Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: This Day is a Bit Troublesome
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The email contained two files.
One was labeled as a practical substitute.
The other was marked as a written substitute.
Click.
Clicking on the video brought a familiar environment into view for the transfer officer.
"This is League of Worlds."
It resembled reality, but the recording button and level floating nearby...
And the distinct game-like feel wafted from the footage.
The transfer officer, who had once been deeply immersed in League of Worlds enough to enter the rankings, immediately recognized the scent of this familiar homeland.
Receiving a video from a game was a first.
A low exclamation escaped the officer at this novel approach.
"Wow... They've got some guts. Not footage from a gate, but League of Worlds."
Having seen nothing but gate clearance videos and sparring footage day in and day out, this video sparked intense curiosity about the sender.
What on earth was their mindset in sending this?
He didn't view submitting this as a practical substitute negatively.
League of Worlds was a game proven reliable enough that even professors used it frequently.
It was just a bit unusual.
No matter how excellent League of Worlds was, it was still a game.
As long as that perception persisted...
Those desperate to enter the Academy couldn't choose game-based validation.
Cost-wise, it was far cheaper than entering and exiting a gate, but social perceptions existed.
Moreover...
League of Worlds had limitations inherent to games.
Without showcasing something distinctive enough to overcome that, relying solely on it was extremely risky.
It could easily draw criticism like, "Isn't this just game stats carrying them?"
That's why gate攻略 videos flooded in usually.
"If they just avoid proxy cheating, games are safer, but it's regrettable in many ways."
League of Worlds was much safer than gate runs.
Social views and game limitations were such a shame.
Tsking lightly, he stared at the monitor.
The AI scan results appeared.
The remaining 0.22% was probably flagged due to League of Worlds.
It passed the AI detector too.
Now it was time to review the video.
Click.
He pressed the small triangular play button.
There appeared the applicant facing off against kobolds.
First-person view?
Usually, they submitted third-person footage, but this applicant seemed to reject every convention.
Even though only one of practical or written was required, they sent both.
Convinced this was no ordinary applicant, he focused on the video.
The applicant moved dynamically.
Yet with elegantly restrained actions, they were practically massacring the kobolds.
'Hmm... Anyone level 30 or above can do this. Is that all?'
Such performance was achievable with high enough stats.
The officer, whose expectations had been high, watched with disappointment until his eyes caught the level next to the recording button.
'Level 12?'
He pondered the stats possible at level 12.
'Confidence is warranted. But it's a bit lacking.'
They had practical skills worthy of applying to the Academy, but not enough for special admission.
'No clear hook proving this is their true ability. No hook.'
The game's nature made it hard to discern true talent.
This level of performance came from formal Hunter or hunter activities.
Of course, applying to the Academy meant they were still student age.
Considering that, it was impressive, but lacked punch.
Aware of this, the applicant also sent a written substitute paper.
'Let's see.'
Practical verification was iffy, so they needed to shine in the written exam.
Wonder what they sent.
Opening the paper, various theories based on advanced concepts filled the screen.
[Title: Methods of Implementing and Utilizing Space Distortion]
Minkowski space theory, general relativity, and ten other theories intertwined on the page.
At first glance, it seemed like a theoretical write-up on a difficult subject.
The officer's eyes grew cold.
It wasn't even remotely ingenious enough to praise.
Space-related theories had been extensively researched scientifically.
But realizations were rare.
Disasters arose from overly idealistic designs.
Mana limits were practically 3, yet it demanded handling 10—perfect in theory, impractical in reality.
It required horrendously high mana control, so no one used it.
Yet a rare few talents could implement it.
For example, Archmage Hylen.
Thus, those who could use space magic were called archmage material.
'Space theories abound, so the hook is weak, but enough for an interview...'
Just as he thought that—
Swish.
Something odd caught the officer's eye.
In the still-playing practical video...
A kobold's attack grazed the applicant's body.
The theory from the written paper was unfolding exactly.
"Space magic...? They can wield this?"
AI-free confirmed, so no editing.
That left only one possibility: they actually did it.
Yes.
The applicant the officer had coldly judged...
Was in fact brimming with distinctive qualities in both written and practical.
A truly solid applicant.
The officer immediately checked the applicant's info.
Applicant details were hidden for fairness, but age and basics were viewable.
He'd deliberately avoided them to prevent bias, but now he had to look.
And the officer was shocked once more.
"8 years old...? Elementary first grade applicant...?"
This wasn't middle or high school?
The officer headed straight to the president's office.
"President—!"
"What's the matter?"
The president, handling paperwork, looked at the visitor.
Prepared to question the commotion if it was trivial.
"You need to see this."
Steadying his breath, the officer showed the prepared video to the president.
The kobold subjugation footage played.
'Middle school? High school? The viewpoint is high.'
Initially, no particular reaction.
He'd seen this performance plenty.
But soon, the space distortion magic and accompanying theories unfolded.
President Baek Moo-won calmly reviewed them.
After a long while.
He slowly parted his lips.
"Hmm... Did you run the AI analyzer?"
"Yes. AI says no."
"Not AI means no editing. Real space magic specialty, then."
"Yes. Special admission applicant."
This justified bypassing protocol to come to the president's office.
Space magic users were that rare.
"Archmage-level talent. Prepare the interview immediately."
The League of Worlds validation was a snag, but this warranted special admission.
They could verify feasibility in the interview.
That was the interview's purpose, after all.
For special admission hopefuls who...
Submitted ghostwritten work or...
Exaggerated unmastered specialties to claim proficiency.
The interview verified such claims.
Baek Moo-won smirked.
Though called for verification...
He believed it was genuine.
'Obvious intent.'
An irregular special admission right after Academy opening would draw attention.
They were hyping for fame.
Using the Academy to boost value.
Not bad.
Archmage talent was precious.
An Academy alum of that caliber was beneficial.
Before contacting professors, Baek Moo-won asked what needed asking.
"What grade is the special admission applicant applying for?"
Middle? High?
Preferably middle school.
Younger geniuses thrilled people more.
The officer answered as if awaiting that exact question.
Utterly detached from Baek Moo-won's expectations.
"Elementary first grade."
Baek Moo-won doubted his ears momentarily.
"Pardon? That doesn't make sense. The viewpoint angle requires at least middle or high school first year."
"But... the applicant's info says so."
"Misentered?"
"It came via the elementary special admission email."
Baek Moo-won clutched his head with one hand.
His brain throbbed.
Middle school would be believable.
But elementary changed everything.
This boiled down to two options.
"Proxy or prodigy. One or the other."
"Yes. That's what I think too."
Reasonable suspicion.
At 8, mana awakening was incomplete, making magic handling difficult.
Academies taught basics to talents for that reason.
Yet top high-tier magic—space magic—from an elementary student?
It was like a bear not just standing on hind legs but breathing underwater.
Simply unbelievable.
Better to assume terrorism or prank against the Academy.
Who would dare deceive it, though...
Such deliberate or prankish acts occurred occasionally.
Baek Moo-won groaned.
First-person League of Worlds left nothing confirmed.
The student could just be tall enough for that view.
"Well... The interview will tell."
If real or fake.
Real: Academy gains new talent.
Fake: Appropriate response.
Baek Moo-won checked the calendar and instructed.
"Schedule the earliest possible. Four days later is a weekend. That day."
"Understood."
I logged into the game right after lunch.
Fortunately, the game console was only broken enough to prevent logins—wait, no, logins still worked.
Skipping school, eating lunch, doing nothing else, and straight to gaming—an outstanding achievement—led to level 18 that afternoon.
A reply came to the Academy special admission email I'd sent that morning.
"Fast."
I'd expected at least a week.
And even faster: an interview invitation for Saturday made me swallow hard.
Ah.
"This day is a bit troublesome..."
The interview date coincided exactly with Yura's tournament start.