Shield Academy
Said to be the most prestigious and best academy in all of Myrniel, only the most elite and talented could join the academy. And that is only if they pass the entrance exam of Shield.
In Shield, everyone is equal. It doesn't matter what status or race you are. All that matters is that you have strength. The academy is meant to nurture their students into heroes. Though that is what they say at least...
Currently, Lucas was standing in front of the academy as it was bustling with people of various races entering. He was wearing some wireless headphones.
Yes...
He finally bought a phone, and not only that but also some wireless headphones, while listening to classical music. Even in his previous life, he always preferred classical music as it calmed his mind most of the time. Mozart and Beethoven were his favorites to listen to.
Today was the entrance exam of the academy. He was dumbfounded as he gazed at the 'academy.' It looked like a whole mini-city instead!
He could see three different paths that led to the academy. The first path was for those who wanted to join the academy, and they would have to do various tests first to see if they were even qualified to participate in the entrance exam. At least 80% of the people on the first path would fail the tests.
The second path was for those who wished to watch the entrance exam. His mother, who was with Lena, Luna, Lucielle, and Dylan, must already be inside one of the exclusive rooms where they would watch the entrance exam, as they left earlier than him.
A privilege a mere viscount family shouldn't have...
Lucas was currently taking the third path as he arrived in front of a gate with a guard standing by. This path was meant for high nobles or famous people that would cause a ruckus if they took the first path.
So much for equality...
Not many people were on this path as he took off his wireless headphones and put them in his [inventory].
"Name?" the guard asked without glancing at him, as he kept watching some list on the board he was holding.
'In this day and age?'
"Lucas Nightstar."
Hearing his name, the guard suddenly snapped his head towards him. He kept looking at his face as if scrutinizing him. Lucas was used to this ever since he arrived in Zaphyr.
Rumor of being The White Devil, rumor of being involved in the kidnapping attempt of the elven princess, rumored to rival even her who is the strongest champion currently, and the recent attack on the Nightstar estate—Lucas was basically a celebrity at this point.
Though he didn't show anything on his face, he kept his unfazed and calm demeanor. After a while, the guard realized that he was taking too long and snapped out of it.
"R-right, apologies. You may enter. Please keep going straight until you reach the main academy building."
Hearing him, Lucas nodded as the gate opened and finally entered Shield.
'I wonder if Sylv is already here...'
********
After some more walking, since any vehicle isn't allowed in the academy, he arrived in front of the main building. It was honestly quite huge, but as futuristic as it was, it was also beautiful, filled with green life at the same time.
Looks like the academy wants to make all races comfortable.
Entering the main building, he found a reception desk meant for those who were qualified for the entrance exam. Walking towards the reception, he saw an old woman with glasses typing something on the computer.
'How come she isn't as old-fashioned as that guard...'
"Name?"
"Lucas Nightstar."
The same scene happened again like with the guard. But not just that, the moment he said his name, the entire room got awfully quiet as they silently all gazed at Lucas. After a while, she snapped out of her daze as well and apologized.
"Please follow the hallway to the right and enter room number 12."
Lucas nodded and did what she said while ignoring the annoying gazes. Arriving in front of the room, he heard sounds of people talking lively and enjoying themselves.
As he opened the door and entered the full white room with no windows or anything, he gazed at every person inside. He didn't see Sylv anywhere, as she must not have arrived or was probably in another room.
The room suddenly became dead silent. Everyone's gaze turned towards Lucas. Annoyed, yet not showing anything on his face, he calmly walked towards one of the walls and sat down, closing his eyes.
As he tried to enjoy the peaceful quiet, which he actually just found awkward, he could hear the people inside start whispering.
"Hey, is that..."
"Lucas Nightstar, who is known to be The White Devil..."
"S-scary... just being in the same room as him feels like I can't breathe properly..."
"Yeah, tell me about it..."
'Huh!? What do you mean scary? I haven't even done anything to all of you!' Lucas screamed inside his mind, though his face remained calm as if he didn't hear them say anything.
"It is rumored, right? That he rivals the elven princess..."
"Crazy... this whole year is crazy. How are we supposed to pass this entrance exam?"
"R-right, I already heard that the second hero of humanity is here and also the elven princess..."
'Hmm? So she is already here, but then she must be in another room, huh.'
"It isn't just that... I heard a rumor that one of the three great dukes' sons is attending the academy as well. Leonne Velheim."
"Not only that, even the daughter of Richard Frostheart, who is the founder of the number one guild in the human domain, Frost Guild, is rumored to be here as well. Amaya Frostheart."
"C-crazy... this whole year is crazy."
"No wonder our generation is called the second golden generation..."
"All of these people are champions... and one of them is currently in the same room as us."
"Holy shit..."
"But those are rumors, right? Perhaps they aren't real."
"You think these rumors just appeared out of thin air? Just look at him, I can already tell that he is just above us all."
"Yeah, you are right..."
"Monsters... This whole year is filled with monsters..."
'Looks like this entrance exam is going to be quite interesting.'
Suddenly, all the whispers and Lucas' thoughts came to a halt as they all felt the presence of someone appearing in the room.
Without anyone noticing, a man wearing a black suit with black hair and grey eyes was suddenly standing in the middle of the room. Lucas snapped his eyes open and narrowed them at the mysterious man.
'A grandmaster, huh... and was that space magic or something else?'
Before he could think any further, the man spoke.
"Welcome to Shield Academy. I am one of the teachers here in the academy. My name is Julius Cordis. Now, if you all would please follow me, we can finally begin the entrance exam."
As he said that, a door suddenly appeared on the wall behind him and opened. Everyone, without objecting, followed the man inside the room and saw comfortable chairs for all of them with a headset on top of those seats connected with some thick and long cables into the ground.
'Aren't those VR headsets?'
"For the entrance exam, you will all be sent with the other participants that are in the other rooms into a virtual post-apocalyptic city that is overrun with monsters. You don't need to worry, as when you get killed by a monster, you will simply be sent back to reality, but that would mean instant disqualification."
"What you must do to pass the exam and enter the academy, you will know once you enter the virtual world."
"Now, any questions?"
No one asked a question since it was pretty straightforward and easy to understand.
"Good. Please select a seat and wear the headset so the exam can finally begin."
He ordered, and everyone picked a seat and started wearing the headset on their heads. As Lucas wore the headset, he only saw darkness surrounding him as he looked around. After 10 more minutes, he heard a voice coming from the room he was still in.
"The exam shall now begin," Julius said as Lucas suddenly saw countless stars appearing in his vision. In the next second, he felt his consciousness being pulled somewhere as he didn't resist the sensation.
The last thing he heard before his consciousness finally slipped away was Julius saying
"I wish all of you the best of luck."
[AN: Looks like we finally surpassed half a century of chapters! Thank you all for the support I have received until now. We are finally entering the academy arc, which I am eager to write. My upload schedule is still a mess, but please make sure you join my Discord to know when a new chapter will be uploaded!]