While the first-year cadets are undergoing their trials within the Tower, it is not as if the professors are simply idling by.

They are already gathered in one place, monitoring the students’ trials via holograms and preparing for any unforeseen circumstances.

Of course, since it is inside the Tower, the likelihood of something happening is slim, but it’s a matter of formality.

Additionally, although they will receive the data later, evaluating and scoring the students’ trials in real-time as they happen is also part of their duties.

Among the numerous holograms floating in the center, a significant number are focused on the same location.

The eye-catching special admission student with outstanding looks and perpetually closed eyes. Also, the student with a whopping 1,000 points hung around his neck.

In other words, he’s everyone’s target.

The environment has made it so. The intentions of the Principal might be unclear, but it was his decision to put such a bounty on the special admission student’s neck.

The professors in charge of the first year honestly did not have high expectations for Lee Hayul.

Given the situation where he was the target of the majority, they did not think he would achieve anything significant.

It was a logical assumption, by all means.

“Oh…”

Lee Suyeon, who had first questioned the disadvantages set for the special admission student, now exclaimed in awe, her mouth agape.

“He’s really flying about.”

The expressions varied among the nearby professors, but they all shared similar feelings of surprise.

In the giant hologram, as Lee Hayul flicked his hand, space seemed to ripple, and several blue arrows appeared out of thin air.

The blue arrows traced their path as they were shot out. Projectiles flying towards Lee Hayul were successively shot down by the blue arrows.

“Magic arrows… Although they are simple, the casting speed is ridiculously fast. And all that with shadowless chanting.”

“The control is excellent. Every projectile is moving as intended.”

The standard for magic is self-hypnosis through incantations. It’s cumbersome, and direct manipulation of mana for casting is possible, but such cases usually result in lower output than incantations.

However, in the display, Lee Hayul, using shadowless chanting, demonstrated output beyond standard despite the impossibly fast speed.

“It’s not just magic.”

Albert, the professor in charge of the Gogu class, murmured.

Two cadets were approaching Lee Hayul, combat majors each holding a spear and a sword.

One and two. Naturally, the one being subjected to the combined assault was at a disadvantage.

“…It’s not just the magic that’s surprising, but the martial arts too.”

Three figures entangled. Legs scraping the ground and arms clashing. At the end of the brief skirmish, one figure was violently thrown out.

It was the cadet who had been holding a spear. His arm hung limp, and the spear he held just moments ago was nowhere to be found.

Lee Hayul firmly gripped the spear and moved his legs. His lower body followed, and then his upper body, as the spear traced countless paths.

The cadet with the sword was helplessly pushed back. Blood-colored light splattered everywhere.

Just as the spear was about to pierce a neck, an attack from a cadet who had barged in interrupted the finish, and a distance was created.

“He’s skilled. He has clearly become quite familiar with combat.”

Everyone had not expected Lee Hayul to perform significantly. ‘Perform’ is even a strange word to use.

He was just a young superhuman who had just begun to grow, and expecting him to excel was a wishful thought.

The second day of the ascent.

Lee Hayul, who had been pursued since midday of the first day, had not yet been disqualified.

In fact.

“Basic combat major three, skilled three, advanced two. Basic support major one, skilled two. Skilled craft major one, skilled magic major one? Wow.”

A total score of roughly 600 points.

Far from being disqualified, he remarkably caused the disqualification of more than ten cadets himself.

More than just a stroke of luck, he was facing multiple opponents charging at him.

“Hasn’t he already earned more than his original share? Wow, 600 points could already secure a nice artifact.”

Kim Suyeon whistled upon checking the cumulative score.

600 points. A score difficult to earn even with five days’ worth of effort. That much score is more than plentiful.

“Both magic and martial arts are jackpot-level?”

“Just one month in and he’s this good… The Principal was right.”

“Is the high score meant to induce challenge? Should we call this deep trust…?”

The topic of conversation all around was Lee Hayul. It was only natural. Everyone had witnessed such a spectacle.

Even just now, they had seen his ability to break through a combined assault of numerous cadets and escape.

Moreover, as the battles repeated, they couldn’t help but express their admiration for the rapid growth of his skills.

Everyone held a mix of astonishment and admiration for Lee Hayul, as well as expectations for his future.

‘Huh?’

Among them.

‘Why is he fighting so well?’

Liana Velus blinked her eyes, swallowing her question.

Strictly speaking, Liana had not been heavily involved in Lee Hayul’s  education.

She had helped him get started with mana and aided him a bit in adapting to it. At the same time, she had assisted in his introduction to magic and taught him a little more.

That was all. Helping with the introduction was merely to lay the foundations a bit faster and safer.

She hadn’t taught him to fly about so skillfully.

There was someone else who had taught him.

Liana turned her head. Atra Clyde was present, even though she was not in charge of the first years.

“Exactly what did you teach him?”

“What are you talking about? I hardly taught him anything.”

“Even after seeing that?”

Liana pointed to the hologram with an incredulous expression. Atra glanced at the hologram and shook her head.

“I really didn’t teach much. He just learned on his own.”

There was no lie. Atra had taught earnestly, but it was up to the student to assimilate and embody the lessons.

This was only her second time attempting to teach, and she had already confirmed she had no talent for it.

That he had grown from her lessons was because the student himself was extraordinary.

Lee Hayul had excellent qualities and grew increasingly diligent with time.

Hence, he had grown like this, and he was still growing now.

Her initial behavior had been a bit puzzling.

Realizing there was a problem with his detection ability, she felt a tinge of regret.

There had been some stumbles compared to before, but it seemed he had resolved the issue, and she felt a slight sense of pride.

Atra’s lengthy speech ended. After a moment of thought, Liana blurted out.

“So, your Hayul is outstanding, right?”

“…Why such a reductive summary?”

Atra’s lips twitched.

“You know, your lips twitch every time Hayul is praised? It’s blatantly obvious you’re pleased.”

“Stop spouting nonsense. I’ve never done that.”

“Nonsense? You smile like you’ve received the compliment yourself.”

Atra turned her head as if she no longer felt the need to answer.

I won’t grow attached… Yeah right, as if that’s possible.

Last time, Hayul was in a daze after vomiting, and seeing him like that, it already looked like she had given quite a bit.

Liana shook her head in disbelief and turned her gaze back to the hologram.

On the third day, boss entities will appear. From then on, the focus on Lee Hayul will be dispersed.

Right now, although he had successfully escaped, he sustained serious injuries. If left unattended, he wouldn’t last long before being disqualified…

‘Can he hold on…?’

* * *

‘I’ve done pretty well, haven’t I?’

Leaning against the cave wall, that was my thought.

I had desperately broken through the cadets’ encirclement and fled. Somehow, I managed to shake off the pursuit and hide in a suitable cave.

The first floor of the Tower, the space allocated to the first-year students, is incredibly vast. There are easily hundreds of such caves.

‘Huff…’

The coldness clinging to the walls passed through my back. The chill that pierced through flesh made my body twitch.

While I had gained from the abnormally enhanced sense of touch, a side effect was feeling unpleasant aspects even more acutely.

I wanted to detach my body right away, but more than that, there was a desperate desire to rest.

‘It’s strange.’

Strange, and awkward.

So was the information coming through my ears. The sensations felt through touch were similar. The actions of reading the lay of the wind, the movements, were like that.

So was the map drawn by sensing mana. They were all awkward sensations that one would not feel through sight.

Of course, it was just awkwardness. Moreover, I was rapidly getting used to it.

Due to the overlapping blessings of growth, but still, there were parts that were somewhat familiar.

‘Spatial perception.’

Strictly speaking, what I had been doing was an imitation of spatial perception. Now, spatial perception was closed. Therefore, the information coming in through it had disappeared.

The map went dark. It was as if my eyes were closed. So I used hearing, touch, and mana to collect information and draw a map.

It’s unstable. There are many gaps, and the majority of it lacks precision. But it’s somewhat similar to spatial perception.

In fact, spatial perception provides me with too much unnecessary information. Even after filtering, ultimately, there’s a lot of useless data.

A whole space is observed to perceive information. Even if filtered, there’s bound to be an abundance of it.

The information I’m bringing in now is all helpful. In fact, in the aspect of ‘combat,’ I’ve come close to a similar level.

Of course, even so, spatial perception is still more comfortable and superior.

‘Hmm…’

I moved my hand. My shoulder was stiff, and everywhere seemed to reject orders. My whole body felt like that. With wounds all over, it was strange that I was even alive.

If I had fully accepted such pain… I doubted I could keep my sanity.

I still dislike fighting, and I dislike getting hurt.

Even now, the pain merely tingles, and I detest even that.

‘It’s not working.’

I carefully ran my hands over various parts of my body. The faintly manifested healing magic seeped in.

It wasn’t very effective. I hadn’t properly learned healing magic. Healing magic shows good efficiency when paired with inherent healing abilities.

I have many wounds. The pain is just a tingle, but my consciousness is gradually fading. It must be due to blood loss. I’ve lost too much blood (light).

‘I’ve held out pretty well.’

Today is the second day. Considering the information I’ve overheard, it’s presumed to be the evening of the second day.

Since I’ve been chased from the first day, I’ve resisted and fled from the cadets’ pursuit for nearly a full day.

Honestly, I want to lavish myself with endless praise.

Of course, it’s not all due to my abilities. As the chase continued, more cadets noticed my trail and gathered, and none of them united with a single purpose against me.

They checked each other, and I saw several opportunities because of it.

If they hadn’t checked each other, and just one team alone had charged at me, I might not have been able to escape.

Even considering that, I did better than I could have imagined.

I’ve disqualified about eighteen. It’s admirable, but honestly, a bit disappointing.

Imitation of spatial perception through senses and mana. There were so many shortcomings that I missed many cadets I could have caught.

If my spatial perception had been intact, I could have achieved more.

‘I’m getting greedy.’

Suddenly such a thought crossed my mind, and I chuckled to myself. When it was better than expected, I wasn’t too ambitious, but now that I’ve shown a bit of prowess, my greed has grown.

Anyhow, the results were decent.

I didn’t consume any Hidden Pieces, nor did I harvest any herbs, but I still earned points. Also, the growth of my skills was quite substantial.

‘If I was going to be like this, I should have just charged in until the end.’

I ran away due to something akin to a survival instinct, but now that I think about it, I could have gained a bit more if I had just charged and been disqualified.

There’s no use regretting what’s past. I shook off the regret and reviewed my plans.

Let’s adapt to the rest in the individual training rooms inside the Tower. Will spatial perception return there?

If it returns, I’ll tune it together with the now-amplified senses, and if it doesn’t, I’ll get even more used to it.

After leaving the Tower… Let’s start preparing to go outside. It’s about time to really search for Hidden Pieces.

Just a little longer, and I’ll return from being a mute petitioner to normal. Even now, holograms were not a big issue, but still, speaking with my mouth is more comfortable.

– Thud

That’s when I heard footsteps.

They were approaching this cave. Judging by the simple gait, it was a woman; judging by the rhythmic tapping, she was carrying a spear or a staff.

The total amount of mana was immense. A mage?

‘You’ve got to be kidding.’

A self-deprecating laugh escaped me.

How was I found? After how far I’ve run? It’s ridiculous that my efforts to escape were tracked down so easily.

If it’s a coincidence, it’s just as ridiculous. Of all the caves, someone chose to enter this narrow, cramped one.

Either way, it’s terribly unlucky.

She entered the entrance. The lay of the wind shifted through the cave. Using that, I estimated her physique.

She’s about as tall as me. She has a small build. It seems she’s a woman.

Her heart is beating wildly. She’s nervous. Was it not a coincidence, but a pursuit?

Disjointed information. Amid the approaching presence, an unrelated question crossed my mind.

What happens to my points if I get disqualified willingly now? Of course, the points won’t go to me.

Would they go to those who drove me to this point? Split among them? Or to the last one who struck the blow?

Probably the latter. Thinking that, it’s almost funny.

If this cadet unknowingly disqualifies me, haven’t those who worked hard to corner me just suffered for nothing?

Serves them right.

Honestly, there’s nothing wrong with the rules, and by all reasoning, there’s no mistake but…

It’s just that I’m a little spiteful because of the hardship. My head is so clouded with these random thoughts.

I stood up. My body didn’t move properly, but shouldn’t I at least put up a fight?

Lifting my drooping arms, I took a stance. Tapping the slowly recovering mana, I prepared for battle.

The presence came into range. With not much remaining mana and not much point in using it, I approached first… Mana? Why does it feel familiar?

“Hayul?”

That familiar voice. Unwittingly, I relaxed the fist I had clenched.

Just like that time, it was a meeting where I couldn’t see properly.

Elia Slade. The woman who entered the narrow cave approached boldly and caressed my cheek.

I didn’t have any particular thoughts about the gesture. I had become accustomed to being touched on the cheek. My only thought was whether it was not dangerous in such a situation.

The unexpected part was.

Being stroked in a situation where my sense of touch was outrageously amplified.

‘Hic…!’

A bizarre internal scream erupted.