Artina Academy Entrance Exam (1)
The next day, I headed to the stream at the crack of dawn to wash up.
"This should do it. Artina Academy is the continent's top educational institution, so I need to show the proper dignity and appearance. If they nitpick for no reason, academy life could get rough. Not that I needed much excuse—after yesterday's grueling mountain hike, I was filthy anyway."
After a quick rinse, I sorted my clothes. I scrubbed the grime off my dirty shirt, sharpened the sleeves and collar to crisp edges. In the meantime, I snagged a fish with my sniper rifle.
Thud. Thud.
"Still good to go?"
I stirred the campfire with a stick. If there were embers left, I could reuse it. Sure enough, some red ash remained. I added tinder and blew gently, coaxing the sparks back to life.
By the time I'd tossed in the fish, dried my clothes and body, and tidied the camp, time had flown.
"Time to head out."
Thirty minutes later, preparations complete, I swept back my still-damp hair and set off for Artina Academy.
The Artina Academy entrance exam. The opening act of Chapter 1 in the original story, the spark that ignites the narrative.
Depending on the character you choose, the player takes a different exam. Normally, it's split into first and second rounds based on the character. Commoners start from the first round. Nobles jump straight to the second.
A way for the examiners to weed out the unworthy early.
"Guess I'll be starting from the first round."
As a fallen noble, I had to climb from the bottom.
I pulled out the slip I'd received at registration.
Date & Time: 3:00 PM
Location: Catholic Hall
Time Limit: 10 minutes
The slip listed the time and place. Crucially, every participant's was different. Some got stuck with dawn on the roadside. I got lucky.
I made it right on time. At 2:50 PM, I arrived at my destination.
"This is the place."
Catholic Hall. A lecture hall used only for sparring, practical classes, and outdoor events. It popped up a few times during episodes. Seeing it in person felt nostalgic.
But the sentiment didn't last. The area buzzed.
"Kuhaha! You failed this time, huh?"
"Don't remind me—you're probably next. Let's wrap this up quick and grab a drink."
"We'll see about that. Heh."
Two burly men approached. One with a fresh scar across his eye checked his paper.
"Yup, this is it."
Riiip! He tore it to shreds.
They were exam participants too. I narrowed my eyes.
It happens sometimes. When slots are only ten minutes apart by coincidence.
Exams usually spaced out by a generous thirty minutes when using the same venue. But academy admin doesn't always go smoothly, so participants crossed paths like this.
'Kyle and the player were exactly like that.'
Kyle was an early-game extra villain. If the protagonist was a commoner, you'd meet him in the first round. Kyle went first, bombed the exam, then attacked the protagonist out of rage after their success. Naturally, Kyle lost. He couldn't even pass the first round. Got booted by the proctor and vanished from the game.
'One-and-done villain.'
But not this time. I'd become that third-rate antagonist player. Kyle would pass the first round, and the main story wouldn't shift much.
What I needed to worry about was the 'Nightmare' difficulty second round. That was the real entrance exam.
'The first is just knowing the gimmick.'
So I waited quietly for my turn, reviewing Chapter 1, Act 1 in my head.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
"Fuck! What the hell am I supposed to do?!"
Then a shout erupted next door. 2:59 PM. Failure imminent. The man pounded the door in frustration.
"There's nothing here! What do you want me to do? Open the door! Door!"
'He's hopeless.'
I shook my head. The first round was simple: recognize the magic circuit and infuse mana properly. But he lacked the mana sensitivity or smarts, just banging away.
Was that original Kyle I glimpsed? Probably my imagination. This'll end quick.
I stayed put.
"Hey, you! You're a participant too, right?"
He stormed over.
"If you know something, spill it. Wouldn't it be great if we both passed? Huh?"
He loomed in front of me, scanning me top to bottom with a sneer.
"Let's team up. Huh?"
Threatening to flip out if I didn't talk. I analyzed him. Clairvoyance showed his level at a measly 4.
'Weaker than me.'
I considered his fate. Silence made his face harden.
"You ignoring me...?!"
3:00 PM. He flunked. My turn.
I brushed past his fuming glare and touched the door.
"How dare a punk like you...!"
A messy circuit etched in. Complex, but no issue. My pupils locked on one intricate cubic lattice amid the chaos.
"Time to teach you—!"
He charged. Hummm— I drew faint mana into my hand, threading it like fine silk through the circuit.
First round: passed with ease.
I turned.
"Raaagh!"
The hulking brute swung a fist at my brow. I watched the strike, thinking:
'I see the info...'
His weight shifted forward. He aimed to slam me into the door. That way, he wouldn't topple. No backing down after that swing. Door behind me—he had me pinned.
Did I need to engage?
Pop.
Analysis done, I twisted aside. Tripped his crossing leg and slipped free.
Crash!
He tumbled into the wall, sprawling. Stunned, clueless. Probably wondering how he lost.
No time for answers.
"Oh, that's the teleport?"
Filling the circuit creates a space only the mana owner can enter. Straight to the second round.
Shall we?
I reached into the rippling wall.
"Wha—?"
The man gawked dumbly. He knew what passing the first round meant. Made me a provisional admittee—who cleared it in one second.
His face paled.
"S-Sorry...!!"
Clutching his broken hand, he fled. His buddy, clueless but spooked, bolted too.
Simple reason: Provisional students were off-limits. Touch one? Life gets real messy.
"Phew. Time to go in."
I stepped forward. Vision warped—and suddenly, a grand hall. Chandeliers blazed, countless participants seated.
Second round waiting room. Nobles and first-round passers gathered.
I scanned seats.
"Whoa, everyone's here."
In-game, they breathed life. Princess Elena Valencia in the prime seat, Siel Dunhart—the Ice Princess—beside her. No one dared approach easily. Top nobility, after all.
Then, a new student entered behind me.
"Ugh, do I even belong here...?"
Where there's leads, there's supports. The gloomy brown-haired Sedric, who bloomed smiles for players. Head down, arms hugging his chest, he stood hunched. My role model extra.
"Sedric! No need to stress! With us together, we won't lose to anyone!"
A burly guy followed. Black hair swept up: Roden. He slapped Sedric's back, booming with laughter.
Every academy needs a brute powerhouse. That was his gig.
Spotting leads and supports? Nice.
'Don't stand out.'
I took the farthest corner seat. Fact: First-round passers were all commoners; pre-seated were nobles. A whole row empty like the Red Sea parting.
Perfect. Central corner—no one wanted to claim it.
"Hi?"
So I thought—till Lumina zeroed in, dashing over to sit nearby.
"Sleep well? I was so nervous I barely slept. Gotta pass this exam. Not tense at all?"
Not close, yet she chattered casually. True Artina popular girl.
Reason to keep distance: Unwanted attention. See? Just talking drew stares: 'That guy's chatting nobles freely?!' 'Sponsored?' 'Lucky...' Whole hall watching.
Max awkward with Lumina? Play the jerk.
"Nah. Not really tense."
"Oh? Ice in your veins. Confident in your skills, huh? My heart's pounding since earlier. Fail, and it's back home. Ugh..."
"......"
"Think we can do it? Let's cheer each other!"
"Sure..."
Hands clasped in determination. Hilarious to me.
'This is her panic...?'
Original Lumina ranked top 10 in the magic department. I'm the issue. Stay low, clear Chapter 1 Act 1, scrape by.
"Yeah. Fighting."
"Whoa, was that a cheer? Makes me happy!"
"......"
Can't talk straight with Lumina. I clamped my mouth shut.
Moments later, a figure took the podium.
"Ahem. The Artina Academy entrance exam will begin shortly."
The middle-aged man: Magic Department head professor Mason. Glasses, swept-back hair—oozing intellect. He had his own episode, strict on student management. Just... extreme methods. Nicknamed 'Cold-Blooded' among students.
His icy gaze swept the hall—silence fell like death.
He got to the point.
"But first, some explanations."
The Artina Academy exam. I'd memorized it cold; Mason recited calmly.
"You'll head to the southern Masa mountains. The test site is barrier-sealed; there, survival begins."
Survival. Simple rules. But reactions exploded.
"Compete with those guys...?"
"I can't even cast basic spells yet..."
"What do we do...!"
Mostly commoners panicking. Makes sense: Nobles graduated basic academies, versed in combat magic. Commoners? Self-taught or single grimoires—no chance.
Don't like it? Don't apply to magic department. Other faculties were easier.
"As you know, Masa splits safe east-west, treacherous south, forbidden north. South has low-grade beasts—they join survival. Points: 1 per beast, 5 per survivor. Ends when survivors hit magic department quota or past 6 PM."
Rankings motivate competition. Most eliminations claim top seats. Original: Siel Dunhart and Elena Valencia.
I'd hunt beasts low-key, wait it out.
"Then."
Snap! Mason flicked—bracelets from the podium flew to students. Hundreds distributed.
"Basic protection artifact. Compass tracks nearest foe. Breaks? Instant fail."
I slipped mine on. Pointed at Lumina.
"Look! Pointing at each other. Cool, right?"
"Yeah. Weren't you tense?"
"Loosened up now. Team up if we meet?"
"Do what you want."
Original had groups too. All betrayed, bad ends... But Lumina wasn't the type. Safe bet.
"Proctors will observe. Unexpected trouble? Break voluntarily."
With that, Mason stepped down, straightening robes and cuffs.
A student raised hand at his eccentricity.
"You said the exam starts..."
He half-turned. "Forgot."
Snap!
"Teleport."
Instantly, patterns etched the floor. Geometric? Aurora pillars rose between tiles. Space filled with blinding light.
Students panicked—but
'Seeing this live.'
I just savored. Mason's secret: Teleport magic. Reveling in the lift-off feel.
In a blink, we were transported.