The atmosphere around the academy felt different that morning.
Normally, the hallways were filled with lazy conversations and students wandering around without much purpose.
But today—
everything felt louder.
Some students were already carrying weapons despite the early hour. Others practiced magic in the courtyard, while groups gathered everywhere talking about the upcoming exam.
"They said this exam's gonna be different."
"I heard even Class A is participating."
"No way… why are monsters from Class A being grouped with us?"
Those kinds of conversations echoed through almost every corner of the academy.
Kael walked calmly through the hallway with both hands in his pockets, quietly observing the surroundings.
"…The atmosphere changed," he muttered.
"Because everyone's panicking."
A familiar voice came from beside him.
Irieth walked over while carrying several books in her arms.
Kael smiled faintly. "Morning."
Irieth nodded lightly. "Morning."
Several students immediately turned to look at them as they passed.
The two of them had become far too well-known around the academy lately.
Especially after rumors spread about Kael constantly being seen with Lancer, Leon, and Irieth.
"By the way…" Kael glanced around the crowded hallway. "It's noisy today."
Irieth nodded. "The exam announcement is today."
Before Kael could reply—
BANG!!
The hallway door slammed open violently.
"KAEEELLL!!"
Leinhardt came running toward them in complete panic.
"We're screwed!"
Kael looked at him lazily. "What happened this time?"
Leinhardt immediately pointed toward the notice board at the end of the hallway.
"They said every first-year class is taking the same exam!"
"…Hah?"
Not only Kael—
the students nearby instantly exploded into chaos.
"They're grouping Class A with us?!"
"That's suicide!"
"Exams are supposed to be separated by class!"
Kael narrowed his eyes slightly.
A combined exam…
This was already sounding more troublesome than he expected.
Not long after—
The academy bell rang loudly.
Every first-year student was ordered to gather in the main hall.
Academy Hall
Thousands of students filled the massive hall.
From Class A…
all the way to Class F.
For the first time, every first-year student had gathered in the same place.
Kael sat casually beside Irieth.
Lancer sat nearby with his arms crossed. Yuki and Taylor were beside him quietly chatting with each other.
Meanwhile—
Iruma sat alone in the corner of the hall.
As usual…
his presence was ridiculously hard to notice.
Leon looked calm as always.
Rose and Perona were still busy calming Leinhardt down, since he'd been panicking nonstop since earlier.
But then—
Kael's attention shifted.
Someone had just entered the hall.
Calm footsteps.
Pitch-black hair.
Cold eyes.
And heavy dark circles that made him look like he hadn't slept in a month.
The aura around him…
felt completely different.
"…Lints," Kael muttered.
Irieth immediately looked over.
Lints walked into the hall without paying attention to anyone's stares.
Which only made everyone stare even harder.
"That's him?"
"The guy summoned by the kingdom?"
"He's the one who healed General Bouttier?"
"He's seriously still a first-year student?"
Whispers spread everywhere.
Lints stopped not far from them.
His gaze met Kael's for a brief second.
"…Hey, Lints," Kael greeted casually.
Lints answered shortly.
"Hey, Kael."
Silence followed for a moment.
Lancer smirked slightly.
"Heh… so you're the guy who healed the general?"
Lints glanced at him briefly.
"…And you must be Lancer. The kingdom's little prodigy."
A subtle pressure instantly formed between them.
Not hostile.
But it was obvious—
they were evaluating each other.
Irieth quietly observed Lints for several seconds.
"…His mana is incredibly stable."
Kael silently agreed.
This guy…
was much stronger than before.
Suddenly—
DUUM!!
A heavy pressure filled the entire hall.
Every student immediately fell silent.
A huge man wearing a black cloak stood atop the main stage.
Scars covered most of his face.
His military aura was overwhelming.
"Silence."
The hall instantly became quiet.
"My name is Gareth."
"I'll be the commander overseeing your exam."
His sharp eyes swept across the crowd.
"Normally, each class receives different exams."
"But this time…"
"They won't."
The hall immediately erupted again.
Gareth ignored it completely.
"Because on the battlefield…"
"No one cares whether you came from Class A or Class F."
Silence.
Nobody dared to speak anymore.
"This exam will be your first survival simulation before being sent to the frontlines."
Several students visibly stiffened.
The frontlines.
This was no longer an academy game.
That was a place where people actually died.
Kael listened carefully.
But around him—
many students were already panicking.
"Oi oi… seriously?"
"We're only first-years…"
"This is insane…"
Gareth crossed his arms.
"You're allowed to be afraid."
"But if fear alone already makes you tremble…"
"Then leave now."
Silence filled the hall again.
No one moved.
And that made Gareth grin faintly.
"…Good."
The Monsters of the First Year
Among the crowd—
several names had already begun spreading through the academy.
Kael Rynthier.
Irieth Veir.
Lancer Odtry.
Lints Ahtr.
Leon.
Five names now being called the monsters of the first years.
Kael — absurd battle IQ and swordsmanship far beyond what a first-year should possess.
Irieth — a support mage with terrifying mana control, combined with deadly ice, fire, and nature magic.
Lancer — a swordsman and holy magic user. A genius among geniuses.
Lints — a user of curse magic, healing, and dark magic powerful enough to catch the kingdom's attention.
Leon — a young adventurer with real battlefield experience.
But—
they weren't the only ones.
Class 1-B
A red-haired girl stood quietly with a long spear strapped to her back.
Selene Dravark.
Top rank of Class B.
Disciplined. Fast.
And famously difficult to approach.
Beside her stood a giant man with a massive build.
Duran Volf.
Class B's tank.
Rumor said his mana defense was nearly impossible for ordinary students to break.
Class 1-C
A hooded archer sat alone in the corner of the hall.
Raven.
Quiet.
But rumors claimed he could hit targets from distances most people couldn't even see.
Nearby—
two twin girls continued arguing endlessly.
Mira and Myra.
Dual-casting users infamous for giving teachers headaches.
Classes 1-D to F
Not everyone was a monster.
But some still carried strange pressure around them.
A boy with glasses quietly sat while writing notes into a small notebook.
Name: Ellis.
Class F.
Average grades.
Nothing particularly special.
But his eyes never stopped moving.
Watching everyone.
Analyzing.
Memorizing.
Kael glanced at him briefly.
"…That guy's dangerous."
And for the first time—
Kael realized something.
This year's first-years…
were overflowing with monsters.
After the Announcement
As soon as Gareth left the hall—
the entire place exploded into noise again.
Everyone immediately started discussing the exam.
Some panicked.
Some got excited.
Others instantly began forming groups.
Kael had just stood up when—
"Hei."
A woman's voice came from behind him.
Kael turned around.
Selene Dravark.
The spear user from Class B stood there staring directly at him.
"…You're Kael Rynthier?"
Kael nodded casually. "Yeah."
Selene crossed her arms.
"I heard you're strong."
Lancer immediately smirked from behind.
"Heh… here we go again."
But Selene ignored him completely.
Her eyes stayed fixed on Kael.
"If we meet during the exam…"
"I want to see for myself how strong Class A's monster really is."
The surrounding atmosphere instantly became tense.
Several nearby students stopped to watch them.
Kael, meanwhile, only smiled faintly.
"…Then don't lose too quickly."
Selene's lips curved slightly upward.
"…Interesting."
After that, she simply turned and walked away.
Lancer chuckled softly.
"You really attract trouble fast."
"She started it," Kael answered casually.
But before the conversation could continue—
someone suddenly sat beside them.
Leinhardt jumped violently.
"WOI WHEN DID YOU GET HERE?!"
Iruma stared at him blankly.
"…I've been here the whole time."
"LIAR!"
Rose immediately smacked Leinhardt in the head again.
"Ow!"
Small laughter spread through the group.
But beneath the relaxed atmosphere—
everyone understood one thing.
Tomorrow…
everything would change.
Leinhardt still looked unusually restless.
He kept glancing toward the Class 1-B group.
Kael finally noticed.
"…What's wrong with you?"
Leinhardt immediately turned around.
"Hah?! Nothing!"
"Liar," Irieth answered flatly.
Rose sighed deeply.
"…He's scared of meeting his fiancée."
"Hah?" Kael blinked.
Yuki instantly leaned forward with interest.
"Oh?"
Even Leon and Iruma were quietly holding back laughter.
Meanwhile, Leinhardt completely panicked.
"WOI DON'T JUST SAY THAT OUT LOUD!"
But it was already too late.
Everyone had already turned toward Class 1-B.
And there—
a dark blue-haired girl stood calmly reading the exam documents.
The cold aura around her was completely different from the other students.
Her name—
Elena Vaust.
One of Class 1-B's top ranks.
Kael observed her for a few seconds.
"…That's your fiancée?"
Leinhardt immediately pointed frantically.
"Listen! The engagement was decided by our families! It wasn't my choice!"
Rose crossed her arms.
"And yet every time Elena appears, you run away."
"That's called survival instinct!" Leinhardt protested instantly.
Suddenly—
"Leinhardt."
A calm voice came from behind him.
Leinhardt's entire body froze.
Slowly…
very slowly…
he turned around.
Elena was already standing right behind him.
Nobody knew since when.
"…AAAAAAAAAH?!"
Leinhardt instantly stumbled backward and fell out of his chair.
Kael, Lancer, Perona, Taylor—even Leon—
all struggled to hold back their laughter.
Elena stared coldly at Leinhardt lying on the floor.
"You're causing trouble again."
Leinhardt hurriedly stood up in panic.
"N-no! I was just trying to lighten the mood!"
"By screaming?"
"…A little."
Silence.
Then—
Elena sighed softly.
Her gaze shifted toward Kael and the others.
"…Sorry for his behavior."
"WOI WHY ARE YOU TALKING LIKE I'M A CHILD?!"
Rose answered immediately.
"Because you are."
"ROSEEEE!"
Even Irieth had to turn her face away slightly to hide her small laugh.
Meanwhile, Kael quietly observed Elena.
…She's beautiful.
Why the hell is Leinhardt so terrified of her?
Her mana was extremely stable.
And the pressure she subtly released was far from normal.
Elena looked back at Leinhardt again.
"Don't embarrass yourself during the exam tomorrow."
Leinhardt immediately straightened up.
"…I'll try."
"Not try."
Elena's gaze sharpened.
"Do it."
"…Yes."
After saying that—
she simply turned around and walked away.
Silence filled the group for a few seconds.
Then—
BAM!!
Yuki burst out laughing while slapping Leinhardt's shoulder.
"HAHAHAHA! So the monster you're scared of is your fiancée?!"
Even Leon laughed quietly.
"Now I understand why you were panicking earlier."
Leinhardt held his head in despair.
"…You guys don't understand…"
Kael smirked slightly.
"Oh yeah?"
Leinhardt stared blankly at Elena's figure disappearing into the crowd.
"…She's scarier than any monster."