CH 39

After leaving Alice, I was standing in a corner of the cafeteria, waiting, when a man who looked like an instructor walked in. When the instructor entered, the noise calmed down, and then he came to the front of the cafeteria and started speaking with the examinees.

“Students, we have announced the groups for the swordsmanship exam, so please go to the lobby to bring your exam vouchers, check your groups, and head to the exam room in order.”

As soon as they heard this, the examiners near the exit started to head towards the lobby and left the cafeteria. I didn’t want to be caught in the crowd, so I quickly headed for the lobby. When I arrived there, I saw a large piece of paper pasted in several places on the bulletin board on the lobby wall.

On a piece of paper, the examination numbers were grouped together, and each group was given a test site. I guess I’m in the group that takes the exam on the playground, but I don’t like the idea of standing out…….

There were a few students here and there lining up in front of the examiner, and seeing this, the students went to their respective groups and lined up. The groups seemed to be divided by gender, and I saw some groups with only men and some groups with only women. Well, I guess they have to separate men and women. Now, what about my group……?

I looked through the signs to find my group’s name, and as I looked from one end to the other, I could easily find my group’s name. But as soon as I saw the students behind the examiner, I had an incredibly bad feeling.

“Uh, Mr. Examiner?”

“What’s going on?”

I called out to the examiner of my group,

“Well, according to my exam number, I’m in this group……”

“What? Really? Can I check your examination voucher?”

The examiner frowned when he received it.

“That’s weird. This is the right group. Maybe it’s a mistake…….”

You know why I’m in this mess?

“Well, that’s fine, Mister Examiner. Besides, Viscount Dreschord can’t lose if his opponent is a woman!”

A beautiful, dark-haired woman I had seen before emerged from the group of women lined up behind the examiner. This is what I mean, another disruption to the exam…….

Why do they always try to trick me like this?

Well, it helps in part because if they cheat straight out, there’s nothing you can do about it……I’m not going to be defeated by people who do this to me!

“Well, Lady Clare Alcala. Whether I have an advantage or not, you don’t, do you? So I shall take some sensible action.”

When I said that, the other two girls, who had been looking so disgusted, were relieved. I mean, they wouldn’t be able to regret it if they lost the important entrance exam against a guy and failed. Simply put, they wouldn’t be comfortable fighting a guy.

“No, no, no, we are fortunate to have a match with Viscount Dreschord, who became the head of a noble family at an early age!”

Wow, the two girls look really uncomfortable. The girls are sending me an eye sign to do something about it. No, that’s not what they meant……When I turned my gaze to the girls, Claire noticed it and said in a chilling voice,

“Wouldn’t you guys like to have a go at him?”

Wow. The girls are shaking their heads, they must be really scared…….

“Look, I think two of them want to do it too. Sir, would you approve?”

“Yes, sir…….”

The instructor nodded.

“Hey, instructor!”

“What are you complaining about? I thought you decided to accept the situation?”

“Ugghhh………”

I was talked into it, this test was going to be quite a hassle. Now, if I raise my hand to the girl and win the admission, I will be recognized as a bastard who beat the girl to get in. Bullying was inevitable. If I lost, there was a possibility that I would not be admitted, and even if I was admitted, I would be recognized as a weakling who lost to a girl.

But I didn’t feel the least bit rushed. This exam has a rule that if you tie with everyone, you pass. To be honest, since I decided to enter the school, Yulis trained me well. Of course, the examination subject, sword fighting, is no exception. It’s a piece of cake to get a draw with three girls.

“Please prepare for the test to begin.”

As soon as the instructor called out, everyone went to the locker room, changed into their training clothes and equipped with their test armor and mock swords, and lined up in groups in a crude ring on the ground with only a line drawn on it.

“The first match will be between examinee number eight and number fifty-two. Both of you, step into the ring.”

That being said, it was me and Claire who stepped into the ring.

“I can’t believe I’m going up against Claire Alcala from the start…….”

“I’ll give it all I’ve got.”

No, seriously, give me a break……It’s hard to go easy on you…….Then, after a silent moment with both of us standing, the instructor turned the hourglass over and shouted loudly.

“First match, start!”