PROLOGUE (Part 2)
Adaptation and Attachment
Sleep barely came that night.
Instead...
I spent the hours constructing plan after plan.
Killing the noble would certainly solve the immediate problem.
But it would also create unnecessary complications.
I didn't want my academy admission disrupted.
More importantly...
I had no intention of bringing shame or danger upon my family.
There had to be a cleaner solution.
...
Morning eventually arrived.
I left my room.
The house was unusually quiet.
Both Mother and Father were already awake.
Yet no one spoke.
We gathered around the dining table.
Silence.
Mother finally forced out a small laugh.
"Today's your exam."
"So eat well."
I nodded.
Just as I was about to say something...
Father smiled.
The same forced smile as yesterday.
"Don't worry, son."
"We've got your back."
"...Hm."
There wasn't much else to say.
After finishing breakfast, I stood up.
"I'm off."
"Take care."
Both of them answered together.
I stepped outside.
On the way toward the examination center...
My thoughts remained occupied by only one thing.
That noble.
Every possibility.
Every consequence.
Every method.
Eventually...
I reached my answer.
...
Let's play justice.
-------------------------------
By the time I reached the road leading to the academy's examination grounds, the place was already crowded.
Young men and women from every corner of the kingdom walked toward the massive gates, each carrying their own expectations.
Some were nervous.
Some excited.
Some hid their anxiety behind exaggerated confidence.
...
Then, someone caught my attention.
A white fox.
Or more precisely...
A girl from the
Ice Fox
race.
She wore an elegant white kimono adorned with faint blue patterns that resembled freshly fallen snow. Her long, bluish-white hair flowed straight down to her waist, swaying gently with each step.
Her eyes...
Calm.
Cold.
Beautiful enough to resemble a moon floating in the winter night sky.
Behind her swayed a single, large fluffy white tail, decorated near its base with a blue ring-like ornament.
She carried herself with an elegance that made her appear far more mature than most students her age.
...
Well...
Let's not go there.
The real question is...
Why is an endangered race like hers casually walking around here?
And perhaps an even stranger question...
Why is no one else acting as if anything is unusual?
I continued observing her while pretending to simply walk toward the academy.
The next instant—
"...Ara."
"Stalking?"
A voice suddenly whispered beside my ear.
...
No.
Behind me.
She had vanished from where she was standing.
To an ordinary person...
It would have looked like teleportation.
But I clearly saw her movement.
Ridiculously fast.
A burst of acceleration beyond what an untrained eye could follow.
...
Still...
There was no reason to reveal what I could perceive.
So...
I decided to act surprised.
"Ah..."
"Where?"
"Behind you."
She folded her hands behind her back before tilting her head slightly.
"Stalker."
A confident smile appeared on her face.
I widened my eyes.
"Ah... what did you..."
"When?"
She looked rather pleased by my reaction.
"That was my skill."
"'Junkousoku.'"
She said it proudly before narrowing her moon-like eyes toward me.
"That aside..."
"Why were you staring at me with that bloodlust?"
...
Bloodlust?
"Nah."
"I was just thinking..."
"'White foxes are rare.'"
That answer wasn't entirely false.
She definitely looked like someone from a noble family.
If I accidentally got on her bad side...
My current plan could easily be ruined.
And I'd only end up inviting an entirely different problem.
...
Though...
I won't deny that I'm personally interested in her race.
An endangered species is difficult to ignore.
"...Ara."
She slowly stepped closer.
Close enough that our faces were only a short distance apart.
Her silver-blue eyes quietly searched my expression.
"Are you planning something?"
...
Huh?
How?
For a brief moment, my thoughts froze.
Then—
She suddenly smiled.
"Just kidding."
She turned around as if nothing had happened.
"By the way..."
"Are you here for the entrance examination too?"
She naturally began walking beside me toward the academy.
"...Yeah."
For a few moments, only the sounds of footsteps filled the space between us.
...
She isn't asking about my social class.
Maybe...
I shouldn't ask hers either.
Not yet.
After another short silence, she glanced sideways at me.
"Although you're good at acting..."
"I'm looking forward to seeing your skills during the examination."
"Oh, and by the way..."
"Which card do you have?"
...
Acting?
Did she notice?
...
Either way...
It looks like I should be careful around her.
"I have a White Card."
"What about you?"
Her expression immediately brightened.
"Oh?"
"What a coincidence."
"I have a White Card too."
She gave a cheerful smile before looking toward the academy building in the distance.
"Well..."
"We'll probably be separated during the written examination anyway."
"So..."
"Let's meet again during the practical test."
For just a brief instant...
A strangely suspicious smile crossed her face.
Then she continued walking toward the academy entrance.
I silently watched her leave.
...
I think...
I need to keep an eye on her as well.
For now...
There's still something I need to do before entering the examination hall.
-------------------------------
Hah... I was just about to get caught.
Good thing I activated my concealment skill in time.
That was closer than I would've liked.
Still...
It wasn't a complete waste.
After going through the academy's documents and several records related to other facilities connected to my targets, I had gathered enough information.
Now...
I had a plan.
A usable one.
-------------------------------
I quietly entered the washroom.
After confirming no one else was inside, I activated my skill.
"Clone."
A ripple of mana spread beneath my feet.
A second me appeared.
Then a third.
Neither spoke.
They already understood their roles.
One clone would remain hidden near the mansion of the noble who had accepted Father's bribe.
It would wait.
Only after receiving my signal would it execute the plan.
The second clone had a different assignment.
Inspect the academy's knights.
Observe their patrol routes.
Confirm how quickly they could be mobilized and determine the most reliable way to manipulate their movements if necessary.
Every variable mattered.
The more information I possessed...
the fewer surprises I would have to deal with.
...
If everything proceeds according to plan...
This entire operation should end today.
-------------------------------
I reached my examination room just in time.
Naturally...
I pretended I had gotten lost.
A little incompetence is often more convincing than perfect timing.
I glanced around the classroom.
...
That seat looks good.
Just as I walked toward it—
"Hey."
"Don't sit beside a noble."
"My image will be affected."
A boy looked down at me with a prideful expression.
His expensive uniform, refined posture, and arrogant tone made his status obvious even before he spoke.
"I apologize."
"I don't have anywhere else to sit."
"So... please show me some mercy."
I gave a respectful smile.
"I can guarantee your passing if you don't mind."
I leaned forward and whispered.
He frowned.
"A commoner will help me, you say?"
"Don't joke with me."
His expression mixed disbelief with wounded pride.
...
Interesting.
He's doubting me.
Which means...
there's room for negotiation.
I smiled politely.
"Well, I understand your doubts."
"I would question it too if a random person suddenly made such a claim."
"So if a commoner like me can doubt it..."
"...then a noble and intelligent person like you would naturally be even more cautious."
I paused deliberately.
"But..."
"I believe someone as intelligent as you has already realized that you have very little to lose by trying."
He folded his arms.
"I see..."
"You do have a point."
"But what if you're wrong?"
"Then..."
"I'll withdraw from the examination myself."
His eyes widened slightly.
Then a satisfied grin appeared.
"Oh?"
"Very well."
"Since you're this eager to be useful..."
"I'll allow you to sit here."
The way he looked at me...
It wasn't toward another person.
It was toward a tool.
Exactly as expected.
I quietly took my seat beside him.
------------------------------
The written examination began.
Helping him turned out to be easier than expected.
I subtly guided him whenever he hesitated.
Occasionally...
I even provided answers he already knew.
Trust isn't built solely by solving someone's problems.
Sometimes it's reinforced by confirming what they already believe.
By the time the examination ended...
His confidence in me had grown considerably.
Students began chatting while waiting for the next announcement.
He leaned slightly closer.
"You're quite the genius."
"Would you like to serve as my personal aide?"
...
Convenient.
I had already been considering what my next move would be if he
didn't
offer.
According to the information I'd collected...
His previous aide had died due to his own careless behavior.
Which meant...
He currently needed a replacement.
Perfect timing.
I immediately stood and bowed respectfully.
"May I ask your wonderful name, my lord?"
He smiled proudly.
"It's Alaric von Draeven."
"I see."
"Then..."
"Would it be acceptable if I addressed you as
Draeven-sama
?"
"Heh..."
"I didn't expect a commoner to know proper manners."
I gave a modest laugh.
"Not that much."
"But it is my pleasure to receive praise from someone like you."
His expression softened.
-------------------------------
Before our conversation could continue...
The classroom door opened.
A man walked inside.
Instantly...
The entire room fell silent.
He hadn't spoken a single word.
Yet no one dared continue talking.
...
His mana.
Heavy.
Dense.
Simply standing there created enough pressure to silence the room.
"So."
"Since everyone was kind enough to become quiet on their own..."
"I'll introduce myself."
He scratched the back of his head lazily.
"My name is Valerian Ashrune."
"I might become your permanent instructor."
"...Okay."
"That's enough introductions."
"Now we're moving to the practical examination area."
"Everyone line up according to your assigned numbers."
His voice carried authority.
Yet...
He sounded like a man who would rather be sleeping than working.
A strangely lazy atmosphere surrounded him despite the overwhelming pressure he naturally emitted.
Following his instructions, everyone quietly formed a line.
Including me.
-------------------------------
The instructor began calling examinees one by one.
"Number seventy-six."
"First, dodge the dummy's attack."
"Advance while avoiding the swinging axe."
"Then defeat that knight using either magic, a sword, or your own physical abilities."
"It's fine if you can't defeat him."
"We're only measuring your strength."
His tired expression never changed.
"Here I go!"
Number Seventy-Six shouted confidently before rushing forward.
He barely avoided the dummy's strike.
Almost got hit by the swinging axe.
Then fought surprisingly well against the knight before eventually losing.
"...Pass."
I silently analyzed the entire performance.
So that's the passing standard.
If I simply reproduce what he did...
I can pass without revealing too much of my actual strength.
...
If my assessment is correct...
Draeven also possesses enough physical ability to pass.
------------------------------------------------
"Number ninety-nine."
The instructor called my number.
This time, he repeated the exact same instructions with a skill that simply replayed the explanation automatically every time it activated.
I stepped forward.
The dummy.
Exactly as planned.
The axe.
No problems.
Then...
The knight.
The moment our eyes met...
Something felt different.
His killing intent was noticeably stronger than it had been against the previous examinees.
...
So...
I responded.
Unfortunately...
The sudden change caught me off guard.
For just an instant...
I forgot to hold back.
Clang!
The knight's sword shattered into pieces.
...
...
Oops.
The surrounding students immediately reacted.
Some looked amused.
Some impressed.
Others...
Suspicious.
...
I need to redirect this.
Fast.
I looked directly at the knight with a serious expression.
"My apologies, sir."
"But..."
"Why were you using such a ragged sword?"
My voice carried clear irritation.
Now...
He only had two options.
Either admit he'd intentionally attacked harder than the others...
Or preserve his reputation by agreeing with me.
After a brief pause, the knight spoke.
"Because I can't use a real sword against students."
"Though..."
"You performed well for someone at your level."
...
Interesting.
If his hostility had truly been because of my social class...
There would've been no reason for him to praise me afterward.
Perhaps...
He had simply become irritated in the moment.
Or maybe he disliked seeing someone from the lower classes standing here.
Either way...
The situation had been defused.
Among all the examinees...
There were five other students from the same social class as mine.
I quietly glanced toward them.
...
Maybe...
I should help them too.