Academy’s New Guard is Unusual - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

‘Time is tight.’

I looked at Evangeline and Andy, then turned away.

I raised my hand slightly, and a Magic Car stopped in front of me.

The Magic Car was a mode of transportation that used mana stones, and its shape was similar to a car. It could run indefinitely as long as mana stones were supplied. Thanks to the magic tool seats, the ride comfort was also top-notch.

If there was one fatal drawback…

‘It’s expensive.’

Since mana stones are expensive, the Magic Car was naturally expensive as well. It was to the point where even nobles couldn’t use it carelessly.

Of course, money is not an issue for me.

I hopped into the Magic Car.

“Where to?”

“Elysium Academy, please.”

“Yes, understood.”

The Magic Car started smoothly. It moved as smoothly as if riding on a cloud.

The Magic Car left the capital and moved along the long, paved road.

Soon, huge white towers appeared in the distance. It was Elysium Academy.

It looked the same as what I saw on the monitor, but seeing it in person felt fresh.

‘It’s fucking huge, and fucking flashy.’

Endlessly stretching lush green grass, white marble fountains, and lively students in academy uniforms.

I realized my possession anew.

The Magic Car stopped in front of the main gate. That was because one couldn’t ride a Magic Car inside the academy.

As I got out of the Magic Car, I saw a man in a guard uniform—a blue short-sleeved shirt and black pants—guiding the way.

“The Guard Corps test site is this way.”

It was exactly the same as what I saw in the game.

However, seeing it in person felt different.

‘It looks pretty pathetic.’

I picked up my leather bag and headed in the direction the man pointed.

Tense people were gathered in one place. But the number was quite large.

‘At least over a thousand.’

It seemed to be because Elysium Academy was massively reinforcing its security due to the influx of new students this year.

The level wasn’t high overall. In the first place, the Guard Corps wasn’t a major role in the game either.

In a way, it was natural. If the Guard Corps did their job properly in an academy story, the main characters—the students or professors—wouldn’t have anything to do. For the main characters to stand out, the Guard Corps had to be incompetent.

That was exactly the reason I chose the Guard Corps.

I intended to make the academy an atmosphere for studying, not romance. For that to happen, the Guard Corps had to function properly.

Just then, a man in a guard uniform stepped forward.

“Alright! I will begin the General Guard test! The General Guard test is divided into a total of 4 stages. Stage 1 is-.”

“Identity verification!!”

A blonde giant raised his hand and shouted. The guard man who saw the giant openly scowled.

“Kelin, you still haven’t given up? What number is this?”

“It’s the fifth time! Giving up goes against the Guard Corps spirit!”

“What Guard Corps spirit for a guy who hasn’t even passed-.”

“My soul is already in the Guard Corps!”

Laughter erupted noisily. The man clicked his tongue and gestured.

“I got it, so shut up before I fail you.”

“Yes-! Senior!”

“Anyway, the Guard Corps test is divided into 4 stages. Stage 1 is identity verification. The Guard Corps is the gate that protects Elysium Academy. It’s fatal if an impure person is mixed into the Guard Corps. We have already checked up to your grandparents. Now, those who are called from now on, leave immediately.”

The man quickly called out names. Those who were called made excuses, but without exception, they were all kicked out. Some were forcibly grabbed and dragged away.

I had already spent a large sum of money to prepare a solid identity. So that even if the Imperial Family investigated, there would be no chance of getting caught.

As expected, my name was not called.

Once the identity verification was over, the number of applicants was cut in half.

“Now, Stage 2 is basic physical fitness verification. When something happens inside the academy, the Guard Corps must be the first to rush over. Even if you’re sleeping, it’s the same.”

The physical fitness test consisted of things like long-distance running while armed, moving luggage, and holding a shield. Since it was simple, there was no room to cut corners.

“Damn it! Who arms themselves so ignorantly these days!”

A guy who looked like a delinquent grumbled next to me.

‘This is heavy?’

I lifted the armor slightly.

It was too light. I wondered if I could even call this armor. With such thin armor, it couldn’t even block a monster’s teeth, let alone a demon’s.

If this were the front lines, I would have been cursed at for bringing leather armor, but they say it’s too heavy-.

‘Weaklings.’

Just then, the bell signaling the start rang. Everyone ran out quickly. I ran roughly matching the pace of the others.

Everyone collapsed after not going very far. Some guy even foamed at the mouth. It was such a pathetic sight that I couldn’t help but frown.

That’s how the Stage 2 test ended. About 150 out of 500 dropped out.

“Stage 3 is ideology verification. It’s a simple test, so it will end quickly.”

The next test was about the Empire, Magic Tower corporations, the Theocracy, and black mages.

It was a simple test, just as the examiner said. Everyone started writing answers as soon as they sat down. Before long, guys started leaving the test site.

However, unfortunately, it wasn’t easy for me at all.

‘To stop the Republic, the Empire must be strong.’

‘It wasn’t a trade, but I was forced to have a heart transplanted.’

Mine-like questions like the above continued for a while.

On top of that, a high-level magic circle was installed on the test paper.

‘They hid magic that prevents writing lies.’

It was a magic circle so precise that it was hard to recognize. It was clearly created by a very high-level mage.

Then, I saw the last question.

My eyes sank deeply at the out-of-the-blue story about a witch.

Now I know the reason why such a precise magic circle could be installed.

‘The Headmistress created it.’

It was clearly created by the Headmistress, the mother of witches.

Since it was a magic circle created by the Headmistress herself, it was impossible to break it with magic.

The simplest way to break a magic circle is to use Aura, which is compatible with magic. But then, traces would remain. The attempt to break the magic circle itself would arouse suspicion.

To avoid leaving traces of breaking it, one needs to fully grasp the magic circle structure, but since it was a magic circle created by an Archmage, just grasping it would take an eternity.

Still, there was one other solution.

‘I can use divine power.’

Magic is poison to divine power. Therefore, it was actually easier to find the traces of the magic circle if I used divine power. Because I could trace back the parts where the divine power disappears.

It was a method I frequently used.

‘Damn blessing-.’

A pure white light, divine power, was lightly sprinkled from my palm. By tracking the parts where the divine power wavered, I could easily grasp the magic circle.

I moved the pen without touching the magic circle. It resulted in bad handwriting, but I didn’t care about that.

I looked at the completed answer sheet and pondered for a moment.

The Headmistress, the mother of witches, does not engage in any external activities. It’s because she hates sunlight.

Above all, the Headmistress was extremely cautious. To the extent of installing a magic circle even on the Guard Corps recruitment test paper.

Opportunities to contact the Headmistress like this are rare.

I needed to throw some bait.

I took a deep breath and slowly moved the pen.

‘No.’

Every time I wrote a letter, a nausea that felt like blood rushing backward through my whole body rose up.

To think that a magic circle merely engraved on a test paper had this much power.

‘A monster. Is she an Archmage after all.’

Thump, thump, thump! My right heart pounded as if wagging its tail. My left heart trembled as if screaming.

I twisted the last answer slightly. It wouldn’t be noticeable to others, but it would be noticeable if the Headmistress saw it.

‘Bite.’

I muttered low and put down the pen.

“Is it something that takes that long?”

The examiner scolded.

When I lifted my head, there was only one guy left in the test site. It was the guy named Kelin.

I can understand myself, but why is that guy-.

Just then, Kelin held up his answer sheet. It was filled densely.

“The paper is too small to contain my Guard Corps spirit! Please give me one more sheet! Guard Corps spirit!!”

“Seriously, what the hell-. Get out quickly!”

Thanks to the noisy Kelin, I was able to submit the test paper safely.

“Headmistress! Headmistress!! Headmistress!!!”

Angelica pounded roughly on the tightly closed door. But there was no answer.

However, she didn’t think things like ‘Is there no one inside?’. Because that gloomy witch wouldn’t be wandering outside.

“If you don’t open it now, there will be no more Hongcho candy!”

In the end, Angelica brought out her ultimate move. As soon as those words finished, the door swung open.

Inside, there was a lake surrounded by a forest and a cabin. It was a truly incongruous sight, but strangely, it felt natural.

In the center of it was a small cat. The cat was wearing a strange hat and fishing. It was a truly unrealistic sight, but it was a familiar scene to Angelica.

“Headmistress, why did you put a story about witches on the Guard Corps test paper! You, of all people, know best how sensitive a topic witches are!”

“Meow.”

“Don’t pretend to be a cat.”

“Meow?”

“Where in the world is there a cat that wears a hat and fishes!”

“Meow.”

A vein popped on Angelica’s forehead. Angelica brought out her trump card. It was Hongcho candy, which gave off a pungent scent.

The cat’s eyes widened upon seeing the Hongcho candy. The cat opened its mouth urgently. Strangely, a girl’s voice flowed out.

“I can’t help it. My daughter asked me herself.”

“Daughter?”

Angelica’s expression became serious.

The Headmistress was the mother of witches. The problem was that all of her daughters were not in their right minds. It wasn’t for nothing that they were called the Sisters of Calamity.

But for it to be a story related to her daughter. It’s a more serious problem than I thought.

“What did she ask for?”

“To find her first love.”

“A witch’s first love?”

“Meow.”

Witches are a race crazy about love. It sounds romantic at first glance, but the reality was the exact opposite.

A witch’s love was for the two to become one forever.

Physically, and spiritually.

In other words, a witch ate the one she loved.

Alive.

“And if you find him?”

“Well.”

The cat tilted its head. It was a truly cute sight, but Angelica, who knew the truth, groaned.

Angelica shook her head and tried to shake off her anxiety.

“Don’t witches only love those stronger than themselves? Would someone with skills equal to or greater than the Sisters of Calamity enter as a guard, not even a professor?”

“You never know.”

The cat smiled softly. At that, Angelica was genuinely relieved. Because there was no way a powerhouse comparable to the Sisters of Calamity would enter the Guard Corps.

There won’t be any problems.

“Meow.”

Just then, the cat extended its front paw. Angelica habitually took out the Hongcho candy and placed it on the paw.

Soon, the pungent scent stung her nose.

“Meow.”

The Headmistress purred.