After the gates suddenly opened, every student was dropped into an isolated white room.
The space wasn't very large — around 3 meters by 2.5. One desk stood in the center, unnaturally clean, with a stack of papers placed neatly on top like it was waiting for me.
I stared around for a moment.
The ceiling was too white. The floor was too quiet. It felt like I'd been thrown into a mental asylum run by interior designers with a god complex.
I walked toward the desk and picked up the paper. It was a written exam.
A real, actual, physical test sheet — the kind high schoolers groaned about and teachers pretended was important.
It had multiple sections, neat rows of questions, and a pencil already prepared at the side. I blinked.
"This is quite troublesome."
Finishing the exam wasn't the issue. I could probably do it.
But the fact that a 24-year-old man like me had to seriously work on a high school test…
Yeah, that was embarrassing.
"I need to get this over with."
I sighed and pulled the chair out. It creaked like it was judging me. I ignored it.
I grabbed the pen and began answering the ones I knew. Math? Done. Basic combat theory? Easy. Monster identification? A bit tricky, but I'd read a book on that last night.
After 25 minutes of focused scribbling, I managed to complete almost everything. Only five more questions remained. And then...
"What kind of situation is this?"
The next question was a curveball. It asked:
[What is the ethical protocol if a hero candidate encounters a hostile creature that shows signs of sentience and attempts peaceful communication?]
"…Are they testing morality now?" I muttered, leaning back in my chair. "Or trying to divided us out."
I stared at the question for a second, then leaned forward and wrote:
「The hero should prioritize diplomacy if the creature demonstrates peaceful intent, regardless of species or race. Atlas Academy exists to create defenders, not executioners. Prejudice is the seed of tyranny.」
I leaned back. The words stared back at me.
"Cringe… but correct."
The next question was worse. Way worse.
[ What does being a hero mean to you?]
"…You've got to be kidding me."
I stared at it for a long moment, pen hovering. This wasn't something a textbook could solve. It wasn't even a trick question.
It was asking me — me.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
I tapped the pen against the desk like I was trying to knock the answer out of my skull.
Eventually, I sighed and wrote:
「Being a hero isn't about being seen as a good person. It's about making sure the people I care about live to see another sunrise. Even if no one remembers my name… even if they never know what I did… that's fine.」
I let out a breath. The words felt too honest. I hated that.
Next.
A multiple choice question about spell layering formations. I didn't hesitate — I circled the answer. Easy. At least they were being kind again.
And then came the final one.
[ If you were given the power to rewrite reality at the cost of yourself, would you take it?]
My hand froze.
"…What kind of high school question is this?"
It wasn't just weird. It was loaded.
I glanced up at the white ceiling, hoping the answer was etched up there somewhere. It wasn't.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Bi Hong floating quietly near the far wall. For once, the little cloud dragon said nothing.
"Dont look at me you home wrecker."
I lowered my pen and wrote:
「Ask me again when I have something worth trading.」
The moment the pen lifted from the paper, it glowed faintly. The desk trembled, then slowly retracted into the floor as if it never existed.
The room dimmed.
"...Here we go again."
The white walls began to dissolve. A new door formed in front of me — jagged black rock with glowing red cracks. The rune for "Fire" blazed above it.
The Aptitude Test was next.
Something told me this one wouldn't just ask for opinions.
◇◇◇
Meanwhile, in another cube...
Another student sat upright at her desk, her back perfectly straight despite the tension in her shoulders.
She had hair as black as night — but when the light caught it just right, stars shimmered through the strands. Galaxies, even. Like someone dipped the sky into ink and gave it to her as a crown.
Her name was Han Seora.
Her hair fell down to her back in silky waves, and her features were almost too beautiful for this world. The kind of beauty that made other girls nervous and guys forget how to speak.
Even the word "beautiful" felt like it didn't do her justice.
But right now?
She looked like a tired student trying not to scream.
"What's the answer to this again…?"
She lifted her pen, lowered it, lifted it again. Her eyes narrowed at the page like it had personally insulted her master.
"Why is helping my master could be this difficult…?"
Becoming number one wasn't something she desired. It wasn't about pride or fame.
It was duty. A promise.
To lift the burden her master carried. To earn back their honor. To carry this world's plot to its rightful ending — and beyond.
Even though she wasn't the strongest. Not yet.
Even though there were people in this test who could answer these questions in their sleep...
Still, she pushed forward. With blood, with sweat, with tears if she had to.
"This is nothing compared to what monsters like them can do…"
With a long exhale, she placed her pen down.
Done.
It took her 5 minutes to finish all 45 questions. Fast. Efficient.
But not enough. Not compared to them.
Suddenly, the white walls began to fade. A new door shimmered into existence — completely clear, like water frozen in time. But as solid as steel.
A rune of Stars floated above it.
"Let's get this test over with…"
She stood, took one last look at the room, and stepped into the next stage.
To be Continued