Chapter 34: Passing The Examination

What Kal learned from the information he got from Han Qingcheng was that the University was not only as big as a country but was a country itself. It had their flag, nationality but what's unique about this country was that technology cease to work. So the country was back on the medieval Era and even without being in the modern Era, the entire university is the most advanced when it came to mana.

Being considered a University, it didn't work like a typical university. The lands where divided into four territories: Royal Academy, Magic Academy, Industrial Academy and Alchemy Academy. Royal Academy and Magic Academy focuses on combat and mana education while Industrial Academy and Alchemy Academy focuses on Forging and brewing education. The royal academy and magic academy is the prestigious school for rich and talented students whole the forging and brewing education was the school for the poor and those who slimly passed the examination. Even if you were talented, if you didn't have any good background, there was a low chance that they'd put you in any of the prestigious academy. You'd either end up doing labor or be put into experimentation.

Even if Kal didn't have good background, as to what Qingcheng said that as long as he display his tremendous talent and stand out amongst his peers, he'd be placed to the prestigious academies. What he had to avoid was the Alchemy Academy as despite the least hellish academy, it wasn't closest to the source of demons as they guessed it's were the pills where made. Unless he didn't want to be a lab rat, he had to avoid being put in that academy at all cost.

'What I wanted was to enter the university so that I could meet up with Dontrelle but it seems like there's a goal I have in mind. Someday, these demons will rise and if they spread their influence all over the world, another catastrophe may occur to humanity. I'm not really the sort to do what a hero does but demons have some connection to me and I am also the Agent of Light, if this can trigger a quest, getting a reward from the heavens will be enough of a reason.' Kal said to himself as he departed on the ship.

Kevin and his comrades weren't with him as they departed since the main entrance was different from the entrance exam. Also Kevin was already a second year in the second level while Kal was still a freshman so their pathways were different.

'I didn't want to tell Kevin about Dontrelle since their might be some problems if his sister or brother knew about it but it seems to me that Kevin and Dontrelle are junior and senior in the second year since I've heard that Dontrelle is in the 1st level of his second year. But that's all I've heard, I don't what he is doing now or what he has manage to accomplish but I'm sure he's faring well since he is personally trained by his brother.' Kal smiled in thought as he followed with the other freshman for the entrance examination.

The grading year was different if compared to a college. As a first year, it was only a year needed to graduate and in the second year, it would be 2 years so it was 2 levels, the third year would be three years and the 4th years is 4 years. That was why there were adult students even though they were the age to have a job and get married. There was also a given hierarchy from the students. When passing the entrance exam, you'd be ranked as Commoner, if you were talented, you might get the rank of a soldier, if you were talented and with a good background, you'd be in the royal hierarchy, starting from Baron to a King. The higher your rank, the better authorities you have. From the size of the university, you were able to own a land, recruit subordinates, buy a mansion and everything else a royalty could get. Kevin had a very exceptional talent and had one of the most powerful background so when he arrived, he was already granted the title of Prince. Most royals and rich people where like this, even if your talent was lacking, you could still get higher ranks compared to people with no background whatsoever. You couldn't do a single thing without any power and there was no need to contemplate on the weak, what was already harsh in elite was harsher in the university that's why many consider it as hell.

'Should I get a high rank? Maybe a viscount or Marquise. Nah, I should lay low until I can get some leads about the demon pills.' Kal arrived on the entrance examination. It was held in a huge gymnasium. The gymnasium had for four parts; Royal examination, Magic Examination, Industrial Examination and Alchemy examination. Of course most of the people went to Royal and Magic examination since they wanted to take a shot. It was advised to take all examinations so they could accurately gauge your capabilities and what Academy was suitable for you. But that didn't work all to well, the exam was already rigged, so if you didn't come from a rich family, there was no way for you to be put on the prestigious academies and the rich students had already paid their needed fee and even if they didn't show much in their examinations, they already know beforehand where they will be put.

'If you have the riches, you have the power to do anything. That's kinda sad considering how much of these students have a lot of potential but are placed in a school where they can't even use their expertise to its full extent. Well, that's just how the world works. Let's not be sympathetic and go to the alchemy examination.' Kal went straight to where the alchemy examination was held. Surprisingly, there were a lot of examinees in the alchemy examination that their numbers could be compared to the Royal and magic examination.

'Let me guess. Since these people know that it was futile to try out the examinations only for rich students, they'd rather be put in the least worse academy. I did heard that alchemy is kinda complex since it's literally making potions and consumables that could help a hunter increase his attributes. I'm already knowledgeable in martial arts so I doubt that I could learn a lot in the royal academy and even if my magic knowledge is lacking, I have the system that let's me get most of the skills I need. Industrial is just too labor cost for me, forging weapons, armors, making houses, vehicles, tools and stuff, I'm not really interested in that, I already have a system that gives me weapons and armors as rewards and not to mention the loot drops I get from monsters. Alchemy is what I'm kinda interested in, if I could learn how to make potions, elixirs, antidotes and many more, learning it is practically learning how to make money plus I can't fully rely on the system, even if I can buy consumables in the shop with the gold I have, if I am put in a situation that I don't have any gold to spend, I could use my alchemy knowledge to brew my own potion.' Kal was feeling ecstatic at the thought as he lined up with the other examinees. The line was pretty long that he spend half a day waiting in line.

Kal gave his certificate to the examiner who was a woman in her mid 30s that had huge eye bags that looked like she hadn't been sleeping for weeks. Aside from her eye bags, she looked fresh and healthy. The woman accepted the certificate which was then scanned into a machine which then showed an information tablet on her computer.

[KAL NIETES]

AGE: 19

SEX: MALE

RANK: B-RANK

SPECIALTY: ARCHERY AND CLOSE COMBAT

MANA: 680

STRENGTH: 340

AGILITY: 390

"You're a B-rank but you have the mana output of an A-rank, why did you decide to take the alchemy examination when you could've chosen the Royal Academy or Magic Academy?" The woman asked Kal.

"Well, I don't hail from a powerful family, in fact I don't even have a single family member so entering those prestigious academies would be useless. Even if I have the talent, I'm not so sure if I'll fare well with the students. I wanted to learn about alchemy since I love learning new things and I could also earn money with this and it looked like it's the most safest route to earn money without risking my life on the line fighting monsters," Kal was being honest with his words and didn't want to make it sound like he was passionate on the course.

"You are brutally honest with your words. It would be a waste for you to enter the Alchemy Academy but if that's what you really want. Then, you have passed the test." The woman simply smiled and hand out a card with the Alchemy academy insignia engrave in it. Kal was surprised on how easily he passed it, he didn't even need to do practical test like the other students did and casually walked out of the testing room with a smile in his face.

He was then guided to a bus for the alchemy academy that was completely mana powered and inside was all the other students that passed. They had gloomy and envious looks on their faces as they stared at the buses for the Royal and Magic academy. It showed how much helpless they were as they didn't have a choice even if they didn't want to be in this academy. Kal sat on a vacant seat and beside him was a small and chubby guy in glasses. He looked like a pampered introvert because how he looked and he was sulking on the window.

"Hi, what's your name?" Kal asked the chubby guy but the chubby guy didn't respond so Kal stopped asking and went silent too. He wanted to get some rest before they arrive at the Academy but then the chubby guy went on to speak.

"Did you choose to be in this Academy or where you forced?" The chubby guy asked.

"I chose to be here." Kal replied.

"Why? With that build of yours, you're more suitable for the royal academy. Why insist on the Alchemy academy?" The chubby guy asked in curiosity.

"To be honest, I don't feel like I'll learn something valuable in those academy, I'd rather learn something meaningful than trying to show off my power with everybody and gain fame." Kal said as he shrug his shoulder.

"You make it sound like you won't learn anything in the royal academy since you already know everything." The chubby guy said ands went back to the corner of his seat.

"Well not everything, enough would be the word." Kal corrected him.

"Yeah, right." The chubby guy didn't believe his words and just stared at the window. Both the two stopped talking and went on with their business. An hour passed and the bus was already jam packed with students. Their faces showed mixed emotions, some were filled with regret, some were relieved and others felt satisfied.

The bus then started moving and they traveled to a cobblestone road towards the Alchemy Academy's direction. It was a 4-hour trip and if you think the trip was long, the school was located in the southern edge of the country so the usual bus would take 12 hours but since this bus was mana powered, it delivered faster and efficient energy than the usual gasoline.

As the bus arrived at the Academy, every student leaned their heads on the window at they admired the scenery with them. It was beautiful scenery of plain lands on the route they took, they entered the Chevron City packed with medieval buildings and houses at SD mired and they saw a lot of civilians and hunters living in the city going around with their business. The scene was straight up from a fantasy novel and seeing such a unique sight made the student feel in awe. The towns and cities they passed were all infrastructure to mix with the medieval and modern feel.

After passing through cities, they arrived at the center of the landmark. A beautiful palace that looks like an exact replica of a fantasy kingdom. While a kingdom may have a ruling palace composed of royalties like a king and queen, this palace didn't have one, in exact, it wasn't a palace at all but a university and the one that overlooks this university was the head of the academy. The head of the academy wasn't called a Principal but just the head of the academy since the Principal was the one who governed all the academies and is the president of this country.

The bus entered through the main gate of the palace and what they saw were buildings that were at least 10 stories high and the main building being 20 stories. There were also a lot of infrastructures on the center of the academy, laboratories, gymnasiums, open field and a lot of things you could find in a university.

The bus stopped and it's doors opened. The students exited the bus one by one and gathered around a field where instructors guided the students in their dormitories.

"Hello students, my name is Abdul Salsalani and I'm you're head teacher for mana chemistry. Since I know that you are all exhausted from the long ride and it's already night time, you can head into your dormitory.Your will be guided into your dorms by these guys and each dorm, is for two students and the two students will be the person you have sat in the bus so please cooperate." When the students heard that they could rest, their tired looks brightened up. Being dorm mates with the person you had taken seats with made some students want to disagree but since majority agreed, they didn't have a choice but to oblige.

"Please be here at exactly 7 am in the morning. We will do a practical test and if you are able to pass the test, you will be assigned in a high section. The sections are from A to F, A is for those who can perfectly pass and F if for those who fail, we will a sign you based on your performance and if you perform exemplary, you can be put in the special section, the S-section." Teacher Abdul said to the students. Everybody cheered and felt ecstatic but some felt terrified and pessimistic as they were afraid they might fail the test and out in the F- section.

"I must study if I want to reach the A section. If I can do well, the might be a chance for me to be placed in the S- section."

"I should try to at least not go from E- section, D- section should be fine."

"Focusing on the C-section is my top priority." Everybody was feeling nervous and excited as everyone went to their respective dorms. Kal's dorm was in the 5th storey of the building and with him as his dorm mate was the chubby guy.

Their dorm was a medium sized space enough for two beds, a bathroom, a small kitchen and a small living room. Kal had paced lightly since most of his personal items where in his inventory. He chose the bed in the nearest to the door for safety unless they needed to escape if an emergency happens. And the chubby guy didn't have an option and chose the bed near the corner of the room.

"Hey, since we'll become dorm mates for a year, let's introduce ourselves. My name is Kal Nieces and I just became a B-rank three months ago." Kal brought his hand for greeting.

"I'm Tony Fowler. Also a B-rank." Tony replied as he shook hands with him.

"You're from the Fowler family? So you're a famous family from Europe. I also know a famous person in my home country, the Philippines who also has the same name as you except she's a woman that is famous in the Internet for her vlogs that mostly show her butt and boobs." Kal said.

"That was my elder sister." Tony replied.

"Oh, I'm sorry. No wonder both of you look similar." Kal apologized.

"It's okay, and you're right. I don't even know why people watch her vlogs when most of it aren't even half decent. She has a child for god sakes! and she let her child see those perverted things she does. I don't even know why father always spoils her, she didn't even finish school because she got pregnant at a young age and now she's making money both in our family's business and her channel." Tony said to Kal.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Kal replied.

"It's okay, I'm sorry for showing this embarrassing side of me." Tony responded.

"I understand, but if I may ask, why don't your father treat you like how your father treats your sister?" Kal asked.

"My family owns one of the biggest potion making business and being the only hunter and male on our family, I was given the task to work hard and become the next owner of our business since father is years where he should be retiring."