I Became an Illegal Cheat User

3 – Entrance Exam (3)

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【Arena Academy Exam Guide】

The first test is the ‘Test of Wisdom.’

Use your wisdom to navigate the ‘maze.’

Upon reaching the maze’s exit, you will pass the test.

– Time Limit: 1 hour.

– If inactive for 10 minutes, considered test refusal, leading to automatic disqualification.

Tip: Do not shy away from means and methods. However, fatal injuries leading to death are not permissible.

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A hologram appeared above the smartwatch.

Though it was an exam guide, it contained information already known.

Still, just in case there were differences from the game, I checked, but there were none.

“Should I hurry and move?”

After dismissing the hologram, I glanced around.

Despite the random relocation within the maze, there were quite a few examinees nearby due to the sheer number.

They should be moving now while confirming the test details.

Understandably so.

“Do not shy away from means and methods?”

“…That’s what they say.”

Some examinees were casting peculiar glances at those nearby.

‘Those guys are around.’

Engaging in a fight where you don’t need to.

So, before clashing with them, you need to get out of this place.

Step by step.

It seemed I wasn’t the only one with that thought; several examinees were already moving their steps inside the maze.

Seeing them, I hurriedly left the location.

And as I entered one of the maze’s forks,

Boom!

The surroundings changed.

Moved to a different place.

‘They really twisted this around.’

It’s already difficult to find the exit in this maze, and on top of that, there are teleportation magic circles hidden throughout the maze from the entrance.

I understand the intention of making it challenging for examinees to find the exit easily, but it seems a bit excessive.

Unless you’re sensitive to mana, you’ll be caught off guard.

Just like me.

Well, what can an ordinary person do?

An ordinary person has to use ‘wisdom’ to solve things.

Thinking that, I opened my inventory.

And from it, I took out a small glass bottle emitting a blue light.

Among the three tests, this is the preparation for the current one.

The preparation’s identity is the ‘Mana-Eating Bug.’

As the name suggests, it’s a bug that eats mana, and it will help me pass this test.

“I’m counting on you.”

Saying that, as I shook the glass bottle, the mana-eating bug that had been sound asleep began to move.

Whee!

The bug’s head looked around.

Then, fixing its head in one direction, it howled.

“Is it over there?”

The mana-eating bug is extraordinarily adept at detecting the mana emitted by ‘mana stones.’

The stronger the mana of the mana stone, the better it follows.

Why do you make such explanations?

Because the force that moves this maze I’m standing in right now is the Magic Stone.

And that Magic Stone is at the exit of the maze.

I walked along the path where the head of the Magic Stone bug was pointing.

There are many forks in the road, but perhaps because there are no traps, I don’t feel tense.

Sometimes I encounter other test-takers…

“Shall we go our separate ways?”

“Yes. Just finding the exit, no need to fight.”

After exchanging glances, we each went in different directions.

So, following the guidance of the Magic Stone bug, I repeated the monotonous steps.

Ding.

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You have passed the first test, the ‘Test of Wisdom.’

The rank of ‘Lee Yoojin’ is ‘5th.’

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I escaped from the maze.

&

“Hey, there are a lot of impressive students this time, aren’t there?”

“That’s true. They say these days are the golden age, and it’s not a lie.”

“Even the students currently enrolled are talented, but this time’s test-takers are so many geniuses. The title of the Golden Knight will probably be taken by the test-takers entering this time.”

“That’s probably true.”

The instructors, who were watching the test-takers through a screen where the maze was clearly visible, chatted amicably.

The topic was the abilities of the test-takers entering this time.

Whenever a test-taker with outstanding abilities appeared, the instructors identified who they were, who their parents were.

As the two instructors looked at a monitor and marveled.

“That test-taker… has a Magic Stone bug?”

The female instructor with blue hair said in amazement while looking at Lee Yoojin, who was using the Magic Stone bug to navigate the maze.

In response to her words, the male instructor with a long scar from his forehead to his right cheek showed interest as he stroked his chin.

“Smart. Thinking of escaping the maze with a Magic Stone bug, this method is known only to high-level heroes.”

“Could they be the child of a high-level hero?”

The question from the male instructor earned a sly chuckle from the female instructor.

“Maybe so. But we don’t really need to know about that. Whether they’re the child of a famous person, an orphan with no parents, in this academy, they’re all just students.”

“Well, that’s true.”

The female instructor responded positively to the male instructor’s words.

As he said, there’s no need to know where the examinees come from.

Outside, one’s background might be praised, but within the academy, it’s useless.

In the Arena Academy, only two things matter.

Skill and heroism.

Having exceptional skills and the determination to protect people from evil.

Apart from those two, nothing else matters.

That’s the meaning behind the establishment of Arena Academy by the martial god, Baek Yuhwa.

Ding.

“Candidate ‘Lee Yujin’ has passed through the maze and secured the ‘5th’ position.”

“Lucky.”

Having a magic stone bug was fascinating, but it was also impressive to go through without a single fight.

Perhaps because the exam explicitly stated, ‘Do not restrict the means and methods,’ fights among the examinees were happening on screens all around where instructors were watching.

Trying to eliminate the competition.

The candidate named Yujin passed through the maze without a fight.

Without showcasing any skills.

“Securing the magic stone bug is also a skill, but…”

It was more about being well-prepared than skillful.

Nevertheless, in the third test, she would have to show her skills without a doubt.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Indeed, what would that candidate show?

Expectations rose in the eyes of the two instructors.

&

&

&

As I entered the exit of the maze, the teleportation magic circle greeted me, just like it did at the entrance.

When I blinked once, I found myself back in the auditorium before moving through the maze.

“I’m in fifth place… in the expected range, but a bit faster than I thought?”

I had envisioned my ranking within the range of 4th to 10th place.

I was contemplating around 8th place among them.

That’s because the talents and skills of the lead actors were exceptional.

And even if they weren’t lead actors, there were supporting characters just as remarkable…

I’m in 5th place. Was I just lucky this time?

“Well, there wasn’t any fighting.”

Everyone just exchanged glances with each other and went their separate ways without a fight.

“The people here right now… Arthur Pendragon, the descendant of the Knight King. Lee Seo-yeon, the daughter of the Sword Star, Lee Joon-baek. Successor of the Twin Sword Dragon, Shuhei Asuka. Noah, the son of the Grand Priestess Gloria.”

They were all lead characters…

“Why are they looking at me?”

Two guys and two girls, all four of them were looking at me.

Arthur Pendragon with curiosity in his eyes.

Lee Seo-yeon with an expressionless face, her thoughts unreadable.

Asuka, smiling as if amused.

Noah, with an expression that seemed fascinated.

Feeling awkward under their gazes, I scratched my cheek and sat down on a nearby chair.

Then, I just clenched my fist and closed my eyes.

Partly to avoid meeting Arthur’s curious gaze, and partly because the attention was uncomfortable.

As I tried to ignore the interest, I felt the probing gazes disappear after a while.

So, I closed my eyes and spent time thinking about the next exam.

Rumbling sounds.

The surroundings had become noisy without me realizing it.

When I opened my eyes again, I could see that the once quiet auditorium had become bustling with activity.

The second test is scheduled to begin in 30 minutes, so please refrain from leaving the academy premises.

The announcement echoed.

“Those who are injured, please come this way!”

Healers clad in doctor’s gowns were shouting on one side of the auditorium.

There were many examinees being treated there.

Some had minor injuries.

Others had major injuries.

They would all likely be eliminated.

Because every one of them had dark expressions.

Maybe they couldn’t find the exit on time, or they fainted after fighting for more than 10 minutes.

Still, many people remained.

Glancing roughly with my eyes, it seemed to be around two thousand.

“Since a thousand failed in the first test.”

About fifteen hundred will probably fail in the second test.

The final number of examinees admitted is a total of three hundred.

Why do people overwhelmingly fail in the second test, the ‘Test of Courage’?

In fact, if we consider it as an easy task, the second test is easier than the first.

Yet, people fail in the second test for a reason…

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【Arena Academy Test Guidelines】

The second test is the ‘Test of Courage.’

Believe in your courage and pass through the ‘fantasy.’

When you reach the passage after piercing through the fantasy, you will pass the test.

– Time limit: 1 hour.

– If you do not move for 10 minutes, it will be considered as refusing the test, leading to automatic elimination.

Tip: Do not be too afraid of the ‘fantasy.’

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Overcoming what one fears.