"Pathetic."
The voice echoed through darkness.
Luke couldn't see anything.
No sky.
No ground.
No light.
Only an endless void stretching in every direction.
"Weak."
The word struck harder this time.
Like a hammer against his chest.
Somewhere far away, purple eyes glowed.
Watching.
Waiting.
Judging.
Luke tried to move, but his body felt heavy.
His legs wouldn't listen.
His hands wouldn't move.
The darkness around him seemed alive, pressing closer with every passing second.
"You will lose."
The voice sounded amused.
Mocking.
Luke clenched his teeth.
"I don't lose."
A deep laugh echoed through the void.
A laugh filled with contempt.
"You will."
The glowing eyes drifted closer.
"You are weak."
Luke wanted to argue.
Wanted to shout back.
Wanted to wipe that smug tone off whoever's face was behind those eyes.
But the voice continued.
"You fear defeat."
Luke opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Because it was true.
Today was exam day.
And he was terrified.
Not of getting hurt.
Not of failing.
Not even of embarrassing himself in front of the school.
No.
The worst part was that his entire family would be watching.
The voice laughed again.
"Pathetic."
Luke's eye twitched.
"Shut up."
"Pathetic."
"Shut up."
"Weak."
"SHUT UP!"
"WAKE UP, LUKE!"
Luke shot upright so fast he nearly launched himself off the bed.
A second later-
SMACK!
A wooden sword hit the top of his head.
"Aaaagh!"
Luke grabbed his skull and glared upward.
Maya stood beside the bed.
Holding six wooden swords.
For absolutely no reason.
Luke pointed accusingly.
"Why do you have six?!"
Maya looked down at them.
"...I don't know."
"THAT'S NOT AN ANSWER!"
The bedroom door burst open.
Eve stormed inside carrying breakfast.
"GOOD MORNING, MY LITTLE EXAM HERO!"
Luke groaned.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
Eve smiled sweetly.
"Eat breakfast."
Luke immediately stood up.
"Okay."
The kitchen smelled like toast, eggs, and impending academic disaster.
Zacky sat reading a newspaper.
Michie was drinking coffee.
Rhody was somehow already eating his third breakfast.
Luke sat down slowly.
The reality of today finally settled into his stomach.
Written exams.
Combat exams.
Skill demonstrations.
Ranking evaluations.
Dozens of students.
Hundreds of spectators.
Teachers.
Guild representatives.
His family.
His friends.
His future.
Luke suddenly lost his appetite.
Rhody noticed immediately.
"Nervous?"
Luke poked his eggs.
"...Maybe."
Michie snorted.
"Good."
Luke blinked.
"What?"
"If you're nervous, it means you care."
Zacky folded the newspaper.
"You trained for months."
Maya nodded.
"You'll survive."
Luke stared.
"That's the encouragement?"
"Yes."
"That's terrible encouragement."
Eve placed both hands on his shoulders dramatically.
"Luke."
He looked up.
"You are brave."
Luke smiled slightly.
"You are talented."
His smile grew.
"You are hardworking."
He straightened proudly.
"And if all else fails..."
Eve pointed at Maya.
"We can always blame her."
Maya immediately pointed back.
"Counterargument: blame Zacky."
The family erupted into argument.
Luke buried his face in his hands.
For some reason...
He felt a little better.
Outside, the morning sun was rising.
The day had begun.
And by sunset...
Luke's life would take its first real step forward.
After breakfast, the household was preparing to leave when suddenly Rhody froze.
His eyes widened.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
He lowered his cup.
Then spat his drink across the table.
"PFFFT!"
Everyone jumped.
Zacky nearly dropped his newspaper.
"What in God's name is wrong with you?!"
Rhody pointed at his phone with trembling fingers.
"No way."
"What?" Michie asked.
"No way."
"Rhody."
"NO WAY!"
He shoved the phone into their faces.
On the screen was a listing.
A battered but beautiful old pickup truck.
F-150.
Used.
A little rusty.
Still glorious.
Price:
24,000 Gold Coins.
Rhody's hands shook.
"LOOK AT HER."
Michie immediately leaned forward.
"...She's beautiful."
"RIGHT!?"
Zacky sighed.
"You two are idiots."
Rhody scrolled downward.
Then froze again.
His jaw dropped.
"The seller is half a kilometer away."
Silence.
Everyone stared.
Even Zacky looked interested.
Only slightly.
Very slightly.
The truck looked old.
Strong.
Reliable.
The exact kind of vehicle three retired bishops would buy and then spend six months pretending wasn't falling apart.
Rhody immediately grabbed Zacky's shoulders.
"PLEASE."
"No."
"PLEASE."
"No."
"Our car coughs every morning."
"It still works."
"Our car has tuberculosis."
"Cars can't get tuberculosis."
"It sounds like it does."
Michie nodded.
"He has a point."
Zacky looked offended.
"Stop encouraging him."
Ten minutes later...
After checking their finances.
After discussing guild patrol routes.
After acknowledging their current vehicle sounded like a dying dragon every time it started...
Zacky sighed.
"...Fine."
Rhody screamed in victory.
The written exam came first.
Luke sat in his chair.
Sweating.
Not because it was hot.
Because he suddenly realized something important.
Very important.
Very terrible.
He had only studied about half the material.
Maybe less.
Actually...
Definitely less.
The papers were distributed.
Luke stared at the first question.
"...I know this one."
Second question.
"...I vaguely know this one."
Third question.
"...Who made this exam?"
Two hours later...
Luke stumbled out of the classroom looking spiritually damaged.
Students were discussing answers.
Comparing notes.
Arguing.
Panicking.
Luke simply stretched.
"I'm either passing or becoming a farmer."
The moment he stepped outside...
His entire family was waiting.
Eve waved enthusiastically.
Maya crossed her arms.
Rhody held snacks.
Michie held more snacks.
Zacky looked normal.
Luke immediately became nervous.
"What if I failed?"
"You didn't."
"What if I did?"
"You didn't."
"What if-"
"Luke."
"Yeah?"
"You worry too much."
Unfortunately...
That didn't help.
One hour later the results arrived.
Luke found his name.
Luke - 80/100
He blinked.
Looked again.
Still there.
"Eighty?"
Eve nearly tackled him.
"YOU PASSED!"
Luke laughed.
Relief washed over him.
For the first time all day...
He relaxed.
Unfortunately...
The skill demonstrations were next.
And now hundreds of people were watching.
Guild representatives filled the stands.
Teachers observed quietly.
Parents watched proudly.
Some scouts took notes.
Future adventurers.
Future hunters.
Future soldiers.
Future heroes.
Every student would be evaluated.
Including one particular blonde girl.
Across the arena...
Alicia stood calmly.
Cold.
Silent.
Focused.
Several guild representatives were already paying attention to her.
Potential future S-Rank.
Potential speed specialist.
Potential elite.
Luke looked away.
No point thinking about that now.
His own rank estimate was somewhere around E or D.
He had bigger problems.
Like surviving.
Before entering the arena...
Maya stopped him.
Luke looked up.
Maya placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Fight to your limits."
Luke nodded.
Then Maya smiled softly.
"We don't need an S-Rank Luke."
Luke blinked.
"You don't?"
"No."
She pointed toward the family.
"Because you're already more than an S-Rank to us."
Luke froze.
Then smiled.
"...Thanks."
The referee called his name.
Luke entered the arena.
The crowd suddenly felt enormous.
His opponent stood across from him.
Wooden sword ready.
Confident.
Experienced.
Luke swallowed.
Then hesitated.
Darkness.
Silence.
The world disappeared.
A familiar voice echoed.
"Afraid?"
Laughter followed.
"Hahaha..."
Purple eyes opened.
"I knew you weren't worthy of knowing my name."
The voice crackled.
Mocking.
Cruel.
"What now?"
Silence.
"Coward?"
Luke clenched his fist.
Then opened his eyes.
The arena returned.
The crowd returned.
His opponent returned.
Luke raised his sword.
His expression hardened.
"I fight until I reach my limits."
The duel began.
CLACK!
CLACK!
CLACK!
Luke dodged.
Barely.
A strike grazed his shoulder.
Another clipped his side.
Eve covered her eyes.
Maya looked like she wanted to jump into the arena herself.
Rhody and Michie were suffering emotional damage.
"Why is he getting hit?!"
"Because he's fighting!"
"I don't like it!"
Luke continued moving.
Continued adapting.
Continued learning.
One step.
One strike.
One breath at a time.
Then finally...
His opponent overcommitted.
Luke saw it.
A tiny opening.
A single mistake.
He swung.
CRACK!
The wooden blade struck the side of
the opponent's head.
The opponent staggered.
Their sword flew from their hand.
Silence.
Then-
"WINNER! LUKE!"
The crowd erupted.
Luke stared.
Breathing heavily.
Then looked toward his family.
They were celebrating harder than he was.
The second duel.
Victory.
Third.
Victory.
Fourth.
Victory.
Fifth.
Victory.
During the break...
Three boys approached.
James.
Kyle.
Brian.
The three idiots.
And Luke's closest friends.
"You actually made it to Round Six."
Luke smirked.
"You sound surprised."
"I am."
Kyle answered immediately.
Brian nodded.
"We thought you'd explode by Round Three."
"Thanks."
"We're supportive friends."
"You're terrible friends."
Then the crowd suddenly became louder.
Alicia entered the arena.
Silence followed.
The match began.
A blink.
One strike.
The opponent's sword flew away.
Victory.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Effortless.
Elegant.
Terrifying.
James watched.
Kyle watched.
Brian watched.
Luke watched.
James slowly turned.
"If I were you..."
Luke sighed.
"What?"
"I'd lose the seventh round on purpose."
"What?"
"To get closer to her."
Luke stared.
Brian nodded seriously.
"A worthy sacrifice."
Kyle nodded too.
"For the mission."
Luke wanted better friends.
The sixth duel...
Ended in a draw.
Both fighters collapsed.
Both swords fell.
The crowd exploded.
Tension filled the arena.
Luke was exhausted.
Sweat soaked his clothes.
His breathing became ragged.
His muscles trembled.
Before the seventh duel...
Eve grabbed his shoulders.
"Please stop."
Luke smiled weakly.
"I can't."
Maya looked proud.
Very proud.
But worried too.
The bishops watched from afar.
Zacky remained calm.
Michie sighed.
"He's losing this one."
Rhody nodded.
"Probably."
Then smiled.
"But the chance of winning is never zero."
The seventh duel began.
Luke fought.
Harder than ever.
But exhaustion had arrived.
His body felt heavy.
His arms slowed.
His legs dragged.
His vision blurred.
One mistake.
That's all it took.
His sword slipped.
An opening appeared.
His opponent struck.
The wooden blade flew from Luke's
hand.
Silence.
The match was over.
Luke stared at his fallen sword.
Then smiled.
A small smile.
Satisfied.
Proud.
"I didn't lose."
His opponent blinked.
Luke laughed weakly.
"I'm just tired."
Then immediately collapsed unconscious.