Chapter 3: The Ranking Assignment Test (1)

The training field at Joaquin Academy.

Some groups had already made friends and were chatting, while others were glaring at each other, openly displaying hostility.

Of course, I didn’t belong to either of those groups. I was in a third group the special students.

These groups were created by the current director, Media Poison, under the pretext of promoting educational fairness. Initially, it was an attempt to dismantle the elitist culture that had turned the academy into a social club for noble offspring, but it quickly degenerated into what’s known as the “exclusive class for commoners.” In reality, we were just objects of discrimination and scorn.

Even so, the nobles, the so-called “aristocrats,” were outraged, limiting the number of special students to just 200.

If it were any other academy, you might think 200 special students was a lot.

But when you consider that selection was done globally, it was like passing through the eye of a needle. It’s worth noting that the total number of students was 2,200, not counting those who failed. Including the dropouts, the number would probably reach between 5,000 and 6,000.

Even so, many commoners didn’t hesitate to accept the “poisoned chalice” to obtain the prestigious title of having entered the world’s top academy.

This year, the competition to enter the special student group was 20,000 to 1.

It seems most people chose to be the tail of the dragon rather than the head of the snake…

Commoner.

That’s the unpleasant label that special students have to carry throughout their school life.

‘Commoner…’

With a name like mine, bearing the stigma of a demon, I don’t have much to say. My life is miserable, damn it.

After thinking for a bit, I raised my head and looked around.

There was a sea of heads of various colors, crowded together like soybean sprouts.

Yellow, red, white, and even some rainbow-colored hair.

My black hair stood out quite a bit. The cadets were quiet, probably due to the tension before the test, watching each other warily.

Suddenly, my eyes settled on a person across the field a girl with long blue hair, surrounded by several men. Her bright emerald hair stood out, and her pale skin seemed to be covered by a light frost. Her golden, stunning eyes captured my attention.

She was Abel von Nibelung, the granddaughter of the Sword Emperor, the strongest hero of this century.

She was the main heroine of ‘Miracle Blessing M,’ and the reason I paid for the game. Seeing her in person, she was a girl so beautiful that I was left speechless. Honestly, I thought she’d be a monster in 3D compared to her 2D look, but she was just incredibly pretty.

Looking at the men forming a barrier around her, I couldn’t help but laugh sarcastically. They seemed to be trying to talk to her, but I knew what would happen.

As someone who’s played the game, I know that Abel von Nibelung ends up with the protagonist, the player, in “Miracle Blessing M.” In the end, beautiful women always have someone.

Besides, if you even dared to approach a girl like that, you’d have to be on her level. If a special student like me tried to talk to her, I’d probably have to watch my back in dark alleys.

I shook my head, resigned, and thought.

‘Simple, without incidents, and safe.’

Those are my three rules for the future.

Finish my academic course without failure.

Get a simple job.

And live a safe life.

A hero? That’s nonsense.

How can I save the world when my body trembles just by drawing a sashimi knife? It feels like 20 minutes have passed, but that tingling sensation still bothers my eyes.

I promised myself not to draw a sword under any circumstances.

I’ve spent almost 20 years eating “sword food” and cutting whatever can be cut.

I sighed and waited quietly for the test.

As far as I remember, first-year students are divided into 150 groups of 10, and they must enter the ‘space’ created by the hero Bálor Joaquín when the academy was founded, and tear each other apart.

Literally: “From now on, let’s kill each other.” In the subspace, real-world intervention is excluded, and since no one dies, any action is tolerated. Even murder.

‘Supposedly, the group assignment is random, but… who knows.’

There are no restrictions on the rarity of weapons. In other words, those with resources have every advantage. They could use weapons passed down for generations, even bring out national treasure-level weapons, and no one would bat an eye. It’s ridiculous to say that weapons are part of talent too.

“It’s so damn unfair.”

A migraine began to hit me from the absurdity of this academy and its first test.

According to the game, the traumas experienced in the subspace tend to last a long time…

[Now we will explain the rules for the 783rd generation of Joaquín Academy’s ranking assignment test.]

“I more or less already know what this is.”

The system automatically evaluates students based on their actions in the subspace.

Of the ten people in each group,
The 1st place goes to the highest Star class.

The 2nd and 3rd place to the next Dragon class.

From 4th to 7th place to Wolf rank.

And the rest go to Normal rank.

My goal, of course, is the Normal rank. Getting high grades would be useless. Being normal is more than enough.

[The 783rd generation of Joaquín Academy’s ranking assignment test is about to begin.]

A mechanical voice, dry but almost sacred, echoed across the training field.

The chattering mouths fell silent.

Immediately after, the rules for the test were listed.

Some cadets smiled, satisfied, as if they already knew what was going to happen.

[The test begins now.]

[May the hero’s blessing be with you.]

One by one, students disappeared with a faint “swoosh” sound.

‘I wonder when it’ll be my turn…’ Before I knew it, the subspace had swallowed me.

* * *

Thirty minutes had passed since the start of the test.

Around 100 groups, or two-thirds, had completed the test.

The subspace expelled the students one after another.

[Team 24’s evaluation is complete. 1st place: Aaron, 2nd place: ….]

[Team 47’s evaluation is complete. 1st place: Expert Shooter, 2nd place: ….]

Each time a team finished their test, a voice announced the results as the students were thrown back into the training field.

There were students vomiting up their breakfasts, and others who remained calm. It was a varied spectacle.

However, most collapsed to the ground, too weak to stand.

“Now that I think about it… The fact that there are so many talented students this year means the results are already decided. I think I chose the wrong test. Maybe we should’ve done it in teams,” commented Media while yawning, resting her chin on her hand. Her voluptuous chest moved with every shift.

“Allowing them to participate with no restrictions on weapons… Can you really call this a fair test?” said the Sword Master, frowning as he crossed his arms. Media shrugged and crossed her legs, showing off her slender thighs.

“You wouldn’t understand, being so strict, but the academy’s director has a lot to consider. Do you know how much work it took me to organize this with random team assignments? Hah! I almost got wrinkles around my eyes! What do you know about academy politics, hiding away like a hermit? If you’d at least helped a bit, it would’ve been easier, you useless old man.”

“Since you’ve already got wrinkles, you should’ve worked a bit more.”

“Ugh, why do I even bother talking to you…?”

Media made a face and crossed her legs the other way.

“Anyway, as expected, Abel von Nibelung finished everything in 7 minutes and 14 seconds. Wow, that practically guarantees she’ll be the top of her class… Although, unfortunately, she didn’t break your record, she’s still among the top ten in the academy’s history.”

“If you have Nibelung blood, that’s a natural result.”

Though his tone seemed indifferent, a corner of Siegfried’s mouth lifted. Media smiled and pulled up a translucent screen in the air, displaying a list of the new students’ weapons and results.

“That girl took the test with a C-rank weapon, just like you.”

“Abel wanted a fair evaluation of her skills.”

“What a young girl, yet already an old conservative.”

As Media and the Sword Master chatted, the subspace continued to expel the remaining students until only one team was left.

“It seems it’s almost over, so I’ll be going.”

“You’re leaving? There’s still one more group.”

“It’s probably just another batch of useless heirs from corrupt families.”

The Sword Master glanced at the group chattering nearby, hiding their mouths with fans. Media chuckled softly and nodded.

“See you next time.”

“Yes, the next time will be when you’re dead, old man.”

The Sword Master stood up just as Media waved him off with a vulgar gesture.

Swish⎯

At that moment, everyone in the training field felt a chill run down their spines simultaneously, as if it were planned. The Sword Master and Media quickly exchanged glances before directing their attention to the field.

“You felt that too, didn’t you?”

“…”

In response to Media’s question, the Sword Master narrowed his eyes, stretching his neck toward the training ground.

The students began to break out in a cold sweat, drops falling down their foreheads.

The Sword Master scanned the students quickly.

He couldn’t sense that strange feeling he had experienced earlier.

“Impossible!”

Media pointed her finger towards the sky.

The Sword Master lifted his head.

Crack⎯

A sharp sound echoed from the sky.

Crack⎯

The sky began to crack.

The sky split open and then shattered like glass.

Between the cracks, all the cadets from the last group fell unconscious.

***

The result had already been decided beforehand.

But, unfortunately, I ended up with the worst luck.

It seems I landed in what you could call the “death squad.”

Mao Jin and Mao Shun, the twin brothers from the Iron King family, a prestigious family of heroes from another country. Having both of them on the same team was already a trap, but…

‘The evil twins.’

They not only possessed natural talent but also displayed a ruthless streak of violence. Vicious rumors about the two spread far and wide without borders.

Just the two of them alone wiped out six members of our team. They did it in such a brutal manner that it was impossible to watch without shuddering.

With malicious smiles, they tore through our teammates. The others did their best to resist, but…

If they had knocked them out with a single blow, it would have been better. But those two prolonged the suffering for 30 minutes, savoring every moment of their victims’ agony.

Crack―

“Hey, Hyung, how’s it going over there?”

Crrack―

“Looks like everything’s under control.”

Finally, the twins finished breaking their necks and tossed them to the ground like garbage.

The younger brother, Mao Shun, began counting the number of victims on his fingers. It seemed they left me for last because they didn’t consider me much of a threat.

“Ah, damn it, why did you have to kill one more? So frustrating!”

“Sorry, sorry. I’ll let you take that one.”

“Oh, then it’s fine.”

The twins turned their attention toward a red-haired girl trembling in fear.

Although I, having gone through so much in my previous life, didn’t feel as affected, it was clear this girl would be traumatized for life after witnessing this massacre.

Mao Shun began cracking his knuckles as he approached her with light steps. His intention was obvious he was going to break her neck too.

Her body trembled as he got closer, step by step. For some reason, there was no sign of resistance.

If things continued as they were, Mao Shun would crush her with a single blow. The thought of it made my fists clench instinctively.

“Damn bastards!”

The words came out of my mouth before I could control them. I knew what I was seeing was just an illusion within the subspace, but the pain and the blood felt all too real.

The academy claimed its goal was to train heroes, but seeing these twins tear their classmates apart with a smile made me think this was more like a factory for creating villains.

No matter how focused the academy was on practical training, there should be limits.

No matter how you looked at it, there had to be corruption behind an academy that accepted scum like these psychos.

The twins shifted their gaze from the girl to me. Two pairs of bright eyes fixed on me, their faces twisting into sinister smiles.

“Well, look at that, there’s one more. I didn’t even notice.”

“Look at the name tag on that bastard. He’s a merit student. How disgusting.”

After making a few comments, the twins exchanged glances and nodded.

Mao Shun began flexing the iron gauntlet on his left hand, walking toward me with murderous intent in his eyes.

“Hyung, leave this one to me. I’ll slit his throat quickly.”

The older brother, Mao Jin, looked at him with a mocking grin.

“Ah, sure, since this guy insulted us earlier, make sure to rip out his tongue too.”

“Yes.”

Mao Shun scratched his neck as he answered. When he shook his iron gauntlet, blood dripped onto the ground.

Should I use the Blessing of Insensitivity?

For a moment, I considered it. But I immediately shook my head.

The Blessing of Insensitivity only lasts for 30 seconds.

To these maniacs, I would be nothing more than a toy. Thirty seconds wouldn’t be enough.

Suddenly, I felt a chill run down my spine, and I instinctively glanced at my backpack at my feet.

The call of the sword.

A sharp sound seemed to beckon me, like a distant lament.

‘If only I could stop these damned bastards.’

To think, just half a day ago, I only wanted a peaceful and safe life. Damn it.

Mao Shun started walking faster toward me. I unzipped my backpack and pulled out the kitchen knife.

“Pfft, idiot.”

A mocking laugh.

“This is what happens to the pathetic.”

With a bored expression, Mao Shun leaped toward me.

His blood-covered iron fist shot toward my legs.

I slowly stepped forward and activated the Blessing of Insensitivity.

I just needed to hold out for 30 seconds. Something would happen.

A cold sensation ran through my hand.

The knife was still sheathed, and there was no problem.

I improvised a stance and swung the knife through the air.

The sheath slid off the knife smoothly, revealing the sharp blade.

And then.

[The Blessing of the God of the Sword has manifested.]

The song of the sword came to a halt.

+++++++++++++++++++++++

《May the blessing of the gods be with you.》

+++++++++++++++++++++++

An indescribably pleasant laughter echoed around me.