Chapter 1
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Episode 1 - Holy Academy [1]
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Holy Land.
A game that could be played both solo and multiplayer, it had a fairly basic system for being one of the most popular games of the last decade.
For example, the ranks of obtainable items were as follows:
Common, Rare, Unique, Special, Legendary, and Mythical.
The last of these was a rank from which nothing could yet be obtained.
Mythical-rank items had still not been revealed due to their overwhelming power.
However, there were others that did not grant power, but instead sealed power.
'But these bandages aren't something that ever existed; they were only part of the character's design.'
Aside from the Mythical-rank bandages, there was also the Unique Trait.
'Eyes of the End isn't a Unique Trait he had. I clearly balanced Adel's power, so I decided not to give him a Unique Trait. Then why?'
I placed a hand on my chin, but no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't reach any conclusion.
Anyway, waking up in this body is already strange enough.
'More importantly, where am I?'
I "looked" around; I could only see everything completely black, as if it were a sketch, with thin white lines outlining the entire room.
It wasn't difficult to get used to it. I walked around, "looking" through the room.
An ordinary bed, a nightstand, a bathroom, and a window covered by curtains.
I walked toward the window and pulled the curtains aside, then looked outside.
The world beyond the room, previously completely black, began to take shape through simple white lines.
The street was full of pedestrians and street vendors, houses and small buildings made of wood or stone, medieval in style with a modern touch.
'So I'm in an inn… well, if I'm not mistaken, then I should be in…'
I looked upward. The black world was quickly sketched in white lines, and I could "see" a massive palace or temple.
'That's the Holy Academy, a place where both commoners and nobles study, founded by the first Saint of the Sacred Empire of Ordeal, the God of Light.'
Once I confirmed my current location, I looked around the inside of the room, then searched everywhere to check what Adel had with him.
The only thing I found was a few coins; I wasn't sure whether they were bronze, silver, or gold.
'Mhm, this should work…'
Using my senses and True Sight, I was able to detect the minerals the coins were made from.
'Five gold, twenty silver, and one hundred bronze; in dollars, this would be around five thousand.'
I stored the coins in my pockets, then picked up the sword that was beside the bed.
By the way, Adel is a full-fledged swordsman because of his abilities.
Once I had taken everything that seemed to belong to Adel, I went down to the inn's first floor and sat at a table.
Then I sensed someone approaching and looked up.
From the pattern of white strands in the person's hair, I could tell it was a woman; besides, judging by her figure, it was not difficult to distinguish her from a man.
"Is there anything you would like to order…?"
However, she stopped for a second, probably looking at the bandages over my eyes.
"S-sorry, I'll read the menu to you."
I nodded without saying anything.
Curiously, I could understand her words, since the game specifies that this world has its own languages.
'It's surprising that I can understand the language.'
After a while, I ordered something simple, and before the woman left, I asked:
"What date is it today?"
The woman nodded and said:
"Today is Monday, January 7th, Year 789 of the Imperial Calendar."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
The woman then left, and honestly, I did not know what to say.
'Today is the opening ceremony for enrollment at the Academy.'
That led me to a certain doubt.
'What exactly should I do?'
Honestly, there are no goals. I woke up in this world barely half an hour ago, and everything still feels confusing.
'Should I follow the game's story and see if I can return to my world, or should I simply wander around without any direction?'
However, I soon made up my mind. I am not the kind of person who stays indecisive for long.
'I suppose entering the game's storyline would not be much of a problem. Besides, regardless of the player's actions in multiplayer mode, any ending can be unlocked.'
After a few seconds, I decided to enter the Holy Academy. I have nothing else to do.
Besides, I am not worried about becoming part of the game's story. It is not a linear story, but a branching one.
'Mhm, besides, the protagonist enters the Academy anyway, and it is safer to be there than anywhere else… besides, I'm blind.'
I am not wrong about that last part. Adel is a character built for combat, not for everyday life.
Moreover, from the very beginning, I realized that I am strong enough. I would probably be the second strongest first-year student in the Academy, since the protagonist is a special case.'
A few minutes later, the same woman returned.
"Enjoy your meal."
"Thank you."
***
After leaving the inn, I quickly headed toward the Academy. From what I had asked, it was around eight in the morning.
The opening ceremony for new cadets starts at nine. If I hurry, I might arrive a few minutes early.
Along the way, I stopped to ask for directions. The people were unexpectedly kind.
'Well, this is the Holy Ordeal Empire, a place where faith in God is completely natural, so people tend to be kind to most others, especially to a blind person like me.'
During the walk, I focused on using my senses and my True Sight as much as possible to get used to them.
Soon, I no longer felt any discomfort. Moreover, because of Mana Sense, I could clearly see the mana in the air along the way.
Without realizing it, as I looked around, I observed the mana that, unexpectedly, I could see in different colors.
Suddenly, I bumped into someone.
"Ah…"
"...."
A familiar voice. In the game, the characters naturally have voices, and unexpectedly, this person's voice was exactly the same as in the game.
Lowering my gaze, I saw the white outlines, and from her voice, I knew who she was.
In the game, her design had pink hair and red eyes. Her name was…
'Clementine Lunovar.'
One of the main characters.
'It would be strange for me to run into playable characters. They probably shouldn't even exist.'
For example, Adel shouldn't exist either, yet here I was at this very moment.
Anyway…
'Great, now I'm in trouble.'
A clearly irritated voice reached my ears.
"Look at this bastard, can't you watch where you're going?"
'Isn't this too ridiculous? She's telling a blind person to watch where he's going.'
Taking a few steps back, I said,
"I'm sorry, I'll be more careful next time."
She then got up from the ground and looked at me. Her expression changed slightly, but that was all.
"I'll let it slide this time since you're blind."
Then Clementine turned around and walked toward the entrance of the Holy Academy.
Watching her back, I let out a sigh.
'Ah, I really am the creator of this character… though fortunately, she noticed my disability and didn't make a huge fuss.'
Aside from that, I also realized something else.
At the moment of the collision, I felt the difference in physical ability between Clementine and myself.
'So I'm physically strong enough to make her bounce backward and fall onto the ground.'
Clementine is a swordswoman; naturally, her physical strength is quite high.
But during that collision, honestly, I didn't feel any overwhelming physical capability from her.
'Well, this isn't so bad.'
Without further delay, I continued walking. Soon, I entered the Holy Academy.
The place was enormous, with vast gardens and buildings everywhere.
The plaza I was standing in was filled with the new prospective cadets who would be taking the entrance exam.
As I searched for a spot away from the others, I soon sat down on a bench; behind it was a fountain.
At the same time, I suddenly heard several people talking and gathering near the entrance.
"Look, isn't that the third imperial princess, Clana Ordeal?"
"The youngest daughter of House Lunovar, Miss Clementine Lunovar, is here too."
"Yeah, yeah, and the twin siblings from House Starlight are here as well, Leon and Charlotte Starlight."
"Wow… all the important nobles came this year."
"Oh, look, Miss Diana Arsene from House Arsene is here too."
"This is going to get interesting…"
As I watched the crowd whispering among themselves, my senses allowed me to hear them as clearly as if they were standing right beside me.
I thought while "looking" around:
'Mhm, I don't see the future Saint, Julian Reinhard, nor the protagonist. The Saint is probably already inside the Academy; Julian perhaps hasn't arrived yet… and the protagonist, well, I have no idea.'
The others—the third princess Clana, Clementine, Diana, Leon, and Charlotte—are all present.
'It's a shame I can't see what they look like since I can only see in black… but oh well.'
Shortly afterward, a loud voice drew everyone's attention.
"Everyone, please remain silent for a moment."
The crowd quickly stopped talking, and a deathly silence fell over the plaza.
Then the person who had captured everyone's attention, the director of the Holy Academy, Bernice Ludwing, said:
"Let us officially begin the admission process for the new first-year cadets."
A round of applause followed her simple words.
She then cleared her throat and added:
"The entrance exam will consist of three parts."
She raised one finger and said:
"First, a written exam, where you will answer a series of questions and theories."
She raised a second finger.
"Second, individual combat against a professor will be evaluated. This combat will determine the top ten students. Of course, the result of the written exam must also be taken into account, as it complements the individual combat."
And finally, she raised the third finger.
"Lastly, and most importantly, it will be revealed who possesses an attribute. Those who do not have an attribute will not be allowed to enter the academy."
A murmur spread through the plaza before the applause erupted once again.
"So in the end, everything depends on the attribute…"
"As expected of the Holy Academy."
"If you don't have talent, you can't even try…"
Once those words were spoken, the applause spread throughout the entire plaza. Then, the principal said:
"You will now be guided to Building A-9, where the written exam will take place. And one final note: anyone caught cheating will be disqualified and will not enter the Academy, not even next year."
With those words, the principal disappeared.
Through my True Sight, I noticed the space around her bending, and her body passing through that distorted space.
'Wow… the True Sight Trait really is far more impressive when you experience it firsthand.'
It didn't take long before several professors began guiding all the candidates toward Building A-9. Naturally, I followed them.