Chapter 103

Chapter 103

Spring.

A time for new beginnings.

As spring fully blossomed, a man walked down a hallway, carrying a stack of documents.

He was none other than an associate professor at Rahelrn Academy.

Last year was a stormy one.

During the first year of Rahelrn Academy, countless battles ensued.

Students repeatedly fought for their own interests, and professors had to run around frantically to prevent frequent incidents.

Rahelrn Academy had experienced quite an ordeal.

Of course, after enduring such trials, things had begun to settle down recently.

Thanks to a few outstanding students starting to become focal points of power, the academy was slowly stabilizing.

Just as things were settling, new students were about to enter this spring.

‘Damn it.’

The associate professor rubbed his face with his hand.

He could already foresee the chaos that would ensue when the new students poured in, just as things were stabilizing.

Frankly, he felt like grabbing the headmaster by the collar and telling him not to admit any new students.

But as an associate professor, he didn’t have the authority to do such a thing.

Today, his task was to review the list of candidates for the academy’s entrance exam.

The previous year’s entrance ceremony had been chaotic.

Determined to avoid any problems this year, all the professors vowed to make sure they had a clear grasp of the exam candidates.

Thud!

Pushing the door to the associate professors’ room with his foot, he walked inside.

Several associate professors, their eyes shadowed with fatigue, glanced at him before turning back to their documents.

They were all in the same boat.

‘Why is this academy so damn popular?’

Rahelrn Academy was founded with the sole purpose of nurturing the world’s greatest heroes.

Supported by the Empire, the Four Kingdoms, and many smaller kingdoms, the academy was supposed to be a place of unity and collaboration.

But that expectation crumbled instantly.

The students, already steeped in their own factions, were more interested in their own country’s interests than in becoming heroes to protect the world from erosion.

‘The world is rotten.’

He had hoped that the students, who had just become adults, would be different.

But he realized within days of his appointment just how cunning and malicious they were.

‘Thinking about it just triggers my irritable bowel syndrome.’

Associate Professor Hamel put down the documents and sat at his desk.

He might as well get to work.

“Mr. Hamel, just getting started?”

At that moment, a woman enjoying a cup of tea in a sunny spot gave him a leisurely smile.

With jet-black hair and a notable mole near her eye, she was an associate professor like him, named Kairan.

Why was she so relaxed?

The reason was simple.

She was the unlucky one tasked with overseeing this year’s entrance exam.

The duty of overseeing the entrance exam was decided by drawing lots.

Professors who were famous even before coming to the academy naturally declined the task, saying it was an associate professor’s job.

As a result, the associate professors had to draw lots reluctantly.

And Kairan was the one who drew the unlucky lot.

So everyone told her to take it easy with the documents.

“...I can’t wait for the entrance ceremony to start.”

By the time the entrance ceremony started, all the new students would have been selected.

Hamel, feeling sorry for Kairan who was waiting for that day, turned back to his documents.

He had just opened the first page when it happened.

“Shit!”

A curse slipped out, and all eyes turned to him.

Such language wasn’t expected from an associate professor reviewing documents.

“Who swore? Who said shit again?”

“Please, let’s have a quiet entrance exam this time.”

The other associate professors lamented.

Kairan, the entrance exam coordinator, shuddered at the swearing, thinking of her future.

Meanwhile, Hamel buried his face in his hands.

The reason for his reaction was the name on the entrance application.

‘Fourth Princess, Sizelry Ephania.’

A 15-year-old genius girl rumored to be the smartest in the Empire.

She would undoubtedly become the focal point of the Imperial faction among the new students.

Hamel already felt a headache coming on.

To discover such a notable figure on the first page of the documents.

And her escort was someone known as the Lightblade.

Hamel, having heard of her notorious reputation, felt a chill.

‘At least her major is Literature and her minor is Special Arts.’

Rahelrn Academy was divided into five departments.

Martial Arts focused on combat.

Literature emphasized scholarly pursuits.

Theology centered on religious studies.

Magic Studies focused on magical research.

And Special Arts taught various technical skills, distinct from the other four.

Students chose one primary department and one secondary department.

Sizelry was majoring in Literature, which was relatively calm compared to other departments.

Of course, ‘calm’ was relative, as Literature involved intense intellectual battles even associate professors struggled to keep up with.

But at least, it was the quietest department on the surface.

‘Thank goodness for small mercies.’

In Literature, the entrance exam involved solving prepared test papers and scoring them.

So, there shouldn’t be any major issues during the entrance exam.

However, since she was a person of interest, Hamel set her document aside and reviewed the next one.

“Shit.”

Another curse slipped out.

Once again, all eyes turned to him, but Hamel only glared at the document.

The next name on the list gave him a massive headache.

‘Mary Diana?’

She was the madwoman who almost killed Fourth Princess Sizelry Ephania, allegedly due to world erosion.

Despite almost assassinating a royal, the Diana family had shunned her, and there were rumors she was even scheduled for execution.

How did she avoid execution and submit an entrance application to the academy?

Her dark brown hair and gray eyes resembled someone Kraush knew well.

She was Aliod’s daughter, Alicia.

Having suffered from discoloration disease as a child, she would have been the spitting image of Aliod if not for her small stature.

Aliod was the chief butler of the Green Pine Mansion.

Since Kraush had come of age, Aliod’s role as his personal butler had become unnecessary.

Thus, Aliod couldn’t accompany Kraush to the academy, even if he wanted to.

So, he assigned his daughter, Alicia, to Kraush.

After recovering from her illness, Aliod had constantly taught Alicia to repay the debt of gratitude to Kraush.

Aliod believed she would fulfill her role as Kraush’s maid perfectly.

Although Kraush had insisted he could go alone, Aliod had been adamant, asking her to serve him even during his leisure time.

“Well done, Alicia.”

“It was nothing.”

Alicia had insisted on sitting with the coachman rather than entering the carriage to let Kraush rest comfortably.

So, when Kraush thanked her, she bowed her head politely.

Watching her, Kraush gave a short, bitter smile.

Her demeanor was exactly like Aliod’s.

Although her overly formal speech was a bit much, it had become a habit.

But unlike Aliod...

“Your skirt’s hem is flipped.”

She still had some awkward moments.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

Despite her efforts to maintain utmost decorum like Aliod, her face quickly cracked.

Blushing furiously, she hurriedly fixed her skirt, reminding Kraush of Aliod’s wife.

She had been just like this, so it seemed to run in the family.

“I’ll go take the exam. Wait in the designated area for servants. I’ll come after the test.”

“Yes, I’ll take the luggage there.”

Usually, luggage was only brought after passing the exam.

But neither Kraush nor Aliod doubted he would pass the Rahelrn Academy entrance exam.

Aliod had personally witnessed Kraush’s growth, after all.

As Alicia bowed and left, Crimson Garden flew out of the carriage and soared into the sky.

Following Crimson Garden with his gaze, Kraush saw the Rahelrn Academy buildings under the World Tree.

The place for the Martial Arts exam was, of course, the Martial Arts Hall.

Kraush wondered how many familiar faces he would see as he walked.

The closer he got, the more people he saw.

So many had come to take the Rahelrn Academy exam.

‘Must be over a thousand.’

He tried to recall how he had taken the exam before.

He remembered barely passing at the last minute.

The biggest factor was that his opponent had been intimidated by the name Balheim.

‘Why did I remember that?’

Feeling frustrated, Kraush furrowed his brows.

Thunk.

Someone running hurriedly from behind bumped into his shoulder.

Kraush could have avoided it with his intuition, but the crowded space left no room, so they collided.

He brushed his shoulder and turned his head to see a massive man, as big as a buffalo.

His clothes seemed ready to burst, making him look less than human.

The problem was, Kraush recognized his face.

In his previous life, this guy had entered Rahelrn Academy through the Empire’s martial arts tournament.

Kraush had eliminated this muscle pig in the preliminary round.

Never did he expect to meet him here again.

Apparently, the guy hadn’t given up on entering Rahelrn Academy.

What a coincidence.

The muscle pig scowled.

“Hey, what are you staring at after bumping into me?”

Hearing the response, Kraush blinked.

The guy didn’t recognize him at all.

‘Come to think of it, I was Krad back then.’

With his appearance and body shape so different, it was no wonder he didn’t recognize him.

Kraush decided to jog his memory.

He remembered what he had said back then.

“I’m staring at you, pig.”

“W-what, pig, pig?!”

In a flash, the muscle pig’s eyes turned as furious as a buffalo’s.

Without hesitation, he charged at Kraush despite the crowd.

Seeing him, Kraush raised his hand.

For some reason, the muscle pig found the gesture familiar.

He felt a sudden sense of déjà vu.

He remembered something like this happening during the martial arts tournament.

As he wondered, Kraush was already moving.

His fist was already striking the muscle pig’s face.

“Ugh?!”

With a short grunt, the muscle pig’s body was lifted into the air.

Inch Strength.

The added effect of Inch Strength made his body soar once more.

“Ah!”

“What’s happening?!”

Those heading to the Martial Arts Hall screamed and fled as the muscle pig fell.

Seeing stars, the muscle pig lay on the ground.

Caw!

With the crow’s cry from the sky, the muscle pig, losing consciousness, recalled the martial arts tournament.

He remembered being sent flying by a strange kid who had his eyes closed.

“Heck, this... this...”

Muttering to himself, he trembled and rolled his eyes back, passing out.

Kraush looked at him and lightly dusted off his hands.

“When you bump into someone’s shoulder, you should apologize first.”

He hoped his lesson in manners had worked this time.

End of Chapte