“Huff, huff...”

Heavy breathing echoed in the large room, as if someone had been holding their breath for too long, desperately gasping for air. The previously calm air became restless and chaotic. At the center of this turmoil, a woman lay collapsed on the floor.

“Cough, cough…!”

Her name was Selena Drunkard. She was a senior professor and the one currently in charge of overseeing the entrance exam.

Her red eyes trembled as she struggled to catch her breath. Her long purple hair was splayed out on the floor around her. Suddenly, overcome with shock, Selena remained down for a long while, unable to rise.

A soft groan escaped her lips.

“What... what in the world...?”

Her words trailed off before they could form fully, disappearing into the heavy aftermath of the event. Still pressing her forehead, the violet-haired woman recalled what she had just witnessed.

<"Are you referring to that small, precious, adorable little doll over there as the target?">

It was during Yuda Sneykers' exam. Selena had linked her consciousness to the target, using a unique mental magic she had developed. This allowed her to transfer her awareness to a designated inanimate object for a limited time.

Her examination method was... unconventional. In this state, she would personally experience the attacks directed at the target, then score them based on the sensations. In other words, she would *feel* the attacks herself.

- “You're going to personally experience the students' attacks?”
- “Haha... Selena, I knew you were eccentric, but I didn’t think it was this bad.”
- “Professor Selena... are you sure you're okay? Perhaps the drinking has affected your mind...?”
- “Ugh, I knew it. She's finally lost it after drinking herself senseless.”

Despite her colleagues’ warnings, Selena paid them no mind. She knew it was safe. She had tested the spell thousands of times. All the noise and concerns could be silenced with results. For the past five years, Selena had overseen the entrance exams without any issues. In fact, she had been promoted to senior professor for her accomplishments.

But today… things were different.

‘This can’t be real.’

She had felt the fear of death.

When the boy’s magic struck the target, for a brief moment, an overwhelming, foreign pressure crushed her. It was as if her survival instincts had sounded an alarm.

<"Bang.">

But why? It wasn't even that strong of a blow. The magic’s output was merely average by academy standards. But there was something more, something hidden.

Like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, a chilling, eerie sensation slithered beneath the surface. It felt as if a serpent had licked her neck.

It was the intuition of someone who had faced death before.

‘No. I'll die.’

If the boy had applied just a little more force, it felt like both the doll and her mind would have been shattered. She had immediately severed the mind link, just in time.

<"Well, controlling my power is tough, as expected.">

The sight of him murmuring with a sly grin remained burned in her mind. Power control? What did he mean by that?

There was no time to think about it further, as Selena collapsed. Now, after having some time to recover, she still couldn’t comprehend what had happened.

“Ugh, ugh...”

Her forehead throbbed as if it would split open. Unsteady on her feet, Selena staggered to her desk, grabbing a bottle of liquor and taking a rough swig. The pungent alcohol dulled the pain, but her trembling hands wouldn’t stop.

“Hah.”

A bitter laugh escaped her lips. Was she going insane because of the alcohol? What had she seen in that child that scared her so much? She couldn’t understand her own reaction.

[Magic Power Measurement]
Name: Yuda Sneykers
Attribute: Darkness
Power: C+

[Predicted Entrance Ranking: 607th]
(Top 53%)

“...”

The measured value displayed in the crystal ball. Selena fell silent. The data was based on countless variables, calculated objectively. It was accurate. In truth, her own assessment was no different.

The first princess of the Empire was among this year’s applicants, along with the renowned swordmaster twins from the ‘Vanity Duke Family’ and other geniuses. Compared to them, Yuda’s power was insignificant, almost embarrassingly so.

But...

‘Still…’

Selena hesitated to finalize the report. She couldn’t explain why, but it was a feeling. As a powerful individual, she had developed a sixth sense for those who were beyond understanding.

“This is crazy.”

Despite knowing it was irrational, she picked up her pen. She had to test it. She had to know what she had glimpsed. As if possessed, her pen glided across the paper.

[Top Entrance Student – Yuda Sneykers]

The spot that should have gone to the princess was now filled with the boy’s name. If he was truly unworthy, the system would weed him out later. But Selena was curious about what lay behind his unsettling smile.

“The headmaster is going to throw a fit when he finds out about this.”

Thus, an unexpected top student was created.

Meanwhile, the boy at the center of this impending storm was...

“Looks like my act worked, huh?”
=Haha, the mastermind hides his power. Impressive.

Completely unaware, he was muttering nonsense to himself.

The entrance exam had ended anticlimactically.

I sat waiting for Regia’s turn to finish, sulking slightly.

“...”

I pouted my lips a little. If it seemed like I was upset, you’d be right. I was pouting.

-Attack the target over there, please.

It felt like I’d been scammed. I had expected something grand, but the exam was utterly disappointing. It was like biting into what you thought was fried chicken, only to find out it was tofu. In a word, underwhelming.

‘But it was still the first event…’

To be honest, I knew nothing about the entrance exam. The original game’s storyline always began after the characters entered the academy. The exam had been a complete mystery to me. I’d been waiting so eagerly for it, heart pounding with excitement.

“Ah, well.”

Though I had calmed down a bit, I was pretty disheartened back in the exam room. It had been hard to suppress the rising sense of betrayal.

‘At least no one seemed to notice.’

Even the instructor monitoring the exam hadn’t caught on. At worst, they might’ve felt a slight chill. Unless they were extremely sharp, they would’ve passed it off as nothing.

Everything was going according to plan. Class is eternal, after all. Even though I might have lost some of my edge, I was still the veteran player who memorized every guide.

‘I remember posting those guide videos… They went viral, and I even debuted as a content creator.’

I smiled nostalgically. Back in the day, I had reached three million subscribers with my “World Seen Through the Little Prince” series. I’d been one of the best gamers out there. If it weren’t for this sudden reincarnation, I would have been the first to uncover the hidden ending, forever enshrining myself as a legend. It was a bit annoying, to be honest.

“Oh, lost glory.”

I sighed dramatically. As I zoned out, a giant screen floating in the air caught my attention. It showed the current progress of the entrance exam, displayed using magical technology.

<SCREEEEECH!!!>

A piercing roar rang through the air.

On the screen, a giant lizard-like creature with wings was roaring. Its scales were a beautiful crimson, its presence radiating dense mana. It was a rare creature—a wyvern.

Its maw glowed with embers, as if it had just unleashed a breath attack. The audience of applicants watching the exam erupted in awe.

<You did great, Effri! That fire was amazing!>

A lively voice followed. The camera panned to reveal a girl with pink hair, perched atop the beast’s back. She wore worn-out goggles, looking exactly as she did in the game.

<Oh, my precious Effri~ You did such a good job!>

She patted the fearsome creature without hesitation. Indeed, she was just as I remembered her from the game.

Seeing that her exam was wrapping up, I stood up to meet her.

The Wyvern Rider.

That was the title given to Regia in the game.

Summoners weren’t rare, but ones who could handle such powerful and rare creatures were. It was a fitting role for the protagonist.

“Oh? Lord Sneykers...?”

“Miss Regia.”

I raised my hand to greet her. We walked together toward the exit of the academy.

“Your performance was impressive. I couldn’t help but be in awe.”

“Hehe… you were watching?”

“Of course.”

“That’s a bit embarrassing.”

Her cheeks flushed red as she smiled bashfully. Just moments ago, she had been a proud and fearless rider, but now she looked like an ordinary shy girl.

I couldn’t help but smile.

“Have more confidence. Miss Regia, you possess extraordinary talent.”

“Ugh... thank you...”

Her pale face flushed even more, almost as if she was about to start steaming. Her reaction amused me, so I teased her a little more. Eventually, her lips puffed out in a pout.

“Miss Regia?”

“...”

“Are you upset?”

“...No.”

She was upset.

I chuckled, enjoying her honest reaction. Despite everything, she never seemed to get angry, no matter how much I teased her. That’s our protagonist for you—unwavering in the face of a mischievous snake

.

“So admirable.”

“Ugh…”

We had some fun teasing each other, but before we knew it, we had reached the academy’s exit.

Sadly, it was time for us to part ways for the day. Until the entrance process was finalized, we couldn’t access the dormitories, so we had to find lodging nearby. I had a room at an inn, and Regia probably had something similar.

I clapped my hands lightly and spoke.

“Well then! Shall we part ways here?”

“Oh… I guess so. I didn’t realize we’d walked all the way out already.”

She nodded belatedly, a hint of regret in her green eyes.

Perhaps I was the first person she had become friends with. Given her history of traveling alone across the continent, she might have felt a bit lonely. I winked to reassure her.

“Until we meet again, my friend.”

Though my narrow eyes made it look like I was just squinting, it’s the thought that counts.

“Friend…”

She repeated the word to herself, as if it hadn’t occurred to her before. Standing still for a moment, she clenched her fists slightly, her eyes gleaming with resolve.

“Yes...! I’ll see you again after we both pass!”

“Hoho, I’ll be looking forward to it.”

With that, I turned to leave. As I walked away, I added one last remark.

“Be careful on your way back.”

The rats are scurrying about.

I continued walking, but instead of heading to my inn, I veered off down a narrow alley. The deceiver was on the move in the opposite direction.

In the dim alleys just outside the academy, there was little light, as the tangled buildings blocked most of it out. It wasn’t a pleasant area, but traces of people could still be found here.

Mostly beggars asking for scraps. Occasionally, a drunkard stumbled about.

The usual stillness of the place was disrupted by a noise.

Thud. Thwack.

The sound of something being beaten. A voice filled with rage followed.

“You bastard! You piece of trash!”

The voice belonged to Dector Holint, the second son of Baron Holint’s noble family.

He was throwing his fists wildly.

On the ground beneath him lay a small beggar child. The child’s face was a bloody mess, evidence of the prolonged beating.

“Die, you filthy wretch!”

Smack! Thud!

Dector showed no signs of stopping, his fists flying with murderous intent. Yet there was no real reason behind the violence.

It was nothing more than an outlet for his frustration.

- How amusing.
- To see someone acting so recklessly… I can’t help but laugh.

The words still rang in Dector’s ears, making him grit his teeth. No matter how hard he beat the child, he couldn’t stop thinking about the narrow-eyed boy who had mocked him.

“...”

The beggar was a small boy, around ten years old. The child did not resist, nor could he. After all, corpses don’t fight back.

“Damn it all!”

“Sir, it’s time to go.”

“Shut up!”

“Yes, sir.”

The guard escorting Dector sighed inwardly as he watched his master lose all sense of reason. What a pathetic scene. Coming all the way to the slums just to beat up a beggar… it was so pitiful that words failed him.

At least he wasn’t doing this at the mansion. It was better to beat beggars than the household servants, after all.

After a few more moments, Dector finally let go of the limp child, tossing him aside.

“Huff, huff…”

His body was drenched in sweat, but the rage hadn’t fully subsided yet. After all, he’d been thoroughly humiliated earlier.

Grinding his teeth, Dector cursed.

“It’s all because of *her*. Damn it.”

Regia Pilots.

That filthy commoner girl who had dared to bump into him. If not for her, he wouldn’t have had to face Yuda Sneykers and endure such disgrace.

Dector barked at his guard.

“You there!”

“Yes, sir?”

“Find out where that filthy commoner girl—Regia Pilots—lives.”

“Are you planning to take revenge?”

“What does that matter to you?! Just do as I say!”

The guard nodded obediently, knowing better than to argue. Dector clicked his tongue and sneered maliciously.

“I’ll teach her a lesson.”

Now that he thought about it, she had quite the figure. Her face wasn’t bad either.

A wicked grin spread across the pig’s face.

“I’ll have my fun with her. Make her beg for mercy.”

As Dector chuckled darkly, imagining his cruel revenge, he turned to leave the alley with his guard.

But just then, a figure appeared in the shadows ahead.

“...Hah.”

A man stood at the opposite end of the alley, as if blocking their way. Dector furrowed his brow and scoffed.

More trash to deal with, it seemed.

“Move aside at once! Do you have any idea who—”

“You know, these third-rate villains…”

The voice interrupted him. Normally, Dector would have been furious at the disrespect, but instead, he froze.

The voice was familiar.

It was the same voice that had taunted him earlier.

“...always love to overdo things, don’t they?”

Yuda Sneykers.

“Know your place.”

The golden-haired boy stood in the alley, his usual sly smile playing on his lips. An icy chill swept over Dector, freezing him in place.

For some reason, he couldn’t move. It felt like a massive pressure was crushing him. Even his guard, standing beside him, was paralyzed.

“How unfortunate~ Dector the Pig? No, what was it? Dector the Fool?”

The correct term would have been *Baron Holint's son*, but that didn’t seem to matter to the serpent in front of them.

An inexplicable fear settled over them, their bodies trembling like stone statues.

Watching their reaction with amusement, the golden snake let out a sinister laugh.

It wasn’t just a mischievous grin—it was the kind of smile that invoked terror, like something horrible was about to happen.

“I gave you a chance.”

The snake flicked its tongue.

“And you threw it away.”

Yuda’s pale eyes gleamed coldly. For the first time, his eyes were fully open. In an instant, darkness swirled and swallowed the entire alley.