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It took around three hours before my turn came and by then only one more person was selected. He was the son of the richest merchant in the town. It makes me wonder whether the chief's son and the merchant's son are even talented or if their daddy just pumped enough money to improve their physique.
"Kid, go in." The male recruiter standing said as I stood too long outside the tent.
Giving him a shy smile I entered the tent followed by the old hag. She's being awfully quiet.
The first thing I noticed after entering the tent was the whiteboard standing but what drew my attention was unlike normal whiteboards' smooth surface this one had a gooey one. Before I could look closely at the board one of the male recruiters came forward with a box.
Matron told me to place my hand on the whiteboard which I followed. Immediately I felt my hands sinking inside the gooey surface
"Push as hard as you could." The male recruiter instructed and followed.
"Agh" I pushed as hard as I could and saw the number changing on the small screen beside the board.
Once I stopped and stepped back I saw the screen showing 4. I don't how high my talent is compared to the bigger world but if the surprised look on the recruiter's face is anything to go by it is pretty high in their view.
"Ahem!" I cleared my throat loudly which brought them out of their shocked state.
The male brought the box he was holding and asked me to place my hand on its surface. While doing so I felt a prickle and saw a small pin puncturing my index finger and extracting blood.
The male looked at the small screen on the box and spoke to the female recruiter sitting behind the table.
"Age 5, no bloodline. Hundred percent human." He said which caused the female recruiter to stand up and look at me like I was some heavenly fruit of immortality to devour.
I feel I should maintain a distance from this girl.
After looking at me for some time she sat back and wrote something on the paper, congratulating me for passing the assessment.
The female recruiter didn't say more and focused on scribbling on that paper.
I looked at the male recruiter awkwardly not knowing what to do cause the old hag's CPU had stopped working and she wasn't instructing me anything as well.
Fortunately, the male recruiter shook the matron which brought her back to the living world and told her to escort me back and pack my belongings.
Matron followed his order and brought me out before taking me towards my room. Along the way, she kept glancing at me. I know she wanted to say something but didn't know where to begin after all we did not have the best of relationship.
And as great of a person I am I didn't help her and kept walking silently, letting her fight her battles on her own.
We reached my room and I started packing my things which didn't take long since I didn't have much to my name other than my knife and a few remaining bronze coins.
The matron saw the coins or more like I let her see. I wanted to know what she would say. Surprisingly or unsurprisingly she did not say anything but brought out her purse and offered me.
I took the purse with a raised eyebrow and opened it. My eyes widened at the content before they narrowed on the old hag.
Oh, how the situation has changed. I snickered inwardly.
Seeing my narrowing eyes, she snorted and spoke albeit without her usual bite.
"This is all my life-saving. Take it." She said.
"Why are you giving this to me." I couldn't help but ask.
Why is she giving all her life savings to me? Is she trying to curry favour from me? Did she really think I'd be that naïve?
"I'm not giving this to you so you can forget what I did, boy. No, I know two gold coins and some silver aren't enough especially for someone like you who will become a powerful man. I'm just giving this to help you a bit. I could only hope when one day you have the power to remove this old woman with a wave of your hand you could be kind and wise enough to look past my petty behaviour." The old hag said and I have to say she has a way with words. If I was really a kid no matter how smart. I would have fallen for her words but unfortunately for her, I'm an adult from the 21st century and have watched many videos about how one can have any conversation in their favour with right articulated words.
"Fine, I'll take this. We no longer know each other." Despite my thoughts, I still took the coins. In the first place, I never plan to take revenge or even to return to this place so these gold and silver coins are quite the boon for someone who only has a few bronze one to his name.
"Thanks for the coins," I said and exited the room.
Reaching outside I was immediately called by the recruiters. I walked up to them and saw the chief and the merchant's son both standing there.
"Hello, Magnus. My name is Larissa Kafeel and I am in the final year of the Royal Academy. You can call me Senior Larissa. These are Andrew Jonson, Antonio Karkroff, Marcus Behemoth and Tristan Shield. They are also final years at Royal Academy." The girl Larisaa introduced herself and her companion to which I nodded to everyone in acknowledgment.
So they aren't recruiters but students, huh? Do all final-year students do this? Do they get anything in return like Academy points or something?
"Hello, senior Larissa. My name is Magus no last name and it's nice to meet you." I introduced myself as well despite knowing them already having all my information.
"Ara~ what a polite child," Larissa said with a sweet smile but for some reason, her sweet smile gave me a shiver.
Must stay away from her.
"Woman stop wasting time. Tristan and I have to take these kids to the Royal Academy while you and the rest need to head for the next village." Andrew—the bald, tall teen said with a no-nonsense tone and Tristan nodded to his words.
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