Chapter 6 – The Entrance Exam

After our intimate encounter.

Having left Se-Young fainting, I dedicated myself to exercise and bodybuilding for a while.

At one point, I thought that the resentful Se-Young might seek revenge, but ultimately, I wasn’t reported. I’m not sure if it was because she felt ashamed of being overpowered by a human or if she was satisfied.

Regardless, it was difficult to determine who was in the wrong at the time.

Eventually, time passed, and the entrance exam approached.

In the meantime, I devoted most of my time to training. Thanks to the exercise, a lot of the fat clinging to my body had fallen off.

—
-Trait: Obesity (F)
I have some extra fat. If successful in dieting, the body will be upgraded to a normal figure (E).
—

I made great strides, going from severe obesity to just obesity. Though I’m an unsightly person now, my muscles continue to grow day by day, and soon, I’ll possess a toned physique. I studied diligently and easily passed the written exam.

The problem, however, lies in my lack of practical experience.

I couldn’t be certain just how much assistance my unique ability would provide me.

Silence filled the waiting room designated for the prospective cadets.

“Group E, please enter.”

At the hushed command of a supervisor, the man seated beside me abruptly stood up. My heart pounded, anticipating that I would be next.

Who would my opponent be?

As I cautiously turned my head, a woman with an icy, subdued demeanor caught my eye. She had soft, pink bobbed hair and a brooch adorned with jewels. Her delicate face was rather striking.

“…?”

Sensing my gaze, she directed her attention toward me. A pin tucked into her left hair bore a flower that matched her hair color.

Azalea.

I recalled her name as I observed the flower-shaped name tag on her chest. She was the sole daughter of the Jin family, which led the Jinmok Group. This year, she had graduated from Seoul’s prestigious Hunter Private School amidst whispers and rumors.

“Do you have something to say to me?”
“No, I was just surprised. I’ve only seen you in the newspapers before.”

Azalea furrowed her brow slightly. It was true that celebrities tended to be bothered when their stories were circulated among others. In that case, her first impression must have been the worst.

“Oh, really?”

Azalea turned her gaze again, her eyes fixated on the handsome man seated across from her. Jung Si-woo – tall and striking in appearance. Was he someone she had taken a liking to?

A tingle.

She must have stared too long, as Azalea seemed to notice. Redirecting her gaze, she decided to patiently await her turn.

“Group F, please enter.”

As her turn approached, she sprang up. Starting with herself, a total of six people entered the practical competition arena. It was a training ground covered in simple natural grass, with a few chairs placed in the center.

“Group F, has everyone arrived? I am the examiner for Group F, responsible for evaluating this duel practice.”

The examiner, already seated, took a brief attendance and proceeded with the explanation.

“Your practical test will be a one-on-one duel. We’ll observe the clashes between the prospective students and take into account the opinions of the examiners. The Group E exam will soon conclude, so wait until I call you. The first match will be between Seonhu Jeong and Jiyeon Lee.”

As for weapons, participants may bring personal training equipment or use a wooden sword or a mass-produced staff.
Being nearly a blank slate myself, I chose a sword that looked somewhat decent.

‘I really want a gun. Damn it.’

As I unsheathed my sword and waited for my turn, I heard voices around me.
It was the voice of Azalea, whom I encountered earlier.

“Jung Si-woo, brace yourself for this test.”
“Well, don’t weep when you face me.”
“You’re amusing. You should be careful too.”

Azalea and Jung Si-woo seemed to have known each other from the start, engaging in a playful back-and-forth.
They were likely classmates from a private school.

“Oh, speaking of which, how did you fare in the last written exam, Azalea?”
“It went alright. It was easy.”
“Really? What did the others think?”

The tale that blossomed around the two gradually spread to the people nearby, stirring the surrounding air with excitement. Discussions about the written exam and speculation about the upcoming practical test filled the room. In the midst of it all, my name was brought up.

“Si-heon, right? How did it go for you?”

“Me? I just took it like anyone else would. Ah, we can speak casually.”

“Should we? Being ordinary is the hardest thing, you know. Oh, right! Si-heon is the same kind of person as me, correct?”

“Person.”

At the utterance of that word from Jung Si-woo’s lips, all eyes turned to me.

“Yes, a person.”

“I could tell just by looking. Let’s do well together, as fellow people.”

I grasped Si-woo’s offered hand and shook it appropriately. His face was brimming with joy, as if meeting another person amidst a sea of wooden figures in the examination was quite a delight. He was handsome and had a pleasant personality, so it seemed he would be a great help if we became friends.

I should make a mental note of this.

With a grin, Si-woo spoke up.

“We have to pass. I don’t want to be the only person here.”

I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of bitterness at his words.

“You must pass. No matter what.”

Otherwise, I’ll face dire consequences.

*Gulp*

Just then, the door opened, and the members of Group E emerged. Several were crying, which instantly quieted the previously boisterous atmosphere.

Amidst the lingering silence, we got to our feet.

“The two people I mentioned earlier, proceed to the examination hall. As for Lee Si-heon and Jung Si-woo, prepare for the next match.”

Hearing the announcement, I questioned whether I had misheard.

“So, this is how it goes? Hang in there, Si-woo.”

Azalea gently waved at Si-woo, someone she knew.

“Ha ha…”

I reciprocated Si-woo’s awkward smile.

But we’re both human, so the difference between us shouldn’t be too significant, right? With that thought providing some relief, my turn arrived before I knew it.

*Gulp!*

“Next two, come in.”

As we entered, we exchanged a few words with each other.

“No hard feelings.”
“Agreed.”

We passed the two individuals from the earlier match, their fates now divided between triumph and despair, and took our positions in the arena. Jung Si-woo held a wooden sword in one hand, just like me.

“I’ll give you time to warm up. Tell me when you’re ready.”
“I’m fine.”

The examiner turned toward me.
I reluctantly went through some warm-up exercises, then swung my sword through the air a few times.
In that moment, the examiner’s brow furrowed slightly as he watched me.

“…Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“Begin.”

The declaration was made.
Instantly, a menacing sensation gripped my throat.
An instinctive human reaction to the anticipation of defeat. Startled, I instinctively lifted my sword beside my neck, and the sword that had appeared out of nowhere struck mine.

*Kwajik!*

At that moment, a sound that should not have come from a wooden sword rang out.
Shards of the broken wooden sword scattered through the air, splattering onto my cheeks and neck.

Si-woo’s wooden sword, which had effortlessly sliced through mine, was now imbued with magical power and aimed at my head when—

“Jung Si-woo, stop.”

As the instructor’s words were spoken, Si-woo’s movements froze as if time itself had halted.
In that instant, the wooden sword in his hand had precisely touched my neck and stopped.

“Using magic is strictly forbidden.”
“Yes.”

“Lee Si-heon, take up a new weapon, it starts in 10 seconds.”

During the ten-second break, I struggled to compose myself in astonishment.

What just happened?

Currently, my stats hover around 3 to 4, excluding mana, which is not a bad ability for an academy cadet about to enter.

But how was it just now? It wasn’t merely difficult to keep up; there was no movement to be seen. Taking a deep breath, I drew a new wooden sword.

– Thump, thump, thump, thump.

My heart pounded. Honestly, I didn’t think I could win. This was certainty, not a prediction. Even with failure and death looming, I had no confidence in victory.

How many seconds have passed? I had no idea.

Defeat in a match doesn’t directly lead to failure. If both sides demonstrate exceptional skills, the right attitude for a tester would be to pass both competitors. However, if I can’t land a single blow on him, as just happened, I’d be disqualified.

That can’t happen. I can’t fall behind here.

“Begin.”

As the examiner’s words came to an end, fear coursed through every nerve in my body. The sensation I just felt—if I remain like this, I’ll surely lose. I give in to the feeling.

– Huung!

The image of Siwoo before me vanishes. If I panic, I’m done for.

Endlessly tormented, the sensation of pressure on my shoulders converges into one point. The very same sensation I felt when I had just protected my neck. Desperately, I tilt my head.

– Paang!

The sound of air bursting rings through, barely missing my ear. A sword strike narrowly avoided. Meanwhile, my eyes, guided by my senses, remain fixed on Siwoo’s waist.

Now is the time to strike. As soon as this certainty forms, my tightly clenched hand moves instinctively. Led by my body, not my conscious mind, I gather all my strength and strike with full force.

– Thud!

“Whew.”

The outcome of this first, unexpected skirmish is a draw. The crucial point, however, is that I managed a draw against a monstrous opponent. From there, I continue the battle, guided by my inner resolve.

“…!”

Every time I faced his sword strike, my body exhibited bizarrely terrifying movements. His blade narrowly missed as it swished past the spot where my waist had bent. An inexplicable unease compelled me to turn my head, only to find a sword consistently present there.

– *Puff!*
“Ugh!”

Of course, this only lasted a few exchanges. I toppled over due to a strike that hit my upper body. My stamina was insufficient to continue the battle.

“Winner, Jung Si-woo. The results of acceptance will be posted on the website tomorrow. You may leave.”
“You’re incredible. See you later.”

Upon hearing the declaration of victory, Jung Si-woo tossed a remark at me as I lay fallen and then departed. See you later? What did he mean by that? I chuckled while lifting myself up. Though our swords had clashed for only a few seconds, my entire body felt drenched.

Defeated.

As I rose to my feet and stepped through the door, I found Azalea and Si-woo exchanging stories about the examination.

“Did you win?”
“Of course.”
“I knew it.”

Azalea spoke those words and smiled, as if she truly believed them. Though it may not have been intended, it made my heart ache.

‘How pitiful.’

It seemed she had found yet another reason to become stronger.

“Si-heon, about the test results—”
“It’s fine.”
“Did you say Si-heon? You did well.”
“Yes, you too, Azalea.”

I replied half-heartedly to Si-woo and Azalea’s farewells before leaving the examination site. Distraught and feeling exposed, I wandered the nearby hallways.

What had Azalea just said? I stood beneath a light, going over her words in my mind.

‘It wasn’t “See you later,” but “You did well.”‘

It was as if she had considered that we might never see each other again. After all, it was true that Jung Si-woo was incredibly strong. Bitterness filling my mouth, I turned the mask I had momentarily removed for identity verification back around and put it on.

Then I heard a voice from behind.

“Eek!”

It was a familiar exclamation.

Reflexively, I turned my head. A woman with large breasts was staring at me, her eyes widened in surprise.

I was taken aback by her face, and my surprise doubled when I saw the name tag on her ample bosom.

Lee Se-Young [Supervisor, Teacher]

Even upon a second glance, nothing had changed. Ha. Hahaha. There’s always a way out, even if the sky were to collapse. I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Hey, haven’t I seen you somewhere before?”
“You, you did that to me and now you have the nerve to show your face!”

[The Squad Leader (F) is activated.]

“What the hell are you talking about? You’re the crazy woman who captured an innocent person and stole the heirlooms my grandfather passed down!”

I simply dismissed Se-Young’s words. Mentioning my grandfather was a lie to gain the upper hand in the conversation. However, she raised her voice even more, as if it were out of the question.

“Isn’t it clear who’s in the wrong if you know what you’ve done?”
“You’re the one who threatened me using your family name!”

Se-Young’s face flushed a deep red. Her narrow eyes, filled with fury beneath her furrowed brow, were enough to astonish even Confucius himself.

Still, I am not intimidated. After all, she hasn’t tormented me since that day.

“Is it acceptable for a teacher here to toy with innocent people?”
“Ha. You made a mistake.”

I approached Se-Young and locked eyes with her.
As I did, she fiercely swatted my hand away and began to shout.

“If I merely speak the word, I could kill you—”

I stole a kiss from her lips.
The ‘lewd demon’ and the ‘protection of the dark gaze’ compelled me to do so.

“—Ah!”
“You know we both made mistakes, right?”
“…”
“You need a dendrochronologist? I’ll give it to you.”

She raised her eyebrows as she caught on to my intentions.

“I think I have a general idea of what you want. It’s not going to happen. Do you know how sensitive the Academy is to this kind of thing?”
“Just do it.”
“Madman…”
“Speak moderately. Your written work is probably mostly correct.”
“Mostly correct? Stop joking. How difficult is the written exam at El Academy?”
“Oh, that? It was at a high school level.”

“What? It’s a difficult level even for academy students to solve!

This is genuine.
I remember being astounded at how easy the test’s difficulty was compared to the world I lived in.
With a bit of exaggeration, even a middle school student could solve it.

“Anyway, please take good care of me in the future.”
“You’re going to fail.”
“Don’t say that. If it goes well, I’ll give you three tree rings. Is this for real?”
“Three…!”

Se-Young gasped.
The tree ring turned out to be a fantastic item for trading. I knew I had found something valuable.
I left Se-Young, who was lost in thought with her mouth tightly closed.

Now that everything has been laid out, all that remains is the revelation of fate.

And the next day.

[Cadet Lee Si-heon passed.]
[Passing ranking 152nd/154th]

I passed.