A scream rose above the chatter. "Where is the damn Hall 2-8d?!?!"
I recognize him. He was the red-haired noble standing two spots in front of me.
The sound of pencil on paper drew Arthur's attention back to the front. Vicktor Vulivar.
Next to it, a single tally mark.
We are being tested already!
Arthur released the tension in his jaw and quickly handed his ticket to the clerk of his line, who was already staring at him.
"Head over to Hall 2-8d. Good luck on your exam."
The same room as that wild person who was just screaming?
Arthur carefully took the bronze card from her hand. "Thank you," he said, before looking back at the gray-haired man.
He managed a crooked smile before heading in the direction Cedric went.
He was looking directly at me! Did I fail already?
No, there's no way that can happen… but I did take an unusually long time to hand over my ticket.
That's horrible… I've worked my entire life for this moment—well, mostly just the last month, but still!
He imagined his breath of life leaving with his sigh.
Well, I guess I'll just continue walking for now. Cedric went this way, right?
The room is probably on the second floor since it starts with a 2.
He took slow steps up the stairs as people passed him.
Hall 2-8d. A room of seats on different levels forming a terraced semi-circle around an empty space where a single person stood.
It was the same instructor he had seen at the entrance.
"Take your seat. We will begin once the last seat is filled."
Arthur slowly made his way up to the far left corner of the room.
There's one seat that hasn't been filled yet, and it's next to me.
This last person sure is taking their time. I walked as slowly as I could to get here.
A person jumped through the entrance as the clock struck eleven.
That red hair! No!
He turned his head left and right, but there was no one else there.
Much to his horror, the seat next to him really was the only seat available.
I don't want to get involved with any nobles. They'll send their army after me the moment I leave the Academy grounds if they dislike me even a little bit.
There's no way I'm starting a conversation with him. I'll just avoid eye contact and act like a rock.
Yes, I'll survive by being a rock.
Vicktor's body cast a shadow over Arthur as he stood over him.
"Hey, I want to sit on the aisle side."
"Hm? Okay." Arthur pushed the seat back, got up, stepped to his right side, and moved into the seat next to him.
Did I sound too confident? Is he going to kill me now because I didn't pamper his ego like a commoner is supposed to?
I bet he's glaring at me right now, deciding on how he's going to kill me.
Dang it… Why can't I do anything right today?
The instructor snapped his fingers. "Now that we're all settled, pick up the pencil provided, write your name, and place your identification card on the cover."
A single pencil and five pages appeared in the exact same location centered in front of each and every person.
"You have two hours to complete your Written Exam. It will consist of one hundred questions ranging from Magic topics to Academia. The test will end at 13:00, and all forms of cheating are prohibited. Good luck."
As everyone else hurried to begin their test, Arthur's hands did not move. His eyes focused on the objects that had just appeared before him.
Hm. What kind of magic is this? It can't be true illusion magic—that hasn't been developed yet, and there's no way its first showcase would be to a group of thirteen-year-old children.
It's obviously not Creation magic either… Come to think of it, I hadn't noticed it before since I was too busy sulking, but the room was cold and humid when I entered.
I see. It must be a combination of Water magic, Ice magic, and reflected sunlight to hide the objects right in front of us from sight.
An interesting trick, though I don't know what the point of this was.
Time to move onto the written test, I suppose.
"Question 100: How was I able to make your test appear from nothing?"
I see. So that was the reason he put on that magic trick for us; to test our magic analysis capabilities. It's a good thing I analyzed it back when my memory was fresh.
Now the sun can no longer be seen since it's high noon and the ceiling is blocking it.
What's less good, however, are this barbarian's test answers. I've glanced over at him a few times to make sure he wasn't copying me, and he wasn't—which is good—but all of his answers are wrong… Maybe my impression of him was too harsh.
I thought that from his outburst at the entrance and rudeness toward me, that he was just like any other noble.
And maybe he really is, but there's certainly one part of his character that is noble.
His handwriting is absolutely terrible though.
He shifted his gaze to Vicktor's hand, which was still writing.
Why is he writing with his left hand? There's no way he's left-handed if his handwriting is that bad.
Arthur looked over at his own right hand, kept under the desk, hidden in the shadows.
Several scars could be seen even with the lack of light. Some were straight, like sword cuts; some were jagged, like beast claws; and some stretched across his whole hand.
Vicktor Vulivar, I predict that you will receive a 0/100 on this test.
And though you may not pass this exam, from swordsman to swordsman, you have my eternal respect.
Vicktor's eyes met Arthur's. His eyebrows drew down, and he placed both his hands over the paper.
"Don't cheat off me."
"Commoner," he added after a short pause.
"Ah, I see. Okay."
Arthur turned his head back to his test.
Well, respect was short-lived. He's just like every other noble.
I appreciate him not telling the instructor that I was looking at his test, but I'm going to fail anyway, so it doesn't matter.
Now that the exam is over, I remember all my problems again.
Arthur suddenly felt a strong urge to open his mouth, his jaw and face muscles stretching as he took a deep inhale, followed by a long exhale.
Looks like only sleeping five hours every night for the last month has really caught up to me.
I have a little more than an hour left before the test ends, so I should be able to take a quick nap.
Both the best and worst-case scenarios are me failing anyway…