**The Public Arena of Gallimar Academy.**

The spacious, circular arena was buzzing with the heat and energy of students fiercely battling it out.

Each student’s face was filled with tension.

Gallimar's schedule was infamous for its intensity.

And now, they were in the middle of the first major hurdle: the *Class Allocation Exam*.

The students were here to prove their abilities.

Some sought honor, others reputation, and still others were aiming for their futures.

---

“Heh... this group is as passionate as ever.”

The academy’s headmaster watched the exam with a satisfied smile.

Though age had wrinkled his face, his eyes still sparkled with sharp intelligence.

---

“What do the other professors think?” he asked.

“There are many talented seedlings among them. It’s no exaggeration to call this the ‘best generation’,” Professor Cadel commented.

“I agree with Professor Cadel’s assessment.”

“The continent's brightest talents are all gathered here.”

---

The professors responded to the headmaster's question immediately, their evaluations full of praise.

The headmaster nodded in satisfaction, clearly pleased.

---

“Truly remarkable.”

The top students of this class were exceptional.

From second place to fifteenth—each of them could have easily claimed the top spot in a regular year.

For the academy, this was an unprecedented boon.

---

“This will undoubtedly strengthen the academy's reputation.”

The headmaster chuckled quietly. Just then, someone approached him stealthily.

---

“While I fully agree with you, headmaster... there’s something that concerns me,” the person said.

“Speak, Professor Cadel.”

It was the same professor who had previously expressed strong opinions.

---

“There’s no doubt that the students of this class are outstanding.”

“Indeed.”

“But there’s been a lot of murmuring about the top-ranked student...”

---

The professor spoke with a tone of regret, though his expression was anything but sincere.

His lips curled into a twisted smirk, and his eyes darted toward Selena.

It was a clear mockery directed at her.

---

“I worry it might cause students to question Gallimar’s reputation.”

“This matter has already been settled, has it not?”

“I’m merely raising the point.”

“We've already decided on Selena’s fate. We won’t be retracting the conditions now.”

---

Yuda Snaikers, who had been admitted as the top-ranked student.

If he failed to place in the top ten in this *Class Allocation Exam*, Selena would lose her position as head professor.

In other words, she would be demoted to an ordinary professor.

---

“So, don't act rashly.”

“I understand.”

Professor Cadel retreated with a displeasing smile.

The reactions of the other staff members were split.

Some laughed at Selena, while others cast sympathetic glances.

There were a few professors who sided with Selena, but even their support was tinged with pity.

---

Everyone was expecting Yuda’s defeat.

It was understandable.

Though he had made an impressive appearance during the entrance ceremony, he was far from deserving the title of top student.

Selena was standing on the edge of a cliff.

---

“It’s over.”

“He had potential, but it seems he's lost his way. How unfortunate.”

“They’re finally going to take her down.”

“They say she’s an alcoholic... perhaps it’s affected her mind.”

“If it were anyone else, she might have had a chance, but facing the Princess...”

---

The staff quietly exchanged glances.

In the center of their gaze stood a woman with purple hair.

---

“...”

Selena stared blankly ahead.

Although her situation was dire, she appeared no different than usual.

Her red eyes remained calm, like a still sea.

---

[Exam 7]  
[Yuda Snaikers vs. Charlotte Litt von Staufen]

---

“It’s starting.”

Selena murmured quietly, her eyes fixed on the center of the arena, on the boy who was now stepping into the ring.

His golden hair shimmered in the sunlight.

---

A fight that seemed impossible to win.

Yet, the boy stepped confidently onto the stage.

---

The *Class Allocation Exam* followed a set order.

I was assigned to the seventh round.

With nearly 1,000 new students this year and only 100 competing on the first day, it was a surprisingly early slot.

---

Maybe that's why.

Before I even had time to feel bored, my turn came around.

Just 30 minutes ago, I had been watching other students' matches, but now, I was standing in their place.

I walked onto the arena with slow, deliberate steps.

---

“The seventh match will begin shortly. All students participating, please proceed to your designated areas,” an announcement blared.

The exam format was simple.

Two students of roughly equal level would duel.

Regardless of the outcome, the content of the match would be used to evaluate and adjust rankings.

---

“To think my opponent would really be Charlotte.”

I chuckled.

Was it because they believed an unqualified student had taken the top spot? It seemed the faculty was quite upset.

They wanted to bring me down.

---

“It’s not like I wanted to be top student in the first place... This is quite troublesome.”

**(Translation Note: Inner thoughts like "What the hell is their problem?" add extra character depth in the original Korean, giving Yuda a more irreverent tone.)**

---

If that was their goal, why put me in the top spot at all?

---

“This is just unfortunate.”

**(Translation Note: Yuda’s internal frustrations are conveyed in blunt terms.)**

---

It seemed they were expecting me to lose, but I had no intention of giving them what they wanted.

If they wanted to use me, they’d better be prepared to be used in return.

---

“It’s not a bad opportunity. I needed a chance to solidify my position anyway…”

While I was mulling this over, I made eye contact with the platinum-haired girl across from me.

---

“...”

“...”

---

Her blue eyes, like the sea, stared back at me.

For a moment, we locked gazes, but the announcement blaring over the speakers interrupted the moment.

---

“Contestants, please take your positions.”

“The exam will proceed as a duel. The match ends when one participant is subdued or incapacitated.”

“If one side forfeits, the match will also be concluded.”

---

It was time to start.

I gathered my *Lies* at my fingertips. Black mist covered my arm.

A voice called out from across the arena.

---

“I won’t go easy on you.”

---

Charlotte was still gazing at me with that unreadable look in her eyes.

She was the perfect image of a young prince. I responded in a playful tone.

---

“For Her Highness to be so serious... This is quite a predicament.”

“I’m curious about you.”

“Are you talking about me?”

“You remind me of someone. Someone I saw long ago. I’m not sure if you're the same person yet, so…”

“You mean, Your Highness wants to test me as well?”

“Yes. I’ll give it my all.”

“Haha, I hope I can live up to your expectations.”

“Looking forward to it.”

---

Charlotte drew her sword.

With a smooth motion, she unsheathed it, and the gleaming blade caught the sunlight.

---

“Ready.”

---

Not to be outdone, I condensed my *Lies*.

The shadows in my palm took shape, forming into a sword.

We aimed our blades at each other.

---

“Begin!”

---

With the signal, the exam began.

Charlotte, gathering her mana, gave a few light twitches of her arms, and then sprang forward.

---

*Thwack!*

---

A sharp sound echoed, and in the next instant, Charlotte was right in front of me.

Without hesitation, her sword sliced through the air in a silver streak.

---

*Clang!*

---

I barely managed to block it.

Had I been an average student, I would have been taken out with that first strike. Charlotte muttered as if she had expected it.

---

“As I thought, you reacted.”

“Just lucky.”

“Indeed.”

---

*Clang! Clang!! Grind...! Boom!!*

---

The attacks kept coming, relentless and fierce.

Every time our swords clashed, sparks flew. I took a step back with each hit.

---

“Ugh...!”

---

I grunted, furrowing my brow in apparent pain.

Of course, I wasn’t actually struggling—I was acting.

It was all part of the plan.

---

“I’ll just block, just enough...”

---

My goal in this exam was simple: place in the top ten.

I had no intention of going higher or lower.

Higher would draw too much attention, and lower would be seen as weakness.

What I wanted in this life was to blend in, watching the world’s happy ending from the sidelines.

That’s why I had held back during the entrance exam, placing in the mid-ranks.

---

Staying at the top would attract unwanted attention.

But if I lost too easily, people would label me a fraud, and my reputation would take a hit.

---

“I need to show that I’m not as strong as Charlotte but still capable.”

---

I gripped my sword tighter, continuing my act.

A subtle *Lie* drifted through the air, making the fight look more dangerous than it really was.

---

*Clang!*

---

The fierce song of steel continued.

Every time our blades met, sparks flew.

The intense duel began drawing reactions from the students watching.

---

“W-what’s going on... He’s fighting better than I thought?”

“That’s not just ‘better.’ He’s actually keeping up with Her Highness’s sword...!”

“I thought he’d be knocked out in the first strike...”

“Weren’t they calling him a fraud?”

“Sure, he’s up against Her

 Highness, but still, his skills aren’t to be taken lightly.”

---

Yes, that’s right.

Keep thinking of me as “the extra who’s strong but not quite top-tier.”

I smirked behind the growing murmurs.

---

“Hah... Hah...”

“Are you tired?”

“Yes... Your Highness.”

“For someone so exhausted, you’re blocking rather well.”

---

*Boom!*

---

Charlotte, who had been watching me with suspicious eyes, suddenly pushed her sword forward in a powerful shove, creating distance between us.

Holding her sword with both hands, its tip now pointing downward, she spoke.

---

“Let’s see if that exhaustion is real or just an act.”

---

Her clear, blue eyes glinted.

Mana surged within her, exploding outward, and the energy quickly enveloped her entire body.

A brilliant blue aura swirled around Charlotte.

---

*Whoooosh!*

---

The atmosphere trembled with fear.

It was a spectacular scene, and I couldn’t help but be startled.

---

“Wait... is she seriously using her ultimate move in a *Class Allocation Exam*?”

---

And against someone she’s beating?

Though I was taken aback, her attack came faster than my thoughts.

A cold light flashed in her eyes, and her lips whispered an incantation.

---

“Sword, be stained.”

---

*Thunk!*

---

Charlotte plunged her sword into the arena floor.

As soon as the incantation left her lips, the sound of steel cracking the ground echoed. It was an unnervingly sharp noise.

The blue aura that had surrounded her spread out in all directions.

And then, the next moment—

---

*Rumble!*

---

Massive vines of steel erupted from the ground, wrapping around the entire arena.

The tendrils intertwined and sliced through each other.

They created a stunning scene.

---

“Haha... Isn’t this a bit too much of a performance?”

---

What appeared before me was none other than a garden of roses.

Every leaf and petal was shaped like a sword, a cradle of steel.

---

“I told you. I’d give it my all.”

---

Charlotte approached with light steps, holding a sword freshly cut from the steel foliage.

The look in her eyes made it clear—she wasn’t going to let me go until I gave her a proper fight.

I sighed, grabbing my sword reluctantly.

---

“Haha...”

---

It’s really tough trying to lose without making it too obvious.