Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: The Right Way #3
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Most villains are diligent schemers.
They pour blood, sweat, and tears into the shadows to achieve their nefarious goals.
Such villains refuse to stagnate—they constantly strive to improve.
Naturally, I, Theo Gospel, was no different.
I might have been overshadowed by amazing ladies like Queen Aira or Elga, but the time had come to show that I was a hardworking villain too.
"Number 66, Theo Gospel. Please step forward and stand on the dashed line here."
At the call, I slipped out from the waiting line and positioned myself in front of the starting point, which was dusted white with chalk.
This was the training grounds. A place for measuring physical fitness or holding sparring matches.
Now, I faced yet another chance to test my limits.
━Look at that. Is that Theo Gospel? The monk guy?
━That monster monk? I heard he was eight feet tall with six arms.
━That guy looks our age, though? Must be someone else.
━Yeah, why would that freak come to Ark?
From behind me at the starting line, voices buzzed with curiosity about me.
From what I overheard, the rumors about me were wildly exaggerated and narrow-minded.
"Alright, it's a 100-meter dash, so just run to that line over there. Ready—."
Ding-.
"Hup!"
The gong rang, and I kicked off with my nimble legs, sprinting full force. My target was the finish line ahead. The sensation of slicing through the air felt vivid.
━Whoa, look at him—.
━Wow—.
At the same time, gasps of admiration rose toward me.
The reason? I'd shot out fast but soon slowed, gasping raggedly.
"Hah, hah, heek…!"
Just 100 meters, and it hurt like a hole punched through my chest. That was my current fitness level.
"Yes, Theo Gospel. 100 meters in 21 seconds. That's the lowest time recorded today."
21 seconds?
━Is that even human…?
━What did I just witness…?
The crowd murmured. They were probably too stunned by my abysmal time to even mock me.
But I felt a strange sense of joy.
This was a huge improvement.
Not long after waking up in this body, even walking left me breathless.
Hills and stairs choked me, like moving a rusty, long-unused machine.
"Theo, chin-ups next."
"Heek…!"
"Only one rep."
I couldn't even do one before. Progress.
"Hoo-."
Still, a few simple tests had left my body utterly drained.
The white-robed examiner tsked down at me sprawled on the mat, panting.
"At this rate, you're failing everything, Theo. You won't make it into the lower dorms, let alone get admitted to Ark."
"……."
For real?
I'd twisted the story so much to get Aira into school. And now I couldn't even enroll?
Sent back to Angmar alone?
Without Aira or Elga, what would I even do there?
━Theo, where's your queen Aira?
I might end up as prey for my enemies plotting to take me down.
Desperate, I asked the white-robed examiner.
"Isn't there any way? You mean I can't even enroll?"
"Theo, you're a half-nymph, right? First one I've seen. Nymphs are like that overall—their stamina's low."
"Ah…."
Guess my lack of athleticism came from being half tiny fairy nymph.
My vision swam.
Being a half-nymph was nothing but a penalty, huh?
Suddenly, I resented my unseen father. Why make me a half-nymph?
How did he even think to make a baby with a nymph? They look like middle-school girls at best.
No way….
「Calm Situation Assessment!
Gained experience from Talent 《Calm Thinking》.
All job experience +5」
Holy crap!
Sometimes ignorance really is bliss—I felt it in my bones.
As I sank into self-loathing, the examiner spoke.
"You're a half-nymph, Theo, so maybe you'll shine in magic or support roles. Let's move to a more precise testing area."
* * *
Nymphs supposedly have innate magical aptitude. As nature's fairies or spirits.
Like long-eared elves with archery and sword talents, nymphs have natural gifts for druidic spells and basic magic.
That's why I had the 'Wizard' job, even at level 1.
So, what could a level 1 wizard do?
"Try moving this coin to the other cup. Simple telekinesis test. Anyone with magic talent can do it."
"Ughhh-."
I alternated the coin between two cups.
Straining until veins bulged on my forehead, but neither budged. How the hell do you even use this damn magic?
"Weird. Never seen a nymph this bad at magic basics. Half-nymphs different, huh…."
The examiner seemed baffled too.
Failed every subject.
Not even basic magical aptitude.
What the hell was I?
This Angmar's reality?
"So I really can't enroll? I came to Ark to help people. What happens now?"
I gazed at the examiner, trembling with anxiety. Nymphs' big, sparkling eyes tug at heartstrings.
She looked kind, like a preschool teacher—my doe eyes would surely work.
"No way around it?"
"Eek…."
She let out a small groan at my pitiful face, glanced around, and whispered.
"How about a spar?"
"A spar?"
I glanced around.
On the training ground stage, people clashed with weapons, metal ringing.
━Gahhh!
━Urk!
Sweat beaded as I watched the blood and bruises. The examiner explained.
"Nothing proves ability like a spar."
Fair point.
But among those flying heroes and hero candidates, I'd be out in five seconds flat.
If I was good at that stuff, I wouldn't bother with annoying physicals.
"No other way? I really want to stay at this school. For me and my queen."
I acted desperate, pouring in real sincerity. She sighed and whispered, "It's a secret, but…."
"If all else fails, you could get hired as staff."
"Staff?"
"You've got real-world experience, Gospel. Shouldn't be hard."
Not a student, but staff.
If needed, stay near Aira that way.
But staff means no classes together—can't check if she's getting proper personality education.
What if she rampages in class without me?
Aira alone right now already worried me….
Rustle.
"This is the staff interview test. Want to try, Theo?"
The kind blonde examiner handed me a paper.
"Guess I misjudged you. Didn't think you'd be so studious and service-oriented."
The paper was packed with dense text—probably test questions.
Like an entrance exam.
Questions like:
━Who was the first archmage to achieve 5th circle?
━Who killed the Deer King Dearbound of ancient Ungalt?
How would I know? Not in the original novel—these obscure details.
Then—
"Why is my answer wrong?!"
A shout drew my eyes.
A girl in a nun outfit, crimson hair, wagging arrow-tail side to side.
"This is Marmar saying the answer…!"
Imp Marmar.
"Marmar, what're you doing here?"
"Ah…! Comrade…! Happy to see you…!"
Marmar lit up, spotting me in this mess.
Approaching, a middle-aged man with furrowed brow rubbed his temple, sighing.
"Look, Marmar. That's not the answer we want. Don't you know who killed the Deer King?"
"Marmar didn't kill the Deer King! Never even seen a deer! Marmar claims innocence!"
What the? Killing who? Innocence?
I peeked at Marmar's answer sheet. Same as mine—staff hiring test.
━Who killed ancient Ungalt's Deer King Dearbound?
Answer: Not me. Never seen him.
━Who achieved 5th circle first and earned the title of first archmage?
Answer: The first archmage.
━Who built the Ankar Pyramid 2,000 years ago?
Answer: Dead long ago.
"Marmar answered honestly…! Marmar didn't kill the Deer King…!"
Big problem.
I dragged the flailing, furious Marmar to a quiet spot away from eyes.
"Marmar, what happened?"
"Comrade, you said come to Ark. Can't be student. Thought staff…."
"Hm."
Yeah, I planned to infiltrate her into Ark.
Ogre Gorgor and Marmar were my minions.
Have them dig school info, maybe approach that 'Forbidden Legacy.'
"But couldn't answer imp-hating questions…!"
"Yeah, but what's with that weird speech?"
The "do this-thing" talk bugged me.
On purpose?
Marmar glanced around, whispering.
"Found out Ark has a secret nymph society. To join, gotta pretend nymph. Nymphs talk weird like this."
"Nymph secret society? Faking nymph to join?"
"Yeah! Gotta practice. And not just any—Angmar was one of the first 10 founders 30 years ago. Huge intel, right?"
"Angmar? Weren't they all dead 50 years ago?"
"That's what people think. Heard rumors Demon King Solomon might have a son?"
"What?"
My mind exploded.
Demon King Solomon Angmar has a son?
"Uh, Theo."
The white-robed examiner approached, scattering my thoughts.
"Comrade! I'll infiltrate somehow! See you later!"
"Uh, yeah."
She really was a weird one.
Regret buying her?
"Theo, break's over. Vision and acuity test now. Read the letters I point to. Last one."
Rustle.
She opened a book of colorful dots forming numbers. Like color blindness test?
"17."
"This?"
"81."
"And this?"
"54."
"No issues with color perception. How about this?"
Flip-.
Next page: faded ancient script, one line per page.
Blurry and crooked, but readable.
"Votys."
"Hm, this one… wait. What did you say?"
She flipped mid-page, shocked.
"What was that?"
"Votys, it's written."
"Really says that?"
What?
Teasing me?
Before I could retort, she flipped back through the thick book.
Held out a bizarre seal: circle with ritual drawings.
"See any letters on the rim?"
Pizza-dough edge had alphabet letters.
"Sag…are? (SAGARE). Sagare?"
"Sagare? Really?"
Doubt in her blue eyes, suspicion and wonder.
I peered closer.
Realized I read backward.
"Not Sagare—Agarez (AGARES)."
As I read correctly—
The letters flashed, then faded, leaving meaningful numbers.
「One step closer to the world's mysteries.
Gained 'Wizard' job experience. +50」
Finally, wizard XP?