As he crossed out the name of an eliminated candidate, Associate Dean Ron sighed.
"Students who think they’re incredibly clever often overlook logical loopholes. These are the people who die the fastest in the Shadow Realm. That shows a lack of true wisdom."
The correct approach was actually quite simple: notice the most basic clue, the oddness of the little girl, and gather a few key pieces of information from the other villagers. Then the examinee could solve the mystery and subdue the culprit. That would resolve the situation easily.
"This Shadow Realm dimension demands a combination of wisdom and talent. Sometimes, a noble character is also required to win the trust of the people in this artificial space and unlock clues."
Even as they discussed this, other teachers spotted a talented mage using wind magic to fell trees and then rapidly dry the firewood with magic. Some even attempted to craft fire attributed magical artifacts to serve as a substitute for the magic stove. There was truly a display of diverse talents.
However... These seemingly impressive maneuvers failed to garner much favor among the teachers.
One instructor commented, "Sometimes, you can indeed take a shortcut by exploiting the Shadow Realm’s unique mechanics, but other times, you might stumble right into a trap..."
Another added, "I recall the original version of this dungeon was particularly nasty. By the end of the investigation, you find out that the wicked couple had deliberately hid the magical furnace. Their goal was to let the little girl freeze to death in the blizzard so they could claim the hefty funeral subsidy provided by the laws of the northern border."
A third instructor commented, "Even if you give them dry wood or a magical stove, you wouldn’t be able to save the girl; the true coldness lay in those twisted human hearts. Sometimes, the sheer arrogance of trying to bypass the Shadow Realm’s objectives with a shortcut can lead to unexpected failure. It shows a lack of composure and steady judgment."
Amid sighs, the teachers discussed the underlying essence of this entrance exam. Most of the candidates were Rank 2 or 3 themselves. However, passing this level 1 dimension required no combat prowess. It was merely the most basic, stripped-down form of a Shadow Realm scenario.
Yet, it also served as a fundamental test of whether a candidate had the aptitude to take on the challenge from the Shadow Realm.
A sudden exclamation drew the attention of everyone present, "Hey, what’s up with this guy?!"
Everyone looked toward the corner of the split-screen display. It showed a candidate who had applied to the Knights’ College. His feed was vastly different from that of the other candidates. He wasn’t wearing a noble’s long coat. Instead, he was only in trousers as he stood in the biting cold wind. His muscular physique was clearly defined as he had his arms crossed over his chest.
Even though his messy, ash-gray hair was dusted with snowflakes, he appeared completely unfazed by the cold. His deep purple eyes held the steely resolve of a lone wolf.
One person exclaimed, "What is this guy doing?!"
Another gasped, "Wait a minute! As a noble, the outfit he’s wearing is actually quite valuable, enough to cover the cost of the village chief taking in a family for the entire winter. That would ensure the little girl gets the chief's protection."
Most people could never do something so reckless; it was as if he hadn't given a single thought to his own survival. Then again, the Shadow Realm’s objectives didn't strictly require Challengers to survive until the very end. Sacrificing oneself to uphold righteousness was, after all, a valid option.
One instructor commented drolly, "That’s typical of the brutes from the Knights’ College. Every now and then, a couple of them turn out to be a bit dim-witted."
"But this candidate, Frey... You can call him stupid, and yet he also seems strangely clever..." interjected another professor.
Although Frey had completely defied the intended spirit of the exam, he had undeniably fulfilled the requirements through his noble character and extraordinary physical resilience.
"Perhaps completely casting aside wisdom and thought is, in itself, a display of wisdom and thought?" mused one instructor.
Another nodded. "You have to admit, he truly embodies many knightly virtues: honesty, compassion, valor, self-sacrifice... Even if he completely deviated from our initial assessment criteria, the Knights’ College has really struck gold this year."
Although the faculty struggled to offer a definitive critique of Frey’s approach to clearing the trial, they couldn't help but admire him. At the very least, he was a knight through and through.
"Wait a moment." Associate Dean Ron, who had been looking down and flipping through the examinee files, spoke in a low, serious voice. "It has come to my attention that this guy has a gambling addiction. He’s frequently lost everything down to his last pair of trousers, making it a habit to pawn whatever clothes he’s wearing... It’s likely to become muscle memory for him. The moment he entered this Shadow Realm dungeon and faced a dilemma, his first instinct was to turn his clothes into cash."
A heavy silence immediately descended upon the conference room. Everyone’s earlier speculation had been completely off-base, making them feel incredibly awkward.
After a moment, Associate Dean Ron finally broke the stifling quiet with a light cough, attempting to steer the meeting back on track. "Look on the bright side: This guy is a candidate for the Knights’ College, so they are the ones who have to deal with this headache."
"True."
"Our students are clearly much more normal."
The teachers nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of relief. It didn't take long, however, for them to notice something else. Among the applicants to the Sages’ College, there also was a rather peculiar individual.
The screen showed a young man with black hair and green eyes. Instead of rushing to investigate the situation, he immediately headed back to the village chief's house. After obtaining the chief's permission, he located a few books on the shelf. Then, he settled comfortably onto the sofa and began reading by the fireplace. He even took the occasional sip of hot tea, looking thoroughly at ease. Naturally, his odd behavior caught the faculty’s attention.
"What is this guy doing? Is he actually enjoying himself?"
The teachers watching Lance began to ask one another. Soon, a young instructor chuckled softly, shook his head, and said derisively, "It’s typical for students who drop out halfway through the exam to act this way, finding a safe spot. Although I’ve never seen anyone quit quite as decisively as he did."
When the other teachers heard this they nodded in agreement. They had almost been fooled by the air of relaxed composure he exuded.
"Lance Wilford... His attribute test results weren't exactly impressive. His family are wealthy merchants from South Vantina which is at the border, and he’s the eldest son of the Wilford family. Is he just here to expand his horizons?"
The associate dean sighed helplessly after looking up Lance’s enrollment details. Upon learning his background, the other instructors lost interest in this wealthy young heir who displayed such a lackadaisical attitude.
***
Just as the professors’ attention began to drift away from Lance, he finally closed the book in his hands. Accompanied by the church enforcer, he decisively headed back to the household that was missing the furnace.
Lance gently knocked on the door. From within came the sound of faint footsteps, accompanied by the whistling of the wind and snow. As the door opened, a middle-aged man appeared with his wife and little girl, and he was shivering violently from the cold.
"Milord, has there been any progress in your investigation?" asked the man.
His expression was a mix of anxiety and a hint of anticipation. Yet, deep down, he was secretly laughing. This foolish noble’s investigation had been completely led astray.
All he had to do now was hoodwink this stupid noble into leaving his home once more, sending him wandering aimlessly through the freezing wilderness, clinging to his naive sense of benevolence.
However, Lance fixed a sharp, piercing gaze on the middle-aged man, as if he had finally confirmed something. He slowly raised his hand and pointed at the middle-aged man standing before him.
"There has been no progress in the investigation. But earlier, and just now, too, when you saw me, you failed to bow, didn't you?"
The sudden question threw the middle-aged man into a state of confusion and anxiety. He hurriedly pressed the little girl’s head down alongside his wife’s, bowed to Lance, and said in a low, deferential voice, "Apologies, milord. We had heard you were always kind and unconcerned with such trifles. It was our oversight..."
He couldn't fathom what had gone wrong to cause such a sudden shift in the noble's demeanor. After all, this famously good-natured lord hadn't conducted any sort of investigation inside their home, so how could he possibly have detected even the slightest clue?
Lance let out a cold, derisive laugh. "According to the etiquette laws of the northern frontier, the two of you ought to bow to me. Yet, twice now, you have failed to show the proper respect. I consider your attitude toward me to be one of extreme contempt. I have been insulted."
He opened the book in his hand and sternly rebuked them, "Under the statute for the 'Crime of Insulting a Noble' found on page 719, line 3 of the Holy Kingdom's Code of Laws, I am placing your entire family under arrest. Children under the age of twelve are exempt from this charge. However, per the guardianship regulations on page 134, since this girl will be left without guardians, I shall take her back to town to be cared for by the church. This is entirely in accordance with the law."
Having said this, Lance glanced back at the enforcer as he held up the open book to display the page regarding the section that described the Crime of Insulting a Noble. The statute was clearly written there in black and white. As for the etiquette of the northern frontier territory, Lance had taken the time to verify those details thoroughly with the village chief and the enforcer earlier.
The church enforcer was stunned momentarily. After hesitating briefly, he finally stepped forward to take the three bewildered individuals into custody.
Lance stared at the law book, enunciating every word clearly, "You will be detained at the village chief's house for the time being. Once the blizzard passes, you will all return to town with me. Those who must serve prison time will do so, and those destined for the church to study will go there."
Then, he watched as the three of them, led by the church enforcer, set off toward the village chief's home.
Amid the wind and snow, Lance thrust his hands into his pockets, let out a long breath, and smiled with a sense of satisfaction. Clearly, this exam was testing the students' legal awareness. This way, the family would be able to spend a warm winter... split between prison and the church.
***
The corners of the professors' eyes began to twitch uncontrollably after witnessing Lance's actions. Even Chief Examiner Lawrence, who saw it all from within the examination hall, widened his eyes in astonishment.