17. Special Entrance Exam
17. Special Entrance Exam
Saying someone might overhear, Eurasia dragged me into the restroom.
So I washed the hands I hadn't managed to clean earlier, then straightened my clothes.
"...Th-they really said you failed?"
"Yeah. They really said I failed."
When I first heard it, I was furious, but after hearing about the special admission conditions, I settled down a bit.
If they had that, they could've told me sooner. Why make me take the written exam and waste my time?
That's what I thought, but whatever.
It was fun in its own way.
Partly because of the old memories that came back here and there as I looked at the questions, and partly because of watching kids working hard to succeed.
The drop in standards after everyone went soft from peace was a huge shock, and being told my methods were relics of a bygone era was seriously fucking annoying.
Still, it became a chance to see the difference between four hundred years ago and now more clearly than ever before.
So I cooled off a little.
Shit, what do you mean, cooled off.
Right now I want to go find the professors and crack the skulls of the bastards who failed my exam answers.
Those dumbass bastards.
"Wh-what do we do?!"
As I was grinding my teeth, Eurasia jumped in alarm and grabbed my arm.
Her eyes went wide, her mouth fell open, and her face turned pale.
"...How did that happen? Did you cheat, my lady?"
"Are you crazy?"
"Then did you hit someone during the exam?"
"Why would I hit people?"
"Wh-what? Don't tell me you hit a professor?!"
"I want to, but hey, what the hell do you take me for to only think of stuff like that?"
Eurasia's blue eyes swiveled around.
"Uh... As Lady Eli, I guess?"
"Forget it. I'm not telling you."
To straighten my loosened twin tails, I undid the hair tie.
Pink waves spilled downward.
I raked my fingers through the gentle pink waves and neatened them.
Kind of funny to be doing this in a restroom, though.
Sara told me that if I went around even slightly disheveled, all sorts of rumors could spread to tear down the family, so I had to be careful at the academy.
What's with these brats being so cunning?
Back in my day, I would have tied them up and given them a good thrashing.
Tsk.
"Eek... I was joking! I'm sorry!"
Seeing me like that, Eurasia began fixing my hair with an expression that was half apology, half mischief.
She even pulled a comb out of her clothes.
Do kids these days carry combs like that instead of daggers in their clothes?
The end is pointy enough that it could probably double as a dagger.
"Want me to tie it back for you?"
"...Yeah. Please."
"Heehee."
Of course, I'd learned how to tie it myself.
But Eurasia and Sara are much better at it.
Sara ties it comfortably so it doesn't bother me.
Eurasia ties it a little tight.
That tires out my scalp more easily, but it lasts that much longer.
With the practical exam coming up like this, it's better to have Eurasia tie it.
"Ta-da. I tied your hair, so won't you tell me now?"
After finishing my hair, Eurasia beamed and let out a cutesy nasal tone.
She really thinks acting cute solves everything.
I've spoiled her rotten.
"They said my written exam answers were weird."
"...The Monster subjugation?"
"All of them."
"History too?"
"Yeah. They said the methods were theoretically impossible, so giving credit was tricky."
Eurasia's expression turned weird.
"I thought it might... ahem. So are you going back now, my lady? Um... what should I do? Should I go with you?"
"You have to finish the exam, Eurasia."
I was about to tell her that special admission was possible, but her reaction was too entertaining.
I'll tell her a little later.
"Ugh... no. I want to go back with you, too."
"Why? You were looking forward to attending the academy."
After hearing that, Eurasia's lips trembled, and she spoke as if she were incredibly sad.
"I... I was looking forward to the academy because I'd get to attend it with you... I don't want to go alone."
Well, well.
I wasn't expecting such an adorable answer.
Twitch, twitch—the corners of my lips rose.
"So let's just... go back together. There's another chance next year, right? Next time, I'll study hard for the written exam and come back!"
Now she held my hand with both of hers and spoke as if making a vow.
Honestly, Eurasia is remarkably thoughtful for her age.
I was about to add, 'Is it because you won't have anyone to buy you food?' but that seemed too mean, so I just laughed.
"I'm joking. They said I didn't completely fail."
"What...? Wait, could it be..."
Eurasia leaned in and whispered.
"Did they say you can get in if you bribe them?"
I gave Eurasia's cheek a hard pinch.
"Like that would work."
"Uheee..."
"There's something called special admission. If you meet the conditions in the practical exam, they said you pass no matter what. It would also prove my exam answers, and I could get into the special class too."
"Reawwy? How do you do thaht?"
"They said you have to catch a Monster somewhere in the Labyrinth."
"A monshter?"
I let go of her cheek and gently stroked her hair.
"Yeah. So don't worry, and go do well on the exam."
"...Can you actually catch it? Isn't it super strong?"
"Well, they wouldn't have put a Demon King in there."
I snickered and started walking.
"Let's go. We'll be late."
Eurasia watched me for a moment, then broke into a bright smile again.
"Then I want to try catching it too!"
"If you're going to place first, of course you have to."
*****
As the practical exam drew near, all the examinees, including me, returned to the lecture hall where we had taken the written exam in the morning.
The poor navy-hooded girl who'd been going hungry was there, too.
So when she'd been eyeing my pocket earlier, was it because she thought there might be food in it?
I thought she'd caught on that I hadn't washed my hands.
Hmm... What to do?
Fidget, fidget—as I was fussing with my pocket.
Rumble—the lecture hall door opened, and Arkand came in.
"There will be an explanation regarding the practical exam. Please stop what you are doing for a moment and listen."
Just like earlier, she skipped all the small talk and went straight to the main point.
I like the way she works.
"This year's practical exam is a Labyrinth exploration. This Labyrinth was provided by the Green Magic Tower, and I would like to inform you in advance that there is no danger to life 'caused by Monsters' within the Labyrinth. Now, I will begin explaining the exam."
A drawing formed on the board behind Arkand. A white line crossed the board, and a blue line twined around it.
The finished image was the shape of a bracelet.
It was the same image as the bracelet in Arkand's hand.
"This bracelet is also a Magic Tool made by the Green Magic Tower. It tracks examinees' positions and life signals to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances. In an emergency, you can press this button to escape outside the Labyrinth, so be careful not to lose it."
Unforeseen circumstances.
A somewhat heavy silence settled over the lecture hall at those words.
She'd said that Monsters created from illusion and summoning magic weren't dangerous.
She'd also said there could be unforeseen circumstances.
No need to think too deeply.
Be careful of other people. Watch your back.
That's basically what it means.
Anyway, since it's a gathering of many people, such things must happen often.
Status, grudges, and all sorts of things must be tangled together.
Of course, even if the academy screens them before forming teams, there will still be things that haven't come to light, so it won't be entirely peaceful.
"The exam rules are simple. You will join party members assigned by the academy, find the Labyrinth Core, and secure it, and that's it. Even if you die in the process, you will be immediately moved outside, so you don't need to worry. Exam results will be determined by the Monsters you catch inside the Labyrinth and the time it takes to secure the core. For those in the upper ranks, an interview and a one-on-one duel for transfer into Signia are prepared."
Signia.
At those four letters, the examinees' eyes changed.
Even the navy-hooded beggar girl flinched.
I expected it, but it seems everyone was aiming for Signia.
It's only natural.
The benefits are good, and the building is nice.
And since the types of lectures you can attend are different, anyone with ambition would want to be in Signia.
"Also, Karelai Academy has a special admission system. Those admitted through this system receive various benefits: starting with tuition exemption, transfer into Signia, scholarships, the right to establish clubs, letters of recommendation for Student Council membership, and more. If you're interested, you may give it a try."
Arkand's gaze lingered on me for just a moment.
"The condition for special admission is to subjugate the Basilisk, a Monster located directly opposite where the Labyrinth Core is."
In an instant, the lecture hall stirred.
Basilisk.
A Monster that takes the form of a snake and possesses the Evil Eye of petrification. The horn on its head looks like a crown, which is how it earned the epithet 'King of Snakes.'
The description says it breathes fire from a maw as huge as its massive body, and the scales on its body are as sharp as fingernails.
No big deal.
The petrifying Evil Eye can be avoided.
A big body means there are more places to hit.
The scales—if you just wrap yourself in Mana, they're soft enough that you can even tear them off with your bare hands.
And the meat of the thing is especially delicious.
Back then, if you sprinkled pepper—which was quite expensive at the time—on it, the gamey smell disappeared and it tasted so good.
One was enough to feed five people for a whole week.
Of course, you had to purify the Demonic Energy, but Luna handled that.
Anyway.
A smile tugged at my lips because the condition was a Monster that was easier to catch than I'd thought.
Meanwhile, the examinees who heard the name Basilisk stiffened and listened to Arkand's words.
"The entrance exam's Basilisk has been subjugated only six times since the academy was founded 348 years ago. And those who accomplished that subjugation are now called the Six Pillars of the Empire."
The lecture hall stirred loudly once more.
The Six Pillars.
I've read about them in books, but I don't know how strong those people are.
However, I know that there are no beings stronger than them in this empire.
How strong must they be to have earned the epithet 'Pillars'?
...I wish the past-life me had had an epithet like that.
Ronan the Martial Artist?
Shit.
"Of course, since it is a being created with illusion and summoning magic, it may be weaker than the real Basilisk, but the sensations you feel will be just the same as reality, so keep that in mind. Also, as I said, the Basilisk is located on the opposite side of the core. Subjugating this Monster means carrying a correspondingly large risk, so if you are not confident, I recommend aiming to seize the core instead."
Snap—Arkand flicked her fingers.
At the same time, the drawing on the board erased itself, and the bracelets arranged in front of her flew out.
"Each bracelet has a number written on it. You will take the exam together with the person who has the same number. The exam will begin in twenty minutes. During those twenty minutes, you may find your party members and make a plan. I will return in twenty minutes."
Arkand swept her gaze over the examinees once, looked at me one last time, and left the lecture hall.
And then.
"I'm number five. Anyone else number five?"
"Who's number three?"
"Number one! Is there a number one?"
"Number one is here!"
As soon as Arkand left, the examinees began moving around to find their party members.
They're putting in the effort.
Assuming someone would call out my number, I watched the busy kids with a proud look.
One minute, two minutes, three minutes went by.
Even after five minutes, when all the examinees had found their party members, my number was never called.
The poor navy-hooded girl sitting next to me apparently wasn't called either.
Huh, so this is how it goes.
I turned my gaze to the poor girl.
She was already looking at me.
After staring at each other for a while, I spoke first.
"May I ask what number you are?"
"Ten."
I'd politely asked, and she came back with casual speech.
She even still had that sharp glare.
The way she looked like a cat with its fur standing on end was so ridiculous and cute that I answered with a bright smile.
"Same as me."
The poor girl's face twisted.