Entrance Exam [2]

***

「 Beginning Synchronisation... 」

'Hmm, something doesn't feel right.' I thought as I opened my eyes. The ceiling of my room looked unfamiliar to me.

'Shouldn't I be dead?' A weird thought appeared in my mind.

'No, wait, why would I be dead?' Another thought answered.

'What's going on?' I asked myself, confused.

「 13% 」

'Where am I?'

'It's my room.'

Different thoughts appeared in my mind as if there was someone else inside me.

I sat up and looked around.

「 28% 」

My room, somehow, felt unfamiliar to me.

「 39% 」

How should I say it? It wasn't just the room that felt weird. I, myself, didn't feel like myself.

「 51% 」

A sudden headache struck me.

"AAARGH!" I screamed in unbearable pain.

「 72% 」

Unfamiliar memories slowly flew into my mind. I could see myself in them, but at the same time, it wasn't exactly me. The world in those memories wasn't the one I knew.

「 81% 」

"Haa, haa,"

The headache finally stopped.

I was filled with new memories, yet they were all familiar to me.

「 Connecting Souls Into One... 」

「 82% 」

'Hmm. Wait, who am I?'

'Am I me from this world or another one?'

'Was I reborn into this world and remembered my past life now?'

'Or did I just connect with someone from this world?'

Many questions appeared in my mind.

'No, I am William Nate. That's for sure.'

There was also a feeling that I got a lot stronger.

「 92% 」

I decided to check my status to see what had happened to me.

"Status"

Two windows popped up in front of me.

―――――――「 Status 」―――――――

Name : William Nate

「 Stats 」

Rating : [1.9]

Vitality : [2]

Mana : [1.5]

Strength : [2.5]

Agility : [2.5]

Intelligence : [1]

Luck : [1]

「 Skills 」

<Blue Slash (Active)[E][Lvl. 4]>

――――――――――――――――――――

=

―――――――「 Status 」―――――――

Name : William Nate

「 Stats 」

Rating : [1.05]

Vitality : [1.25]

Mana : [0]

Strength : [1.15]

Agility : [1.15]

Intelligence : [1.7]

Luck : [1.45]

「 Skills 」

<Simon Says Stop! (Active)[S][Lvl. MAX]>

――――――――――――――――――――

'Huh? Two status windows? The first one is mine for sure, then the second...'

'An S Rank Skill?!?' I exclaimed in my thoughts as I looked through the contents of the unfamiliar status.

「 Connecting Statuses Into One... 」

「 100% 」

「 Synchronisation Complete 」

I quickly clicked on it to see its description.

***

Michael POV.

***

'<Simon Says Stop!>.'

'An S Rank Skill that pretty much made William the protagonist. It was his plot armor. It was almost his everything.' I thought as I watched the handsome blond-haired boy walk up to the mana testing device.

He was around the same height as me and had clear blue eyes.

'Is it possible for someone to be this good-looking? No wonder he had a harem.' I thought jokingly.

However, what was most noticeable about him was the confident look on his face.

Well, it's not surprising. Just a while ago, not only did Wiliam receive an incredible increase in stats, but also that crazy-ass skill.

――――――――――――――――――――――

<Simon Says Stop! (Active)[S][Lvl. MAX]>

Stop the time for 3 seconds.

Cost: 25% of mana pool.

Cooldown: 24 hours.

――――――――――――――――――――――

While I was thinking so, I heard a familiar voice from behind me.

"Hey, you're done?"

"Oh, it's you. What are you doing here?" I asked after I saw Olivia.

"I finished my examination and wanted to see yours." She replied.

"Well, I just finished mine."

"I see, that's a shame. How did it go? What's your score?" Olivia asked.

"To be honest, it went way better than I expected. I got 1.95, and you?"

"4.03"

'...'

"I see."

'Talented people must have it easy, huh?' I thought sarcastically.

"Someone, you know?" Olivia asked as she noticed my smile and the gaze towards William.

"Ah, no, he just looked confident, so I wanted to see his performance."

"Just like any other arrogant kid from a high-ranked family." She said while rolling her eyes. Then she continued.

"He's probably going to score worse than me."

"Pfft." I laughed softly.

'It's the main protagonist that we are talking about here.'

"Wanna make a bet?" I then asked.

She looked at me and said.

"Sure."

"Alright, then, are you fine with the winner having one wish?" I suggested.

"I don't mind, but, no asking for money and stuff like that." She answered.

"Sure," I replied as we watched William take the first test.

'1.5' Mana.

"That's pretty low." I heard her say next to me.

'3.65' Strength.

'3.65' Agility.

'1.00' Intelligence.

"Hehe, guess who is going to lose." I heard her laugh next to me.

'Haha, laugh all you want while you still can.' I thought as I waited for the next test.

William walked up to the next testing device and unsheathed his sword.

He closed his eyes for a second and infused some mana into his sword.

Then, he swung it, and a blue slash flew from it.

When his attack reached the block, it got absorbed, and nothing happened.

'Is it a safety measure in case the attack was too powerful?' I wondered.

'That would make sense.'

Some attacks could cause small explosions or spread further than the block. It could cause harm to the spectators.

Then I saw a score show up on the screen of the testing device.

'14.58' Offensive Capabilities.

"Whaat?!"

"No way!"

"How is that possible?"

"It has to be an error..."

I heard surprised spectators speak.

Participants and even examiners were in shock.

'Well, it's no wonder. It's probably the highest score someone ever got on this test in entrance exams.' I thought. Then with a smug face, I looked at Olivia.

"Heh"

"I haven't lost yet. There is still one more test."

"Sure, sure."

No one except for William and I knew what had really happened. It was impossible to tell.

The truth is that while he was releasing his <Blue Slash> skill, he stopped the time and cast another two slashes.

Thanks to the time stop, it looked as if he released only one slash, and the power of the attack increased a lot.

'3.4' Defensive Capabilities...

'Final score - 4.38'

"I guess I won," I said while smiling.

"Yeah..." Olivia replied, a little bit angry.

"The results are going to be announced after all the examiners take their tests. It will probably take a few more hours. Wanna do something in the meantime?" I suggested.

"I don't mind." She replied.

...

We walked around the academy and checked its facilities.

Most of the area was occupied by training grounds specialized to each combat role. There was one big cafeteria and three buildings for classes surrounding it. Next to them were also separate dorms for male and female students.

Because we both were a bit hungry, we decided to check out the food at the cafeteria.

The food was pretty cheap and tasty.

As we consumed our breakfast or maybe lunch, a group of male students stopped next to our table.

'Ah right, I'm with Olivia. I wonder how she will reject them...' I thought.

One of the guys, who seemed to be the leader, said.

"Hello cuties, would you mind if we sat here?"

'I really am in a novel, huh. Who even starts the conversation like that?' I thought as I rolled my eyes.

'Wait.'

"Pffft," I heard Olivia laugh softly next to me.

'Did he just say cuties?'

'...'

'I swear I'm going to the barber today.' I thought while I replied in a bit annoyed tone.

"There are free tables around, so sit somewhere else."

After hearing my answer, an angry look appeared on his face.

'Oho? Ohohoh? That reaction and that expression. He is going to say the line!' I thought as I awaited his reply.

"Do you know who I am?!"

'He said it! He said the thing!' I exclaimed happily in my head.

There were many people like him in this world. Usually, they were children of high-ranked heroes or talented and wealthy individuals. They were like arrogant young masters from the cultivation stories.

'Should I just go with the "I'm someone more important act?"' I wondered.

'Let's do that.'

"And do you know who she is?" I said in an arrogant tone as I pointed at Olivia.

She looked at me, confused.

I ignored her and continued.

"She is the one and only Iris Lire, the daughter of the second-ranked hero, Harris Lire!"

Iris Lire was also one of the heroines.

"Know your place peasants! You better kneel and apologize right now!" I screamed at them as if I was her servant, angry in my young lady's stead, for offending her.

'Where is my oscar?' I asked in my head jokingly.

"Huh? Wha- what?" The group of students didn't know how to reply, shocked by my act.

"Did I stutter? I said kneel and apologize!" I said as I continued my act.

"A-Ah, ye-yes, we a-are s-sorry!" They said in perfect sync as they kneeled in front of us.

'Hmm? They actually did it? Were they too shocked to even question if she really is Iris?'

"Now leave before you anger my lady more."

"Y-yes." They said and walked away.

"Pfft- ahaha, what was that?" Olivia laughed next to me and then continued.

"Should I call you Michelle now?"

"..." I ignored her and continued to eat.

...

After we finished eating, we left the cafeteria and went in the direction of the next building we wanted to check.

But before we reached it, we heard a loud announcement.

"The results of the entrance exams will appear on the noticeboard. If you passed, please pick up your student's ID card from the secretariat."