Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Magical Beast (1)
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"Phew."
With a careful expression, I checked my equipment.
I donned the armor that I'd meticulously maintained stitch by stitch, then draped a white cloak over it.
Finally, I slipped on the boots I'd polished all through the night.
"Good."
Standing before the mirror, I cut a fairly convincing figure as a hero.
"Hehe, white really is pretty."
I spun around once, admiring the white armor from every angle, and soon broke into a satisfied smile.
"I was a bit uneasy since it came from the system. But this is plenty usable."
【Beginner Hero's Starter Set】 This gear, nicknamed the Newbie Set, came from the beginner starter pack.
It was such a suspiciously generous gift from the system that I hadn't even wanted to accept it.
But after the chairman insisted so persistently, I'd ended up taking it.
At first, worry outweighed any expectations, but getting gear like this just proved it was the chairman who'd anticipated everything.
He'd probably pushed it on me knowing it'd turn out this well.
"Heh."
As I inspected the armor, I straightened my clothes and fastened the crude sword at my waist, positioned in the corner of my vision.
"If you're gonna give me stuff, might as well throw in a weapon too."
The system had only provided armor, so I was still using the cheap sword from back home.
It stood out awkwardly against my otherwise all-white outfit.
Feeling a twinge of regret, I stepped out of the house.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The city streets were bustling from early morning.
Calls for carriages echoed from all directions, and the shrill whistles of the traffic control squad blared, adding to the chaos on the roads.
"As expected on exam day—the atmosphere's tense."
Today was the high school and university division exam day.
The elementary and middle school exams mattered too, but the tension here was on another level entirely—thick enough to cut with a knife.
"Let's see, which way..."
I glanced around, then unfolded the map Rachel Scouter had given me and started finding my route.
"Ah, carriages."
Worth being one of the SKY academies, huh?
Following the map to the carriage stop, I found a sleek, impressive carriage waiting.
'All these headed to academies?'
Each waiting carriage bore the emblem and initials of its academy on the side, marking them as G1-bound—and they definitely looked a cut above the ordinary.
As I eyed the distinctive carriages near the stop, I headed straight for the one with black and yellow artfully blended.
"Welcome aboard!"
The coachwoman looked surprisingly young.
Even the drivers for G1 weren't your average coachfolk, it seemed.
Beneath her loose clothes, I could make out a muscular build honed by rigorous training.
"Um... this is the carriage for Slaine Academy, right?"
"Yes, it is! May I see your exam pass?"
"One moment!"
Rachel had prepared it for me.
I rummaged in my pocket briefly and pulled the exam pass from my pants pocket, handing it over.
"Let me see... Yes! Slaine Academy examinee! Please wait inside!"
"Y-Yes!"
Following her directions, I entered the carriage, where several other examinees were already seated—hidden from outside view.
"Whoa? Space magic?"
The interior looked far roomier than the exterior suggested. When I commented on it, the coachwoman nodded.
"Exactly. Our carriages have space expansion magic applied inside, courtesy of Slaine's cooperation."
"Wow..."
"You need top-tier carriages like these to transport all the examinees. The commercial district and academic district are on opposite ends, so round trips aren't easy. There are more carriages, but with so many applicants..."
I listened as I moved deeper inside.
"We'll depart after picking up a few more, so please wait a bit."
"Got it!"
She planned to grab a few more examinees first, it seemed.
Makes sense—Slaine in Academic District 1 was the complete opposite direction from the commercial district where most dorms were.
You could stay in the academic district from the start, but examinees weren't allowed until they passed.
So most flocked to the commercial district, leading to carriage stops like this for ferrying them over.
'Portals exist, but they're pricey.'
There were portals for easy district travel, but they cost a fortune and required advance booking due to strict procedures.
Probably only someone like the rumored Imperial Princess could use them freely.
"Alright! We're off!"
With the carriage full, it glided forward smoothly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Swaying gently with the motion, I observed my surroundings until one of the nearby examinees caught my eye.
"...A bear?"
I muttered it without thinking—the guy was huge.
A massive man with arms crossed, head bowed.
A bit older than me, maybe.
His body bore the marks of grueling training everywhere.
His hands especially were covered in scars—not ugly, just impressive.
'Skin split and regenerated repeatedly. A martial artist?'
"......"
"...Ah!"
Lost in thought, I suddenly locked eyes with him—he'd opened his.
"Uh, h-hi."
"......"
"You're testing for Slaine too, right?"
"......"
"You have this seasoned aura about you. Ex-mercenary or knight, maybe?"
"......"
His eyes were open, so he wasn't asleep.
But the bearish man never responded to my barrage of questions.
"Slaine's university division, I guess?"
"......"
"Um......"
I gave up on a reply and looked away—
"Slaine has no high school or university divisions."
"Huh?!"
A deep voice rumbled in my ear.
"No high school or university divisions? But other academies do!"
"Ordinary student systems go up to G2 at best. Some G1s follow suit, but not Slaine."
"Oh..."
Come to think of it, Rachel had mentioned something like that...
"It bears the academy name for a reason—it has the authority to set its own rules, unbound by others."
Among countless academies, Slaine was the only one permitted true academy status, free from typical regulations.
The man crossed his arms again and addressed me.
"That makes Slaine the most prestigious. And right now is precious time before challenging such a place."
"──I hope you won't disturb me." He murmured it, then closed his eyes again.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Shortly after,
the carriage pulled up before a massive academy.
"We've arrived! Grab your belongings and disembark, everyone!"
At the coachwoman's call, examinees gathered their gear and filed out.
The bearish man nearby vanished before she'd even finished speaking.
"Guess I should get off too!"
I snapped out of staring at the crowd, grabbed my sword as instructed, and exited.
My eyes were drawn straight ahead.
"This is Slaine Academy...!"
The building, with its harmonious blend of yellow and black, exuded an overwhelming presence.
More artwork than architecture, its unique facade loomed overhead, emblazoned with Slaine's name, gazing down at us.
"It's beautiful!"
Such refined design.
My eyes sparkling as I admired it, I turned at the noise nearby.
"LFG one DPS! Got two DPS and a tank! Just tell us your placement ranking!"
"Seeking spirit user! One swordsman, two mages! Ranking irrelevant! Show spirit arts and you're in!"
"Tank LFG! Evasion tank OK! Prefer greatshield users!"
The hawking cries like a marketplace made me gawk in surprise.
"What the...?"
"They're recruiting parties."
It was then.
A familiar voice replied to my musing.
"Camela!"
"Hey, Noah."
Turning toward the voice, there stood Camela with her long red hair, wearing a relaxed smile.
"But recruiting parties—what does that mean?"
"I told you before, right? Forming parties ahead of the entrance exam gives you a big edge."
"Yeah, you did."
"Not everyone can form one like we did, though."
"Hm... Yeah, if you lack connections or charisma, it's tough to join."
Exactly.
Lucky if someone scouted you like me, but most students wouldn't bother with total strangers.
"Usually, nobles with prior ties form parties outside. Commoners who made it here on merit alone scramble to form them right before the exam."
They say blood, regional, and school ties are king for connections.
Nobles have the last two.
Commoners often have neither, so last-minute recruitment was inevitable.
"These guys are actually sharp—they know parties help in the exam."
They'd gleaned that 'party viable' info with zero prior knowledge.
Definitely top-tier examinees.
Camela eyed them appreciatively for a moment, then beckoned me.
"Anyway, time for us to get ready too. Follow me, Noah."
I'll introduce you to my teammates.
With that, she turned and walked off.