The atmosphere was heavy with anticipation as the instructor, Noir, stood at the center of the field, his sharp gaze fixed on the gathered students. Beside him stood two women, their presence commanding attention. One of them, with long, flowing red hair cascading beneath a pointed witch's hat, held a long staff in her hand. Her stunning face carried an air of authority, and her voice was firm yet melodic as she stepped forward to address the students.
"I'll now announce the top three students," she began, her voice carrying over the murmurs of the crowd. "The rest of the results will be shared by the instructors beside me."
The students tensed, their excitement and anxiety palpable.
"Third place, Mira," the woman declared, her tone steady. "3,000 points."
A soft ripple of applause followed as a young woman with green hair stepped forward, her face beaming with pride.
"Second place, Alan Veckron," she continued, her voice unwavering. "4,500 points."
The crowd's reaction grew louder, a mix of awe and admiration directed at Alan, who stood with a confident smirk.
The woman hesitated slightly, her eyes flickering toward Noir before she announced the top position.
"First place," she said, pausing just long enough to heighten the tension. "Dante. 25,600 points, and additional 1000 points, 26,600."
The words hung in the air like a thunderclap. For a moment, there was only stunned silence before whispers broke out among the students.
"Did she say 26,600?"
"That's got to be an error!"
"How is that even possible?"
The disbelief in their voices was evident as their gazes turned toward Dante. They scrutinized him, from his calm demeanor to his impressive physique, trying to make sense of the result.
Dante, however, remained unfazed by the murmurs and gossip. His expression was neutral, his eyes showing no concern for the opinions of others.
The red-haired woman continued as though unaware of the commotion. "For the remaining students, your results will be shared by the instructors near you."
As the other instructors began announcing the results, it was revealed that out of over 1,000 participants, only 200 students had passed. Among them was Emily, who had scored 600 points after managing to kill six goblins. Her face lit up with relief as she realized she had made it through.
Noir stepped forward again, addressing the crowd with his commanding voice. "To those who passed, the academy has prepared dormitories for you. You may pay your points as a fee to secure your accommodations. You will have one week before lessons officially begin. Use this time wisely to prepare yourselves."
The students let out collective sighs of relief, grateful for the reprieve. They began to follow the instructors leading them toward the dormitories.
Dante and Emily walked side by side, their footsteps blending with the chatter of the other students. When they reached the dormitory reception area, they were greeted by a friendly receptionist who explained their accommodation options.
"One room shared with three other students: 50 points," the receptionist began, her tone professional.
"Double room, shared with one other student: 150 points.
"One apartment for individual use: 500 points.
"Villa: 1,000 points.
"Mansion: 5,000 points."
Emily's face flushed nervously as she glanced at the options. She smiled faintly, trying to hide her embarrassment, but Dante noticed her hesitation.
He turned to the receptionist and asked, "Can two students share a villa?"
The receptionist nodded. "Yes, as long as you have the points to cover the cost."
"I'll take the villa," Dante declared. "And this student will be staying with me."
Emily's reaction was immediate. "No!" she protested, her voice flustered. "I can't—"
Dante smiled, his expression calm and reassuring. "It's fine. You can pay me back when you're able to."
Tears welled up in Emily's eyes as she looked at him, her voice soft with gratitude. "I'll never forget this. Thank you."
The receptionist, slightly dazed by the exchange, clarified, "The villa is 1,000 points, not 100."
Dante merely smiled. "How do I pay?"
The receptionist gestured toward his watch. "Place your watch here."
Dante extended his hand, and the watch emitted a soft glow as 1,000 points were deducted.
Current points: 25,600.
The receptionist's eyes widened in shock. "Did that just say 25,600?" he thought to himself, inwardly reeling from the sheer number of points Dante had accumulated.
Dante asked for the key to the villa, and the receptionist handed it over, personally leading them to the luxurious accommodation.
When they arrived, Dante and Emily stepped inside, their eyes taking in the opulent space. The villa was vast, with multiple rooms, elegant furnishings, and all the comforts one could ask for.
Dante gestured toward the rooms. "You can pick whichever one you like," he told Emily.
Emily nodded shyly, choosing a room and disappearing inside while Dante made his way to his own quarters. His room was spacious, with a king-sized bed and an attached shower. After freshening up, Dante emerged, dressed in clean clothes, and headed to the kitchen to cook.
As he worked, Emily hesitantly stepped out of her room, her nervous demeanor making her movements cautious. Dante glanced at her and offered a warm smile.
"If you're up, let's eat together," he suggested.
Emily nodded, taking a seat at the table.
Dante finished preparing the meal and set the plates before them. As they ate, Emily broke the silence. "How did you manage to score so high in the exam?"
Dante leaned back, considering his answer. "I've trained in dagger techniques for years. Combined with my mythical creature's abilities—high stamina and durability—I could handle the goblins easily."
Emily's eyes widened. "Your mythical creature… What is it?"
"Vampire," Dante said nonchalantly, revealing his fangs with a small smile.
Emily gasped. "A vampire? One of the strongest mythical creatures? But… how can you walk in the sun?"
Dante shrugged. "I'm not sure. Maybe I'm a hybrid."
Emily nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense… hybrids are rare, though."
Curious, Dante asked, "What about your mythical creature?"
Emily hesitated before revealing, "It's the Caladrius bird."
Dante froze. He recognized the name immediately—it was a mythical creature tied to his family lineage, and then again he remembered his states, displayed an unawakened bloodline, that mus be the case. Only direct descendants of the Aelric family were known to awaken this bloodline.
"Are you… related to the Aelric family?" he asked cautiously.
Emily frowned, genuinely confused. "No, I've never heard of them."
Dante studied her face but decided not to press further. "Interesting," he murmured, filing the information away for later.
After finishing their meal, they retired to their respective rooms. Lying in bed, Dante activated his watch to check his stats.
---
Name: Dante
Level: 15
Bloodlines: Dragon, Vampire, Phoenix, (Ca$#^@s) [Unawakened]
Skills: Fast regeneration, X-ray vision, high durability, high stamina, dragon aura
Techniques: Master of daggers
Points: 25,600
Shop: [Available items will be delivered to your house upon purchase.]
---
Dante noted the increase in his level and the newly unlocked shop feature. This will be useful, he thought, a small smile playing on his lips as he drifted off to sleep.
---
End Chapter 9.