Chapter 207 |
Unlocked chapter (3/3)
[Entrance Exam (3)]
The children’s faces were tense.
It was understandable.
The explanation for the second round of exams given by the assistant supervisor seemed incredibly dangerous.
Unlike the second round questions in the past entrance exams for Secondary Academy, the difficulty level was significantly higher.
There had been analyses predicting difficult questions to be asked in the study room, but…
Jung Hayang was also considering the difficulty of the exam.
Only in relation to the other children, of course.
“Prepare for Group 6!»
The kids from Group 3 collapsed to the ground as soon as they came out of the barrier.
Some couldn’t get up properly, while others were crying after being hit by the rubber balls.
The kids from the other groups looked at them with dark expressions.
“Hyejin, are you okay?»
“…I’m fine, but it’s a little hard.»
Hayang helped Hyejin stagger out of the barrier. She had used up quite a bit of her mana and was having trouble walking.
“Hayang, do you think I can get in?»
“It’s okay, Hyejin, you weren’t hit too hard.»
Hayang pointed to an electronic board above the testing center.
It was displaying the absolute grades of the children taking the test.
Cho Hyejin had a grade B.
“…Okay. Can I take a break?»
“Rest well.»
“Hayang, cheer up.»
“Okay.»
After sending her off to the affiliate children, Hayang turned around.
The children from Group 3 were entering the barrier.
“If anyone decides not to take the exam even now, please let us know.»
The assistant supervisor asked formally.
No one went out beyond the barrier.
Meanwhile, she found herself a comfortable spot to move to.
To release her internal mana the moment the exam began.
Huh?
Suddenly, she felt someone’s gaze.
She turned her head in the direction of the gaze.
She met the eyes of a girl wearing glasses.
Who is she?
She tilted her head in confusion.
As far as she could remember, the girl wasn’t one of the kids sponsored by Alice Group, nor was she someone from the same elementary school.
Yet, the girl with glasses was staring at her intently.
“Let’s begin the exam.»
At least say something.
Hayang hesitated for a moment, but upon hearing the announcement that the second round of the exam would start, she decided to focus on the exam.
Soon, rubber balls began to spring up from all directions.
☆
Second round exam, Group 7 in Exam Room A.
The kids were in a frenzy, trying to avoid the rubber balls flying from everywhere.
It was hard to concentrate while trying to dodge the rubber balls for ten minutes, especially when they were difficult to track with the naked eye.
Not long after the exam began, the kids were panting, sweating, and gasping for breath.
“You looked down on me earlier, didn’t you?»
“…Ugh…!»
There was another obstacle.
Jin Parang attacked the kids struggling to dodge the rubber balls.
He was really annoying.
He deliberately pushed the kids who were having a hard time avoiding the rubber balls.
As the angry kids tried to grab him, he lured them towards the space where the rubber balls were bouncing.
“Hey! Catch him first!»
“What? Do you think you can catch me?»
The angry kids tried to grab him as the rubber balls rebounded around them.
Parang mocked the kids, who were filled with hostility, and waited for the moment when they focused on him.
He led them to where the rubber balls were attacking.
“Idiots.»
Parang sneered at the kids who got hit by the rubber balls.
With exceptional binocular vision, he read the movement of the rubber balls.
Avoiding the rubber balls was not that difficult compared to what he had endured under No Eunha.
He was not that challenged by getting hit by the rubber balls.
It was just like taking some medicine.
Yes, compared to the torture he had gone through under No Eunha, this was nothing.
The more he thought about it, the more infuriated he became.
Why should I endure this under him, when I’m just one year older than him?
Using a nearby kid as a shield, Jin Parang became angry at the thought of enduring this treatment under him.
The competitive spirit flared up.
‘If you don’t like them, step on them during the exam.’
Didn’t Eunha say something like that too?
If you don’t like them, step on them.
“…No Eunha, you probably didn’t expect this to happen to you.»
Suddenly, Jin Parang smirked.
There wasn’t much time left for the exam.
However, there was plenty of time to torment Eunha.
Die, No Eunha!
Finding Eunha wasn’t difficult.
While the other kids bumped into each other, trying to dodge the rubber balls, he hardly moved his position even after the exam started, effortlessly avoiding the rubber balls.
He even stepped confidently while the rubber balls were attacking.
But what if he intervened here? Would he be able to maintain that nonchalant expression even then?
Jin Parang, who suppressed his presence, sneaked closer.
Now’s the time! You’re dead in my hands!
He dashed towards the moment when the rubber balls attacked him from all sides simultaneously.
He cast a quick glance at him as he leaped into the air.
It was a gaze that didn’t even consider Parang might intervene.
Perfect. He’s off guard now!
Parang gritted his teeth inwardly.
In that moment, Eunha didn’t land on the ground.
“…Huh? Uh-uh-uh-uh?»
“Hyung, you still haven’t given up on hitting me from behind. Haa. How the hell do I tame this damn wolf?»
Before landing on the ground, he stepped on the back of a nearby kid and leaped back up.
He hadn’t released his mana detection net since the exam started.
He grabbed a rubber ball flying by.
The number on his necklace increased by one.
It didn’t matter.
He looked down at the stumbling Jin Parang and threw the rubber ball he was holding.
Injecting mana into it.
“…Hey! That’s a b-b-b…»
“Hey! We finally caught him! Get him!»
“Give up on the exam! Even if you get hit more here, nothing will change!»
The moment Jin Parang reflexively dodged.
The rubber balls, as Eunha had calculated, surged towards Jin Parang.
Just as the kids who had been targeting him prepared to strike, he fell.
No thoughts about the exam came to their minds anymore.
They must have gotten many hits anyway, the exam time was almost over, and they wanted to take revenge on him, the one who had attacked them last.
“How do I fix this hyung? Please, don’t cause trouble this time.»
Eunha clicked his tongue and kept Jin Parang, who was pinned down by the kids, away.
Even though he heard him asking for help, there was no loyalty in Eunha to save the one who had betrayed him.
And so, Eunha recorded a dominating score.
“….»
The assistant supervisor lost his words when he saw the necklace he returned.
The number 1 was written on the necklace.
☆
The supervisors’ demands for the second exam went beyond just basic physical fitness.
It included how well the candidates could utilize mana.
They highly evaluated this aspect as well.
This time, the exam structure was such that candidates couldn’t pass without using mana, unlike the questions presented in the academy so far.
It was difficult to dodge a ball moving so far and so fast with only basic physical strength.
Moreover, there is not just one rubber ball, but countless.
“I think it’s too hard for kids who haven’t learned mana control properly.»
“We have no choice, the application rate for the academy is increasing every year, and we have to pass the children of our sponsors somehow.»
That’s why this year’s second round of the exam is more challenging, while still favoring the more established students.
Elementary school students were obligated to learn mana control from the age of 11, but the content they learned from elementary school teachers had its qualitative limits.
It was inevitable that political family’s kids who learned from specialized instructors had an advantage.
“There might be unpolished gems among them…»
Some supervisors felt sorry.
Due to raising the difficulty level of the exam, it was disadvantageous for the kids who couldn’t develop their talents.
“We aren’t miners. We’re sellers of gems. If you don’t know the difference, you better quit being an academy instructor.»
Talents that couldn’t blossom were useless.
In a situation where one might die at any moment, could they afford to wait for talents that couldn’t develop?
It would be better to survive by any means necessary.
In that sense, the chief supervisor had liked the first exam of Group 1 in Exam Room A a little while ago.
Candidate number 121, Kim Minji.
She had survived selfishly.
Using the kids around her as shields, she compensated for what she lacked.
Some supervisors didn’t view her actions favorably, but if she didn’t have talent, she had to endure it somehow.
Rather than whimpering about being hit by rubber balls.
“Come to think of it, where is Alice Group’s granddaughter now?»
“She’s in Group 6 of Exam Room B. Oh, the exam has just started.»
A nearby supervisor projected the screen of Exam Room B onto the large monitor.
Even instructors who didn’t like Big Group’s family’s kids paid attention to her, who exhibited an absurd amount of internal mana during the body mana examination.
“Admitting that she has a lot of internal mana. But how can she deal with the exam just because she has a lot of internal mana…»
There were negative opinions.
Alice Group’s granddaughter, number 346, Jung Hayang.
She didn’t look like a kid with good motor skills at a glance.
Doubts arose about whether she could dodge rubber balls.
“What would you do in this kind of exam?»
The chief supervisor asked the supervisors in the monitoring room while looking at the anxious Hayang.
The supervisors each gave their answers.
“If it were me, I would deploy a detection net. Even if I chase with my eyes, how many rubber balls could there be?»
“If it were me, I would use internal mana to enhance physical abilities. The difficulty level is such that you can avoid it to that extent.»
“If it were me…, I would use someone as a shield to prepare for the next exam. Probably, the candidate number 121 is considering such actions for the next exam.»
“…Yeah, everyone will probably do something similar.»
The chief supervisor nodded his head.
They expected that eventually Alice’s granddaughter would choose one of the options they mentioned.
But the expectation passed them by like a sneer.
“…Nonsense.»
Someone muttered.
Everyone else felt the same way.
The moment the test began, Jung Hayang deployed a hemispherical barrier around herself.
In the blink of an eye, an identical barrier appeared within the barrier.
“…We told them to dodge the balls, but the core of this exam is not getting hit by the balls.»
That’s why she deployed the barrier.
However, they couldn’t be amazed just because she had deviated from the expectations.
Supervisors clicked their tongues with cold eyes.
“It’s difficult. She won’t last long with that.»
“Even if she can maintain the barrier for 10 minutes due to her abundant internal mana, does she really have the mental strength to keep it up? What about her mana sense?»
“If it’s just for a moment, it might be okay, but in the long run, it’s a loss. She won’t be able to maintain the barrier before long.»
It was remarkable for an elementary school student to create such a barrier. However, there was no way an elementary school student could maintain the barrier for an extended period.
“…Is there one more?»
Someone pointed to the edge of the monitor.
A supervisor operating the monitor was surprised and displayed that monitor.
A girl wearing glasses, not far from Alice Group’s granddaughter, was deploying a barrier.
“…Huh, really.»
There was another fool.
Someone muttered in amazement.
The supervisors implicitly agreed.
“Number 635? Who is 635?»
“635 is Bae Subin. She is a promising candidate sponsored by Galaxy Group. Her internal mana scored an A.»
“So, does that mean she has confidence in maintaining the barrier?»
The chief supervisor chuckled.
Indeed, how long could those kids maintain the barrier?
“»»……»»»
As the 10-minute mark approached, the supervisors became excited.
They watched the two kids with sweaty palms.
“…Ah….»
Someone sighed.
Everyone felt the same way.
Although there were only a few minutes left.
Bae Subin, number 635, gave up maintaining the barrier and started avoiding the rubber balls.
And Jung Hayang maintained the barrier until the end of the exam.
“…Impressive. To handle mana so well at that age…»
“Alice Group is no joke. They weren’t rising as a new power for no reason.»
The number on Jung Hayang’s necklace was 0.
She didn’t get hit at all.
On the other hand, the number on Bae Subin’s necklace was 11.
The supervisors evaluated both of them as deserving of an A+.
“…What about the others?»
“Groups 5 and 7 are still in the middle of the exam.»
The chief supervisor decided to display Group 5, which was nearing the end of the exam.
“…That kid, Ain, is amazing.»
The Ain, a fox, was dodging flying rubber balls with minimal movement.
She was dodging as if there were eyes behind her, and she was dancing all by herself.
The boy next to her also demonstrated considerable agility.
Although his manifestation of internal mana was somewhat crude, he jumped around with stable movements.
The boy’s actions were swift.
Judging that it was difficult to dodge, he didn’t evade and instead took a hit from the rubber ball, finding an efficient route from there.
“What’s the deal with the Ain?»
“Let me see…, number 503…, Jin Seona. This kid is also a promising talent. According to the records, she received a brave child award a few years ago.»
“What kind of award is that?»
“I don’t know what kind of award it is…, but at a young age, she developed telepathy and informed residents of monster appearances.»
An Ain can use telepathy.
However, it was rare for an Ain to develop telepathy at a young age.
Even Oh Geonhoo, a Twelve Seat, once said that it took him a long time to develop his telepathy.
“…Impressive.»
The chief supervisor briefly commented after checking the numbers on the Fox Ain Jin Seona’s necklace.
Surely, she must have been running non-stop since the exam began.
Unlike other kids, relying solely on her skills.
So that’s why she’s recording the number 22.
“…The more I see, the more I want to cheer for them here.»
The boy also maintained a performance worthy of an A grade.
Moving with the determination to gain flesh and lose bones, he seemed to be burning with passion.
“Is that boy a promising talent too?»
“Number 562, Choi Eunhyuk. Not a promising talent, but he’s sponsored by Alice Group. Oh, Jin Seona is also sponsored by Alice Group.»
“Alice Group is really not joking this year. I thought there wouldn’t be many people receiving an A grade in this exam, but already three have come out.»
“It’s not three, it’s four now. Did you see number 121, Kim Minji earlier? She’s also sponsored by Alice Group.»
“»»……»»»
The supervisors clicked their tongues.
How on earth did Alice Group discover kids like them?
After shifting their attention from Group 5, they decided to observe the exam in Group 7.
“What? Is it already over?»
Group 7 was already finished. An Ain, with wolf ears, was coming out of the exam room with a bee-stung face.
“Why do these kids… all have faces like that?»
The supervisors were at a loss for words.
What on earth happened in Group 7? The kids were stumbling.
“Let’s review the content of Group 7’s exam after lunch. Just display the results for now.»
“Yes, but…»
Perhaps Group 7’s test should be taken now.
The supervisors couldn’t close their mouths upon seeing the results displayed on the screen.
“…Number 759? Who is that guy?»
Next to the name recorded at the top was the number of hits.
The number was 1.
“…Number 759, No Eunha.»
“Any special notes? Is he also a promising talent?»
“…Yes, he’s classified as one of the top promising talents.»
“Say what.»
Meanwhile, the chief supervisor found the results of the candidates’ internal mana tests.
759’s internal mana was rated as C+.
It was neither good nor bad.
“He’s sponsored by Sirius Group. At the age of 7, he received the brave child award from Sungbuk District Office…»
“What’s the deal with that? Does Sungbuk District Office not have anything else to do?»
“Well… he defeated a goblin. When he was 7 years old.»
“……»
The chief supervisor doubted his ears.
A 7-year-old defeated a goblin.
It was unbelievable.
Could that really be possible?
The other supervisors also wore faces that showed it was hard to believe.
The supervisor with the analysis of the promising talents continued.
“His father is the executive secretary to the chairman of Sirius Group, and his older sister…»
“What about his older sister?»
“His older sister is No Euna.»
“……»
Among the supervisors, there was no one who didn’t know No Euna.
The former <Queen> Shin Seoyoung’s <The Seed>, who had shown her presence, had changed to Park Hye-rim’s <The Seed> this year.
They didn’t expect her to have a younger brother.
Even if she did…
“─Talent doesn’t run in families.»
“Yes, that’s right. That’s why in the industry, they raised him as a promising talent based on his family background and the fact that he’s Euna’s brother. Anyway, it seems like they thought it was all just hype…»
“No one can call it hype after seeing these results.»
The supervisors looked at the wolf Ain who had fallen to the ground, poking him with their fingers, their eyes filled with interest.
By the way, the fallen wolf Ain had a grade of D in his results.
It seemed like even though he was Ain, he hadn’t properly utilized his physical abilities.
“…I’m envious. Being born into a wealthy family and having talent too…»
“Does a wealthy family always produce such talents?»
“I told you. Talents aren’t inherited. It’s just a simple coincidence.»
The chief supervisor asserted that.
However, he couldn’t help but think that it wasn’t just a mere coincidence, especially when even <The Seed> No Euna, Eunha’s sister, had such abilities.
Happy Halloween! ♛