MTLNOVEL Chapter 19
“Is this the right place?”
The next morning, I was woken up by Eve, quickly tidied myself up, and used the Clean magic. The sweat I’d accumulated during the night, as well as any bedhead and the dirt on my equipment, were instantly gone. I felt as refreshed as if I’d just had a relaxing bath.
After a light breakfast at a nearby diner, I headed to the designated exam venue, but…
“Why is it a dock?”
I didn’t think I was mistaken, as there were plenty of boys and girls around my age, all wearing weapons and armor, gathering in the area. It was clear this was the venue for the Royal Academy’s entrance exam.
Still, I couldn’t help but wonder… I looked around at their equipment. Silver-embellished armor, staffs with jewels, enchanted earrings, and more. Everyone had such impressive gear.
“Wow, amazing equipment… Compared to that, Master’s…”
(Don’t say it…)
If I had more time, I could’ve earned money to upgrade my gear.
But since I had very little time before the exam, I’d barely managed to prepare in time.
I ended up putting all my money into enhancing my own benefits, which left me looking rather shabby.
“Well, what matters is the inside, Master. It doesn’t matter how good the appearance is if the skills aren’t there.”
Her words were meant as comfort, but they hit a little too close to home.
I muttered a quick thanks as I tried not to pay too much attention to the conversations around me. The other candidates were chatting casually about “custom-made items from so-and-so’s workshop” and “magic tools from famous enchanters,” bragging endlessly.
I tried to ignore them as I moved deeper into the area.
“Now, we will begin the exam.”
In front of me stood a row of examiners, one of whom stood on a platform, looking down at us.
We were lined up on the beach, paying close attention to their words.
“This island belongs to the Academy and is used for training purposes.”
We had been brought here by ship after several hours of travel and now found ourselves on a deserted island.
“You will live here for one week.”
As the examiner spoke, it became clear the exam was exactly what he had just said: living on this uninhabited island for a week.
“Are questions allowed?”
One of the examinees raised their hand, and the examiner nodded in response.
“Do we just live here, or are there any other tasks or challenges we need to worry about?”
This was something all of us had been wondering. Simply living on the island didn’t seem that difficult. We had all heard the Academy’s exams were supposed to be tough, so we were all a bit surprised by the simplicity of the task.
“There are no other tasks. Because this island is home to many monsters.”
At those words, many of the examinees gasped.
“Among the monsters that have been confirmed to live here, the strongest ones are up to rank D.”
Monster ranks range from SSS, SS, S, A, B, C, D, E, F, to G.
The goblins I had fought were the weakest, ranked G. Even kobolds, which are stronger than goblins, are ranked F.
D-rank monsters are strong enough that a few adventurers or explorers of the same rank would need to work together to handle them.
The faces of the examinees immediately changed.
“That’s… that’s a lie, right? We’re still rookie explorers, though…”
One of the examinees, likely thinking this was just a bluff, asked the examiner with some disbelief.
“Would you say to a high-rank monster that ‘I’m too inexperienced, so please let me go’ if it appeared right before you?”
The examiner’s cold, sharp gaze silenced him. After a brief pause, the examiner continued.
“Our Academy is the best in the kingdom, with numerous large facilities in the royal capital. We have state-of-the-art equipment, and our instructors are current professionals. But don’t misunderstand. Just because we have a large campus, we won’t accept students who lack real potential.”
This caused some commotion among the examinees.
“If you no longer wish to take the exam, you may quit right now. We’ll send you back to the port on the next ship.”
After all that trouble, there was no way anyone was going to quit. Some of the examinees likely thought the examiner’s words were just an attempt to intimidate them.
They were probably nobles or people of high status, and they didn’t think the Academy would use dangerous monsters, considering their own rank.
But the examiner continued, as though mocking their shallow thinking.
“Here, your social status, family background, and title mean nothing. Even if you’re of royal blood, in this Academy, you are just another student. No special treatment will be given to you.”
With that, the exam officially began.
While the other examinees looked pale, worried about what lay ahead…
“Master, this island… there are quite a few untouched dungeons here. Let’s visit them during our stay!”
…Only Eve was excitedly chatting away, seemingly thrilled by the prospect.