:
Inside the proctor's tower… a heavy silence prevailed.
Everyone was staring intently at the replayed magical projection. The stone. Just a small, ordinary stone. No magic. No incantation. No combat skill. And yet… it had struck the weak point of the rock formation with terrifying, surgical precision.
One of the professors frowned.
> "Perhaps it was mere coincidence."
>
Eldar directed his gaze toward him, then ordered the sequence to be replayed once more. Then again. Then a fifth time. And each single time… the result was precisely identical.
Eldar remained silent for a brief moment, then spoke:
> "A coincidence occurs once."
> "But when an individual can manufactured a coincidence…"
> "It is called something else entirely."
>
He did not conclude his sentence, but several professors understood exactly what he implied.
Meanwhile, inside the forest… the students had resumed their advance after surviving the giant bear. As for the arrogant, blond noble, his vanity had returned with remarkable swiftness, as though nothing had transpired.
> "Just as I anticipated."
> "My mere presence brought fortune to this group."
>
A brief hush ensued, and then some of the surrounding nobles began to nod in agreement, as if they had forgotten that mere minutes ago, they were on the precipice of death.
Kim, however, only laughed internally.
> *Human beings are truly fascinating creatures. Even their utter failures, they somehow find a way to attribute to themselves as a success.*
>
Suddenly, a massive magical notification materialized across the sky—a colossal message from the academy glowing above all the examinees.
> [Two hours remain until the conclusion of the First Trial.]
> [The top ten participants will receive an additional evaluation.]
>
The moment the message manifested, faces shifted. Greed surfaced. Tension tightened. Alliances began to fracture and crack.
Kim smiled. Finally… the exhilarating part had arrived.
The true examination was never the monsters, nor the forest, nor mere survival. It was competition. When success becomes a limited commodity, that is when people begin to bare their fangs.
He continued his stride calmly until he reached an elevated ridge that overlooked a vast portion of the forest. He sat upon a stone and closed his eyes.
He observed. He listened. He analyzed.
Within mere minutes, he began to sketch a comprehensive map inside his mind. The locations of the students. The nesting grounds of the beasts. The safe pathways. The danger zones. Everything.
Then… he smiled. He had discerned something intriguing.
In the northern quadrant of the forest, there lay a small lake. But the anomaly was this: every single monster was actively avoiding it. And in examinations, the locations that everyone avoids… are precisely the places that harbor the genuine rewards.
He rose quietly and began his march toward it.
After half an hour, he arrived. But what he discovered made him pause.
The lake was serene, crystalline, and unnaturally beautiful. But standing near its edge were three individuals.
Iris. The slender youth who had noticed the stone. And a third person.
A tall youth with jet-black hair and striking golden eyes. From his mere posture alone, Kim recognized it instantly.
> *This one is dangerous.*
>
Not because of raw power, but because of his absolute tranquility. A truly confident individual has no need to prove himself.
At that exact moment, the golden-eyed youth turned his gaze toward Kim. A small smile played upon his lips.
He spoke:
> "I was waiting for you."
>
Iris froze. The slender youth's eyes widened in surprise. Kim, however, remained profoundly calm. But internally, his mind began to dissect the scenario instantly.
> *Does he know me? No. Impossible.*
> *Has he seen me prior to this? No.*
> *Then why did he say that?*
>
In less than a single second, he arrived at the answer. The youth did not know him; he was merely testing his reaction.
Kim smiled internally.
> *Fascinating.*
>
He replied calmly:
> "Then you must have been waiting for the wrong person."
>
For a heartbeat, the smile vanished from the golden-eyed youth's face. Then… he laughed. A genuine laugh this time.
> "Finally."
> "Someone who does not behave precisely as I anticipate."
>
Kim, however, realized something critical. For the very first time since his arrival in this world, he had encountered someone playing the exact same game.
Someone who tested people with mere words. Someone who refused to trust appearances. Someone who… might become a significant problem in the future, or an incredibly useful piece upon the chessboard.
> *"True monsters do not recognize one another through raw power… but by the precise manner in which they conceal their fangs."*
>