The second round, the Kido talent test, ended before anyone knew it. Gilgamesh had achieved the best result, with Rukia coming in second.
The candidates who had passed the first two rounds were now making their way to the venue for the third round: the swordsmanship talent test.
The test was held at the outdoor dojo of Shin'o Academy.
The swordsmanship talent test was a highly subjective assessment.
Candidates were tested by sparring with an examiner.
During the match, the examiner would evaluate the candidates' swordsmanship talent based on a range of factors, including their temperament, willpower, flexibility, reflexes, strength, and speed.
At first glance, candidates with a background in swordsmanship seemed to have an advantage.
In practice, however, the examiner would adjust the difficulty to account for each candidate's experience.
The more swordsmanship experience a candidate had, the stricter the examiner would be, and the harder the test.
After all, only a more difficult test could reveal a candidate's true talent when they already had a foundation in swordsmanship.
The captains who had been in the monitoring room had now moved to the outdoor dojo as well.
Of course, they didn't show themselves. Otherwise, the candidates would probably be too nervous to focus on the test.
They were all hidden in a nearby loft, watching the swordsmanship talent test.
More precisely, they were watching Gilgamesh.
They wanted to see how talented Gilgamesh was with a sword, and whether he would amaze the world just as he had with his spiritual pressure and Kido talents.
There were three testing stations for the swordsmanship talent test.
This time, Gilgamesh, Renji Abarai, and Rukia had been assigned to the same station: the third one.
The examiner at the third station was the only woman among the three examiners. Her name was Miho Kano.
Most of the candidates assigned to the third station couldn't help feeling relieved.
They assumed that a female examiner would surely be weaker than a male one.
Since the swordsmanship talent test was also highly subjective, they figured they would have an easier time getting a good score.
Renji Abarai felt the same way, though his reasoning was clearly different from everyone else's.
When he saw that his examiner was a woman, Renji couldn't help sounding disappointed. "Why does it have to be a female examiner? I wanted to fight one of the male examiners."
At that, Rukia's expression turned displeased. She asked angrily, "Renji, what do you mean? Are you looking down on us girls?"
Seeing Rukia get angry, Renji was a little intimidated, but he didn't change his mind. He tried to explain, "I'm not looking down on girls, but when it comes to swordsmanship, girls are naturally inferior to boys."
Renji's explanation did nothing to calm Rukia down. Instead, it drew angry glares from the many girls around them.
A faint killing intent closed in around Renji. He swallowed nervously, then looked to Gilgamesh for help, his eyes full of hope. "My king, you agree with me, don't you?"
Gilgamesh's wine-red eyes flicked to the side. Then he replied with amusement, "No. I don't agree."
Gilgamesh could sense that the killing intent surrounding Renji came from Miho Kano.
She had clearly heard Renji's words and was already displeased.
Up in the loft, the captains all reacted differently when they saw that Miho Kano was Gilgamesh's examiner.
They all knew Miho Kano, of course.
Miho Kano was a middle-aged woman with long black hair that fell over her shoulders and black-rimmed glasses. She gave off an impression of intelligence and gentleness.
But that was only the surface. Miho Kano was one of the few teachers at Shin'o Academy with strength on the level of a lieutenant, and she was also one of the academy's vice-principals.
Swordsmanship was what she took the greatest pride in.
Miho Kano usually kept to herself. She had no interest in other matters and spent her days immersed in swordsmanship. She was a true sword fanatic.
Given Miho Kano's temperament and position, she shouldn't have been serving as an examiner for the entrance exam.
Once they realized this, the captains glanced toward Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
The only person present who could get Miho Kano to do something was Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
That was not only because Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto was the principal of Shin'o Academy, but also because he had once guided Miho Kano in her swordsmanship.
Later, after realizing that Miho Kano's style wasn't suited to his own, he stopped teaching her.
Though Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto had never acknowledged it, Miho Kano had always regarded him as her master and held him in great respect.
Once the captains learned that Miho Kano was Gilgamesh's examiner, their already heightened interest grew even stronger. They couldn't wait to see Gilgamesh face off against Miho Kano.
With the captains eagerly watching, the third round of the swordsmanship talent test began.
At the third station, Miho Kano wore a gentle expression. A bamboo sword without an edge hung at her waist. Looking at the candidates around her, she spoke softly. "The test at my station works on a voluntary basis."
"If you feel ready, come forward and take the test."
Miho Kano paused briefly, then continued, "One more thing. If no one comes forward to take the test within five minutes, you will all be considered to have voluntarily given up. This rule will remain in effect throughout."
Miho Kano's words caused quite a stir.
Since the rule remained in effect, it meant that after one candidate finished, if no one else volunteered within five minutes, all the remaining candidates would be considered to have given up voluntarily.
This placed an invisible shackle on the candidates' minds and made them feel pressed for time.
As time passed, the number of candidates dwindled, and they began to understand Miho Kano's strength. That sense of urgency would turn into crushing pressure.
Candidates who lacked the right temperament and willpower might even break down on the spot.
After speaking, Miho Kano said nothing more and quietly waited.
The candidates looked at one another. Though they were glad to have drawn a female examiner, none of them arrogantly assumed they could beat her in swordsmanship.
Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated.
None of them wanted to be the first to step forward. They wanted someone else to go first so they could see Miho Kano's strength and prepare themselves.
That way, they would have a better chance of getting a good score in the tests that followed.
In the end, they all turned their eyes toward Gilgamesh.
In their eyes, Gilgamesh was the most outstanding candidate, so he would surely be the first to step forward and take the test.
As if to confirm their guess, Gilgamesh took a step forward.
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