Chapter 9: The Academy’s Entrance
A Treacherous Path
The road from the city to the academy was far from smooth.
The academy was perched high along a ridge, requiring a steep climb.
Despite the rugged surrounding mountains, the summit formed a wide basin, a natural fortress.
The novel described how, during the war between the empire and the kingdom, countless lives were lost fighting over this strategic stronghold.
There were famous legends about this place, ones I’d heard multiple times while staying at the Pantheon.
During the height of the war, a man appeared in the heart of the battlefield.
“Ascender” Inemis.
An ordinary soldier, he offered himself as a sacrifice in the middle of the battlefield to denounce the horrors of war to the gods.
As he cried out for justice to the heavens, a pillar of light descended, and he vanished without a trace.
Some say he was called by the gods and ascended.
Others claim he was simply killed by a mage’s attack.
What’s certain is that after that day, both armies’ morale plummeted.
Plagues swept through the camps, and commanders took their own lives for unknown reasons.
It was as if the gods themselves wanted the war to end.
Eventually, anti-war sentiment surged on both sides, and the two nations put an end to the dragging conflict.
People cheered.
Though it was only a temporary reprieve.
The Order of Justice canonized Inemis as a “saint.”
Even though he wasn’t a believer, the order declared that anyone with justice in their heart would have the God of Justice by their side until the end, settling the debate.
Arrival at the Academy
And the very spot where Inemis ascended was now the entrance to the academy we’d just reached.
In this rugged mountain terrain, a small plaza had been set up.
At its center stood a statue of a man kneeling toward the sky, arms outstretched.
Inemis’s statue.
The academy was named after him.
…Though, ironically, it became the opposite of the world he’d hoped for.
Stepping through the main gate, the vast academy grounds came into view.
‘F*cking huge.’
That was my first impression.
I didn’t feel any “Wow, I’m walking in a place I only saw in a novel or game!” kind of感動.
It was just a setting from a novel I’d skimmed once—why would I get emotional?
If anything, the grueling climb up here left my mental rating at rock bottom.
[The God of Hunting says stop whining and look around.]
Elegant, splendid buildings and lively voices echoing from all directions.
Boisterous groups of young students milling about.
A scene straight out of a youthful painting.
It felt a bit like being back in college—not bad, I guess.
Maybe I’ll bump the rating up by 0.5 points.
The Entrance Test
“Are you here as students?”
A girl with striking red hair approached out of nowhere.
Orphe answered for me.
“Yes. We’re both here for enrollment.”
“Alright, follow me!”
With that, she spun around and led the way.
Her steps stopped at a sandy training ground.
Guess it’s true that academy stories always have an entrance exam.
“All freshmen need to undergo a simple skill test here! Wait a moment, I’ll fetch the instructor!”
She darted off like a squirrel after saying her piece—kinda cute.
Soon, she returned with an instructor whose appearance was… striking.
“Greetings, freshmen.”
He looked shockingly scruffy for someone teaching nobles from both nations.
He was the enrollment officer from the novel.
His name… ugh, am I getting dementia?
Is his white hair from aging, not genetics?
“I’m Baidan Gainderut, the enrollment officer.”
Right, Baidan.
His name stuck with me because it sounded like a certain president.
In this world, all mages come from the Magic Towers.
In the novel, the towers were like secret societies—once you joined, you abandoned your family name and took the tower’s name.
Baidan’s surname meant he hailed from the Gainderut Tower, specializing in summoning and control magic.
“I’ll summon a dummy in the training ground. Your task is to defeat it.”
By now, a few more freshmen in similar situations had joined, making the training ground lively.
Wait, that person—no, that elf…
“I’ll go first.”
An elf raised her hand.
Her slender figure, clad in light leather armor, stood out.
Her chest was smaller than mine—bit of a shame, but isn’t that normal for elves?
Her bright platinum hair shimmered in the sunlight, making up for it.
If I’m right, she’s a character from the novel.
A very important one.
Baidan fixed his gaze on the elf.
“Alright, what’s your name?”
“Fifirel. Fifirel of the Thornwood Tribe.”
The heroine appears.
I thought we’d meet her in the first class, not here.
The story’s already diverging from the original.
What’s it gonna be like later? Ugh.
Fifirel strode confidently to the training ground.
Baidan muttered with an annoyed expression.
Boom—!
A dummy fell from the sky.
A faceless, roughly 2-meter-tall humanoid dummy landed with a dramatic hero pose.
What kind of dummy makes an entrance like that?
Baidan, after that flashy display, spoke in a lazy tone.
“Five-minute time limit. Go over, and you get the lowest score.”
“Fine. I’ll finish it quick.”
“Sure… One piece of advice, though.”
BOOM!
Before Baidan could finish, the dummy swung its arm.
Fifirel, caught off guard, took the hit and was sent flying.
Baidan gave a small chuckle.
“Be more respectful to other instructors. This isn’t your forest.”
The surrounding freshmen buzzed.
“That… that’s ‘One-Man-Army’ Baidan’s skill! No trace of magic!”
“No wonder he became the chief mage so young!”
“Still, that elf got up quick, huh?”
As the sand dust cleared, Fifirel stood, surprisingly unscathed.
As expected of the true heroine—she didn’t go down in one hit.
Orphe nodded, watching her.
“She used her right armguard to minimize damage in an instant. Not bad judgment.”
Guess meeting his fated heroine made Orphe chattier.
I watched with a warm smile.
Good job, Kim Orphe.
Conquer all the heroines with your harem powers.
I’ll be living it up with the isekai schoolgirls.
Once she recovered, Fifirel was impressive.
Aside from that first hit, she dodged the dummy’s attacks nimbly, seizing every opening to strike back.
When she dove in and fired a point-blank shot as the dummy swung, even the God of Hunting was impressed.
[The God of Hunting says to learn at least half of her archery skills.]
This jerk… how am I supposed to match an elf who does nothing but shoot arrows?
A saintess just needs to pray and offer well, so why demand so much?
After Fifirel’s turn, others raised their hands and took the test one by one.
Orphe was the most overwhelming—slicing the dummy in half with one swing, no fuss.
But not shouting “Die, split in two!” makes him a failure as an isekai hero.
If it were me, I’d have sheathed my sword dramatically after.
That’s how it’s supposed to be.
My Turn
Before I knew it, I was the last one left.
I got so caught up watching others I missed my chance to raise my hand.
Baidan looked at me with a tired expression.
I quickly raised my hand.
“I’m Isidora, from the Pantheon.”
‘Yo.’
The students buzzed again at my introduction.
“That girl’s the famous saintess?”
“She looks feisty… guess you can’t judge by looks.”
I can hear you, mortals.
Baidan flipped through his clipboard.
He paused, staring at a page.
After a moment, his lips parted.
“Saintess… as a special invitee, you don’t need to take the entrance test. Shall we skip it?”
No way. I’m too hyped up now.
Watching everyone’s cool performances stirred some masculine competitive spirit in me.
Most finished within five minutes, so the dummy didn’t seem that strong.
If I pull a good ability, I could clear it in a minute.
I shook my head at Baidan’s offer.
“Though I was invited, there’s no reason to be treated differently. It wouldn’t look good to others, and I don’t want it either.”
‘Let’s do this!’
The students seemed impressed by my words.
I overheard murmurs like “Clerics really are different” and “We should learn from her.”
Orphe didn’t react much.
Not that I care about his reaction.
I stepped forward to the training ground.
Baidan’s voice carried a reluctant tone.
“Well… there’s no rule against it. But you’re responsible for anything that happens during the test, alright?”
“Of course.”
‘Hell yeah, let’s go!’
The dummy fell from the sky.
I knelt on the training ground.
“I beseech you, descend from your radiant throne to the lowliest place and have mercy on your servant.”
‘Spin the wheel!’
The dummy slowly approached.
Baidan’s reluctant expression suggested he wasn’t thrilled about it attacking me.
Well, he doesn’t know my true power, so that’s understandable.
I’ll just show him and prove it.
“Let the divine authority touch this land, that all may witness its glory and power.”
‘What’s today’s Pokémon?’
The dummy drew closer.
I prayed fervently in my heart.
‘Let’s go! Let’s go! LET’S GOOO!’
A radiant golden halo formed behind my head.
[The God of Justice answers your call.]
Yes! At least it’s not a dud!
I recall the God of Justice was the martial arts novel guy.
It’s my first time getting his ability, but with his experience, he’ll hook me up, right?
I was already grinning, imagining myself toppling the dummy.
Please, something good. Please!
[The God of Justice grants you the ability of Heavenly Demon Roll.]
‘?’
Heavenly Demon Roll?
Not Heavenly Demon Reign?
Boom—!
The dummy was nearly upon me.
Use it first, think later!
“Heavenly Demon Roll!”
Roll~
My body clumsily tumbled to the side.
At the same moment, the dummy stomped where I’d been.
BOOM!
I’m screwed.
Why give me this shitty ability?!
Thud thud thud!
The dummy came at me again, its steps quickening.
No choice.
“Heavenly Demon Roll!”
Roll roll~
…
My pathetic flailing lasted until the five-minute mark when the dummy stopped.
Baidan apologized with a deeply regretful expression.
“Uh… I’m… sorry.”
Don’t apologize.
It makes me feel worse…
The other students were turning away, clearly stifling laughter.
The only one looking straight at me was Orphe.
He approached as I met his gaze.
“Not bad evasion skills. Learned that at the Pantheon?”
Shut up, you bastard…
Head hung low, I followed the red-haired girl to the auditorium for the entrance ceremony.
She kept turning away whenever our eyes met—my rolling must’ve been hilarious.
I wanna die, for real.