Chapter: The Academy Director and the Student Representative
Standing in the center of the hall was Academy Director Elizabeth, ranked third in the global rankings—even the first and second would think twice before crossing her.
In a dark corner of the world, where shadows condensed until they became tangible, Director Elizabeth stood like a majestic specter. Even her mere presence seemed to absorb all the light in the world.
Her white hair cascaded like silver threads, bearing the marks of time, yet her eyes were black as night, holding a depth with no end.
A single glance into her eyes could make you feel as though you were drowning in an endless whirlpool of emptiness. They gleamed with ancient, dangerous intelligence. Her features were smooth yet sharp, like a sword sheathed in silk.
Though she was centuries old, time had failed to alter her youthful appearance.
Only one word came to mind when standing before her:
Enchanting.
A terrifying black shadow surrounded her—an obedient entity, pulsing like living smoke. Even the ground beneath her feet turned black, as if it ceased to exist.
It moved around her like a loyal servant, silently obeying her every command. This was no mere shadow, but a horrifying entity. A single glance from it made me feel my very self slipping away, my entire body freezing in terror.
"Stop, you fool. Don't scare the students."
When the director spoke those words, the oppressive aura filling the hall dissipated, replaced by her regal presence that commanded absolute respect.
She was no ordinary woman, but a terrifying being—a fusion of lethal beauty, unfathomable power, and merciless cruelty.
If you were her enemy, a single word from her would be enough to send you before the gods.
If this was the director's aura, then what kind of presence did this year's Student Representative possess?
Some might wonder: Isn't the director the strongest in the academy? Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.
The Student Representative was the academy's true strongest—so much so that the director paled in comparison.
The most powerful sorceress in the world, capable of erasing the entire academy from existence with a single motion.
But the strangest part wasn't her power—it was her age.
She was only eighteen years old.
Yes. Eighteen. The descendant of a mythical dragon and, on top of that, the empress of the empire.
In name only, of course—she found administrative duties tedious, so she left all imperial affairs to her head maid.
"The Hopeless Heroine."
That was the name given to her in the game, because no matter what happened, she would never fall in love with any of the protagonists. Some players spent over 5,000 hours trying to win her over, yet none succeeded.
Even I hadn't planned to include her in my harem. Simply put, I had no intention of wasting my life chasing a woman who would never love me.
Besides, she wouldn't appear at the academy no matter what happened—even if every student died, she wouldn't intervene if she found it boring.
The only thing she cared about was collecting jewels.
"Alright, everyone, proceed to your assigned circles. The test will now begin."
Her words snapped me out of my thoughts.
I glanced toward a black circle nearby and stepped onto it. A black wristwatch materialized in front of me.
I took it and fastened it around my wrist.
A small screen appeared in the air:
[Test Rules]
Defeating another participant will eliminate them, with the victor claiming all their points.
Killing a Rank F monster grants 5 points; a Rank D monster grants 20 points.
Teams may consist of up to three members.
Betraying your team deducts 10 points.
Points may be transferred between participants.
The test consists of two phases, with the highest-scoring students advancing.
[Teleporting to the Academy Forest now.]
The selection was simple: only 2,000 would pass.
That number might seem large, but considering over 10,000 applicants took the test annually, it was extremely limited.
A shadowy aura enveloped all the students at once.
When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in a vast forest.
A massive screen appeared in the air:
[First Task: Form a team of two or three.]
[Time remaining: 10 minutes.]
It was finally time to form teams.
I scanned my surroundings for potential teammates.
Silvia had already teamed up with Liam, and Ellie was nowhere in sight—perhaps she'd been teleported elsewhere in the forest.
I needed to find a partner quickly.
"Hey, handsome. How about teaming up with me?"
Before me stood a girl with purple hair and honey-colored eyes.
Marie Antoinette.
The main villainess of World of the Strange, known for seducing male protagonists.
"......."
End of Chapter.
Extra Note:
By the way, I'm writing another novel—"Extra is Very Lucky"—and I highly recommend you give it a read. I promise it won't disappoint!