Silence fell after Instructor Ragna's words. Anyone would fall quiet if he released an aura and pressure like that. I returned to my place in a good mood after seeing those nobles trembling in fear.
"Next, we will proceed to the mental test. The combat test will be held tomorrow, as today's time is insufficient with 400 applicants present."
Four hundred applicants was no small number. However, the academy only accepted 150 students per year, meaning 250 participants would return home empty-handed. After all, the academy only selected promising students, not out of pride in being the best academy in the world, but because it was a rule established by the headmaster. Even so, no one knew why the headmaster had set such a rule.
'Well, that's because that person also knows what will happen in the future. That's why he made such a regulation.'
Speaking of the headmaster, the current headmaster was actually someone who possessed immortality. I did not know how old he was, since it was not explained in the game either, but it was said that he had led the academy for 200 years. Only a handful of people knew about his immortality, mainly the vice headmaster. Even most professors were unaware of it.
…
"Greetings, applicants. I am Professor Orin Vale, and I will be the examiner for today's mental test."
Orin Vale was a former court mage of the fifth circle. Although he was called a mage, he loved research more than anything, and his specialty was the art of illusion. Do not underestimate him just because he was only a fifth-circle mage. In fact, his illusion abilities were the best in the empire. With high-level mind magic, he could create mental illusions indistinguishable from reality.
Swoosh!
A massive magical barrier formed in the center of the field.
"In this test, you will enter this barrier one by one. Inside, you will face your own fears. The condition to pass this test is to overcome your fear."
All participants swallowed nervously after hearing Instructor Vale's explanation. Among the three tests, this one was truly the most difficult to clear.
…
At the edge of the testing field, Selene stood in a daze, her thoughts still fixed on Shion's affinity test.
'I'm sure I didn't imagine it. Even if it was faint and small, I definitely saw the color black in his affinity,' she thought.
Black was the color of malice and depravity, something that humans should not possess. However, Selene lacked concrete evidence to prove it.
"Participant Shion… what are you hiding?" she murmured.
'I'll keep an eye on him for now.'
…
"Participant number 245, failed."
Many students had already failed. Even Isaac, who usually maintained a cold demeanor, had nearly failed.
'I never expected that his fear would be… me.'
I had once visited the northern region where Isaac lived. At that time, Duke Northen's territory was under a massive monster invasion, and Isaac had participated in the battle. I entered the battlefield during that chaos.
'Well, perhaps it was because I couldn't control "that" back then.'
Thump!
Suddenly, my head throbbed as I recalled that moment. At that time, a voice called out.
"Last cadet, please step forward."
It was my turn. I stepped toward the barrier, where Instructor Vale was standing.
"Participant Shion, are you ready?"
"Yes, I'm ready."
"As I mentioned earlier, whatever appears inside is merely an illusion born from your greatest fear, whether it takes the form of a human, a place, or a monster. It cannot cause real physical harm. However, you must still be careful. If you feel that you can no longer endure it, declare your surrender. Otherwise, you may go insane."
"I understand."
"Very well. Let us begin."
I entered the barrier. To be honest, I didn't know what I feared. Ever since obtaining the Steel Mind skill, the emotion of fear within me seemed to have disappeared. When I reached the center of the barrier, Professor Vale's voice echoed.
"I will begin."
Suddenly, everything turned dark.
…
Orin Vale was a man with a stern expression and long gray hair tied to the side. He was a genius researcher who had created many useful devices. He became an instructor at the academy to continue his research while also sharing his knowledge with the next generation. One of his creations was the illusion barrier currently being used for the mental test.
"Instructor Vale, what is happening?" Selene asked from beside him.
"I… don't know."
This was the first time such a phenomenon had occurred since the barrier had been used over the past three years. It had been five minutes since Shion entered the barrier, yet there was no sign of change. Everyone grew restless, especially Selene, who had been suspicious of Shion from the start.
'I was right. I definitely didn't imagine it!'
Complete darkness enveloped the barrier after Shion entered. Even Instructor Vale, its creator, did not know why.
"What happens if we forcefully stop it?" Ragna asked.
"If we forcibly stop it, the connection between the mental magic and the person inside will be severed abruptly, causing the brain of the person inside to shut down," Vale replied.
"In other words…"
"He will die."
The atmosphere turned grim, especially for the applicants.
"All we can do is wait."
At that moment, the black shadows surrounding the barrier finally reacted as a blood-red light burst forth, lifting the darkness little by little. Shion emerged from the barrier, his expression calm. However, his eyes looked strangely cold and exhausted.
…
Earlier, inside the barrier.
"Why is it so dark?"
[Ding!]
[A mental magic spell has been cast upon you!]
[Do you wish to unlock a sealed memory?]
A red holographic message appeared in the darkness. For some reason, it felt like a different entity from the system I usually knew.
'A sealed memory?'
Could this be what the system mentioned before about me 'returning to my original body'? Cold sweat dripped down my face, and chills ran down my spine. I felt that I shouldn't know this, yet I had fought this far to uncover the truth the system spoke of back then.
Gulp.
I gathered my courage and pressed the accept button.
[User has accepted.]
[Loading memory…]
[Memory successfully loaded.]
Suddenly, flames erupted from nowhere. A man stood within them, someone who looked exactly like me. No, that was Shion. In other words, it was myself. He gazed emptily at the sky. When I followed his gaze, I was shocked. A winged army flew across the sky, and at the front stood a man with two horns on his face. He had six wings and held a spear.
"That's the Evil God!?"
'How could he have returned?'
The Evil God spoke.
"I never expected you to survive this long, Guardian."
'Guardian?'
"But it seems you have reached your limit now. You are the only one left in this world."
'What?'
'Wait, is this the future? No, the system said this was a memory, so it must be the past, but…'
Hah.
The Shion before the Evil God let out a sigh.
"It seems I've failed to stop you this time as well."
'This time?'
"This time? What do you mean?"
Even the Evil God looked confused by Shion's words.
"You don't need to understand. There is only one thing you need to know. Because you took everything precious from me, I will make sure to kill you, even if it means erasing my own soul."
"Hah. How do you intend to stop me when you're already on the verge of death?"
"I'm tired of you. Now, I will use this world to establish my kingdom."
"Now die, bastard!"
The Evil God hurled his spear at an unbelievable speed.
'Danger!'
Instinctively, my legs moved to save him, but it was too late. Just as the spear was about to reach Shion, he uttered something.
"Re$&n"
His voice was distorted, and a blinding white light burst forth, forcing me to close my eyes. When I opened them again, the space returned to the original dark room, along with the same red system interface.
[Ding!]
[Due to recording limitations, playback cannot continue.]
I was still dazed by the shock.
'What was that just now?'
I steadied my ragged breathing, trying to process everything. It all happened so suddenly that I couldn't understand a thing.
Hah.
For now, it would be better to leave this place. They would become suspicious if I stayed any longer.
At that moment—
[Ding!]
[Memory Fragment acquired!]
[Memory: 2%]
'A memory? And all that was only 2%?'
Hah.
I'll think about it later. My head hurts too much to think about anything right now.
"System, get me out of here."
[Request accepted!]
Blood-red light enveloped me, and the dark space slowly lifted. I saw everyone staring at me, their gazes filled with mixed emotions. But I was too exhausted to care.
Instructor Vale quickly approached me, asking worriedly.
"Participant Shion, are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"Thank goodness. I was worried when a black shadow suddenly covered the barrier. I thought something had happened to you."
So the black shadow was visible from the outside as well. Ragna approached and asked,
"Cadet Shion, what happened in there?"
"Wait, Instructor Ragna. How about we ask tomorrow? He must be exhausted," Vale interrupted.
However, Ragna ignored him and continued to stare at me. Selene eventually joined as well.
"I'm also curious about what happened inside. We understand that you may be tired, but we need to know what occurred. In all the time we've used this device, this is the first time something like this has happened," Selene said, her eyes filled with suspicion.
They had the right to know, given that this incident was beyond their expectations.
"I don't know what happened outside, but inside I only saw my memories," I answered calmly.
"A memory?" Ragna asked.
"Yes. A memory where everyone was burned alive by raging flames. My parents, my friends, everyone I loved was consumed by fire, leaving only me behind."
Everyone fell silent after hearing my answer. I couldn't tell them the truth, so I summarized a story similar to what I had seen.
"I see. I'm sorry for making you relive such a painful memory," Ragna said, bowing apologetically, followed by Selene.
"It's fine. More importantly, Instructor Vale."
"Yes? What is it?"
"Did I pass?"
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
Why does everyone look so shocked?