I was sitting on a tree branch while whistling a joyful tune.
I was polishing my naval cutlass while observing the battlefield below. Shouts and screams from hundreds of examinees filled the arena.
I enjoyed the moment of respite as I observed the battlefield, the sounds of clashing weapons were like music to my ears.
There in the distance, I could see the main character fighting against three people at the same time while his entire body glowed with a golden light. He was the one born with talent and opportunity.
James Morningstar, the unparalleled genius and the main character of the epic fantasy saga whose name I have conveniently forgotten.
Yes, currently I am inside the novel I had read in my previous life. Unlike most isekai protagonists I lived a fulfilling life until I died at the age of eighty after being unceremoniously hit by a truck. In some unexplained way, I was then transmigrated into the body of an extra from my nephew's book.
If I had a status screen it would look like this:.
*****
Name: Ren Gladius
Age: 18
Title: none
Talent: Language Comprehension
Mana attribute: Null
Physique: Insect-like
*****
Like a true extra, my stats and potential are complete rubbish compared to the main character and his party.
If I had a talent then it would be the ability to easily learn new languages. I realized this when I started learning this world's language. The words and characters simply flowed into my brain as if I was a sponge for ideas.
A beyond useless ability. Other than being good for scholarship and generally showing off it has no real benefit in a world stuck in a medieval stasis. A world with only one language. The Akkadian language.
And the universe as if to spite me decided to give me a null attribute. This way I was barred from using even the simplest of elemental magic. I was limited to body enhancement, simple telekinesis, and tiny wisps of light in a world where most peasants can light candles with their fingertips.
My potential was average, and I struggled mightily just to get to the point where I am today. However, I did not despair, it was the exact opposite; I found it amusing.
I have already lived a successful and fulfilling life. As a young man, I entered the army and then ended up in the special forces. After a disagreement with an officer, I decided to leave the army of my own accord before things escalated and began practicing fencing. It took me a few decades but soon I became the world champion. When I got older, I founded my own martial school where I passed on my knowledge to my disciples but after a few years of perfecting the art of bladed weaponry, I suffered an injury that made it impossible for me to fight ever again. While in the hospital I wrote a book and in the end, I died in a traffic accident after doing some grocery shopping.
Having already lived a life once I decided to take it easy this time and try to just enjoy the process.
Well, today is the day the story of the novel I am in officially begins.
The entrance exam for the most prestigious academy on the continent: Polygon.
This is the first chapter, it's where the novel starts. The main character surprises everyone with his insane skills after getting the highest score on the practice exam despite coming from an unimposing small noble family that does not possess any special techniques.
In this world of swords and sorcery, knowledge was power.
Therefore, everyone keeps their techniques hidden, despite the technology in this world being equivalent to the technology of the early 14th century with the exception of everything using magic to some extent.
The main character's profession was called Curious Dreamer, and his attribute was light. The main character had the ability that transformed his dreams into tutoring sessions. In each dream, he lived as someone else for the duration of his dream. From genius knights to master cooks and shadowy assassins.
A truly overpowered ability and also the perfect one for his role. Later in the story, the continent is… Well, to be honest I don't remember. I barely had the time to read a few chapters before my body was distributed all over the pavement by that truck.
I had transmigrated into the body of the heir of a family of knights called Gladius but upon my parents realizing I wasn't that talented with axes I was quickly stripped of that status. Later my younger brother became the heir because of his talent with Halberds.
After that, I could practice my swordsmanship in peace without having to endure the burden of expectations.
The entrance exam was coming to an end. Honestly, my nephew was quite unoriginal when he wrote the book. Well, the book was never supposed to be a masterpiece, just something his children would enjoy.
I say that because the whole exam was just a large battle royale where you received a point for every eliminated contestant.
The points were displayed above everyone's head with magic and eliminating someone would transfer all of their points to you.
I looked below the tree I was sitting on and noticed the main characters standing there menacingly.
James was in a standoff against the current second-ranked Aaron Nightheart, the heir of the Nightheart dukedom and a spoiled young master who later in the story becomes a villain.
Aaron was lacking five points in order to be able to seize the number one spot and he decided to face the main character and become his stepping stone.
"Surrender now and I am going to spare your childhood sweetheart from being eliminated," Aaron taunted.
"As if you can actually defeat me," the woman standing next to James replied with a fierce look on her face.
If I remember correctly her name was Evelyn Nextshape. The most beautiful character in the novel or something like that.
I looked at the hourglass that was showing the remaining time till the end of the examination and then glanced at the number ten that was displayed above Evelyn's head. A remarkable achievement but it palled in comparison to Aaron's sixteen points and shrivelled in comparison to James' twenty points.
Every elimination was harder than the previous one because you had a limited time and could only partially recover your stamina. There were many who huddled in the corners of the arena looking for easy points. Vultures who exploited the painstaking efforts of honourable warriors.
Well, a man has got to do what a man has got to do.
I stored my cutlass away and counted down until there were just a few grains of sand until the end of the exam and then I jumped from the tree.
The main characters were so absorbed in their argument that they didn't even notice the time.
I felt the air rush past me as I plummeted downward.
I landed with my boot on Evelyn's face and ended up pushing her head into the dirt. Thankfully a protective barrier enveloped her, preventing me from accidentally dislocating her neck.
James looked at me with a mix of surprise and horror before instinctually swinging his sword at my head.
I didn't even bother to try to deflect it as in the next second a barrier enveloped the rest of the examinees.
The exam was over.
I couldn't resist yawning which earned me a contemptuous look from the main cast.