Chapter 3

***

“…”

“…”

Just as she looked at me, our gazes met for a moment.

Flick.

As she coldly averted her gaze, I was momentarily taken aback.

‘Why…’

Why is this girl in the same group as me? How could this happen?

I clearly left the training ground and headed straight to the examination hall.

To get my examination number as quickly as possible. But I didn’t know this girl would be in the same group as me.

I couldn’t understand it at all.

“An anti-gravity field exists in the examination hall for basic physical tests. Please find your positions and stand there.”

As the supervisor at the entrance spoke coldly, the others, who had been hesitating, began to find their positions.

Even as they all found their places, I felt uneasy.

‘Damn…’

The sight of the examination hall made me feel uneasy.

In the current physical test hall, three people who could be called instructors of the academy were standing at a distance, watching us.

The examinees would reveal their characteristics to them and then demonstrate their abilities by attacking the dummies in their field of vision.

Typically, the most outstanding one among the ten examinees, including me, would be selected.

While there are cases where multiple people are selected, I know that the tendency is to focus on the person with the best performance.

I thought the best outcome would be to get a high score in this entrance examination and be assigned to a high class.

But from the beginning, it seemed like things were going to be messed up by that blue-haired girl.

“Then, please come to the center, examinee number 491. After introducing your characteristic, we will proceed with the test.”

As the supervisor’s voice echoed, a person from the first position stepped forward.

Thud.

A man with the number 491 on his chest walked awkwardly, as if he were very nervous. Seeing this, I felt it was not worth watching.

“My characteristic is, um, strength, and my characteristic level is 2. I can exert more powerful strength due to my innate strength...”

As he awkwardly tried to explain himself, the supervisor immediately cut him off.

“Strength characteristic level 2. The introduction ends there, and we will proceed with the test. Each of the other examinees will be given only 3 seconds to demonstrate their abilities, so please attack the dummy on the signal.”

With the cold words of the supervisor, the man approached the dummy with a tense expression.

“Start.”

The test that followed.

Perhaps to show off his strength characteristic, he wielded a giant longsword and struck the dummy made entirely of iron.

Clang!

Clang!

A fierce sound of impact echoed, and a series of fierce attacks followed.

Just as he seemed to be pouring all his strength into the attack.

“Stop. That’s enough.”

At the supervisor’s words, the man stopped.

“Examinee number 491, please go to the exit.”

There was no announcement of whether the test result was a pass or a fail.

After introducing their characteristics and a 3-second demonstration, they were simply directed to the exit.

“Thank you very much!”

As the man loudly shouted before leaving the exit, the room fell silent again.

“…”

“…”

The sound of swallowing could be heard from nearby.

The entrance examination, which I was encountering for the first time without prior information, was this harsh.

Appealing one’s characteristic to the examiners for just a few seconds, and the entrance examination that determines one’s life ends so futilely.

That’s how it went for 492, 493, and up to 495, my preceding number...

All of them, after a short test, walked to the exit with weak steps.

Throughout the process, the supervisor conducted the tests coldly, and the examiners, who were evaluating us, did not utter a single word to the examinees.

“Then, examinee number 496, please come forward and introduce your characteristic before proceeding with the test.”

As my turn approached, I confidently stepped forward.

Thud. Thud.

Unlike the previous examinees who seemed intimidated, I had to show my unique qualities.

“I have a spear skill characteristic at level 3.”

I didn’t give a lengthy explanation like the previous examinees.

I only stated my characteristic level.

Because that was enough.

“...Level 3?”

When a red-haired woman, one of the examiners, spoke for the first time after the test began, I felt a smile spread across my face.

The red-haired woman, whose name is Kali, is known as the “Dawn of Blood” and has shown remarkable performance on the battlefield as a high-ranking officer.

Now, as she takes a break and teaches at the academy, I knew what kind of words she liked.

That word was “effort.”

While it’s not a highly regarded term in a world that values innate characteristics, Kali was different.

She possessed an absurdly unique characteristic and placed an unusual emphasis on effort.

“Yes, level 3.”

“Did you put in a lot of effort?”

As expected, Kali mentioned the word “effort,” and I nodded with a smile that I hoped would be likable.

“Even if a characteristic is given, isn’t effort the best one can do?”

When I repeated the words of a famous knight, “Bazel,” who made a name for himself later, Kali, as expected, burst into laughter.

A look that clearly showed she was pleased.

“Good. I like your answer. Go ahead.”

At Kali’s words, I felt a surge of hope and approached the dummy.

Swoosh.

I took out the iron spear from my back and assumed a stance.

“…”

I calmed my breathing.

The supervisor did not intervene when the examiner spoke directly to the examinee.

So, I could take my time to get into position and show my true abilities, which was a benefit.

‘Show the strongest move.’

I naturally recalled the “principle” I gained when I reached level 3 in spear skills.

Characteristics may seem simple at first glance, but they are not.

Everyone in this world instinctively understands how to use their characteristic the moment they are given it.

If you have a fire characteristic, you can immediately produce fire without any concept.

Most importantly, there is a significant difference between level 2 and level 3 characteristics.

Starting from level 3, one can naturally understand the concept of “mana.”

Woosh!

The blue light gathered at the tip of my spear was minimal due to my low mana level.

But even that made a huge difference.

The destructive power, durability, and maneuverability of a weapon infused with mana.

As I stared intently at the dummy’s head and raised my spear.

—!

I took a step forward and twisted my waist.

Bang!

The spear blade struck the left side of the dummy’s head.

…!

Without time to catch my breath, I retrieved the spear.

Since I hit the iron dummy with full force, my hands holding the spear trembled, but I tried to maintain a composed demeanor.

The attack was the beginning,

and the end was the retrieval of the weapon.

Just as one must see a task through to the end, I thought a good impression would be made by finishing well.

“…”

When I looked at the examiners, I could feel Kali’s curiosity.

Of course, the other two examiners gave me a lukewarm look, but even that was something.

At least.

“You. What’s your name?”

I was confident that I had made a good impression on Kali, who was smiling and asking.

“My name is Han Cheon-seong.”

“...Han Cheon-seong.”

As Kali clearly pronounced my name, which was foreign in this world, she looked more beautiful than ever.

Her smile, with one corner of her mouth raised, was truly beautiful.

“You’re quite promising.”

“Thank you!”

I answered in the loudest voice I could, and seeing Kali smile, I slowly stepped back.

“...Wow.”

As I looked at the next examinee, who was staring at me in surprise, I did not head to the exit.

Although everyone usually goes to the exit after the supervisor’s cold words, examinees have the right to watch other examinees take their tests.

And my gaze naturally fell on...

“...”

The blue-haired girl, who was looking at me, and our gazes met again.

A girl who wielded a sword and produced a fierce wind, showing a formidable characteristic. I had no doubt I would pass, given Kali’s reaction just now.

Not only did she speak to me directly, but she also used the term “promising,” which is a kind of code for a guaranteed pass.

But on the other hand.

‘Please, just do it moderately.’

I also knew that I would not receive a better evaluation than the blue-haired girl.

This world is characteristic-focused.

A world where one lives by dirty blood and characteristics.

Since spear skills are a common-grade characteristic, the two other examiners’ lukewarm looks clearly showed the discrimination based on characteristic grades.

So, I only hoped that the blue-haired girl would do it moderately so that I could be assigned to a higher class.

“Then, examinee number 497, please come forward and introduce your characteristic before proceeding with the test.”

As I heard the supervisor’s voice, I calmly stayed in my position.

I also needed to know what specific characteristic the next examinee had.

...

That’s how 497 and 499, like the previous examinees, headed to the exit in a very ordinary manner, and soon it was her turn.

“Examinee number 500, please come forward and introduce your characteristic before proceeding with the test.”

As the supervisor spoke, the blue-haired girl calmly stepped forward.

“...”

She looked at me strangely, who was still in the examination hall.

It was cold, as before, but... it felt different.

Flick.

She turned her head and spoke calmly.