Chapter 62

"Wow, there are still so many people, huh."

"Yeah."

A few days after the entrance exam, it was the day of the results announcement. I had come to the Royal Academy with Shuna.

By the way, during this time, we had cleared one dungeon. We both leveled up by one, and I had acquired a new sword skill, [Sword Boost].

---

Zeros Sylphid

Gender: Male

Age: 15

Crest: [Crest of Nothingness]

Level: 46

HP: 460/460 MP: 230/230

Strength: 82

Endurance: 62

Speed: 76

Intelligence: 54

Luck: 46

Status Points: 0

Original Skill: [Will of the Sword Emperor] Lv.1

Skills: [Parry] Lv.2, [Slash] Lv.2, [Sword Boost] Lv.1, [Magic Arrow] Lv.1, [Magic Ball] Lv.1, [Dark Enchant] Lv.1, [Scout] Lv.1

---

[Sword Boost] Lv.1

- Sword Skill

- By consuming MP, greatly increases sword speed for a few seconds.

---

Shuna Trymer

Gender: Female

Age: 15

Crest: [Crest of Magic]

Level: 46

HP: 368/368 MP: 322/322

Strength: 50

Endurance: 52

Speed: 66

Intelligence: 90

Luck: 62

Status Points: 0

Skills: [Magic Arrow] Lv.1, [Magic Ball] Lv.1, [Magic Missile] Lv.1, [Sacred Enchant] Lv.1, [Dark Enchant] Lv.1, [Magic String] Lv.1

---

This is how our current status looks. Both our stats and skills are quite solid.

But let's not dwell on that too much. The main purpose today is to check the results. The results could significantly change one's life, so the examinees all looked tense. In a way, more people seemed to be more nervous today than on the exam day.

"Let's go, Zeros!"

"Sure."

Responding to Shuna's voice, we moved to the area where the results were posted. It was bustling with a large number of examinees. There were shouts of joy, cries of sorrow, and voices of confusion—

"Huh?"

I felt a voice that didn't quite fit the scene, but I ignored it and focused on the posted list. Privacy was almost non-existent; instead of exam numbers, the names and crests of the successful candidates were listed.

I looked through the list from the top—

"…Huh?"

Contrary to my expectations, I couldn't find my name.

Did I fail? No, that can't be. I definitely exceeded the passing standards in both the written and practical exams. Oh, there's Sylphid written there—oh, it's Dione, how confusing.

Hmm. My name is still nowhere to be found.

"Why? I don't think I got a result that would make me fail. Or… could it be…?"

Could it have something to do with my crest? Maybe the [Crest of Nothingness], which can't acquire skills, is considered to have no future potential and is automatically disqualified.

No, no, if that were the case, I wouldn't have been given the chance to take the exam in the first place. Then why—

"Hey, look, Zeros!"

—My thoughts were interrupted by Shuna, who was standing next to me. She was smiling broadly and pointing at the posted list.

"…Shuna, you don't have to look so happy about my failure…"

"No, Zeros! Look up there!"

"Up there?"

Indeed, Shuna's finger was pointing above the posted list. I followed her gaze and realized there was another, more elaborate list posted there, titled "Top Performers."

---

Royal Academy Entrance Exam Top Performers

1st: Zeros Sylphid [Crest of Nothingness]

Written Exam: 100 points (1st) Practical Exam: 100 points (Sword Test, 1st)

* Chose the Sword Test for the Practical Exam

2nd: Lilia Crystal [Crest of Healing]

Written Exam: 95 points (2nd) Practical Exam: 100 points (Healing Test, 1st)

3rd: Noel Fanatis [Crest of the Sword]

Written Exam: 90 points (4th) Practical Exam: 100 points (Sword Test, 2nd)

* Two candidates scored the highest in the Sword Test, so the ranking was determined by completion time.

---

The list contained the names of three people. My name was boldly listed as 1st.

Relieved, I let out a sigh.

"Phew, at least I can breathe a sigh of relief now."

"It's more than that! You're 1st out of all these people!? Zeros, you're amazing!"

Shuna beamed at me, showering me with praise. I was grateful for her words, but then—

(Huh?)

I felt multiple gazes from the crowd, and they didn't seem to be friendly. I listened to their whispers.

"Hey, did you hear? That guy is apparently 1st…"

"No way, it must be a mistake. I've never even heard of someone with the [Crest of Nothingness] getting into the Academy, let alone being 1st."

"Maybe he cheated or something?"

"I can't believe it."

…Hmm.

It seems the fact that someone with the [Crest of Nothingness] was 1st was causing a lot of confusion. The puzzled voices I had heard earlier were reactions to this.

"…Mmm."

Shuna, having heard their whispers, puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction. She didn't retort, probably considering her position as a servant.

(…What should I do?)

I could respond, but there didn't seem to be any real benefit. I don't care what the crowd thinks, and I can show them my strength after I enter the Academy. This isn't something that needs to be addressed here.

"Shuna, now that we've confirmed the results, let's go home for today—"

I was about to suggest this when—

"Are you Zeros Sylphid, who, despite having the [Crest of Nothingness], achieved 1st in the sword test?"

A clear, low, and resonant voice echoed throughout the area. Everyone naturally stopped talking and turned to the source of the voice.

There stood a young man with slightly long gray hair and a well-defined face. His attire was neatly arranged, and a high-quality sword was attached to his waist.

The crowd's whispers broke the silence.

"Hey, isn't that… from the Fanatis Duke's family…?"

"Yeah. He's Noel Fanatis, the son of the current Royal Knight Commander and a renowned future Sword Saint."

…Hmm.

Noel Fanatis.

I knew his name.

Not only was his name on the list of top performers, but he was also a well-known figure in the Alecsia Kingdom. His father, the Duke Fanatis, was the current Royal Knight Commander and a famous Sword Saint, and Noel had inherited his talent. I had heard this rumor several times, and his name was firmly etched in Zeros' memory from before the reincarnation.

By the way, after Dione obtained the [Crest of Everything], he had once viewed Noel as a rival and was determined to beat him when they both entered the Academy, but that's a different story.

(While he may not be as famous as the Holy Maiden of the Crystal family, he is one of the most well-known candidates this year. What does he want with me?)

With this question in mind, I decided to answer his question.

"Yeah, I'm Zeros. Is there something you need?"

"Of course. It's hard to believe that someone with the [Crest of Nothingness] could achieve a higher score than me. Therefore—"

As he spoke, Noel suddenly drew his sword from his waist and pointed it at me.

"—Prove your strength by dueling me, Zeros Sylphid!"

He suddenly challenged me to a duel.