NOVEL NEXT Chapter 33
<33 – Pass the Entrance Exam>
Wahyhiemhai.
Hearing that absurd name, the first thing that came to mind was the name of my butler, Jonnas Wahyhiemhai.
“That’s my butler’s last name, you know?”
“So the Oknodie examinee is a prospective scholarship student of the foundation after all.”
“I don’t know anything like that. I’m just Papa’s daughter.”
“Papa? What a cute title. What is your father’s name then?”
“Well… I can’t tell you that.”
“That makes sense. Scholarship students all come from orphans, after all.”
Does that mean the butler has no family?
I suddenly feel sorry.
‘How did I treat that butler?’
–Spinach, stop it!
–I said I don’t want to eat the same dish again!
–Just one hour, I’ll go for a night walk. Okay?
–Young lady, where are you hiding again?
–Aren’t your clothes dusty again?
–I’ve told you so many times, you can’t sneak out to eat rocks!
I had caused so much trouble over the years, sneaking around and eating the pebbles I was told not to, complaining about wanting other sides.
If the reason he had tolerated all that fuss was because he had no family…?
Was he thinking of me as family?
“Ugh.”
Tears are about to come out.
It feels like I’m recalling past wrongs to my parents and tearing up!
“Say it. What is the purpose of the Wahyhiemhai Foundation? What evil deeds are you plotting this time?”
“Don’t speak ill of Wahyhiemhai! The person with that name treated me so well!”
“…You really don’t know anything, do you? What the Wahyhiemhai Foundation is or why your foundation gathers only parentless orphans.”
“Why do you keep saying bad things? I have Papa!”
“Is that the parent whose name you can’t even say?”
Ugh. But he really exists.
My Papa sent Jonnas to help me get into the academy and even gave me 100 gold!
“Uh oh? Oknodie examinee. I didn’t mean to provoke you…”
“I have Papa. I do have a Papa! Why do you keep saying I don’t?”
As I shouted in frustration, my eyes welling with tears, Minerva’s summon scratched its head.
“…Okay, the child hasn’t done anything wrong. I was mistaken. I apologize.”
Minerva the examiner gave up on the questioning.
*
“Did you cry?”
“I didn’t.”
“Your eyes are red, why lie?”
Oknodie was avoiding eye contact in embarrassment, while Jezel kept poking and prodding.
Son Ohchun added fuel to the fire with his fur bristling menacingly.
“Who made our little mouse cry? Just say the word and I’ll deal with it.”
Isabel pinched both boys’ waists, noticing their cluelessness.
“Ugh!”
“Ah!”
“Don’t pry into things like that. If the child is struggling, they can cry sometimes.”
“Isn’t it enough just to talk?”
“What’s with this party? Why are the girls so fierce?”
Even while grumbling, Jezel and Son Ohchun discreetly passed the reins to Isabel.
It’s easy to forget that Oknodie, always seen as composed and clever, was raised as an assassin in a noble house. She’s not just an emotionally normal child.
“It’s okay. I don’t know what made you sad, but we’re all on your side. You know that, right Oknodie?”
Oknodie nodded slightly.
As I wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, Oknodie scrunched her face.
“Smells like sweat.”
“Sorry. I’ve been carrying it around.”
“…But thank you.”
“That’s all that matters.”
“Want some candy?”
“You eat a lot.”
While Oknodie’s party rested comfortably, other strong contenders using the magic circle arrived one by one at the finish line.
The ferocious pirate Jigoku.
Northern Grand Duchess Irene.
Andersen Pretzel.
Everyone capable seemed to have used the magic circle.
As time passed, some examinees arrived, either swatting away mosquitoes or taking a long detour.
“Exam is over.”
With a snap of Minerva’s fingers, all those with ticket watches scattered throughout the forest were summoned in order.
The second test has concluded.
It’s time for the result announcement.
*
Second Examiner Minerva spoke.
“The test for the second gate, [Hunter's Forest], has concluded. Of the 185 examinees, 23 successfully completed it. 102 were eliminated by time-out. 47 forfeited. 13 exceeded the time limit.”
“Of course, the eliminated and forfeiting candidates have not been summoned here. Only the time-outs have been.”
Among the time-out examinees was Dorothy.
With a face full of regrets, it seemed she managed to at least touch the black-hatted instructor.
Looks like she was searching for her until the last moment.
The NTR victim Rockbell was also among the time-outs.
It was surprising to see the NTR woman Yui remain, but one could tell simply by looking at her face.
She must have failed to touch the black-hatted instructor in the end.
“Psst, mouse. Those guys are eliminated anyway, does the score even matter?”
“That’s not something you can say for sure.”
Minerva stated, regarding those who succeeded and those who dropped out, the forfeiters and the tardiaries.
Indeed.
“Examiner! Why are the time-over candidates summoned? Aren’t they all eliminated?”
“I recall saying nothing of the sort?”
“Then does that mean the time-over candidates are passing the second gate just like us who completed it?”
The time-over candidates, who thought they’d already been eliminated and were preparing for next year, were startled.
“To ease Hertz examinee’s worries, those who completed the test are awarded an additional 50 points, but the time-over candidates do not receive the completion reward of 50 points.”
“Though you might think the scores are meaningless since the exam is over, these scores directly link to early admission. Candidates who accumulate 100 points or more in the entrance exam are admitted immediately.”
“!!”
“The candidates who scored 100 or above are Oknodie, Jezel, Son Ohchun, Isabel, Jiang, and Weather. These six individuals have met the requirements in the second gate and successfully achieved immediate admission.”
Son Ohchun let out a roar of joy.
Isabel grabbed hands and shook them wildly as she celebrated their pass.
Jezel smiled, relieved that they all passed together.
The comrades were visibly thrilled.
Of course, the other examinees watching them brimmed with dissatisfaction.
“I see you’re not happy. If you don’t understand the motto of the second gate, you might think that way.”
“Some of you may be stronger than those who passed, possess superior skills, and outstanding combat power. All of those are outside the interest of this examiner.”
Minerva’s criteria were clear.
“The wise ahead of the strong, and if lacking in wisdom, you must have unparalleled combat power to advance. The 100-point score is proof of that.”
“Don’t be too disappointed. The moment your scores exceed 100, you will also pass the third gate.”
The smarter you are, the less your body has to suffer.
If your body is fit enough, you don’t even have to think.
That is the motto of the second gate!
“Among the time-over candidates, there may be some who have exceeded 100 points, but for fairness, their scores will be reduced to one hundredth for measurement.”
“Of course, this applies only to those who escaped the game of tag, and those who failed to escape will all challenge the next gate with a -50 point penalty.”
“If you feel frustrated, reflect on yourself. On the foolishness of wasting points on mosquito repellents or necessities while settling for the bare minimum of 50 points required to pass.”
This was an important announcement for those who would meet the third exam, but it had nothing to do with us who already passed.
“What about those who barely held out but forfeited?”
“If you lack creativity, at least you should have the skill to survive and the mental strength to not give up until the end. No one can save someone who gives up on their own.”
Minerva’s cold philosophy showed no mercy to the forfeiter.
“Successful candidates, please follow Monk Myung So to the lounge. The third gate examinees will follow this instructor to the next exam venue.”
From afar, examinees heading to the third gate glanced at us once.
Their glares were even fiercer than when we topped the first exam, as if they firmly believed that while a first loss could be a fluke, a second was skill and they were preparing for it.
It was a painful gaze for someone like me who was hoping to build good friendships now that I had become like a game character living in the academy.
“Ha ha. So it came to this. I knew Oknodie would surely succeed in early admission at the second gate.”
Monk Myung So chuckled as he spoke to me while guiding me to the lounge.
“Hey, you’re also an assassin, right?”
On the way to the lounge, a girl in a mask approached and spoke.
‘This child is…’
The second auxiliary task of the second gate.
Competing to grab the golden ball held in the tangled vines.
It was the 0.1% landmine I bumped into there.
The assassin of binding [Jiang].
“Not really.”
“Liars. You knew my skill.”
“That’s because….”
“It’s because you are a player.”
I’ve faced Jiang’s skills and dropped out before.
“See? You know after all?”
“Still, I don’t know!”
“So where did you learn it?”
“Learn what?”
“What else would it be? Skills.”
“From my butler and maid.”
“Heh, home education. Lucky you. I learned from my mentor.”
Maybe that’s why Jiang’s open demeanor felt so awkward and unfamiliar.
Normally, she would be radiating an aggressive aura, dying to eliminate me with just a glance, but here she was chatting like we were buddies.
Is this the friendliness of a girl?
Perhaps it’s fortunate I became a girl instead of a muscular male character.
Lost in that happy thought, my head got ruffled by Ohchun uncle’s huge hand.
“Hey, little mouse, where did you find a friend who looks just like you?”
“Ah, stop it!”
As I lightly grumbled, Jiang’s eyes sparkled as she asked.
“Should I punish him for you?”
Her pitch-black eyes stared directly at Son Ohchun.
Instead of fearing the large monkey humanoid, a deadly intent suppressed within her was visible through her gaze.
She was technically a 1.5 tier assassin supporting character.
Knowing well that she should be raising favorability by only saying good things, I still felt strangely uncomfortable.
“Don’t do that.”
While her behavior could be threatening, annoying at times, there were moments I felt like I wanted to retaliate.
“Uncle Ohchun is my comrade.”
Even though we’d become a party without a single prominent named NPC from the original game, Son Ohchun had become one of my beloved comrades.