Chapter 6
As Dahong and Seha entered the building for the final evaluation, they found themselves in a vast space with an open ceiling. Towering walls enclosed it on all sides—not ordinary walls, by any means. Their thickness was immediately apparent, and intricate patterns were engraved into them everywhere.
Seha explained softly, "This is the practice training ground. It's the largest area in the academy."
"Hmm."
"See those walls? They're made of mana-blocking alloy. Over two meters thick, with double barrier seals inside, so nothing that happens here leaks out."
Dahong scanned the walls. They looked sturdy enough, more or less.
She glanced upward. Beyond a transparent barrier, students were packed in tightly—test-takers mixed with spectators who'd come to watch.
"They put some effort into this."
"Right? I heard building just this training ground cost as much as the national budget."
Dahong lowered her gaze. In the center lay a spacious exam area, its floor etched with fine lines. Directly ahead sat three professors on the judges' platform.
"Gasp…!"
Seha clapped a hand over his mouth.
"What's wrong?"
"No, it's just… that one…."
Seha pointed shakily at the judges' platform, whispering low. His voice trembled.
Each professor was flanked by a summoned beast radiating an overwhelming presence.
"The one next to the middle professor… that's a mid-rank angel…."
"Angel?"
Dahong examined it closely. An eerie form. Roughly three meters tall, draped in white cloth from head to toe, with arms emerging from the folds—three pairs, in fact. Six articulated limbs like a marionette's joints, each gripping a different tool: scales, candle, sword, hammer, and something unidentified. Its head was a white porcelain mask where a face should be, bearing three expressions—one front, one left, one right. Silver light beams formed wing-like shapes on its back.
"…."
Dahong stared at the being for a moment. Nothing like this existed in hell.
"Angels gain more arms as their rank rises. That one's mid-rank with three pairs, but upper-rank have four, and the highest have seven, according to records. Specialized in healing and barriers—it uses those scales to distinguish friend from foe, the candle to cast barriers…."
Seha's eyes sparkled as he continued.
"You know it well."
"It's in the textbook. I've read it way too many times."
Dahong looked back at the angel. One of its three masks slowly turned toward her. Blank expression.
What're you looking at?
Dahong met its gaze without flinching. Seha nudged her lightly.
"The one by the professor on the right is an upper-rank Spirit Knight."
The spirit knight stood motionless, clad in armor shimmering with multicolored aura.
"Spirit knights feel no fear. No emotions at all, so they never waver, no matter the situation. Wow… they can really summon those…."
"Hm."
At her words, Dahong shifted her gaze to the spirit knight. Intriguing. Rare even in hell.
Her blood-red pupils fixed on it.
Then.
Clatter.
"Hm…?"
The supervising professor tilted his head. Had the spirit knight just shuddered? Nah, must be his imagination.
No way.
He brushed it off.
"And the one next to the female professor on the left…."
"Gryphon."
"Yeah. You know it?"
A massive beast with an eagle's head and wings, lion's body. Even seated with wings folded, its shoulder height doubled a person's. Golden-brown feathers gleamed with luster. One talon matched Seha's forearm.
"The ones I knew were uglier."
Dahong recalled hell's gryphons—zombie-like, skin peeled off, three eyes standard, fire-breathing maws, tentacles sprouting from necks. This one looked better groomed. Maybe that's why.
She'd missed chicken, so she'd tried eating one once. Tasteless. A well-kept one might be different.
At that moment.
"Kieeeek!!"
The gryphon bolted upright.
"Whoa, what's gotten into it suddenly?!"
"Kiii! Kii!"
Wings flapping wildly, it tried to flee. The female professor bound it with mana chains, calming it down.
"Easy, easy! Settle!"
The gryphon folded its wings and sat, still trembling. Its eyes never left Dahong's direction.
The crowd stirred.
"Whoa, scared me…."
"What's up with it?"
"First time seeing a gryphon act like that…."
"Intimidating as hell, though."
Seha stared in bewilderment.
"Probably on edge from all the people. Still, professors are pros… subdued it right away…."
Dahong, interest lost, looked away from the gryphon.
"Ah, snap out of it. Time for the waiting room. Follow me."
Seha led the way into a passage. Dahong trailed silently behind.
Meanwhile, the angel's mask kept its gaze on Dahong until she vanished at the passage's end.
The exam began.
Students were called in order. Summoned beasts appeared one by one: spirits, liches, holy types, beasts….
Professors used measuring devices for tests, assigning scores. Some drew gasps of admiration; others sighs of disappointment.
Then a familiar name.
"Sangjun."
The student who'd blocked Seha at the gate earlier strode confidently into the exam area.
The judges' mood shifted.
"He's the top summoner candidate this class, right?"
"Yes. High mana output, summon proficiency crushing his peers."
Sangjun wore a smug grin, fully aware.
The stands buzzed.
"Sangjun."
"He's basically locked first, right? Third in written, first in practical."
"First overall, except maybe Isol."
"That salamander was huge."
Sangjun took center stage and deployed his summoning circle without hesitation. Perfect, flawless.
Whoosh!
Flames erupted.
Grrrroooar!
A massive fire lizard materialized.
"Ooooh…."
Awe rippled through the stands. Others had summoned salamanders, but not this size—three times a person's length. Glowing red scales glistened; golden eyes blazed like suns; flames danced wildly along its back mane.
The head professor leaned forward.
"That size… impressive."
"Specimen's in prime condition," another said, scanning it. "Pure bloodline, dense mana. Maintaining that takes serious mana control."
The professors conferred, jotting notes.
Soon, the head professor pointed at a target.
"Sangjun, demonstrate combat ability. Attack."
Sangjun dropped his hand. The salamander gaped wide.
Roooar!!
Flames spewed, melting the target instantly.
"Whoa…!"
"Dangerous!"
Heat reached the stands; front-row students recoiled.
The head professor gave final judgment.
"Sangjun. Mana 91, Attack A, Condition A. Top scores this class. Well done."
Applause erupted.
"91 for real?"
"Insane…."
"First place locked."
Sangjun bowed theatrically and exited, sneering toward Seha's seat.
Seha saw but pretended not to.
More summons followed: rattling skeleton soldiers swinging rusty swords, seahorse-like beasts firing water cannons. None matched Sangjun's impact.
Time passed.
"Next, Seha."
The waiting room fell silent. All eyes on Seha.
Top in written, but failing summoner. Failure here meant expulsion. Curiosity hung thick.
Seha drew a deep breath and stood.
"Dahong, let's go."
"Yeah."
They walked side by side into the exam area.
Murmurs spread through the stands.
"That's the summoned beast?"
"No circle?"
"Looks human."
"Horns, but really a summon?"
Judges reacted too.
The head professor asked, "Seha. Summoned without ritual?"
Seha replied timidly, "I-it's already summoned, sir."
"…."
Professors exchanged glances. Ritual itself didn't factor into scores; no rule broken.
The head professor scanned Dahong.
'0'.
"Hm…?"
He frowned. Zero? Impossible for a living being.
"Broken?"
"Seems so."
He pulled a spare device. Still zero.
"…No mana detected at all."
Murmurs grew.
"Zero? Even weak ones hit 1."
"Real summon?"
"Cheating?"
The head professor eyed Seha.
"Yours is definitely a summon?"
"…Y-yes."
Seha gripped his trembling hands.
Professors discussed briefly.
"Unprecedented."
"Can't score without measurement…."
The head professor sighed. Skipping it entirely wasn't fair.
"Seha. Combat test instead. Apologies, but no measurement score—you'll take the hit."