[8] Entrance, Part 2

1 (Alice)

I stared down from the roof, watching as Shana entered the building, passing and slipping the line at the behest of Albein.

The long line leading to the school caught me by surprise. I frowned, but there was not much I could do about it besides simply knocking everyone unconscious and waltzing in. There were quite a few stationed guards. Two at either side of the academy's gates, and one more at each corner of the line, so the possibility of actually doing that would get me in unneeded trouble. I could likely take most things that came my way, but trouble was trouble, and I would not like it to follow me and Shana.

More people came to join the lines, but a handful simply left their carriages, showed a card, and skipped them. By the way they were dressed, these were the children of nobility.

I sighed, staring up at the sun in the sky with mild annoyance in my veins.

There was another way to make my day faster, thankfully, without causing trouble. I just had to cut the line with inconspicuous steps.

I turned and hopped down into one of the city's alleyways—which were rather clean for another world. There was trash here and there, of course, but even Earth had those types of people.

I walked out onto the street, my foot steps soundless. In little time, I passed the people by my side and slithered my way through elbows into the close front of the line.

"Huh?"

It took a brief moment, but when the male behind me—who looked in his late teens—turned around from chatting with someone, the expression on his face was a sight to behold.

"Wha. . .hey wait, were you always there?"

I glanced at him and smiled, "I've always been here. You introduced yourself as Lex, right?"

I nodded quite speechlessly after I said his name. He must have been confused, too confused to realize I merely picked up his name from the lips of the person he was speaking with. The only reason I mentioned that he 'introduced himself' to me was simply because he had that extroverted air around him—looking like the type that would talk to random strangers in a line.

"Well, see you at the academy," I turned back.

"Y—yeah," There was a small blush on his cheeks, "I'll be seeing you around then huh—."

"Alice, I'm Alice, did you forget my name already?"

"No way!"

I laughed, "I'm only joking. See you, it's my turn now."

These people were weak. I could tell that much at a glance. Their senses were not sharpened, so merely moving silently with enough speed out of their sight, and I could easily cut between them. That was the very reason he didn't notice me until he turned around.

"Identification, please."

I retrieved the card in my suitcase and handed it over. The man at the desk stared at it for a moment before handing it back and pointing to the gate.

"Here, you may enter now. Walk left and you'll see the next station in no time."

"Thank you."

"Just doing my job."

When I walked through the school's courtyard, I was momentarily stunned at how college-like it felt, and the bustle of students already here. Hmm, their uniforms look good too. Oh my, this might not be a bad academy after all.

There was another line. Of course, I cut into that one as well and waltzed in due time into a circular building. The station after the last was even easier to find as it was a woman sitting in front of two arenas with an orb before her.

"Welcome. . ." She said, a momentary frown upon her face, "Please hand your card over and inject your mana into the orb."

Of course, I smiled as I handed over my card.

"The orb."

A placed my hand atop it an injected my mana.

[Alice Strong — Level 0]

It really did appear as level 0 to the outside world huh.

She stared at the words with furrowed brows before lifting her gaze to meet mine.

"Sorry to say, but you need to be level 10 to enter this academy. You have failed."

My expression remained unchanging.

"Is there no other way?"

"Well. . ." Her eyes fluttered to look behind her at the two arenas.

Yup. There's the cliche. It was not the first time I had been in a situation like this in another world. Most things simply had more than one way to enter, after all.

"If you can't prove yourself level 10, the only other way to enter the academy is to duel and successfully win against someone who can."

She said those words with a hint of a smirk. Not that she believed I could do as she spoke but simply because she wanted to amuse herself.

Of course, I didn't care.

"I'll take that challenge, then."

She smiled, "I wish you luck then."

Of course, that kindness sounded hallow.

2

There was a boy before me and a training sword in my hand.

[Fram Posid — Level 10]

"Oh finally, thank god another under leveled came," The male smiled at me, holding a sword much like mine.

He was taller than me. About as tall as Shana, really. Then again, I was rather short even for a girl.

He had a head of black hair that were rather lengthy for a boy but still short enough that he didn't appear girly. His build was slender under the school's black and gold uniform and his dark-blue eyes stared at me.

The rules of the duel were simple: The first person to make the other give up, knock them unconscious, or land 5 blows upon them would win. Any action was allowed as long as the other party did not suffer serious injuries.

That was good for me.

There was a staff member at the side of the arena.

"Ready."

I loosened my body.

"Set."

I gripped my weapon firmer.

"Go!"

As soon as the man's last word fell, the boy launched towards me.

His blade came down and I raised mine, blocking it from my head in one swift motion. He was still a complete novice indeed, his eyes were already staring at his attack location even from a distance.

"Oh you're good for a level 0."

"Thank you."

"Hahaha no pro—."

Air escaped his lips as I kicked his stomach, sending him staggering back before I stepped in and slashed.

He quickly shifted, raising his sword and blocking my attack. Of course, I was underplaying myself here. I did not use mana and moved slow, merely attacking him as befitting a level 0.

". . .you attacked me while we were talking."

"Yes, yes I did."

He smiled, finding me amusing in some way. I felt his mana roll through him as he jumped back. A split moment later and he drilled forward—the tip of his blade shooting as his arm extended to reach me.

His speed had certainly increased.

But.

"That sorta thing won't work in a duel if you're not fast enough and I can see you clearly," I muttered, stepping closer to him.

"??"

The wooden blade drilled into my shoulder and a fake wince came from my lips as I slashed, twice, striking him on his chest once while he managed to dodge my second attack with a twist of his body and a step back.

Indeed, I allowed myself to be hit in return for attacking him as well.

I thought he would be discontent but the boy smiled.

"Wow you're—."

A gurgle came and we both stood in silence for a moment.

". . .are you hungry?" I asked.

"Nonsense," He drew his sword and came forth, "Though I can't lose here. . ."

His gaze hardened.

"If I lose here, they won't pay me and I'll have to starve!"

He had such a determined look in his eyes as he struck down with both hands holding his weapon.

I blocked the blade with my own, frowning as our eyes met, "Really. . .you're this determined for money?"

"Yup," He grinned without a shred of dignity, "Us broke nobles need to work for a living, you know? This monthly entrance ceremony is the perfect chance to make some quick cash."

". . ."

Clearly he had quite a thick skin.

"And all I have to do is defeat a bunch of weaklings that think they can actually take on a level 10."

I laughed.

"What's so funny?"

My leg ruthlessly stamped upon his feet.

"Damn you're—."

He couldn't move as I punched his face, my mana spiking in that brief moment it connected and his head jerking back.

That disoriented the boy. I felt his mana spasm as a drop of mine rampaged within him. He took it like a champ but it was obvious it still had some affect.

"Wait let me-!"

"Nope~"

I grabbed forward, tugged his head in, and kneeled him in the stomach, he staggered back as I released him. His body shook and he moved to raise his head as his sword shined blue—only to be met with my own.

A clean smack of wood slapped against his face.

"How. . .?"

He shook once more in disbelief before he fell down, unconscious as his weapon clanked upon the stone floor.

I turned back to look at the woman whose mouth stood agape. For some reason, she had left her post to watch.

"I'm in, right?" I grinned.

For some reason, she was not the only one watching. A part of the people registering and a handful of students were there as well.

She nodded, "Well, I suppose some zeroes are better than others."

"Yes. I suppose so," I replied, walking off the stage.

The boy lost as soon as he faced me. I was a person who had participated in endless battles, numerous wars, and across numerous worlds. I could fight with my hands and feet, I could fight with a sword, I could fight with a bow, I could fight with a dagger and for those weapons I was yet able to fight with, my expertise in the others would guide me.

Essentially, even if the possibility appeared that my mana was stripped away and I was truly a normal denizen of this new world, fighting a novice swordsman wasn't hard for a 5 timer hero such as myself.

The rest of the procedures moved swimmingly and I was happy to know that Albein and the kingdom kept their promise as the woman stated my tuition had already been paid for.

"To truly graduate the academy," She said as I walked away, "You have to reach level 30 with a maximum enrollment period of 2 years."

She smiled.

"Welcome to Albion's Knight Academy, Miss Zero."