Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: It's Because of This Damn Bitch
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The academy was enormous.
The splendidly decorated exterior and the massive, antique building made Yujin's mouth drop open slightly.
"Wow. So this is Pharaoh Academy!"
Yujin bounced around excitedly, taking in the sights.
'More applicants than I expected.'
Tail glanced at the teeming crowd.
The Bellenuus Empire had founded Pharaoh Academy for one simple reason.
They had lost so many talented people in the war.
And they needed to scout new ones to fill those shoes.
That's why the applicants came from all walks of life—different statuses, ages, and even races.
The school had been designed with the empire's full financial might and connections poured into it, drawing massive attention from the moment construction began.
For commoners, it was a chance to rise up and earn recognition.
For non-humans, it was a safe way to settle into the empire.
And on top of that, they got top-tier education that rivaled anywhere else. There was no reason not to go.
The emperor had already urged all the capital's noble children to enroll.
It was a golden opportunity to build ties with high-ranking nobles, so even provincial nobles had flocked here in droves.
'Chloe and Cecilia are probably attending too, right?'
And that's where Chloe meets the male lead.
A fallen noble, he climbs up through this academy, encounters Chloe amid various incidents, and falls in love.
The male lead masters his family's swordsmanship after enrolling here.
And later, he graduates as the academy's top student—a total monster of a character, the male lead of this novel.
According to Yerin's description:
"Deep black hair with those slightly curved, beautiful golden eyes! Ha.... Black hair is just the best for a male lead, isn't it?"
She was kind-hearted and upright, with zero tolerance for injustice.
'He might've already enrolled by now.'
Not knowing exactly when the male lead entered in the novel, Tail could only guess.
With that thought, Tail grabbed Yujin—who was hopping around everywhere—and headed to the entrance exam site.
The exam hall was packed with people.
A short distance away, flags were planted here and there, each marked with a number.
A massive sheet of paper was posted up where the crowd was thickest.
'Just as I figured. The entrance exam's group work.'
Pharaoh Academy's entrance exam.
Group activities.
The bane of every college student's existence back in Korea.
Yet paradoxically, it was the perfect way to gauge a person's skills, personality, and character.
From what he remembered, it went like this:
Groups of six were formed randomly, and the professor picked a leader from each.
Then everyone headed to the forest behind the academy.
That was the exam stage.
'Two ways to pass the exam.'
First: Steal the special ribbon given only to each group's leader.
Second: Scratch one of the instructors patrolling the woods.
But if you thought it through, you'd avoid other groups and instructors alike.
The school allowed scratches on instructors for that very reason.
'Of course, they'll judge individual skills too when deciding admissions.'
His own team would probably go for the first method.
Just then, Yujin spoke up in a glum voice.
"Aww. We're on different teams."
Only now did Tail notice the team assignments.
"Which team are you on?"
Yujin pointed with his finger.
"Group 3. Looks like you're Group 25?"
Tail's eyes shifted to Group 3.
And there...
[Ethan Philoff]
A name that was all too familiar.
Really familiar.
Like, really familiar.
Because...
'Isn't this the male lead's name?'
Enrolling in the same class as the male lead?
'Don't ever clash with Group 3.'
The guy had shown insane talent right from the entrance exam and gotten top honors.
With a monster like that as leader? Clash with them, and you'd get wrecked and fail.
'Lucky bastard, riding the bus.'
Tail shot Yujin an envious glance.
No way that team with male lead Ethan would fail.
"Anyway, I'm Group 25?"
Tail's eyes moved to Group 25.
[Group 25.
Ley Justy
Alice
Cromhel Barker
Vivian
Ricky Gord]
'Huh? No leader?'
Puzzled, he scanned each name, then looked at the bottom.
And there, at the very end, was his own name.
[Tail (Leader)]
He was the leader.
The hell-level group activity within the hell of group activities.
He was the leader.
"...Fuck."
The curse slipped from Tail's mouth.
Being leader meant standing out.
But it also came with a ton of responsibilities.
Responsibilities.
He didn't want to bear responsibility for anyone anymore.
'Especially not after getting stabbed in the back despite shouldering it all.'
Once was enough for that feeling.
'Hang on. Don't they usually pick leaders from established families or known names?'
How the hell did they pick a monastery shut-in like him?
That's when it happened.
"Oh my! Tail!"
A familiar voice called out.
He glanced back and caught sight of vibrant pink hair.
Without her hood, she looked several times younger and prettier.
"It really is you!"
It was Titina.
She giggled brightly.
"Here for the entrance exam, huh?"
Above her head poked round ears striped white and black.
Behind her swished a long tail, black-striped on white.
'She's a non-human. Tiger clan, looks like.'
The Bellenuus Empire had desperately reached out to non-humans when they were on the ropes during the war.
In exchange, the non-humans demanded the abolition of slavery across the continent.
'Guess trade boomed after that.'
Her ears twitched perkily with every word, drawing his eye.
Ignoring that, she beamed and continued.
"I saw your name on the applicant list this morning, just like you said. You're way better looking in person than the portrait."
She grinned wide and stepped closer to Tail.
Before he could react, she went up on tiptoes and whispered in his ear.
"So I..."
A fresh woody scent brushed his nose.
She grinned mischievously.
"...switched the leader to you."
...Pardon?
Tail's mind blanked for a second.
"I was just dying to see how you'd shine! So I snuck in and changed it!"
She said it like ta-da! Your gift!
Tail froze solid.
So.
'This leader time bomb wasn't mine originally.'
It's because of this damn bitch.
Tail clutched his head against the pounding headache.
Heading to the flag marked 25, he found five people already gathered.
As he approached, all five sets of eyes turned to him.
One pretty, androgynous person gave an awkward smile and spoke up.
With short hair and plain clothes, it was hard to tell boy from girl.
"Hi. You're... Tail, right?"
The soft, high voice lingered in Tail's ears.
"Ah, yeah."
"Our leader, then. Nice to meet you. I'm Ricky Gord. I mainly use a bow."
Ricky added,
"Oh, and just to clarify: I'm a guy."
"Ah. Got it."
A guy, huh.
Almost called him a girl by mistake.
Remembering Yujin saying it'd be rude, Tail resolved to be careful.
The others introduced themselves next.
"Vivian here. Bow's my main weapon."
"Ley Justy. I can't do much heavy lifting... but I can handle buffs."
Once the two women finished, eyes shifted to the next person.
Pointed ears, sky-blue hair like the sea, deep navy eyes.
Beauty like a god's handiwork.
An elf.
"Alice. I mainly use a bow."
'Alice?'
Tail furrowed his brow at a hazy, familiar memory.
'Heard that name somewhere.'
Where was it?
As he concentrated, a scoff rang out.
"Hah. Gotta take the entrance exam with these small fry?"
A sharp voice.
The kids' eyes turned that way.
A freckled guy loaded head to toe with gaudy jewelry.
Was he heading to an exam or a ball?
The man was glaring daggers at Tail especially.
Ricky sidled up and whispered to Tail.
"Cromhel, second son of the Barker count family. Was supposed to be leader originally, but it got snatched. That's what he said."
Who the hell wants this shitty position?
Should he hand it over right now?
As that thought crossed his mind, Cromhel spoke up.
"Tch. Hey, you."
Tail looked at him.
"What star mana core do you have?"
Star mana core?
Most people developed a mana hole in their dantian through training, storing and drawing mana from it.
Those cores ranged from 1-star to 7-star.
But oddly...
No matter how hard Tail trained or learned from everywhere, no mana hole formed.
If he got even close...
[Conditions not met]
The mana hole would start forming, then vanish with that window.
'Whatever. Don't need to know the conditions.'
With that, Tail replied flatly, expressionless.
"None."
"...What?"
Cromhel's face twisted in disbelief.
Then he grimaced, grinding his teeth.
"So a commoner without even a mana core is leading us now?"
His eyes flashed, and Tail thought:
'Then please, take the leader spot.'