I had made a mistake by using ice magic to shoot the targets.
It turned out ice magic was extremely difficult. To use it properly, you first had to master water magic.
People started to notice me.
Still, there were more than five hundred participants. Yet only 276 made it to the second exam. I also saw several nobles using advanced magic like it was nothing.
Then the instructor announced that the next test would be a written exam. Only four questions.
Workers quickly began arranging tables and chairs.
While I was looking for a seat, a purple-haired girl approached me.
Her beauty was eye-catching, but the moment I looked into her eyes, my body stiffened.
She spoke directly.
"Human boy, what is your name?"
I tried to stay calm. "I'm Renji—"
Before I could finish, another figure rushed over.
"Lady Akasha, you can't talk with strangers like this."
"Oh, shut up! I'm not supposed to follow your orders," she snapped.
Then she turned back to me and smiled.
"Sorry about that. I'm Seraphine Akasha. Nice to meet you."
Her voice was sweet… yet it felt like it pierced straight through my brain.
Out of curiosity, I asked, "Are you a noble?"
"Mm-hm, noble? I'm the Fourth Princess of the Hemovore Kingdom."
I froze.
My entire world turned black and white.
The Hemovore Empire was the land of vampires.
And standing in front of me… was their fourth princess.
"So that's why her mana flow feels different…" I muttered without thinking.
She giggled.
"Oh my. You can detect mana flow at this age? I'm pretty sure you're holding back."
"What do you mean?"
"The bracelet you're wearing… it's eating your mana."
Just as she finished speaking, the instructor shouted,
"Everyone, take your seats!"
"My, my. See you later, human boy."
She casually took a seat.
When the question paper arrived, my eyes widened.
"This easy?" I wondered.
The questions were simple.
i) What is 5 × 78?
ii) You have four apple trees. Each produces 20 apples per day. If you eat 2 apples every day, how many days would it take you to finish them?
iii) What is mana?
iv) Who are the Humanlords?
I answered them without hesitation.
i) 390
ii) They will never finish.
iii) Mana is the raw power of life. Without it, life cannot exist.
iv) The six races—Humans, Elves, Barbarians, Vampires, Plantees, and Beast Humans—are collectively known as the Humanlords, because their mana is generated from the heart, unlike other living beings.
When I was about to submit the paper, I looked around.
No one else had finished yet.
I blinked.
"…Huh?"
This should've taken ten minutes. Less, even.
So why was everyone still struggling?
The instructor looked at me as I handed over my paper.
"Giving up already?" he asked flatly.
"No. I'm finished," I replied.
His eyebrows rose slightly. "Finished? Your parents must be scholars."
Before I could respond, he waved his hand dismissively.
"You may leave. If you pass, you'll be notified by letter."
That was it.
The written exam… over just like that.
I turned and started walking away from the field, stretching my shoulders lightly—
"Stop."
A low voice cut through the air.
I froze.
A tall man in dark formal clothes stood behind me. His presence alone felt heavy, like a wall blocking my path.
"Lady Akasha wants to speak with you," he said coldly. "Do not move until she arrives."
My throat went dry.
Lady Akasha.
The vampire princess.
My body stiffened instinctively, like prey sensing a predator. I stood there without even breathing properly.
After a few moments, soft footsteps approached.
"My, my… you finished before me."
That voice.
Sweet.
Gentle.
Yet somehow terrifying.
She stepped into view — purple hair swaying lightly, golden eyes glowing under the sunlight.
Even the air around her felt different.
I straightened immediately and bowed my head slightly.
"Princess Akasha, what do you want me to do?"
She puffed her cheeks in annoyance.
"You can just call me Seraphine," she said.
"But Lady Akasha—" her bodyguard tried to interrupt.
"Shut up. Go wait at the carriage."
The man instantly obeyed and walked away without another word.
Then she turned back to me, smiling softly.
"Sorry about that. What was your name again?"
"I'm Renji."
"Oh? What a sweet name."
She took a step closer.
"You wanna be friends?"
Friends…?
With a vampire princess?
My mind raced.
What are her intentions…?
She suddenly blinked.
"Did you say something?"
"Huh—? N-no, not really—"
Her eyes narrowed slightly, then curved into a mischievous smile.
"Okay then. Starting today, we're friends."
And just like that—
She turned around and walked away casually, as if she hadn't just shaken my entire world.
Leaving me standing there alone…
Completely confused.
I came all the way to this foreign kingdom to witness human adaptability with my own eyes.
I had heard countless stories about humans — how they were the most dangerous race among the six. Some rumors even said a skilled human could fight a vampire one-on-one.
There are humans near my homeland… but they're not pure-blooded. Most are mixed with other races.
That's why I came here.
The Japee Kingdom is ruled entirely by humans. More importantly, no other races live here permanently.
This place was perfect for my research.
Father didn't want me to come at first.
But after I told him I had no interest in inheriting the throne, he reluctantly agreed.
Still… I'm the Fourth Princess.
If anything happens to me, it could shake the political balance of the world.
Yet somehow…
The risk feels worth it.
Because the moment I saw that boy — Renji —
I realized something.
He's different.
There was something unusual about him… something I couldn't explain.
And before I knew it—
…I think I started falling for him.
The moment Renji was alone, Mizuki appeared. Before she could say anything, he smiled and said,
"Oh, there you are. I almost forgot about you for a second."
"Hmm," she replied, eyes calm as always.
By the time they reached their house, Rika suddenly popped out from behind a corner.
"Wait… what? Why are you here?" Renji asked, startled.
"My house… it was blown up."
"How!?"
"I kept an unstable mana stone… and it exploded while I was trying to pour mana into it. Luckily, I managed to cast a barrier around myself—but the house is gone. I don't have enough money to rebuild it, so I had to sell the land."
"Whoa… where will you live now?"
"Not sure… is it okay if I stay here?"
Before Renji could answer, Mizuki intervened.
"Sure. As long as you help with the household chores."
Rika's eyes lit up.
"Do you want me to stay as a maid or something?"
"No. That's not what I meant," Mizuki replied calmly, folding her arms.
From that day on, Rika began living in Renji's house.
About two days later, a letter arrived at Renji's doorstep. The wax seal broke easily in his hands. Inside, the letter stated that he had passed the entrance exam. Surprisingly, the other two tests had been canceled because only ninety-seven candidates had made it to the academy.
Rika's expression turned worried immediately.
"Oh no… if you go to the academy, some teachers might notice Mizuki—even if she stays inside you."
Renji remained calm.
"No worries. I have a solution."
"What's that?" Rika asked, her voice tense with curiosity.
"You'll see today."
After saying that, Renji turned to Mizuki.
"Take me… to your dead body."