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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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I didn’t ask for her name, but it couldn’t be. The protagonist’s name was Hayden Parker, a masculine name. That cute girl couldn’t possibly have such a name. Maybe she enrolled properly and I missed them.
The protagonist had to exist. If the main story had begun, the Academy would soon be under demonic attack, and only the protagonist could overcome it.
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After the entrance ceremony, the students were divided into two groups: those who passed the entrance exam, and those who entered through recommendation letters. The latter group, admitted solely on the basis of their connections, would now undergo a basic evaluation to gauge their abilities.
Having waited in vain for the protagonist, Hayden Parker, outside until my mind went numb, I slipped into the crowd of students exiting the auditorium.
“You… skipped it after all?”
As soon as I blended in, River, her face scrunched in disapproval, grabbed the hem of my uniform. She seemed upset that I hadn’t shown up at all, despite saying I’d be late.
“I was there. You just didn’t see me.”
“Don’t worry, I could tell you everyone who was in the auditorium.”
“The person I was waiting for didn’t come.”
“Are they even a student? Your seat was the only empty one.”
The only absent student? That couldn’t be right. If that was true, then that girl… was Hayden Parker?
“Why do you care if I skipped it? We just met.”
“We’re fellow freshmen. Skipping group activities on the first day… I’ll be keeping an eye on you.”
River, whom I had met mere hours ago, meddled incessantly before disappearing into the crowd. Was she always like this? She seemed different in the novel.
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I quickly finished the written exam and arrived at the practical skills testing area. Due to the majority of freshmen entering through recommendations, the waiting area was packed. Fortunately, the practical exam didn’t take long, and the line moved quickly.
I scanned the area, but the red-haired girl was nowhere to be seen. If she wasn’t here, it meant she entered through the entrance exams, just like Hayden Parker. The available information offered little hope.
As I waited for my turn, a tremor shook the ground.
-Rumble…!
A wave of awe swept through the waiting freshmen.
“Whoa, the golem’s shattered!!”
“It can be broken…”
“That’s S-rank, isn’t it?!”
“As expected of the Russell heir. That strike was the famed Rock Smash…”
Apparently, someone had destroyed a test golem. The doors to the testing area opened, and the freshman responsible for the feat entered the waiting area.
She was remarkably tall. Well over 180cm, with a sturdy build visible even beneath her clothes. Long, curly black hair, resembling a lion’s mane, accentuated her size, and pale green eyes shone coldly. She carried a massive two-handed sword as if it were a one-handed blade, her image as fierce as a black-maned lion. The epitome of a warrior woman.
I recognized her. Lucia Russell, eldest daughter of the Russell family, whose crest bore a boulder. Like Atlas Titan, she was destined to become a villain, swayed by demonic influence. Given the current timeline, she shouldn’t be a problem yet. Best to avoid interaction and simply observe.
-Next, number 114.
My turn.
As Lucia walked towards the exit and I towards the entrance, our paths crossed. Her eyes briefly scanned me.
“…Small.”
She muttered softly, but my ears caught it.
“Hey, what did you just say?”
Before I knew it, my hand had grabbed her wrist. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have done that. But my actions preceded my thoughts.
Lucia’s face, previously confident, now held a mixture of surprise and confusion.
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Ever since I was young, I adored cute and small things. I loved the flowing golden hair in picture books, the frilly dresses with elaborate decorations. But I could never be like that.
I’m not beautiful…
My unruly, dark hair resembled tangled seaweed, and my body, growing increasingly muscular, was the opposite of cute. So I loved and admired small, delicate things, a love I wasn’t allowed to indulge.
I was destined to inherit the family’s swordsmanship. My femininity was only relevant for bearing children. I was raised as a boy. Instead of cute dolls, I had wooden toy soldiers. Instead of frilly dresses, I wore sturdy leather armor. Instead of elegant dances, I learned our family’s secret sword techniques.
I was overjoyed when it was time to enter the Academy. Enrollment meant dormitory life, away from my parents’ constant scrutiny, free to collect as many cute, small things as I desired.
Emerging from the entrance exam, I felt the gazes of others.
I’m quite strong…
I hadn’t realized, surrounded by stronger individuals at home. I wanted to make friends… but facing my peers directly, I found myself tongue-tied.
-Next, number 114.
Then I saw him.
The perfect little person.
To be honest, it was love at first sight. Beautiful golden hair, a cute and handsome face with a touch of youthfulness, a well-proportioned body despite his small stature. Like a meticulously crafted doll. While I enjoyed the typical short and stout little person, I had never seen such an unrealistically perfect, living being.
A miracle like him, walking and breathing… Was I dreaming? I didn’t know his name, but entering with a recommendation letter implied a prestigious family background. I was glad I came to the Academy.
He was walking towards me, seemingly next in line for the exam. I wanted to befriend this little person, but I couldn’t find the words. Years of sword training left me with little experience in social interaction.
As I hesitated, he passed by. I’d give up on greeting him for now. There would be other opportunities. He was even more adorable up close… so small and cute. Perfect.
“…Small.”
I hadn’t voiced my desire for friendship, but my inner thoughts slipped out.
“What did you just say?”
The little person stopped and grabbed my wrist. I tried to pull away.
It won’t move?
My wrist was locked in place. No amount of force could free it.
“Say that again. What about my height?”
His voice was clearly laced with anger. He seemed offended by my unintentional comment about his height. But even his angry face was cute. The feeling of his small hand on my wrist sent shivers down my spine. I needed to apologize… but I was too flustered to speak. How should I even begin?
“What’s going on? A fight?”
“Why isn’t she pulling away?”
“Fight! Fight!”
“He could blow her away with a single breath!”
“He’s probably going easy on her, she’s so tiny!”
The surrounding crowd began to stare. I wasn’t being spared. I was completely immobilized. How could such strength come from such a small body? It was awe-inspiring. His expression darkened at the comment about his size.
I… I just wanted to be friends…
“I… I just…”
My mind went blank under the scrutiny of so many eyes.
-Number 114, are you here?
“Tch, I have to take the test… We’ll finish this later.”
Like a savior, the call came. He released my wrist and entered the testing area. My wrist was red and swollen in the shape of his hand. I had to apologize after his test…
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Entering the testing arena, I swung the longsword aimlessly. The longsword, slightly longer than my torso, felt like a two-handed sword in my grip, fueling my irritation, reminding me of her words.
Small…
I replayed the encounter in my mind. I shouldn’t have reacted that way. But my anger was instinctive. Living for over a decade in this small body had made me acutely sensitive to the gazes of others. At home, as a Knight trainee, everywhere… the stares, the whispers, the crawling discomfort… I couldn’t bear it.
“I handled it well, though.”
Grabbing her wrist was an overreaction, but it was still restraint. In the past, I would have thrown a punch the moment I heard such a comment. Perhaps I held back because of who she was. Lucia Russell’s past wasn’t a happy one either, similar to Atlas.
I needed to reflect on my actions. There was no need to engage, to draw attention. It was an unnecessary outburst. But I wouldn’t apologize first. She was the one who made the offensive remark.
I had to calm down. Focus on my original goal: disable the golem and get a score between A and B.
The testing arena resembled a coliseum. If I remembered correctly, the golem used for the entrance exam was a PG-17, a sturdy but slow and weak target dummy. Across from me appeared a large, humanoid practice golem, Model 17, identification number PG-17.
Golems were a type of monster, formed by various minerals clustering around a core, capable of autonomous movement. They occurred naturally but could also be artificially created, becoming obedient magical lifeforms.
The test golem, while bipedal like a human, had long, ape-like arms that reached its knees. Unlike natural golems, with their haphazardly attached minerals, its smooth, dark brown body resembled a wooden mannequin.
The PG-17 was a common training golem, frequently used even for Knight trainees. The PG series boasted a long history as practice golems. The PG-17’s most distinctive feature was its ‘reception sensor,’ protruding from its round head. Introduced from Model 17 onwards, this sensor analyzed the opponent’s movements, adjusting its own to provide an appropriate level of challenge, avoiding excessive damage. It was perfect for evaluating skill levels.
As I stretched, I noticed something odd about the golem. I had hit enough of them during my training to know what they looked like, and this one was different.
“Was its head always that pointy?”
The PG series had uniformly round, hemispherical heads. But the golem before me had a distinctly pointed, conical head.
That’s not a PG-17…
-Begin the test!
-Whirrrrrr!!!!
The moment the announcement echoed, the golem fired a beam from its eyes.
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