Chapter 7. First Exam
"Real deals are rare among the loudmouths who make all the noise," Lukaku's supervising instructor said.
The lizardman said nothing and just plopped down in his seat.
"Hey, Lukaku. Just fight like you always do. Like normal."
The instructor shut his mouth after that. Soon, all the examinees had drawn their numbers. The bell signaling the start of the exam rang out.
Lizardman Lukaku rose from his seat and headed to Exam Room 5.
Number 9, Kang Ji-hyuk. Number 10, Lukaku.
A crowd gathered in Exam Room 5 to watch that match. Predictions were split right down the middle.
Gunt, who drew 21, Elizabeth, who drew 31, and Knaktul, who drew 49, also came to observe.
Duchess Elizabeth had no doubt about Kang Ji-hyuk's victory. She just wanted to see exactly how strong he was once he drew his sword. That way, she could set precise goals for herself moving forward.
Soon, the two men entered the exam room. The air was already thick with tension.
Those who knew Lukaku well could sense the aura pouring off him. Meanwhile, Ji-hyuk strolled in with a relaxed expression.
Lukaku gripped his sharpened mace tightly and slowly approached his opponent.
Clang—! The starting bell rang.
But Ji-hyuk didn't draw his sword. Everyone found it odd. Why hadn't he drawn it yet—?
Elizabeth, seeing that, had a sudden thought. No way... he's planning to win without even drawing his sword this time too?
She knew Lukaku well. He was called a genius too, with everyone saying hero status was a given for him—!
Having lost to Ji-hyuk once before, she flashed back to that horrific scene. Back then, she'd felt not just humiliated but utter self-loathing misery. Even her master Eizel had clicked her tongue in disapproval.
He's really going to fight without drawing his sword again? To show the world they're on completely different levels.
...Yeah, starting his legend right now isn't a bad idea.
Of course, Lukaku—who knew none of this—was irked by his opponent standing there unarmed. It seriously pissed him off.
"Draw your weapon—!" Lukaku shouted.
But Ji-hyuk acted like he hadn't heard, slowly closing the distance.
This bastard... he thinks he can take me barehanded...?
The lizardman was dumbfounded. And humiliated. Even for him, this was too much. How much does he look down on me to pull this shit?
...Should I just kill him? His pent-up savagery was about to erupt.
...But that'd get me disqualified. Gotta swallow the killing urge. He resolved to win this round and pay back the humiliation later.
Lukaku struck first. He kicked off the ground hard and leaped.
One solid mace swing would pulverize flesh and bone alike—
It almost hit... but right before contact, Ji-hyuk dodged by a paper-thin margin.
Wha—?
At the same time, his fist slammed hard into the lizardman's protruding snout.
———!!!
Lukaku's head snapped back. He staggered once but quickly regained his stance and retreated fast—to brace for the follow-up.
...But his opponent just walked leisurely, like he was toying with him.
This, fucking...!
The lizardman spat out blood-mixed saliva. He was truly furious now. His eyes bulged red with rage.
I'll kill him.
A lizardman's ferocity was no slouch compared to an orc's. The flavor was just different. If orcs burned hot like fire, lizardmen froze cold like ice.
Lukaku's mind chilled. All he could think was killing his foe.
"Don't get heated—fight calm—!" the instructor yelled, sensing his state. But it fell on deaf lizard ears.
Now he charged like a mad beast. Everyone realized the lizardman had lost his reason.
Well, getting toyed with like this in front of all these spectators? With his massive pride, who wouldn't snap?
But Ji-hyuk dodged the wildly flailing mace every time. The more he did, the harder and faster Lukaku swung.
Yet the mace never touched him.
Ah—!
Duchess Elizabeth's jaw dropped unconsciously. Ji-hyuk's evasion was masterful—beautiful, even.
Gunt was shocked too. He'd figured Kang Ji-hyuk was hiding some skill, but nothing like this masterful.
...Proves not drawing the sword was pure skill, not bluff.
Lukaku swung and swung his mace. Lizardmen had far superior stamina to humans, so he wouldn't tire easily.
But it wasn't infinite. Given time, even he'd wear down.
Ji-hyuk kept landing punches. A human would've had bones shattered and rolling by now, but the lizardman's toughness was something else.
Still, he was hitting his limit. Bare fists or not, they hit like blunt weapons. Each one drew pained grunts.
Finally, Ji-hyuk's fist smashed into his chest.
"Gah—."
Lukaku let out a sharp yelp. The instructor sensed defeat instantly.
His opponent was a monster beyond imagination. He'd never dreamed Lukaku would get toyed with so pathetically.
...No, everyone watching thought the same.
They'd figured Eizel's disciple had talent, but this? A whole other beast.
The other examinees sighed in relief—they weren't up against Kang Ji-hyuk.
No one could've fared better—
Ugh...!
Lukaku fully lost it. He charged like a berserk warrior.
But his openings multiplied, his patterns simplistic. Ji-hyuk found the fight boring now.
Time to end it. This is dull.
The mace dropped straight down from overhead. Ji-hyuk sidestepped easily and set his stance.
Suddenly, immense killing intent flooded the area.
Ah—.
The spectators shivered. Something big was coming—
Ji-hyuk's fist shot forward. Bang—! Air burst with the sound, launching the lizardman skyward.
Lukaku crashed and tumbled, dropping his prized mace. He lay motionless, out cold.
The referee rang the bell. Kang Ji-hyuk's victory.
Ji-hyuk brushed the dust off his clothes and left the arena.
Fairy Eizel sidled up with a grin. "Wasn't that a bit much?"
"Nah, perfect. Seizing momentum early is smart. ...See? They're all spooked."
The fairy swept her gaze over the crowd with a smug smile.
Ji-hyuk had forgotten for a sec. Eizel wasn't your average fairy.
"Next match is the day after tomorrow, got it? You can watch or head back and rest... What's your pick?"
He thought a moment. "I'll watch one more."
⋯
Duchess Elizabeth waited outside her exam room, lightly stretching.
Watching Ji-hyuk's match had weirdly ramped up her tension.
That guy's brutally strong. No matter how she sliced it, victory seemed impossible.
But she shook her head. I'm the Dukedom's top genius. She needed faith in herself.
Sudden murmurs rose from the crowd. She glanced over casually—and spotted Kang Ji-hyuk and Eizel approaching.
Ah...!
She panicked a bit. Why's he here—?
Her mind raced. But one thought clicked: He sees me as a real rival.
Why else come here? Nothing else explained it.
Her heart pounded. A strange thrill mixed in. She should want to crush him, but his acknowledgment felt good.
Means I've got genius talent enough to make him wary too.
"Don't mind them, Duchess."
"What? I'm not. Don't worry."
Her private tutor whispered, but she scoffed like it was ridiculous.
Still, every nerve was locked on that man, Kang Ji-hyuk.
...Impossible not to care. He's watching.
The match began. Her opponent: an orc. His head was two sizes bigger than hers. His iron club looked vicious—one hit would burst flesh and shatter bone.
But Elizabeth handled him effortlessly, true to her billing as the Dukedom's top genius.
Everyone wore "expected that" faces.
She's got real skill.
Ji-hyuk judged she had the qualities for A-rank hero potential.
But in the 14th loop, she hadn't grown that far—something had stunted her.
Obvious answer: arrogance.
Her environment screamed it. Stellar talent, stellar house—everyone probably babied her.
So her growth plateaued, talents unrealized, prime cut short.
Bad blood aside, it was a shame to waste that talent.
Sure, S-rank heroes were needed, but they shone brightest with A-ranks propping them up.
Finding more like Elizabeth was key. Chasing S-ranks from the start was greedy.
She seemed a solid start... but her personality and house were issues.
Would that prideful girl heed him meekly?
Ji-hyuk tabled thoughts of her for now. Becoming a hero came first.
For a no-name like him to rocket to power, hero status was the path. No one'd join a guild from some rando.
But a hero's guild? Different story.
As he mulled, the match ended. Elizabeth's win, naturally.
She raised her sword high, basking in perfect victory.
Ji-hyuk turned with his master. Nothing left worth watching.
"...Why her, though?"
The fairy—harboring ill will toward the duchess—didn't look pleased.
"Curious. How far she's come..."
"Talent's decent, but embarrassing to compare to you."
"I know, but... I can't do everything solo."
"You thinking teammates? Forget it. Won't kneel to anyone. ...And she's rude as hell."
"True."
Ji-hyuk chuckled. The fairy fussed like a mom nixing her son's marriage.
"Don't worry. Not planning to recruit her. Just... hate seeing talent rot like that."
"That's fate for ya. Her personality kills it. Arrogance too deep-rooted."
Ji-hyuk agreed. They dropped the duchess talk and headed back to the dorm.
Others might've lounged, savoring victory. But he dove back into training like nothing happened.
The fairy watched fondly.
Genius talent plus grueling effort. Merging them birthed a monster beyond imagining.
Sometimes, thinking of her disciple gave her chills. How monstrous will he become? Pure anticipation.
⋯
And so, the sun set on the first day of the exam.