Chapter 4
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Episode 1 - Holy Academy [4]
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When the blind man she had bumped into recently appeared, Clementine was taken aback for a moment.
'Can a blind man really be a swordsman?'
That was her first thought. However, she didn't give it much thought.
'He probably won't even be able to raise his sword before he's defeated.'
Although she hated to admit it, the evaluator was quite strong. Of course, if Clementine used her swordplay, she could exchange a few more moves.
However, she honestly didn't think she could hurt him.
Still, she looked at the blind man with a mocking expression.
'Let's see how ridiculous he'll look.'
For her, it was exciting. Watching others make fools of themselves was one of the few forms of entertainment she had.
When the blind man stood in front of the evaluator, the evaluator spoke to him. However, the blind man did not answer.
If she hadn't heard his apology earlier, she would probably think he was deaf or mute.
Then, the evaluator counted to one and, as before, disappeared.
Even Clementine had trouble reacting to such a quick movement.
'Let's see how...'
Contrary to what he had expected, however, the blind man easily blocked the evaluator's sword.
'What…? How did he do it?'
Confused, she couldn't help but look at him. Then, she looked at the others around her.
Everyone present was equally surprised.
It was impressive enough that Lumina had managed to wound the evaluator several times.
But it was shocking that a blind man could block something that most could barely react to.
The blind man immediately struck back, and what Clementine saw next left her speechless.
Not only did he counterattack, but he attacked with such force that the evaluator, even using his sword art, was pushed back.
The rose petals that filled the platform were cut in half by invisible movements.
The blind man's movements were even more shocking, and Clementine couldn't react.
"What the hell is that?"
She wasn't the only one who thought that. The others couldn't help but blink several times, as if trying to confirm that it wasn't their imagination.
In the end, the evaluator declared a tie, as neither of them managed to gain the upper hand.
However, Clementine was certain that if the blind man had kept going, he would eventually have beaten the examiner.
"Who is he?"
That was the last thought that crossed her mind when the evaluator's voice sounded.
"Ah, ah... Someone even more monstrous has appeared, eh... 10 out of 10. A perfect score."
The blind man sheathed his sword and descended from the platform.
Clementine looked at him without taking her eyes off him.
"Who the hell is he?"
Honestly, I didn't expect to tie with the evaluator.
The traits I gave Adel are really absurd.
"Well, I was about to try out the gameplay with Adel, but since I woke up in this world out of nowhere..."
I couldn't figure out how to use his skills.
Experiencing it firsthand was even more surprising, but I couldn't deny that Adel had been strong enough from the start, just as I had planned.
"Still, it wasn't that bad. It seems the judge, to preserve his dignity or honor, stepped in and declared a draw."
I knew I could defeat him, and probably for that reason, the evaluator decided to end the combat.
In any case, for my first encounter, it wasn't bad at all.
After some time, all the candidates left the A-6 building and met with the guide.
At that moment, I felt dozens of eyes on me, except for the main character, who, strangely enough, wasn't looking at me.
The other main characters were staring at me.
"Okay, now we're going to Building A-1 for the attributes evaluation. Siganme."
Finally, the attribute evaluation began.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous.
"When I created Adel, it was late, so I asked my assistant to take care of his features and attribute. Since he was the one who decided that, I never got to read what Adel's attribute was."
But I wasn't worried that he didn't have one. I was sure Adel had an attribute.
"The problem is that I don't know what it is."
In Holy Land, attributes are classified as follows:
Elemental, Unique, and Rare.
Elemental: Water, Earth, Fire, Wind, Lightning, Ice, Wood, and Metal.
The unique attributes are light and dark.
The rare attributes are lunar, void, blood, solar, and stellar.
In reality, rare attributes can be awakened, but the probability is less than 1%.
For example, the five main houses are known for awakening only rare attributes.
The Lunovar house awakens the empty attribute.
The Arsene house awakens the blood attribute.
The Starlight house awakens the stellar attribute.
The Moonlight house awakens the lunar attribute.
The Reinhard House awakens the solar attribute.
Meanwhile, the Ordeal royal family awakens the light attribute, as do the members of the Santa Church.
On the other hand, elemental attributes can be awakened by anyone with a 10% probability.
'As for the Dark attribute...'
Just then, the guide spoke.
"We have arrived at Building A-1. Here is where the attribute evaluation will take place."
The candidates entered the building, and once everyone was inside, I noticed that it wasn't very different from Building A-6. However, this time there was only one sphere and an elderly man next to it.
The rest of the room was made up of seats in the form of gradations.
Shortly afterward, the old man's voice echoed throughout the hall as the candidates took their seats.
"The top ten from the individual combat evaluation, please line up."
For the record, before leaving Building A-6, the evaluator ranked the ten strongest as follows:
. . .
1. Adel.
2. Lumina Moonlight.
3. Clana Ordeal.
4. Julián Reinhard.
5. Clementine Lunovar.
6. Leon Starlight.
7. Charlotte Starlight.
8. Diana Arsene
9. Rinna.
10. Salomon.
. . .
The ninth is the next Saint, and the tenth place goes to the best in the invocation specialty.
In front of me was the sphere that reveals each person's attribute.
Naturally, since I had placed first in the previous evaluation, I would be the first to be evaluated this time.
"Please place your hand on the sphere and channel your mana."
When I placed my hand on the sphere, I let the mana flow into it.
It was an odd sensation. Since I had the Mana Sense at its maximum level, channeling mana and performing any action related to it was as natural as breathing.
Once I stopped channeling mana into the sphere, it reacted and a color appeared inside it.
That color was...
"..."
A complete silence fell over the entire room.
The attribute it possessed was, of course, Dark.
A color as deep as the abyss covered the entire sphere.
'Damn... this is really bad.'
When the third Santa appeared, a significant change occurred that no one liked.
That change was the situation of the users of the Dark attribute.
Before the Third Holy One amended the Empire's laws, the rule was simple:
Any user of the Dark Attribute would be beheaded without hesitation.
However, that changed after her arrival.
She considered it unjust that innocent people died simply because of their attribute.
"Technically, it's a silly idea, since the Dark Attribute is only used by villains and people associate it directly with evil."
After the law changed, though, they were no longer executed immediately.
In reality, the situation got worse.
They were considered the scum of humanity: despised and trampled on. No matter where they went, they were expelled without hesitation.
People looked at them with disgust or fear, worried they might kill innocent people.
They became victims of ostracism and all kinds of discrimination.
"And here I am, with a Dark Attribute… Damn it."
The old man next to me clicked his tongue, a look of pure disgust on his face, as he muttered:
"A piece of human trash has emerged. The golden generation of this era will be ruined by a Dark Attribute."
"I heard you loud and clear, old man."
He wasn't the only one muttering.
"Dark Attribute… a disgrace has appeared at the Holy Academy."
"Tsk, tsk… Not only is he blind, but he also has the Dark Attribute. The Holy Academy isn't what it used to be."
"Letting someone with a Dark Attribute in... how disgusting. I hope he at least behaves himself and doesn't cause any trouble."
Seriously, do they talk to a blind person like that?
"Ugh... I have no choice. My days at this academy are going to be tough."
I took a step back and moved away from the platform, while looks of disgust, hatred, and contempt were fixed on me.
Before, they had looked at me with amazement and even admiration for having come in first place and for having nearly defeated the evaluator.
However, all that changed because of a single trait.
As I looked at the main characters, their expressions varied.
Some showed pity; others simply avoided looking at me or clicked their tongues.
"Wow, what a big change... and to think that most of the main characters are neutral."
Clementine, in particular. Although I didn't see it, I knew instantly that there was a hint of disappointment, irritation, and other emotions difficult to describe.
'Disappointment...'
I shook my head. Maybe it was just my imagination.
"..."
At that moment, as I walked past the Saint, she glanced at me briefly, but immediately looked straight ahead as if ignoring me.
'And she's supposed to be a Saint.'
In any case, since this had never happened in the game, I didn't expect any different reactions.
I knew perfectly well how they treated users with the Dark attribute.
But there had never been a cadet with that attribute in the academy in the game's history.
"Well, whatever. I'm stronger than them, and that's all that matters. I don't need to get close to anyone."
For now, my only goal is to find a way to return to my world.
And that path is probably tied to the game's story.
"With the Dark attribute, it's inevitable that everyone will avoid me... or even harass me."
Finally, the opening ceremony for the new cadets came to an end.