Chapter 5: Admission test (4)

Before enrollment, I rummaged through my memories and created a list in my mind.

‘Friend List’.

From a game perspective, I would simply choose characters with excellent in-game performance, but considering reality, I had to account for a wider range.

Who should I befriend?

The best option was someone who could offer significant assets to recruit me.

The next best was someone who viewed me positively and would likely propose recruiting me, whether as a subordinate or colleague, if the conditions were right.

Typically, it would be someone who, even if they didn’t feel a strong liking for me, at least wouldn’t consider me an enemy.

Even if we weren’t close, I believed that simply avoiding any ‘hostility’ would be enough to achieve a satisfactory outcome, allowing me to pass through graduation uneventfully.

If I were to name the five ‘Tier 0’ individuals who first came to mind from that friend list.

Three of them are right before my eyes.

“The exam hasn’t started yet, so shall we introduce ourselves?”

Straight red hair reaching her waist.

A woman with striking sharp eyes and jewel-like golden irises.

Her height was around 155 cm, much taller than Liliana, almost making me wonder if she was 170 cm, along with a slender physique.

The area humorously referred to as ‘mana pouches’ was generally rated ‘D-tier’ by people, but seeing it in 3D rather than 2D, it seemed to be at least E-tier.

“I’m Maella. It’s too much trouble to say my full name, so just call me Maella. Everyone’s a student at the academy anyway. Ufufu.”

From a player’s perspective, Imperial Princess Maella’s confident and haughty demeanor might be considered arrogant, but given her status and skill, it was a natural expression.

“It’s a collaborative exam, so we should know each other’s abilities, right? Fire 4th Circle, Light 4th Circle. I can certainly achieve that level of skill.”

“…….”

“What is it, Princess? Do you have something to say to me?”

I remained silent after hearing Imperial Princess Maella’s words, but it seemed the black-haired, green-eyed woman over there wasn’t.

“4th Circle….”

Of course.

Although the Imperial Princess said she was 4th Circle, her actual skill was 5th Circle.

‘They said hiding 30% of your true skill is basic in wuxia novels.’

Although this is the world of a yuri fantasy game, the principles of life are the same no matter where you go in the human world.

In that sense, it was reasonable for the Imperial Princess to slightly downplay her skill.

It just felt like that number was a direct jab at someone.

“I am Yulien. The First Princess of the Kingdom. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Princess Yulien, bowing respectfully, was slightly taller than me.

Her hair tied in a ponytail was quite unusual for a princess, but as a ponytail character, she would undoubtedly let her hair down for CG scenes anyway.

“You might know I have a claim to the throne, but please don’t mind it.”

“Oh my. You say that after bringing it up yourself.”

“……It’s less of a burden for you if I say it myself.”

As the Empire and Kingdom often bickered, the ‘successors’ of both nations were already clashing and vying for power.

Isn’t it usually common for a man to be a nation’s successor?

Such talk doesn’t apply in a world where a yuri garden is the main stage.

It’s not particularly about political correctness or a glass ceiling issue—

—it’s because female rulers are prettier than bearded old men!

—the Iron-Blooded Empress who suppressed the Princes’ Rebellion and seized the Empire! So cool! So sexy! So chill!

—the benevolent Queen who watches over her people! I want her to wear an off-shoulder white dress and reveal her kind heart to the whole world!

…This is simply the result of the developers’ dark desires being woven into the setting.

“My magic skill is… Wind 4th Circle.”

While I was momentarily lost in thought, Princess Yulien revealed her skill first.

“Heh.”

Imperial Princess Maella chuckled, and I strongly empathized with her reaction.

‘Your Dark attribute is no joke.’

They say that a benevolent character with a dark, hidden interior—a “haraguro”—is an appealing twist.

This woman, Yulien, whose true nature is revealed by her magic attribute, is quite dark.

More importantly.

“Is that so? That Wind magic must be amazing.”

“Could it compare to yours, Imperial Princess?”

She tries not to use Dark attribute magic, but in reality, she’s slightly stronger than the Imperial Princess.

If Imperial Princess Maella is Fire 5 and Light 5.

Then Princess Yulien is Wind 4 (Dark ‘6’).

‘These initial stats are truly ridiculous.’

Even if these two characters have extremely difficult conditions for recruitment as companions, having these kinds of stats is a little—no, quite enviable.

1st Circle is level 10s.

2nd Circle is level 20s.

And the standard for a Grand Mage, 9th Circle, is level 90s.

Without the blessing of a status window, I can only infer the abilities of various individuals through these Circle Magic stages.

“Then, how strong is our genius? Would you like to introduce yourself?”

“Too much trouble….”

And here, the one who hadn’t said a word until now slowly opened her mouth.

“Do I have to?”

A small figure, appearing to be about 140 cm tall.

Seven colorful ribbons adorned the ends of her disheveled gray hair.

“Yeah, my name… Sirsy. 17 years old.”

The girl, Sirsy, who spoke languidly and as if bothered—

“All attributes 4th Circle. *Yawn*.”

She is a ‘genius’ with talent in all seven attributes corresponding to the Philosopher’s Stone.

“A-amazing. All attributes 4th Circle. Truly a magic genius….”

“I’d already heard the rumors. Still, mastering all attributes is indeed remarkable.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

‘She’s lying.’

Both the Imperial Princess and the Royal Princess felt relieved, but her true skill wasn’t 4th Circle.

‘She’s already 6th Circle in everything.’

In fact, she possessed such immense magical skill even before enrollment that the other two women couldn’t hold a candle to her, status aside.

That’s why she’s a genius.

“…And you?”

That genius, for the first time, turned her gaze toward me, her clear purple eyes sparkling.

“You, who hopes for top enrollment?”

The Imperial Princess and the Royal Princess hadn’t shown much intense interest in me, but now the magic genius, a Tier 0 character, was showing interest.

“That’s right. You showed something quite interesting in the first exam, didn’t you? It’s your turn.”

“It might be awkward, but once we enroll, we’ll all be students, so shall we introduce ourselves now?”

Both the Imperial Princess, who imperiously told me to introduce myself, and the Royal Princess, who implied our acceptance was guaranteed since we were already on the same team.

‘They’re certainly brimming with confidence.’

And the genius Sirsy, waiting for me to introduce myself—everyone seemed very interested in me.

“Liliana. I have no surname. I’m a commoner.”

However.

“Ice 3rd Circle, Earth 3rd Circle.”

I shouldn’t reveal all my true abilities yet.

If I were to reveal my true power and they felt jealousy and inferiority, it would only lead to the worst possible outcome.

And at the same time.

“Hmm, really…?”

“Yes. That’s right?”

Smiling comfortably and meaningfully, I casually and leisurely tilted my head slightly.

“Please take care of me, everyone?”

****

[Exam Start. Break through the underground dungeon within the allotted time.]

As soon as the notification sounded, the Imperial Princess was the first to walk forward.

Kiiik!!

No sooner had the Imperial Princess stepped forward than a monster appeared from around the corner.

It was a beast-type monster, nearly 2 meters tall, covered in black fur—a ‘Devil Dog’.

‘Are they insane?’

My player memories were displaying ‘Level’ above the head of the first monster blocking our path.

‘What game puts a Level 40 monster in the prologue?!’

It hit me anew.

That this wasn’t a game, but reality.

“Hmm. Interesting from the start.”

And seeing the three calm female students even with such a high-level monster appearing, I barely managed to calm my startled heart.

“I’ll take it?”

Whoosh.

Creating a fireball without incantation, Imperial Princess Maella casually launched it.

Kiiik!

As soon as the Devil Dog was struck by the fireball, its entire body was instantly consumed by flames and vanished.

“Hmm…?”

Imperial Princess Maella tilted her head slightly, appearing puzzled as she watched it dissolve into flames, but then she strode forward energetically as if it were nothing significant.

“The difficulty of this year’s entrance exam seems quite hi—”

“Wind Blaster.”

Pa-ang!

A mass of air shot out from the tip of Princess Yulien’s staff like a cannonball.

Kieeeek!!

The air cannon, which narrowly grazed Imperial Princess Maella’s temple, directly struck the Devil Dog that was rushing towards her, and the Devil Dog immediately exploded into mist.

“……You were aiming for me, weren’t you?”

“Perish the thought. How could I aim for the back of the Imperial Princess’s head?”

“Ah, so you won’t aim for the back of my head, but you’ll stab me honorably from the front?”

“Oh my. Do you have a guilty conscience? To say such a thing.”

Whether her emotional control was dulled by the Imperial Princess’s provocation, or if she was subtly revealing her true colors in front of the genius and the commoner who didn’t know her place.

True to her Dark 6th Circle nature, Princess Yulien didn’t back down an inch from Imperial Princess Maella’s words.

And I followed silently behind them.

I knew I had to make a good impression on both, but seeing them engage in such a power struggle made me feel like I shouldn’t take sides.

‘If I take a side, I’ll just antagonize the other.’

If I became an Imperial person, the Royal Princess would become an enemy.

If I became a Kingdom person, the Empire would become an enemy.

‘They’re the best people to get sponsorship from, but making enemies is dangerous.’

For a stable life as a spy, and for a happy life after graduation, living moderately well and as long as possible was the best approach.

“Hey.”

Behind me.

“Really, 33?”

“……”

“I know your chest is 33, but what about your other—”

“That’s sexual harassment.”

“Even among women?”

Sirsy kept glaring at me from behind, pressing me about my abilities.

“You can’t fool my eyes. You, in reality—”

“Kyaaak. A monster.”

“…….

Pa-ang.

No sooner had Sirsy launched a Magic Missile than a Devil Dog that had sprung out from the side instantly exploded from the head and vanished.

“You noticed it faster than me.”

“No, I didn’t…?”

“Grrr.”

“Nothing will come of glaring like that.”

Because.

“I merely stated things as they are.”

Ice 3, Earth 3.

“I’m not as amazing as you think, Sirsy?”

Added together, 6.

“I’m just a little better at applying magic than others.”