The white citadel hidden in the eternal snow, Frost Heart.
The reason why there’s little information about this place is partly because there are five academies, but also because it’s located in a remote area. Furthermore, the school itself was reluctant to reveal much about daily life, so in an era without TV or social media, obtaining credible information was nearly impossible.
However, having played Asares countless times, I knew it very well. This place is an institution that specializes in training exploration teams for the demon realm, rather than academic achievements like a magic tower or official positions like imperial knights. It was also the academy with the highest death rate among its students and graduates. If this fact got out, no one would come, so they collaborated with the Empire to keep it quiet. In the end, someone had to do it.
“The winter I felt outside was just spring…”
As I arrived to take the exam, I firmly grasped my thick robe that covered me from head to toe at the entrance exam site prepared at the foot of the mountain.
“It’s so cold, young master.”
“At least you have warm clothes thanks to me. Look at those people over there. We’re better off, aren’t we?”
I pointed at the people huddled together, warming themselves by a bonfire in the severe cold. They were so close to the flames that it seemed like they might get burned. Selly frowned, covering her face with the hood of her robe.
“But young master, this is very different from what you initially said.”
“You said it was a prestigious academy. Why are we taking the entrance exam in such a cold place?”
“It’s winter, so it’s cold everywhere. Didn’t I tell you to bring warm clothes?”
As I brushed off her concerns, Selly, still chattering her teeth from the cold, voiced her suspicions.
“Then, who are those people over there?”
The group Selly pointed to were unsavory-looking individuals blowing on beer bottles and smoking pipes. They looked like real troublemakers who wouldn’t listen to anyone.
I shook my head as I watched them make crude jokes about passing women or pick fights with some weak-looking men.
“Every place where people live is the same. There are good people and bad people everywhere.”
Selly nodded in agreement, looking up at me.
“That’s true, isn’t it?”
“Ahem, anyway, there are so many of them. Look over there. A third of them are similar types.”
The group of ruffians was numerous enough to create a gray cloud of smoke from their cigarettes. The acrid smoke, mixed with the smell of alcohol, made it hard to breathe as it blew towards us. �
“Cough! Ugh! Isn’t an academy supposed to be attended by people from cultured families?”
Well, I guess it’s okay to tell her the truth to some extent.
“Cough. They are all donation admissions. All of them. Damn, what a strong smell.”
I was about to explain more when someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and saw Erucel, shivering in the cold and speaking in a near-pleading voice.
“Brother, if you have any more clothes, could you lend them to me? This little brother is freezing to death.”
“Do you really think I’d…”
I was about to refuse reflexively but sighed deeply instead.
“No, never mind. I’ll lend you a set.”
“What? You’re lending it to me?”
As Erucel widened his eyes, Selly frowned and handed over a thick piece of clothing from her bag, seemingly reluctant but wanting him to leave quickly.
He gave a small nod of gratitude. This poor fellow must have planned to come and quickly leave after completing his task, unaware of what was to come.
Just then, figures wearing thick coats adorned with crow feathers approached, drawing everyone’s attention. These were the professors from Frost Heart, who had come to oversee the entrance exam, their sheaths and staffs holstered at their waists. The elegant aura they exuded against the snowy white backdrop silenced even the ruffians.
At the forefront, a black-haired man with slightly curly hair opened his mouth.
His voice was harsh and deep. His name was Rockefeller, one of the influential magic professors at Frost Heart.
“Donation admissions, follow me.”
At Rockefeller’s command, the ruffian group hesitantly gathered. Some professors hovered around them, repeating the same question.
“Is there anyone among you who wishes to take the entrance exam?”
Why would anyone who paid a large donation bother to take the entrance exam? Most of them scoffed, but some raised their hands. I smirked as I watched them. They either knew something or were quick-witted.
“Knighthood admissions, this way.”
Now, they called for the knighthood admission candidates.
“Our turn. Let’s go, brother.”
Erucel looked at me with a doubtful gaze as I waved him off. I looked at him with a deep gaze.
Erucel looked puzzled, but he had no choice but to follow the professor’s lead. After Erucel disappeared, I headed toward the magic department’s exam room.
As I handed my entrance examination documents to the reception desk, the reception professor stared at the papers for a while and then glanced at the professor next to him.
“Is there something wrong?”
“Are you really Hersel Ben Tenest?”
“Hmm, it seems you took a wrong turn. Let me guide you.”
He got up from his seat and told the professor next to him.
“I’ll take him to the knighthood department, so handle things here for a while.”
It seemed they were mistaken because of my family background.
“I want to join the magic department. Is there a rule against knight families applying?”
I stated my intention clearly, and the reception professor blinked in confusion.
“Yes, the magic department.”
He scratched his head and then sharpened his gaze.
“Show me your identification and take off your robe.”
Even after complying, he still looked suspicious.
“The features match, and the ID isn’t fake… but something seems off.”
“Lately, there have been quite a few people taking the exam on behalf of others.”
Things were getting tricky from the start. Was this the prejudice the housemistress had mentioned?
Hersel practicing magic… the prejudice won’t be easy to overcome.
I was deep in thought about how to handle this situation, but my identity was unexpectedly confirmed by the surrounding applicants.
“Wait a minute, that person.”
“Her, Hersel… why is he here?”
The applicants around me murmured. The snippets of conversation I caught were all about how they had suffered because of me and the terrible things I’d done.
‘I’m used to this by now.’
I was amazed, in a way, at how notorious I had become.
“This should be enough proof, right? Don’t you agree?”
“…Fine, you may proceed.”
The professor said this with a frown and quickly walked off somewhere. I was curious about his reaction but shrugged it off and headed to the written exam room.
The room was like a lecture hall made of marble. I sat alone, isolated like a flower petal in the middle of a pond, away from the others.
“Isn’t that the guy who was causing a ruckus outside?”
“…No doubt. He’s the scoundrel from the Tenest family.”
To avoid the noise, I pulled my hood over my head. Then Donatan started chattering.
-The looks people are giving you are mixed with fear and loathing. It’s as if they’re seeing a plague.
‘Let them stare all they want.’
Then, footsteps approached, and I looked up to see a man smiling broadly as he walked toward me. He looked like a noble young master with an air of importance.
“It’s really Hersel. I’m so glad to see you here.”
He seemed to know Hersel. Not knowing how to respond, I felt awkward just as the professor entered the written exam room.
“Well… I’ll greet you properly later. Please make sure to pass, haha.”
He laughed like a sycophant and returned to his seat. I felt like I had seen him somewhere before.
*He must be a playable character, but it must be my imagination.*
I listened attentively to the professor.
“The exam consists of three stages. The first is the written exam. The second is to demonstrate the magic presented to prove you’re a mage. And the third is a joint practical exam with the knighthood department’s successful candidates.”
After the explanation, the professor waved his staff, and the test papers floated in the air, landing in front of each seated person.
“The difficulty of the exam is random. Each of you will receive different test papers, so don’t bother trying to cheat.”
The test paper in front of me seemed to be of the lowest difficulty. It would be easy to solve, I thought, smirking. Then the main gate suddenly opened, and five professors entered and stood on the platform. Among them was Professor Rockefeller, who scanned the candidates and spoke.
“I am Rockefeller Den Harman, tasked with supervising during the exam. Recently, there have been many cheaters employing various methods. For example…”
Rockefeller waved his staff, and my eyelid twitched. A note flew from another student’s pocket into his hand.
“Ah, it’s a cheat sheet.”
The real culprit was someone else, but why had he glared at me earlier?
Everyone assumed the cheating student would be disqualified and swallowed nervously, but Rockefeller smiled and spoke lightly.
“Now that he’s lost his means, he can’t cheat anymore. Do your best.”
“Does that mean… he can still take the exam?”
Some candidates gave disapproving looks, but most sighed in relief. They probably thought he was gentle despite his stern appearance. They would realize after the exam that it was just a facade…
I picked up my pen to start the test when a shadow fell over me. I looked up and asked.
“Professor, did I do something wrong?”
“No, nothing. Just focus on your test.”
Rockefeller stood unmoving, watching my test paper closely.
‘How am I supposed to focus with him staring like that?’
I quickly solved the problems. They were too easy.
“Hmm, I can’t understand the symbols well, but your answers are correct.”
“If I passed, could you step aside? I need a nap.”
“Your written exam is good. Very good, but you still have one more hurdle to clear.”
I didn’t need him to explain.
“How will you handle the magic demonstration? I’ve heard you have no experience.”
I lowered my voice, reaching the limit of my patience.
“I’ll manage. Mind your own business.”
Rockefeller whispered in my ear.
“Even now, join the knighthood department. This place isn’t for you. If you do, I’ll guarantee your acceptance.”
Hearing his true feelings made me laugh.
This man wanted me in the knighthood department because I was the child of Aol and had survived a griffon’s breath. Of course, it wasn’t just about my aptitude for being a knight.
“Our professor doesn’t want to recognize me as a mage, I see.”
“Yes, exactly. Just your presence here annoys me. I wish you’d leave.”
Mages tend to be quirky. His continued harassment made me decide to go all out.
“Then, let’s have the second exam right now.”
Rockefeller, with a blank expression, curled his lips into a smile.
“Want to be humiliated in front of everyone? Fine. Let’s see your capabilities.”
He stopped whispering and addressed the candidates with a smooth smile.
“Attention. The written exam will pause. Don’t worry; you’ll have plenty of time.”
The candidates put down their pens.
“One candidate wishes to take the second exam here, under my supervision.”
All eyes turned to me. I felt like an outsider, hearing their mocking whispers and realizing they were waiting for me to fail.
Many had spent years preparing to be here, while they viewed me as an uneducated fool trying to prove his magic in a short time. But they should know:
Even in just six months, I bled every night, studied relentlessly, risked my life to learn, and trained until my hands were calloused.
I would prove that I am a mage right now.
“What is the second exam?”
“Light flames of different colors on each of your five fingers. That is the test.”
I took out the magic staff I had taken from an assassin.