Chapter 54

’

The fluttering academy activity uniform and beautiful silver hair. It was unmistakably Arietta Morgan.

Even though she was just running to move, she was maintaining a speed almost equal to Sorisoe’s. No, it even seemed like the distance was gradually closing.

Looking at her Status Window, her physical abilities weren’t particularly outstanding, which meant she was that skilled in enhancement spells.

‘I’m not entirely sure, but at this level, she’d be among the top ranks even in the graduating class.’

Even comparing her to Sophia and Hwang Jihak, who currently dominate the second-year students, she wouldn’t fall behind at all. In fact, with her greater experience, she might even be ahead.

In the end, I had no choice but to give up on fleeing and stop in my tracks.

Thud.

“Done running?”

“I figured I’d get caught before reaching the destination anyway.”

Arietta caught her breath for a moment, then began staring at me with her characteristic blank expression.

“Impressive skill. But I don’t remember you.”

“You’ve probably heard my name. I’m the only cadet who’s been demoted from A-Rank to D-Rank.”

“…That, I think I have heard of.”

Arietta’s eyes widened ever so slightly, as if surprised such a person actually existed, and she gave me a sympathetic look.

Then, she soon corrected her expression and spoke again.

“I won’t let my guard down. You’re not weak right now.”

Her tone and such were certainly similar to the Arietta I knew, but strangely, I didn’t feel any of that negative emotion she had when she stood in Yoo Haon’s party’s way as the story’s boss.

‘…Does that mean she’s still just an academy cadet?’

To confirm the facts more accurately, I decided to subtly probe Arietta.

“Have you ever harbored intense hatred toward someone?”

This was a direct quote of what Arietta had said to Yoo Haon.

If she already had the heart to commit evil deeds, she would definitely react.

However, Arietta just tilted her head with a look of incomprehension.

“…Sorry. I haven’t.”

And then, she looked at me with an even more pitying expression.

No, that wasn’t really about me.

“Still, I can’t just let you go. It’s my job.”

Anyway, the current Arietta was still a different being from her original counterpart. That much seemed beyond doubt.

Arietta looked at the watch on her wrist and declared to me.

“The rule is to let you go if you last 5 minutes. There are 3 minutes left.”

It seemed she included the time spent on the chase. For some reason, her unexpected kindness made me feel a pang of conscience.

So, I decided to at least take the remaining time seriously and face the match.

Whoosh.

Swoosh.

“Old Man Tree Specter, Kongsam.”

Poof!

Fwoosh!

[Keheehik!]

“…Burn them.”

Old Man Tree Specter, Kongsami, and even Sorisoe. Three powerful Shikigami, all in the 40s level range.

At their imposing presence, Arietta showed a slightly disgusted expression and looked up at me.

“…That number is unfair.”

“It’s an exam, so there’s no choice.”

Arietta, seemingly a bit offended, began gathering Spiritual Power with a strangely dissatisfied expression.

Whoosh.

Taebaek (Great White) is Gongryun (Empty Ethics).”

“What, wait……”

Dowon is Seonha.”

I hurriedly tried to stop her, but Arietta showed no intention of stopping at all.

It was the high-level Binding Spell Formula, the Eight Void Spiraling Net Curse (Eight Void Spiraling Net Curse), which I had also used before during the Yeongwoldo Incident by borrowing the power of Phantom Body Phase 2.

Even if it’s a binding spell, for someone in the examiner’s position to use such a Cursed Technique, this is overkill to another degree.

‘I can’t even sever this?’

To be precise, a severance method exists, but at my current level, it’s nearly impossible.

Eight Void Spiraling Net Curse (Attack Spiral Carry Net Station).”

Fwoosh!

Soon, a wave of Spiritual Power surged in like a tidal wave, and except for Kongsami, who evaded the spot with its unique physical ability, everyone was completely incapacitated.

“That one’s nimble. But I caught the rest.”

For some reason, Arietta looked at me with a triumphant, boastful expression.

No, this doesn’t seem like something to be proud of at all.

As if to mock my resentment, Arietta walked over step by step, positioned herself in front of me, and continued speaking.

“I’ll release it in an hour. You’ll probably be able to pass.”

I deliberately ignored her words and glanced sideways to check the location of the proof she was carrying.

Upon closer inspection, she had made the badge into a necklace form and was wearing it. Having confirmed that, I subtly raised the corner of my mouth.

“…Burn?”

Fwoosh!

As I gave the signal, Kongsami immediately filled its mouth with flames and shot them in a straight line.

To be precise, along a path that would target both Arietta and me simultaneously.

Fwooosh!

“…What.”

Arietta, seemingly not expecting it to spew fire, hurriedly began blocking it with a Defensive Spell, but thanks to that, her back was left completely defenseless.

And at that moment, I summoned the Black Bird from the shadows to snatch Arietta’s proof.

Fwoosh!

[Kkiiik!]

Thud-thud.

“Huh?”

Perhaps flustered as the necklace cord was torn off, her Defensive Art wavered for a moment.

And seizing that opening, Kongsami jumped and shot a small fireball.

Not at Arietta, but right at me.

Fwoom!

Fwoosh!

“Wh-what are you doing!”

Arietta panicked and rushed over to try to put out the fire on me, but unfortunately, that was an unnecessary worry.

As long as the Flame of Purification Trait existed, Kongsami’s fire wouldn’t harm me; on the contrary, it would only shatter the enemy’s spell.

After escaping the Binding Spell Formula like that, I called Old Man Tree Specter and Sorisoe into the shadows through the Phantom Body Trait.

And then I re-summoned Sorisoe and climbed onto it.

Jingle.

“Three minutes, all passed.”

As I left the spot, shaking the proof and even calling Kongsami back, she just watched me with a dazed look in her eyes.

After getting past Arietta, frankly, there were no other major obstacles.

The destination was structured such that you had to climb a mountain beyond the plains to reach it. While I was attacked there by other examinees aiming for the proof, they weren’t seriously threatening.

“…Wh-what’s with this strength?”

“Damn it. Hey, wasn’t he definitely D-Rank? Did you lie to me?”

Having easily repelled the looters like that, I finally climbed the entire mountain and set foot at the destination.

“1 hour and 17 minutes. First place to arrive, and you even retrieved a proof. Well done. Any injuries?”

“None in particular.”

“…That’s impressive.”

Cheong Hae-in, the supervisor for this practical exam, looked at me intently with a meaningful expression, then smiled with satisfaction.

About 5 minutes later, the second qualifier reached the mountain summit. It was Cheong Joohwa.

“…When did you get here?”

“Not long ago.”

“I thought you’d definitely be first. How are you so fast?”

While chatting with the grumbling Cheong Joohwa, the third qualifier appeared.

It was Viola, an exchange student and one of the main characters in Story Chapter 2.

Seeing me and Cheong Joohwa already there, she clicked her tongue softly as if disappointed, finished her procedures, and began to rest.

After that, qualifiers poured out one after another. Seo Jian, perhaps not having exerted herself much, arrived at the destination seventh, looking extremely composed.

“I expected it, but you’re still first.”

“Luck was on my side.”

“…Even brought back a proof?”

And after the time limit passed and the exam concluded, we joined the eliminated candidates and were finally able to exit the Barrier.

“The exam results will be notified tomorrow directly through your personal Terminals. After that, you can join your new class according to the guided schedule or maintain your original routine.”

The results aren’t out yet, but frankly, I don’t think any of us three failed the promotion.

Following the original story’s flow, Cheong Joohwa will join Class 1-A, and I or Seo Jian will also secure a place in an A-Rank class like Sophia or Hwang Jihak’s.

In a way, this was the true, full-fledged starting point.

‘The events of Story Chapter 2 are quite nasty in character.’

While events like the Presentation or festival, which strongly carry the academy’s atmosphere, unfold, they also impose intense crises on the player when least expected.

Moreover, based on experience so far, the influence of Hell Difficulty cannot be ignored either.

Ultimately, I, who was aware of all these facts, had to be even more on my guard.

As I strode along a familiar walking path, reaffirming that mindset, I spotted a familiar face walking toward me from the front. It was Seoa.

“Oppa? Is the exam over?”

“Just finished and on my way back.”

“The results……. I guess I don’t need to ask.”

Perhaps reading the relief on my face, Seoa smiled slightly and conveyed her congratulations.

Sitting on a nearby bench and talking for a while, it soon began to get dark.

“By the way, Oppa, I actually had something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“Since I couldn’t go during this vacation either because of training, I’m planning to visit the orphanage this weekend,”

In other words, Seoa was asking me to go with her.

‘…The orphanage where Han Kangyoon grew up.’

Since an incident will occur there later as well, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to familiarize myself with it at least once.

I was also curious about Han Kangyoon’s birth, his past.

Since I didn’t have the previous Han Kangyoon’s memories, it weighed on my mind a bit, but it’s something I’d have to face eventually anyway. I steeled my resolve and answered Seoa.

“Then, shall we go this weekend without delay?”

“Okay. I’ll call the director in advance.”

The next day, I first checked the promotion exam results transmitted via the Terminal.

The result was, of course, a pass. It seemed Cheong Joohwa and Seo Jian, who took the exam with me, also succeeded in their promotions.

‘That’s a relief.’

Skimming the contents, it said that after the weekend, starting next week, I should join the A-Rank class immediately.

Most of the subjects I was taking would be carried over, but for cases like Comprehensive Combat Practice where classes are divided into upper and lower levels, I would be reassigned to the upper-level class.

In a way, it was a remarkable achievement, but I couldn’t rest on my laurels here.

‘Everyone in the A-Rank class possesses outstanding talent.’

For me, who has neither a Growth Acceleration-type Trait nor exceptional genius, to keep up with their growth speed, I have no choice but to exert effort using every possible means.

‘If I didn’t even have Seoa’s Companion Trait, it might have been more daunting than I thought.’

Even now, I feel the gap in talent with the main and supporting characters. Surely, as I reach higher levels, it will become even more severe.

However, I had absolutely no intention of just sitting back and watching.

‘If I can’t overcome a handicap of this level, I’d be too ashamed to call myself a veteran.’

As part of that, first, I must clearly learn everything about ‘myself.’

Staring intently at the location of an orphanage marked on my smartphone’s map app, I closed my eyes and fell asleep.