hapter 11: The Calm Before the Entrance Exam
You might think I'm already overpowered.
And yeah—you wouldn't be wrong.
In this world, Rune Wizards are divided into only four ranks: Beginner, Elite, Master, and Grand Master. That's it. No fancy
subdivisions, no nonsense. Simple and brutal.
And do you know how many Master-level Rune Wizards exist in the entire world?
Ten.
Only ten.
As for Grand Masters? Those people are nothing more than legends. Most believe they don't even exist anymore. Stories
told to scare children or inspire desperate fools.
And me?
I was already Elite.
At sixteen.
"Fu fu fu…" I laughed softly to myself. "I'm already considered a strong one in this world."
But power wasn't always a blessing.
Using rune magic in the Valerian Academy entrance exam would be far too flashy. Rune Wizards were rare, and Elite Rune
Wizards? That was basically screaming look at me in front of nobles, instructors, and hidden monsters.
And attention was the last thing I wanted.
"Haaa… how troublesome," I sighed.
So I decided it was time to go home.
The journey back was smooth. No monsters. No accidents. No sudden plot twists trying to kill me. For once, fate behaved
itself.
When I arrived, the familiar sight of my small house greeted me.
"Hi… Miss Valentine," I called out.
She turned, eyes widening the moment she saw me.
"Oo—Nero? You're back!" she exclaimed. Then she paused. "…You changed. Totally."
Her gaze swept over me—my height, my build, my posture.
"Don't tell me you went through some secret training," she said slowly.
I scratched my cheek. "Yeah… actually, I got an admission letter to Valerian Academy. So I trained a bit for the past few
months."
Her jaw dropped.
Valerian Academy wasn't just famous—it was the academy. The best in the entire world. Kings, emperors, heroes, and
monsters had all studied there.
Getting admitted meant talent, luck, and destiny.
"Co… congratulations, my boy," she said, eyes shining. "You should do your best. I'll cheer for you during the entrance exam."
My chest felt warm.
So warm it almost hurt.
"I… I will," I replied quietly.
I bowed slightly, said goodbye, and went inside my house.
That night, I slept deeply—without nightmares, without memories of falling from rooftops, without regret.
The next morning—
"HOLY SHIT!"
I shot upright in bed.
"I woke up late!"
I scrambled around the room. "Where's my other jacket? Wait—where the hell is my underwear?!"
After a chaotic few minutes, I finally stumbled outside, half-dressed and half-awake.
But then I realized something important.
"I still don't have a proper weapon… and most importantly—sunglasses."
Priorities mattered.
So I took the train again.
"Fuck—these trains are like jets!" I shouted as the scenery blurred past the window.
A short while later, I stood before Valerian Academy.
Massive gates carved with ancient runes. Towers that pierced the clouds. A pressure in the air so heavy it made weak
hearts tremble.
In front of the gates were countless stalls selling cheap weapons.
I grabbed two gauntlets and one sword.
Why a sword?
Because Sovereign War Art was a multi-weapon art. Right now, I only knew the gauntlet forms—but I would learn sword
techniques in the future.
Preparedness was everything.
I stepped forward.
Nobles in extravagant clothes.
Beautiful geniuses surrounded by attendants.
Arrogant young masters with eyes full of superiority.
Veterans pretending to be students.
Monsters hiding behind human smiles.
This place gathered the most noble, the most beautiful, the most talented, the most dangerous, and the most arrogant
youths of the entire world.
And this was—
Valerian Academy.
I adjusted my sunglasses, lips curling into a faint smile.
"Alright," I muttered. "Let's survive this without standing out."
The entrance exam was about to begin.
And this time—
I wouldn't die as an extra.