The central district of Aspída City.
Three towering skyscrapers stretched so high they nearly forced every passerby to crane their necks until it hurt.
The three buildings formed the corners of a massive triangle—each representing one of the academy's three divisions.
This was the gathering point for all examinees.
It was big enough to fit every student taking the entrance exam, and countless unique buildings surrounded the area like an architectural garden.
Ao stood among thousands of students pouring into the Aspída exam tower. No matter where he looked, everything was overwhelmingly grand.
"So this was the restricted area from yesterday… it really is the exam site…"
He mumbled, still stunned as he glanced around at the crowd moving toward the central tower.
"So many people… why do I feel kinda lonely though… Ah! Right!! I should call Renuru!!"
He dug his phone out— and froze.
"Crap!!
I totally forgot to get his contact info!!"
He turned left and right—everyone was too busy heading toward the building to care.
"Guess I'm going in alone…" He forced a smile, voice cracking slightly.
Today's exam was the written test, split into morning and afternoon sessions to manage the number of examinees.
Ao was assigned to the morning session.
The moment he stepped inside the tower, he was shocked again.
The interior design matched everything he'd seen so far—the dorms, the train station, all of it.
"The ceiling's stupidly high!!" He stared upward at the crest of Aspída engraved on the ceiling.
On the floor was the emblem of the national magic authority of Maidas.
Every direction he looked felt like a massive shopping mall rather than a school.
"Students, please register here!!"
Staff members waved signs, megaphones blasting. Beside them, rows of automated registration machines lined up just like the ones at the dormitory.
"That line's insane!!"
The moment he saw the queue winding like a snake, he cursed internally.
Still, the system moved frighteningly fast—before he knew it, it was his turn.
[ Please tap your card to register. ]
He pulled the card from his pocket and tapped it.
[ Please turn your wrist upward and insert your arm into the slot. ]
He followed the instructions, sliding his arm into a strange opening in the machine— and immediately jolted.
"Ow—what the hell!??"
He yanked his arm back, trembling, and stared at it.
The characters "12-H2" glowed on his wrist like a tattoo.
"DID THIS STUPID MACHINE JUST TATTOO ME!??"
He kicked the machine in a panic until an examiner rushed in to restrain him.
"Wait! Kid! It's just a sticker!!" The examiner shouted, startling Ao.
"Just a sticker??"
The examiner peeled it off to prove it— and Ao's eyes sparkled when he saw it seamlessly reattach and fuse with his skin again.
"Please move along, we need to keep the line flowing. The exam starts in one hour."
He headed for the elevators as instructed. Room assignments had been emailed long before exam day.
Soon enough, the written exam began—basic magic theory.
Two sections:
100 multiple-choice questions
10 written response questions
Time limit: 3 hours (9:00–12:00).
Students could arrive late and leave early, but leaving meant the exam auto-submitted.
Proctors patrolled constantly.
And Ao—whose magic theory knowledge was barely above zero and who only studied for a few months—
looked like someone enduring severe constipation the entire exam.
'Crap… I don't get this question at all!!'
'What even IS magical discharge!?' scratch scratch
'If Dad's affinity is fire, and Mom's is water… oh hey, I can answer this one.'
He solved some questions, but they were the minority—and he almost ran out of time.
The first day ended.
Ao dragged himself back to his dorm like a ghost, collapsing onto his bed.
"Damn it… what do I do now…"
He stared at the ceiling, completely drained.
"This was just the entrance exam… and I'm already dead tired.
If I somehow get in, will I even survive?
I can't see any kind of future right now…"
In his mind, the path ahead slowly darkened until it disappeared entirely.
He lay motionless for several minutes.
"Something feels… off. Everyone here's probably way stronger than me…
Maybe this really isn't for—"
SLAP!
He smacked his cheeks hard.
"Don't give up yet!! Didn't I say I'd make it in here!? There's still the practical exam!!
Come on, get it together!!"
He sat up, smacking himself repeatedly with every sentence.
"Okay!! Time to prep for tomorrow!!"
He threw his uniform aside and dove onto the floor for push-ups.
"1! 2! 3! 4!"
Counting like a madman.
Time flew by, and soon it was Day 2—the practical exam.
The central tower was just as crowded as before, though noticeably lighter because the examinees were split into three groups over three days.
The air buzzed with excited chatter.
Ao unfolded a paper map that had been crumpled beyond recognition.
Students were grouped by codes assigned yesterday—the glowing alphanumeric "tattoo" on his wrist.
"Didn't think the sticker from yesterday would actually be useful… Room H, floor 12, building 2…
Building 2… that should be the combat division building."
He swallowed hard. His hands shook. His legs felt glued to the floor.
But he forced himself to follow the stream of examinees.
Inside, the enormous building was divided alphabetically into 26 rooms per floor—A through Z.
Upon entering, he immediately noticed the interior was totally different from the sleek modern exterior.
A strange fusion of gothic and modern styles filled the hall— Rows of intricately carved pillars,
Massive teak doors marking each exam room, The atmosphere heavy and mysterious.
At Room H–12—
"Alright… I can do this…" He whispered to himself, body frozen in place.
When he finally gathered the courage to push the door—
Nothing happened.
"Huh? Why isn't it opening!?"
His anxiety evaporated. Rage took its place.
"OPEN UP YOU PIECE OF—!!"
He kicked the door repeatedly, completely forgetting the pressure he felt moments earlier.
After a while, he slumped against the opposite wall, exhausted.
"How the hell do you get in this thing…"
He stared at the door, deep in thought.
'Now that I think about it, yesterday all the doors were already open… So I never learned how to open one… Right, the exam staff!'
He looked left and right—
Nobody.
Not a single soul in the hallway.
"…Great."
"Ao!? Is that you!?"
A familiar voice rang behind him.
Ao snapped his head around instantly.
"Renuru!!??"
His entire expression brightened at once.