The color drained from people’s faces as they began skimming through the test paper. Audible sighs of frustration, disapproving clicks of tongues, and vat stares revealed that many were ill-prepared for this challenge.

  Daisuke was calm, and it wasn’t because of his posure Stat. Much like in medieval times, the general public’s level of education was retively low.

  Simirly, the majority of on folk in Sehrei Online cked the ability to read or write. Their proficy y more in handling than words, given that their livelihoods were intricately tied to financial matters.

  To Daisuke, the questions on the paper seemed remi of elementary school-level problems, prerequisites for what he had previously studied in high school.

  Language was a breeze, while dedu, analytical thinking, and some segments of the arithmetic se were imbued with elements directly relevant to adventurers. As an avid gamer and a resident of the in-game world for many years, the exam posed no signifit hurdle for him.

  However, the duration did.

  Five hours ter, Daisuke and Zephyr’s soul was just about ready to depart through their mouths. It was absurd that the examinatied on for so long, and even more frustrating that he wasn’t permitted to leave until the very end, despite having pleted his answers.

  “Times up,” Professor Bayley finally decred, slipping his pocket watch bato his clothes.

  With a flick of his wand, everyoest papers were enveloped in a blue light and gracefully levitated into the air. They swirled above the , arranging themselves into an intricate spiral before ly stag upon the le.

  “Whoaa~”

  “Dammit!”

  The students’ reas were quite porized. Those who had mao plete their papers were struck with awe at the dispy of magical prowess. versely, those who hadn’t finished were uandably frustrated.

  “You will receive your test results by tomorrow,” informed Mr. Bayley. “Until then, you are all dismissed. The door at the back of the will lead you to the cafeteria where a meal will be provided for you.

  You have just one hour for your break. Afterward, return to the for the practical segment of your examination. Your performan both the theoretical and practical tests will determine your overall grade.”

  ***

  “Auuggh…”

  A long groan escaped the lips of a female mage.

  After the grueling exam, the adventurers found themselves trudging wearily through a seemingly endless corridor like a horde of mindless zombies. Their fatigued bodies and minds left them little energy to appreciate the intricate murals ad the walls.

  Sooantalizing aroma of food hung in the air like a siren’s call. The closer they got to the cafeteria, the more vibrant their faces became, exhaustion momentarily fotten in the promise of a hearty meal.

  Finally, the corridor opened up into a vast hall, filled with rows of benches and tables. In one er, a dispy case showcased a delectable array of dishes. And eager staff members stood at the ready, poised to serve the ravenous adventurers.

  With newfound vigor, the students raced ahead, f a chaotie that stretched almost to the entraheir excited chatter filled the hall as they eagerly discussed which dishes they would try, the brutality of the exam, and the potential hardships the practical would entail.

  After getting enough food for Zephyr and himself, Daisuke sought out a quiet, secluded table where he could enjoy his meal in peace. Oste a watchful eye on him from a distance, his features hardening with a growiermination to exact revenge.

  But Daisuke was too much of a wildcard; he o observe him a bit more before making his move. In the meantime, he diverted his vicious gaze toward a nearby individual—ohat y well within his reach for the torment he desperately yearo unleash.

  ***

  Elena gnced around sheepishly, resembling a lost puppy caught in a sudden downpour. Her ears sagged as she sed the vast room for her panions who had been separated during the chaotic rush to form a li the er.

  Desperation welled within her as she searched each Beastkin group frantically, hoping to reuh them before—

  “Oop,” she let out a small yelp upon bumping into someone.

  The moment, her tray was swatted from her hand with a force akin to a bear swatting an i. It cttered loudly as it hit the ground, immediately drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

  Elena’s face paled, her heart ceasing in her chest. “I-I’m sorry,” she stammered nervously. As a feeling of suffocatio over her, she dropped to her knees, scrambling to up the mess she had caused, her sole thought being to escape from this situation with haste.

  “Is that all you’ve got to say?” Osten scoffed, his fiery gaze bearing down on her with the weight of a thousand suns. “You got food all over my expensive sabatons.”

  Elena ignored him, not out of spite, but out of sheer fright. All that mattered was ing up after herself and disappearing from sight before she became more of a nuisance.

  But from Osten’s point of view, she was already that and more. He raised his foot to crush her head beh his armored boot when he was interrupted by a familiar creature.

  “Grrr.”

  Zephyr poised itself in front of the girl and growled like an animal proteg its young.

  In response, Osten’s face twisted into a grotesque mask. As anger and e ed through his body, he cast caution to the wind and summoned his sword in hand.

  As embarrassing fshbacks flooded his mind, fueling his desire for vengeance, all he cared about was crushing the infuriating pair that stood before him. And his ckeys stood by his side, watg in amusement as his sword was hoisted overhead like a coiling cobra, poised to strike.

  The momeightened his grip, his muscles bulging, Daisuke appeared behind him, back-to-back, in a burst of explosive speed. He looked over his shoulder in a sidelong ghe Bonepick lingering at Osten’s neck.

  “…Get lost,” Daisuke anded coolly, his free hand casually tucked into his pocket. “Unless you want ara hole below the one you already have.”

  A tense silence followed.

  Osten, his forehead slick with sweat, weighed his options before clig his tongue and unequipping his sword. “This isn’t over,” he vowed before taking leave.

  “Oh, I’m sure,” Daisuke murmured ba response.

  “Kyaaa~ so cool!” one girl cheered, and theire cafeteria followed suit.

  Daisuke looked at Zephyr acgly, but the pup simply batted his eyeshes and gave an i—

  “Arf.”

  The adorable sound tugged at the heartstrings of the female popution, reeling them in like fish on a line. Elena was the first to gather him up in her arms.

  “Thanks for saving me again,” she chimed, her cheeks flushed with gratitude.

  She held Zephyr for but a moment before he was snatched up by anirl who snuggled him with affe. Soon the pup was being passed among the girls like a cherished stuffed animal, each taking their turn to hug him.

  Daisuke found himself in an ued situation. His once quiet and secluded table was now crowded with Beastfolk. Elena and her friends beamed at him with appreciation, but he chose to ighem.

  ***

  Uhe silvery light of the full moon, two worlds existed in parallel. In a vast estate led amidst tall trees and manicured wns, a mother sat on the edge of her daughter’s bed, the soft glow of a Mana Crystal mp castile light on their faces.

  The mother’s voice was soothing as she spun a bedtime tale of magical creatures and heroic advehe young girl’s eyes sparkled with wonder as her imagination took flight. The story came to an end, and with a loving kiss on her daughter’s forehead, the mother switched off the crystal light ahe room, leaving only the pale moonlight to watch over her.

  In a remote vilge, far from the estate, a Florian mother sat on a simple wooden stool beside her daughter’s bed. They shared a simir moment, but here the mother’s story was an age-old folklore, rich with the wisdom of their people.

  The daughter listened ily, abs the lessons hidden withiale. As the story cluded, the mother kissed her child’s forehead ahe room, leaving a small, flickering dle to keep the darkness at bay.

  As both toddlers drifted into slumber, the threads of misfortune began weaving their own narrative. However, unlike a bedtime story, this tale unfolded oangible pages of the real world.

  At the estate, Reeza moved silently through the mansion’s opulent halls, her keen eyes sing for valuables. She couldn’t resist the temptation of a et filled with expensive crently, she pced the delicate pieces into her backpack, her as cealed by the darkness of the room.

  In the remote vilge, a group of calloused-looking men on horseback desded upon the peaceful settlement. They blocked off each exit, like specters in the moonlight. Wagons, ominous in their purpose, held etal cages. As, akin to hounds, guarded them.

  Reeza spotted the glowing Mana Crystals that acted as light fixtures on the mansion’s walls, and she swiftly removed them as well. Her practiced hands then moved on to the decorative armor and equipment, which she knew could fetch a hefty price.

  As the night wore on, the men in the vilge, driven by a frenzied madness, invaded homes with savage ughter. Fmes illumihe nearby forest as houses burned, and horrified screams pierced the night.

  Reeza tinued her silent expedition through the manor, her watchful eyes sc for valuables as her nimble fingers looted.

  In the vilge, a mother was forcefully dragged from her home by her hair. Her daughter, leaving behind her cherished doll made of straw, wailed as she trailed behind. The father desperately gave chase, only to be attacked and mauled by the hounds.

  Reeza left the mansion that was now a mere shadow of its flory, its treasures cealed in her backpack. At the same time, the vilge’s women and children were ered by the hounds and apprehended by the invaders.

  As the prison cells gradually filled with their terrified screams, fathers and soheir end at the hands of both ravenous beasts and cold bdes.

  In an echo to Reeza making her escape from the estate, the svers departed from the vilge, their plundered bounty secured while the vilge was ed by fmes.

  In one of the cells, a toddler, peering through thick metal bars, turo ask: “Mommy, will daddy meet us at our new home?”

  The mother held her daughter close, her body trembling from silent sobs. With a wanly smile and words of hope that served as a fragile shield against despair, she whispered, “Everything will be alright; mommy will protect you.”