On Thursday, the sharp scratch of pencils echoed through the tense classroom. Every cadet was hunched over their desk, cramming for the looming exams just days away.
"Man… I'm itching to hit something or run around!"
Of course, there was always one cadet who couldn't stand studying. Lila Dawn's entire body radiated pure boredom.
"My body's healed, but sitting here all day is making me stiff."
The incident was reported globally, and all combat training was suspended as Diamond's executives came under formal investigation. Until exams, our curriculum shifted to review sessions and theory-based classes. For someone like Lila Dawn, who thrived in practical training, it must have been difficult.
"Exams are next week. Hit the books hard, or you'll regret it when the results drop."
Saul Mayne chuckled beside her. as a diligent student, Saul was decent at written exams—but not quite top-tier. So whenever he had questions, he regularly sought out Mira Roodes for help.
"Um, Mira, can you help me with this question?"
Mira Roodes glanced at the problem Saul Mayne brought to her.
"… Can you please remember my last name for once?"
"Oh, yeah, sorry."
I stifled a yawn as I observed them. Then a gentle poke on my shoulder caught my attention. I glanced over to Rachel, who handed me a sheet of paper—another tough problem. She'd been coming to me for help with these, though I hadn't even caught her voice. Lucky she wasn't pestering me anymore.
[Suppose a dungeon boss is an advanced-level elemental spirit. The dungeon consists of multiple stages, each filled with several low- and mid-level monsters. If this dungeon is considered medium in size, what can be said about the mana concentration throughout the dungeon, and how large should a party be to successfully complete it?]
I had no idea. Would this even be on the exam? I glanced at Rachel, who tapped the desk while looking at me expectantly. I figured I should answer using my gift—Observation and Analysis might solve this, or I could use World Knowledge and spend some Stigma points.
[An advanced-level elemental spirit boss usually maintains a moderately high mana concentration throughout the dungeon stages. Medium-sized dungeons often span several floors, with mana density increasing gradually as players progress. To manage mana usage effectively and maintain stamina, a well-balanced party of a moderate size is recommended to take on and clear the dungeon safely.]
I quickly jotted down the sentences that appeared before me on a scrap of paper and handed it to Rachel. Her eyes instantly widened. She pressed her face close to the paper, carefully examining every calculation.
Ding dong—
The bell rang, signaling the end of class, but few cadets stood since it was just a self-study session. Most stayed focused, studying diligently. I, of course, planned to head back to the dorm—after all, that's what smart students did. As I packed my things and notes, a shadow fell across my desk. I looked up to see Lila Dawn.
"
"Hey, help me study."
She smiled sweetly as I stood up to leave.
"…I don't want to."
"What? Why?"
"I don't have time for that."
Written exams started next Monday—less than four days away—so her grades wouldn't improve much. Besides, I had no way to help her.
"H-Hey! Um, please! How about a study guide on dimensional theory?"
She sounded desperate, but I walked away without a word.
---
The written exams passed in the blink of an eye. From Monday's first test to Friday's final, the days rushed by. I felt confident I answered everything correctly. Initially, I planned to aim for an average score, but worried about struggling in the combat exams, I pushed myself to avoid falling behind.
It was Saturday, just two days before the combat exams began on Monday. During the exams, Diamond opened its doors to cadets' families, hero associations, and all institutions that employed heroes. Naturally, the academy buzzed with activity.
"Oh, it's Diamond rank 116, Jim Junha! I saw you on YouTube. My son is a fan. Can we take a photo?"
The combat exams resembled more of a celebration than a trial due to the crowds. It struck me as strange that teenagers battling one another was seen as a celebration, but this was Cube's custom.
"We're at Diamond, the world's top hero academy…"
Reporters from approved broadcasting companies also showed up. Since heroes were like celebrities, they had to get comfortable with the cameras.
"There sure are a lot of people."
I sat in Hero Theme Park, right at Diamond's heart. The place buzzed with crowds, almost like Magic Kingdom.
"Ah! Paul!"
Someone called my name. Tap tap. I turned in the direction of the footsteps. It was Izuki.
"Paul, what are you doing here?"
"Oh… Just taking a break. Who are the two behind you?"
"My parents. This is my mom, and this is my dad. Mom, Dad, this is my teammate."
"H-Hello."
I shook hands with Izuki's parents. They smiled warmly and spoke something in Soria. Since I didn't understand, I simply returned their smiles.
"Paul. His name is Paul Wayne."
Izuki introduced me as they asked for my name. After hearing it, they grasped my hands gently, repeating, "Paul, Paul." Not knowing what they said, I just nodded and replied, "Yes, yes."
After the farewells, Izuki walked off with her parents. Once again, I sat alone on the bench, the emptiness beside me louder than words.
Huuu... If only my parents were still in this world...
Just as I indulged in wishful thoughts, someone stood out in the crowd.
A woman moved slowly through the bustling park. Her long black hair trailed like drifting smoke, and her obsidian eyes shimmered with quiet intensity. A haunting grace seemed to dim the world around her.
I felt like I knew her. She was the last person I expected to see. One of the few wanted criminals on the Hero Association's blacklist, the leader of the Numbers, and the person who inherited the leader position. She disguised herself with countless identities, but I was the only one who knew her real name.
She halted without warning and slowly turned, locking eyes with me. I glanced away, but my body locked up. Her stare squeezed the air from my lungs. Cold sweat broke across my skin.
"…"
Just as my thoughts were about to scatter, she turned away.
Clack, clack. Her heels echoed as she disappeared down the corridor.
"Haa… Haa…"
I collected my breath after the immense pressure.
Suddenly, as I turned, I felt her gaze on me again. My instincts roared. I had to say something to explain why I stared at her…
With a gulp, I muttered, "Uhh… look at those birds in the sky…"
She tilted her head slightly, then walked off warily.
"Whew."
I let out a sigh of relief. Thank God she didn't recognize me.
I almost forgot. She might come.
However, heroes from the association currently patrolled Diamond.
"I'm looking around constantly, but everything's normal," Jonathan Oh, an S-Rank hero, reported.
"There's no one out of the ordinary. Let's just go grab lunch."
"Just focus." Julia Seo, one of the strongest heroes in the A ranks, responded. She was as sharp as always.
Several heroes in disguise served as security after the Drake Bowman incident before the combat exams. The Hero Association had also sent them to investigate.
"Let's grab some cake."
"Shut it. Focus on anyone suspicious."
If the Numbers clashed with them, it wouldn't end with just one or two corpses.
---
Clack, clack.
A woman stepped into the Ruin Store. She paused, eyes scanning the desolate shelves, confirming she was alone.
Then, in a low whisper:
"Someone saw me."
The store was empty—eerily so. Not even a shadow stirred. Yet a voice echoed up from beneath the floorboards.
— Really? Maybe you're just being paranoid.
"No. He definitely saw me."
— Pfft. Are you sure, Boss?
"Do you want to die?"
— Alright, alright. Just saying—maybe the artifact's acting up.
Her gaze dropped to the pendant around her neck, an artifact meant to cloak her identity. She checked her reflection in a dusty shard of mirror.
"It's working. Perfectly."
— So someone saw through it? That's impressive. High perception, maybe. I'll dig into it. Do you remember his name? His face?
She narrowed her eyes.
"Stop pretending. You saw him too."
— Huhu, right, right. I'm on it. Already pulling the threads. Give me a sec.
Tadak, tadak.
Fingers flew across unseen keys. The woman looked up, eyes tracing the fractured ceiling above, waiting for the report.
---