The Test Concludes
The two who had been clinging to each other and sobbing have calmed down considerably now, and they sit together on the provided chairs, sharing the offered sweets.
But.
“Um… there’s no need to sit like this.”
“I don’t like it. I want to sit together.”
“Stop it.”
“Hihi, in front of Tiss unnie, I’ll just act like a kid.”
They clear away the fluffy chairs and instead settle onto a long, straight sofa together.
Siu on the left, Sia on the right, with me nestled between them.
The image of the youngest sister sandwiched between her older brother and sister honestly didn’t sit well with me.
Maybe if Siu and Sia were a little bigger, it wouldn’t be brother and sister between us…
But I stop myself there.
Um, yes.
Before such a horrific future arrives, I have to find the essence of growth by any means necessary.
Crunching.
Putting a snack in my mouth, Shan catches it the way one might expect.
[Now it’s over… right?]
<What? I thought you were asleep because it was so quiet, but no.>
[How could you sleep in this atmosphere? Of course I was awake… I couldn’t just barge in without being noticed, so I stayed quiet.]
Shan pretends to wipe sweat from her brow, claiming she hid in the overwhelming atmosphere and watched.
[Tiss, I think I finally understand what family really is.]
<Um… that’s good to hear.>
Shan beams with pride after seeing Siu and Sia’s reactions, saying she learned one thing.
Siu and Sia surprisingly didn’t utter a single word about my appearance.
Even though their eyes kept drifting to my fidgeting ears and moving tail, they never pretended not to notice.
Instead, they focused on the present moment.
We talked about where we were staying, what our phone numbers were, and why we hadn’t seen each other during the exam.
It seemed they were waiting for me to start the conversation.
Creak.
“Fluffy. Again a meeting… hoo?”
Baba Yaga stopped right where she had entered the room,
click-clack-click-clack.
“Baba Yaga-nim?”
“A precious sight. This old woman will store it away.”
Baba Yaga films us huddled together on her phone with great enthusiasm.
“This is interesting. Seeing you three together makes this old woman think of the old days. How about stroking Fluffy’s head? It would make a lovely picture.”
“Eh, how can the little sister stroke the unnie’s head!”
“Hahaha, this should be sent to an old friend.”
The casual remark captured Siu and Sia’s startled expressions perfectly.
After taking the photos for a long time, Baba Yaga returns with a satisfied smile and shows us her phone.
“How is it? Doesn’t it look good?”
“Wow… Tiss unnie came out super cute! I mean, I didn’t mean to… that is, I wasn’t looking down on unnie or anything…”
<Cute.>
[Um… really… even if a bit bigger, it’s still cute.]
After letting out sincere admiration, Sia fusses trying to recover, but I can’t stroke her head. Instead I pat her shoulder.
“It’s fine. I am cute, after all.”
Just pointing out the obvious fact is enough.
“Tiss unnie, you’re getting arrogant! But it’s so cute I can’t deny it.”
After the first molt, every time Shan undergoes metamorphosis, she becomes a potter and designs with me, head-to-head, refining the look.
Sex appeal may not work for certain audiences, but cuteness does.
Shan had said something like:
[Cuteness is justice!]
Yes, that was it.
With this appearance, if I wanted to, no one could resist.
Of course, that won’t happen.
[Why…? Tiss also said she likes cute things and we designed together while suffering, right?]
<That’s different… I have to do the cute things!>
Unlike before, I have grown used to the small girl’s body of Tiss.
But my inner masculinity hasn’t vanished completely.
So I will never do things like wearing pink-pink clothes, carrying a teddy bear, wiggling my tail madly, and laughing brightly.
[You never said that, never thought about it…?]
<Shut up.>
Hah, that’s the source blocked.
“That’s enough? The photos have been sent to the fluffies’ phones. Then, you two, go down now.”
“Already?”
“Yes, this old woman came to tell you that. We did everything the fluffies wanted, right? Then, will you obediently wait for our words?”
Logically, Siu and Sia understood Baba Yaga’s meaning.
Let me in, let me meet Tiss, stop the meeting for a while.
We had just reunited, and now we were separating again. Sia felt horrible just from the fact itself.
“Sia, let’s stand up now. It’s only a few hours, right?”
“Yeah… okay.”
But since they knew they could no longer bully, Sia released her grip on Tiss and stood.
Sia rubbed her eye rims with both hands, her expression depressed as if she might cry again.
“Tiss unnie, see you later.”
“Yeah, when it’s over, let’s eat together. Include Dorothy.”
“Ugh…! We’ll find a good restaurant!”
“Looking forward to it.”
Siu and Sia wanted to stay, but since they had confirmed I was safe, they returned to the auditorium saying they would wait.
I worried they might cause trouble, but the childlike appearance was too happy for a moment, and they had become sturdy like their appearance.
It’s really good you got to sleep well.
……
“Then, let’s begin the meeting again.”
As I and Baba Yaga returned, the paused meeting resumed.
Actually, most topics I was supposed to participate in had ended, but Baba Yaga’s opinion was to stay until the end since I had joined once.
“Baba Yaga-nim, am I not an outsider?”
My position, honestly, is like a passing examinee with confirmed enrollment.
“It’s fine. This is something permitted by this old woman’s authority, so listen carefully without dozing off.”
Baba Yaga smiles meaningfully, saying there is always a reason.
Unlike the fast previous topics, opinions differ on how to deal with the raid.
Some say it’s better to get the bureau’s cooperation, others suggest borrowing from the families of the examinees to ensure their safety.
Baba Yaga, sitting quietly listening, suddenly hiccups.
<That… what is she planning again?>
[She’s completely a little devil.]
<Where did the twelfth-century little devil go?>
If it were a great devil, maybe, but.
“Fluffy, what do you think?”
“Eh? Me?”
“Yeah, who’s here besides you? Lionel can’t be.”
Pfft.
“Cough cough!”
Lionel tries to hide the fact he laughed unconsciously, his face flushed as he coughs repeatedly.
Instead of throwing a wrench, Baba Yaga keeps talking to me.
“Sometimes your kids’ fresh ideas are very helpful. If you have any thoughts on preparing for the raid, speak up. This old woman permits it.”
The reason she brought me back to the meeting is this.
It’s the opportunity for Baba Yaga to acknowledge me in front of the academy people, and a test.
Whatever.
Preparation for the raid.
The raid on the academy is a regular event, happening every time.
The academy shows the raiders the real spicy taste with overwhelming power difference each time.
Of course, this is just game background, the actual players experience is different.
Naturally, for game play, unlike background, the academy in game is swung by different chaos and events.
“Just announce in advance that there will be a raid?”
So, I know better how to handle it than prepare.
“What…?”
“After all, gathering the examinees now is to announce a fake entrance ceremony to find those with Geas on them, right? In this process, we have to explain why we gathered them and what is happening now?”
“Correct. As the meeting ends, this old woman will personally move.”
“Then, tell the examinees about the raid fact at that time.”
“What benefit is that?”
“Of course, there are many benefits.”
It can filter out those who won’t enter because of fear of raid, and those who are too stupid to act even knowing.
Hearing that there is a raid, tell them not to act stupidly, and announce to participate in the entrance ceremony fully equipped, then it’s done.
“Isn’t that too harsh on the examinees…?”
“If you can’t overcome that, you can’t enter.”
“Right. It will be a hidden 3rd exam to not be complacent until the entrance ceremony. It’ll be fun.”
Baba Yaga nods agreeing with my words.
Those trying to enter the academy are those who want to become provisional hunters, provisional heroes.
Thinking about the events in the scenarios to come, this level of crisis, not only me but anyone who will be party members must know how to handle it.
In my opinion, announcing first that the academy is open for business is the best.
“The place will be the courtyard of the hero party statues so that many people can observe together.”
“You are spewing words that can’t be done. How will you handle the commotion that will occur with the announcement? Regarding the enemies changing the raid date etc.?”
Bumblebee tags on my words.
That yellow pig kid starts again.
Fortunately, it was content that could be rebutted enough.
“What’s not possible? If we complain later about how much damage we received after being deceived, it will be news report, but announcing that ‘there is a scheduled raid, but we are not afraid, our preparation is perfect’ is better?”
While I and Bumblebee exchange opinions, other teachers gather and start discussing my idea.
Only Baba Yaga is smiling.
[It seems I like it.]
Indeed, this is Baba Yaga’s style.
Confronts with greater courage in greater trials.
The image of all examinees directly blocking the raid is beautifully drawn in my head.
“Fluffy, interesting thoughts.”
As expected, Baba Yaga reacts with satisfaction to my opinion.
“Baba Yaga-nim?”
On the contrary, Bumblebee and Lionel’s expressions are pure shock.
“Will it not be an opportunity to gain good practical experience at the same time as enrollment? Dean Lionel.”
“Yes, Baba Yaga-nim.”
“The uniforms for the new students are prepared?”
“All artifact work is finished. Once the total number of passers is determined, clothing distribution to all can be done within half a day.”
“Good, good. As expected of a cat. Thorough.”
The academy uniform is a mass-produced artifact at the level of the uniform issued to active personnel by the management bureau.
Additional functions like auto size adjustment to user’s body, self-cleaning, etc. are excellent, but the best is the practicality that matches the name ‘uniform’.
When entering the field during academy studies, often wearing the uniform for weapon external defense gear.
To that extent, various means to protect students like hexagonal shields made with mana stones, etc., the uniform defense gear name itself does the job without missing anything.
By the way, the design is a seraphim style that might appear in subculture.
“Good. Then, I will add temporary enchantments to the uniforms for the remaining after excluding those with Geas. Adding emergency teleport to leave the scene if injured would be perfect.”
If Baba Yaga’s temporary enchantment is added, the academy uniform will be much better defense gear than the examinees’ personally prepared equipment.
“Baba Yaga-nim, if we announce the raid fact, the enemies might mobilize more personnel and forces.”
“Then, it’s a good thing? If we catch them all, that’s it, right?”
Bumblebee is at a loss for words at Baba Yaga’s words.
As a hero’s mission, that is natural.
“Of course, I know that the raid force can grow to a level that burdens us who can’t receive support like the little ones. On top of that, I thought of an interesting move.”
While saying that, Baba Yaga looks at me.
“…Eh?”
What? Why is she looking at me with that evil smile from the 0th exam?
It was unsettling.
In fact, during the hunt for Mark, I secretly gained the intuition essence that warned me it would be good to stop Baba Yaga’s plan.
“Hahaha, I can’t reduce the fun by announcing it early. I look forward to the entrance ceremony day.”
The meeting ends with the preparation for the raid finished.
And Baba Yaga really goes to where the examinees are, and at the same time as declaring today is the entrance ceremony, she shows the miracle of suppressing the students with Geas with wide-area binding magic simultaneously.
The suppressed students are quickly isolated by the teachers and support active personnel, and then the aides including Lionel start taking out the uniforms to give to the students.
“Congratulations on passing the academy exam. Everyone remaining here is the final passer.”
Fast processing and progress and quick accurate guidance follow.
Indeed, it showed well what the academy’s power is in a controllable situation.
“Receive the uniform one by one in order. It’s a special uniform with my personally added enchantment, so be sure to wear it at the entrance ceremony.”
After everyone receives the uniform, the siren announcing the end rings.
It’s over.
This temporarily test venue role is completely over.
“The entrance ceremony will proceed without change three days later as announced in advance. Until then, rest well and come fully armed. That’s all. You may disperse.”
With Lionel’s last announcement, the academy entrance exam ends.
With the setting sun, the examinees start to scatter one by one.
“Tiss!”
“Tiss unnie!”
“Angel-nim over here!”
Unlike the previous times where we crossed paths, this time there are people waiting for me.
Siu, Sia, and Dorothy wave hands to greet me.
<Ha… finally it’s over. Today was an extremely long day.>
As Shan said, the long entrance exam.
<To refresh my mood, let’s go eat something delicious.>
[Good!]
Siu and Sia must have found a restaurant? I look forward to what they chose.
Let’s forget about the after. Rest when resting.
“Here!”
I wave my hand to the three and run forward.