in an open space like this."
"Dierban. The most vulgar one here is you."
Their faces nearly touched, kissing distance, locked in a staring contest. That's when...
"S-stop it! Both of you! If you fight any more..."
A girl stomping her feet anxiously nearby shouted. Eleysia Valter. The novel's heroine and the root cause of these guys' fight. She squeezed her eyes shut and yelled again.
"I-I'll hate you both!"
They froze. Her face flushed with embarrassment, and both guys' expressions hardened. Clearly thinking how cute.
"Urk..."
I felt like puking. Anyway, the fight ended in a flash. Radian headed to vanguard division, Dierban to assault division, Eleysia to support division exam halls.
"Whoa, wild. Heroine plus two male leads right there."
Fun spectacle. I hurried to the magic division. Exam was about to start.
When I arrived, one guy stood out immediately, radiating a different aura. Everyone stole glances but no one dared approach.
"Serdian Von. Von family mage, huh."
People around me jumped when I said it outright. Serdian grimaced too.
"Who dares... hyu...?"
"Yo, long time."
"H-hyu... hyungnim!"
Serdian Von. I didn't know much about him in the original. Just that he was a big shot. But now he felt like a character.
"How's the family head?"
"Of course! Ah, the talismans' effects seem to be wearing off lately—could you make more? Please."
"Uh...?"
"What...?"
"Lord Von is bowing?"
What I knew was the main story. Never heard of Serdian Von, so side male lead? Extra? Or supporting role maybe. His family head, Marquis Von, was loaded. Magic powerhouse Von marquis house's eldest son. At 20, a 6th Circle Grand Mage. They said 7th Circle soon. 6th gets you Grand Mage title, 7th makes you Archmage lord. Only one 8th Circle—the Magic Tower Lord—and eight 7th Circles total. That's why the seven are called the [Seven Lords]. If he hits 7th, it'll be [Nine Lords].
"Sure, sure. Want these? Luck Talismans and Courage Talismans I made."
"...! I'll take them. How much?"
"50 gold coins each."
"Right away."
Serdian instantly opened his subspace and plunked down 100 gold coins. I handed over the talismans; he tucked them away preciously. Good promo, right?
"Prep well."
"Yes...! You too, hyungnim! Thank you!"
Other nobles around, but he didn't care about face—full 90-degree bow. Used to be cocky, but grown so well. Made me proud.
Then some guy came trembling.
"Um... c-could you sell to me too?!"
Asking all scared. Obviously sent by low nobles peeking from behind. But I planned for this.
"50 gold coins. 99 left."
"...! Th-then..."
"One per person. Even if the buyer gives it away, no effect. Only works for you if you buy it. Want?"
"...I'll buy!"
Cadet's eyes sparkled. Hurriedly pulled 100 gold coins—exactly 100, I could tell. Handed him the talisman; he bowed deeper than Serdian's 90 degrees. Everyone probably thought of course deeper than Lord Von.
"Hurry up. 98 left."
"...! I'll buy! Please sell to me!"
"70! 70 gold coins each!"
This was it. Jackpot.
In the end, I sold out all remaining talismans to the magic division kids. Love that jingle of gold coins. Enjoying the satisfying sound, a shady-looking woman approached.
"Um... you're Kanahan, right?! The one who took down the White Catastrophe in one hit... the legendary Grand Shaman! As a northerner, I pay my respects—ahh!"
The shaman prostrated flat but bit her tongue, blood trickling from her mouth. Felt bad seeing her shake without wiping it, so I told her to get up. She did, but still bloody and terrified, so I wiped it with my handkerchief.
"H-huh... Kanahan... touched my filthy body... wiped my lowly blood... glurk..."
"H-hey!"
Ten minutes to exam, and she fainted. What now? Buzzing around intensified.
"Wait... Kanahan? That Kanahan?"
"The Great Warrior and Grand Shaman Kanahan...? He's 20?"
"I thought he was some old hag!"
"Then these... talismans made by the Talisman Shaman Kanahan himself...?"
...Suddenly dead silent.
"W-wait! You said only works for the buyer!"
"We'll test it! 100... no, 200 gold coins!"
"Talismans even dukes can't buy easily...! I was crazy! Should've bought at 90!"
Girl collapsed, but they're obsessed with talismans. Tsk tsk. Talismans already bound to owners—buying now useless. Why not trust a Grand Shaman? Humans are greedy beasts.
Shaking my head, I woke the shaman with simple spell.
"Gasp... th-this... Kanahan's mana... glurk..."
"You're killing me."