Episode 2

A new semester.

It was a term that typically signified an exciting new beginning. Yet for me, it was akin to entering hell.

“I’m going crazy.”

With a deep sigh, I slumped onto a bench.

Too many people surrounded me.

Far too many.

Fresh-faced boys and girls clustered in small groups, accompanied by either parents or friends and relatives.

They were all here for one reason – to take the entrance exam offered by the Korean Hero School.

I, too, was among them.

“Look over there. Is that the prodigy from England? I heard he’s already been given the title of ‘Great Master.’”

“The German genius, Edvalen, is here as well. My teacher mentioned that Hong Yu-hwa, the genius of the Red Magic Tower, would be attending…”

“Wow, seriously, why is this happening? This year’s candidates are insane. I even heard the Overlord’s child is here.”

Sighs echoed all around me.

The Korean Hero School.

Though that was its name, its prestige was unmatched worldwide.

‘It’s only natural.’

The school boasted not only outstanding instructors and state-of-the-art facilities, which other countries also had, but it possessed something more.

The Tower of Trials.

A tower that dispensed trials and rewards accordingly.

And this entrance exam was predicated on the trials set by the Tower of Trials, rewarding students based on their performance.

That’s why I must secure my admission as the top student.

There was no shortage of competitors.

A boy endowed with the full might of the Thousand Year Pulseless and the world’s strongest magician.

A fantastical girl possessing the soul of a transcendent being from another realm.

A loser who couldn’t control their own power and was forced to conceal it.

A madwoman who always collected an arm and a first whenever she encountered a Mine.

‘But it’s still manageable.’

Luckily, I had ample time to prepare for the entrance exam.

There was sufficient time to ready myself for various eventualities, so it was manageable.

And most importantly, I possessed the Heaven Defying Body.

At first glance, it appeared to be a completely useless talent.

In a world where magic was almost everything, a body that cannot use magic seemed disadvantageous.

In fact, veterans in the community even considered this body useless.

But for this entrance exam, nothing could be better.

It was like a ‘bug’. A constitution that pierced through the blind spot of the Tower of Trials.

‘Although it’s only for one-time use.’

I reviewed my plan once more and entered the auditorium.

-All new students, please take your seats!

It was about to start.

Students gathered in groups—some nervous, others confident.

I casually took a seat at the back.

There were about 3,000 students taking the entrance exam. At least a third of them present here would likely fail.

Soon, the seats in the auditorium began to fill.

…But perhaps because I sat too far back, no one took the seat next to me. Feeling a sense of isolation, I suddenly sensed someone approaching.

“Is this seat taken?”

A voice, confident and female.

Turning my head, I saw fiery red hair and eyes.

She sat down in the chair with a haughty expression, not waiting for permission.

Her captivating appearance would make any man take a second look.

Hong Yu-hwa.

She was known as the Red Lotus Conqueror. Not as prominent as the competitors mentioned above, but still a formidable figure.

I used the Talent Viewing (-) privilege I had received as a special bonus.

Her status window appeared before my eyes.

I compared it with the early version of Hong Yu-hwa from the game.

‘There are no differences from the game.’

I felt relieved but also sighed.

Her talents and skills embarrassingly outshone mine.

Her abilities were immediately apparent. In a hundred battles, I wouldn’t win a single one.

…But that was no reason for me to despair. I would have the last laugh.

After sitting next to me, Hong Yu-hwa stared at a corner of the room.

A gender-neutral, handsome boy with sky-blue hair sat there.

The protagonist.

The chosen one in this world.

Kim Seo-hyun.

“Is that the famous guy?”

“Yeah, the one who studied magic under the greatest magician in the world and inherited the Thousand Year Pulseless from martial arts history.”

Not just Hong Yu-hwa, but all the surrounding students either envied or admired him.

They were like students crowding around a celebrity at school.

Hong Yu-hwa harbored a competitive edge toward him. That feeling could turn to jealousy, and depending on her choices, she might commit an unforgivable sin in the future.

I glanced at him briefly and then spoke slowly to Hong Yu-hwa.

“Do you feel competitive?”

“…Are you talking to me?”

Her fiery red eyes turned to me.

“Yeah, you were staring pretty intensely over there.”

“What does it matter what others are doing?”

“I just find it a bit sad. I think you have the potential to surpass Kim Seo-hyun.”

“What?”

“If you fully harness the power of the Red Lotus, you could beat Kim Seo-hyun.”

Hong Yu-hwa looked at me incredulously before quickly turning her head away.

She probably saw me as a sycophant trying to flatter her, assuming I had approached her because of her background, a classic ‘sycophant A’.

I shrugged my shoulders.

Getting any closer seemed impossible for now.

Eventually, the day would come when my advice was sought, step by step.

For now, though, making a strong impression, whether positive or negative, was enough.

“Everyone, pay attention.”

Despite speaking softly, the voice was crystal clear.

I turned my attention forward and saw a muscular man smiling broadly.

“Now, we will start the entrance exam to select the 35th batch of new students for the Korean Hero School.”

Simultaneously, there was a buzz around me.

It was a sign that the Tower of Trials was being activated.

“What, what’s this!”

“It’s finally starting, the entrance exam for the Korean Hero School!”

“All the guilds from China will remember me, Na Weijilong!”

──────────!

An intangible wave swept through the area.

Then, a white window with black characters appeared on my retina.

Who would refuse at this point?

I chuckled and nodded.

“Of course.”

As soon as I responded, a bright light emanated from below.

‘I should get through.’

A flicker of worry crossed my mind.

Heaven Defying Body was a power that rejected all magic. However, the mystical movement of the tower, which fell under its laws, probably couldn’t be rejected.

As I expected, I felt a sense of floating, and my body moved somewhere.

The Tower of Trials was quite tricky.

The monsters that appeared here were all tailored to the level of the users, yet they were difficult to deal with.

For those who have mastered fire elements, it would send water-type monsters or those with strong resistance to fire.

For warriors who used weapons like swords, it sent monsters armored in protective gear.

In other words, most students taking the exam might end up severely injured or would at least risk their lives in battle. Well, since it was not real harm, the issue wasn’t too serious.

Anyway, for this reason, the exam typically couldn’t be finished in a short period.

‘Except for me.’

I looked forward.

A blue portal was there as soon as I arrived in the room.

This was proof that I had cleared the Tower of Trials.

‘It actually worked.’

The Tower of Trials first ‘observes’ those who enter. It then gives a trial suitable for them.

But I was the owner of Heaven Defying Body. Unobservable, I was passed through without being given a trial by the Tower of Trials.

There was no need to execute Plan B which I had prepared just in case.

I casually put my hand in my pocket and entered the portal.

The same mechanical sound as when I first entered rang out.

However, I almost laughed at the mention of additional rewards.

Whoosh!

A burst of light appeared before my eyes, and soon it dropped a dark-colored wooden box in front of me.

The reason why the Korean Hero School was the top hero training institution. It was because when you clear a trial in the Tower of Trials, you would get a reward corresponding to your performance.

‘I set a record-breaking time, so could it be that?’

Anticipation swelled within me.

I tucked the box under my arm.

“…Wait, didn’t the exam just start?”

“What kind of speed is that… Good heavens, he cleared it in just, just one minute?”

Murmurs arose from everywhere.

Sounds of simultaneous astonishment filled the air. Some were making phone calls, others busy gathering information about me.

“Bring me all the student information, now!”

“Guild leader! You need to see this. A student has cleared the Tower of Trials in a record-breaking one minute…!”

There was a commotion.

I walked toward the center stage of the auditorium, where a man watched me with amusement.

He was the one who had activated the Tower of Trials and announced the start of the exam.

“Interesting. Have you fully awakened your talent already?”

His gaze was filled with curiosity.

But his favor didn’t interest me, and I replied with a lack of concern.

“Does this mean I’ve passed?”

“Yes, you’ve passed.”

“Then, may I leave now?”

“Of course.”

“Ah, can I stay in the dormitory here?”

“You’re worried about the scouts and reporters, I presume. Don’t worry. Just head out and enter the most prominent building you see.”

The man gestured toward one end of the room. I nodded politely and made my way in the direction he had pointed.

As I did, a status window materialized before my eyes.

“…….”

The content left me astounded.

I wondered if they really had so much to give away.