Reluctant Kindness

Yuno sat hunched over his desk, staring at the test paper as if it had personally insulted him. His fingers gripped the pen like a lifeline, sweat already forming on his forehead.

The room was dead silent except for the sound of scratching pens and the occasional shifting of chairs.

Everyone around him was deep in thought, heads down, focused on answering the exam with the full force of their intellect.

Meanwhile, Yuno's mind was going completely blank.

He took a deep breath, telling himself to focus. Alright, Yuno, it's just a stupid test. How bad can it be?

With newfound determination, he glanced down at the first question.

Question 1: What is the fundamental principle behind elemental mana circulation? Explain in detail the core theories of mana flow, its interaction with the user's energy pathways, and how it can be applied in combat scenarios.

Yuno's face twitched. His eyes skimmed over the words again. And again. And again. But no matter how much he tried to process the information, his brain simply refused.

What the hell is this?!

He looked around the room in desperation. Everyone else was scribbling away with serious expressions. Some were even nodding to themselves, as if these questions were easy.

He turned back to the paper, his hands starting to shake. Okay, next question! Maybe that one's better!

Question 2: Explain the theorem behind dungeon spatial distortions and how they affect internal time flow. Include at least three recorded examples of real-world cases where this phenomenon has been observed.

Yuno's pupils shrank.

His breathing grew uneven. His mind had officially tapped out.

WHAT KIND OF MONSTER WROTE THIS EXAM?!

At this point, he wasn't even sure if these were real questions or if someone had custom-made a personal nightmare for him.

Desperate, he clutched his pen and decided to write something, anything that might resemble an answer.

Slowly, he scrawled down his best attempt:

"Magic go brrr."

The moment the ink touched the paper, the letters on the page shuddered.

Then, before his very eyes, the entire test suddenly shifted. The words rearranged themselves, the letters twisting and reforming like living things.

Yuno leaned back, eyes wide in horror. "What the hell?!"

The paper didn't just change, the questions had adapted.

At the top of the page, bold red text appeared: Recalibrating exam difficulty… Analyzing subject's intellectual capacity… Adjusting to appropriate level…

Yuno stared, mouth slightly open. Then, the test updated again.

Question 1: What is 2 + 2 equal?

Yuno blinked. His eye twitched.

Then, beneath the question, more text formed automatically: It's 4, you idiot.

He recoiled as if physically struck. "Huh?!"

More words materialized beneath it: This is the easiest possible level of questioning. Do not fail this.

Yuno's face burned with humiliation. Is this thing… pitying me?!

He turned his head slightly, stealing a glance at the instructor standing at the front of the room. She was a composed, professional-looking woman with sharp features and neatly tied-back black hair.

She was paying no attention to him whatsoever.

In fact… no one was noticing this.

All the other candidates were still hunched over their desks, furiously writing answers, oblivious to the fact that his exam was straight-up grading itself.

He gulped, turning his gaze back to the page.

Question 2: What color is the sky?

This time, Yuno didn't hesitate. He quickly scribbled: Blue!

The test paper responded immediately: Correct. You get a sticker.

A tiny golden star sticker materialized in the corner of his paper.

Yuno nearly choked.

Was… was this thing rewarding him for getting basic questions right?!

His hands clenched into fists. This was the most humiliating experience of his life. But at the same time… it wasn't cheating.

The test was literally adjusting itself to ensure he couldn't fail.

I should be mad… but this is the only way I'm getting out of here alive. Yuno thought grimly, forcing himself to continue.

The next question appeared.

Question 3: If you have five apples and you give three away, how many apples do you have left?

Yuno exhaled sharply. "I'm not that dumb!" he hissed under his breath as he quickly wrote: Two!

The test answered: Barely competent. Moving on.

He groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Kill me now…"

Yet, despite everything, one undeniable fact remained.

The test was basically passing him out of sheer sympathy.

And at this point, with the sheer absurdity of the situation piling up, he figured there was no point in questioning it any further, he was just gonna roll with it.

____________________

The office of Principal Gerald Hawthorne stood at the highest floor of Hunter High Academy, a place that overlooked the entire campus.

The wide windows behind his desk allowed a full view of the training grounds, dormitories, and the grand entrance gate where new generations of Hunters would pass through.

The room itself was grand yet practical shelves lined with books on mana theory, battle tactics, and Hunter history, alongside neatly arranged scrolls containing records of past graduates who had left their mark on the world.

Despite its scholarly atmosphere, the office bore signs of a warrior's past. Mounted on the walls were weapons, each with a history of its own.

A massive greatsword rested against the far corner, its surface scarred from countless battles, and a broken spear displayed in a glass case told the story of a legendary fight that cemented Gerald's name in history.

The faint scent of aged parchment and polished wood filled the air, a testament to the years spent guiding the academy's future Hunters.

Seated at his desk, Gerald Hawthorne sifted through stacks of documents, his sharp eyes scanning the names of candidates who had advanced to the final trial. Despite his age, his posture remained upright, exuding an air of authority that demanded respect.

His gray hair and full beard were neatly kept, a reflection of his disciplined nature. Every year, he personally reviewed the top-performing candidates, ensuring that only those truly worthy would move forward.

But as he flipped to the next page, his tapping ceased. His brows furrowed ever so slightly as he read the name at the top.

Name: Hugo Icelandra.

A normal human. No supernatural abilities. No enhancements. No advantages beyond what he was born with.

Yet, despite that, the boy had passed two trials.

Gerald's sharp eyes moved across the page, carefully analyzing the details.

— Race: Human

— Ability: None

— First Trial Performance: Successfully retrieved the required badge and survived without breaking any rules. Notably avoided unnecessary conflict, instead utilizing strategy and teamwork to achieve objectives.

— Second Trial Performance: Accumulated 328 points.

The old principal leaned back in his chair, stroking his well-groomed beard thoughtfully.

He had seen countless Hunters come and go, many of them possessing overwhelming talent, monstrous strength, or rare abilities that set them apart. But to see a powerless candidate survive two of the most brutal trials without any of those advantages?

That was something worth noting.

Still, skepticism lingered in his mind. Had the boy merely relied on others? Was he simply lucky? Or was there something more to him?

Gerald reached for a separate file, one that contained reports from the examiners and instructors who had observed each candidate. His fingers flipped through the pages swiftly until he found the one labeled Hugo Icelandra.

His eyes narrowed as he read the notes.

— Instructor Everhart's Evaluation:

Surprisingly resourceful. Despite lacking an ability, he was able to keep up with his peers through calculated decision-making. Doesn't act recklessly. Maintains composure even under pressure. However, his lack of self-confidence is a noticeable weakness. He has potential, but whether he can truly rise to the level of a Hunter is yet to be seen.

Gerald exhaled slowly through his nose. Everhart was not the type to give praise lightly.

Flipping through additional documents, he found more remarks from other evaluators. Most of them noted the same thing, Hugo displayed strong observational skills, quick thinking, and an ability to adapt.

But none of them could confidently say whether he had what it took to become a Hunter in the long run.

The principal set the file down and clasped his hands together, deep in thought.

"A normal human with no powers… yet he has made it this far."

Gerald's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile.

He had seen this kind of situation before, individuals who were underestimated, overlooked, and doubted because they lacked what others had. But strength didn't always come from power alone.

He glanced at the clock before returning his gaze to the document.

Let's see if you can prove everyone wrong, in the final trial that challenge a person knowledge... Hugo Icelandra.

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