Dekan's Pleasant Day

On the day the entrance exam results were announced.

When Dekan woke up in the morning, he did not go for breakfast right away.

After washing up, he pulled open the curtains and bathed in the first ray of morning sunlight.

He stretched both hands forward, keeping his wrists at a right angle of ninety degrees.

His palms faced forward, his elbows level with them.

Then, starting with his pinky, he curled his fingers down one by one.

One, two, three, four, five.

Good.

Then he extended his fingers one by one.

As a Magic Card craftsman, drawing card art was one of the basic skills.

Keeping his fingers flexible was important.

So that he could draw prettier wives in the future.

No, higher-quality card art.

Putting on his coat, Dekan picked up a heavy book from the table and walked out of his room.

Ever since arriving in the Royal Capital, he had been staying at this inn near the academy.

But tomorrow, he would be able to move into the school dormitory.

Once the results were announced, successful applicants could begin moving into the dorms.

Though he had not gone to check, he knew he had definitely taken first place.

After all, he had pulled off an SSS rating.

He could not be bothered to make a trip around the academy.

Starting tomorrow, he could save 200 mint coins a day on lodging!

At the thought of something so delightful, Dekan could not help smiling again.

Heading downstairs, Dekan strolled through the streets. Over the past few days, he had become somewhat familiar with the Royal Capital.

Every building was magnificent.

Whether it was inns, shops, or mansions.

For a boy from a small town like him, arriving in the Royal Capital had given him quite a Mental Shock.

What a cool city.

But the prices were truly high.

People who had always lived in big cities might see it differently.

Dekan thought.

He arrived at a bakery Theresia had recommended, bought breakfast for the day, then carried the paper bag as he continued strolling along the Royal Capital's streets.

His destination was the Royal Capital Library.

The library was not particularly far from the inn.

Even on foot, it took only around forty minutes to get there.

Eating a cheese-filled bun and breathing in the fresh morning air, Dekan unknowingly arrived before the library.

The square building before him covered more than ten thousand square meters and had an overall classical style.

Upon entering the library, one could see the large reading area behind the counter. The first floor alone was dozens of meters tall.

Over the past few days, the knowledge-hungry Dekan had become a regular here.

He was very satisfied with the place.

As expected of the kingdom's largest library.

There were far more books here than he could find in the library of his border city.

If possible, he really wanted to live here.

After walking straight to the counter and returning the book he had borrowed yesterday, Dekan entered the reading area.

He made his way familiarly to the shelves for books on magical principles, crouching down to browse through them.

His teacher had said that his Equipment Cards and Summon Cards were passable, but his Spell Cards were still far too weak.

So Dekan had focused on studying how to make Spell Cards.

After searching for a while, Dekan found three books. Satisfied, he carried them to a desk and began reading.

Detoxification Principles

Resistance Strategies for Mental Interference Magic

Methods for Defending Against Curse Magic

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.

Morning sunlight streamed through the windows, falling across Dekan's face as he read intently at the desk.

"Look, isn't that boy incredibly handsome!"

"He's been sitting there reading every day these past few days."

"He must be a top student who just took Havenlit Academy's entrance exam!"

"I secretly saw earlier that all the books on his desk were about detoxification and curse removal. He must be such a pure-hearted, bright boy!"

The girls behind the counter whispered among themselves, occasionally sneaking glances at Dekan.

Havenlit Academy's Knight Academy.

Professor Arnold sat in his office, staring at the rankings with a complicated expression.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose.

Whenever he saw the name "Dekan," he felt as though some nerve in his head was twisting in pain.

His brain trembled.

It was only after Arnold watched the recording from the Alchemy Academy that he understood Dekan's tricks.

And why he had suddenly passed out from a pain that pierced straight through his skull!

No matter what, Dekan had passed the exam with an absolute first-place score.

But Dekan did not look like a warrior at all.

Even unconventional warriors looked normal compared to him.

That guy was practically a Cult Priest.

"Where exactly did things go wrong?"

He could not help wondering whether there was something wrong with his understanding of warriors.

Or whether this new student was simply too bizarre.

Or whether this world was too crazy...

The entrance exam results board.

"Are we sure the Artificial Shadow World didn't malfunction?"

"No malfunction. I suggest you watch the replay of the fifth round of the Knight Academy exam. It's absolutely spectacular."

"Is he the 'Cult Priest' who knocked out a professor?"

Quite a few students gathered around the results board, chattering away.

Even many older students who had not taken the exam had gathered nearby to watch the excitement.

There were especially many students gathered around the Knight Academy section.

All because the first-place score was simply too bizarre.

The board clearly displayed the rankings and ratings.

[First Place: Dekan. Score: 1.557×10^13. Rating: SSS]

[Second Place: Cornelia. Score: 199563. Rating: SSS]

[Third Place: Gavin Brist. Score: 22367. Rating: S]

[...]

Not far away, a Red-haired Girl looked up at the results.

Her face was expressionless, but her fists were clenched tight, cracking audibly.

This made everyone around her instinctively keep their distance, staring at her fists with lingering fear.

Though she was petite, she radiated the terrifying aura of a wild beast.

If one of those fists hit someone by accident.

They might die!

"De... kan..."

Her clear, bright eyes quivered behind long eyelashes.

Her rose-petal-thin lips moved lightly as she struggled to pronounce those two words.

Quite a few people nearby recognized her as the other oddity from the Knight Academy exam, the "Valkyrie" who had chased after the examiner and beaten him up.

Judging by her expression, was she unhappy?

With Dekan, who had taken her first place?

The surrounding students were curious, but none dared ask her.

She stared at the very top of the rankings for a long time without looking away.

Her frown deepened and deepened.

Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten-thousands...

She counted silently in her heart.

In the end, she could not help lowering her head and counting on her fingers.

1.557 times ten to the thirteenth power...

Just how many digits was that??