Chapter 58
Translator: Kell Editor: Weasalopes
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Entrance Exam
Hikaru and Lavia proceeded to process their enrolment into the academy . They headed to the admin office, which was a three-story building out in the open . An admin building this huge was an indication of how big the academy really was .
「A enrollee at this time of the year…?」Behind a counter on the first floor, the clerk – an aging woman whose hair was already graying – studied the two of them brazenly .
「I heard the academy accepts students all year . 」Hikaru replied .
「Yes, but there are appropriate times for enrollment . In the beginning of spring, or right before winter starts . Those who enroll in the summer are either outsiders or slackers . 」
Apparently it was important in Scholarzard, a place with long winters, how one spent the cold season . She was right about the two of them being “outsiders” however .
「So what? I believe it’s the academy’s policy to not reject anyone . 」
「As long as they can pay the high tuition fees . 」
「Oh, you were worried we couldn’t pay? You should’ve said so from the start . 」
「Wha—」
A vein popped up on the clerk’s forehead .
「Impudent boy! Where are you from?!」
「Ponsonia . Why?」
He mentioned the place where Roland was technically from . Everyone went silent and stared at him, even the ones inside the office .
「Oh… You’re from that overly ambitious kingdom, eh? I can understand why a kid like you is also full of confidence . 」
Hikaru heaved a sigh .
「What does confidence have to do with learning? Just get it done with . We’re wasting time here . 」
「I won’t process your enrollment . 」
「What?」
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「We will administer an exam to determine if you are fit for enrollment to the academy . This is part of the academy’s rules and regulations so you have no right to refuse . Will that be all right?」
Hikaru had heard that the academy accepted anyone as long as they paid tuition . With the fees being high, only those regular students with high ambitions or rich kids could enter . In some cases, the academy invited adventurers who had achieved incredible feats and had a promising future as scholarship students . He hadn’t heard about any exam .
「Come on, now…」
「If you’re not confident enough to take it, you may leave . 」
「…What’s the exam about?」
「Well… ah, perfect timing . 」
The clerk smiled as a large man, over two meters tall, arrived at the admin building .
「The exam is simple . You win if you land a “fatal” blow on your opponent . This uniform is a special magic item that absorbs shock so you don’t actually have to worry about your safety . My name is Mikhail of the Great Sword School and the academic advisor . 」the large man said .
They were in an open space behind the admin building . Mikhail had hairy arms and chest, wavy red hair, and a thick beard that ran from his mouth down to his chin . His features painted him as someone from Jarazack, one of the seven nations that comprised Forestia .
「Look . I know that old hag is a pain in the ass, but what did you do to piss her off like that?」Mikhail asked in a whisper .
「Dunno . Maybe she’s at that age where she loses temper when bombarded by sound arguments . 」
Mikhail shrugged as if saying “sounds like you were at fault as well”, and backed away . Before they knew it, spectators gradually gathered around the area, sitting under the shade of the trees like they were there to watch some kind of a show .
「Oof . The demon and that kid are going at it? It’s as good as over, then . 」
「What’s going on here?」
「I heard he pissed off the old hag at the admin office and she wants to set an example . 」
The onlookers were talking among themselves . Aside from the sword on his back, Mikhail was wearing an attire that was easy to move around in . His cotton pants were tucked into his boots like a soldier .
「I’ll be using this as my weapon . What about you?」Mikhail pointed at his large sword .
「This . 」Hikaru pulled out his Dagger of Strength .
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「Hmm . I don’t see a lot of those . 」
「Aren’t you going to wear a uniform?」
Hikaru was wearing a blue jacket that was lent to him earlier . Lavia commented how it looked good on him, but didn’t really care about the exam itself, like she expected for him to pass anyway .
「”Aren’t you going to wear a uniform…?” Hahahahahahaha! You’re one funny dude! You’re worried about me?」
「Overconfidence can be the end of you, if you ask me . 」
「I’m genuinely surprised . You’re quite talkative for a kid . I’m fine like this . If I die, then it’s just as you said: my overconfidence will have been the end of me . Hahaha…」
He seemed to have found Hikaru’s concern hilarious . He couldn’t stop laughing .
「Whoa . That kid just provoked the demon . Is he for real?」
「He’s dead . 」
「Ignorance sure is scary . 」
Are they underestimating me because of my height? Hikaru wondered .
He still had time to grow, or so Hikaru wanted to believe, but it did bother him a bit . Nonetheless, he had no intention to lose this exam – no, this match .
【Soul Board】Mikhail Jarazack
Age: 32 Rank: 21
30
【Vitality】
. . 【Natural Recovery】2
. . 【Stamina】3
. . 【Immunity】
… . 【Disease Immunity】1
【Physical Strength】
. . 【Strength】8
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. . 【Weapon Mastery】
… . 【Sword】1
… . 【Great Sword】3
… . 【Armor】1
He’s the academic advisor? He’s not even as strong as the commanders of Ponsonia’s Order of the Knights .
Hikaru seemed exasperated, but he actually somewhat misunderstood something . Ponsonia’s knights were the cream of the crop and trained by their own captain, Lawrence, the man known as a Master Swordsman . A first-class group of warriors . They were so strong, in fact, that the King himself thought he could destroy other countries with them on his side .
By adventurer standards, Mikhail would be among the high-tier ones . The Jarazack on his Soul Board wasn’t actually his family name . There was a custom in which most people with no family names used their nation’s name instead . He wasn’t a member of royalty .
「Please start already!」one of the staff watching by the sidelines yelled .
A few of the admin staff had joined the spectators outside . Some were watching through the open windows of the building .
「You don’t actually have to win against me . If you show that you’re strong enough, you pass . All right, then . Let’s begin . 」
「Is there a signal?」
「We can start now . Come at me from anywhere you like . 」
「…You still have your sword sheathed . 」
「You can take the first shot, is what I’m saying . It won’t be fun if I don’t give you a handicap . 」
Hikaru sighed . Being underestimated this much actually felt refreshing .
「Okay . Just one last thing, though, gramps . You said you’re prepared to die, right?」
「Hmm? Ah, yes, I did . It’s fine . Just—」
Mikhail couldn’t finish his sentence . Hikaru crouched down, picked up a stone, and threw it at an incredible speed . It was going straight for the middle of the professor’s forehead who blocked it in a hurry .
「Ugh… what?」
Mikhail couldn’t believe his own eyes . For a moment – a split second – his own hand blocked his sight . After that, his opponent disappeared .
「Guh…!」
A smack came at the back of his head and he lost consciousness . Mikhail dropped forward with a thud .
「Ah… damn, that hurts . 」
Hikaru wrapped his fist in cloth, but hitting the guy still hurt . He had his Stealth on, so if he used his Dagger of Strength, Mikhail would’ve died instantly . Which is why he took the professor down with a punch instead, something he wasn’t used to .
Still, a punch to the back of the head could be fatal, so he asked the man beforehand if he was prepared to die .
「I think he’s still alive… Yup, he’s fine . If there’s a crack in his skull, I’m sure magic can fix it . 」Hikaru said as he checked Mikhail’s artery for a pulse and looked around .
「………」
「………」
「………」
「………」
「………」
Dead silence had fallen in the area . Only the small sound of an applause from Lavia could be heard .
「I won, so this means the exam is over, right?」
「………」
「Hey, are you listening?」
Hikaru asked an admin staff member, but they just had their eyes wide open, not responding at all .
「Come on . You better not tell me this didn’t count . That would actually make me mad . 」
He approached the staff member . Their eyes opened even wider, overcome with fear…
「………」
…and collapsed backward, mouth foaming .