The real beginning, maybe?

Stalefort—

The place where the knowledge of the entire world converged into a single spot—or more accurately, into a single room crammed with books and ancient scrolls that had survived hundreds of years.

Within those yellowed pages was stored everything there was to know about magic—its history, its theories, its practices. When it began, where it had reached, and what it even was to begin with.

But of course, not all of these tomes were readable. Some had been written in a language so old it had been passed down only within certain bloodlines, spoken now by only a few select families. Only they could decipher what was hidden in those lines.

And even with recent efforts to translate those relics, knowing how to read them didn’t mean you could use what they taught.

Those books contained spells, chants, and arcane techniques that no one had ever been able to perform. Even after finally understanding what the runes meant, no one could execute their instructions correctly—for reasons that remained unknown to the general public.

This library… it was one of the main reasons any aspiring mage would dream of joining the Academy.

And naturally, not just anyone could step inside.

Aside from instructors and high-ranking students, not even kings were allowed access without a proper reason—or some special circumstance that granted them permission.

This place had become known by another name too, one far more famous:

The Grand Library.

And that… that was just one room of a seven-story building.

So imagine what the rest of it was hiding?

---

487 eliminated. 363 remaining.

Those were the numbers posted before the applicants—a slap of reality to the face. At that moment, the doubts of many were confirmed.

Among them was Shiro, whose feet refused to move, still rooted in place as he stared at the list.

More than 400 disqualified in a single stroke…

Yeah, no one had heard of anything like that happening before.

Even the ones who’d walked in cocky and confident flinched the moment they heard the number. And those who’d lacked faith in themselves from the start?

They didn’t even bother reacting. They’d been half-convinced of their failure from the get-go.

“Just as expected… T-This is Stalefort…”

muttered a nobleman in lavish clothes, cold sweat trickling down his face.

Still… despite the unreasonable rate of rejection, most of the hopefuls swarmed toward the list.

They wanted to cling to that dream one last time—maybe, just maybe, they had a sliver of luck left.

A sliver that might let them through this round.

I wonder if they realize... even if they had all the luck in the world, it still wouldn’t be enough to pass here.

Next to Leo, who was busy dragging his feet out of the metaphorical grave they’d sunk into, stood Shiro.

His nerves had collapsed into chaos, his vision blurry, and people kept bumping into him as they rushed past to chase their dreams.

He looked around him—at the rushing crowd, the scrambling applicants.

Then dropped his head, thinking:

Should I go check the list…? Should I see the proof of my failure with my own eyes? Or just accept it and go back to my village?

Either way, he was convinced.

There was no way he’d passed.

It just didn’t make sense.

Why would they pick me out of 850 people? Why would they choose the weakest one? That’s not logical. Not at all.

“My feet really did sink into the ground, huh. Lucky they didn’t snap in half.”

The voice came from the person standing next to him—who now stood barefoot, his shoes torn apart by the shock.

“Huh? Why’re you just standing there like that? And what’s that face? You sick or something?”

“…Ah… Didn’t you hear?”

Shiro replied, his voice shaky and choked.

“Hear what? You mean that old guy’s voice? Man, that guy scared the hell outta me.

How old do you think he is? I’m betting he’s cracked the triple digits.”

He’s completely off-topic.

“Th-The 400… 487…”

“Is that some kinda lucky number?

Shiro, my man, you seriously gotta stop believing in superstitions like that. Don’t tell me you’re dumb enough to fall for that luck nonsense.”

“…Huh?”

For some reason—

Leo, out of everyone here, hadn’t seemed nervous at all.

Not during the test.

Not during the results.

Or maybe… just maybe, he was panicking inside. Maybe he was trembling like a baby and screaming internally while pretending to be calm.

Or maybe… he just never gave a damn in the first place.

Whether he cared or not…

It was impossible to tell what went on in that guy’s head.

“Alright, let’s go. The building’s door isn’t gonna stay open for us forever, right?”

Leo grabbed Shiro’s arm, still covered in trembling veins, and started pulling him toward the building.

“Wait...”

Shiro yanked his arm back.

“What’s wrong? Don’t you wanna go inside?”

Leo hadn’t even considered the list. It wasn’t like he didn’t know about it—he did. He was just that confident, both in himself and in his companion. Like the whole test had been laid out for them from the very beginning.

Though... you wouldn’t really get that impression just by looking at him.

“What’s wrong with you?! Didn’t you see the list? Haven’t you heard how many got cut? Are you messing with me right now?”

Shiro suddenly raised his voice, facing Leo, who still hadn’t let go of his hand.

“But you didn’t even check the list to see if you made it or not, right?”

“Yeah, but—”

“No ‘but.’ It’s simple, okay? I’m not gonna start preaching or anything, but if you’re not confident, then move forward anyway. If you fail, try again. If you get hit, hit back. That’s all there is to it.

But you haven’t been hit yet. You don’t even know if you failed or passed. You haven’t even taken the first step to find out what the world’s got in store for you. You haven’t failed yet.

You’re just a weak idiot, thinking the world won’t notice someone like you.”

Something about the miserable look on Shiro’s face must’ve flipped a switch in Leo. His words kept coming, each one hitting Shiro like a punch.

“You’re right at the start, and you’re already hanging your head like this? You overthink too much, man. Leave tomorrow’s problems for tomorrow and focus on today. Be the hero of today, and then be the hero of tomorrow. Don’t worry about failing. If your thoughts overwhelm you, then just move. Move that frail little body of yours. Move until you forget all that useless crap. Move until you can focus on the bright future waiting ahead of you!

And don’t tell me you never wanted to learn magic, or become a hero, or protect something you care about. If none of that matters to you, then turn back. This place—this is a factory for heroes.”

All that came from the same guy who, just moments ago, looked like he couldn’t care less about anything.

“Huh? You sound like some kind of wise old man. Is this your true personality or something?”

“What, now you’re mocking me? …Nah, just words I heard from someone great once.”

Leo’s speech seemed to bring Shiro back to his senses, even if just a bit. Enough for him to start teasing back.

“Leo... it’s already been decided...”

“You’re not the one who gets to decide how things go around here. That list does.”

Leo pointed toward the board, where dozens of people stood beneath it—faces filled with disbelief, sorrow, even panic.

“So? You going, or still scared?”

To answer that question, Shiro took a deep breath and started walking toward the list. Still hesitant, but with no other choice. He truly did want to be the hero of today.

They made their way through the crowd. On the way, they passed those returning in defeat, their faces stained with disappointment. Nobles from prestigious families—names known across the land—walking away with shame and humiliation.

When they reached the board, Leo started scanning for Shiro’s name before his own.

There were over 800 names, split between both sides. With cries of joy and sobs of despair echoing through the crowd, finding a single name wasn’t easy—especially when you had no idea which side it might be on.

But Leo didn’t hesitate.

Naturally, he looked at the right side of the list—the successful side. That’s just how he thought. And for some reason, he didn’t feel like it’d take long to find Shiro’s name. As long as he looked to the right.

“Shiro… Shiro… man, what a weird name... Ah, there!”

And there it was. On the bottom-right corner of the board: “Shiro Leonard.” Just seeing it was enough to breathe new life into Shiro. It was like reuniting with a lost child after years apart. His eyes lit up with a spark of joy and relief, and a smile crept onto his face without him even realizing.

“See that?! I told you! Stop filling your head with useless crap.”

“Y-Yeah, I still can’t believe it… but I guess I actually made it somehow. What about you?!”

“Oh—right. Lemme check.”

Leo had been so focused on Shiro, he’d forgotten to check for his own name.

“Hold on a sec...”

After a moment of scanning, Leo’s name appeared near the top—on the safe side of the list, of course. They’d both passed the first cut.

“Alright. We’re both through. So… what’s next?”

Shiro asked, and Leo responded with a mischievous grin.

“Oh? Now you’re getting all fired up? What happened to the little scared duckling from a few minutes ago?”

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

“H-Hey—shut up. What’s wrong with the question, huh?”

Now that the tension had passed, Leo couldn’t help but tease him. He even called him a scared duckling.

It wasn’t the first time someone had called him that.

But seriously—you do not wanna embarrass yourself in front of Leo. Ever.

“Alright, alright, I’ll shut up. But don’t let your guard down. If you were listening to that old man properly, we’ve still got two more tests ahead. We’ve gotta stay sharp.”

“When you say ‘stay sharp’… what exactly do you mean?”

“…What do I mean?”

Shiro’s question caught Leo off guard. He tilted his head, thinking.

“I mean, from the start—we didn’t do anything. We didn’t even know what the test was about. No one explained anything. We just walked through a gate and talked... So what the hell happened for that many people to get cut in one go? And why?”

“Whoa, whoa—chill out, man. That’s a lot of big questions all at once.”

Of course Leo had thought about it too. But he didn’t have time to find the answers. And honestly? There weren’t any clear ones to begin with. Everyone was probably wondering the same thing—what did the first test actually measure?

Because truth be told... from the moment they walked in, they hadn’t really done anything.

And nothing had been asked of them either.

“What the hell do you think you're doing!! I’m the second heir of the Estevian family! My family has supported this garbage academy for years!! Get your filthy hands off me, you lowlife!! How dare you cast me out, you bastards!!! I’ll tell my father and you’ll see hell with your own eyes!! I told you to take your hand off me, didn’t you hear?!”

“Uwah… what’s that about?”

It seemed that one of the rejected candidates belonged to a well-known noble family. He was screaming while two guards dragged him out of the arena. Honestly, it wasn’t surprising—who wouldn’t whine after such an unreasonable test? And it wasn’t even the first time a noble’s kid threw a tantrum. They all thought their family name was a free pass to do anything and go anywhere... pathetic.

The rejected students were quickly removed, and the rear gate slammed shut, leaving 363 individuals standing in formation before the gate that led into the academy.

Moments later, a man dressed in the academy supervisor’s uniform stepped out of the building. He wasn’t unfamiliar to Leo. In fact, he was the same man who had attacked him earlier. Black, shoulder-length hair, pitch-black eyes with a razor-sharp gaze. His body was tall and average—not bulky, but not slim either. His eyes alone were enough to crush someone’s psyche with a single glance.

He kept walking until he stopped at the gate, casting his gaze over the students who had passed the first test. His eyes briefly locked onto Leo, who didn’t flinch in the slightest. Of course, he recognized the man immediately. Even if his eyes didn’t remember him, his trembling hands surely would.

“That bastard…”

The words slipped clearly from Leo’s lips, full of venom.

After a few seconds of heavy silence that clenched everyone's hearts, the man finally spoke in a loud, commanding voice.

“No need for lengthy introductions. My name is Shin Lark. Don’t expect any warm welcomes from me—or anyone else—from this point on. From now on, you’ll face the true hell of Stalefort. Passing the first test was pure luck for some of you. And in the next test, that luck will run dry, and we’ll sure..see your pathetic reality.”

“Was that rejection earlier just a warm-up before hitting the beach or something?”

“Shut it! This isn’t the time for your jokes!”

Leo had asked that curious question out loud—loud enough that the supervisor might’ve heard it.

Instead of congratulating the survivors or easing their nerves, he cranked the fear up several notches with those heavy words that crushed everyone’s spirits.

But among the 363 standing there, there was one person who didn’t flinch. One person who stood firm and raised her hand to ask a question to the man who looked like a dragon straight out of hell.

“Hm? I take it you have a question?”

Shin turned his gaze toward the girl—eyes as blue as the summer sky, long hair braided to one side, so lustrous it looked dipped in gold. Her face and skin were smooth and pale, practically glowing under the sun. She wore an outfit that spoke of her noble status, capturing everyone's gaze. Yet her eyes—devoid of fear or even emotion—met the gaze of the man who had thrown them all into the abyss of terror with nothing but his words. She spoke with no hesitation.

“Yes… I want to ask about the first test.”

Shin narrowed his eyes slightly, staring at the girl.

“…And what exactly do you want to ask, Alice Kazuchi?”

Full name: Alice Amisawa Takemikazuchi. Unlike the first two names, the third—Kazuchi—was a title, referring to the Lord of Sword and Lightning. Naturally, people just called her Kazuchi.

Her family had been famous since the Holy War, producing elite swordsmen whose blades never failed to cut through anything.

Alice was no exception. In fact, she stood out even more. At just seventeen years old, she had already reached a level of mastery that would take an average person more than 25 years to attain. A prodigy beyond compare.

Naturally, everyone recognized her name—everyone except Shiro. The moment the name "Kazuchi" was spoken aloud, those around her instinctively backed away. It was a sign of fear, respect, and awe toward the monster standing beside them. Despite looking like a princess—no, like a peaceful angel descended from the heavens—her power was more akin to that of a king of destruction, waiting for the right moment to blow the earth to bits.

“Okay… if we can help it, I’d like to avoid getting into it with that blonde.”

Leo whispered to Shiro, eyes locked on Alice standing in the center.

“What do you mean… ‘avoid’?”

Shiro heard him clearly—and understood exactly what he meant. But he couldn’t believe it. Leo, who had confidently taken on that brutal strike earlier and stood like a mountain, was now shaken by the mere presence of a girl.

“You don’t actually think I’m the strongest person here, do you?”

“…”

Shiro didn’t answer. His silence said it all: Leo was right.

"You’ve got to be kidding me, man. I only managed to block that punch because that supervisor held back—and look what it did to my body. Sure, I’ll heal up quickly, but against that girl… even if he was going all out, she could probably slice him clean in half without breaking a sweat.

After hearing those serious words from Leo, Shiro didn’t say a thing. He just kept his eyes on Alice, quietly reflecting on what Leo had just said.

Here, among fighters, elites, and the unique… there was Alice—the one who outshined them all.

“You said some of us passed by luck, but you still haven’t explained how you chose who passed and who failed. In other words, you never told us how luck played a role in the outcome—like you claimed.”

Bold and fierce—that was everyone’s first impression upon hearing Alice question Shin like that.

Everyone had been thinking the same thing, but too late. At first, they were all overwhelmed by the sudden rejection and the massive cut in numbers.

Why were they chosen? How were the failures determined? No one had dared to open their mouths in front of that man… except Alice, who would say whatever she pleased without a hint of hesitation.

But Alice herself had another reason for asking the question the way she did.

While others were just glad to be lucky, Alice found Shin’s comment about luck utterly insulting. She believed she was the strongest one here, no doubt about it. To say she passed just because of luck? That was a slap in the face.

It would mean the years she spent training—doing nothing but training—were meaningless, dismissed by nothing more than a few throwaway words.

Yes, this girl carried an almost unnatural pride when it came to how people spoke about her.

“I figured someone would ask that eventually. Honestly, I was wondering why no one brought it up sooner.”

“Well, you can find the answer by looking in the mirror…”

“Leo!”

“Okay okay, I’ll shut up.”

Leo just had to take that shot.

“The first test..was a behavioral and ethical evaluation. In other words, we tested how you act when surrounded by strangers who are all your competitors. While some of you were busy trying to get each other eliminated, we were watching how you spoke, how you looked at others, how you moved. Naturally, the behavior of nobles was predictable, given their social positions. And of course, no one would blame them for that—in normal society.”

Shin spoke all this with his head down, eyes closed, then paused briefly before lifting his head and continuing in a far deeper, more menacing tone.

“But… this is Stalefort. We’re not a normal society that tolerates nobles stepping on others. Your rank here is determined by the effort you put in. By what you do now, what you will do in the future, and how you do it. How you treat your instructor. How you support your friend. We’re not a daycare center. Your family is supposed to raise you—we're just here to test how well they did. And if you lack the basic decency to respect those beneath you… then we don’t need your kind here.”

Hearing all that, everyone averted their eyes from Shin. His words had shattered the pride of even the noblest of nobles. Stalefort didn’t believe in equality—it believed in effort. What you do defines who you are in this place.

“Now, I hope that answers your question, Alice… Oh, and regarding luck: I’m certain some of you managed to hide your true nature from the observers, avoiding any conflict or conversation that could reveal your behavior. And yes, that might’ve helped you pass. But that’s no one’s fault. Every test has a loophole, and someone will always find a way to use it. Any other questions?”

No one spoke up. That answer was terrifying enough to crush curiosity, questions… and anything else that wasn't the desperate wish for this moment to just end already.

Even Alice seemed satisfied with that explanation.

“Good. Now, follow me inside—quietly.”

With those words, Shin led the group forward, entering through the passage that took them straight into the heart of the massive seven-story building.

The moment you stepped in, you were greeted by an enormous hall, large enough to hold five hundred people at once. Ornate carvings decorated the walls, drawing your eye almost instantly. Directly ahead, a staircase spiraled upward toward the upper floors. To the left, a corridor led to the rear training and battle grounds. To the right? That path took you to what they called the “Transfer Room”—and that’s exactly where everyone was heading now.

It was then that the group started to notice students—actual academy students—already inside the building. Wearing the official uniforms, books in hand, they cast smug, knowing glances toward the newcomers. It was the kind of look that screamed, “Yeah… we know what’s coming for you.”

Suddenly, a man they hadn’t seen before approached, walking straight up until he stood in front of Leo. His half-lidded eyes scanned Leo’s body slowly.

“W-What is it…?” Leo asked hesitantly.

The man didn’t answer. Not a word.

And strangely, Shin—the one who had been leading them all this time—didn’t speak either. He just stared, quietly watching the interaction.

After what felt like an eternity, the man finally shifted his body, now facing Shin directly.

Then, without warning, he opened his narrow eyes. Fully.

A chill ran down everyone’s spine.

He wasn’t the kind of man who opened his eyes often. And when he did, it meant trouble.

His gaze locked on Shin, who—despite his usual composure—visibly tensed.

Then the man spoke, his voice calm and utterly terrifying.

“Shin. We’re going to have a long... long talk once this is over. Got it?”

“…”

Shin didn’t respond. He simply turned his head, arms crossed, clearly irritated.

The man then turned back to Leo—who was visibly shaking now. And honestly, who could blame him? Even Shiro, who had been standing right next to Leo a moment ago, had vanished completely.

“…Let’s take a look, shall we?”

With that, the man reached out, placing his hand gently on Leo’s head. He closed his eyes, and a soft, calming blue aura flowed from his palm.

Under the stunned gazes of everyone watching, Leo’s wounds began to vanish. Not fade—vanish. As if they’d never existed.

And just like that, the trembling stopped. The pain was gone.

“My body…?”

Healing magic. A known art, yes—but rare. Extremely rare.

“There. That’s better. Here, wear these.”

“…Ah. Thank you… sir.”

The man handed Leo a pair of shoes, seeing as the poor guy was still barefoot. Then, without another word, he turned and began walking away. Just before disappearing down the corridor, though, he shot Shin one final, cutting glance.

A silence settled over the group. Not peaceful. Not comfortable. Just… awkward.

And without addressing the awkward tension, Shin simply motioned for them to keep moving, pointing toward the right corridor again.

As they walked, they passed countless doors on either side—each leading to unknown rooms, their purposes a mystery.

Eventually, they arrived at their destination: the Transfer Room. A crystal symbol was engraved into the door.

“The next test will take place inside a maze—or more accurately, a forest. If you flew in from above, you might’ve noticed a forest in one of the academy’s corners. That’ll be your testing ground. You’ll be transported there shortly using transfer platforms.”

Shin addressed the remaining candidates, those who had managed to pass the first trial.

“Wait—hold on! Shouldn’t we get a break? Or maybe something to eat before the next exam?”

One of the girls raised her voice, clearly not thrilled about being thrown into another test right away.

Honestly, she had a point. For people who lived cushy lives, it wasn’t surprising that a few would start to complain.

“A break, huh? Hmm… what’s your name, girl?”

Shin didn’t answer her question. His voice was calm, unreadable—almost like he’d been expecting someone to whine about it.

“M-My name? It’s Chimera Vladimir.”

She responded with a slight arrogance in her tone. From that alone, you could tell she came from a wealthy family.

“The Vlads, huh…”

Shin repeated the family name, slow and almost disappointed. No—more like he knew something about them. Something unpleasant.

Taking a deep breath, the supervisor fixed his gaze on the girl in front of him.

“Chimera. Let’s say your family’s mansion was attacked by commoners, and a fire broke out while everyone in your family was trapped inside. Somehow, you manage to execute the first part of a three-phase escape plan. But just as things are going smoothly, I suggest we stop for a bit, grab a bite to eat, and take a short break... while your beloved home slowly burns to ashes. What would you say to that?”

With a calm tone, like it was the most logical thing in the world, Shin threw that twisted question at Chimera.

“Hah?! What the hell does that have to do with the test?!”

Upon hearing the bizarre scenario, the girl screamed right in Shin’s face. To her, the question made no sense—but maybe there was more to it than she realized.

The Vladimir family. One of the noble houses infamous for their disgust toward commoners and holding the highest number of slaves in the entire kingdom. The land their mansion currently sat on used to be an orphanage. That was, until the family bought the land, enslaved everyone living there—children and adults alike—and silenced any opposition with blood.

Naturally, they ranked number one on the list of most hated families. And of course, Chimera carried that same elitist hatred deep in her bones.

The only reason she bothered speaking politely to the supervisors was probably because she respected their academic authority. But still—like Shin himself—all the supervisors were commoners.

Chimera’s outburst had annoyed Shin. And that question of his? It was just payback. He had no noble intention to make her realize the gravity of the situation or push her to persevere. That man named Shin wasn’t that kind of person.

“Ah, right. Let me apologize. The question had absolutely nothing to do with anything,” Shin replied flatly. “To answer your question though—no. No breaks. You’ll keep going until it's over.”

Having gotten the reaction he wanted, he was more than happy to answer her properly.

“Tch… You could’ve just said that from the start, filthy commoner,” Chimera muttered under her breath.

As the awkward exchange came to a close, with most of the other participants still unsure what it was all about, Shin turned toward one of the supervisors next to him and signaled with his hand.

Soon after, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed in the room. One by one, students began appearing, each carrying backpacks. They walked up to the examinees and placed the bags down beside them.

Everyone, including Shiro and Leo, picked up a bag. Inside were: four bottles of water, four cans of preserved food, a rope and grappling hook, a small blue crystal, and a map.

No one really understood the purpose of these supplies. But it was clear—they were meant for the next test.

“Now listen up,” Shin said, his voice sharp. “I’m not repeating myself. You’ll carry these weightless backpacks into the forest. You’ll be teleported there one by one, and dropped in separate locations. That doesn’t mean you won’t run into each other. And let me be clear—the goal is not to make it out of the forest safely.”

Those few words were enough to change the atmosphere completely. Whatever this second test was, it already felt different. Heavier. More serious. Maybe even dangerous.

“Wait... It’s not about surviving and escaping?” That single thought echoed in everyone's heads.

Then, Shin pulled out a small yellow badge with the academy’s emblem. It looked like it could be pinned anywhere on the body.

“These badges are your target. Each of you will be given one. While you're inside the forest, your objective is to hunt down and collect as many badges from your peers as possible—and make sure yours isn’t stolen until the very end.”

A survival game. That was probably the most accurate way to describe this trial. You had to gather badges… while defending your own.

But Shin said nothing else. And that silence made everyone uneasy. It felt like there were way too many missing details—like they were walking into something they didn’t fully understand. People looked around, exchanging unsure glances.

Then, Shiro raised his hand to ask a question—something that made Leo glance at him in surprise.

“Yes?” Shin acknowledged him.

“Excuse me, but how long does the test last? And if someone steals my badge, am I out? Also... is there a required number of badges to collect?”

Lots of questions. But Shin didn’t seem bothered. In fact, it was almost like he was waiting for someone to ask.

“There’s no set number of badges. And no, you’re not out if your badge is stolen. You can continue participating until you get another one—or until time runs out. As for the duration… let’s see. You’ll be in the forest for a full five days.”

“FIVE DAYS?!” someone blurted out instinctively—only to clamp a hand over their mouth the moment Shin glared at them.

Logically speaking, surviving for five whole days on just those rations was close to impossible. Especially for the pampered noble brats who were used to stuffing their faces the moment hunger struck. And that was without even factoring in the badges—that part alone added a whole new layer of pressure.

“At sunrise and sunset each day, check your maps,” Shin continued. “You’ll see a few areas glowing in color. At those marked locations, we’ll place a food can and two bottles of water—daily—until the test ends.”

His explanation brought no comfort. If anything, it made people even more uneasy.

It’s not that they didn’t want the extra food—far from it. With only four cans to last five days, you’d need a miracle or some extreme rationing to survive. Even if you were fine with the food, what about water? The concern was obvious to everyone.

Sure, the academy would provide supplies… but reaching them would mean running into others. And while Shin never said anything about how to steal someone’s badge, everyone had already come to the same conclusion:

Fighting was inevitable.

Which meant those resupply spots? They were going to turn into warzones. All for a bit of food that might not even last a day.

You could go in hungry and leave with nothing. No badge, no food. Or worse—both.

And with the test stretching out for five long days, no one would last long while starving, thirsty, or completely drained from constant fights.

It felt less like an exam... and more like a trap.

Raising his hand, Leo asked the question that would unveil just how crazy and dangerous this test truly was—how far the Academy was willing to go.

"Sir! What are the allowed methods to obtain the badges? Can we fight? Or is it just stealth and theft?"

And right then—only then—as if he had been waiting for that question all along, Shin smiled. Not the friendly kind of smile. No, this one spelled nothing but trouble. His answer? A shock to most… but music to the ears of a select few.

"Anything goes. You can fight with all your might, steal, scheme, team up and ambush—do whatever you want. Just don’t kill. Kill someone, and you’ll find your head under the guillotine."

Several examinees couldn’t help but grin, Leo included.

Anything goes? As long as fighting was on the table, things just got a lot easier—especially for the nobles and the more powerful commoners. Money wasn’t the only thing these nobles cared about. They trained hard too. Most had already reached high levels of magical aptitude. With combat allowed, they had the upper hand.

Then, another student raised their hand and asked about the strange blue crystals.

"Those are for your convenience—and ours. If you ever feel sad, hopeless, or like crying your little heart out, just look at the crystal, say my name ‘Shin’, and it’ll light up. That’s your ticket out. You’ll be disqualified and sent back to your cozy little bed."

He said it with a smug grin, triggering chuckles from the other supervisors nearby.

After listening to him for a while, everyone had formed a solid impression of who this guy really was.

He’d answer if you asked him the right way. He didn’t care if you were a noble or not. He'd pull whatever stunt he wanted just to get his point across. He’d provoke you on purpose. He didn’t bother explaining anything unless you asked first.

Yeah… Shin was not someone you wanted to mess with.

"My request is simple. Get as many badges as you can. Anyone who doesn’t have a single badge by the end will be eliminated. Also, 363 of you will enter that forest, but only 60 will come back. If there are no more questions, line up and head into the room one by one."

No one asked anything. Maybe they still hadn’t processed the math. Maybe they just realized that, like before, they had no say in any of this.

Swallowing their fears, the examinees obeyed. They lined up and began filing into the room. Shiro stood right behind Leo, as the line slowly started moving forward.

"So, what do you think? You think you can pull it off?"

Leo asked, glancing back at his friend.

"You're talking to me like I'm your kid. Worry about yourself first."

"Heh, don’t worry. I’ll snag a few badges. But what about you? You really think you’ve got what it takes?"

He repeated the same question, this time with his usual confident grin—though maybe it was missing a bit of its usual spark.

"Yeah. One way or another, I’ll manage. My combat skills aren’t great, but I’ll do what I can."

"That’s the spirit! You do believe in yourself after all, huh?"

‘Of course I do. What do you think I’m doing here?’

"...Well, just now you kinda looked like a woman who just lost her lover."

"...What kinda messed up analogy is that? Her lover?!"

The two kept talking until they reached the Room door. Inside was a dark, empty room with nothing but a portal in the center—a swirling black vortex like a miniature black hole. Standing right beside it was Supervisor Shin.

Yes. These things were called teleporters. They could send you anywhere in the world… well, anywhere except certain restricted locations.

Leo stepped up to the portal, hesitated for just a second, then walked right in. He disappeared instantly.

Shiro blinked, a little taken aback, but it was his turn now. He stepped forward.

"I’m expecting something from you in this exam,"

Shin said quietly—only loud enough for Shiro to hear.

Shiro didn’t really pay it much mind. He just walked straight into the vortex.

A moment later, his body materialized somewhere entirely new. Towering trees loomed overhead, thick enough to block out the sun. The chirping of insects echoed around him, and a familiar earthy scent filled his nose.

He didn’t need to look. Just breathing it in was enough to know—

He was in the middle of a massive forest.

This… was where the second exam began.