Chapter 105 - Surviving Is Winning

[Ding-dong!]

[Attention to all of our freshmen!]

[Today is your judgement day. Today, you will be judged of your worthiness to be accepted in our Magic Institute.]

Right after that was said, a commotion ensued.

"What?! After all of those tests, and I have to pass yet another one?!"

"Bollocks!"

"Are they joking with us?!"

To be admitted into Randalvine Magic Institute, one had to either be in the top 5 of the Regional Tournament, or pass the tests given by the Institute. While the former tested one's ability to survive, the latter tested one's mastery over Magic.

None of the way was easier than the other. Therefore, they couldn't help cursing, when it was announced they had to pass another test to be really admitted into Randalvine Magic Institute.

How could they not? They had passed those hurdles in vain, after all!

[Only the people who managed to survive will be admitted into our Institute.]

"Huh?! Are they saying we have to kill each other?"

"Is this what our senior call the first test?"

"How many people do we have to kill to be declared as the survivor?!"

The freshmen were quick to assume. The announcement hadn't even finished yet. However, they had already formulated the meaning of the incomplete announcement.

[Hint: there are Doppelgangers between you. Do your best to survive!]

Right after that, the announcement stopped.

A complete silence descended upon the room. The 300 people were instantly looking at each other. Wariness and suspicion filled their eyes.

They knew what Doppelganger was. It was one of the most troublesome Magical Beast to deal with. Not only could they imitate one's appearance, but also one's Mana signature. Therefore, it was hard to tell them apart from people.

As expected of the youths who had managed to be admitted to Randalvine Magic Institute, they quickly dispersed themselves. They didn't want to crowd themselves, in fright of mixing themselves with Doppelgangers.

In result, two groups were made — the people who distanced themselves from the crowd, and the people who stayed in the crowd. The people who had separated themselves from the crowd ended up circling the people who stayed in the crowd.

"Brother, something doesn't feel right, here." Xiu Li whispered to Basil.

Surprisingly, all of them stayed in the crowd.

Kimberley was the one who responded Xiu Li. "They are forcing us to develop a prejudice against each other." She frowned. "I'm afraid the thing that has happened at the Selection Stage will be repeated here."

Kimberley turned her head to Basil. She was a little bit taken aback at Basil, who was still standing uprightly with crossed hands and closed eyes. He looked nonchalant, even though a possible blood bath could happen in no time.

"It's good being strong, huh?" Kimberley remarked sarcastically at Basil.

"Sister Kimberley, my Grandma once told me, 'Hate is the beginning of love.' You can't hate Brother Basil too much, lest you risk loving him. Brother has Vice President Iliana already." Xiu Li looked to Kimberley innocently.

"W-what are you talking about?!" Surely, she was flustered by the sincerity in Xiu Li's words.

"Hush. They are debating."

Kimberley and Xiu Li instantly turned their head at Basil. He had opened his eyes, and was now looking at the debating crowd in amusement.

"It's already decided who are the Doppelgangers! They, who stay in their place, are the Doppelgangers!" One of the people who had separated themselves from the crowd looked at the crowd fiercely.

"Hmph! Such a ridiculous thing to say. You can not even prove yourself not a Doppelganger either!" One of the crowds replied coldly.

"Birds of a same feather flock together. Only Doppelgangers can be comfortable with another Doppelgangers!"

"Nonsense! Everyone knows how stupid a Doppelganger is. They will never know another Doppelgangers in disguise!"

The argument went back and forth. While some of the people decided to voice their argument, the others decided to keep silent and watch. They didn't want to side with any group yet. They would only choose their group, when they knew which one was right.

Xiu looked to Basil. "Brother, should we also go join the other side? I think all of them are human." He couldn't help but thinking that way. The other side provided them with more logical reason.

"Who is right, who is wrong? What determines them?" Basil unfolded his hands.

Kimberley looked to Basil seriously. "Human emit emotions. That's what determines them."

"Not necessarily." Basil took out Kusanagi from his Spatial Bracelet, and brandished it lightly. "What determines whether they are human or not is yourself."

"Huh? What are you—"

Slash!

Kimberley was too shocked to complete her sentence. How could she not? Basil had just cut someone's head nonchalantly!

"Kyaaaa!!! He is a Doppelganger!"

When the girl who had just screamed pointed her finger to Basil, everyone's eyes from both sides turned to him. All of their eyes widened in disbelief.

They wanted to immediately attack him at first. However, upon seeing the body whose head Basil had just cut, they held themselves back.

The previously human body began to change. The skin turned grey, the limbs got longer, and the torso got thinner. Not long after, a beheaded corpse of a Doppelganger could be seen lying on the ground.

"Disperse!"

No one knew who had said it, but all of the people instantly scattered in fright. What they had seen earlier had proven the existence of the Doppelgangers amongst them.

Due to the size of the hall, there was enough space for everyone to distance themselves from each other.

In result though, everyone became even more wary. "Are the three of you Doppelgangers?!" All of the people looked at Basil's direction.

"Shameless people! Haven't you seen what he did earlier?!" Kimberley glared at the speaker in despise.

"Who knows? Maybe, that was just an act! We know Doppelgangers can't differentiate their kind after transformation!"

Kimberley clicked her tongue in annoyance. Everyone was too wary, they couldn't think straight. Although she, Basil, and Xiu Li didn't move from their place, Basil's action earlier should have been an enough proof of him not being a Doppelganger.

"They are too loud." At Basil's word, Kimberley turned to him. "You managed to kill a Doppelganger earlier. How did you differentiate them?"

"I didn't differentiate them." Basil's answer puzzled Kimberley even further. "I decide who is a Doppelganger."

Basil looked ahead, before charging at the closest person to him.

Slash!

The head of the person Basil charged at fell to the ground. Everyone became even more bewildered. Surely, the people who had lost their mind to their paranoia quickly charged at Basil.

"He is a Doppelganger!"

They didn't even recall the fact Doppelganger always revealed their true form when they decided to attack. Unfortunately for them, Basil didn't care whether they were human or not.

He swung Kusanagi horizontally, producing a high pressured wind blade. Some of the people who were in the way managed to dodge it, while some didn't. In result, there were a couple of bisected bodies littered on the ground.

"That guy! Is he a lunatic?!" Kimberley shouted loudly. She was about to charge forward to stop Basil, when Xiu Li exclaimed, "Sister, Look at the corpse!"

"What do you mean?!"

"The corpse! Brother Basil is killing Doppelgangers!"

Kimberley quickly turned to look at the corpse of the "people" Basil had just cut. True to Xiu Li's words, all of them were Doppelgangers. Needless to say, she became even more bewildered.

"What... what is happening?"

"The one who determines whether they are Doppelgangers or not is yourself..."

"What are you talking about?"

"Everyone can be a Doppelganger. The only way to know who the Doppelganger is..."

"Tell me what you know already!" Kimberley glared at Xiu Li impatiently.

Xiu Li gulped. "I know it sounds weird, but the only way to know whether someone is a Doppelganger or not is to make sure by ourselves."

Kimberley glared at Xiu Li emotionlessly, but it was enough to chill his spine. Therefore, he quickly explained himself.

"The only way to make sure whether someone is Doppelganger or not is to attack them!"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Doppelgangers can imitate one's appearance, and Mana signature. However, it is not the case with Magic Circles!"

Instantly, Kimberley's eyes widened. Xiu Li was right. Although it was hard to distinguish Doppelgangers between people, they had been given the hint there were Doppelgangers between them.

Therefore, they could just attack anyone, until it was proven they were a Doppelganger. No matter how reckless it sounded, it was the only way to get out of this predicament.

"Very well, let's do th— !!!"

Kimberley couldn't finish her words, as she was forced to dodge an attack that was heading her way. When she looked at the one attacking her, her eyes widened in surprise. It was no other than a Doppelganger.

"Sister, Brother Basil has killed too many of them, they have revealed themselves! Don't stare at their eyes!"

She knew what Xiu Li was referring. The [Stare of Death] was the strongest trait of Doppelgangers. They could paralyze anyone who looked into their eyes in fear.

Sadly, Kimberley couldn't mull over it any longer, as another long arm with equally long fingers and nails tried to snatch her from behind.

"Tsk! This is troublesome."

She swiftly distanced herself from the two Doppelgangers trying to kill her. She took a quick look at the surrounding. Out of the 300 people entering the room, half of them were Doppelgangers. In other words, the hall was full of them.

She couldn't even understand what was going on.

Exhaling softly to herself, she contacted her Summon, Acacia. Her blood was spilled, and a Magic Circle appeared on the ground below her. It spun and expanding, before shining brightly. When it disappeared, Acacia the Unicorn was revealed in her full glory.

Flash!

With her lance in her hand, Kimberley mounted Acacia.