Chapter 1 Act 1: Artina Academy Entrance Exam

Artina Academy entrance exam. Southern zone of Masa.

"Phew... They won't be able to follow me this far."

I'd slid down from the summit like a shadow and climbed a massive tree. Hooking my body onto a thick branch, I took a moment to rest. Deactivating Concealment, my body color returned to normal. Watching the apricot hue creep back into my hands really drove home just how cheat-like this trait was. Not even Siel, the other students, or the beasts could detect it. Of course, whether it'd work on archmages or higher was still up in the air, but this was more than enough.

"Can't keep it up forever, though."

Once activated, it barely drained any mana—like it could run passively. But the longer it stayed on, the more it guzzled.

"Almost got busted back there."

Another downside: the compass on that bracelet. I'd fired my sniper rifle and bolted down the cliff, worried Siel might unleash high-tier magic. Using Concealment, I'd spied from the bushes, toasting silently when the demon dropped dead before she could cast. But then Siel started heading my way. Gave me a real scare. Running would've just gotten me caught for sure, so I went for broke—played the part of "Extra No. 2, cowering and trembling from a mid-tier beast" with Concealment. Turned a flaw into a win.

"Whew, guess that's all wrapped up..."

I cradled my head in my arms and lay back. The sky, once choked with red-and-black swirls, now glowed with a purple dusk. That in-between hour, neither day nor night. A cool breeze rustled my silver hair, while chirping insects and whispering winds filled my ears. Closing my eyes, I started tallying my gains.

"Not bad at all."

The rewards from this episode were solid. Mana capacity up, shooting proficiency improved, and 10 investable stat points. Now, where to put 'em...

"Hmm, strength's tempting, but..."

This first act of Chapter 1: the entrance exam in Masa. Climbing and descending the peak took forever thanks to my vitality. A little slower, and I'd have missed my window. Plus, with my living quarters deep in Masa, I'd be marching back and forth to Artina Academy post-enrollment. This morning's trek was hell. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Lesson learned: stamina matters. But I couldn't ignore strength either—it meaningfully cuts sniper recoil. Two precious stats, both too good to pass up. Lucky for me, there's a simple fix.

"Whew, split 'em even between vitality and strength."

I dumped 5 into each. An inexplicable thrill bubbled up from my chest, spreading through my body.

"Next up, the title."

"Nice—"

The Demon Butcher title to carry the early game. Getting this was standard route. Pushing to the next stage was late-game stuff; this was plenty. It'll pop up eventually as I play on.

"The real game starts now."

I stretched my arms toward the sky. In the original, players hit Lv10 at the end of Chapter 1 Act 1—Artina Academy entrance exam—wrapping the tutorial. This was the true starting line. And proof came in the form of unlocked features.

Secret shop and achievements. This is where karma becomes currency. The secret shop sells essentials cheaper, plus exclusives. It uses "points"—a quirky currency you can't farm directly. You earn them breaking achievements, scaled by difficulty and progress. Clearing Chapter 1 Act 1 netted me some.

"Claim."

Rewards received. Karma doubles as points, so with my 10 karma, I've got 20 ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠total shop points.

"Can't spend yet, though."

Karma's for weapons. 10 karma evolves it, plus low-grade mana stones and heaps of mana?

"Not right now."

I'd dumped everything into the beasts—no mana left. Upgrading my trait from Unique to Legendary took a ton, and I went all-out to ensure the shots hit hard...

Starting to trickle back. No rush—next trial's weeks away. Just chilling with some relief.

Rustle.

That's when tension spiked. Footsteps through the underbrush. I moved to activate Concealment on instinct—no mana meant instant fail in a fight. Dire straits.

"Kyle~?"

That familiar voice made me sigh in relief. You, huh. Lumina.

"Lumina?"

Good it was her. Anyone else might've gritted their teeth and DQ'd me. Late exam, everyone's bloodthirsty for points.

"Yeah! Whatcha doing here?"

"Hiding. What about you?"

Honestly curious. This was summit outskirts—supervisor Ibel, man-eater Siel territory. No normal girl comes here. Lumina had zero reason. Coincidence, maybe.

"Just walking and ended up here? Total coincidence!"

Coming from her... nah, not buying it. I teased playfully.

"Yeah, right. Did we team up pre-exam or something? Please don't attack, Lumina."

"Pfft, what do you take me for? I've never attacked first...! They always came at me."

"Good to know."

"Coming up—"

Lumina scrambled onto the old trunk like a squirrel. Rural noble roots made her one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with nature. I grabbed her hand and pulled her up.

"Nice view up here."

No sky blockers, stars popping out. Full spectrum of nature in your face.

"Yeah, it is!"

The scenery was great, sure—but Lumina settling beside me outshone it. Dusk deepening, stars and Milky Way twinkling. She looked enlightened, turning to me...

"Hey, Kyle, are you..."

—"Students! Assemble east side!"

A booming voice from below. Down the hill, supervisor Ibel bellowed the exam's end.

It's over.

Finally, Chapter 1 Act 1—Artina Academy entrance exam—wrapped. Met my sister, Siel clashed with beasts. Bumpy ride, but no identity leaks, beasts handled. I turned to Lumina.

"Me? What about me?"

"Heehee, nothing."

She covered her mouth, giggled, and waved it off. Hopped down, hands out.

"Exam's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠done! Gotta go. Catch?"

"Pass."

I declined, hopped down, and headed east. Chatting idly with Lumina en route, I pondered seriously.

What's for dinner tonight?

Critical question.

The exam started at 5:30 AM. Artina Academy entrance exam halted by mid-tier beast outbreak. Faculty dispatched guards on alert, found stele and black magic traces at the peak. Chaos ensued—clearly deliberate. Unprecedented, so they convened professors and examiners. Mason prof faced flak: "Exam too lax?" "Retest?" But he countered: beast erased by "someone," only Siel encountered it, and exams always ran this way. No retest; scores till demon spawn. Ruled beast intrusion negligible. Beefed security, hunt for beast-slayer and stele culprit. But Siel fingered me as witness...

"I'm starving..."

My dinner deliberations stalled for hours. Fresh from academy inquiry, heading home. Pitch black night. I tossed Lumina's branch into the campfire kindling and lit up.

"Whew, time to wash."

Rough day trashed my outfit. White shirt mud-caked, pants mud-hardened and cracked. Down to undies, everything needed scrubbing. Hauled to stream, weighted with rocks, then bathed. Snagged some fish too. Fish-only diet's getting old; hunting tomorrow. Balanced nutrition key.

"Maybe stock food every 2-3 days."

Fish prepped in freshwater, meat leaf-wrapped in breezy spots. Temporary—spoils in 3 days max. Eat within, no heroics. Food poisoning in this no-med fantasy world? Nightmare.

"Ultimate goal: smoked meats."

1-2 week shelf life. Need drying rack setup. No handaxe or shovel yet—scholarship loan time. Head to Artina tomorrow. Results out, tuition apps open. Student status = instant loan.

"Next, laundry."

Post-bath, lifted rocks off clothes. Current softened the mud. Not perfect, though. About to scrub—

Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!

Yellow bird winged in—my Artina trip buddy.

"Whoa, long time no see! Glad you're alive! Hey!"

Worried since yesterday. Bonded? Waved happily—but it eyed me, chirp...!

"Huh?"

Bolted skyward like rewinding film.

"Wait up!"

Gone. I stood stunned. Weren't we buds...? Shared my bread...

"Wild animals don't bond, huh..."

Vented frustration on the wash. Thwack! Thwack! Echoing through the forest.