Chapter 8

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At the center of the empire stands the 'Grand Royal Academy,' and in each of the four cardinal directions—east, west, south, and north—there are other Grand Royal Academies, each with its own unique atmosphere. These academies were established not only to discover talents in their respective regions but also to accommodate those who could not easily travel to the central academy.

Each academy, boasting the largest facilities, has classes divided according to the students' levels. The basic classes are A, B, C, and D. Additionally, there is an S class for a select few, including the royal family, dukes, and marquises. In total, there are five classes.

Despite this, the annual admission rate of the Grand Royal Academy is extremely low compared to the number of applicants, with an acceptance rate of less than 10%. Moreover, a discerning entrance examination must be taken, and the 'class' to which the students are assigned is determined by the examiners' discretion. While there is no completely absolute standard, there is a surprising set of criteria.

For example, the minimum grade and characteristic level required for admission, excluding the examiners' personal preferences. For the lowest grade, 'Common characteristic,' if the characteristic is related to magic and there are no disqualifying factors, admission to the academy is generally possible, even if the characteristic level is 1. A magic-related characteristic is highly valued in any setting.

The next highest-rated class after magic is the elemental class, which is closely related to magic but is considered a separate characteristic. Additionally, those with the special characteristic of 'magic engineering' can also be admitted, even if they have a 'Common' characteristic.

However, many other 'Common' characteristics are immediately filtered out. In practice, this means that admission is almost impossible for other 'Common' characteristics. The only exception is for those who have achieved a 'Characteristic Level 3.' This unannounced admission criterion is so rare that, in the entire academy, only a handful of students have ever achieved Level 3 before admission.

Starting from the 'Rare' grade, the characteristic holders are so rare that only one in a hundred can achieve it, and most of them are admitted.

…

—At the main gate of the Central Grand Royal Academy.

It was past 1 PM, and many people had gathered at the main gate of the academy. Although the number of people was fewer than the number of applicants from the previous day, the scene was still crowded, with people packed tightly together. A man was making his way through the crowd.

"Excuse me. Sorry, I just need to pass through."

Chunseong repeatedly apologized as he pushed through the crowd and moved forward. He reached the large bulletin board next to the main gate and began to scan it thoroughly.

'Chunseong Han, Chunseong Han…'

Where is my name?

Knowing the world, it's obvious that I've been admitted to the academy. What's most important now is which class I've been assigned to.

'Please, B class.'

He fervently wished for it but didn't even glance at the A class list, knowing he wouldn't be in it. He started looking at the B class list.

Thump. Thump.

Despite the constant jostling from the crowd, he steadfastly read through the B class list and was suddenly taken aback.

"How can there be so many names?"

The B class list alone had hundreds of names.

Dermian Bedrin – B1.

Luke Morin – B1.

Lavella Orsia – B1.

...

Next to each name, the surname and the assigned class were indicated. Seeing this, he realized something late.

'Right, there were the nobles…'

Nobles take a 'pre-exam' for admission to the academy. Unlike commoners like me, who took the entrance exam together yesterday, nobles take their exams at a separate institution in a more relaxed setting.

Therefore, the number of names on the admission list is inevitably much larger than the number of applicants from yesterday.

Yesterday's exam was essentially a commoner-specific admission test.

"Huh."

He clicked his tongue and continued reading the list from B1.

B1, B2, B3….

Even within the B class, the students' scores are divided.

The highest scorer in the B class is assigned to B1, the next to B2, and so on.

After reading through the entire B4 list, he felt his heart sink.

'Not there.'

No matter how hard he searched, his name was nowhere to be found.

How could the three characters 'Chunseong Han' not appear?

B class ends with B5.

Even after reading through the beginning of the B5 list, he couldn't help but sigh.

"Please… please…"

He could only stomp his feet in frustration.

There was a reason he had to get into the B class.

—The allowance.

The academy's allowance is divided by class.

Starting from the B class, the allowance is sufficient to live comfortably.

To get the equipment I want or to eat the food I desire, I need to be in the B class.

While C class students receive 20 silver coins per month, B class students receive 50 silver coins.

That's a 2.5 times difference in monthly allowance.

...And I have a clear goal of getting a proper spear.

Since my characteristic is ordinary, I need good equipment.

To buy a good spear, the 20 silver coins from the C class are far from enough.

After reading through the entire B5 list, I...

Was left in a state of shock.

"Damn it."

Cursing, he wiped his face.

'This can't be right.'

I want to start off on the right foot.

How can this keep happening?

Even though I received a poor characteristic, I tried to accept it and work hard.

I honed my spear skills and reached Level 3 in my characteristic to show my best in the entrance exam.

'And I still didn't make it to B class?'

It was just frustrating to think about.

I'm sure that among the students admitted this year, those who reached Level 3 in their characteristic are less than 1% of the total.

"..."

Then, Glesia, whom I met during the exam yesterday, came to mind.

She had a unique characteristic but had reached Level 3.

'Of course, Glesia is Level 3, but…'

Glesia is a named character, always at the top of the rankings in this world.

So, Glesia is in a different category.

If I'm not in B class...

Thump. Thump.

Everyone seemed to be looking for their names, and I was jostled by their movements as I sighed and turned my head.

I found my name in the C class list almost immediately.

Chunseong Han – C1.

"Damn it…!"

I couldn't help but curse when I saw it.

'C1?'

If I had scored a little higher, I could have made it to B5.

I still vividly remember that one of the examiners, Kalli, gave me a good evaluation.

I wasn't just dreaming of the B class.

Kalli, the examiner, gave me a good evaluation and even added some positive comments. So, even with a Common characteristic, I was dreaming of the B class.

'Then the other two examiners…'

Must have given me a poor evaluation.

They probably gave me just enough to pass but a very low score overall.

If they had given me a slightly better evaluation, I could have made it to the tail end of the B class.

The thought made me feel drained.

"Ha…"

I sighed deeply and slowly moved away from my spot.

As people pushed past to check their names, it felt like a chore to look at the list.

I was filled with regret.

"30 silver coins per month…"

The difference in the monthly allowance between B and C classes is that much.

Considering that 100 silver coins equal 1 gold coin, the annual difference is almost 3 gold coins.

30 silver coins per month, 360 silver coins per year.

The regret made me sigh.

"Ha."

Now, while B class students enjoy a luxurious lunch, I will have to save and save to buy the equipment I want.

Can I really afford the spear I want?

—A mithril spear.

That's what I need most right now.

I think a mithril spear would be useful for future field trips and monster hunts.

But, the cost is a significant setback.

'Even a rough estimate would be over 5 gold coins.'

Since I have the 'spear skill' characteristic, I will need to order a custom-made spear from a professional blacksmith.

Considering the cost of refining mithril, it will likely be much more than 5 gold coins.

"Really, I'm going crazy."

No matter how positively I tried to think, I felt defeated.

...If I save every penny from my academy allowance, how many years would it take to save over 5 gold coins?

Especially being in the top tier of the C class.

Thud. Thud.

As I wandered aimlessly through the crowd,

"Chunseong Han."

A cold voice called out to me.

I turned my head in a daze. When did she get here?

Glesia was standing some distance from the bulletin board, looking at me calmly. As our eyes met, a wave of resentment rose within me.

'Really, why did I have to take the exam with her in the same group?'

She must have scored exceptionally well, so even if I did well, I couldn't have gotten a high score.

That's why I ended up in the C class instead of B...

But.

Despite these thoughts, I was already smiling.

"Hey, Glesia. Did you check your class?"

I approached Glesia and spoke warmly.

...That's one thing, and this is another.

I couldn't push away the only person I could rely on in the moment.

"Yes, I'm in the A1 class."

Glesia's calm response made me pause.

'A1...?'

That means she's in the same class as the protagonist, Leonhardt.

And in the Grand Royal Academy I know...

That was something that never happened before.