The morning sunlight bathed the towering gates of Nelix Academy in gold, casting long shadows across the sea of hopefuls gathered outside.
I stood quietly near the edge of the crowd, humming a soft tune while everyone around me buzzed with nervous chatter. These were all commoners, like me.
The noble and royal students would have their chance during the Ranking Exam, but today was for those who had to claw their way into the future.
I stood apart from the rest, my black coat fluttering lightly in the wind. Expression calm, almost casual. While I was humming a tune.
(And thus begins yet another episode of ’Let’s All Watch Ravin Be Ridiculously OP’.)
"Pixia, I’m nervous." I mentally retorted.
(You? Nervous? Please. The last time you got nervous was when Alicia tried to hand-feed you in public.)
"She had that look in her eyes again."
(Exactly.)
A few heads turned when I walked by. Whispers trailed after me.
"Ravin!"
"It’s him! He’s really here!"
"Is he going to sing again?!"
"I heard he played the song that made a high priestess cry."
"They say he killed assassins at age ten!"
I just smiled and walked through the while greetings some of my fans.
"Pixia, you seeing this?"
(Yes, Host. Congratulations. You’re officially overqualified and still acting like a show-off.)
"They should know I’m not just a pretty face. I’m a Star Mage, remember? Both magic and sword. Can’t have them thinking I’m some fragile artist."
(Oh, of course. A warrior poet. Next thing you’ll tell them is you also cook and seduce waifus with your spoon.)
"Well, I do."
(Tch.)
I had no intention of being seen only as a musician. I wasn’t just a performer. I was a Star Mage—master of both blade and spell.
Pixia’s voice cut in like a blade dipped in sarcasm.
(Oh, yes. Let’s go out of our way to humiliate every other candidate today. You know, for fun.)
Ignoring her, I walked toward the registration desk. A diverse line of applicants stretched ahead.
A tall girl with silvery-white unicorn horns adjusted her gloves while humming one of my older songs.
A half-dragon boy with scaled arms and molten-gold eyes scowled as I passed. "So this is the human they’re all obsessed with?"
A feline beast-kin girl crouched on a railing, licking her paw-like fingers while eyeing me lazily. "Smells nice. Too nice."
"Is that him?" a soft elven voice asked. The speaker had leafy tattoos curling around her cheeks and hair like living vines.
"That scent... His blood will be tasty," murmured a pale-skinned vampire with blood-red irises.
(Host. You are accidentally starting a multi-racial idol cult.)
"That sounds like a you problem, Pixia."
The staff at the desk fumbled with their notes when I approached. The examiner, a short woman with ink stains on her fingers, blinked.
I smiled. "I’m here to apply as a combat student."
"You already have a full scholarship... as a musician?"
"I want both."
The examiner blinked twice more.
"Um..... Ok. Read this first , the exam has three parts."
Saying so she handed me a paper which read:
Exam Format: Three Trials
1. Labyrinth Hunt – A simulated forest teeming with monsters. You have to retrieve ten monster cores in under three hours.
2. Trial of Unity – Group-based challenges.
3. Combat Evaluation – One-on-one duels with instructors. Winning isn’t required—impressing them is.
After some time an announcement echoed through the field as a tall staff member in enchanted armor stepped forward.
"All examinees, please line up! We will now move toward the portal to begin the Labyrinth Hunt."
There was a buzz of excitement and fear as the crowd shifted into a loosely-formed line. I walked casually toward the group.
"This should be fun," I muttered.
(For you, maybe. For the poor beasts in that labyrinth? Not so much.)
We were guided toward a set of ancient stone arches inscribed with glowing runes. The space inside shimmered like heat waves. A portal.
"Once inside, your time begins," the staff mage instructed. "You have three hours to gather five monster cores and exit through the return circle located at the center. Each monster is of beast rank. Those who fail to gather enough cores will be eliminated."
A loud hum echoed as the portal began to glow brighter.
"Enter when ready."
I took one last look around the group.
And saw her.
Alicia.
She stood just a few meters away, dressed in sleek black leather armor, her crimson eyes already locked on me. She gave me a tiny smirk.
"You’re late," she said.
"I wanted to give everyone else a head start."
"Still the same Ravin."
Her gaze softened just a little before she turned and walked into the portal.
Pixia chuckled.
(She’s still obsessed with you. Yandere Level 2 confirmed.)
I stepped into the portal with a grin.
The Labyrinth was nothing like the forests I had trained in.
Dark mist clung to the earth, and trees stretched unnaturally tall, casting crooked shadows. Growls and clicks echoed from deeper within. A soft chime signaled the start of the trial.
(Ready to traumatize some monsters?)
"As always."
The forest was eerily real. Mists curled between ancient trees, and magic beasts growled in the underbrush.
I activated [Mana Sense], feeling the terrain ripple around me. There—two monster signatures ahead.
"Pixia, time me."
(Three seconds.)
A pair of mana hounds lunged at me from opposite directions. With a casual flick, I conjured a blade of compressed wind and flung it sideways, slicing one clean through. The second pounced—only to be caught in my grip, frozen mid-leap by a fusion of water and shadow mana.
"[Frostbind]."
Its core glowed faintly. I pried it free and moved on.
It didn’t take long before I sensed someone familiar behind me.
"Raaaaviiiiin~!"
Oh no.
Alicia came crashing through the underbrush with a manic smile and blood on her body. She was dual-wielding two short swords—her eyes glowed with excitement.
"Why didn’t you wait for me~? Are you trying to leave me behind again?"
"I thought this was a solo test."
"I found you anyway. Teehee~!" She lunged and hugged me tightly. "Haah, how much I missed your smell."
(Affection +2. Alicia: 104/100. CP +10,000. YANDERE LEVEL 2: Heightened obsession. Host is now property.)
"Alicia... we’re still being graded individually."
"Doesn’t matter. We’re always together, right~?"
I sighed, smiling faintly. Even when she was like this, she was still kind of adorable. And terrifying.
Eventually, I staged a distraction involving a mimic chest labeled ’Ravin’s Love Letters.’ It worked.
That’s when met her.
The silver-haired girl.
She stood in a clearing surrounded by monster corpses—too cleanly cut to be casual. Her golden eyes stared right at me before she suddenly dropped to one knee.
"P-Please... help... I was attacked. I... I can’t move."
I narrowed my eyes. No injuries. Breathing normal. Mana steady. It was a trap.
(Host. She’s pretending. Badly.)
"I know. But let’s play along."
I approached slowly. She trembled—too perfectly. Her silver hair fell over one eye as she looked up at me.
"You’re Ravin, right? The one who sings...?"
"I am."
Her eyes widened with emotion, the mask nearly cracking.
"Your voice... it saved me once... when I was in a very dark place."
A beat.
"I think I love you."
Pixia muttered .
(As expected but still when will you get a normal waifu?)
"That’s... sudden," I said softly.
She smiled, deranged and beautiful.
"I’ve waited so long. I used to dream of you holding me while your songs played. Now you’re here. You’re real."
(Affection +3. ???: 123/100. YANDERE LEVEL 3: Immediate attachment. High instability detected. CP +15,000)
"You don’t even know my name," I murmured.
"I don’t need to know your name to love you."
Okay, that was actually kind of poetic. And deeply worrying.
"What’s your name?"
She smiled. "I’ll tell you when we’re alone."
Then she collapsed into my arms.
Pixia screamed.
(Host! She’s faking again! She’s fine! She just wants you to hold her!)
I sighed, carrying her bridal style.
"Fine. You get five minutes."
She nuzzled my chest like a kitten, whispering softly. "You’re warm... just like I imagined."
...Yup. I was doomed.
The rest of the trial was a blur. I turned in five pristine monster cores and walked out of the labyrinth—one girl hanging on my arm, another waiting with two swords and a death glare.
Alicia stared at the silver-haired girl.
"Who. Is. That?"
"A fellow examinee."
The silver-haired girl smiled. Sweet. Too sweet.
"I’m just someone who’s loved Ravin since before she even knew his name."
"Get your hands off. Now."
"But Ravin said I could stay."
"He was being polite. You’re not staying."
"He sang to my soul. You don’t even deserve to say his name."
"Say that again, and I’ll make sure you never speak again."
I stepped between them, sighing.
"Ladies. We just passed the first test. Can we save the death threats for later?"
Pixia whispered.
(Host. This is bad. This is very bad. This is gloriously bad.)
I sighed.
"Can’t I just pass my entrance exam in peace?"
(You’re too late for peace, Host. Accept your fate.)