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Chapter 5
Thanks to Izael’s unexpected help, I managed to arrive at the exam hall on time.
“Phew…”
Only after finding my seat written on the blackboard and sitting down did I finally feel a bit at ease.
I took out my writing tools and looked around during the remaining time.
Groups of students who seemed to know each other were chatting here and there.
“I’m so nervous…”
Rubbing my increasingly cold hands together, I closed my eyes. When I thought that everything depended on this one exam, my stomach churned.
When I was younger, I had boldly declared that I would go to Judea without knowing any better. But now I knew just how reckless that had been.
‘Even while I was growing up, Judea’s walls were like an impregnable fortress.’
It wasn’t that they restricted admission based on status.
Rather, it meant that it was only natural that I couldn’t compete with wealthy noble children who had been receiving elite education from childhood as naturally as breathing—education that commoners could never afford.
And an even bigger problem than that was…
“What? The student council president has to be first place in the entrance exam?”
Not long after I started receiving private tutoring at Haeil’s house, I jumped up from my desk.
Getting into the top five would already be a miracle. First place?
“Y-Yes. The student with the highest score on the entrance exam automatically becomes the student council president. The top five join the council, and the last member is chosen by the president’s recommendation.”
What kind of merit-obsessed system was this?
While Haeil tilted his head as if asking what the big deal was, I couldn’t say anything.
Because…
‘I have to become that student council president or whatever!’
My head started throbbing.
‘Second life. I want to give up.’
In the game, Archel was definitely the student council president.
Then, when Rena enrolled a little late, he would say, “You’re part of the student council now,” and introduce her to the male lead candidates one by one.
Which meant I absolutely had to become president and bring Rena into the council.
‘Because it’s hard to create contact points between her and them unless it’s the student council, the gathering place of all the male leads.’
The more I thought about it, the more my head hurt.
‘…Should I just give up?’
World ending? Then let it end.
I didn’t want to study endlessly only to die pointlessly.
Just as the thought of finding another path and escaping this house filled my mind—
A warm touch brushed against my forehead.
“You don’t have a fever.”
Haeil was looking down at me with a worried face.
The passionate rookie tutor who taught me despite having little money.
And Mrs. Stea next door, who always looked out for my convenience, came to mind.
‘If we really get a bad ending and the world is destroyed, they’ll all die too, right?’
My brows furrowed.
‘That can’t happen.’
I straightened up.
Right. No matter how you played, Archel always became the student council president. So wouldn’t this world somehow make me first place?
Like everyone else getting food poisoning except me, or all the questions being ones I’d studied.
‘Yeah. I can do this.’
I’d worked harder than anyone.
I repeated “It’ll be fine” like a spell, filling myself with courage.
When I put my hand in my pocket, I felt the rustle of paper. Smiling slightly, I slowly pulled it out.
It was a letter that had arrived when I told her I was scared and nervous about the academy exam.
When I unfolded the already crumpled paper, neat handwriting caught my eye.
“Tear all that crap apart.”
I covered my mouth to suppress a laugh.
Despite the tidy handwriting, the rough wording instantly reminded me of Rena.
‘What kind of expression did she have when she wrote this?’
For about two years, Rena hadn’t replied to my letters at all.
Then, after I was beaten by that bastard Lucas and wrote an emotional letter, she replied for the first time.
To my bold declaration that I’d tear fate apart, she wrote just one line: “Do whatever.”
After that, she began writing back from time to time.
Up until now.
‘I’m glad I brought it.’
When I brought the paper to my nose, a faint rose scent rose up.
I’d brought it like a lucky charm, just in case.
Thinking of Rena made me smile, and my tension eased.
“Alright, please take your seats. I’ll briefly explain the exam.”
A proctor who had entered unnoticed gave instructions and handed out the papers.
At last, the exam I had waited so long for began.
“Professor, I’ve checked all the multiple-choice and short-answer questions. Please grade the written responses.”
“Alright. Leave them there.”
Asna, whose dark circles looked as if she had been battered by life itself, fled the room as if afraid she’d be caught.
“Tsk. What good is a young person with such poor stamina?”
The man clicked his tongue, having conveniently forgotten that he was the one who had moved up Asna’s thesis deadline.
Stretching his stiff neck, he pulled the stack of answer sheets toward himself.
He was Dakota Devon—the youngest professor at Judea Academy and a genius of the Empire.
Despite constant scouting offers from other academies, foreign nations, and even the imperial family, he was a stubborn scholar who devoted himself solely to research and teaching at Judea.
Respected by students yet also ranked number one among professors they wanted to avoid, Dakota had written the magic section of this entrance exam.
“I heard many outstanding students are coming this year, so I prepared thoroughly. Let’s see…”
The crown prince, the heir of the Reuters family that controlled the continent’s finances, the next tower master already chosen after graduation, and even the youngest marquis.
With half expectation and half mischief, Dakota had included several essay questions he normally wouldn’t.
They were topics usually taught only in the third year.
“I don’t expect them to solve everything… but I’d like them to at least grasp the intent and reach the stage of designing a magic circle.”
Some might call it cruel to demand this from students who hadn’t even enrolled yet.
But where was this?
This was Judea Academy, which nurtured the Empire’s finest talents.
To receive Judea’s high-level education, students needed excellent pre-academy training and relentless effort.
‘Unless they’re geniuses sent by heaven.’
Having failed to find any impressive students lately, Dakota scanned the papers with sharp eyes.
“Overall, not bad.”
When he reached the crown prince’s answers, he smiled with satisfaction.
“As expected of the future ruler of the Empire. You can tell the royal family invested heavily in his education.”
The crown prince had perfectly grasped what was being asked—and even completed a flawless magic formula.
With how busy he must be with politics and diplomacy, reaching this level in magic meant the Empire’s future was bright.
“And the next tower master…”
Humming as he turned the page, Dakota pressed his forehead.
[Do I really need to bother writing out the formula?]
His head throbbed.
It might be true for this kid, but his attitude… that attitude…
He wrote a large “0” on the paper.
Picking up the last remaining answer sheet, he checked it.
Perfect scores on multiple-choice and short-answer. Then what about the essays?
Reading the neat handwriting while tapping his foot, Dakota’s eyes gradually widened.
By the time he reached the end, he still couldn’t compose himself and covered his mouth.
“…What is this?”
