Chapter 44: Entrance Ceremony
The sound of chatter reached Erika’s ears. Hearing everyone discuss the badge rankings piqued her curiosity.
She glanced at the bronze badge on her chest, then looked at Isana and noticed that her badge was different. She promptly asked,
“Isana, what does a bronze badge mean?”
“It’s the lowest level.”
Isana turned to reply, “Who told you to hand in a blank paper during the written test? It’s already generous of Director Vanessa to give you a bronze badge.”
“Then what about yours?”
“Gold-level.”
Isana pointed at the badge on her chest and began explaining.
“During Wode Academy’s entrance exam, students are ranked based on their abilities.
The rankings are: Mountain Bronze, Mithril, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Grandmaster.
Of course, teachers are also ranked.
But for students, the highest anyone has ever received is the Diamond badge. The Grandmaster rank is for teachers only.”
“So Diamond is the highest among students…”
With a tone of admiration, Erika praised, “Then you being Gold-level is pretty impressive, huh?”
“Erika, those are just empty titles, you know?”
“What do you mean ‘empty titles’ again?”
“Rankings are just predictions of one’s ability. Can you guarantee no one is hiding their strength?
Take you for example—you’re stronger than I am.”
As she spoke, Isana added cheerfully, “Even though I don’t know why you handed in a blank paper, the fact that you shattered a crystal ball isn’t something a regular student could do.”
“Didn’t they say it was broken?”
“Dummy, crystal balls don’t break that easily.”
Isana denied it, “Wode Academy replaces materials weekly. The crystal balls used are selected for their durability. There’s no way it was already broken. Those idiots just told themselves that to feel better after seeing your bronze badge.”
“Oh.”
Erika nodded. Honestly, even she didn’t know if the crystal ball had been faulty.
She had simply poured all her magic into it yesterday on a whim.
It seemed the Dragon Core Crystal truly provided her with immense magic. She just didn’t know how to wield it properly yet.
…
Following Isana, Erika arrived at the academy’s plaza where new students were gathering. The two casually found an inconspicuous spot in line.
The plaza was enormous—almost the size of two soccer fields. Above was a huge roof, and at the front of the plaza stood a raised platform. Below, the place was already packed with new students.
As more students arrived, the entire plaza grew increasingly lively. Even though many had been eliminated during the entrance exams, calling the crowd a “sea of people” wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
Erika looked around curiously. Everyone here felt unfamiliar.
Only then did Isana tell her that Wode Academy’s entrance exam was divided into phases, and each phase eliminated a batch of people. There wasn’t just one test.
So this year’s new students were quite numerous.
As the last of them arrived, three figures gradually appeared on the high platform.
The moment the students below saw them, cheers erupted.
“Waaah—!”
“It’s Vanessa! She’s so tall!”
“Of course. Vanessa is a Saint-rank Powerhouse! Anyone would be lucky to be her student!”
“And there’s the Captain of the Capital’s Enforcement Unit—Dennis Nelly! Oh my gosh, is he our teacher too?”
“Look, look! That’s the new teacher—Daphne Doyle! She’s gorgeous!”
“I heard she’s a formidable Legendary Archmage.”
“They’re all so amazing!”
“No wonder so many students joined this year. The teachers for our batch are all big names...”
…
Looking at the three on stage, Erika recognized two of them.
One was Vanessa from the entrance exam.
The other was the person she had encountered when she first arrived in the Aarlan Empire—the judge who carried out a fire execution on a non-human.
The last was a woman of about thirty. She was tall with long golden hair, wearing leather clothes that highlighted her curvaceous figure and mature charm.
“Isana, are they our teachers?”
“Should be.”
Isana nodded. “This is the entrance ceremony. With them walking out like this, they’re likely our new student instructors. Makes sense.”
While the two spoke, an elderly man appeared on the high platform.
Judging from the wrinkles on his face, he was likely around seventy, but he walked with determination, his body was vigorous, and his expression radiant—not at all matching his age.
“Is that... the headmaster?”
“Oh my gosh, that’s the headmaster! Our hero of the Aarlan Empire—Sword Saint Caesar Wode!”
“That grandpa is a Saint-rank Powerhouse too? This is my first time seeing one!”
…
With the old man’s appearance, another round of cheering broke out among the new students.
Erika also couldn’t help but direct her gaze toward him.
“Is the headmaster’s that old?” she asked again out of curiosity.
“Erika, quiet down! Don’t say such disrespectful things.”
Isana glanced sideways at her. “How do you not know anything? Sword Saint Caesar is really famous in the empire. He’s a legendary figure.”
“I see...”
Erika smiled awkwardly and nodded.
She was genuinely curious—this academy actually had two Saint-rank Powerhouses.
Then again, it made sense. Even though there were only six known Saint-rank Powerhouses in the world, this was the Imperial Capital that unified the continent. Having two of them here was understandable.
Just as Erika was lost in thought, the old headmaster began to speak.
“Good morning, little ones!”
The headmaster’s voice was abnormally loud, as if imbued with magic power—there was even a faint wave of energy in the air.
“I am Caesar Wode, your headmaster! Wode Academy is thrilled to welcome this new batch of little ones. I am also honored to stand here and speak with you.
Wode Academy only trains great figures and heroes. You new students are the future of this academy! You are budding sprouts from the Land of Four-leaf Clovers, not yet bloomed!
I’m sure many of you already know who I am, so I’ll skip the introductions.
Let me remind you of one thing—if you wish to become outstanding, the first step is to examine yourselves!
When I say ‘yourselves,’ I don’t mean your noble or royal backgrounds. At Wode Academy, everyone is equal. We don’t care about that nonsense here.
Your current level has already been measured by the teachers during the entrance exam through your assigned badge rankings.
These badges reflect your strength as seen by the instructors—and you must recognize your own abilities.
Of course, these badges won’t follow you for life. Your goal now is to study humbly at the academy and work hard to improve your badge’s rank. That’s your first step…”