The sun rose over Ruloy Academy, casting golden light over the courtyard where the students had gathered. Today was the day. The Entrance Exam.
Although some students had been forced to leave due to the last minute emergency tournament, everyone seemed content with the fact that they had won their respective duel and thus felt confident for the coming exam.
The air was alive with tension, people stood burdened with unspoken fears and expectations. For many here, this exam would decide their future. Those who passed would enter Ruloy, training to become the greatest academics, warriors and mages of their generation. Those who failed... would be cast aside. For Julius...
"I need to pass... Or I might actually die." He shivered. The thought of being outside these walls, unprotected from people like Vielli kept him up at night.
Julius stood near the edge of the courtyard, arms folded as he observed the scene. Weapons being sharpened and swung. Spells being tested on the training dummies which had long been scorched and frozen. Breathing exercises and stretches done by the more physical students.
One student was meditating, but it looked an awful lot like sleeping.
Another student was swinging a sword desperately, trying to make an air-slash, but all they seemed to be doing was tiring themselves out.
Some students were practicing magic but seemed to be pretty incapable as their fireballs all came out as small as embers.
Julius yawned. I guess I'm not the only fraud. Then a voice crept up from behind him.
"So the hero is relaxing at a time like this... I suppose that makes sense given your powers... You aren't worried at all?"
"Hmm. Not really." Julius stated. It's like why should I worry? I'm just rolling the dice for good teammates here.
He turned to see Silleto standing beside him, her piercing amber eyes scanning the crowd. Unlike most of the students, she wasn't trembling or pacing. Her grey hair was neatly tied back, her dark coat unruffled. She looked ready—but not eager.
"I wish they just gave us the uniform the day we arrived, I wasn't planning on using the same pair of clothes for all these days..."
"It's Ruloy... The uniforms must be expensive."
"We have to pass the exam to get in. Shouldn't you be a little nervous? If you fail your mission is over." Silleto tilted her head at him. "Would you lose your hero title if you failed? Aren't you worried a little bit?"
"Why would I be?" Julius smirked. "I plan on letting my teammates do all the work."
Silleto nodded her head. "Very heroic of you."
"Yep." Julius stretched. "I'm a firm believer in teamwork. A strong team means I don't have to sweat and I can save my strength for the mission."
She gave him a sharp glance. "And what if your team is weak? What if you're thrown in with people who slow you down?"
Julius' smirk faltered for a second. He glanced at the students around them. Many were rookies, barely past their first real combat experience. Others had no experience at all. Some of them would die today. On the other hand, a plentiful few were the sons and daughters of nobles and heroes. Those were the ones who seemed overly prepared.
"I'll have to reveal some of powers." he finally said. "But as you know I don't really want to do that."
Silleto agreed, rubbing her temple. "Hmm... You're right. You need to act like a level one after all..."
"Look over there." Julius pointed. Silleto followed his finger to the scene.
Across the courtyard, near the academy's grand fountain, Yevian and Sunday stood in quiet conversation. But there was something off in Yevian's posture—his usual confident stance was gone, replaced with something heavier.
Julius frowned. Without a word, he pushed off from the pillar and walked toward them. Silleto followed, silent but observant.
As they neared, Yevian's voice carried through the cool morning air.
"…I still haven't been forgiven?," he muttered, his hands clenched into fists. "This is crazy! Unfair! Preposterous even..."
Sunday, arms crossed, tilted his head. "Forgiveness isn't something you earn overnight. You have to prove yourself. To them at least..."
Yevian looked down. Regret was etched onto his face. "God, why did I let my exploring tendencies get the best of me! Why?"
Julius sighed. "Do you think he's innocent? Sunday?"
"Oh you're the guy I almost killed."
Yevian blinked, caught off guard. "What?" Sunday shrugged her shoulders.
"Anyways, I really do doubt his innocence. He's always been a bit of a scum bag." Sunday acted impartial. "On the other hand, surely he wouldn't be so stupid to ruin his life because he wanted to spy on some girls..."
Julius nodded on. "Yevian is too smart to do something that stupid, I agree."
Yevian let out a breath, shoulders relaxing slightly. "...Thanks, you two."
Sunday smiled. "Now go practice your magic. It kind of hurts our rivalry when you go up to me and start crying. Makes me pity you a little too much-."
"I wasn't-."
Sunday left, swinging her sword around pre-emptively.
Yevian wheezed in frustration before nodding and heading toward the training field.
Julius exhaled, but his unease didn't fade. There were too many unknowns today. Too many moving pieces. He hoped one of them would be on his team in the exam.
"If it is a team exam that is... I hope that guy in town didn't lie."
Then, a loud chime shattered the morning quiet.
BOOM. BOOM. The academy bell rang twice.
"I didn't even know they had a bell..." Julius said, it felt strange. This was the first time he had heard it. It was obnoxiously loud, making everyone think an emergency was at hand.
The voice that followed was cold, commanding, and absolute. Casted out through magic.
"All students, gather at the entrance. It's time for your briefing."
The crowd moved as one, assembling before the academy steps where a row of instructors stood, clad in battle-ready attire. Their expressions were unreadable, their eyes sharp.
At the center, Professor Silver stepped forward. Tall, stern, with his silver hair and eagle eyes. His mere presence commanded silence.
When he spoke, his voice carried over the entire courtyard as he amplified it with magic.
"At midday, you will be transported to your examination sites. Your tests will take place inside various dungeons, under real conditions. You will be placed in teams. Your objective is simple: conquer the dungeons you are placed in. We have tried to make the teams as even as possible. Failure will not come down only to luck."
A murmur spread through the students.
Julius frowned. Dungeons? We really do live in an Isekai. I'll just pray the dungeon isn't too hard and doesn't almost kill me.
"Dungeons... So we have to act like adventurers to get into this prestigious school? Ugh-." Many students frowned. They hadn't prepared to be put into a dungeon. Most had assumed it would've just been a tournament of sorts.
The instructor's next words cut through the tension like a blade.
"Failure means expulsion. However, if you wish to leave, you may. There will be ways to retreat once you have begun, but the moment you leave your dungeon you will be expelled and taken off the list."
The weight of that statement sank into every student's bones.
Julius felt a familiar rush in his veins. Excitement? Dread? He wasn't sure.
He glanced at Silleto. Her face was unreadable, but he could see the way her fingers tapped against her coat. She was already thinking, planning. Clutching at her chest, murmuring something about a seal.
"My power... Must be contained... The seal weakens."
Julius stared at her deadpanned. "Some people drown whilst others are dehydrated..." So she has so much power that she has to seal it? Meanwhile I'm still below wall-level? This world is a joke.
She's a chuunibyou in a fantasy world... Julius thought. Wondering how that was even possible in the first place.
"At lunch, you will receive your final instructions, as well as a good meal on the school." The instructor's gaze swept over the crowd. "Until then, prepare yourselves. This is the last moment of peace you will have until the entrance exam.
With that, the briefing ended.
No one spoke.
Julius walked through the academy's courtyard, his hands stuffed into his coat pockets, his expression as calm as ever. But he could feel the eyes on him. The murmurs. The whispers. This had been happening since yesterday.
"Is that him?"
"He actually beat Argen?"
"That doesn't make sense… Argen was on another level…"
"I bet he paid him."
"How many gold coins?"
"He must've cheated."
"Gosh, why can't anyone just accept the fact that I'm strong now?" Julius was getting sick of their attitudes.
Julius sighed, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. He hated this part. One victory, and suddenly everyone acted like he was some kind of fraud. He didn't even care about the fight that much—he just wanted to get through the exam without being slandered.
Too late for that now.
Footsteps approached. Light, measured, and familiar.
"So."
Julius turned his head slightly. Silleto. She had heard everything.
She walked beside him, her grey hair swaying with each step, her piercing amber eyes unreadable. She wasn't whispering. She wasn't murmuring. She was staring and talking loudly.
Julius sighed. "You're going to ask, aren't you?"
"Obviously. You didn't really explain much before." She didn't even try to deny it. "What really happened? Tell me please, hero-/"
Julius sighed. "What, you don't believe the rumors? That I'm some conster who used money and tricks to get through..."
Silleto narrowed her eyes. "No. Argen was strong. Really strong. But you?" She crossed her arms. "You give off the impression of someone who is so strong that he can hide his power perfectly. I can't even detect an ounce of strength from you."
Julius laughed dryly, cursing his weakness inwardly. "Natrually."
"Anyways, what technique did you use to win. It was like you maniplated the air around you."
Julius exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright, fine." He looked around, making sure no one else was listening, then leaned in slightly.
"I used 1% of my power."
Silleto raised an eyebrow. "...Really? That's it?"
Inwardly, Julius groaned, shoulders slumping. I used 100% of my power. And I still barely won due to chance and his underestimation of me.
Silleto studied him for a second longer, then nodded. "So, you're not unbeatable. That's good to know."
Julius scoffed. "Why, are you planning to fight me some day?"
Silleto smirked. "When my powers are unsealed, I don't think even you will be able to put up much of a fight. Destruction destroys everything."
"I'll be waiting." Julius yawned, but remembering her previous displays of explosivity, he was somewhat terrified she would try to murder him in his sleep.
She must be acting... There's no way she still thinks I'm strong.
The two walked off, each trapped in their own delusions.
But now reality came, lunch began. At the end of this meal, the exam would start.
END OF Vol1 PART 1: ARRIVING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE WORLD
Vol1 Part 2: Who needs a soul?