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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 8
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8. Grand Royal Academy Entrance Exam Results
***
Spearheaded by the Grand Royal Academy in the heart of the Empire, four other Grand Royal Academies, each with its own distinct atmosphere, exist in the Empire's four cardinal directions: east, west, north, and south.
Their purpose was twofold: to scout local talent and to provide an option for those whose circumstances made it difficult to attend the central academy.
And as facilities boasting the highest scale, classes were meticulously divided according to student aptitude.
They were primarily based on four classes: A, B, C, and D.
Beyond that, for a select few—the Imperial Family and high-ranking nobles holding ducal and marquis titles—there was even an S-class.
In total, five classes existed.
Despite this, the Grand Royal Academy's annual admission rate was exceptionally low compared to the total number of applicants.
The acceptance rate hovered below 10% of all applicants.
Even then, one had to pass a discerning entrance exam, and admitted students were assigned their 'class' at the examiners' discretion.
If one wondered if there was an entirely absolute standard, surprisingly, such a standard did exist.
Aside from traits favored by the examiners, there was a minimum grade and trait level required for admission.
For instance, in the case of the lowest grade, 'Common Traits':
If one possessed a magic-related trait, regardless of type or grade, admission to the academy was generally possible, provided there were no disqualifying factors.
Even if the trait level was 1, a magic-related trait was treated with respect anywhere.
Following magic, the next highly valued class was elemental lineage. These, while closely related to magic, were treated as distinct traits.
In addition, admission was granted only to those possessing a special trait such as Magic Engineering.
Even a 'Common' trait could lead to academy admission.
However, the 'numerous other' traits were immediately filtered out.
This effectively meant admission was impossible for any other Common trait.
The sole exception was limited to those who achieved 'Trait Level 3'.
This exception was an unannounced admission standard, and in reality, students with Common-grade traits who reached Level 3 before admission were barely a handful across the entire academy.
It meant achieving Level 3 with a Common trait was incredibly difficult.
From Rare grade onwards, most possessors of traits so rare that they appeared perhaps once in a hundred people were able to gain admission.
…
—The main gate of the Central Grand Royal Academy.
Past one in the afternoon. Countless people flocked to the academy's main gate.
Though fewer than yesterday's examinees, the scene was still a human sea, with barely any room to move. A man was pushing through the crowd.
"Excuse me. Pardon me. Just passing through."
Cheon-Seong repeatedly apologized, somehow navigating the dense crowd and pushing forward.
He finally reached the massive bulletin board beside the main gate.
Cheon-Seong began to meticulously scan the bulletin board.
'Han Cheon-Seong, Han Cheon-Seong...'
Where could my name be?
That he had been admitted to the academy was a given, since I knew this world's lore. What felt most crucial now was finding out which class I had been assigned to.
'B-class, please.'
Though he earnestly wished for it, he didn't even glance at the A-class admission list.
Because I knew I wouldn't be assigned to A-class.
So, I started searching from the B-class admissions list.
Thump. Thump.
Steadfastly holding my spot despite the continuous jostling from people, I read through the B-class admissions list. I couldn't help but be surprised.
"How can there be… so many names?"
The number of people on the B-class list alone numbered in the hundreds.
Dermian Baderin - B1.
Luke Mornil - B1.
Lavella Orcia - B1.
...
The family name was written next to the given name, and the assigned class was separately indicated. Seeing this, I belatedly realized something.
'That's right. The nobles were here…'
Those from noble houses took their entrance exams 'in advance'.
Unlike commoners like myself, who jostled with others for the entrance exam yesterday, nobles took their exams at their leisure in separate institutions.
This meant the current admissions list was bound to be much longer than just yesterday's examinees.
Yesterday's exam was, in a way, just a commoner-specific entrance exam.
"Hah."
Clicking my tongue briefly, I began to read through the list, starting from B1.
B1. B2. B3….
Within the B-class itself, admitted students' scores were further categorized.
Those with the highest scores in B-class were assigned to B1. The next highest to B2, then B3, and so on.
As I read through the entire B4 admissions list, I felt my heart sink.
'It's not here.'
No matter how intently I searched, I couldn't find my name.
Could those three characters, Han Cheon-Seong, truly be absent from this list?
And B-class ended at B5.
As I read through the initial part of the B5 class list, a sigh involuntarily escaped me.
"Please… please…"
Uttering desperate pleas, I couldn't help but nervously tap my foot.
There was a reason I absolutely had to get into B-class.
—Financial Aid.
Because the academy's financial aid varied by class.
And from B-class upwards, one could receive generous support from the academy, to a comfortable degree.
If I wanted the equipment I desired or the food I craved, I absolutely had to get into B-class.
Whereas C-class students received 20 silver per month from the academy, B-class students received a whopping 50 silver per month.
If you consider it a monthly stipend, there was a difference of a staggering 2.5 times.
…And I had a clear goal: I absolutely had to acquire a proper spear.
Because if my trait was common, I needed at least good equipment.
To buy a spear that good, the silver received by C-class students wouldn't even be close to enough.
And so, after reading through the entire B5 class list, I was…
…left in utter despair.
"...Damn it."
An expletive involuntarily escaped me, and I ran a hand down my face.
'This isn't right.'
I just wanted to fasten the first button correctly.
How could it always be like this?
As for being given a poor trait in the trait examination… I tried to accept it and work with it, somehow.
That's why I honed my spear mastery and reached Trait Level 3, showing the best I could in the entrance exam.
'And still no B-class?'
Thinking about it, I was just dumbfounded.
I guarantee that among all the students admitted this year, not even 1% would have reached Trait Level 3.
...
Then, Glacia, whom I had met in the same exam yesterday, came to mind.
She had a Level 3 trait, despite having a Unique trait.
'Of course, Glacia is also Level 3, but…'
Glacia was practically a named character. The very fact that she always ranked among the top tiers in this world meant she was a type far removed from the ordinary.
So, Glacia was an exception.
That I wasn't in B-class.
Thump.
Thump.
Everyone seemed to be looking for their own names. Getting jostled by their movements, I sighed and turned my head.
As I searched for my name on the C-class admissions list, I didn't have to search long to find it.
Han Cheon-Seong - C1.
"Are you kidding me…!"
I couldn't help but curse the moment I saw it.
'C1?'
That meant if I'd just gotten a slightly higher score, I could have at least made it to B5.
I still clearly remembered that Kali, one of the examiners yesterday, had evaluated me favorably.
I hadn't dreamt of B-class for nothing.
Examiner Kali had seen me in a good light and even offered additional words of encouragement. That's why I had dared to dream of B-class, even considering my Common trait, which was beyond what I deserved.
'Then the other two examiners…'
…must have evaluated me poorly.
I imagined they deemed me only barely meeting the minimum admission standard and gave me a score barely above the pass mark, imagining I wasn't worthy of more.
Surely… if they had just evaluated me a little more favorably, I could have at least scraped into the tail end of B-class.
With these continuous thoughts, I felt the strength drain from my entire body.
"Haa…"
Sighing deeply, I slowly, I relinquished my spot.
Being pushed by people trying to check their own names, I felt utterly fed up with looking at the list.
Only a sense of regret remained.
"30 silver a month…"
That was the monthly difference in money received between B and C-class.
Considering that 100 silver equals 1 gold… over a year, it was a difference of almost more than 3 gold.
30 silver a month. That's a difference of 360 silver over 12 months.
Only sighs escaped me due to that bitter disappointment.
"Haa."
Now, while B-class students enjoyed luxurious lunches, I'd have to save every single coin, without even enjoying decent meals, just to gather money.
Could I really acquire the spear I wanted?
—A spear made of Mithril.
I believed that was what I needed most right now.
When I went out for practical training later, for monster subjugation and to demonstrate various feats, I believed a Mithril spear would give me a fighting chance.
But the money needed for that had just vanished in an instant.
'…Even a rough estimate would put it over 5 gold.'
Since there naturally wouldn't be any academy students specializing in spear mastery, I'd have to place a custom order with a specialized blacksmith.
And considering the cost of forging a Mithril spear, it would probably easily exceed even 5 gold…
"This is driving me crazy."
Even I, who tried to remain confident and positive, felt my spirit break at this moment.
…Even if I saved every single penny without spending a dime at the academy, how many years would it take to gather over 5 gold?
And of all things, to be at the very top of C-class.
Thud.
Thud.
As I absentmindedly shuffled out of the crowd,
"Han Cheon-Seong."
A cool voice called my name.
I turned my head blankly. When had she arrived?
Glacia was standing a fair distance away from the bulletin board.
She looked at me calmly, and as our eyes met, a flash of resentment welled up inside me.
'Why did she have to take the exam in the same group as me?'
Did she have to ruin my score?
It was clear Glacia had received an outstanding score yesterday. So, even if I had performed well, there was no way I could have gotten a high score.
That's why I was assigned to C-class instead of B-class…
But.
Despite those thoughts, I found myself smiling.
"Oh, Glacia. Did you check your class?"
Approaching Glacia, I greeted her warmly.
…That was that, and this was this.
I couldn't push away the only person I could rely on right now based on a momentary feeling.
"Yes. A1 class."
As Glacia answered calmly, I paused.
'A1…?'
That meant she was in the same class as the protagonist, Leonhardt.
And in the Grand Royal Academy I knew from the story…
…that had never happened.