Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Grand Royal Academy Entrance Exam Results
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***
With the central Grand Royal Academy at its heart, four other campuses existed in the four cardinal directions of the empire, each with a different atmosphere.
This was done to discover talent in each region and to accommodate those who couldn't afford to travel to the central academy.
As befitting the empire's largest and most prestigious academic institution, the classes were meticulously divided according to student level.
Fundamentally, students were assigned to one of four classes: A, B, C, or D.
Beyond that, there was S-Class, reserved for an extremely small number of individuals—royalty and high-ranking nobles holding the titles of duke and marquis.
In total, five classes existed.
Despite this, the annual acceptance rate for the Grand Royal Academy was extremely low compared to the total number of applicants.
The acceptance rate hovered below 10% of all applicants.
Even then, one had to pass a discerning entrance exam, and the class to which successful applicants were assigned was determined by the examiners' discretion.
As for whether there was an absolute, definitive standard, there surprisingly was.
Aside from characteristics that might appeal to an examiner, there was a minimum grade and trait level required to pass.
For example, in the case of the lowest grade, 'Common traits.'
If the trait was related to magic, regardless of type or grade, applicants would generally be accepted as long as there were no disqualifying factors.
Even if the trait was only Level 1, anything related to magic was well-regarded everywhere.
The next most highly valued class was the elemental type, which was closely related to magic but treated as a separate trait.
Besides those, only those with special traits like magical engineering could pass.
Even with a 'Common' trait, it was possible to be accepted into the academy.
As for the 'vast majority of others,' their traits were immediately filtered out.
This meant that it was virtually impossible for those with any other Common traits to pass.
If there was a single exception, it was only for those who had achieved 'Trait Level 3.'
This exception was an acceptance criterion not publicly disclosed, and in reality, the number of students with a Common trait who reached Level 3 before admission could be counted on one hand, even across the entire academy.
That was how difficult it was to reach Level 3 with a Common trait.
From the Rare grade onwards, however, holders of such traits—so scarce that perhaps one in a hundred people possessed one—were almost all accepted.
…
—The main gate of the central Grand Royal Academy.
It was past one in the afternoon. A massive crowd had gathered at the academy's main gate.
Though the numbers were smaller than the group of examinees from yesterday, the scene was a sea of people with no room to move. A single man was cutting through the throng.
“Excuse me. Sorry. Just need to get through.”
Han Cheon-seong repeatedly apologized as he pushed his way forward through the crowd.
He finally reached the front of a huge bulletin board next to the main gate.
Cheon-seong began to scan the board meticulously.
‘Han Cheon-seong, Han Cheon-seong…’
Where could my name be?
I knew I had passed, given my knowledge of the world. What felt most important now was which class I had been assigned to.
‘Please, B-Class.’
Praying desperately, I didn't even glance at the A-Class acceptance list.
Even I knew there was no way I'd be assigned to A-Class.
So I started searching from the B-Class list.
*Thump. Thump.*
Despite being constantly jostled by people, I held my ground and continued reading the list of B-Class acceptances. I was soon taken aback.
“Why are there so… many names?”
Hundreds of people were listed in B-Class alone.
Dermian Bederin - B1.
Luke Mornil - B1.
Rabella Orsia - B1.
…
Beside each name was a surname and their assigned class. Seeing this, I had a belated realization.
‘Right. The nobles…’
Those from noble families take their entrance exams 'in advance.'
Unlike commoners like me, who had been crammed together for the exam yesterday, nobles took theirs at their leisure in separate facilities.
That meant the acceptance list now would inevitably have far more names than just yesterday's examinees.
Yesterday's exam was… more of an entrance exam for commoners.
“Ha.”
I clicked my tongue and started reading the list again, beginning with B1.
B1. B2. B3….
Even within B-Class, the successful applicants were ranked by their scores.
The one with the highest score in B-Class was placed in B1. The next highest was in B2, then B3, and so on.
By the time I had read through the entire list up to B4, I felt my heart sink.
‘It's not there.’
No matter how hard I looked, I couldn't find my name.
How could the three characters of 'Han Cheon-seong' be so elusive?
And B-Class ended with B5.
As I began to read through the start of the B5 list, a sigh escaped me.
“Please… please…”
I couldn't help but tap my foot anxiously, letting out a desperate plea.
There was a reason I absolutely had to get into B-Class.
—Financial aid.
The academy's financial support was divided by class.
And starting from B-Class, the support was generous enough to live comfortably.
To afford the equipment I wanted and eat the food I craved, I had to get into B-Class.
While C-Class students received 20 silver a month from the academy, B-Class students received a whopping 50 silver.
In terms of a monthly stipend, that was a 2.5 times difference.
...And I had a clear goal: I had to get a proper spear.
If my trait was ordinary, I at least needed good equipment.
And to buy a spear that good, the silver I'd get in C-Class wouldn't be nearly enough.
By the time I finished reading the entire B5 list…
I was utterly dumbfounded.
“...Shit.”
A curse escaped my lips as I wiped a hand over my face.
'This can't be happening.'
I just wanted to get off to a good start for once.
How could things always turn out like this?
As for receiving a poor trait during the trait inspection… I had tried my best to accept it and work hard.
That's why I had honed my Spearmanship to Level 3, showing the best I possibly could in the entrance exam.
‘And I still didn't make B-Class?’
The thought was simply absurd.
I could guarantee that among this year's successful applicants, less than 1% had reached Level 3 in their trait.
“…”
Then I remembered Glacia, whom I had met at the exam yesterday.
She had a Level 3 trait, despite it being Unique.
‘Of course, Glacia is also Level 3, but…’
Glacia had to be considered a special case, a 'named' character. The fact that she frequently ranked at the very top in this world set her far apart from the ordinary.
So, Glacia was an exception.
But me, not in B-Class?
*Thump.*
*Thump.*
As people jostled me, each trying to find their own name, I sighed and turned away.
I found my name on the C-Class acceptance list. It didn't take long at all.
Han Cheon-seong - C1.
“You've got to be kidding me…!”
The moment I saw it, I couldn't stop myself from cursing.
'C1?'
That meant if I had scored just a little higher, I could have made it into B5.
I still clearly remembered that one of yesterday's examiners, Kalli, had evaluated me favorably.
I hadn't been dreaming of B-Class for no reason.
Examiner Kalli had seen something in me and even offered extra words of encouragement. That's why I had dared to dream of the out-of-reach B-Class, even with my Common trait.
‘Then the other two examiners…’
Did they rate me poorly?
I imagined they probably gave me the bare minimum passing score, deeming me worthy of acceptance based on the minimum requirements for my Common trait, but nothing more, resulting in a rock-bottom grade.
Surely… if they had just rated me a little more favorably, I could have at least scraped into the bottom of B-Class.
The thought drained the strength from my entire body.
“Haa…”
With a deep sigh, I slowly moved to let others take my place.
Being pushed around by people trying to check their names was starting to feel exhausting.
All I felt was a sense of despair.
“Thirty silver a month…”
That was the monthly difference in pay between B and C-Class.
Considering 100 silver was equal to 1 gold… over a year, the difference was more than 3 gold.
30 silver a month, for 12 months, meant a difference of 360 silver.
The regret made me sigh again.
“Haa.”
Now, while B-Class students enjoyed lavish lunches, I would have to scrimp and save every coin, unable to eat anything delicious.
Could I really get the spear I wanted?
—A spear made of mithril.
That's what I believed I needed most right now.
I thought a mithril spear would open up possibilities for future practical training, like monster subjugation and various other feats.
But now, the money needed for that had just vanished into thin air.
‘...A rough calculation would put it over 5 gold.’
Since there would naturally be no other academy students with the Spearmanship trait, I would have to place a custom order at a specialized blacksmith.
And considering the cost of forging a mithril spear, it would likely far exceed even 5 gold…
“This is driving me crazy.”
Even I, who tried to stay confident and positive, felt my spirit breaking at this moment.
...Even if I saved every single coin I got from the academy, how many years would it take to save over 5 gold?
And to top it off, I was at the very top of C-Class.
*Step.*
*Step.*
As I dazedly made my way out of the crowd,
“Han Cheon-seong.”
A cold voice called my name.
I turned my head blankly. When did she get here?
Standing a fair distance from the bulletin board was Glacia.
She looked at me calmly, but as our eyes met, a wave of resentment washed over me.
‘Why did you have to be in the same group as me for the exam?’
And drag down my score?
Glacia had undoubtedly received an outstanding score yesterday. No matter how well I did, my score couldn't have been high in comparison.
That's why I was assigned to C-Class instead of B…
However.
Despite these thoughts, I found myself smiling.
“Oh. Glacia. Did you check your class?”
I approached her and spoke in a friendly tone.
...Business was business.
I couldn't push away the only person I could rely on right now because of a fleeting emotion.
“Yes. I'm in A1-Class.”
I froze at her calm reply.
‘A1…?’
That meant she was in the same class as the protagonist, Leonhardt.
And in the Grand Royal Academy I knew…
That was never supposed to have happened.