“Naturally, being told to suddenly introduce yourselves might leave you wondering how to talk about yourself or what to even say when meeting someone for the first time. That’s why we’ve prepared question cards to help break the ice.”
I came here to take an exam—to compete with others to secure a spot at the academy—and now they wanted us to socialize with the competition?
It was absurd to me.
From the murmur of voices across the hall, it seemed the other examinees shared my sentiment.
And on top of that, the fourth practical exam is supposedly just to relax before the fifth one…
There was no way that was true.
What were they really plotting?
Yet the examiner ignored the unspoken suspicions and continued speaking.
“On each table in the banquet hall, you’ll find cards like the one I’m holding. These cards are filled with questions meant to spark conversation. Examinees, simply use them to ask and answer with your partner. Once you’ve gone through ten cards, you’ll get a signature from the person you spoke with on the card you received at entry.”
“…”
“And remember, all introductions must be done one-on-one and last at least five minutes. This event was prepared for you to get to know your potential peers. But we know some might try to cut corners just to collect signatures. Don’t.”
No wonder the tables were small.
It was designed to prevent group introductions.
On each table, there was a cardholder identical to the one the examiner was holding.
“Now, let’s begin the introductions! While the banquet is ongoing, we’ll also be holding mini-games. These won’t affect your scores, but winners will receive Geumgang Coins. These coins will come in handy once you’ve passed the exam and begin your life at the academy.”
It was, in every sense of the word, a party.
Eat, drink, laugh, chat, and connect with others.
Not a hint of tension in the air.
There wasn’t even a glimmer of hidden intent in the examiners’ words, behavior, or eyes.
Is there really no hidden agenda?
Even when I extended my senses, nothing was triggered. No instincts kicked in.
That meant there was no danger nearby.
This wasn’t a setup for an ambush while we let our guards down.
Am I just being overly suspicious…?
I sipped my drink.
Lively music filled the banquet hall, and the mood was infectious.
With delicious food and sweet drinks, it was hard to stay wary.
And as I relaxed, examinees began pairing off and heading to the tables.
No point in overthinking it. I should just start collecting signatures.
Time to get moving.
The first person I wanted to approach, obviously, was Yeon-ha-neul.
But just then—
“Ha-neul, want to pair wi—”
“Do-gyeon-woo! Let’s pair up!”
“Gyeon-woo!”
As I turned to approach Yeon-ha-neul, Yong-hae-rang grabbed my arm.
His grip was ridiculously strong, and I wasn’t prepared for it—I had no choice but to be dragged off.
…Sorry, Ha-neul. Looks like you’ll have to pair with someone else.
I looked back.
Yeon-ha-neul stood with her hand half-raised, eyes wide, staring at me.
She looked… crestfallen.
I probably had the same look on my face.
I forced a wry smile and gave her a small wave.
“Hey, that hurts. I can walk on my own, so let go.”
“Oh, sorry! I’m bad at controlling my strength.”
Well, I needed ten signatures anyway.
Unintended as it was, I’d start with Yong-hae-rang.
We found an empty table and sat down.
An assistant walking around with a tray came over to swap out our drinks.
“Here’s a fresh glass.”
“Oh, thank you.”
“This stuff tastes great, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah. It’s surprisingly good.”
“Still, this isn’t enough to fill me up! For the sake of my muscles, I gotta eat something. Mind if I eat while we chat?”
“…For your muscles, huh? Sure. I’m hungry too.”
“Meat! What we need is meat! A man lives on meat!”
“Agreed.”
“Knew you’d get it. Do-gyeon-woo, you’re the perfect rival—”
“Nope. Not even close.”
I couldn’t just keep sipping drinks either—it was around dinner time.
We stood up and filled our plates with a modest amount of food.
After taking a bite of the meat I’d cut with a knife, I reached for the cardholder.
“Let’s shuffle these.”
“Mind if I pick first?”
“Go ahead.”
I placed the shuffled cards in the center of the table.
Yong-hae-rang, gnawing on a chicken drumstick, picked the topmost card.
“What are the three qualities that make an excellent Hunter?”
“What do you think?”
“No question—Determination! Passion! Guts! That’s what makes a true Hunter!”
“Sounds like you.”
“What about you?”
“I’d say… talent, background, and effort.”
“Hm, standard answer. I expected something a little more surprising from you.”
“There’s nothing surprising about it. Both of us are here because we’ve got those three. But if I had to add one more…”
“Let me guess—Determination?”
“Luck, actually.”
“Pfft. Can’t argue with that. Luck is a factor.”
“That’s the first question down. Want me to pick the next one?”
“Yeah! Bring it on!”
As if on cue, Yong-hae-rang puffed out his chest dramatically.
His uniform was loose around the neck, so the muscles on his chest rippled with each movement.
His tanned skin made them look even more defined.
…Jealous.
I shook off the thought and reached for the next card.
“A place in Academy City you want to visit the most? Hm…”
“Another easy one. If you’re stumped, I can go first.”
“Sure, go ahead.”
“I want to visit the Battle Arena!”
“…How very you.”
The Battle Arena was where Academy students often competed in one-on-one matches.
It made perfect sense that Yong-hae-rang would want to go.
Now it was my turn.
The place I want to visit the most…
So many places came to mind.
Choosing just one wasn’t easy.
Then I spotted her—Yeon-ha-neul.
She was talking to one of the triplets.
Looking at her like that…
“I’d say Heart Land.”
“Heart Land? You mean the theme park?”
“Yeah.”
“Bit unexpected. I figured you’d be all about the Battle Arena too. Heart Land, huh…”
Well—
Yeon-ha-neul once said she wanted to go.
Ride the carousel, she’d said.
“Alright! If we both pass, let’s go together! And after that, we can hit up the Battle Arena!”
“Sorry, I already promised someone else. You’ll have to find another partner.”
“Tch. Then how about we go as a group—”
“You’re out.”
After finishing our conversation, we exchanged signatures.
I signed his card; he signed mine.
“There you go! All done.”
“Take yours too.”
I took my card back.
Right at the top, Yong-hae-rang had scrawled his name in huge, wild letters, even breaking past the borders.
Whoever signed next was going to have a hard time.
“I’m off to find someone else! See you later!”
“Yeah, take care.”
Yong-hae-rang turned and left with confident strides.
Then, just like he did with me, he grabbed another examinee mid-step and dragged them away.
I offered a silent prayer for that poor soul.
Anyway, I should get moving too. Time to find my next conversation partner…
I scanned the room for Yeon-ha-neul.
She was still making her rounds with the triplets, taking turns talking.
Looks like it’ll be a while before she’s free.
No helping it.
I’d get her signature later. For now, I needed someone else.
I looked around for anyone who had just finished or was still searching for a partner.
“Looking for someone to talk to?”
A voice called out.
It seemed I wasn’t the only one searching.
I turned my head at the voice behind me.
The girl was short, so I had to glance downward.
And then—
“Yeah, I was just… looking…”
The rest of my words caught in my throat.
Because the person standing there was someone I’d been hoping not to run into.
“Perfect. So am I.”
“…”
“Great. Let’s pair up.”
Ash-grey hair, likely the result of mana-twisted genes, and violet eyes.
Her hair reached nearly to her hips, and her soft, sunny smile gave her the air of a gentle lamb.
But this girl—Nam-yu-ri, of Namga Dormitory—was anything but that.
So she’s here too?
And it didn’t feel like coincidence. No, she had approached me on purpose.
Knowing her true nature, I couldn’t hide my unease.
This was not a welcome reunion.
Contrary to how I felt, she seemed oddly curious about me.
That slight lift at the corner of her lips—she only did that when something intrigued her.
It was a telltale habit of hers during games, when something piqued her interest.
“I’m Nam-yu-ri of Namga Dormitory! You’re from the Divine Sword Clan, right? I saw you in the forest, hunting rabbits and summoning lightning.”
“….”
“I’d heard that once the swordsmanship of the Divine Sword Clan reaches a certain level, mana friction can cause a surge of electricity. But seeing it in person? It was fascinating. Cool, even. I’m really curious about how it works.”
Nam-yu-ri brought her hands out from behind her back and offered me her card.
“We’re pairing up, right? Here—this is mine. Mind giving me yours? Oh, wait—I never asked your name.”
“…Do-gyeon-woo.”
“Got it! Do-gyeon-woo, huh!”
I hadn’t expected her to approach me first, but now that she had, I had little choice.
It wasn’t as though I’d planned to make her an enemy, so getting familiar with her at some point was inevitable.
The timing just came earlier than expected.
But that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
If anything, it might be for the better.
She seems to have a favorable impression of me, at least for now.
Still, I couldn’t afford to let my guard down.
Nam-yu-ri was fickle.
There was no guarantee her friendliness would last.
She was the kind of person whose entire attitude could flip overnight.
Dangerous. Difficult.
And undeniably skilled.
With that final thought, I reached out and exchanged cards with her.
“Sure. Let’s pair up.”
Meanwhile…
“Where is Gyeon-woo…”
Yeon-ha-neul sighed under her breath.
She’d taken too long collecting the triplets’ signatures and lost track of time.
Now, she was on the move, searching for Do-gyeon-woo somewhere in the banquet hall.
It didn’t take long to find him.
Ah—there.
She spotted him immediately.
It wasn’t logical—it was just a feeling.
Call it childhood friend intuition. Or maybe it was the fact that, without realizing, she always found herself looking for him when he wasn’t around.
Whatever the reason—
Yep, that’s Gyeon-woo.
A small, proud smile tugged at her lips.
Even in a crowded hall full of moving bodies, she found him without hesitation. That alone made her a little happy.
His familiar silhouette, the back of his head—somehow, it looked cuter than usual.
But… he’s already talking to someone else.
As Yeon-ha-neul moved closer, she noticed the person sitting across from him.
A girl, with long wavy gray hair and striking violet eyes.
…She’s pretty.
Judging by her seated height, she seemed shorter than Yeon-ha-neul, and her features were petite and cute.
Seeing them together, something stirred within her.
Who approached first?
She wondered—did Do-gyeon-woo speak to the girl first, or was it the other way around?
What kind of face was he making right now? Who was this girl, really?
She knew it was silly—but she couldn’t help being curious.
I should get closer and watch.
Of course, she had no intention of making it obvious.
That would just come off as clingy or interfering.
It would annoy others too.
She didn’t want to be that kind of person.
So instead, Yeon-ha-neul quietly approached, watching from a distance.
“Hey! Yeon-ha-neul!”
“…!”
The voice startled her—loud and unmistakable.
It was Yong-hae-rang.
Startled, her rabbit ears twitched straight up before she turned slowly to face him.
“Were you also looking for someone to pair with? Great timing, so was I.”
“Ah…”
Yong-hae-rang was approaching fast, card in hand.
It was clear he intended to pick her as his conversation partner.
Oh no… we really don’t match…
This wasn’t good.
Yeon-ha-neul had a hard time dealing with assertive people.
Compared to someone like Go-eun-bi, who had lots of friends, Yong-hae-rang was a far more intimidating presence.
“How about it? Want to pair with me?”
Yeon-ha-neul panicked internally.
If she didn’t act fast, she’d be stuck with him—dragged around, overwhelmed, exhausted.
She had to find a way out.
What do I say, what do I say…
Her eyes darted around in desperation, searching for an excuse—any excuse.
That’s when she spotted someone standing nearby, quietly eating.
Ah!
It was a calm-looking girl.
The moment she saw her, Yeon-ha-neul knew.
She seems like someone I’d get along with.
That instinct was all she needed.
Her body moved on its own.
“Huh?”
“S-Sorry! I already promised someone I’d pair with… right?”
“Ah, I see. Too bad…”
She dashed over and quickly linked arms with the quiet girl.
Then she turned to Yong-hae-rang and bowed in apology, silently pleading with the stranger beside her to just play along.
“Yam?”
The girl blinked her vivid green eyes, clearly confused.
Still chewing, a fork still in her mouth, completely unaware of what she’d just been dragged into.
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