The Heirloom Bet
Kane — 1st Place — 16:20
Nam Doyun — 1st Place — 21:20 (Bonus: -5:00)
Son In-hyeok squeezed his eyes shut. This could not be allowed to happen.
The condition for accepting a transfer student into Elphon Academy was to take first place in the entrance exam. But if it ended in a tie for first, everything changed.
In the event of a tie, admission wasn’t guaranteed. Luck could easily leave the candidate shut out.
This has become incredibly troublesome.
If someone claimed sole first place, admission approval would drop instantly. A tie, however, meant the decision went to an internal faculty review. The problem was that many of the professors on that panel already harbored negative feelings toward Kane’s family.
The odds of Kane’s transfer being approved were therefore extremely low.
In that case, there’s no choice.
They would have to hold a tiebreaker to clearly separate first from second.
Son In-hyeok walked over to Nam Doyun.
“Nam Doyun?”
“Yes?”
“There’s a student tied with you.”
Son In-hyeok pointed at Kane.
“Ah. I see.”
Nam Doyun’s tone was curt.
“So how about the two of you settle first and second place in a separate match?”
“A match?”
“Yes. Just a quick decider for the top two spots. That way we can establish a clear first and second.”
“Me?”
“Of course. Wouldn’t you prefer to be the undisputed first rather than share an ambiguous tie?”
“Why?”
“...Pardon?”
Son In-hyeok’s face went blank.
“Whether it’s a tie for first or sole first, the points I receive are the same, aren’t they?”
“W-well, yes, but—”
“Deciding first and second would only benefit that guy over there, wouldn’t it?”
Nam Doyun pointed straight at Kane.
“If he gets sole first, he’s guaranteed admission to our academy. So it’s great for him.”
“....”
“But I have no reason to bother. If I lose and drop to second, my score gets penalized. I’m not interested.”
Nam Doyun turned his head away sharply.
“Wait just a moment.”
Son In-hyeok lunged forward and grabbed his wrist.
Son In-hyeok wore an anxious expression.
I smirked to myself. Just a little more prodding and I’ll get exactly what I want.
The truth was, there was one artifact I absolutely had to obtain from Son In-hyeok. Without it, passing the written exam would be impossible.
I casually brushed his hand away.
“I already told you clearly. I have zero reason to participate.”
“....”
Son In-hyeok’s face gradually stiffened.
“However, if there is a reason, I’ll gladly take part in the decider.”
“What sort of reason?”
“Give something substantial to whoever wins first place in this match.”
“...So you’re saying you’ll participate if a reward is on the line.”
“Exactly.”
Son In-hyeok finally seemed to grasp my intent and gave a slow nod.
“Then what reward would you like?”
“How about staking that necklace you always wear, Professor?”
“...What did you just say?”
Son In-hyeok’s face twisted into a furious scowl.
The necklace he wore was the Gilead family heirloom. Its effect was to raise the wearer’s intelligence. Artifacts that boosted intelligence were extraordinarily rare; they couldn’t be bought with money no matter how deep your pockets.
“...Student, are you aware of what this item actually is?”
Son In-hyeok’s expression froze solid.
“Of course. It’s the Gilead family heirloom, isn’t it?”
“...To say that even while knowing full well. I can’t decide if you’re bold or simply insolent.”
“If you stake it, I’ll participate in the tiebreaker. How about it?”
“...I cannot possibly wager this. Let’s pretend the bet never happened.”
Son In-hyeok shook his head vigorously. Even for him, putting the family heirloom on the line was apparently too heavy a burden.
Well, that was the expected reaction. Time to give his decision a little nudge.
“If you stake that artifact, I will accept any test you propose, Professor.”
“...Any test at all?”
A flicker of interest appeared in Son In-hyeok’s eyes.
“Yes. Whatever format the decider takes, I will face it.”
“...You’re serious?”
“Completely. No matter how disadvantageous it is to me, I won’t complain.”
“...Very well then.”
Son In-hyeok broke into a smirk.
I chuckled inwardly as well. It would be a shame to waste this chance. If Kane failed to enroll here, his reputation as a broker would be shattered. He’d struggle to receive any decent requests afterward. For someone already out of favor with his family, it would be devastating.
But losing the heirloom would be even more catastrophic. That artifact could not be replaced with any amount of money. It was a treasured gift the family head had given him during the days when he still enjoyed their favor.
That was why he had chosen to protect the heirloom even at the cost of his broker reputation. However, if a path appeared that let him safeguard both?
He would accept without hesitation.
“You said anything, correct? Excellent. Shall we discuss the test details right here and now?”
Son In-hyeok called out to Kane in the distance.
“Yes, Professor?”
“This young man has agreed to a ranking decider with you.”
“Oh. I see. Thank you.”
Kane flashed a bright smile and offered me his hand.
I didn’t take it.
“....”
He stood there awkwardly.
“By the way, can I ask you one thing?” I said.
“Sure, ask me anything.”
“Why are you so desperate to enter Elphon Academy? The academy you currently attend isn’t any worse than this one, is it?”
The school Kane attended was an elite institution that constantly vied with Elphon for the top two spots. He had no need to risk everything to come here.
“Ah, there’s no deep reason. My parents told me I absolutely had to get in. They say Elphon is simply better no matter what.”
“Is that really the only reason?”
“Yeah, that’s all there is to it. My parents insisted I come here.”
He wore an innocent, guileless expression.
“How about telling the truth?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Isn’t it because Jeong Hayeon is here?”
“.....”
His face changed the instant he heard the name.
“Don’t spout nonsense. Because of Jeong Hayeon? Ridiculous.”
“Well, if you say it isn’t, then fine.”
Kane stared at me in silence for a long moment, then turned to Son In-hyeok.
“Professor, I have a question.”
“Ask whatever you like.”
“You heard him say he would accept any condition no matter how disadvantageous, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“Then I can set the terms however I wish?”
“Of course.”
“In that case, I have a simple proposal.”
“Go on.”
“If Nam Doyun can endure my illusion spell for ten full minutes without collapsing, he wins. If he can’t endure it and gives up before ten minutes, I win. How does that sound?”
Kane smirked.
The other students were watching Kane from afar. He, Radeon, and Nam Doyun had gathered together and were talking among themselves, but their voices didn’t carry this far.
While they observed, one student suddenly clapped his hands.
“Hey. Looking at him now, I finally remember who he is.”
“Who?”
“Red hair. Doesn’t it ring any bells?”
“Ah… You don’t mean the Kayen family, do you?”
“Yeah. I think I saw him once while he was walking by.”
The Kayen family was a clan that researched only illusion magic. In that field they stood alone; no other illusion-specialized family could even approach their level of skill.
Son In-hyeok looked at Nam Doyun and gave a thin smile.
“Doyun?”
“Yes.”
“You definitely said you would accept any disadvantageous condition, correct?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Then you understand you must accept this condition as well?”
“....”
Nam Doyun seemed unable to find words and fell silent.
Son In-hyeok gazed at him with open satisfaction.
You brought this upon yourself.
Why did you have to act so arrogantly? The moment he brazenly declared he would accept any condition, the boy had already lost.
“Nam Doyun, the next test will be as follows: if you can endure Kane’s illusion magic for ten minutes, you win. If you cannot endure it, you lose.”
The illusions of the Kayen family were infamous for their cruelty. Once trapped inside one, the victim became completely immobile. From that state the caster could flay skin, sever limbs, all within the illusion.
He won’t last even a minute.
No, forget a minute. He would surely surrender after ten seconds, declaring defeat.
“Nam Doyun? You realize it’s too late to forfeit now, yes?”
“...Ah.”
Nam Doyun wore a vacant expression.
Son In-hyeok grinned viciously. The boy would pay dearly for his earlier slip of the tongue.
“Will you concede even at this stage? If so, I’ll register you as second place immediately.”
“Excuse me? What are you talking about?”
“Haven’t you already realized you cannot win?”
“Me?”
“Yes. Isn’t that why you were speechless?”
“Ah, speechless? That’s because this match is far too advantageous for me.”
“Pardon? Advantageous? What on earth—”
“I don’t feel like explaining the details. Anyway, I’ll see you at the test.”
Nam Doyun gave a polite bow and turned away.
Son In-hyeok could only stare after him in stunned silence.
Has that boy lost his mind?