Eleanor de Rivalin.
The girl with the auburn hair and blue eyes stood there, barely holding back the nausea that was now an aftereffect of the [Forced Transmission].{1}
Even as her mind raced.
She hadn't forgotten the shocking sight she had seen a moment ago.
'Nox von Reinhafer… How did that bastard wake up first? No, it was as if he never collapsed in the first place....'
But how was that possible?
A spell just cast by the dean, Noah von Trinity.
It was something that Eleanor, who had studied the theories in advance, could not have failed to recognize. It was one of the intermediate magic, [Forced Transmission].
'She must have launched all the cadets in the auditorium to this island in one fell swoop, Noah von Trinity… I've heard that she's quite the character, but I didn't expect this.'
But there was a more serious problem.
Nox von Reinhafer.
He headed off into the woods alone.
It was a choice that made no sense.
"I don't understand," said Vernon, the balding instructor. "In this test, you can go with someone else and they'll give you the same score, as long as you find the gem correctly.
Is there any reason to go it alone in such a situation?
'Of course, it's not unreasonable for an asshole like him to be overconfident in his abilities, but I can't believe he was the only one keeping his wits about him in that maelstrom of magic.'
Even if Nox was the scion of a prestigious family, it didn't occur to him that he would have learned magic from another mage.
Many of the best mages on the continent are here in Eldain.
And unlike swordsmanship, magic is a far more dangerous discipline.
Even the slightest misstep early on can warp one's powers, and there is no repairing it.
Due to the restrictions of the Imperial family, it cannot be properly mastered until adulthood.
What does that mean?
That means he must be doing something else.
'Of course, he may have been born a genius, but I doubt it.'
She had seen him before.
At a society party that night, Eleanor was deeply hurt.
She had been verbally abused by Nox, and her young mind had closed herself off.
From then on, Nox was a brat that had no talent with a sword.
His magic might be a little different, but he's a scumbag with a bad temper.
Do you think he practiced magic to the best of his ability when he abandoned swordsmanship?
Probably not.
Eleanor was convinced that Nox would not be able to play a role this time. She quickly redirected her thoughts.
What she needed to focus on now was the test.
'Here, Instructor Vernon told the cadets that they could die, but that must be a lie. I can sense the movement of people with great power around us. They must be instructors, waiting to save the cadets.'
Eleanor made a cold judgment.
Moreover, to have an accident in the presence of all these noblemen's children?
And those children die?
That would tear even the most powerful nation, the Arkheim Empire, apart.
"A petty threat.
Eleanor already knew what her instructors meant.
As the daughter of a merchant family, she had already inherited many things.
Someone who was already trained to read minds and perform.
That was Eleanor de Rivalin, and there was no one here who could fool her.
Furthermore, Eleanor was accustomed to finding blind spots in any situation.
Like, for example, the current situation.
"Hey, would you like to team up with me?"
"What? But I'm the firstborn of House Felix. I can't just team up with anyone...."
As she addressed the nobleman, the noble boy furrowed his brow in confusion. Eleanor, however, did not change her expression.
"Oh no. It's a shame, because for those of you who help me… as a member of House Rivalin, I was planning to give you a decent reward."
At Eleanor's words, everyone's eyes immediately focused on one place.
House Rivalin.
The godfather, the colossus of the capitalist economy.
The rewards Eleanor de Rivalin could offer would make any nobleman's eyes glaze over, even a duchess.
She knew this, and she was ready to take advantage.
Besides, Vernon had been clear at the beginning.
To pass this test with her talents.
And Eleanor's talents lay elsewhere, not in battle.
The colossus, and the eyes that saw through people.
An eye for manipulating them.
-I, I will be with you!
-I will go with you!
-Our House Hudders…!
Looking at the cadets now gathered around her, Eleanor grinned like a fox.
"Try to impress me with your abilities."
Just like that.
She smiled gently, and from there, the situation was exactly reversed.
* * *
Spit.
'By now, according to the original, the prospective students have split into three factions.'
I mused as I used my sword to cut down the vines in front of me.
In the Entrance Exam, the player's customizations determine their relationships with units and their options.
Why haven't I mentioned this before?
In Inner Lunatic, detailed customization can be a huge barrier to entry for players.
The first episode is where it really kicks in.
"Whether your character is a noble or a commoner, even how many talents they have and what kind of talents they have… all of these things affect the player's choices.
After much deliberation, players customize and enter the first episode.
The generic units are grouped together around the main unit.
The result is three large factions that players can join.
The first is the golden laced group, led by Eleanor de Rivalin, the 'Golden Fox'.
Note that these are the only three main factions players can choose from.
'I actually tried to find a way to get into Eleanor's group again and again… but it was impossible.
No matter how I customized her, no matter what unique traits she had, the return script was the same.
[Oops, all the people I was thinking of are already full – sorry, you'll have to wait for the next one].
…it was.
The reasoning was clear.
'Because Eleanor has a special role in this episode.'
Well, it still doesn't change anything.
If the player has the [Genius] talent, there's a script that adds it.
[Well… that being said, I'm sure we'll be together soon enough, because me and House Rivalin are always after all things golden].
This is the result of Eleanor's passive skill, Eye of the Colossus.
An eye that judges the value of an object.
That's how she recognized the value of the [Genius] trait.
Afterward.
The [Genius] talent gives players a favorability boost whenever they interact with Eleanor.
In other words, it takes an overwhelming amount of talent to get through to her.
'...That's not relevant to me anyway.'
No matter how talented or not, I'm the exception.
I don't know exactly because the likability system isn't open yet, but I'm guessing Eleanor's likability for Nox has already hit rock bottom.
Sh*t.
Barely suppressing the unnecessary resentment, I composed myself and continued walking diligently.
'Well, whatever,' I thought, 'I'll put aside what I can't do about it and try to think of something more helpful.'
I decided to think about the three main factions I would encounter in the second half of the entrance exam.
Even if I decide to go it alone, it is inevitable that I will eventually meet them and build relationships.
Also.
Any group tends to stick together with people who are like them.
There will always be some who stand out from the crowd.
'It's a good idea to have some information about each unit in mind.'
For example, the first faction.
This is the orthodox aristocratic faction based on Penelope von Arkheim, the Empress of Cold Blood, and Echidna von Zeinoth, the Serpent of Greed.
They discriminate against the commoners in a subtle way. There is also a sense of dislike for them, which leads them to ignore the commoners in many cases.
This leads to one big fight in the main story in Chapter 5, which results in the deaths of several central characters.
In many ways, we're in for a bloody episode.
The second faction is the exact opposite of this.
The loser of the East, a wandering knight who goes by the name of Ashen Erie.
A faction of commoners led by Parakelsus, a man with ashen hair and a distinctive monocle.
They are forced to fight their way through the forest on their own merits, but with the help of a brilliant leader, they pass the test with relative ease.
Parakelsus.
He is the strongest unit, and one of the best characters in Inner Lunatic.
Even his initial stats are stronger than any spawned character, so there's no need to explain them.
A character who can peak on his own if left alone.
Because of this, you'll need to wait until the end of the story to get him in Inner Lunatic. In other words, he's a scam character, so you can't train him early.
The third is a small, elite faction composed of two of the three major Dark Houses.
This faction is led by Leon von Marvas and Lana von Sader.
They specialize in resurrecting the dead and curses of pestilence. They use illusions and other means to hunt down demons, and while they are few in number, they are no match for the others.
There is no denying that they are monsters, and their destructive power is undeniable.
Leon, for example, is the scion of House Marvas, wielder of the Necronomicon, or Book of the Dead, which I used on Carl in the past.
Although he is now weak, his power is still immense.
Lana's unique situation as a demon half-breed and her succubus status make her a force to be reckoned with. In many ways, she's a collection of monsters.
Like any good academy cliché.
Anyway.
The following three factions are at odds with each other, not just here, but in other events as well.
The division extends to the dormitories, and the conflict is even more intense....
I'll save this for later in the assignment.
I can feel something coming this way right now.
Pow!
(paas! – dig)
I stomped on the ground with both hands on my sword, holding it vertically in front of me.
I then slash at the creature in front of me.
[You have killed a kobold. Your health is increased by 2 hours].
It's not a particularly meaningful hunt. There's nothing to be gained. But at least it proves I've come to the right place.
I became excited.
'There's something I need to do here to get the highest-grade gem, which means the black gem.
I was the first to enter the forest.
I hunted beasts in an almost game-like environment.
I've walked around and checked out the map.
Now all that's left is to use my game knowledge to optimize the situation.
I know what the beasts in the area are weak to, and where the best gems are. I already have it all figured out.
For now, it's best to get my hands on the hands and conditions that will give me the advantage.
I poke around in the corners of the forest and find a small cave.
This is the den I found after defeating the beast.
This is a path often traveled by kobolds, mostly those that inhabit dark mines and the like, so its sturdiness is far superior to other paths.
It's a quick way up, and at the top of this forest is, of course, what I want.
That's why I've come this far.
Without hesitation, I stepped inside.
The message that followed made me even more excited.
[You've found the hidden route to the first main story, "Entrance Exam"].
[Reach the top and you'll get an extra reward].
As I listened to the message, I reminded myself of one fact.
'The jewel with the lowest magic power hidden in this forest. It is embedded in the heart of the boss monster.'
Also, I'm scouring this place like a hunt for that boss.
A black gem and a skill scroll. My heart races at the thought of it being mine.
* * *
After Eleanor builds a faction based on her capital.
Parakelsus, the core of the commoner faction, also united with them and quickly disappeared into the forest.
Leon and Lana von Seyder, members of the underworld, have also vanished.
There was only one remaining.
It is now time for the heavy-assed nobles to confer with each other and decide who will take whom, the time of choice.
The loudest voice in the room is, by far, the most vocal.
The Cold-blooded Princess.
Penelope von Arkheim. She was a fair skinned character with beautiful blonde hair and golden eyes that she inherited from her father.
She was similar to Nox in that she exuded a unique and mysterious aura, but her popularity and the amount of goodness she portrayed in the game made the comparison embarrassing.
Nox was a scumbag, and Penelope was an pariah. She had the support of all the people of Arkheim.
"We should probably organize a party and take the test."
One of her own people. That's what Echidna had said.
Echidna is from the continent's only family with divine elemental magic. She was the eldest daughter of House Xenos, and the one who would inherit the family name from her father.
She was the star of the family.
'Serpent of Greed'.
That was Echidna von Xenos's nickname.
As a result, from an early age, Echidna had been in close contact with the Princess.
Penelope was like a little sister to her.
Echidna thought to herself.
'If I can serve her well here, it will help House Xenos grow in the future. It would also make me more acceptable to my father.
To further strengthen the position of House Xenos, it is essential to have strong connections with the imperial family. Echidna was well aware of this.
Finishing her calculations, she quickly bowed and said.
"If you don't mind, I'll gather the most outstanding party members, and you can stay here and await. I'll see what I can do."
Penelope thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Please."
"Thank you."
Echidna nodded, her face beaming with excitement.
Her dark pinkish hair and unique reptilian eyes shine against her pale skin. Then she shouts.
"I am the one who serves the Princess Penelope. I am Echidna von Xenos. I will give you the opportunity to serve her. Will any of you come with me?"
The room falls silent for a moment, and then an uproarious chorus of voices fills the room.
-I, I will go!
-Please let me join you!
-Give me a chance to fill in for the Empress!
While everyone was pleading one by one.
There was one girl, alone and sullen.
Talia von Steiner.
She was Knox's unofficial fiancée.
'Nox… where the hell did he go off on his own…?'
Of course, she didn't expect him to take her.
This is a test, after all.
It would be unchivalrous to clear it with someone else's help!
'But maybe we could talk for a while and then go....'
He's still my unofficial fiancé.
As she puffed her cheeks and ran her hand through her hair, someone spoke to her. She looked up, and there was a girl with dust-pink hair.
Echidna nodded with a look of relief on her face.
"I see. You must be the second daughter of House Steiner. Come with me. I need a knight of your caliber to serve alongside the Princess."
"Yes… ? Oh, hey, wait a minute!"
Before she knew it, Talia had joined Echidna's party.
She already had a relationship with Echidna. It wasn't a bad offer for the shy Talia.
Of course, having the Princess by her side was a bit much. It was a bit of a burden, but....
She had to take on the forest with someone, after all. She hadn't expected to be part of a team so suddenly, but there was no other way.
She couldn't help but nod.
"Okay… I'll do it...."
Talia missed Emma and her apple pie more than ever.
…Oh, except for the spiders, of course.
* * *
That Time.
There was an unknown shadow following Nox.
A small, petite girl.
She followed behind Nox and gave him a bloodshot smile.
"Seems like a pretty useful talent, eh… I'd better make sure we're not letting a lion cub in, or an imposter, eh!"
She munched on a stick, and watched as Nox began to climb through the forest.