Raven's POV
"Haha—!"
Raven laughed almost madly, his golden eye gleaming brightly as his body flashed across the clearing at terrifying speed.
Clang!
Every time he vanished, Klein appeared directly before him as if he had predicted the movement from the start. His black eyes burned with excitement.
Clang!
The forest echoed endlessly with the collision between Klein's ōdachi and Raven's blade.
"Zzzz—"
Raven narrowed his eyes as the black lightning surrounding Klein intensified even further.
They were almost evenly matched.
Almost.
"Zzt—"
Raven instantly tilted his head when he noticed Klein raising a finger toward him.
A compressed bullet of black lightning pierced through the air beside his ear.
"You have terrifying reflexes," Klein said with visible irritation.
As though they had silently agreed, both of them leapt backward at the exact same moment, creating distance between each other.
"I could say the same thing about you," Raven replied while checking his remaining mana reserves.
Annoying.
His mana had already fallen to around forty percent, while his elemental core reserves were nearing thirty.
"Even though I'd like to continue this fight…"
Suddenly, Klein lowered his ōdachi. The violent killing intent surrounding him faded slightly.
"Oh?"
Raven stared at him curiously.
"The exam isn't over yet."
Klein ignored Raven's gaze and instead looked down at the watch on his wrist.
"…Ninety?"
A hint of confusion appeared in his voice.
"When did the number drop that fast?"
Raven frowned as he checked his own watch.
He was currently ranked thirty-seventh with only thirty points.
And this was still just the beginning of the exam.
"I feel like there's something wrong with this test," Klein said seriously.
Raven silently nodded.
He felt the same way.
"In the short time we fought, over a hundred participants were eliminated."
"…Then let's continue this later."
Raven did not argue. Klein's reasoning made sense.
From what he remembered in the novel, the details of the exam had never truly been explained. Only the final outcome had been mentioned ...Klein, Braham, and another unknown participant had emerged victorious.
"Fine. I'll head back to my partner now."
Klein's voice returned to its usual calm tone.
Black lightning erupted around his body once more.
Then He disappeared.
"…I'm jealous."
Raven stared at the lingering sparks left behind.
Klein possessed a monstrous physique and absurd mana reserves despite only having a +D Rank mana core.
"Raven? I finally found you."
A gentle voice suddenly broke the silence of the forest.
"…Renee?"
Raven immediately recognized the owner of the voice and looked upward.
The pink-haired girl sat casually on a high tree branch, smiling softly at him.
"Yes."
Renee lightly jumped down from the branch and landed beside him with graceful ease.
The calm smile on her face never disappeared.
"…Hm."
Raven quietly nodded while studying her crimson eyes.
"Is there something on my face?"
Renee touched her cheek with slight confusion.
"No. Nothing."
Raven shook his head before activating his perception ability once more.
Maybe I should give this ability a proper name…
Mana spread outward from his body as the Eye of Truth activated.
An invisible map instantly formed inside his mind.
Every branch.
Every leaf.
Every movement.
Nothing escaped his awareness.
"…They were eliminated?"
No matter how far he searched, he could no longer sense Adel or Leon's mana signatures.
Confusion filled his thoughts.
Too many participants were being eliminated far too quickly.
Even Adel and Leon had already been thrown out despite their abilities.
Raven pushed the thoughts aside and slowly opened his eyes again
Only to find Renee staring directly at him with a gentle expression.
For a brief second
His brain overheated.
Before he realized it, he had already retreated several meters away.
"…Huh?"
His own voice sounded strangely flustered.
"Hehe?"
Renee quickly covered her mouth as she tried to suppress her laughter.
This girl…
Raven pressed a hand against his chest.
His heartbeat was pounding violently.
"You don't have to react like that," Renee said while trying to maintain a calm expression.
Unfortunately for her, the trembling corners of her lips exposed her amusement.
"…Right."
Raven stood up and forcibly returned his expression to normal despite the chaos inside his chest.
"Let's go."
His voice barely maintained its composure.
As he walked past her, he could practically feel her gaze lingering on his burning ears.
"Hehehe~"
Renee softly laughed before following after him.
Outside the Examination Grounds
....
"I see… so that's the reason."
Vice Director Clayman rested his chin against his hand while staring at the man seated before him.
Professor Adam.
A middle-aged man with short black hair that slightly covered his calm green eyes.
His movements carried elegance and composure as he quietly drank his tea.
Unlike the other professors present, Adam showed no visible fear toward Clayman.
Only calmness.
Balance.
Refined control.
"Yes, Vice Director Clayman."
Adam gently placed the teacup down.
"It was merely a whim of mine. Instead of creating a single virtual gate with one prolonged
examination… I thought…"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Why not create four separate gates instead?"
Silence filled the room.
Several professors exchanged looks, but Adam ignored all of them.
"Does any professor object to my decision?"
His tone remained calm and indifferent.
Adam had always been known as a quiet man.
But…
Was that calmness truly natural?
The only sound left in the room was the slow tapping of Clayman's fingers against his chair.
Professor Maria remained silent as she observed the tense exchange.
"…Fine."
Clayman finally spoke.
"But at the very least, you should have informed us beforehand, Professor Adam."
A cold pressure slowly spread across the room.
Mana quietly boiled beneath the surface.
The air itself became heavier.
Clayman's gaze felt sharp enough to pierce through Adam's soul.
Yet even then
Adam neither flinched nor spoke.
He simply stared back at Clayman in silence.
"…Understood, Vice Director Clayman."
After a long pause, Adam calmly rose from his seat.
His long coat swayed lightly as he walked toward the exit with elegant steps.
No one stopped him.
The sound of the door closing echoed quietly throughout the room.
....
Outside the Hall
"Haaah… haaah… damn those monsters…"
Adam grabbed the railing tightly while breathing heavily.
His entire body trembled.
"Do they think I can actually stand against a Ruler…?"
He laughed bitterly.
"And that damn woman too… why did she convince me to do this…?"
The composed mask surrounding him completely shattered.
Fear, Relief and Frustration.
Human emotions finally appeared clearly on his face.
Adam wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
"Knowing the future? Rulers? Kings?"
He clicked his tongue in irritation.
"What a load of nonsense. I'm never getting involved again."
Still grumbling to himself, Adam began walking toward his laboratory.