After the second test, exactly twenty people passed.
Seeing the traps laid out everywhere, I thought it might be pretty difficult, but I never expected more than half to drop out.
I’ve even heard that a few died because of the traps.
“What happens if you die?”
“There’s a way to bring everyone back. Don’t worry too much.”
Won-ho, looking a bit tense at my question, replied, and the passers gathered again to enter the third test.
Since the third test was to be conducted in duos, I was a bit excited, but it turned out to be easier than previous tests.
Based on the techniques we’ve learned so far, it was a 2v2 match against another team, and as soon as Gapwoo started, he bent the opponent’s swinging hammer.
The third test also had our powers sealed, but Gapwoo’s claws and his grip strength were not sealed.
With Gapwoo’s strength making the hammer feel like a hammer once again, the two opponents forfeited, and we passed the third test.
[Kya]
[Lololol]
[Poor thing, haha]
[Of all people, they had to meet these two]
[Gapwoo’s the best]
[Info: Lily didn’t even step in.]
“The world of competition is cold, isn’t it? Besides, I hear it’s not only decided by victory or defeat?”
Victory and defeat are merely a process for the supervisor to analyze the challengers.
Even if you lose a battle, if you show impressive performance or have great understanding of techniques, you’ll pass.
Conversely, even if you win, if you ride the bus too much or lack understanding of techniques, you’ll fail.
Of course, we just passed.
Thus, the final passers totaled nine people.
As we headed to the gathering place for the qualified, a familiar face was smiling brightly.
“Congratulations, Young Master!”
“Hehe, no, no. It was only natural that I would pass, so there’s no need for congratulations.”
“Still, aren’t you the pride of the Daeyeol family? Truly, a person of the Heavens after several centuries.”
“Eh, but… Ah! You passed too!”
[Ugh]
[It’s Butter Guy]
[He passed]
Butter Guy, no, Daeyeolcheon, approached us with a beaming smile.
He bowed his head to me with sincere eyes.
“I apologize.”
“…What?”
“I heard about your performance in the second test. Not just the small beauty, but the beauty herself is quite skilled. My earlier words must have seemed like I was showing off in front of a worm.”
“It’s fine. I’m used to it.”
Those with inherent power tend to look down on others, whether they are conscious of it or not.
It’s not common for that bias to not exist at all; it just varies in intensity.
Daeyeolcheon shook his head.
“No! How arrogant would I be? Acting so haughty just because there’s a bit of a time difference would indeed seem ridiculous. I would appreciate it if you could remember my apology, even if you don’t accept it.”
“…Yes.”
“Thank you. Then, I shall see you inside. Small beauty as well.”
“Yes, yes!”
As Gapwoo nodded in surprise, Daeyeolcheon cautiously stepped back.
What a fascinating character he is.
[Lololol]
[He looks so chill]
[But his tone is super cheesy]
[He’s kind, though?]
[Let’s kill him.]
“Look at that tail going straight down, haha!”
“When you see Lily, you gotta bow your head.”
“Sudden worship;;”
“Long live Lily!”
“It’s clear you’re not a bad person. A bit slimy, though.”
“If it weren’t for that guy’s tone, I might have liked him. What a shame.”
As we were waiting, Won-ho and the female supervisor climbed onto the podium together.
Their gaze swept across everyone before lingering on me and Gapwoo for a long moment, followed by a cough!
“?”
“…Crazy. Ahem! Anyway, congratulations. I’m Minja, an Intermediate Disciple. I sincerely congratulate the entrance of the nine new newcomers.”
“Now! Applaud!”
Clap, clap, clap, clap!!
“[Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk]”
“[Cheering, cheering, cheering, cheering]”
“Why is the successful candidate clapping?”
“Haha!”
“I know you have a lot of questions, but please hold your hands for a moment and wait. Once you enter, your immediate seniors will explain everything in detail. I’m just going to tell you three important things.”
First!
“Until the advanced level, you will rise through the ‘Promotion Exam’ held at regular intervals. Just so you know, the promotion exam was held simultaneously with the entrance exam, so it means it takes some time to be promoted.”
“Well, they say I’ll be promoted right away, though…?”
“Gapwoo really shone bright, so I might not…”
“Hey, hey! Stop chattering and focus! You can’t talk while a senior is speaking…”
Minja glared at the source of the sound, her eyes piercing.
As soon as our gazes met, Minja coughed and looked away.
“…Focus. I won’t repeat myself.”
“[Haha!]”
“[Scared?]”
“[Lily’s talking, so what can we do? Haha]”
“[Intermediate disciple messing with the urgent one, huh?]”
“[Hahaha!] Minja’s pretty, too.”
Second!
“Always follow the words of your seniors! As long as it’s not something really weird, you should follow them well. Got it?”
“What’s the standard for weird?”
“Ugh. Don’t ask questions… Ahem! You should just know, right? Unless it’s something like ‘go die’ or something weird that isn’t allowed in our sect! Other than that, do everything!”
“I understand now.”
I nodded.
At my question, the other successful candidates looked at me gratefully, especially Daeyeolcheon, who was giving me a completely respectful look.
…That’s quite a burden.
“…Well, everyone’s trained to control themselves, but if you really have doubts, go find the Management Gate inside the Inner Hall. Just so you know, if I give you stuff to do and you complain, I’ll personally knock you out, so be prepared.”
Minja clenched her fist and glared at everyone.
With a look in her eyes that seemed like laser beams would shoot out, most of the successful candidates lowered their heads.
Third!
“Don’t go inside the Inner Hall. It could mean death.”
“Didn’t you say you can save anyone who’s dead?”
“…You can’t save everyone.”
For a moment, her once cheerful face darkened with shadow.
The space between her short brown hair and brown eyes seemed to cloud over as she shook her head, as if to shake off her emotions.
Has she lost someone?
“Anyway! If I say don’t go, then don’t! Got it?!”
“““Yes!!”””
“Good energy! Now! Let’s move to the Inner Hall and receive the lower-level nameplates! Let’s go!”
“Let’s go!!”
“Okay, everyone follow me.”
“Follow me.”
The nine newcomers move in a rush behind Won-ho.
Just as Gapwoo and I were about to move, Minja, looking a bit tense, blocked our path.
“You two, follow me.”
■
Following Minja’s guidance, we go deep into the Inner Hall.
The surroundings were constantly changing, making it feel like the ground was shaking in all directions.
Even ghostly, unidentifiable beings surrounded the exterior of this space.
‘This entire space is a Magic Array.’
“Are you keeping up? If you lose your way here, it’s a serious emergency. Stay close.”
“So this is a Magic Array space? It’s composed of quite advanced techniques.”
“Uh? Right. This is only my second time walking through here, so… there’s really nothing to be nervous about. As long as we stick to the defined path, there won’t be any problems.”
Gulp.
…Seems like she’s the one even more nervous.
Even Gapwoo, who always trembled with anxiety, was glancing around, intrigued by this place.
For someone like Gapwoo, a Celestial who had seen numerous divine beings and spaces, this must be nothing.
[LOL]
[Minja is adorable]
[Look at those muscles]
[So tense]
Sweating profusely, I followed Minja and observed her closely.
Short brown hair and brown eyes.
Wearing a short top that revealed her arms, her physique resembled that of a small man, but she had some noticeable muscle.
Not just strength, but her body was quite well-trained.
The hammer seemed small compared to her body, but I wasn’t particularly fond of the hammer itself.
Bigger is always better for hammers.
“…Where are you two from?”
“Huh?”
“I’m asking you two. Where are you from?”
Is the tension starting to wear off? Minja began talking to us.
Phew… phew…
Of course, I didn’t turn around or let my guard down.
“Did you come from another world? But in the extreme realm, I know someone, and they told me they haven’t seen a race like yours.”
“I’m from Earth… technically, I came from Deoen, and Gapwoo is from a tower full of stars.”
“…Star Tower? Deoen?”
“Yes.”
“…I don’t know what that is. How strong are you from there?”
What’s your world’s level of proficiency?
[Rank 1?]
[It’s rank 1, LOL]
[Gapwoo is not rank 1 though]
[Big up to Lily]
[Gapwoo might not be, but Lily is definitely rank 1]
“It’s not low at all.”
“Are there beings stronger than you?”
“I doubt it?”
For now, Gapwoo had reached the level of a God, but he hadn’t reached Master of the Tower yet.
And while I’m quite strong, if there are raccoons or hidden celestial beings, or demons, it’s hard to guarantee a victory.
Even now, there might be beings I couldn’t defeat despite giving it my all.
“…That’s crazy.”
“……”
“Just you two caused this much trouble, and someone stronger is coming? Does that even make sense?”
“Enough.”
“Dude, that doesn’t make sense! One person crushes the Extreme Strong Stone with power, and the other just explodes the Magic Array randomly…”
“Stop!”
CRACK!
I pulled Minja’s nape back forcefully.
Even though she looked furious, growling like a fierce beast upon realizing that a priest had grabbed her neck, my eyes were still fixed on what lay beyond.
At that moment, Minja’s gaze followed mine.
At the edge of our sight, something dark blue is moving around.
“W-what… what is that?!”
“That.”
“…That? No need to worry. They’re just weird monsters that appear in the space of a high-level Magic Array. As long as we stick to the designated path, we’ll be fine…”
“Did you forget what my ability is?”
“…Huh?”
She just said: ‘I explode the Magic Array randomly.’
Right now, we’re blocked by the Magic Array, but if it collapses, those monsters will surely target us.
“…So why have we been fine until now? Besides, weren’t you able to control that? That’s why the first test was…”
“My ability only destroys the Hostile Array.”
The paths we’ve taken so far weren’t hostile, so we were safe, but things are different up ahead.
Given the circumstances, there’s a Magic Array laid out to ‘block’ that monster, and if we take one more step, the Array will burst.
Moreover, that monster. Its rank is suspiciously low, but it possesses strength comparable to an upper-tier demon.
I’m starting to wonder why they’re keeping such a monster contained.
“…I don’t know any way other than this path.”
“Then let’s go back.”
“Huh? No way. Orders are important—”
“Then do you want to fight that thing?”
BAM!
With just my existence, a tiny crack appeared in the Magic Array.
The eerie dark blue thing’s ‘eye’ turned to us, specifically to me.
Facing the burning blue fire’s gaze…
“Let’s go back, let’s go back, let’s go back, let’s go back.”
“No. Actually, thinking about it, we might win if we fight. If Gapwoo gives it his all and I absorb enough to break this place…”
“Please, please, please, I’m sorry! Let’s go back! Please!!”
Minja grabbed my leg and cried loudly.
Where did the person who flaunted their death sentence dignity go?
[LOLZZZZZZ]
[Why are you crying?]
[Her wailing is hilarious, LOL]
[Let’s catch her.]
[Looks like a boss?]
[Just smash the Magic Array.]
“Then we’re going back, right?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!”
As I turned around, Gapwoo, who was looking around, also turned with a sulky expression.
Minja was following behind, trembling.
Suddenly, a question arose in my mind.
Minja had definitely been tasked to guide me, and my ‘ability to destroy Magic Arrays’ must have been reported, so…
‘Why did they lead me here through this path?’
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