"Congratulations, you are the last team to exit the gate. And the first team to complete this gate.
"You will be directly admitted to Class A without further point evaluation, and you will also receive a privilege."
"Privilege?" Renia raised both eyebrows.
"That's right—a privilege." Luna raised her megaphone with a smirk on her face.
Renia and Geriya exchanged confused glances.
They had never known that the academy entrance exam would grant privileges.
No one had ever mentioned privileges in the entrance exam.
It wasn't written anywhere.
"Excuse me, Headmaster. I have a question." Gisella raised her hand high.
Luna shifted her attention and activated her megaphone.
"What do you want to ask?"
"May I know what this special right is?" Gisella asked curiously.
Luna replied, "You can obtain a special right when you defeat the gate boss in this third exam.
"This special right is a privilege that can be obtained by a student.
"For example, the special right to choose any mission you want.
"Velmora Grand Academy will give you missions three times a week. If you have a special right, you can choose any mission you want.
"The same goes for the others. You can choose other special rights, such as using special weapons at the academy, having a private research room, and training with the professor or instructor of your choice."
The four of them, except for Hastora, were shocked to hear this.
This special right was very beneficial to Hastora.
He would gain a huge advantage by taking advantage of the girls.
Hastora deliberately separated himself from them so that he could complete the mission given by Viktor.
But, he also intended to return.
He knew that Valeska wouldn't let him go just like that.
Hastora knew that he would meet the girls again in the desert.
He deliberately separated himself from them, then took advantage of his unexpected meeting with the girls to return to the team.
That way, he wouldn't have to kill many monsters to earn points anymore.
He could easily enter Class A.
Plus, he also got a special right.
This was a jackpot.
He had to think about what special right he would ask for later.
It had to be something beneficial.
One thing that came to mind was choosing any mission he wanted.
But, he didn't want to decide on his choice beforehand.
He had to think about it again.
He couldn't be careless. He had to wait for the right situation to decide.
Gisella raised her hand.
"Headmaster, I want to have a private research room as my special right."
"Alright, you got it," Luna replied.
"The remaining four, what will you choose?"
The four of them were thinking about their special rights.
Renia seemed to want to choose her special right, but she hesitated.
While Valeska seemed to have already made a decision.
"Headmaster," she called.
Headmaster Luna turned.
"Have you decided what special right you will choose?"
"Yes, I want Hastora to be in a group with me every time we run a mission.
"I choose that as my special right. How about it? Is that allowed?"
"Alright. If that's what you want."
All the students present were shocked to hear Valeska's special right.
The students commotion filled the field, their whispers and conversations echoed throughout the field.
Hastora was also a little surprised to hear the special right chosen by Valeska.
This was beyond his expectations, he didn't expect this to happen.
'Damn white-haired bitch! What is she thinking? Is she crazy?'
He wouldn't be able to complete the mission given by Viktor if Valeska kept him company.
Viktor would give him anything he wanted if he completed his mission.
He needed that.
Finding information and searching for rare items would be easier.
Viktor was a fairly well-known leader of the black market.
He could surely give him everything he asked for.
He couldn't let Valeska do whatever she wanted.
No matter what her current status was.
Whether it was the emperor's child, a high-ranking noble, or a famous person.
He had to break off his relationship with those girls as soon as possible.
Hastora raised his hand.
"Headmaster. I want to have no interaction with Valeska whatsoever as my special right."
Everyone fell silent, then burst into laughter at Hastora's choice.
"Hahaha, apparently he's self-aware too, huh."
"Right, a good choice for a commoner."
"Turns out he's smart too."
The students' laughter echoed throughout the field.
The mockery clearly shown to him could be heard everywhere.
But Hastora didn't care too much.
There was no point in responding to the mockery of fools who didn't understand the workings of the world at all.
There were only two choices in this world, being manipulated or manipulating.
If someone wants to be in power and above those who are weak.
Manipulating is the best option.
Valeska deliberately asked to be on the same team as Hastora until he graduated from the academy.
She planned to observe his movements.
From the first time they met, she felt that Hastora was a suspicious person.
How could she not? He didn't even show any expression or emotion at all.
Valeska, who had always been able to easily guess someone's thoughts and goals just by looking at their movements, expressions, and behavior—now found it difficult to guess Hastora's goals.
Hastora had realized that Valeska had been observing him from the start.
So, he tried his best not to look suspicious.
His efforts paid off.
Proof of this was that he managed to make Valeska unable to read his mind.
He also managed to manipulate the girls without them knowing.
Luna activated her megaphone again.
"No. You can't choose that as your special right," Luna said, rejecting Hastora's special right choice.
"Why not?" Hastora asked.
"It's because Valeska's special right choice is for you to be on the same team with her every time you are given a mission by the academy until you graduate."
Hastora didn't understand, how could that not be allowed?
The special right is that the student can choose whatever they want as their special right.
But, Hastora's special right choice was flatly rejected by Luna.
What kind of special right is this? Did Luna not accept it just because Hastora was a commoner?
He had to make sure of that.
"So what? Don't you want to accept my choice just because I'm a commoner?"
Hastora's question made all the students stir.
A commoner dares to be disrespectful to a high-ranking noble?
That was very rude.
"How dare you," Luna said, chuckling.
"..."
Hastora didn't respond to her words at all.
He didn't want to fight Luna.
His strength hadn't fully returned.
He wouldn't be able to defeat Luna with his current strength.
Silence was the right choice.
Luna raised her megaphone.
"I can't accept your choice, not because you're a commoner.
"But it's because Valeska has chosen for you to be on the same team with her until you graduate.
"If you choose an option that conflicts with Valeska's special right, it can't be.
"The name of the team means that you will definitely interact. If you choose to have no interaction with Valeska whatsoever as your special right, it's not allowed.
"Your choice is very contradictory to Valeska's choice."
Now everything was clear.
Luna wasn't the type of person who was arrogant.
At this academy, she didn't care about status.
She even directly intervened to become a guide and the person in charge of this entrance exam.
She also didn't look down on Hastora, who currently had the status of a commoner.
The same goes for Valeska, she didn't look down on Hastora at all.
Even though she was the daughter of the emperor of this empire.
Very different from the other students who looked down on him at this time.
The most important thing now is that Hastora has to think about his special right choice as soon as possible.
He glanced at Geriya and Renia who hadn't even made their choices yet.
Hastora closed his eyes for a moment, then raised his hand.
"Headmaster. May I think about my choice for a moment? I don't know what to choose."
Hearing that, Geriya and Renia raised their hands high.
"Me too, Headmaster, I want to keep my choice for a while," they said in unison.
"Alright. That's allowed, but you have to decide on your choices as soon as possible—don't take too long."
The three of them nodded.
Luna raised her megaphone.
"Alright everyone! The entrance exam is over! Please go back to your homes and come back here tomorrow. Your scores will be displayed on the status board tomorrow!"
"Alright!" all the students replied in unison.
All the students left the field.
Many people looked at Hastora with envy along the way.
They all didn't like seeing a commoner like him be in the same class and even the same team as Valeska.
Valeska was known to be cold and closed off to men.
But she seemed very open when she was with Hastora.
She even asked to be on the same team as Hastora until he graduated.
It made them angry and envious of him.
Hastora realized the disgusted look shown to him openly.
But he didn't care if they looked at him with disgust, annoyance, and envy.
As long as he achieved his goal... It didn't matter.
Hastora walked out of the academy, then walked towards Sunken Warrens to tell Viktor that his mission was complete.
However, on the way, he was stopped by Valeska.
She stood blocking his way.
"What's the meaning of this?" Hastora asked.
"Where are you going?" Valeska asked back.
"That's none of your business. Get out of my way."
"I won't."
Hastora sighed, he didn't know what this girl was thinking.
After her surprising special right choice, now what?
"What do you want?" Hastora asked with a flat expression.
"There's something I want to ask you."
Hastora's eyebrows furrowed.
"What do you want to ask?"
Valeska leaned forward.
"Did you take advantage of us?"
Hastora didn't understand, he asked back.
"What do you mean?"
"Ha? After taking advantage of us in the desert dimension, now you're pretending not to know?"
Hastora only understood now that he had manipulated them when they were in the desert dimension.
But he didn't expect Valeska to realize it this quickly.
Hastora took a step back, keeping a little distance from Valeska who was now very close to his face.
"I didn't think you'd realize it that fast."
Valeska frowned.
"Turns out it's true that you've been taking advantage of us."
"You already know, right? I'll go first."
As he was about to continue his journey, Valeska suddenly blocked his way again.
Hastora was a little annoyed by her attitude.
"What do you want, damn it."
"..."
'What's wrong with this girl? Weird.'
Valeska didn't even say a word, she just stood there blocking Hastora's way.
She seemed to be expecting something.
But what?
Suddenly a statement came to mind.
"Alright, alright... I'll sit next to you tomorrow."
Valeska stopped blocking Hastora after hearing that.
She immediately walked away leaving Hastora alone without saying a word.
Hastora watched her leave from a distance.
'Weird.'
Then he continued his journey to Sunken Warrens.
...
[Sunken Warrens]
"It's so crowded here."
Hundreds, no—probably thousands of people could be seen buying and selling illegal items there.
They all wore black cat masks as usual.
Hastora didn't know why they had to wear that mask.
They could have used other cooler masks.
He would ask Viktor about it later.
Hastora quickened his pace towards Viktor's headquarters.
When he got there, he immediately entered and climbed the stairs one by one to the upper floor.
With calm steps, Hastora walked toward Viktor's room.
"Wow."
Hastora was a little amazed by the changed door to Viktor's room.
The door, which was previously made of wood, now turned into a golden door.
Hastora opened the door.
"Excuse me."
"..."
"It seems like I came at the wrong time. So I'll come back later."
Hastora immediately closed the door after seeing Viktor lying on Lilith's lap.
He shouldn't interrupt their romantic moment.
As he was about to leave, Viktor suddenly pulled Hastora in.
"Sit down," Viktor said, his face flushed with embarrassment.
Hastora sat down, then glanced slightly at Lilith who was sitting next to Viktor.
"Sorry to interrupt your romantic moment."
"Shut up, damn it! That was just a head massage, not a romantic moment."
"Ah, really?"
To be continued in the next chapter…