I Became The Academy’s Narrow-Eyes

< Chapter 20: Fight (1) >

“Hah…”

“Miss Adryn, why are you sighing so much? Is something bad happening?”

“…”

Adrian looked at her chest and Ceylon’s with a determined expression.

The number 17 was written on both of them.

“Um…”

When she glanced at the number 17, Ceylon snapped his fingers.

“You don’t seem to like the number 17 very much. Do you think it’s an unlucky number?”

“Yeah, from now on, 17 will be an unlucky and annoying number for me.”

“Well, even though it may be an annoying number for you, it’s also the grateful number that brought us together.”

“It’s because this number is tying you and me together!?”

Ugh!!!

Adryn ruffled her voluminous orange hair with both hands.

“What? A group test? I’ve never heard of such a thing before. Well, there’s no problem with a group test itself. But why am I in the same group as you?”

“Miss Adryn. Just out of curiosity, do you have multiple personalities or maybe twins? I’m confused if you’re the same person who helped me earlier in my academy life.”

“Idiot! That has nothing to do with this!”

“Oh really? So they’re different stories? Oh well if it’s not impolite can I ask how they’re different?”

“I said I would help you adapt to the academy life but never said anything about helping you pass exams! This exam is important to me too!”

Adryn couldn’t hide her disappointment as her carefully laid plan fell apart.

The corners of Ceylon’s mouth formed a grim arc as he watched her.

“By the way, Miss Adryn. I, Ceylon, am surprisingly not a bad fellow to have as a colleague through this trial.”

“What?”

“I indeed achieve similar scores as yours in the second exam despite being ranked sixth while you were third.”

Upon hearing those words, Adryn widened her eyes.

“Hey! That’s ridiculous- How can you have similar grades as me? I’m third place and you’re sixth place! I should be tied with Drin and Kasha!”

“Hmm~ But-”

Ceylon trailed off as she stared at Adryn.

“Oh, no. Never mind. Ah! By the way-”

He changed the subject to divert attention from their conversation.

“What are your goals for this exam, Miss Adryn? Since passing is already a given for someone like you, surely you must be aiming higher. Oh, are you aiming for top spot like me?”

At that, Adryn burst out laughing.

She opened her mouth while rubbing her hazy eyes.

“Ceylon. Does Ceylon mean fool?”

“Oh, my name has such deep meaning…! I didn’t know until now. Yes, Miss Adryn. Did you call me?”

“You talk about aiming for top positions but aren’t you the fool who doesn’t understand the topic like me?”

“Well, it seems that ambition is not in your nature.”

“Ambition? Look at what I’m doing right now.”

“No, Miss Adryn. Think about it once again. Here we go – look at this: The entrance ceremony.”

Ceylon began speaking with a serious expression on his face while pointing his index finger up.

Adryn interrupted him mid-sentence.

“At the entrance ceremony when they announce the top honor everyone will be waiting eagerly to hear Drin or Kasha’s names being called out. Can you imagine how thrilling it would be if my name were called out instead?”

“What? How!?”

Ceylon stepped back in surprise.

“Do you know how many times you’ve said that stupid thing since meeting me?”

“Ohhh… to think that you don’t aim for first place with such insight… what a waste!”

“Actually, from what I see now your goal is just empty talk about surpassing Drin and Kasha and taking first place.”

“Hmm… Then what is Miss Adryn aiming for?”

“Me? Well, for now, I’m aiming for around 30th place.”

“Oh… Around 30th place…”

Adryn glanced at Ceylon and her brow furrowed.

“What’s with that reaction?”

“Oh, I think it’s impressive. Among all these people, aiming for around 30th place!”

“No. No way. When I saw your face just now, it wasn’t the face of someone who thinks it’s impressive.”

“…Then what kind of face was it?”

“It was barely holding back from saying something stupid kind of face.”

Ceylon stepped back in surprise once again.

“Do you have the ability to read other people’s minds!?”

“No, right now what I need from you is the ability to get rid of you. And coincidentally, I happen to possess that ability.”

Adryn stared at her own fist without blinking.

“Miss Adryn, please show mercy. Isn’t being ranked around 30th place too low for someone like you?”

“Ha…”

Talking to Ceylon seemed to drain her in real time.

Adryn sighed in exhaustion.

“Ceylon, you fool.”

“Yes, Miss Adryn. Whose have the most Beauty, mercy, tolerance-”

“Shut up. I think you’ve had a little taste of the, uh, high air, and it’s ruined your sense of reality. The people who will rank at the top in this entrance ceremony are those who live in a different world than us. Realizing that even for a moment is the path we must take for ourselves. Understand?”

It was a calm yet lonely sight unique to those who had encountered the wall of reality and succumbed to it.

Ceylon looked at Adryn meaningfully, then smiled a smile that was even more meaningful.

“You underestimate yourself too much. In my opinion, Miss Adryn possesses enough talent to stand alongside those individuals.”

“What do you know?”

Adryn chuckled while shaking her head but couldn’t hide her disbelief at Ceylon’s conviction.

How could anyone tell her that she had the talent to rival Drin and Kasha?

It was only possible for this foolish man.

“Well, come to think of it, your words make some sense.”

“Yeah! That’s right! Why not aim for first place instead of just following behind Drin or Kasha?”

“Other than that, you idiot, you’re not that bad as an assistant!”

The third exam is a three-man team.

Counting Ceylon, there’s still one more person left.

“If that remaining person happens to be either Kasha or Drin… then maybe it’s not impossible for us to secure first place in the third test…”

“Miss Adryn. With all due respect, isn’t that a bit too much to ask for? As if I’m not good enough…”

“Shut up! Why have you been talking so much since earlier? I told you to behave!”

She blushed and shouted in frustration.

“And also! What’s wrong with this situation? I’m sure others are thinking the same thing as me!”

Adryn was right.

“Does anyone know Miss Drin’s number?”

“Where is Miss Kasha?”

“I heard Miss Drin is over there!”

“Let’s check their numbers first!”

The waiting room was filled with chaos.

All participants were united in calling out for Kasha and Drin.

Please! Let us be in the same group as them!

“I don’t know what the test is exactly, but if you’re in the same group as them, at least you won’t be eliminated.”

“Well, that means… it’s not just me being weird!”

“But Miss Adryn, please think about it. If we surpass that duo-”

“Oh, shut up already! Just follow along!”

“Where are you going?”

“We need to find our other teammates.”

Adryn and Ceylon followed the flow of people inside the waiting room.

“It seems like you’re trying to find those two instead of our other teammates.”

“Yeah! I want to be in a group with them and crush the test! Any objections?”

“Of course not, I agree with you!”

“For real…”

They had been flowing through the waiting room for quite some time now with opposite expressions on their faces.

A large crowd gathered into view.

Surely either Drin or Kasha would be among them.

“There they are!”

Just as Adryn was about to lead Ceylon by his sleeve, someone called out to Ceylon.

“You. Wait.”

In turn, Adryn stopped and looked towards where the voice came from.

It was a faction consisting of more than ten noble participants – an appropriate term would be “clique”.

At its center stood a woman dressed flamboyantly in armor named Adella. She glanced up and down at Ceylon before turning to the man standing next to her – Melhen.

“Is this him?”

As soon as Adryn saw Melhen’s impressive figure, she remembered that he had been in their group during the second test.

“Yes, this is him.”

Upon hearing Melhen’s response, Adella looked at Ceylon with a raised eyebrow and spoke in an authoritative tone.

“You there, stand properly so I can see your number.”

“Hmm? Ah! So you’re curious about my number. Here it is.”

Ceylon stood upright obediently to “show his number,” causing laughter to erupt from the crowd.

Adella also covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

It was a laugh filled with disdain.

“You’re quite good at following orders. Contrary to what I’ve heard, perhaps we should say you are faithful to your duties.”

“…”

Adryn’s expression crumpled clearly upon witnessing Ceylon being treated like an underling or toy by Adella.