One Month Before Enrollment - Entrance Evaluation (2)
“……”
Walking under the gaze of so many people was an incredibly burdensome experience. Especially when those looks weren't filled with the admiration and envy reserved for a model.
“Did you hear the news…?”
“He just caused a massive accident…”
“What the hell…? What happened…?”
Thanks to the whispers rippling through the crowd, it felt like needles were pricking every inch of his body. What was it like? Maybe how a criminal felt facing a swarm of reporters? He felt so ashamed he wanted to crawl into the nearest rat hole and hide.
“Hmm…”
If he'd known it would be like this, he should have held back a bit more… Of course, he hadn't broken any rules, but standing at the center of all those stares was an indescribably uncomfortable sensation.
“…”
All he could do was maintain as dignified a posture as possible and cut through the crowd.
“Master~”
Then, amid the murmurs, a faint yet unmistakably familiar voice caught his ear from somewhere nearby.
“Eily?”
He turned toward the voice, which grew louder and closer along with approaching footsteps, and there was Eily, smiling and waving as she ran up to him.
“Master! How'd the magic exam go?”
Could there ever be a moment when Eily felt this welcome? It was like reuniting with an old friend unexpectedly in a sea of people. Surrounded by wary glares from all sides, her innocent cheer felt all the more refreshing.
“It went well. Might sound boastful, but it was almost too good—enough to cause problems.”
“Ooh…! As expected of Master! I, Eily, never doubted you for a second!”
He scratched his cheek awkwardly as he shared the details of the evaluation, and Eily's eyes sparkled like she'd found a priceless gem, her fists clenched in excitement.
“Uh, yeah? Thanks. Anyway, how'd you do, Eily?”
“Huh…?!”
But when he turned the question back on her, those diamond-bright eyes crumbled in an instant.
“Ah… well…”
The joyful atmosphere flipped as easily as a wheel turning.
“Heh… hehe… It wasn't bad… I guess…?”
Asked about her exam, she lost all confidence—averting her eyes, breaking into a cold sweat, fiddling aimlessly with the tip of her sheathed sword at her waist, looking utterly flustered.
“Yeah?”
Her fidgety gestures and mumbled words made it hard to expect great results.
“But…! I think I can still get in.”
Still, for the usually low-confidence Eily to say that much meant there was no real cause for worry.
“That's a relief then. You did great.”
He stroked her hair to soothe her restless fidgeting, even if just a little.
“Eek…? Y-Yes…! Thank you, Master!”
Her cheeks flushed cherry-red with embarrassment, but she clearly liked it.
“Alright, now it's my turn for the sword test… I should probably move a bit lighter.”
With only one exam left, he made a request to Eily to keep his condition at its peak.
“Sorry, but could you hold onto my jacket? If it's a hassle, head back to the carriage first.”
“The… jacket…? O-Of course!”
Eily took it briskly with both hands.
“Sorry about that.”
“Not at all! Serving Master is my duty! I'm just doing what's natural.”
Without a hint of reluctance, she accepted the jacket reverently. Now in just his shirt, he headed back the way she'd come.
“Master! Do your best till the end!”
As he turned and walked away, the encouraging voice of his maid rang out from behind.
“Got it. See you later.”
Bolstered by her cheers at his back, he pressed on to face the final test.
“Eek…”
Left alone after Arnold departed.
“Master's clothes…”
But Eily clutched the jacket he'd left behind tightly to her chest.
“……”
Her cheeks burned far redder than before he left.
“This jacket…”
The maid stared intently at the garment her master had given her for a moment.
Whoosh—
“…?!”
Then, as if some fantasy bloomed in her mind, her flushed cheeks spread to her entire face, turning it scarlet.
“There might be a few eyes on me, but…”
She seemed to ponder something briefly… but soon, like a little devil, her pursed lips curved into a shy, mischievous resolve.
And then—
“Eek…”
She buried her face in Arnold's jacket, hiding in its folds.
Sniff…
Eily took a slow, deep breath, savoring his scent.
'Master's smell…'
Eyes closing as she pictured the face of the man she served.
'Master wouldn't approve of me doing this behind his back… but—'
Her mind screamed no, but her body rebelled against reason, surrendering to instinct and acting on its own.
'I can't stop… Master's essence…'
Unable to hold herself back, Eily sank into delusion.
'It feels just like Master hugging me tight…'
Shoulders trembling as naughty thoughts filled her imagination.
'Eek… I meant just once, but it's becoming a habit…'
Her whole body quivered, legs wobbling as haze overtook her.
“Eek…!”
How much time passed like that?
“Hah, hah…”
Her eyes blissful, on the verge of abandoning all to instinct… she barely clung to the thread of reason.
“Ugh, Master…”
Her private shameful moment passed, yet still cradling his jacket.
“I'm sorry… I'm such a naughty maid…”
Self-reproach in her voice, she fled the spot as if escaping.
Next up was the swordsmanship evaluation.
Unlike magic, this year's test involved sparring against a person to gauge ability, so some resolve was needed.
Of course, most prospective students faced instructors far superior in skill, and even with a do-or-die mindset, they couldn't win.
That is… for anyone else.
“Next candidate: Arnold Stenman.”
A bit arrogant, perhaps, but he was confident he'd beat any instructor they threw at him. In fact, he worried about injuring someone badly if he went all out.
“Yes.”
“Pleased to meet you, candidate. I'll be your opponent for this exam—Instructor Rilton.”
In the spacious indoor arena, as he stepped into the ring for his turn, a stocky man faced him directly.
First impression? A smug smile, arrogant stance, looking down on him like he was nothing.
“Whoa, he's up against Instructor Rilton…”
“Tough draw.”
“He's fought dozens today, and only one didn't lose…”
The onlookers outside the ring began murmuring as the man appeared.
Apparently, Instructor Rilton had quite the notorious reputation.
“A word of advice, candidate.”
The instructor declared in a voice as bold as the atmosphere.
“If you land even one valid hit on me in this exam, I'll concede defeat and guarantee you top marks for admission.”
A bold offer: one solid hit, and he'd get in with flying colors. He smirked, lips curling enticingly.
“Impossible in reality…”
“So many got wrecked today after biting on that line.”
“Yeah, that one girl earlier was the exception.”
But the spectators buzzed with fear-tinged assessments of Rilton's words.
“I hear Rilton's the strongest instructor at the academy.”
“Yeah…”
“His movements are so fast, hard to even track with your eyes…”
The academy's top instructor, huh? That explained the confidence.
“You mean that seriously?”
“If you can manage it.”
He affirmed with a hand on his sword hilt. His grip alone radiated unspoken strength.
“Rules: Stay within the ring lines. No magical interference allowed.”
As he readied for battle, the referee explained the duel rules.
“Victory conditions: Opponent crosses the line, ruled combat-incapable by judgment, surrenders, or drops their weapon. All count as win.”
Explanation done, Arnold placed a hand on his scabbard, preparing.
“Begin!”
The referee's shout started the exam, plunging the arena into tense silence.
“…”
“Feel free to attack first.”
As hostility rose, Rilton offered the first move—whether courtesy or provocation.
“I'm skilled at defense and counters. Come at me first.”
Arnold declined, signaling with polite words for Rilton to strike first.
“Is that so? Then I won't hold back—”
Yielding initiative, Rilton grinned with interest and bent his knees.
Whoosh—
He kicked off the ground in a swift leap. Dust alone lingered where he'd stood.
“Oh, it's over!”
“Instructor Rilton's not going easy?!”
“No one blocks that speed normally…!!”
The candidates watching pitied him already, shaking their heads.
Clang—
“Huh?”
Honestly, he couldn't understand the fuss.
“What?”
It was so slow and weak.
“How…!”
Rilton's face twisted in shock as his attack was parried.
The earlier smug grin vanished, replaced by dismay.
“Urk!”
Briefly flustered, he leaped back to create distance.
“Not bad, huh? Then I'll guard more seriously!”
Bam—
He charged again, faster than before.
“Haha!”
Confident of victory this time, he thrust his sword.
Clack—
“…?!”
Same result.
“Hm.”
Arnold blocked effortlessly, face blank, no strain.
“Urk!”
Rilton's expression turned ominous, beyond mere surprise.
“Huh? He's holding his own against Rilton…?”
“No, he's casually parrying…”
“That speed and power, handled like nothing…?”
The candidates reacted with confusion, unable to process.
“Then!”
Tap—
Tap—
“No way?!”
Was it really that impressive? Rilton's speed was laughable compared to Rael from five years ago—like dirt under her nails.
His power? Weaker than Martin, his daily sparring partner. If Martin was a sturdy adult male, Rilton was a child.
“I've seen enough.”
The academy's strongest, and this was it? Movements too sluggish, too predictable.
“Urk! One more time…!”
This was barely practice level. Any real effort without restraint could've caused a disaster…
Thwack—!
Having gauged Rilton's level, time to end it.
“Wha?!”
He parried the forceful thrust.
“Opening—”
Just one Parry, and Rilton's stance crumbled pathetically.
“Hah…”
Thud—!!
Resolved to finish, he jabbed the wooden training sword's tip into Rilton's gut.
“Uwoooogh!!!”
One strike bloated his cheeks like he might spew foul liquid, eyes bloodshot.
“Guhk—”
A flick of the wrist.
Like fencing, the thrust sent the instructor flying faster than his own speed.
Thud—
One impact.
“Ah… guhk…”
He crashed beyond the ring, into the arena wall, and went still.
“…”
Too much again…?
“What the…?”
The fight ended so abruptly, even the referee stood dumbfounded, speechless.
“…?”
“Is that… a person…?”
“Instructor Rilton lost? That badly!!”
Onlookers erupted in shock, and those burdensome stares from the magic test returned.
“……”
Looks like he'd failed to hold back again, just like with magic.
“E-Evaluation… over!”
The belatedly comprehending referee declared the match ended, wrapping up the swordsmanship test—and all admission evaluations.
“Can I… leave now?”
“Y-Yes…?! Ah…! Yes! Of course!!”
Personally, enduring the day's stares felt harder than the exam difficulty…
“S-Scary…”
“To think someone like that exists…”
“Hey, he's looking this way…! Duck!”
Overwhelmed by fear, pupils dilated in terror, candidates wore expressions of war-movie despair.
“…”
A face he'd seen countless times… the looks people gave Arnold in the original story.
“Hmm…”
Inside the carriage on the way home.
“Hah~”
He sighed with various worries, gazing out the window.
The day hadn't been entirely pleasant.
The results exceeded expectations, sure.
But leaving such a memorable impression—in multiple senses—before so many people nagged at him.
“Master? Something wrong?”
“Nah, nothing.”
He brushed it off to Eily, but plenty bothered him.
Everyone at today's exam venue were future classmates for years. Flaunting too much skill had terrified many…
Some even seemed to recognize him. The future worried him.
“Just… got some things on my mind.”
It probably reinforced the villainous image of Arnold.
Admission evaluations spanned a week, divided among candidates, so only a few saw today.
But rumors would spread like wildfire.
Or as the saying went: three men make a tiger—rumors snowball, exaggerating nothing into something huge.
“…”
But what could he do? Spilled milk.
“Hah—”
All he could do was await enrollment day as hoped.