Chapter 12

12. Entrance Exam (9)

Caron stopped in a place where there were almost no people, a spot where trees were so densely packed that it was dark.

"…What is your relationship with her?"

Caron muttered without turning his body.

He actually said something like that?

A character who had no interest in romantic relationships, let alone the distinction between male and female animals.

Luna's face turned bright red as she desperately waved her hands.

"Ah, we have no relationship at all! Absolutely no romantic…!"

"I have no interest in that. What I'm interested in is…"

Caron suddenly turned around, his eyes gleaming.

"Luna de Lester, are you in a close enough relationship to share your secrets?"

Just two sentences.

But it was enough to make Luna's face stiffen.

I felt the same way. Of course, I didn't show it due to the power of my skills.

"From your reaction, it seems you knew."

This is bad. Luna is the sole survivor of a traitor's family.

In this world, that's a reason to be killed.

'Could this be a bad ending? Just like this?'

I opened my status window. It's not the time to conserve stat points.

I was about to invest everything in strength.

"Your skills are terrible. If you hadn't experienced the Lester family's sword in the past, I wouldn't have known."

"…What?"

"You should have trained harder. You should have practiced with the sword, sparing even your eating and sleeping time. I had high hopes… but I'm really disappointed."

I stopped thinking about raising my stats.

His tone was closer to scolding than threatening or intimidating.

The nuance of why you're so weak proved it.

Luna seemed to sense it too.

"Wait! What do you mean? Do you know something…!"

"Improve your skills. Telling you now would only shorten your lifespan."

"What…! What is this! Just tell me!"

"Living without remembering… might be too cruel for you. But I recommend you live forgetting. It would be better."

"Wait…!"

Luna tried to grab him with her whole body, but it was useless.

He moved like a ghost, evading Luna.

Even when Luna fell flat, he didn't spare her a glance.

"What's your name?"

"…Hehe, Zero."

"I don't know how much you know… but stop. I'll disqualify both of you and send you home."

Disqualified?

Caron moved past me like a ghost again.

But I couldn't let him go.

I was in the middle of a quest to pass the entrance exam.

'What were Caron's characteristics?'

Intimidating. Authoritative. Impossible to communicate with.

But a child who stands up to him without flinching in front of him.

'A perverted taste that likes someone while hating them.'

Yes, he likes strong-willed people.

That's the key to approaching him.

"Hehe, disqualified? That's funny."

"…?"

"A teacher who can't even comfort a crying child. I can't accept that. A school like this…"

"I'll leave on my own. It means you didn't disqualify me."

Caron, who had been looking at me, turned his gaze away.

Was it an illusion? It felt like he was smiling slightly.

"…Is that so. I can't let scum like you disgrace the Academy. I'll mark both of you as qualified. Be more careful at the Academy. There are many eyes watching, but the skill gap is so large that it's unlikely to be noticed."

With that, Caron disappeared.

The only ones left were me and Luna, who was face down on the ground, sobbing.

"Why do you know and yet do nothing…"

"…"

"Please tell me… someone… about the injustice to my family…"

Luna sobbed, her body trembling.

I was trembling almost as much as her.

Out of pity for Luna? No!

'Caron is such a talkative character!'

It's so refreshing! Thrilling! Fun!

I stepped forward partly for Luna, but only a little.

I was more interested in uncovering Caron's hidden dialogue.

"Ugh…"

But it's time to comfort Luna.

I'm not a sociopath.

My thoughts were for Luna's growth and future, really.

'As Caron said, it's not the right time to know the truth yet.'

Luna is only fifteen. She can't handle the truth.

In this world, fifteen is considered an adult, but to me, she's still a child.

Even if she's a character in a game.

"Hehe, Miss Luna. Pull yourself together. Isn't everything going according to my plan?"

"U, uh… plan?"

"I didn't make you use the Vision Sword for no reason."

"…!"

The reason Luna wants to enter the Academy.

To gather information from the children of noble families.

If someone is framed, the culprit is likely to benefit from it.

'There's a new noble faction that rose after the Lester family was destroyed.'

To dig into their background, approaching their children is the best way.

They are easy to manipulate, short-sighted, and easy to intimidate.

That's why Luna is obsessed with entering the Academy.

"Do you know why Caron let you live?"

"…He knows our family is innocent."

Exactly.

"Before even entering the Academy, you've already obtained such information. Hehe, you'll get even more in the future."

"…!"

"Cheer up. Your grudge isn't so small that you'd collapse over this, is it, Miss Luna?"

Luna's eyes began to regain their vitality.

"I'll help you. I'll gradually reveal the information I know. So… let's work together, Miss Luna."

I'll raise you well when you stand up.

Grow tall and strong to become the final boss's strategy, okay?

'I'm really great, you know?'

Not only using extra characters but continuously discovering hidden pieces in the entrance exam.

I can't help but praise myself.

"…Thank you."

"Huh?"

"…Thank you."

Luna tried to hide her slightly blushing face.

Luna, who is strong, tough, and a boy(?) in many ways, showing such a side.

"Hehe, can you say it again? I didn't hear it clearly."

"Th, th, th-thank you…"

Thank you?

"Absolutely not!!"

Luna's scream filled the forest.

* * *

On the way back to the third exam venue.

Caron recalled the encounter just now.

'…I didn't expect to meet that child here.'

Luna.

One of the descendants of the Lester family and the only survivor.

A child her parents praised endlessly for being cute.

-How is she, Caron? My daughter is incredibly cute, right?

-Ah, hello. L, Luna.

The image of young Luna peeking out from behind their cloaks, shyly greeting, came to mind.

'She doesn't seem to remember me.'

It was understandable, given how young she was and that he was in disguise.

Well, he did see her a few times after that, but always with a different face.

Recalling those meetings, he thought of the Lester family.

The Lester family.

One of the pillars of the empire.

A proud family that never bowed to threats or politics.

There were points of agreement, so he occasionally interacted with them, but his personality prevented a close relationship.

But he definitely liked them.

He thought they were the true pillars of the empire.

'Or maybe…'

He might have wanted a closer relationship with them.

The Lester family was famous for their strong family bond, as solid as their pride.

To Caron, who had lived alone all his life, their warmth was a great shock and a dazzling envy.

But as an outsider, especially one who had lived as a spy all his life, becoming part of their family was impossible.

He watched from a distance, wishing them happiness.

But those bastards…

"…Sigh."

He took a deep breath to control his breathing.

He was excited. Now was the time to bide his time and wait for the opportunity.

Revenge could wait.

'Or maybe, the idea of revenge itself is strange.'

He had no direct relationship with them.

Even if he admired them, he couldn't casually talk about 'revenge'.

Besides, as the 'Imperial Rat' who handles the empire's dirty work, the word 'revenge' was not allowed.

All he could do was hope that the empire's enemies would be 'them'.

Nothing more.

'So don't expect anything, Luna.'

No revenge, and no help from him at the Academy.

Even if she is the child of the Lester family he admired, he won't show any favoritism.

He separates personal and professional matters.

Nothing is allowed for him except work for the empire.

So he won't lend a hand to Luna. Never.

Passing the third exam? That's…

'Just so she can learn something and survive outside. That's why I let her pass.'

The image of Luna fighting desperately in the arena came to mind.

Her use of the single sword was clumsy compared to the Lester family's.

But.

"Very good single sword, Luna."

Caron wouldn't know.

The slight smile on his lips.

Caron soon arrived at the third exam venue.

"Sir, you're here!"

"The third exam is over! 239 survivors!"

The instructors' respectful greetings and gleaming eyes.

He could tell they were feeling a sense of triumph.

'…Do they think I approved of them?'

Delegating authority for the third exam.

He had no choice but to delegate, but they misunderstood it as a sign of trust.

'And what's with this speed? I went to Group 13, and it's already over?'

At least 800 people were supposed to remain.

If 800 people are left, that means over 80 groups, and it's already over?

Even though he was fast at handling tasks, this was beyond his speed.

What happened…

"Ugh, it's tough."

"This is Andwood Academy… indeed, as famous as its reputation."

"The exam ends in a flash. I guess we have to adapt to this speed?"

"Hmph, it has to be this tough. I won't give up, so let's see what happens!"

The students' enthusiasm.

Dreams are often just illusions. Exactly.

'Well, it doesn't matter. The waiting time for other groups is the time for matches.'

The level of the qualified students wouldn't be a concern.

These are also instructors of Andwood Academy.

Experts who are well-respected elsewhere.

Their eyes wouldn't be blind.

"Shall we send them to the next exam venue?"

The instructor and students' eyes gleamed.

Their morale was sky-high.

But.

'Luna hasn't arrived yet.'

Luna, who was lying on the ground, sobbing.

She might still be crying.

The distance to here was quite far.

"Sir Caron?"

The instructor's eyes gleamed again.

But it's fine. There's a valid reason.

"Wait a moment. The injured need time to recover… and we need to conduct 'that'."

"Ah…! I see. I apologize."

The instructor quickly retreated.

'That.'

He knew it referred to the secret exam.