Aaron strode confidently towards the laboratory door and pushed it open, stepping inside.
Simon watched his retreating figure with a slightly dazed expression.
"Professor Aaron is joking too," he thought.
Little did Simon know, if the other teaching assistants had seen this, they would have fainted from shock.
Thus, Simon entered Aaron's laboratory for the first time.
Everywhere he looked, various unidentified undead materials filled the room.
One could feel just how much Aaron loved summoning arts by simply being in this space.
The dragon bones that wrapped around the entire laboratory were particularly striking.
They swayed as if alive, not merely decorations but seemingly in a skeletal state.
"Just sit anywhere," Aaron said as he casually removed his pants.
He tossed them onto the neck of the dragon bones that adorned the classroom.
The dragon bones shook its neck in disgust but did not resist further.
Simon stifled a laugh as he searched for a place to sit.
The walls and floor were cluttered with valuable undead research materials, so Simon had to tread carefully with each step.
Eventually, he found a sofa and gently pushed aside a ghoul model leaning next to it before sitting down.
"Well then, what did you want to ask?" Aaron had already stripped off his top and was now in shorts and slippers, busily brewing tea.
Simon took a light breath and spoke, "I want to know how to win using only summoning arts in the duel evaluation."
Aaron's movements paused for a moment.
It was only a brief hesitation before he casually poured tea into a cup.
"Why would you want to do something so pointless?"
"Excuse me...?"
"Simon Polentia. I know you have been excelling in martial arts and other subjects as well."
Aaron approached and slid a teacup towards Simon.
"There’s a clear way to pass this evaluation easily, so I don’t understand why you would choose to suffer."
Simon swallowed hard.
He had expected Aaron to say something like that.
Even in the first class of summoning arts, Aaron had made comments that seemed to undermine the subject.
That made it all the more puzzling.
One could feel a lot just by looking around this laboratory.
How could someone who loved summoning arts so much, someone who poured such passion into his specialty, say such things to the students of Kijen?
"Then, I want to ask you the opposite, Professor."
Simon's eyes sharpened.
"Is there any other reason needed when a summoning arts aspirant wants to win with summoning arts?"
"......."
Aaron stopped moving and stared at Simon.
Simon did not shy away from his gaze.
A moment of honesty passed between them, and then Aaron lifted the teacup to his lips.
Simon, who had been parched, cautiously took a sip.
The first taste was bitter, but a lingering sweetness remained in his mouth.
"Do you want me to reveal the solution? Or..."
As Aaron set down the teacup, an unbelievable smile appeared on his face.
"Do you want me to supplement the solution you chose?"
At the same time, Simon also revealed a grin, showing his teeth.
"The latter, Professor."
Finally, the day of the duel evaluation arrived.
Kijen was operating five indoor arenas simultaneously for the evaluations.
Dick, Maylin, and Kamibarez were at the second arena among them.
In the morning, only Simon from group seven was taking the test.
Everyone had come to cheer him on.
However, "Where on earth is he!" Maylin exclaimed, stamping her feet in the stands.
Kamibarez was also restless, constantly looking around.
Simon's turn was approaching, yet he was nowhere to be seen.
"You all stay here."
Finally, Dick stood up.
"I'll go out and look for him."
While Dick went outside, another match had already concluded.
The victorious student raised both hands in joy, while the defeated student hung their head low.
The rules of the duel evaluation were similar to the Cyclops assessment.
The students from the Ang group fought while wearing 'protective suits' that provided full-body shielding, and the one whose barrier gauge reached zero would lose.
The student who won today would start in the mid-squad, while the loser would begin in the lower squad.
If they lost again in the lower squad next week, they would drop to the lowest squad based on their grades.
In other words, "expulsion from Kijen" would be within reach.
Because of this fact, the pressure on all the students was at its peak.
The stands were filled with students who had come to cheer for their friends and those gathering information.
Of course, there were also adults who had received entry passes from the Dark Alliance scattered throughout.
Since Kijen students were the next generation of talents to lead the continent, it was only natural for various organizations to gather information.
And now, the scouts in the second arena had one focus.
"We will soon see this year's special admission number one."
"Simon Polentia, I’ve never heard that name before."
"His origin is unclear. He was suddenly selected by Lady Nephthys."
"He’s aiming for summoning arts."
"Summoning arts? What are the Kijen professors doing? They can't really be thinking of placing the special admission number one in summoning arts, can they?"
As the adults in the stands chatted and compiled their scouting lists, the ones most anxious were Maylin and Kamibarez.
The two could hardly sit still, scanning the waiting room.
Just then, an announcement came over the loudspeakers in the ceiling.
- A group student Simon Polentia, please come to the arena.
The opponent, Haren Cork, is entering the arena.
Haren Cork stepped into the arena, taking a deep breath.
The examiner who had taken Haren's blood sample gave him the okay sign.
Just as Bahil had said, he had passed the doping test. 'Ah, I feel so full of energy.' This feeling was... hard to put into words.
Haren had always lived in the shadow of others.
But now, it was different.
He felt as if everything in the world was beneath his feet.
With just a thought, he felt he could crush anyone.
'...
Simon Polentia.' The special admission number one of group A.
The best of the best.
It was no surprise that students with special admissions were all arrogant.
The eighth special admission in group G, to which Haren belonged, was the same; they were all proud and vicious.
Born into well-off families, they had never known hunger, receiving immense support without any effort, and were naturally gifted with talent due to their genes.
'Just wait and see.' Haren knew that most of the scouts watching from the stands had come to see Simon.
But after this duel evaluation, their opinions would change.
The entire continent would turn its attention to him.
Haren's gaze shifted to one side of the stands.
At the end of the stands, Bahil, dressed in a white suit, was also watching the match.
'...
As long as I don’t kill him, it’s fine, right?' Haren could not give up this power.
He wanted to continue receiving Bahil's support, and to do that, he was determined to become Bahil's direct disciple. 'At the very least, I’ll make sure to thoroughly break one of his limbs.'
Those born into wealthy families would enjoy this opportunity for a lifetime, and Haren was determined to seize this chance, which might only come once in a lifetime.
He would not let it slip away.
He would use any means necessary.
- A group student Simon Polentia, please come to the arena.
However, the opponent was running a bit late.
Now, not only the announcement in the second arena but also the entire school was broadcasting to find Simon. '...
Late? This is how special admissions are, huh?' Haren crossed his arms.
The referee overseeing the match checked his wristwatch.
"The schedule is delayed. If Simon Polentia does not arrive in five minutes, he will be disqualified. This duel will be declared a victory for Haren Cork."
Sounds of disappointment and clicking tongues echoed from all around.
Maylin and Kamibarez were stamping their feet.
No matter how they thought about it, something must have happened.
If Dick couldn’t find him, no one could.
The five minutes passed in the blink of an eye, and the referee, checking his watch, announced, "Time's up. This match is declared a victory for Haren Cork..."
"Wait a moment!"
With a dramatic moment, the waiting room door swung open, revealing a disheveled Simon, supported by Dick, as he walked out.
"Oh!"
"There he is!"
The fact that the big match had not been canceled brought smiles to the faces of the waiting scouts and students.
"Simon!"
"You idiot!!"
Kamibarez and Maylin sighed in relief, waving their hands.
Simon spotted them and raised his hand slightly to signal that he was okay.
"I can walk by myself, Dick."
"Seriously."
Dick released his support and gave Simon a light pat on the back.
"Do well."
"Yeah."
Simon walked towards the arena and bowed to the referee.
"I apologize for being late."
"Well, it's fine. Please prepare quickly."
The waiting subordinates rushed in to put the protective suit on Simon and take his blood sample.
The preparations for the duel evaluation were completed swiftly.
"Both contestants, shake hands."
Following the referee's instruction, Simon and Haren met in the middle to shake hands.
Simon smiled brightly.
"Sorry for being late."
"......."
Haren said nothing and scrutinized Simon's condition.
A pale face, dark circles under his eyes, and his uniform covered in dirt. 'Clearly, his condition is terrible.
This should be an easy win.'
The two finished shaking hands and stepped back.
The mana projector displayed the screens.
[Simon Polentia: 100%]
[Haren Cork: 100%]
"The match will end when one side loses consciousness or their barrier gauge reaches 0%."
The two nodded and took their stances.
In an instant, a tense atmosphere enveloped the entire arena.
Maylin and Kamibarez craned their necks in anticipation, while Dick, who had climbed up to the stands, approached them, sweating profusely.
"Dick! You really worked hard!"
"Why are you saying that? Where was Simon?"
Dick's uniform was covered in dirt.
He plopped down in his seat and brushed off the dirt.
"Simon was behind the arena."
"Huh?"
"I'll explain in detail later. For now, let’s just watch."
In the arena, Simon closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Huuuu."
And when he opened his eyes again, his original focus returned.
'That monster of a guy.' Haren smirked, lowering his stance further.
The referee raised his arm high.
"Match start!"