It had been eight months since the devastating attack on Leon City.
In the aftermath, King Grey had wasted no time. He dispatched a royal unit to search for the remaining survivors of the Spider assault. But their efforts yielded little—only a handful of fortunate souls were found. The rest had already fled, seeking refuge in the Asther Kingdom.
Tensions rose quickly.
The Asther Kingdom attempted to hold the Wink Kingdom accountable, accusing them of harboring the spiders responsible for the destruction. Yet, without concrete evidence, the Great Continental Union dismissed the claims, letting the matter dissolve into uneasy silence.
But peace, as always, was fragile.
Now, far from the city, deep within a dense forest, the Academy prepared for its final examination.
The sun blazed high overhead, its heat pressing down on the earth. Beneath its harsh light lay the testing grounds—an open forest terrain chosen for the students' practical exam. The air was tense, alive with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant footsteps. Somewhere among the trees, instructors remained hidden, watching carefully from above to ensure the students' safety.
Suddenly, the quiet broke.
"Wait right there!"
The shout echoed through the forest as a group of students charged forward, their footsteps pounding against the ground.
"If you're brave, then fight us!" one of them yelled, his voice laced with arrogance.
Ahead of them ran Rick.
He didn't respond.
He didn't slow down.
For a while, he continued running, weaving through the trees until he finally reached a point where the forest fell eerily silent. No footsteps. No voices. No presence.
He stopped.
This would do.
Catching his breath, Rick stood still, his senses sharp, scanning the surroundings. The stillness was almost unnatural.
Moments later, the pursuing students emerged, closing the distance between them.
"So, you finally stopped, huh?" one of them sneered, stepping forward with a smirk. "Now we can finally fix that attitude of yours."
Another student gripped his sword, preparing to strike. "Let's—"
He never finished.
In a flash, Rick moved.
His fist drove straight into the student's stomach with brutal precision. The force lifted him off his feet, sending him crashing backward through the air before slamming into the ground.
Silence followed.
The forest, once filled with noise, now held its breath.
Rick moved like a shadow—too fast to follow, too precise to predict.
The students chasing him didn't even realize what had happened until it was already too late.
One of them barely caught a glimpse of Rick closing in before a voice spat out, "You damn bastard—"
The insult never finished.
Rick seized the attacker's wrist mid-strike and, without hesitation, drove his fist straight into the boy's stomach. The impact forced the air out of his lungs in a violent gasp, leaving him collapsing to his knees.
Another rushed in from behind.
Rick pivoted instantly.
His leg snapped upward, connecting sharply with the attacker's chin. The force lifted the boy off his feet before he crashed onto the ground. A third student tried to take advantage of the moment, charging forward—but Rick's elbow struck first, smashing into the bridge of his nose.
A sickening crack echoed.
Within seconds, all four of them lay sprawled across the forest floor.
Silence returned.
Rick stood still for a moment, his breathing steady, his eyes scanning the fallen bodies.
"And here I thought… I was done for," he muttered under his breath.
Without wasting time, he crouched down and began collecting their badges. One by one, he gathered them, his movements calm and methodical.
"That should be enough… sixty-five points."
He glanced at the badge in his hand, confirming the total. Just as he turned to leave, a sudden flash lit up the sky.
A streak of magic shot upward, glowing brightly above the forest canopy.
The signal.
The practical exam was over.
Rick exhaled quietly, then began walking toward the exit point where students were required to submit their collected badges.
This examination was unlike any ordinary test.
Every year, the Academy designed a different challenge. For first-year students, the trial was simple in concept—survive, fight, and collect points. But beneath that simplicity lay a brutal reality: strength determined everything.
Because not all students were equal.
The Academy had established a strict ranking system, assigning value based on ability.
D-ranked students needed only ten points to pass, each opponent worth two points. C-ranked students required twenty-five points, earning five points per opponent. B-ranked students needed fifty points, with each victory granting ten.
And then there were the A-rank students.
They needed one hundred points to pass—each opponent worth twenty.
A cruel balance.
The stronger you were, the harder your trial became.
Because of this system, the top students rarely targeted the weaker ones. Instead, they hunted those of similar rank, leaving the lower-ranked students a slim chance to survive.
Rick walked quietly through the forest, the weight of the exam settling in his mind.
Outside the forest, students formed a long, restless line.
One by one, they stepped forward to submit their badges.
"Don't break the line. Come one at a time."
The instructor's voice cut through the murmurs, firm and unyielding as they maintained order. Their sharp eyes watched every student emerging from the forest, ensuring no one stepped out of place.
Time passed.
Eventually, Rick stepped out from the shadows of the forest and joined the line. His expression remained calm, unreadable. As he waited, his gaze drifted—and then he spotted familiar figures.
Krai.
Leze.
They were just emerging from the forest, their movements heavy with exhaustion.
Rick stepped out of line and walked toward them, a faint smile forming on his face.
"So… how was it?" he asked casually.
Krai let out a tired sigh, wiping sweat from his face. "Don't even get me started. You have no idea how much we had to go through just to get these ten points."
Leze nodded, equally worn out. "You should've taken it easy. The overall result decides whether we stay in the academy or not."
Rick's eyes shifted to the badges in Krai's hand, silently counting.
"And what made you think we're going to top the written exam?" Leze added, raising a brow.
Rick chuckled lightly, avoiding the question. "So… did you see Rome?"
"I don't think we need to worry about him," Krai replied, counting his badges again. "He's the elite of B-Class."
Before the conversation could go further, the instructor's voice rang out once more.
"Stop talking and get back in line. Submit your badges first. You can talk later."
Rick smirked faintly and returned to his place. Krai and Leze followed.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally reached the front. One by one, they handed over their badges. The instructors recorded their scores without expression, their faces giving nothing away.
And just like that—
The exam was over.
"Finally… we're free," Leze muttered, stretching as he let out a long breath.
"Hey, look—it's Rome," Krai said, pointing ahead.
A figure walked confidently in the distance, his posture relaxed, as if the exam had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
"Oh my god… it's Lord Rome," Leze said dramatically, placing a hand over his chest in mock admiration.
"Can you shut up for a while when I'm around?" Rome replied, clearly annoyed, though there was a hint of familiarity in his tone.
"Now, now… don't go around starting fights the moment you meet," Rick said in a calm, low voice. "Tell us instead—how did your exam go?"
Rome let out a quiet sigh, brushing his hair back before answering. A faint smile curved on his lips.
"Do you even need to ask?"
Rick chuckled. "That's good enough for me. Now let's head back to the city… I'm starving."
And just like that, the final exam for the first-year students came to an end.
Far from the forest, deep within the Academy—
Inside the headmaster's office, a heavy silence lingered.
Nuel sat calmly behind his desk, sipping tea as if nothing in the world could disturb his peace. The faint aroma of herbs filled the room.
Then—
The door burst open.
Grol walked in without hesitation, pulling a chair and sitting down across the table. He leaned forward, his expression sharp, his presence heavy.
Nuel slowly lifted his gaze, studying him for a moment.
"You look tired," Nuel said quietly. "Was the first-year exam that difficult?"
Grol scoffed. "This wasn't an exam."
Nuel raised an eyebrow, setting his cup down. "Then what was it?"
Grol's eyes darkened.
"Those damn assassins."
The room grew colder.
"Well… it's not a new problem," Nuel replied calmly. "Every year, someone sends assassins into the Academy."
"I know," Grol muttered, pouring himself some tea. "But these ones… they are weak."
He paused, staring into the cup in his hand.
"So weak… that I couldn't even enjoy the fight."
Nuel's expression hardened slightly.
"Then stop letting them roam freely," he said, his voice now sharper. "You're putting students in danger just for your own amusement."
Grol didn't respond immediately.
"After all… if the assassins are weak," Nuel continued, his tone rising just a fraction, "that's good for you, isn't it?"
Silence.
The tension between them thickened, pressing against the walls.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Then, quietly—
They both returned to their tea.
And the room fell into a heavy, unsettling stillness.
Grol placed his cup down slowly, the faint sound echoing in the otherwise silent room.
"So… was it really okay to tell him?" he asked, his tone measured.
Nuel leaned back slightly, his gaze drifting toward the window. Outside, the academy grounds stretched peacefully, hiding the chaos beneath.
"Well… I told him because I wanted to keep him here," Nuel replied calmly. "But he didn't listen."
Grol let out a quiet breath.
"Given his current strength," Nuel continued, a faint smile forming, "I don't think there's a problem. I'm sure he can handle them."
Groel stood up, adjusting his coat as he turned toward the door.
"Yeah… you're right."
And with that, he left the room.
Nuel remained seated, his expression unreadable as he stared outside.
Meanwhile… in the City
The inn was alive with noise.
Laughter, clinking plates, and overlapping conversations filled the air as people crowded the space, enjoying warm food after a long day.
At a corner table sat Rick and his friends.
Eve moved quickly between tables, placing dishes with practiced ease. "Sorry, guys… I really wanted to talk, but the inn's too busy right now," she said, setting down their food.
"It's okay," Leze replied with a smile. "We understand."
"Enjoy your meal," Eve said before hurrying away to attend another table.
Leze watched her leave, a grin slowly spreading across his face.
"Man… she's really something."
Rick didn't even look up from his plate.
"If you don't want to die… stop staring at her like that," he said coldly.
Leze raised his hands defensively. "Relax, I'm just complimenting her."
"You do remember," Krai added casually while passing plates around, "Rick sees her like a sister."
Leze paused.
"…Right."
A brief silence followed—then—
"Okay, okay, I'll stop," Leze said with an annoyed sigh.
Rome leaned back in his chair, breaking the tension. "Now, now… no fighting. Let's just enjoy the food."
And just like that, the mood softened.
They ate, talked, and for a moment—
Everything felt normal.
After finishing their meal, they stepped out into the evening.
The city was still alive.
Lanterns lit the streets, casting a golden glow over the bustling stalls. Merchants called out to passing crowds, and the scent of spices filled the air.
The group wandered without purpose—stopping at shops, observing trinkets, and enjoying the rare peace after the brutal exam.
Time passed quickly.
Before they realized it, night had fallen completely.
Rick glanced toward the distant silhouette of the Academy.
"…We should head back."
No one argued.
And so, together, they began walking toward the Academy.
The road to the academy stretched quietly before them, dust rising softly beneath their footsteps. The night felt ordinary—too ordinary.
"So… how's your relationship with the B-Class students going?" Leze asked, breaking the silence as they walked.
Rome didn't look at him. His voice came out flat, almost indifferent. "Same as always. No one talks to me… and I don't talk to anyone." There was a pause, heavy and unspoken. "They treat me like I don't exist."
"I see." Leze's tone softened, but he didn't push further.
For a moment, neither of them spoke again. Then Krai let out a small breath, forcing a faint smile. "I expected that much anyway."
The path curved gently ahead, moonlight spilling across the ground as if trying to lighten the mood.
"By the way," Krai continued, glancing sideways, "what's your plan for the upcoming two-month holiday?"
Leze, who had been quietly walking beside them, answered first. "I'm thinking of going back home."
Rome nodded. "Same here."
Krai tilted his head slightly, surprised. "So you're going home too, huh…"
Leze looked at him curiously. "What the hell was you expecting for us to do?"
Krai responded, "Well i thought you were planning to stay at the academy."
All eyes turned to Krai.
For a moment, he said nothing. The wind brushed past them, carrying a silence that felt awkward.
Then Leze asked a question looking at Rick, "What's your plan, Rick."
At first, Rick didn't said anything and then,
"I'm…" he began, his voice softer now, "also going home."
The words lingered in the air, simple yet carrying a weight none of them fully understood.
And as they continued walking, the road ahead no longer felt quite as ordinary as before.