The training ground of Hogwarts Academy.
There were groups whispering intimately, and groups with double candles burning in their eyes, clearly showing hostility towards each other.
Of course, I belonged to neither of these two factions, but to a third: the special admissions.
Established by the current Dean, Medea, in the name of educational fairness, it was originally intended to overturn the academy's atmosphere, which had degenerated into a social venue for the upper class.
But now, it has become a so-called class exclusively for commoners. Reality is that they are objects of discrimination and contempt.
Even these 200 people were furious at the vested interest class, referred to as 'nobles.' If it were any other school, 200 special admissions students would already be a lot.
If the admission scope is expanded globally, the threshold is narrower than the eye of a needle. By the way, the total number of students in the school is 2,200. Of course, this does not include those who failed the entrance exam. If they were included, there would be at least five or six thousand people.
Nevertheless, many commoner candidates unhesitatingly chose to take the entrance exam for this top-tier prestigious school.
This year, the admission rate for the special admissions class was 20,000:1.
Most people seemed to choose to be the head of a snake rather than the tail of a dragon... lowly blood.
Throughout their school life, special admissions students had to bear this unpleasant label.
'Lowly...'
The name clearly written as a demon left me speechless. My miserable life, damn it.
After a brief thought, I turned my head to observe my surroundings. Colorful heads were packed together like bean sprouts.
Yellow hair, red hair, white hair. There was even rainbow hair.
My black hair stood out particularly. Perhaps due to pre-exam nerves, students quietly scrutinized each other.
Just then, long blue hair surrounded by men in the distance caught my eye. Her striking emerald hair seemed to be covered with frost-like fair skin. Her low and beautiful golden eyes were particularly captivating.
The granddaughter of the Sword Emperor, known as the strongest hero of this century, Abel von Nielron.
The granddaughter of the Sword Emperor, one of the strongest heroes of this century, Abel von Nielron.
She is the protagonist of 'Blessing of the Sword God M' and the reason I spent money on the game. Seeing her in person, she was truly breathtakingly beautiful. Honestly, I thought she would turn into an eyeball monster due to 2D leniency, but she was just a super beautiful face.
Watching the men forming a barrier around Abel, I couldn't help but sneer. It seemed they wanted to try to talk to her.
Having played some games, I know that Abel von Nielron is the player of 'Blessing of the Sword God M,' and thus the protagonist's companion. Ultimately, beautiful women always have companions.
Furthermore, to talk to a woman like that, one would at least have to be on the same level. If a special admissions student like me were to approach her, I'd probably have to watch my back when walking at night.
I shivered and lowered my head, thinking.
'Ordinary, uneventful, safe.'
My three principles for the future. Successfully complete my studies.
Then find an ordinary job.
Live a safe life. A hero? Freeze to death.
My body trembles just from pulling out a kitchen knife; how can I save the world? It feels like 20 minutes have passed.
That stinging sensation still tormented my eyes.
I'd rather be cut by a knife once; that kind of excruciating pain is unbearable for humans.
Try not to draw a sword.
I decided. Anyway, I've been eating knife-made meals for nearly 20 years and have cut enough. I calmed myself down and silently waited for the exam.
As far as I know, the freshmen are divided into 150 groups of 10 people each, entering the Subspace created by the academy's founder, Valor Hawking, to fight each other.
It's like saying, 'Now begin to kill each other.' In Subspace, reality intervention is excluded, and death is absolutely impossible, so any action is forgiven. Even murder.
'At least the grouping is random... but is it really?'
There are no restrictions on Weapon rarity either. Simply put, use whatever you have, whatever. No one would say anything if a Weapon passed down through generations, or even a national treasure-level Weapon, were brought out. For the absurd reason that Weapon is also strength.
'That's bloody absurd.'
The crazy school and the crazy first exam gave me a headache.
The game description said that the trauma experienced in Subspace would last a long time...
【Now, the rules for the 783rd Hogwarts Academy placement exam will be explained.】
'I probably know the content.'
The scores are determined by a system where Subspace itself grades each cadet. Simply put, it's like an AI grading essay questions.
Among the ten people in each group, the first place is the highest Star-rank.
The second and third places are the next level, Dragon-rank. The fourth to seventh places are Wolf-rank.
The rest are commoners.
The goal, of course, is to be a commoner. Achieving good results is meaningless. There are too many commoners.
【Now begins the 783rd Hogwarts Academy placement exam.】
A dry but sacred rational voice filled the training ground.
All chattering mouths closed.
Then, the exam content and rules were listed one by one.
Some cadets seemed to know, smiling contentedly.
【The exam begins now.】
【May the Blessing of the Sword God be with you.】
One or two people disappeared with a whooshing sound.
'When will it be my turn...'
Just then, I was swallowed by Subspace before I even realized it.
30 minutes after the exam began.
Two-thirds of the more than one hundred groups had completed the exam. Subspace spat out the cadets.
【The assessment of Group 24 has ended. First place: Allen, Second place:...】
【The assessment of Group 47 has ended. First place: Sharpshooter, Second place:...】
The voice announcing the end of the exam sounded as the cadets were thrown onto the training ground.
From cadets vomiting their breakfast to those appearing calm, there was a variety of reactions.
But most people's legs gave out, and they sat on the ground.
"Come to think of it... there are many excellent guys this term, which means the outcome is already decided. I chose the wrong exam topic. I should have chosen teamwork."
Medea, observing from the side, yawned and rested her chin on her hand. Her ample chest swayed with every movement.
"An exam with no Weapon restrictions, can this be considered a fair exam?"
Siegfried, with his arms crossed, frowned. Medea shrugged and crossed her legs, revealing her smooth thighs.
"You stubborn old-fashioned person wouldn't understand, but as Dean, there are many things to worry about, right? At least..."
"Because the grouping is random, do you know how much effort I put in? I almost got wrinkles around my eyes! What do you, a homebody, know about academy politics! It would be great if you could help out, you old-fashioned person!"
"Since you already have wrinkles, then work a little harder."
"Oh, what's the point of talking to you..."
Medea frowned and crossed her legs.
"Speaking of which, it's as expected. Abel von Nielron, she finished everything in 7 minutes and 14 seconds. Wow, this score is definitely first place... Although she couldn't break your record in the end, this score should still rank in the top ten in the academy's history."
"If it's Nielron's bloodline, then that's a natural result."
Despite the different tone, Siegfried's lips curled slightly. Medea gave a wry smile, and a translucent spear appeared in the air. It recorded the freshmen's Weapons and results.
"Taking the exam with a C-rank rare Weapon, that's very much like you, Zige."
"Abel wanted a fair assessment of her strength."
"The young people have already become stubborn old-timers, truly."
While Medea and Siegfried conversed, only one group remained in Subspace, all other cadets having been eliminated.
"It seems to be ending soon, I should go."
"There's still one, and you're leaving?"
"Anyway, isn't it just one of those trash relatives."
Siegfried covered his mouth with a fan and squinted at the noisy crowd. Medea smiled gently and nodded.
"See you next time."
"Yes, see you next time, old-fashioned person."
Siegfried, seeing Medea off, responded with a middle finger, then stood up.
Shhh—
As if by agreement, goosebumps rose on everyone present. Siegfried and Medea looked at each other simultaneously, then turned their heads towards the training ground.
"You felt it too, didn't you?"
... ...
Medea's question made Siegfried narrow his eyes and sharply turn towards the training ground. Beads of sweat appeared on the foreheads of the spectators.
Siegfried looked at the training ground, quickly scanning the cadets. That incomprehensible feeling from before had vanished.
"This, this is impossible!"
Medea's finger pointed to the sky. Siegfried lowered his head.
Shhh—
A sound came from the dry sky.
Rustle -
The sky began to crack.
The sky suddenly split open, then shattered like glass.
Through the cracks, all the cadets of the last group fell, unconscious.
***
The outcome was already decided.
But I was unlucky. I seemed to have been assigned to the group of death.
Mao Jin and Mao Shun, the Mao Twins from the Iron King Family, one of the famous hero families in a neighboring country. Having twins in the same group is already cheating...
'The Wicked Twins.'
They possessed innate talent, but also a cruel violence. The malicious rumors about them knew no borders.
The two of them alone eliminated six people from their group. The method was too cruel to bear witness to. Unbearable to look at.
They grinned, turning the six people in their group into bloody corpses. They resisted as much as they could.
One punch to eliminate them would have been fine, but those two dragged out the time, enjoying the struggles of the fallen cadets for 30 minutes.
Ugh—
"Brother, how is it over there?"
Woo woo—
"Roughly sorted out?"
Finally, the twins laughed and twisted their necks. Then they threw them on the ground like chewing gum wrappers. The younger brother, Mao Shun, counted the number of former students on his fingers. Anyway, the reason I was left seemed to be because I was too weak to even be worth mentioning.
"Ah – damn it, what if brother kills another one. So damn annoying."
"Sorry, sorry. As compensation, I'll give her to you."
"Oh, alright then."
The twins' gaze turned to the pitiful, trembling red-haired girl.
Even if I had experienced all sorts of hardships in my previous life, that fragile girl would clearly live with PTSD for the rest of her life because of this horrific tragedy.
Immediately after, the younger brother, Mao Shun, made a terrible cracking sound with his joints and walked briskly towards the girl. It seemed he also intended to twist the female student's neck.
With each step closer, the female student's body trembled. For some reason, she seemed to have no will to resist.
If this continued, Mao Shun's single blow would turn her into a pulp. Thinking this, my hand involuntarily clenched into a fist.
"You bastards!"
I cursed subconsciously. Although I knew the horrific scene before me was just an illusion in the void, the sight of flesh bursting and bones shattering was still clear.
Talking about cultivating heroes, seeing the twins laughingly dismember their companions, isn't this just a villain training ground? Although the academy advocates practical training, there's a limit to everything.
There is.
No matter how I thought about it, those two trashy guys were simply psychopaths, and there must be corruption behind the academy accepting them.
The Mao Twins shifted their gaze. They immediately stared at me, their eyes gleaming. At the same time, insidious smiles appeared on both their faces.
"What, there's still one. I didn't even notice."
"Look at its tag. A special admission? What a lowly thing."
The noisy twins finally nodded to each other.
The younger brother, Mao Shun, wore an iron glove on his left hand, clanking it as he moved. His eyes emitted a strong killing intent, and he slowly walked towards me.
"Brother, I'll cut his neck right away."
The older brother, Mao Jin, standing behind, smiled as he looked at me.
"Ah, that's right. That guy just cursed at us, pull out his tongue."
"Okay."
Mao Shun scratched the back of his neck and replied. The iron glove shook, and drops of bright red blood fell to the ground.
Should I use the Blessing of the Sword God?
I had such a thought. But I immediately shook my head and gave up. The Blessing of the Sword God only lasts for 30 seconds.
To those lunatics, I was just a toy. That short time wouldn't be enough at all.
Suddenly, I felt a chill from the entrance. My gaze involuntarily fell on the bag at my feet.
The song of the sword.
That mournful sound was calling to me.
'If only I could do something about those bastards.'
Calm, uneventful, safe.
It hadn't even been half a day since I made up my mind, damn it.
Mao Shun's footsteps quickened. I unzipped the bag and took out a sashimi knife.
"Pfft, idiot."
A mocking laugh.
"This is what a lowly thing is."
Mao Shun showed a disappointed expression and lightly leaped. His blood-stained iron fist aimed at my leg.
I gently stepped back and activated 'Blessing of the Sword God.'
Just hold on for 30 seconds. There will always be a way.
A cold sensation came from my hand.
The sword was still in its sheath, nothing unusual.
I awkwardly assumed a stance and swung the sword through the air.
The sheath of the sashimi knife gently slid off, revealing the blue blade. And then.
【Blessing of the Sword God has been activated.】
The black song stopped.
++++++++++++++++++++++
"May the Blessing of the Sword God be with you."
++++++++++++++++++++++
An indescribably joyful laugh erupted.