The Forest Hunt and the Quest for Top Honors

The carriage lurched forward the moment it started moving, hurtling ahead at a speed worlds apart from walking.

"Mana grass-fed horses, huh."

Horses fed on grass artificially infused with mana—grass grown by absorbing water, sunlight, and nutrients from the soil—gained mana of their own. They couldn't cast spells like humans, but the mana settled into their muscles, making them denser and tougher. Their enhanced lungs let them run longer than ordinary horses. At this pace, we'd reach the exam site in no time.

"Young master, you can even use magic?"

As I gazed at the scenery whipping by outside, Rain cautiously asked about the spell I'd cast earlier. I nodded in affirmation.

No matter how much swordsmanship was my main form of combat, I couldn't rely on a blade alone in war. I was versed in widely used spear techniques, of course, but also archery and magic for ranged attacks, as well as throwing weapons and martial arts taught by bare-handed fighters. All skills I'd learned from people I'd met in other lives and other roles, thankfully preserved intact.

"You're far more impressive than I imagined, young master. The one I serve."

"Yeah?"

"Of course. A master swordsman who wields blue-black flames bordering on pitch-black... Just hearing about it gives me chills."

I'd always heard I was exceptional. Mostly from my instructors, though.

Calming my throbbing mana force circuits, I continued chatting with Rain.

"By the way, young master, why did you shape your swordsmanship into a scythe of all things?"

"A scythe is way scarier for intimidation than a sword, isn't it?"

The reaper's scythe. The symbol of the grim reaper harvesting human souls, it stirred fear in opponents more effectively than any other weapon. Of course, its strong symbolism meant that unless you'd reached expert level, nine out of ten duels went to the swordsman. But once mastered, the scythe lived up to its reputation.

Few knew how to counter it, and even those who did struggled with its superior reach compared to a sword. Add black flames, and it excelled in one-on-one fights, melees, or open battlefields. Besides, did I need to go easy on the wench who tried to wipe out my family just because I once saw her as kin?

"Plus, with Arian's skills, she'll lock in S-grade for sure..."

At least this time, I'd seized the initiative, so she wouldn't dare pull any shady stunts starting from the entrance exam while looking down on me. That was my one consolation.

"Haa..."

But that didn't mean Arian had run out of mischief. She'd probably stir up trouble at the entrance ceremony after the exam. Maybe I should just kidnap her before academy enrollment and lock her away somewhere. Or force her into infantile regression so she never grew up... She was cute back then.

"You look so worried."

Rain, her usually sharp, upward-gazing eyes now softly downturned, sat beside me and took my hand.

"Seeing you like this just makes me more determined to enter as S-grade."

I couldn't hold back a smile at that. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Looking into Rain's eyes, I thought how nice it would be if that happened.

*****

"This exam is a treasure hunt."

The moment everyone arrived at the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Arcade Academy exam grounds, the examiner announced it without warning.

Some commoners froze in confusion at the academy's abrupt style, but the nobles, who knew the format, listened calmly.

"The terrain is Aries Forest. The item is a mana stone engraved with runes."

When the instructor infused mana into the stone in his hand, it emitted a faint magenta glow, the runes on its surface shining pure white. Everyone stared intently at it. In a forest exam site, such hard-to-spot stones would be hidden in underbrush, so they memorized every detail—but the instructor soon tucked it into his chest pocket.

"And this year's top spot isn't first-come, first-served."

Murmurs rippled not just among commoners but nobles too.

"The number of applicants has sharply decreased."

I agreed. Never in my memory had enrollment numbers dropped like this. There should've been over ten thousand hopefuls, but now there were barely two or three hundred. With the competition rate plummeting, nearly everyone would pass.

"Other academies lured commoners with benefits, so most chose those over Arcade Academy."

That explained it. No wonder. Arcade drew so many commoners because skill alone granted near-free admission. If rivals offered similar perks, why trek to this empire's distant academy? Higher competition, far more nobles.

"So this academy is going all-in."

The instructor's grinning face felt oddly chilling.

"Only S-grade and A-grade admits this year."

What the hell. Even I hadn't imagined such a drastic cut. With fewer applicants, slashing admissions further? Whose idiot idea was that? The principal? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Yeah, Skaya Arinfield would pull something this insane...

"Allow me to introduce the great knight who proposed this plan—the assistant professor for this cohort's swordsmanship department."

Golden hair fluttering as a figure in pristine white knight's armor emerged from the shaking grass. I gaped.

Why... why the hell is she coming out there?

Ten years my senior, I'd never met her at the academy. Our first encounter was after I pulled the holy sword as a hero, during a knights' assembly.

"Imperial Knight Order, Zenovia Aphiliano."

But now, Zenovia was staring right at me.

I wanted to deny it, but reality sank in quickly. I'd thought little changed post-regression, but that was only if I'd accepted those quests. This life's divergence happened early, so her academy presence wasn't impossible. The issue? Her being swordsmanship assistant professor.

"..."

A chill wind blew through the crowd. Introducing the architect of this S/A-only purge before aspiring students? No surprise.

"..."

"Young master?"

Even I, who'd usually clap, passed this time. After marrying me and sneaking out to spend nights with knights—her a lesbian, no less? Clapping for that would make me the ultimate gullible fool.

...Oh, right. That fool was me.

Staring into those irritatingly beautiful golden eyes, soon hidden by lids.

"Let's prepare."

"Yes, sir."

As rivals glared daggers at Zenovia, she stroked her sword hilt out of sight—her old habit when scared. Still a coward knight, I see. Just thinking of her past attempts to fix that trembling quirk made my teeth grind.

"Hoo..."

Explanations of the forest and the "not first-come" rule followed.

"With fewer entrants, it's not pure luck-based race. Score based on how many rune-engraved mana stones you collect and defend within the time limit."

"Teams allowed. Floor-found ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stones: 1 point. Stolen from others: 3 points."

I tilted my head at Zenovia's addendum. How would they verify pickups vs. steals in a vast forest?

"These stones have runes absorbing and storing mana. Touch one, and it retains your mana signature."

"We analyze residual mana. Multiple signatures? 3 points."

Teaming up is key, then. Solo boosts mobility but forces theft for 3-pointers. With two-plus, it's easy: I pick one up (1pt), pass to teammate (3pt instant). Solo theft near-impossible. Late splits might snag some, but from low-scorers. Plan for at least pairs.

"Exam starts now!"

Snap! The instructor's fingers clicked, massive mana forming a magic circle. Nearby mages synced identical arrays, enveloping the front rows in light.

"One hour limit! No killing, but other injuries healable by priests!!"

I gripped Rain's hand tight. No contact during teleport, and random warp spells could separate us—wasted time reuniting. Plus... she could hit S-grade here.

"Go wild, sprouts—ignore injuries!!"

Blinding light engulfed us. When I opened my eyes, dense forest surrounded me. Artificial, though—no squirrels or wildlife mana, just humans.

"Rain."

"Yes."

Confirmed. Time to gear up...

Just as I reached for mana in my circuits to prepare, a quest window popped up before my eyes.

Honestly, aside from the first batch's creepy NTR quests, this system delivered great rewards: elixirs, gear, even function expansions. Without those NTR ones, I'd love it.

Well, they're gone now anyway. How could I not adore a system empowering me?

Look at this. Who wouldn't love a system showering gifts like these?