Chapter: 21
“I’m done explaining. Begin forming groups for assigned dorms, and I will proceed with the first test on the stage.”
The students became shocked to hear sudden progress. They didn’t think they would be tested on the first day.
“As I said before, if you fail this test, you are expelled. If you can’t pass this test, you don’t even deserve to be a low-ranked warrior.”
More than half of the students became pale. They thought they would at least learn something before the test, but this meant that anyone with no training had no chance. Chun Yeowun was also shocked.
‘What? First test already?’
He had no internal energy and it was likely for him to fail the test. He had to hope that the test was either easy or did not require internal energy. Hameng declared what the test was.
“The first test will assess your basic skills. You will need at least basic internal energy if you are going to be a warrior of our cult.”
Chun Yeowun frowned. This meant that if there was one without any internal energy, he was going to fail.
“If you fail this test, you will be sent down to the farms or mines for hard labor. Try your best to... no, we do need people to do the dirty work, so don’t try too hard.”
Hameng was joking around, but Chun Yeowun felt uncomfortable after hearing it.
‘Ugh... this is problematic.’
He was furious as he thought that at least the academy did not have traps set up for him. However, the internal energy test on the first day seemed to be too coincidental to think that it wasn’t made for him.
‘Was this why they didn’t want me to train?’
Yeowun now realized why the ladies of six clans did not allow him to train. If he were to be expelled here, he would be cast out and he’d stay within the lowest caste of the cult. This would allow those people to kill him whenever they wanted to.
‘Hmph.’
Chun Mukeum, the prince of Loyal Clan, seemed to be satisfied.
‘I was going to kill him myself, but this will get rid of him. Whoever thought of this is a genius.’
The Loyal Clan did not have a part in not allowing Yeowun to train. Mukeum knew it was one of the six clans who led the plan, but he didn’t realize it was to expel Yeowun from the first stage test. That’s when a beautiful, alluring middle-aged woman came up onto the stage. Hameng pointed at her and said, “She is the Clan Leader of the Lust Clan, and the proctor who will watch over this test. Our fifth elder, Hang Soyu.”
A girl standing in the front row with lavish red silk clothes smiled. She was Chun Wonryou, and she was the sixth rank to the throne from the Lust Clan. The six clans were not involved with any of the tests in the academy except for the first one.
‘What test calls for the fifth elder to come?’
The students were filled with questions and Hameng explained, “This test is a piece of cake. If you fail here, you will never get a chance to even become a low-ranked warrior.”
After she finished, Hang Soyu sat down and readied to play the string instrument that she brought with her. It seemed like people realized what she was going to do and they began plugging their ears while crouching down.
“Well, you kids will not withstand her Musical Energy Wave, but she will control it for you weaklings. With luck, you might even endure it without any internal energy. Haha.”
His last set of words felt like he was talking to Yeowun. The Musical Energy Wave was not something that one could tolerate with just endurance. Chun Yeowun bit his lips.
‘...Dammit.’
The first test was to endure the energy wave attack. This was also the simplest way to easily weed out the unworthy students.
“If they have even the slighted amount of internal energy, they will be able to endure a minute.”
Fitting her clan name, Hang Soyu spoke with a beautiful voice, but none of the students were able to hear it as they were already plugging their ears.
“Those who endure the energy wave for a minute will pass the test! Begin!”
And with the signal, the fifth elder began to play the instrument.