Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Entrance Exam (2)
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The day of the entrance exam arrived before I knew it.
"Phew, that was close..."
I'd almost failed to gather the items needed for the test.
In the game, traveling was a breeze, and so was acquiring gear.
But now that it was reality, I had to hoof it on foot and hunt down sellers myself.
Still, since I had a rough idea of the locations, I managed to track them down...
"Who could've guessed the prices would fluctuate."
The costs that had always been fixed in the game were variable now.
Luckily, I had just enough money.
And as a bonus, I discovered the inventory function.
Of course—with a status window, there had to be an inventory too.
Murmurs.
"So many people."
Way too many.
There'd been a crowd at registration, but even just the ones I could see now numbered at least a few thousand.
Yet the academy grounds still looked plenty spacious.
It was a testament to just how vast Arena Academy really was.
...Feels kinda lonely.
Sitting on a bench and scanning the crowd, I spotted all sorts of people.
Some with their parents.
Others with relatives, friends, or lovers.
Seeing them gathered in groups of three or five stirred up an unexpected pang of loneliness.
I'd been alone before entering this game world.
And I was alone here too.
But it was fine.
Most of these folks would wash out anyway.
As I nursed that lonely feeling, a commotion erupted somewhere in the crowd.
"Hey, hey! Check it out over there!"
"Wha—...! That's him, the famous guy from England..."
I turned toward the noise and immediately understood the fuss.
Someone had everyone's attention locked on them.
That's...
Radiant golden hair shining like the sun.
Clear blue eyes, serene as a lake.
An androgynous beauty that could captivate anyone, regardless of gender.
Descendant of the Knight King.
A lead character. Arthur Pendragon.
Yeah.
The Arthur.
The master of Excalibur—the legendary sword from comics, movies, and games.
That blade at his waist had to be the Holy Sword Excalibur.
Glance.
Maybe I'd stared at the sword too openly.
Suddenly, Arthur's gaze locked onto me.
'...!'
I flinched at the intensity but smoothly turned my head away.
Almost made eye contact.
Others might shrug it off as nothing, but...
Arthur had a talent called Fairy Eye.
This S-rank ability let him read an opponent's alignment and innermost thoughts with just a glance.
Without specific mental talents or skills, resistance was impossible.
It was a ridiculously overpowered ability.
Can't risk eye contact yet.
I wasn't the kind of irredeemable evil he despised, but if he learned I knew the secret of the Holy Sword Excalibur's ownership... Well, transcendent oversight or not, I'd be hauled off in an instant.
Or quietly assassinated without a trace.
Knowledge of Excalibur's origins was still a closely guarded secret, known only to a tiny elite.
As I averted my gaze from Arthur, another stir broke out.
"O-oh!"
"It's Lee Seo-yeon!"
The reaction was like a celebrity sighting, so I looked over.
Just like with Arthur, one person had the whole crowd's eyes.
Long, straight black hair cascading to her waist. Eyes deep and dark as obsidian.
A perfectly balanced figure honed by years of martial training.
And crucially, a stunning woman with an ample chest.
She was a lead character—and one of the heroines.
I knew her character art was gorgeous.
But seeing her in the flesh? Breathtaking.
Still, that didn't spark any interest on my end.
Ties to a beauty like her might sound great, but they'd bring headaches the moment they formed.
She had fans roaring in adoration.
And she was the daughter of Lee Jung-baek—Sword Saint, guild master of one of Korea's three great guilds, and a transcendent powerhouse.
For reference, the Sword Saint doted on his daughter obsessively.
Even a casual friendship would draw meddling from all directions, so it was best to steer clear of her.
Just recalling the nonsense I'd pulled to complete her related challenges made me shudder.
Still...
She was kinda pitiful.
Overwhelming attention from everyone and her father's smothering affection—she'd never had a real friend.
But sympathy was one thing; I had no intention of getting involved.
To clear the 'Ending Quest,' I'd need all the leads to survive, which meant some contact eventually.
But there was no need to get close, right?
I'll just help out secretly from a distance now and then.
Keep watch from afar and bail her out when things got dicey.
With that in mind, I tore my eyes from Lee Seo-yeon and headed toward the exam hall, where things were about to kick off.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "......"
Lee Seo-yeon's gaze trailed after the back of a man heading into the exam hall.
A feeling I've never had before.
Not a talent or skill, but she'd always been hypersensitive to others' emotions since birth.
Amid the turbulent waves of awkward, uncomfortable feelings from the crowd, that man stood out strangely—no such vibes at all.
Almost like...
Pity?
...Why?
This unfamiliar emotion—the first she'd ever felt—kept her eyes glued to him.
Who is he?
Who could possibly pity me?
Lee Seo-yeon found herself intrigued.
By that man.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ All examinees, please take your seats. The moment I stepped into the grand auditorium serving as the exam hall, the loudspeaker blared.
Examinees from outside poured in at the sound.
I grabbed a seat in the back and sized up the crowd.
Tension hung thick in the air for most.
Not everyone, though—here and there, folks wore brimming confidence.
Watching them, I opened my inventory to double-check my purchases and review the plan once more.
As I inspected my gear and mulled over the upcoming exam...
Someone plopped down right next to me.
"......?"
Out of all these seats, she picks mine?
Utterly baffled, I turned to see who it was.
"......!"
I nearly jumped out of my skin.
"L-Lee Seo-yeon...?"
The girl who should've been up front was sitting beside me.
No, why?
Why here of all places?
"......Hi."
She stared straight at me and greeted, oblivious to my shock.
"Uh, uh... Hi."
And that was that.
She exchanged greetings, then faced forward like business was done.
I couldn't shake the bewilderment.
She sat here just to say hi?
This Lee Seo-yeon?
Where's the one I knew?
In the game, she was the toughest heroine for building affection.
Whether from excessive public scrutiny or her father's overprotectiveness, she shied away from strangers.
More precisely, she had no clue how to form bonds.
She rebuffed anyone approaching—man or woman—with icy expressions and curt words.
Hence her nickname: Ice Princess.
Yet here she was, initiating a greeting for reasons unknown.
Personally? Fine by me.
Situationally? Disaster.
"Lee Seo-yeon greeted him first?"
"Who's the guy?"
"Never seen him before..."
...Crap.
All eyes on us.
Whispers drifted from every direction.
Just her greeting me had piqued everyone's interest.
Not good.
Unwanted spotlight.
I'd planned to blend in as a nobody since I couldn't use my cheat tool yet.
This might complicate the exam a bit.
Eh, whatever...
Does it matter?
It'd be tougher, sure, but passing was still a lock.
More pressing...
Doesn't she hear the gossip?
I flicked my eyes her way.
Since the greeting, she'd stared straight ahead, resolute.
Her cool, expressionless face suggested the whispers and stares didn't faze her one bit.
Now she seems like the Lee Seo-yeon I remember.
That greeting threw me off.
But one thing was clear.
The Lee Seo-yeon from the game Arena Academy was different from the one beside me now.
Well, stepping into a game world was absurd enough.
Her acting a bit out of character? Par for the course.
I sorted my thoughts and faced forward.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Seated examinees, please equip this watch on your wrist. The guide on the mic announced it, and Smart Watch-like devices materialized in front of everyone seated—including me.
As I strapped mine on, someone flashed into existence in the auditorium.
"Wha—uh! That's—!"
"The Archmage!"
All eyes shot upward.
A white-haired elder floating midair.
Clad in a baggy white robe like something out of Harry Potter, he cut the figure of a kindly old man—Yoo Baek.
Lee Seo-yeon's father. A Korean transcendent like the Sword Saint. Bearer of the Archmage title.
And principal of Arena Academy.
He'd appeared to kick off the exam. Holding his wand to his throat, he spoke.
"Welcome, examinees gathered here today."
Magic amplified his voice—it rang crystal clear without him even raising it.
"I am Yoo Baek, principal of Arena Academy."
As if anyone didn't know.
The transcendent. The academy head. Archmage Yoo Baek.
Even so, he gave his introduction and warmly welcomed us aspiring students.
"We now begin the exam."
The principal swept his wand through the air.
Light began emanating from the bodies of everyone seated.
"Mass Teleport?!"
"A-as expected of the Archmage..."
The glow enveloping me and the other examinees was the telltale sign of teleportation.
Relocating not one person, but what looked like three thousand at once?
Transcendent-level showmanship.
"Everyone, do your best."
With those final words, the scenery shifted in a blink.
No visible sky—just a ceiling.
Walls too high to scale without flight.
Paths branching every which way.
The first exam—Maze Navigation—had begun.