IBYDH 48

Chapter: 48

The results of the first exam were released early the next morning.

I was curious how they managed to grade the answers of so many examinees, but there wasn’t a single piece of information available about that process.

‘There must be some special method, right?’

Magic, perhaps. Or magic. Or something magic-like.

The results of the first exam were not delivered individually.

I didn’t know whether it was because it would cost too much money and time, or for some other reason.

Either way, instead of notifying each person separately, the results were made public for everyone to see.

A huge sheet of paper was posted on the bulletin board in front of the exam hall, listing the examinee numbers and names of those who passed, ranked in order.

Even though I came out early in the morning to avoid the crowds, the area in front of the board was already packed with people.

“There are too many people. I can’t see anything,” I muttered.

Fortunately, when I waited a little farther back, the crowd gradually thinned.

“W-Why am I so nervous?” Bell whispered as she glanced around.

I followed her gaze and studied the expressions of the people nearby.

Most wore dark, crestfallen looks after failing to find their numbers on the paper. Only a very small few were smiling brightly.

‘You can tell who passed just by looking at their faces.’

Thinking that, I edged forward carefully, avoiding people who were wiping away tears. Through the gaps in the crowd, the ranking list finally came into view.

“Let’s see. My examinee number is—”

“Oh my! Good morning.”

At the familiar high-pitched voice, I turned around with a sinking feeling.

Sure enough, Evadine was approaching with a delicate laugh.

“Did you do well on yesterday’s exam? I heard this year’s test was especially difficult, so quite a few people gave up early. You’re not one of those who quit halfway, are you, Lady Sylvia?”

Smiling slyly as she spoke, Evadine glanced at the registration slip in my hand and began muttering loudly enough for everyone to hear.

“Number 13201… I don’t think I see that anywhere…”

I looked calmly at Evadine, who was wearing a smug, sneering expression.

‘Why is she so confident? Does she not know she failed yet?’

I couldn’t help wondering why she seemed more interested in me than in her own results.

“Don’t worry too much, my lady. No one will criticize you,” she continued sweetly.

“Oh? Really?”

“Of course. It’s well known that you’re lacking compared to Lady Aerin—ah, I mean, everyone knows that. Since no one had any expectations to begin with, no one will be disappointed.”

Though she spoke with a gentle smile, her words were sharp enough that even a passing dog would notice the barb.

‘I was planning to ignore her…’

I sighed inwardly.

I wasn’t a fighting rooster, and I truly had no desire to get into an argument every time we met.

‘But she’s insulting me this openly. I can’t just let it slide.’

Just as I was about to speak—

“Number 13201 has passed.”

A calm voice announced my result.

The owner of that voice was—

‘Silver hair?’

Ignoring the baffled looks from both Evadine and me, the silver-haired man quietly fixed his gaze on Evadine.

Slowly, red crept from her forehead down to her neck.

“That can’t be right. It wasn’t on the list,” Evadine protested, trying to hide her fluster.

The silver-haired man replied evenly.

“If your eyesight is that poor, you should consider getting glasses. Number 13201 is clearly on the list.”

“No, look here! Where exactly is 13201?” she shouted, pointing at the very bottom of the list.

Among the densely packed numbers, 13201 was indeed nowhere to be found.

However, instead of apologizing, the silver-haired man raised a finger and pointed to the list.

His fingertip moved slowly upward.

And finally, it stopped at the very top of the list.

—13201, Sylvia.

In accordance with the academy’s rules—judging solely by ability and not by lineage—the list displayed only first names, without family names.

If not for the examinee number written beside the common name “Sylvia,” no one would have realized that this was Sylvia Atlante.

“Th-That’s impossible! It must be someone else!” Evadine cried.

If even Evadine, who knew my examinee number, was denying reality this hard…

I felt oddly relieved. At least for now, it seemed no one would suspect that I had placed first in the academy’s first exam.

Still—

“I passed.”

I had known it already, but it was real.

The former Sylvia had barely scraped into the academy thanks to the rarity of being a spirit contractor. Now, I stood proudly at the very top of the first-round pass list.

“Kyaaah! M-Miss! You passed! You passed—first place!” Bell squealed, bouncing in place.

After calming Bell down, I turned around.

Evandine stood there, pale as if she were about to faint, her mouth hanging open.

I smiled sweetly at her and waved my registration slip, the number 13201 clearly printed on it.

Her trembling eyes were glued to that number.

In my most infuriatingly cheerful voice, I said,

“Oh dear. I can’t believe I passed either. But… have you checked your own results, Lady Evadine? I don’t think I saw your name on the list.”

I repeated her own words back to her exactly.

“Did you see Lady Evadine’s face earlier? I think I’ll just remember that whenever I’m in a bad mood—it’ll cheer me up instantly!” Bell chattered, laughing gleefully.

It was rare to hear Bell, who was usually kind enough to sympathize with others’ misfortune, speak like that.

She must really dislike Evadine.

‘Well, same here.’

“Bell, since we passed, how about going to eat something good before the second exam?” I suggested.

“Yes!”

With an excited Bell and a Hans who looked frozen like a statue, we headed back toward the lodgings—when someone called out from behind.

“Please wait a moment, Lady Sylvia.”

Turning around, I saw the silver-haired man from the exam hall—the same one who had spoken up for me earlier.

“If you have some time, I’d like to speak with you briefly.”

When I remained silent, simply watching him, he seemed to realize something and continued.

“Ah. I should introduce myself first.”

He bowed politely.

“I am Kian Oswald, the second son of Baron Oswald.”

Baron Oswald? That was a name I’d heard many times before. And the name Kian sounded familiar too.

‘Where have I heard it? Definitely around here… back when Sylvia was attending the academy.’

I examined him more closely, wondering if he might be someone I had failed to recognize before, like Teb.

He was a refined, handsome man whose silver hair suited him well.

Intelligent blue eyes, pale pink lips that hinted at quiet stubbornness—he had the air of someone who belonged among books.

‘A face like this isn’t easy to forget.’

So why did he feel so vaguely familiar?

‘Kian Oswald… Kian Oswald…’

Wait.

“…Kian Oswald?”

“Yes. Do you know me?” he asked.

Ah. Of course I did.

—Have you heard the news? Kian Oswald, the second son of Baron Oswald! The genius who always places first in every exam. He’s been officially chosen as the next Master of the Mage Tower, surpassing even veteran archmages!

‘Of course I’d know the genius destined to become the future Mage Tower Master.’

But why would that genius want something from me?

‘It can’t be about yesterday. I was wearing a hood the whole time.’

Then what?

‘How dare you steal first place from me! How insolent!’ …No, that couldn’t be it.

I shook my head.

‘He’s not Sylphid. He wouldn’t talk like that.’

Then what was it?

As I watched him silently, Kian Oswald spoke first.

“…My apologies. Of course you wouldn’t know me. Well—um—I took the entrance exam alongside you this time. I’m not sure if you remember, but we met at the exam hall yesterday. As I mentioned earlier, I’m Kian Oswald of the Oswald barony.”

“I see.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Kian Oswald smiled awkwardly.

He clearly wasn’t used to situations like this.

Indeed, even in Sylvia’s memories, he had been something of a mysterious public figure.

Everyone across the empire knew his name, how extraordinary he was, and what kind of talent he possessed.

Yet no one knew what he looked like.

He had never shown himself publicly.

Even if you brushed past him on the street, you’d never realize the person you just passed was Kian Oswald.

And if that was true even years later, after he had gained fame and power, then now—when he was still just the son of a provincial baron—he must be even more withdrawn.

Was it a lack of social skills? Extreme shyness? Or simply being too introverted?

‘Judging by yesterday, he might just dislike interacting with people.’

I recalled how blunt he had been, even after approaching me first.

Either way, he had a personality that would make social life difficult under normal circumstances.