Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Results Announcement
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Noa's face was beaming when they reunited.
She must have made up for her dismal performance in rune engraving during the other aptitude tests. With a bright smile, she asked,
"How'd the exam go? Did you do well?"
"Better than I expected. What about you?"
"Hehe, of course I aced it. Talisman craft was an unexpected curveball and I got an A, but curse was straight S-grade. Plus, I got tons of praise from the proctor!"
Noa beamed with pride.
Ullan nodded.
"Guess you won't have to go back to the plains."
"Obviously! I told you, didn't I? You never know until the results are out."
Noa puffed up with smug satisfaction.
But it didn't last.
"By the way, Ullan."
"Yeah?"
"I've been wondering about this since earlier."
Noa narrowed her eyes.
A glint of peculiar curiosity in her gaze.
A moment later, she followed up with her question.
"Why's your butt glowing blue?"
"Ah, that's..."
He knew exactly what she meant.
He was about to explain when...
Grrroooowl!
His stomach let out a thunderous rumble.
His expression hardened in tandem. Seeing his face suddenly pale, Noa asked worriedly,
"You okay? You don't look so good."
"Looks like it's about time."
"Time for what?"
"The marble."
"Marble?"
Noa cocked her head repeatedly.
At that moment, Ullan turned away, as if he couldn't hold it any longer.
"Gonna go take a dump."
"...Just say you're going to the bathroom."
Damn, too real.
Noa wrinkled her nose. Just as Ullan headed off to the restroom to do his business, some figures who appeared to be professors showed up.
"We will now announce the final list of successful candidates for the Arsen Academy entrance exam."
No sooner had the words left their mouths than...
The murmuring hall fell silent in an instant.
Everyone held their breath, eyes fixed on the podium.
Dilia was no exception.
Of all the timing, he goes to take a dump now. Ullan's got rotten luck. As she thought that, the professors spoke again.
"A total of 2,754 candidates took the entrance exam this time, and 201 have passed."
"Final scores incorporate the written exam and physical test. Students with recommendation letters received perfect scores on both."
Recommendees get perfect scores.
It was blatantly unfair. But no one raised any objections.
Well, yeah.
Only royalty and great nobles could write recommendations.
In other words, born winners only.
And in a world where class was set from birth, this didn't even count as discrimination.
It was just how things were.
At least the silver lining is...
Ullan and Noa both had recommendations from a great noble, Count Dermore. So they started with perfect scores on written and physical.
"Finally, candidates who demonstrated exceptional talent in the aptitude tests have received special bonus points from the proctors."
Special bonuses—up to three per proctor, marked separately.
"Now, we will announce the results!"
They started from the bottom.
201st place, then up.
Soon, Noa's name appeared.
【122nd. Noa Darshen】
【Aptitude Scores: D/A/S+】
Special bonuses marked with pluses.
Noa got one for curse. Probably for achieving the goal in record time.
Still, 122nd...
That's below average.
Noa looked displeased.
Sigh, all because of rune engraving.
Without that, she'd have been mid-tier at least.
Should've picked a different test. As she grumbled inwardly, another familiar name caught her eye.
【99th. Ivela Elead】
【Aptitude Scores: B/A/S+】
The future Sword Princess and hero. Seeing Ivela's scores, Noa tilted her head.
Huh? Surprisingly low.
Ivela was a sword genius.
S-grade character too. Noa expected top ranks, but it was lower than thought.
The question vanished quickly, though.
A bigger worry had cropped up.
Why isn't Ullan's name showing?
They were already at 30th place.
Even some with double S-grades had passed, but no Ullan.
No way he failed, right?
Even with two S-grades, an F in the third meant automatic fail.
The thought sent a chill through her.
Just two months ago, Noa had shared Ajuh's view: better for Ullan to train on the plains and fulfill hero duties than enter the academy.
But now...
Things had changed.
Having enrolled in Arsen Academy, she had to snag all the hidden pieces and rewards here. She couldn't do it alone.
She needed Ullan's help.
And one more issue.
...I don't want to be left alone anymore.
This was the game world.
Familiar to Noa. But the thought of being stranded here solo stirred unease.
With Ullan around, it was different. They'd grown close over nearly two months, and he was reliable.
I need Ullan...
Suppressing her anxiety, she watched the list.
Down to 10th, still no Ullan. Resignation began to creep into her expression.
Her shoulders slumped.
Then the professors changed tack.
"Before announcing the top 10, we will first reveal this exam's top scorer!"
The word "top" made passers' eyes sparkle with curiosity. Not Noa's, though. She already knew.
Star Witch, Dilia Arpen.
A future member of the seven heroes alongside Sword Princess Ivela. Like Noa, bearer of Mana's Blessing.
But that wasn't important now.
No way Ullan flunked.
Noa let out a quiet sigh, her face downcast. Then the professors revealed the top scorer's name and scores.
【1st. Ullan Bator】
【Aptitude Scores: S+/S+/S+】
And in that instant.
Noa's face froze.
"Huh?"
What? Did I see that wrong?
Staring blankly, she rubbed her eyes and looked again. The name hadn't changed.
She stayed dazed for a while before murmuring in a faintly trembling voice,
"...For real?"
It was real.
Perfect scores from every proctor, plus special bonuses. The hall buzzed. Noa laughed, tension draining away.
A barbarian freshman taking 1st.
On this unprecedented announcement day, the man himself was hard at work... pooping.
2.
Meanwhile, at that very time.
As the passers were announced...
Arsen Academy's leadership held an emergency meeting. The agenda: entrance exam top scorer, 'Ullan Bator'.
The convener was Berje Erkajan.
At 75 this year, his graying hair and beard bore witness to the years.
But his eyes burned fierce.
It was only natural.
Berje had spent his life in the military, guarding the empire's west.
Six years ago, he ended the long western war in victory. Now retired, he served as dean of the Military Studies Department at Arsen Academy.
With credentials like that, he was second only to the chancellor in academy power.
When such a figure called a summons, few could refuse.
Thus, the three proctors for Ullan's tests filed into the meeting room one by one.
'Grand Melee' proctor: Ethan Arnop.
'Monster Hunt' proctor: Stella Natalia.
'Mana Detection' proctor: Deplin Chernio.
Wait, Deplin Chernio?
Seeing the young girl enter with quick steps, Berje's eyes widened.
"What are you doing here?"
"I was a proctor too."
"What? But the Mana Detection proctor was supposed to be Professor Direk..."
"Professor Direk collapsed mid-exam. I happened to be nearby and took over."
Strictly speaking, Deplin was the culprit behind Direk's collapse.
No need to mention that, though.
So she kept it quiet.
Berje eyed her suspiciously, but her cheerful smile revealed nothing amiss.
"Now that everyone's here, to business."
Military man through and through, he wasn't one for beating around the bush. He got straight to why he'd summoned them.
"Is this top scorer, Ullan Bator, really that exceptional a talent?"
S-grades weren't handed out lightly.
Only those with clear strong talent or potential earned them. Some tests had none at all.
Yet Ullan got S from all three, plus bonuses.
Doubt was inevitable.
Berje's eyes gleamed like sharpened blades. The room fell into heavy silence under his piercing gaze.
Then someone spoke.
"He's a born fighter."
Ethan Arnop.
Grand Melee proctor and Military Studies professor. Old ties with Berje from army days.
"His fighting style and battle sense were the best I've seen in any student."
"That good?"
"Yes. If Your Excellency saw him fight, you'd fall for him at first sight."
Berje looked surprised at Ethan's grin. He couldn't hide his astonishment.
"Unexpected. You're notorious for stinginess with praise, yet you say that much."
"It's not that I'm stingy—there just aren't talents worth praising."
"That's what stingy means, usually."
Wrapping up with Ethan, his gaze shifted to the green-haired woman. Monster Hunt proctor and fellow Military Studies professor, Stella.
"Next, there was an incident in the Monster Hunt, right? What happened?"
"Ah, we were supposed to summon a 3-star beast, but an accident brought out a 5-star."
"Hm, definite accident."
Worry creased his eyes.
Noticing, Stella continued flatly,
"No need to fret. We identified the saboteur who tampered with the summon circle beforehand and are pursuing them now."
"Good, leave that to you. Anyway, what did you think of Ullan?"
As Berje's question ended...
A crack appeared in her stoic face.
Moments later, Stella's expression turned entranced, murmuring as if possessed.
Chapter 7. Results Announcement