Chapter 6
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: The Entrance Exam
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Even after Abel and Dillon left, the people in the square couldn't easily tear themselves away. They buzzed among themselves.
"D-Did that statue just move?"
"More precisely, light burst out from it... But what the hell was that? Huh? What just happened?"
"The kid with the black hair touched the pedestal..."
The square wasn't filled with cadets alone.
A few professors who happened to have some free time and come for a break had witnessed it too.
As a result, the rumor spread not just among the cadets, but to the teachers as well.
And from there, it shot up higher and higher in no time.
Even reaching those who knew the truth behind that legend.
"Is it true?"
"Yes. Professor Telben, in charge of mana sensitivity testing, saw it himself."
"No way..."
To ordinary cadets and professors, it was just a curious event. But to the academy's upper echelons, it meant something entirely different.
They knew exactly what Abel's actions signified.
The headmaster and a few teachers began investigating directly, and soon uncovered the boy's identity.
Abel.
The boy for whom the famous Klein Count had personally written a letter of recommendation.
His extraordinary background made them pay even closer attention to him.
* * *
Abel was running.
Sweat poured down his body like rain, and harsh breaths exploded from his mouth, but he had no intention of stopping.
But all things must come to an end.
After running for a good while, Abel's legs finally tangled, and he collapsed. He tried to get up a few times but eventually gave up and lay on his back, staring at the sky.
"Huff, huff."
Abel gulped air in and out like a madman for several minutes before he regained his senses.
"Ugh."
He had no strength left to run again, but he couldn't lie there forever.
This wasn't his personal training ground.
Staggering to his feet, Abel dodged the knights still running laps around him and headed toward the building.
"Good work, sir."
As he approached, his dedicated maid Marygold handed him water, a towel, and such.
"Thank you."
Abel took them and slumped into a chair.
It had been nearly a month since training began, but it was just as grueling as the first day.
He'd increased his training volume right alongside his stamina gains.
'I did steady fitness training even before coming here...'
Training here had shown him that what he'd done before was mere child's play.
"Real knights are all monsters."
Abel muttered as he watched the knights still sprinting effortlessly across the training grounds, even though he'd started running with them.
Just then, a deep voice came from beside him.
"You're doing well yourself, Sir Abel."
Abel sprang to his feet and replied.
"I'm still far from ready, Sir Dillon."
"It's only been a month. Just keep up the effort like you have been."
Dillon said with a smile.
Their first impression hadn't been great, but now they were quite close. Dillon had been overseeing his training for the past month.
Dillon's opinion of Abel had improved just as much.
The boy had doggedly kept up with regular knight training for nearly a month—there was no reason to think poorly of him.
But today marked the end of their enjoyable training sessions.
"Still, it's a shame I won't be training under you anymore, Sir Dillon."
"You'll learn from even greater masters at the academy. With your talent, Sir Abel, you'll grow at a frightening pace."
Tomorrow was the academy entrance exam.
They'd wrapped up training early for it, and he planned to rest fully from the afternoon onward to manage his condition.
Abel smiled at Dillon.
"Thank you. I'll definitely pass."
"Passing is nothing to worry about."
Dillon grinned back.
Marygold, who had been waiting for their conversation to end, stepped forward.
"Young master, it's time to see the healer."
"Ah, right."
Abel exchanged a few more brief words with Dillon, then stood.
"Well then, I'll be off."
"Yes."
After bidding Dillon farewell, Abel followed the maid, reflecting on the past month.
The training had been brutally harsh—beyond what words like "tough" could convey.
Up at dawn every day at 4 a.m., training until 8 p.m., then scarfing down food and collapsing into bed.
He'd repeated that for a full month.
Even the most tenacious person would cry uncle at that volume.
But the results matched the intensity.
[Abel]
[Race: Human]
[Physical Grade: C]
[Sync Rate: S]
[Mana: D]
[Gigants Owned: None]
[Skills: Beginner Gigant Crafting, Intermediate Gigant Repair, Mana Sensitivity, Beginner Body Technique, Beginner Weapon Technique, Overflow]
In just one month, his physical grade had jumped two levels, mana one.
He'd barely scraped into C physical from the edge of E, but it was still impressive.
On top of that, Overflow—which he'd only grasped the barest hint of—had been fully mastered and registered as a skill.
Of course, he had no intention of stopping there. To keep up after enrolling, he'd need to keep pushing.
But first, rest.
"We've arrived."
"Yes. I'll head in."
Abel politely thanked Marygold and entered the room.
He planned to sleep like the dead today.
For tomorrow's exam.
* * *
The next morning.
Abel, prepared and waiting in a chair, stood at the knock from outside.
"Sir Abel, may I come in?"
It was Marygold's voice. Abel answered immediately.
"Yes."
The door opened, and three maids entered, bowing their heads.
One was Marygold; the others were faces he'd seen occasionally.
They checked his attire meticulously, even styling his hair.
"Now, please follow us."
Once grooming was done, Abel followed them out.
They soon reached the mansion's main gate.
At the foot of the steps stood the same carriage from when he'd registered at the academy.
Abel spotted the woman in front of it and immediately showed his respects.
"Good morning, Count."
"Yes."
Scarlett nodded slightly in greeting, then asked Abel.
"Condition?"
"Excellent."
"Good."
Scarlett's lips curved up on both sides.
"I won't tell you to do your best. I expect concrete results."
"I'll bring back the top score."
"Confidence is not in short supply, I see."
Scarlett's smile deepened, pleased by his boldness.
"Very well. Go on, then."
"Yes. I'll be back."
Abel bowed and boarded the carriage.
This time, without Dillon, it was escorted by a different guard, so the ride was quiet.
Abel didn't bother chatting; he focused his mind in silence.
After some time, the carriage arrived smoothly at the academy's main gate.
"When you're done, return to this spot."
"Understood."
Abel had a brief exchange with the escort knight, then disembarked and walked toward the gate.
Unlike last time, today no carriages or others could enter—just the examinees.
Reaching the gate, a man in a black uniform approached.
"I'll check your ID."
"Here."
Abel handed over his identification stamped with the Klein family seal.
The man inspected it carefully, cross-checked the list, then saluted.
"Confirmed. An usher will be waiting inside."
"Yes."
Abel finally passed through the gate into the academy.
Inside buzzed with examinees.
'Wow, so many.'
He'd been to crowded places before, but never one packed with such high-class kids.
'Most are probably rich merchants' kids rather than nobles.'
Abel approached an usher waiting off to the side.
"Please follow me."
"Yes."
They reached the destination in moments.
Less than five minutes later, the usher pointed to a building.
"Enter here."
"Yes. Thank you."
Abel thanked him and went inside.
The building was at least five times larger than the registration office. Enormous.
It was so vast it easily accommodated the endless influx of people.
Guides inside directed him to a seat.
As time passed, the crowd grew.
Abel scanned around, thinking.
'Only a handful of these will make the cut.'
Gigant Academy had a staggering number of applicants.
Most were weeded out before even applying due to mana incompatibility.
These were the survivors, yet after the exam, only about 200 would remain.
And even then, they wouldn't all happily graduate together.
'The Gigant Rider track is for the top 40... right.'
The rest?
They took courses specializing in Tito-grade Gigants, since even low mana sensitivity could operate those.
Some might show talent late and advance, but that was rare.
After more time, only around 10 would graduate as Gigant Riders after four years.
'It's only natural, really.'
Gigants were precious strategic assets.
They consumed vast resources to build, and even with resources, couldn't be mass-produced like factory goods.
Yet this academy used them for 'training.'
Tuition was steep, but the base costs were insane.
Plus, they provided Gigants to graduates who became Riders.
'So they filter ruthlessly, admitting only the truly exceptional few... as it says.'
Abel stood there to be one of that few.
The thought brought pressure, but a voice piercing his ears drew his attention.
"Seems everyone's here."
It came from the platform.
Looking over, Abel saw a middle-aged man with snow-white hair slicked back neatly, beard well-groomed, standing there.
The academy headmaster.
He looked about 40, but was nearing 60.
His imposing build and muscles peeking from his clothes made him seem even younger.
Abel recalled his name.
'Magnus. The empire's living legend.'
A man whose renown more than qualified him to lead the empire's sole Gigant Academy.
Magnus swept his gaze over the gathered boys and girls, then spoke again.
His voice, amplified by a magic tool, echoed through the building.
"During this exam, status and family mean nothing. Only those with brilliant talent enter this academy."
As Magnus continued, tension etched across the faces in the hall.
Even Abel felt his body stiffen under the awe in the living legend's voice.
Pausing briefly, Magnus raised an arm.
"No need to drag this out. Bring them in!"
Boom-!
At his signal, all the building's doors flew open.
The lined-up boys and girls naturally turned their eyes back. And soon, their eyes widened.
Clank, clank, clank-.
The sound of metal clashing against metal.
A single one wouldn't have been loud, but now it roared like thunder.
Abel, too, gaped unconsciously at the incoming machines. He'd seen them before, but never on this scale.
"These will be your exam partners."
Magnus's amused voice rang out.
But all eyes stayed glued to the doors.
A hundred Tito-grade Gigants marching in—it was a spectacle.
As Abel stared entranced, something floated before his eyes.
[Quest 'Crane Among Chickens (2)' progresses.]
[Pass all exams with overwhelming scores to claim the top spot in your year!]
[Reward: Gigant-exclusive skill.]
Abel read it through and smiled.
It was exactly what he'd hoped for.