When Sasi (9 a.m.) arrived, everyone gathered at the training ground.
Those who failed to score over 100 points on the written exam were eliminated, but their number was small.
After all, there was no way an examinee would score under 100 out of 500.
A total of 317 people.
Everyone received a handkerchief with their number written on it and a set of supplies.
The supplies consisted of water, a map, a compass, and one weapon of their choice.
I chose a wooden sword and tucked the handkerchief marked with 88 into my pocket.
Seeing this, Sanghyeok spoke.
"Come to think of it, you got a perfect score on the written exam, right? As expected of Cheongsin?"
"The one in second place is more impressive than me. He got 498 points. Number 179."
The person who should have taken first place was Number 179.
Stealing that spot left a bad taste in my mouth.
Strictly speaking, it was no different from cheating.
How could someone who had studied for 180 years be compared to kids who had studied for barely 14?
On top of that, the exam difficulty was quite high.
The fact that third place had 456 points proved it.
On such an exam, Number 179 had only gotten one question wrong.
'Who is it?'
There were a few people I suspected, but I lacked enough information to be sure.
'I'll find out naturally once I get admitted.'
For now, I should focus on today's test.
As I thought that, a man climbed onto the platform.
Mid-thirties.
He was someone I knew as well.
When preparing for regression, I had recorded warriors in two categories.
The fakes who ran away to live on their own or joined the Rakshasa.
I didn't care whether they lived or died.
But the real warriors who fought against the Rakshasa were people I had to protect no matter what.
Han Sanghyeok was one of them, and the man in front of me was another.
'A decent person got assigned as the proctor.'
Baekuiseonin Kang Museong.
On the battlefield, he had always been passionate.
He fought at the very front and retreated later than anyone else.
With that kind of passion, I expected him to supervise this exam seriously.
But contrary to my expectations, Kang Museong started speaking with a sigh.
"I'm Kang Museong, known as the White-Robed Immortal. I got stuck supervising this exam because I caused a bit of trouble. So listen carefully—don't cause any problems. I'll disqualify you on the spot. Got it?"
...
I take that back.
"Was he always like that?"
"Huh? You know that Immortal?"
"No, it's just… he looks normal enough."
As I brushed it off, Kang Museong stepped down from the platform and said,
"All right, then we'll begin the exam. Everyone, follow me."
Kang Museong suddenly started running, and everyone chased after him without understanding why.
That went on for a full shijin.
Groans could be heard everywhere.
Naturally so.
Maintaining high-speed lightfoot techniques for a shijin was too much for kids who had just turned fifteen.
Sanghyeok was also clearly struggling, his breathing rough.
"Huff… how far are we going?"
Kang Museong climbed the mountain behind the capital.
Namak Mountain.
True to its name as the great southern mountain, it was massive.
Since the number of demonic beasts was controlled there, it was often used as a place of refuge and for training.
That aside, the uphill path made it even more exhausting.
Gradually, some fell behind and complaints started to rise.
"Please wait a bit! There are people in the back who can't keep up!"
When his friend lagged behind, one examinee protested.
But Kang Museong merely glanced at him coldly.
"I already said the exam has begun, didn't I? Are your ears clogged?"
"Ah… I'm sorry."
As expected of smart kids, they quickly understood the implication.
Following Kang Museong was itself part of the exam.
Lightfoot techniques required harmony between external and internal training.
With only external training, stamina hit its limit; with only internal training, agility and reflexes fell short, making injuries likely.
In other words, this was a test of the examinees' basic aptitude before the real evaluation.
'Still, this is pretty extreme. This is almost at the level of a low-ranked warrior.'
Kang Museong was running at a pace that even warriors who had passed the military exam would find taxing.
Naturally, half-baked geniuses began to drop off.
'What is he thinking?'
I couldn't understand it at all.
Still, I intended to follow for now.
After another half shijin of running, a cave appeared.
Kang Museong entered it.
The path was even rougher than the mountain trail. Kids without quick reflexes stumbled, and soon the cave echoed with sobbing.
By the time we stopped deeper inside, fewer than 150 people remained.
More than half had been eliminated before the main test even began.
"Whew, I'm tired."
I gulped down water and handed it to Sanghyeok, who was sprawled out beside me.
"Is it okay to drink it all now? The real exam doesn't seem to have started yet."
"Let's drink first and think later."
The water was only about one hop, roughly 180 milliliters.
Once you drank it, that was it.
In other words, after this, you were on your own.
Naturally, you had to be careful with water, but there was no need to be overly afraid.
The exam would end in a single day anyway.
Missing one sip wouldn't kill you.
And there was another reason I could stay relaxed.
'It's been a while.'
I knew this cave.
When the capital was attacked, civilians and low-ranked warriors who were of no help in battle had fled to Namak Mountain.
Because it was deep and rugged, it was the perfect place to hide.
I had also been assigned to protect the refugees since I was deemed unhelpful in combat, and I lived in this cave.
For others, it might be grueling, but for me, it felt almost like a trip.
As I reminisced and about one gak passed—
Kang Museong stood before the remaining examinees and spoke.
"From now on, the real exam will begin."
The moment his words ended, the cave entrance was blocked by warriors.
It meant that anyone who hadn't arrived by now was eliminated.
"I'll now explain the test. It's simple. In one sigyeong—thirty minutes—the proctors behind me, including myself, will start chasing you. You must escape us and return to the training ground you departed from by sunset."
So that was why they gave us a map and compass.
It looked simple, but it tested everything.
Navigation was an essential skill for warriors.
Since warriors often went on expeditions to deal with demonic beasts, those who couldn't find their way were nothing but dead weight.
Everyone had to be able to read a map in case of emergencies.
Escaping the proctors' pursuit also meant they would be checking our ability to erase traces.
All in all, it was a very high-level test for fifteen-year-olds.
'This really is like the military exam.'
The military exam tested everything required of low-ranked and regular warriors.
The Seongmu Academy exam was similar.
The only difference was that the military exam targeted eighteen-year-olds, while Seongmu Academy's examinees were fifteen.
'The level is higher than I expected.'
As I thought that, someone raised a hand and asked,
"What happens if we get caught?"
"You're immediately disqualified. But don't worry. We're not expecting perfection. If you show a basic level of competence, we won't pursue you even if there are traces, so there's no need to panic."
In other words, they would ignore moderately erased traces and only pursue those who completely failed.
"One more thing to keep in mind. Fighting between examinees is prohibited. If it's discovered that you attacked another examinee, you'll be disqualified immediately as well."
Since it was a relative evaluation, attacking other competitors was common.
But as long as you didn't get caught, anything went.
That was why there were always people who abused this rule, and some ended up exposed or turned on instead.
There would probably be some this time as well.
"Each exit has a number attached, so choose whichever you want and leave. Begin."
One of the biggest reasons this cave was used as a refuge was because it had multiple exits.
As Kang Museong stepped back, the students chose their exits and left.
I immediately took Sanghyeok and moved toward one side.
One peculiar thing—
"Let's go that way."
"That way? Is that even an exit?"
The smallest hole, chosen by no one.
So narrow that only one adult man could barely pass through, it didn't even have a number, as if it hadn't been discovered yet.
"Well, just trust me and go."
I understood Sanghyeok's concern, but I was confident.
I knew all the exit locations inside this cave.
No—more precisely, I knew everything about Namak Mountain.
I had fought against the Rakshasa here for years; how could I forget?
That was why the narrow hole in front of us was the best choice at this moment.
Not because it was closest to the training ground or the easiest path.
Simply because it wouldn't draw attention.
My goal was to enter around fifteenth place.
To manipulate rankings while moving decisively without even checking the map, I needed a path no one would notice.
'I'll wander a bit, then slip in around the middle.'
If I arrived an hour before sunset, combined with a perfect written score, I'd land around fifteenth place.
Han Sanghyeok would also pass, even if just barely, so there would be no problem.
As I moved forward with Sanghyeok quietly following behind—
"…Huh?"
Sensing something off, I quickly turned around.
"What is it? Something wrong?"
Despite Sanghyeok's question, I stared into the pitch-black space.
The fleeting suspicion soon turned into certainty.
That faint presence was unmistakable.
"A rat has latched onto us."
An undeniable presence.
And I could guess his purpose.
No one would follow through such a narrow path without a reason.
"Poor bastard."
I could clearly see his future.
After winding through the narrow path for quite some time, we reached an exit.
A place rarely touched by human footsteps.
It was clearly an undiscovered exit.
Well, the first time I used this exit was fifteen years from now.
It would probably be developed sometime in between.
"Whew, I can finally straighten my back."
"It was narrower than I thought. But why did we come this way? It doesn't look easy to erase our traces."
"Think about it. Do you think those big proctors will bother squeezing through a path this narrow to chase us?"
"Oh, that makes sense. It'd look annoying."
"Exactly. That aside."
I turned my gaze to the exit we had just come out of.
How should I deal with that rat?
Kim Yongho was focused solely on Cheongsin—Number 88.
He was destined to fail anyway, unable to enter Seongmu Academy.
After seeing the young master to the finish line, he was meant to drop out on his own.
Even within that garbage fate, only the one who made the best choice could build even a small clan.
'If I get rid of that guy, my life will take off too.'
Kim Yongho was willing to do anything for that.
'I've got nothing personal against you, but become a sacrifice for my rise.'
Soon, the exam began and the target started moving.
Most chose the large holes that clearly looked comfortable.
But that perverted Cheongsin bastard was squeezing himself into the narrowest hole.
'What the hell is he doing?'
An incomprehensible choice.
All exits would lead out eventually anyway.
Still, it didn't change the fact that he had to follow.
Kim Yongho waited a bit, then forced his body into the small hole.
'Crazy bastard. Why go this way when there's a perfectly good path?'
Cursing inwardly as the path proved even narrower than expected, he soon began to see light.
The moment Kim Yongho stuck his head out—
"Hi. Han Yeongsu's lackey?"
Kim Yongho's face filled with confusion.
Number 88 was waiting right in front of the narrow exit.
"Uh..."
Why is this bastard still here instead of leaving?