The world Mika lived in was called Lorw.
Demons began to invade Lorw 500 years ago and with them, the first monsters were sighted. Those monsters were based on mutated animals and beasts. On the other hand, demons looked like humans on the surface. Aside from their appearances, one could differentiate a demon from a monster due to their strength. That meant that a high-ranked monster was only as strong, if not weaker, than a low-ranked demon.
At the same time as the invasion, many humans began to awaken their magic power. And since then, humanity focused on training people with magic in order to exterminate demons and monsters.
Roughly 200 years later, the 66 mystic relics started to spawn across the world and no one could explain that phenomenon, however, those relics helped out a lot against humanity's enemies.
"I think I can see the academy already!" Mika, who was currently riding his horse, stated in excitement.
[It's about time. After all, we entered the borders yesterday.]
Lorw was divided into five nations.
Mika's village was located in the biggest nation of Lorw. The nation of Malnor.
Contrary to Malnor, Loogam itself was the smallest nation and located in the middle of Malnor.
"I can't wait to finally relax… I've been fighting with monsters every time I took a small break…" he said tiredly with a sigh.
[Those were just small fries.]
"Yeah, yeah. They may have been all C-rank monsters, but they came in large groups." Mika replied annoyed.
"Ah, speaking of ranks. I'm excited to finally get my rank!" he added with a childlike grin.
[You sound pretty happy despite being against the idea of joining the academy a few days ago.]
"Oh, shut it. I'm trying my best to overturn a bad situation into something more positive!"
[I see.]
Every human was eligible to get a rank assigned as long as they enrolled in a magic facility. One of those facilities was naturally Loogam.
Those ranks were based for example on one's magic power and one's physical ability.
Only people with an official rank can apply for professions that require magic or take on missions that earn money like killing monsters.
[We're about to enter the academy. Let me remind you that you mustn't talk to anyone about me.]
"Yes, yes." Mika answered nonchalantly.
When they still lived in the village, the system did not care about him telling others about him. After all, in the system's eyes, they were just normal villagers who did not possess great knowledge about magic and relics. Despite that, Mika's parents were a miscalculation, but in the end, the system was reassured that the parents would not tell others or try to harm their own child.
The system had to be careful. If certain people were to hear about its existence, then its plan could be hindered.
Mika descended from his horse when he saw two guards standing in front of the academy's gates.
"Hey, you're not from here! State your business!" one of the guards yelled.
"Ehm, I'm here for the entrance exams…" Mika answered sheepishly with an awkward smile.
"The exams?"
The other guard was doubtful and leaned closer to Mika as he analyzed him.
Mika was wearing his old clothes like any other day and only had his rusty sword on him.
"Y-you want to take the exams in this getup?"
"Pfft… I see, I see. W-well, good luck…"
"T-thanks…" Mika replied confused.
The guards tried to hold back their laughter, but as soon as Mika passed them, they were heard crying from laughing.
But he did not care. He looked forward. He was finally at the academy.
Loogam. The, from a wall surrounded, capital, or rather the only city in that nation, was the largest in the world and had everything other cities had as well like shopping or entertainment districts, workshops for crafting weapons, food stalls, and many magic facilities.
The size of the city was one of the reasons, Loogam earned the title of a nation. Another reason was, of course, the greatest magic academy in the world, Loogam.
The academy itself was in the middle of the city and was surrounded by a wall, too. But in comparison to the outer walls, it was easier to enter the academy than the nation.
[It's not noon yet, however, you should still hurry up.]
"Yeah, I know." Mika responded seriously.
He brought his horse to the stalls near the gates and made his way to the academy's entrance where multiple people his age gathered.
"…"
Mika stood still with his mouth agape.
[What's wrong?]
It was his first time seeing the academy up close. He saw the academy from a distance while riding his horse, but he was still astonished by the building that looked like a cathedral.
"The building is way bigger than I could have ever imagined…" Mika stated completely astonished.
[I can understand if you're smitten by the building but do this another time. You have a mission, remember?]
Thus, Mika approached the mass of people.
Everyone was chatting with each other. They were the same age as Mika and also seemed nervous about something.
[Looks like they also want to take the exams.]
Mika nodded.
However, amidst the mass of people and the chattering, something else stuck out like a sore thumb.
In front of the mass, a few people, whose auras differed from the rest, stood there and observed them.
Standing in the center of those people was a woman seemingly in her late twenties. She had shoulder-length purple hair, sharp yellow eyes like Mika, and a mole under her glossy lips. She wore a short golden robe, which only covered her torso's upper half, and a white military-like uniform stressing her alluring womanly features.
They were barely visible due to her robe, but on her chest were multiple badges.
Beside her were other people, who were not much older than Mika and wore similar-looking uniforms like the woman. However, their uniforms, including their robes, had red color schemes.
Almost an hour passed when a change in the atmosphere was noticed.
The woman at the front took a step forward.
"Alright, everyone listen up! All of you have gathered here to enroll in our prestigious academy. However, naturally, not everyone can enroll here. If I have to guess, then I'd assume that there are about 2000 of you today." the woman shouted in a calm demeanor.
"Here, we produce the best of the best, therefore we won't just let any person enroll. It's us, who decide who can enter or not. You may think that you will just have to take a written test or show your magic power and that's not far from the truth, but here we do things differently." she continued.
"Those written and magic tests will only determine your ranks, but in order to get accepted here you just have to do a little mundane task…" she said with a sinister tone and smirk.
"A little task only?"
"That sounds easy!"
"They are more lenient than I thought."
The people around Mika began to mutter among themselves.
"Seems like I got nervous for no reason." Mika commented as he shrugged his shoulders.
[Don't let your guard down.]
"Hm?"
Mika tilted his head a little.
Then, the woman raised her right hand and pointed with her hand at the crowd.
"!"
Suddenly, multiple lightning struck the ground causing the people to panic.
"W-what is going on?" Mika wondered anxiously.
[Calm down.]
As soon as the system said it, the lightning strikes stopped.
Smoke emitted from the ground and burn marks were left on it.
The examinees, including Mika, speculated at first what the point of the lightning strikes was but soon they realized that the burn marks left by the strikes created a circled area.
In that area the examinees still had a lot of space making it even possible to run freely around.
"Well, then…"
With those words, the woman entered the circle.
Her sinister expression did not leave her face.
"Let me introduce myself. I'm Ophelia Ross and I'm your instructor for this exam!" she stated with her arms crossed.
"If you want to pass this exam, then you only need to survive for three minutes. Those who get knocked out, leave the circle, or concede their defeat will be disqualified." Ophelia explained indifferently.
Mika pondered for a moment.
Why did it feel like she was confident in taking all of them out?
The answer was obvious.
Because she had the power to do so.