Chapter 2
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Entrance Exam
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Kicked out by Master.
Truly, utterly kicked out without a shred of mercy. I figured she'd at least hesitate a bit.
We'd spent ten years together, after all. We had to have grown attached!
We bathed together in hot springs, cooked and ate meals side by side, shared sneaky skinship disguised as massages, chatted through the night until sleep finally came...
Honestly, aside from sex, we'd done just about everything.
That was how close Master Karen and Aren had become. More than teacher and disciple, but shy of lovers.
...I even knew her three sizes.
Did that mean Master was some loose woman throwing her body around?
Absolutely not.
Master was a virgin. The perfect, unicorn-bait kind of pure maiden.
How could I be so sure? We'd gotten drunk together and had some heart-to-hearts.
She was an iron wall to other men, but with me, she let her guard down completely. That had to count for something—even knighting and eloping would be fair game.
She started it, after all.
.
.
.
.
"...Haa."
...But I'd been kicked out anyway.
At first, I thought it was Master's joke. Play around down below for a bit, and she'd call me back up.
But no matter how long I waited, she didn't summon me, wouldn't even talk.
Her only response drifting down: "Follow your own path."
In the end, realizing she meant it, Aren resolved to walk his own road.
He knew how stubborn Master was. Maybe that's why she'd stayed a virgin all these years—and why he was her one exception.
So, he'd forge his solo path, and when the day came to meet her again... he'd really go through with the knighting and eloping. He swore it.
And so, Aren's journey began.
'What a cruel world, truly.'
The world he saw after leaving Master's embrace was brutally harsh.
'Definitely dark fantasy.'
Every day, countless people died in gruesome ways, and society treated it as normal. Demon cultists ran rampant like the apocalypse was nigh, while corrupt priests turned a blind eye.
Wars, crimes, plundering, death—erupting across the globe.
The more he saw, the more Aren was convinced.
Death could come anytime, so he wanted to leave traces of a life lived fiercely in this world—to prepare for that moment.
And the way to do that was...
"...Have kids."
Yeah, nothing beat having children, right?
Sure, etching his name in history books was an option, but kids seemed better.
With power, you could rack up achievements anytime.
Didn't they say chaotic times birthed heroes? This was that chaos. With the right strength, becoming one would be easy.
But kids? Not so much.
'Bringing life into the world comes with responsibility.'
Aren had no interest in deadbeat seed-sowing. He'd seen plenty in that first year after possessing this body—how lives plummeted after irresponsible flings.
First off, finding a woman fit to bear healthy kids and be a worthy partner? That alone was a task.
Couldn't just grab anyone and marry her.
Plus, kids needed money, a house was essential, education mandatory. None of it easy.
So, reckless baby-making was out of the question.
"Phew... Guess I need to start by finding a woman to be my lifelong companion."
Wait for me, future kids.
Dad's coming.
This was all to find the woman who'd be my partner. I'd pursue this noble quest forever—
"Hey, you there! Quit mumbling to yourself and hurry up front! You're next!"
...
"Ah, coming right now."
He approached the prodding guard for a quick inspection.
"Name."
"Aren."
"Origin?"
"From the eastern continent."
"Purpose?"
"Academy entrance exam."
The guard paused.
He scribbled something, then stared hard at Aren's face.
...What? Problem?
"No issue... You're here for the Academy exam too?"
"Yes."
"Hmm..."
"Lots of folks like me?"
"Yeah. Every year around this time, nobles and commoners flock here."
"Hooh..."
"Word of advice: Watch yourself at the Academy. That face of yours gets tangled in noble love triangles, it'll be a headache."
"? Got it."
Couldn't exactly say I'm here to start those triangles.
With the simple check done, Aren entered the city depths.
Throngs of people buzzed everywhere—self-employed vendors at their trades, pedestrians hustling along. Wide roads teemed with impressively large carriages, no gaps in the flow.
An empire, as expected—definitely different.
Bigger and more orderly than other cities he'd passed through.
No demon raids or cannibalism in broad daylight here. Top 1% easy.
...
Anyway.
'Gotta head to the Academy from here.'
After getting kicked out, Aren set his sights on the Academy. He'd traveled the continent first, hunting for a partner, but no one caught his eye.
That's when it hit him.
No suitable women? Go where the caliber's higher.
Hence, the Academy.
'Young talents flock here, gender regardless.'
Drunken adventurer Pedric had said: Royals, nobles, commoners—all gathered, plus foreign talents. A cradle of diverse geniuses.
And a cradle of talent was what, in other words?
"...My wife factory."
Or wife collection hub.
Young, beautiful, capable women converging—a perfect spot for ideal homemakers.
Ignoring the weird stares from passersby, Aren strode toward the Academy without hesitation.
Just wait, Academy. I'm coming...!
...And got lost.
'...This place is huge.'
Truth be told, Aren was directionally challenged. Not horribly, but he'd lose his way at least once in any new spot.
Finally, he took drastic measures.
Ask a random passerby for directions.
"Excuse me, mind if I ask something?"
"Y-yes?"
The woman he approached jumped, turning around.
Pink hair, pink eyes—a strikingly beautiful look. Stats said be wary of pink-haired ones, but directions were harmless.
"Know the way to the Academy?"
"Academy... Here for the entrance exam?"
Her tense face lit up.
"Yes."
"Ah...? Me too. Wanna go together?"
"That okay?"
"Of course! We might end up classmates. Let's cheer each other on!"
—Nice, nice!
Her name was Lydia.
A country girl from the empire, just like Aren, headed for the exam. She was nervous going alone but glad for company.
Pretty cute side to her.
...Provisional wife candidate list?
"Aren, are you a mage? No sword or spear, so you look like one."
"Magic? Eh... Sort of."
"Hee. Me too—let's do our best!"
Mage... Close enough.
Master looked like one at first glance, but wasn't.
Broadly magic, sure, but dig deeper—it differed from this world's "magic."
Something ancient, long lost.
Explaining wouldn't convince anyone, and he owed no one the tale. If they became classmates later, maybe then.
"Why the Academy, Lydia?"
"Hmm... To help my parents. They farm in the countryside—a daughter who's an Academy-grad mage would mean the world."
"I see."
"What about you, Aren?"
"To find a wife."
"Huh?"
She blinked up at him, baffled.
"A... wife?"
"Yes."
Thinking it a joke, she asked again—same answer.
Realizing he was serious, Lydia's expression turned complicated.
Perfectly fine—no, handsome face like that? He'd snag a wife easy without the Academy. Why...?
"Good women there. Can't marry just anyone. In that sense... you could be one, Lydia."
Figure: Pass. Face: Pass.
to parents? Character: Pass.
Pink hair bias from Earth might not apply here.
This pink-haired one could be sweet and wife-material.
...Hmm.
...Two daughters should suffice.
"Uh... G-good luck...?"
Calling this something to "good luck" on.
Lydia's score skyrocketed in his mind.
After that, sparse short chats passed between Aren and Lydia until they reached the Academy.
A tiny secret: her ears flushed pink on arrival at the exam hall.