Promotion Exam
The thought lingered as I took a short walk before heading back to the library. Inside, I immersed myself in books, and a thought struck me.
Previously, on the forum, I had searched for "academy" and stumbled upon posts from students attending one.
It occurred to me that those posts might hold valuable insights. Perhaps they knew of places serving delicious food.
While I was committed to studying, it didn't mean I enjoyed a diet of dried meat every day.
Efficiency dictated my choices, but indulging in tasty meals occasionally wouldn't hurt.
With that in mind, I searched the forum using "academy" as the keyword. A plethora of posts appeared.
"I've seen these before."
Skipping past the familiar ones, I focused on the new entries. What secrets might they hold? Curiosity piqued, I delved into the posts.
After some scrolling, a few intriguing titles caught my eye. With time on my hand, I decided to take a closer look.
[Author: MagicIsPower]
[Title: What the hell is this guy at the academy doing...?]
[Content: (Photo) This dude's been reading here for almost a week straight, what's he doing? lol]
L: ㄹㅇ? What's he up to?
ㄴAuthor: I have no idea lol
ㄴ: Sitting for a week straight is insane lol
ㄴ: How does he even poop? He has to go eventually
ㄴ: Mages can automatically take care of their business with magic lol
ㄴ: Oh really?
ㄴ: Yeah lol, they can do it automatically, some people are clueless lol
L: Wait, so based on the comments, he just holds it in? Or does it disappear inside him?
ㄴAuthor: Dude, gross, why would he hold it in lol
ㄴ: That's actually disgusting lmao
ㄴ: How could you even think that...
ㄴ: Disgusting...
L: I'm genuinely curious about this guy, he's always there
"This is definitely about me."
The picture, taken from a distance, was undoubtedly of me. Even from afar, my face was unmistakable.
I was about to leave a comment but thought better of it. There was no need to draw attention to an old post and raise suspicions.
"Better check out other posts."
These posts wouldn't provide the information I sought about the academy. While not essential, gaining some insights would be beneficial.
I scrolled further down, past the posts I had read before, including "DieIllegally," looking for newer entries.
[Author: HereAsWell]
[Title: A Guide for Academy Students]
[Content: Nah, just kidding. But seriously, try the roasted pork at the academy cafeteria. It's freaking delicious.]
L: Oh yeah, I've had that, it's amazing.
ㄴ: It's seriously the best
ㄴ: You're missing out if you haven't tried it
ㄴ: How good can food be at an academy lol
ㄴ: ㄴSays the one who can't even afford to eat at the academy
L: Shut up, you're making us jealous lol. Don't talk about the academy if you want to live
ㄴ: Look at this rich prick lol
ㄴ: Woah there
ㄴ: Don't call him a prick, that's not nice
ㄴ: Yeah, even if he's not exactly middle class, it's not cool to call him names
L: Seriously lol, got lucky to be born with talent and get into the academy, what a jerk
ㄴ: He's being a total jerk
ㄴ: Makes you wonder, doesn't it?
ㄴ: Upvote if you want to see this guy get roasted in the comments lol
ㄴ: I would love to roast him
"Roasted pork..."
Roasted pork. A personal favorite. It sounded like something worth trying.
Although, given its nature, I wouldn't be able to indulge too often. Meat tended to get tiresome after a while. Some people could eat it every day, but I wasn't one of them.
"Haaam."
Despite the walk, I felt a wave of drowsiness. Perhaps it was time to return to the dormitory.
I had an exam to prepare for, the one that would allow me to advance to the next grade.
Based on my prior experiences with studying, this felt like the most demanding period of learning yet.
Not that it was difficult, thanks to Silvia's private lessons. In fact, it was relatively straightforward.
With that in mind, I headed towards the exam venue. Chloe's notes contained comprehensive information about the academy, including the exam location, so finding my way was a breeze.
Knock, knock.
Upon reaching the venue, I knocked on the door and a voice from inside invited me in.
Cautiously, I entered.
"Here for the exam?" a woman with dark circles under her eyes greeted me from her seat. Her weary demeanor suggested she'd been at the academy for quite some time.
"Ah, yes. I'm here for the exam," I replied.
"Which year are you taking the exam for?" she inquired.
"First year," I answered.
"One moment..." she muttered, shuffling through a stack of papers. Then, she directed a spell towards me. Caught off guard, I instinctively resisted.
"Um, that was just a guidance spell. You're not supposed to resist that," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Oops.
Embarrassment washed over me. I hadn't meant to refuse the spell. Sheepishly, I allowed the magic to take hold.
The guidance spell led me to a section within the building I'd never seen before.
Having spent most of my time since arriving at the academy engrossed in books, I hadn't explored much, so encountering an unfamiliar area wasn't surprising.
This particular spot, however, had an eerie atmosphere. Despite its tidiness, a strange unease permeated the air.
Lost in thought, I suddenly heard a voice.
"You there, the student here for the exam?"
A man with a blindfold covering his eyes stood before me. He reminded me of a character from an anime, one who unfortunately met an untimely end. [T/N: Is that him?]
"Ah, yes. I'm here for the exam," I confirmed.
"Alright, please fill out this paperwork. We have your information, but just in case," he said, handing me a document.
The form was straightforward, requesting basic details like my current year at the academy. However, the last question caught my attention:
[Are you a Traveler?]
The reason for this inquiry was clear: Travelers often relied on the forum for cheating during exams. Of course, their true abilities would be revealed in practical applications.
Without hesitation, I marked my answer:
[No]
While there was no need to lie, a seed of doubt lingered in my mind. Could being a Traveler work against me?
Despite my attempts to blend in, I couldn't ignore the subtle prejudice some people in this world harbored towards Travelers. This bias might disadvantage me during the exam.
After completing the form, I returned it to the blindfolded man.
"Alright, everything seems to be in order. Now, lets begin the exam. As a precaution, we'll be limiting your mana to prevent any unforeseen use of magic," he stated, fastening a simple bracelet onto my wrist.
A moment later, I felt a draining sensation as mana flowed out of my body. The process continued until only a minimal amount, enough to avoid hindering the exam, remained.
There was no need to resort to the forum for cheat sheets.
All the information I needed was already stored in my mind. Besides, the practical portion carried significantly more weight, rendering any theoretical cheating through the forum useless.
With that in mind, I steeled my resolve and commenced the exam.
Read ahead by supporting me on Ko-fi. Access 5 advance chapters with the Wandering Mage Tier ($10) or 10 advance chapters with Academy Mage Tier ($18) For every $15 collected on Ko-fi, I will release an extra chapter. Choose your tier by clicking the 'Support me' button! Join our discord server for latest release updates and novel discussions. Rate and review this novel on NU to help people find this novel. Bonus chapters on reaching milestones. Happy reading!
yoo that gojo reference lmaoo
ReplyDelete