"A second test…?"
"…This is insane…"
"…Already?"
Murmurs spread across the hall.
"But why—?"
"We haven't even recovered from the first!"
"Quiet."
The single word cut through everything.
Instantly—
Silence.
The Vice Headmaster stood at the front.
Still.
Unbothered.
"You all need not to worry."
A pause.
"It will be a written test."
The words settled—
Chests tightened.
"…A written test?"
"…Don't tell me…"
"…It's that one…"
"So the rumors were true…"
"They're actually doing it…?"
A chill ran through the crowd.
"No way…"
"That's not fair!"
"Aren't they supposed to teach us first?!"
"How can we have a second test already?!"
Voices overlapped
Rising.
She didn't react.
Her gaze swept across them.
Cold.
Unmoved.
"Those who fail—"
A pause.
"Will be expelled."
The words landed.
Heavy.
"Unlike the first test…"
"There will be no exceptions.
No mercy.
"If you fail—"
you are unworthy of becoming a hero."
No matter your rank."
Silence.
The weight of it—
Crushed the room.
Some swallowed.
Others froze.
"If there are further questions—"
She turned.
"…keep them."
And faced the group of instructors behind her.
A ripple passed through the crowd.
"... Guys.
Someone whispered.
"...it's The Contamination Trial."
"...the hardest exam ever given…"
Silence deepened.
Impossible.
Heh… you're joking, right…?"
"...They scrapped it years ago…"
"Almost no one passes it…"
"…Why bring it back now…?"
"…Why us…?"
Fear spread.
Quietly.
Tia remained still.
…This didn't happen before.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
At least… not in my previous life.
So something changed.
Or…
Someone caused it.
Then—
His thoughts paused.
gaze dropped.
faint glow.
On the ground.
Beneath his feet.
Symbols.
Spreading.
"…What?"
"RUMBLE—
"RUMBLE—
Walls shot up from the ground.
White.
Thick.
Smooth.
Separating them.
One by one
Until—
Everyone was isolated.
A square room.
No doors.
No windows.
What the hell?!"
"Hey—what's going on?!"
"Let me out!"
Panic erupted.
Hands slammed against the walls.
No response.
Then—
She turned facing them.
"Quiet."
The noise died instantly.
A snap.
Tables appeared.
Chairs followed.
Then—
A pen.
A sheet.
Placed Neatly.
Before every student.
"You have 10 seconds to prepare."
"This examination will last four hours."
Her gaze swept across them.
"Answer every question."
A pause.
"Correctly."
A faint smile touched her lips.
Cold.
"The walls detect sound."
"Voice."
"Movement."
"Magic."
Her gaze hardened.
"Any violation—"
will be treated accordingly."
"No fidgeting."
"Start."
"Bing!
A timer appeared.
00:00:00.
00:00:01...
"Oh.
She glanced across the hall.
"…A piece of advice."
A pause.
"…Failure is inevitable."
Her gaze swept across the hall.
"What matters…"
A pause.
"…is whether you break—"
Her eyes hardened.
"…before success finds you."
Though.
"Most of you will."