I Broke Off My Engagement and Got a Job at the Academy

39 – The Beginning of the Entrance Exam

Jiselle looked at the man in front of her and felt as if her breath had stopped.

Well, Idun Kainus’ aura was certainly extraordinary at first glance.

‘What is this?’

Of course, she knew that his skills were not average. After all, he was one of the professors at the academy. However, she didn’t expect him to be at this level.

Moreover, coming out to explain the exam in front of so many people meant that he had obtained the professor qualification after their last meeting.

A professor at the age of twenty. The youngest person to take a professor’s position since Professor Cordelia, who had been the talk of the academy’s history.

Jiselle stared at him, her mouth slightly agape.

Others, who had thought Idun Kainus had disappeared, were buzzing with excitement at the revelation that he was a professor.

Tap. He snapped his fingers. With just that, the buzzing crowd turned their attention to him in an instant.

‘…This is a High Expert.’

Normally, an expert of this level could secure a position as a powerful knight of a quite influential noble.

Then, how about a High Expert?

Without a doubt, they are treated as a talent recognized throughout the entire country.

Even as an empire possessing incomparable power among other nations, it is said that the count of High Experts is immeasurable—perhaps reaching a hundred or more.

Moreover, if we specifically count only the magicians among them, the number decreases even further.

Out of the tens of millions of imperial citizens, only a hundred.

Such an astronomically small number that it induces dizziness, and at the forefront of this is Edun Kainus.

The existence of a High Expert, a number so astronomical that it is beyond comprehension, became understood simply by feeling the aura once.

Literally, a monster that is not even a significant fraction of the entire human population.

… How on earth did this happen?

At such a young age, it couldn’t have been easy to possess such power. Surely, it must have been obtained at a great cost.

Even if he mocked himself as half-baked, his status as a High Expert was undeniable and could never be ignored.

Despite not knowing, Gel felt a sense of regret about his noble lineage becoming a hindrance rather than a source of pride.

The fact that, despite having ability, closeness does not equate to worth.

The human worthiness to get close to her wasn’t merely someone with talent, but someone with talent who could bring benefits.

However, Edun Kainus… even if he got closer, it was more likely to result in loss than gain.

It couldn’t be helped. He happened to be born outside the notice of the Hwang family and the imperial faction when their momentum was at its fiercest.

Even so, putting aside such calculations, purely in terms of talent… it might be at a level that surpasses the entire human race.

“Of course, the first place would be Cordelia Hillstare.”

While she was contemplating such thoughts, Edun Kainus, who had gathered the attention of the crowd, opened his mouth.

“From now on, I will explain the rules of the entrance exam to all of you.”

With his fist clenched and looking down from the air, Edun Kainus began to speak.

“First, I will distribute a bracelet to each of you.”

Gizelle received a black bracelet. When she put it on her wrist, the number 10 appeared on the bracelet.

“All of you will start with 10 points. The bracelet is to display your scores.”

Eden Kainus, the one who spoke, continued to explain the rules.

“The place where you will take the exam is a section of the island where the academy is located. Monsters are scattered there.”

At the mention of monsters, she swallowed nervously. She had heard the words many times, but facing the existence of monsters directly was a first.

“You have to defeat monsters or other examinees, collect up to 50 points, and then reach the summit of the mountain where I am. Note that your bracelet has a built-in shield, and if you receive a certain amount of damage, you will be automatically eliminated.”

It meant that there could be eliminations due to unexpected accidents.

Of course, even if the nobles of the Empire were eliminated from the test, they could still enter the academy. However, the treatment they received within the academy changed.

As the successor to the Duke, Gizelle had to show a good appearance.

“If you are eliminated, you will be teleported to a prepared location to heal any potential injuries. So, there’s no need to worry about death.”

Upon hearing this, voices of relief began to emerge among the people. Fighting directly meant facing unknown threats.

Eden Kainus slightly nodded as he finished his explanation.

“Now that I have explained the rules of the test so far, I wish you luck, examinees.”

After Eden Kainus’ explanation ended, those employed by the academy guided the examinees who were trying to enter the academy.

Following them, the examinees engaged in various conversations.

Especially the aristocratic youths who were talking to Gizelle discussed Eden Kainus.

“Did you hear that? Is it really the fallen successor of Kainus? Unbelievable.”

“The heir of a once highly regarded family in the Empire has fallen and become a professor at the academy. It’s surprising.”

“Pity. He’s really handsome, at least in appearance.”

“Deep down, he probably wants to regain the power as a noble. If he does well, he might get close again, don’t you think?”

“Oh, come on. Even if you befriend him, you’re just a man outside the Huang family’s attention. It’s not good. He may look good, but he’s a burden.”

Watching them, Gizelle frowned.

“Is she in her right mind?”

How could they say such things after feeling the energy just now? It was about a person who, at the age of twenty-one, took the position of an academy professor as a high expert.

She couldn’t understand those who mocked the fallen Eden Kainus.

Of course, there might be those who mock the fallen state, but spouting random words about how long ago they felt that energy, who do they think they are?

Most of those mocking him would never even touch his footsteps throughout their lives, let alone end their lives.

“Do you not think so?”

To Jizel, who thought so, the young ones suddenly threw a question.

“Oh, huh? What? Sorry. I didn’t hear you because I had something on my mind.”

“Oh my, right. He’s the successor of Kainus. Wouldn’t it be easy for Jizel to entangle himself if he set his mind to it? He was so handsome that I’ve never seen a face like that.”

Jizel inwardly shook his head at those words.

Crazy women.

They probably don’t know because they’ve never had a conversation with him.

Whether it was Kainus or whatever she felt, Jizel was never a person to bow his head to others.

Born with the potential of an emperor, even if he fell, would he play the role of a clown?

Especially considering the inexplicable resentment he showed to himself, it would sound absurd in an instant.

However, instead of rebuffing the young ones with such words, she chose to smile.

No matter how talented and capable, in the end, the young ones in front of Jizel would be more helpful than Edun Kainus.

“Haha, well, I don’t know.”

Because of that, he just spoke vague words and passed over it.

How long had they walked when the guides for the test-takers stopped their steps?

“Please wait here.”

The test-takers were gathered in a spacious hall. The place itself was large, but with over a thousand people, it was so crowded that it was chaotic.

“…What are we supposed to do here?”

Should they just wait randomly? Jizel tilted his head.

To Jizel like that, numerous people came forward and said they wanted to be on his side.

It was only natural. According to the rules heard just now, it would be easier to set up a faction in advance and attack other people.

As Jizel was thinking about such things and calculating about those who should be on the same side in his mind, a moment later, a voice echoed.

[Then, let’s teleport the test-takers to the area where they will take the exam. The teleportation destination is completely random.]

Upon hearing those words, Jezebel furrowed her brow. Like this.

“Preparing in advance becomes meaningless,” she said.

It wouldn’t matter if she could join, but the possibility of joining was uncertain.

Realizing this, in the moment she tightly gripped her staff, Jezebel teleported.

After a moment of feeling a queasy sensation in her stomach, when she looked around, all she could see were countless trees.