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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 3
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***
"..."
"..."
Just then, the woman looked at me too, and our gazes met for a moment.
Flick.
Suddenly, she coldly averted her eyes, and I was momentarily dumbfounded.
'Why...'
Is this woman in the same line as me?
I had clearly left the training ground and headed straight for the examination hall.
That was to get my examinee number a little faster. But I had no idea how that woman ended up in the same group as me.
Just when I couldn't understand it at all.
"A gravity field, similar to the basic physical test, is present in the examination hall. Everyone, please find your designated spots and stand ready."
As the supervisor at the entrance spoke coldly, the other hesitant people also began to find their places.
Even as they all found their places, a part of me felt uneasy.
'Damn it...'
My mood was sour as I took in the examination hall.
In the combat-oriented examination hall, three individuals, who could be called academy instructors, stood at a distance, observing us.
And the examinees were to declare their respective traits to them and then demonstrate their traits against the dummy visible in their sight.
It was generally the case to select the single most outstanding individual among the ten examinees, including myself.
While there were cases where multiple people were chosen, I knew they tended to only consider those with the most outstanding results.
I had thought it would be best to get a high score in this entrance exam and be assigned to a high class.
But because of that woman, all my plans might be ruined.
"Examinee number 491, please step forward to the center. After introducing your trait, we will proceed with the test immediately."
As the supervisor's voice rang out, the person in the first spot stepped forward.
Thump.
A man with the number 491 pinned to his chest walked awkwardly, seemingly very nervous, and as soon as I saw him, I felt he wasn't even worth watching.
"My trait is, uh, Strength, and its level is 2. With my innate strength, I can exert even greater po…"
As he clumsily tried to explain himself, the supervisor immediately cut him off.
"Strength trait, Level 2. That concludes your introduction; we will proceed with the test immediately. Subsequently, all other examinees will also be given a common time limit of three seconds, so please attack the dummy according to the signal."
At the supervisor's cold words, the man approached the dummy with a nervous expression.
"Begin."
The test that followed.
Perhaps to show off his Strength trait, he wielded a large longsword and struck down at the iron dummy.
Clang!
Clang!
Quite a fierce air-splitting sound arose, followed by a relentless assault that could be called a furious attack.
Just when it felt like he was struggling and pouring out all his strength.
"Stop. That's enough."
At the supervisor's words, the man froze.
"Examinee number 491, you may proceed to the exit."
There was no notification whatsoever, whether the test result was a pass or a fail.
He merely introduced his trait, performed for three seconds, and then was directed to the exit.
"Well, thank you for your consideration!"
As the man, who had shouted loudly one last time before exiting, disappeared, silence fell inside the hall.
"..."
"..."
The sound of people swallowing could be heard sporadically nearby.
An entrance exam encountered for the first time without prior information was this cold and ruthless.
An entrance exam that determined one's life, where one appealed their trait to the instructor-examiners for mere seconds, truly ended in vain.
Thus, examinee 492. Then 493, and up to 495, the number right before mine...
All of them, after completing their short tests, uniformly headed for the exit with dispirited steps.
During that time, the supervisor continued the tests coldly, and the examiners evaluating us had not uttered a single word to any examinee so far.
"Examinee number 496. Please step forward, introduce your trait, and we will proceed with the test."
As my turn approached, I confidently stepped forward.
Thump. Thump.
Unlike the intimidated examinees before me, I had to show my distinctiveness.
"Spearmanship trait, Level 3."
And unlike the previous examinees, I didn't offer a lengthy explanation to appeal myself.
I only stated my trait level.
Because that alone was enough.
"...Level 3?"
As one of the examiners, a woman with red hair, spoke for the first time since the test began, a broad smile spread across my face.
The red-haired woman who showed interest in me right now was named Kali.
She was one of the high-ranking officers who had shown remarkable performance on the battlefield, even earning the epithet 'Crimson Dawn.'
As she was currently resting at the academy and conducting lectures, I knew what kind of words that woman liked.
It was the word 'effort.'
Of course, it wasn't a word highly regarded in this world, which emphasized innate traits, but that woman, Kali, was different.
Despite possessing an absurdly unique trait herself, she was a woman who strangely valued effort.
"Yes. Level 3."
"You must have put in a lot of effort?"
As expected, when Kali brought up the word 'effort,' I nodded, trying my best to give an amiable smile.
"Even if traits are given, isn't effort the best one can do?"
A knight who would later become widely renowned.
When I directly used the words that Bezel had spoken during his entrance exam, Kali burst into laughter, just as I had expected.
It was a look that anyone could see she was pleased with.
"Good. I like your answer too. Proceed immediately."
At the words of Kali, an examiner rather than the supervisor, I felt hope swelling within me. I headed towards the dummy.
Slide.
I deftly drew the iron spear from my back and immediately took my stance.
"..."
I calmly settled my breathing.
Only for examinees directly addressed by an examiner, the supervisor did not impose separate controls.
Therefore, until I took my stance and properly demonstrated my skill, I could receive a benefit that wasn't explicitly a benefit.
'Unleash my strongest move.'
I naturally recalled the 'principle' I had gained upon reaching Spearmanship Level 3.
Traits, at first glance simple, were never simple.
Every person in this world, the moment they were granted a trait, instinctively understood how to use it.
To the extent that if one possessed a fire-attribute trait, they could immediately conjure fire without any prior concept.
More importantly, there was an absolute difference between trait Level 2 and trait Level 3.
Namely, from Level 3, one could naturally understand the concept of 'mana.'
Thrum!
The faint blue light gathered at my spear tip was an extremely minute amount, commensurate with my low mana level.
But that alone made a huge difference.
Even the difference in destructive power, durability, and maneuverability due to a weapon imbued with mana.
The moment I steadily glared at the dummy's head and raised my spear blade.
—!
I stepped forward and twisted my waist fully.
Slam!
The thrust spear blade directly struck the left side of the dummy's head.
...!
Without even a moment to steady my breath, I retrieved the spear I had thrust.
As much as I had struck an iron dummy made of solid steel, my two hands gripping the spear trembled incessantly, but I tried my best to maintain composure.
The attack was the beginning,
its end was the retrieval of the weapon.
Just as one should see something through to the end once started. It was because I believed finishing well would leave a good impression.
"..."
As I gave the examiners a look, I could feel Kali expressing curiosity towards me.
Of course, the other two examiners gave me an indifferent look, but even that felt like something.
At least.
"You. What's your name?"
Because I was certain I had made a good impression on that examiner, Kali, who was now asking with a smile.
"My name is Han Cheon-seong."
"...Han Cheon-seong."
At Kali's appearance, articulating my name, which would be foreign in this world, she couldn't have looked more beautiful.
Indeed, Kali's expression, with one corner of her mouth curled into a smile, was quite beautiful.
"You're quite promising."
"Thank you!"
As I replied with the loudest voice I could muster, seeing Kali chuckle, I slowly withdrew.
"...Wow."
Looking at the next examinee, who seemed surprised and was staring at me, I did not head for the exit.
After the test, everyone was supposed to go to the exit at the supervisor's cold words, but examinees had the right to observe other examinees taking their tests.
And my gaze naturally fell upon.
"..."
The blue-haired woman, who was looking at me, and our eyes met once again.
A woman who possessed an extraordinary trait, to the extent that wielding a sword generated fierce winds. There was no doubt that I would pass now, given Kali's reaction just moments ago.
Not only had an examiner directly spoken to me, but she had even used a kind of slang that signified a confirmed pass – 'promising.'
But conversely.
'Please, don't overdo it.'
I also knew that I wouldn't receive a superior evaluation compared to the blue-haired woman.
This world was originally trait-centric.
Because it was a world where people lived by their rotten bloodlines and traits.
Just by seeing the indifferent glances the other two examiners gave me, knowing that Spearmanship was a common-grade trait, I could discern the discriminatory treatment based on trait grade.
Therefore, I could only hope that the blue-haired woman would keep her performance moderate so that I could be assigned to a high class.
"Examinee number 497. Please step forward, introduce your trait, and we will proceed with the test."
Listening to the supervisor's voice, I calmly held my spot.
And I also needed to know what specific name her trait possessed.
...
Thus, following examinee 497, examinee 499 also headed for the exit just as ordinarily as the previous ones, and soon, it was that woman's turn.
"Examinee number 500. Please step forward, introduce your trait, and we will proceed with the test."
At the supervisor's words, the blue-haired woman calmly stepped forward.
"..."
Then, she gave me, still remaining in the examination hall, a peculiar look.
It was as cold as before... but something felt different.
Flick.
Then, turning her head, she calmly opened her mouth.