Anomaly

If it had been anyone else, she would have already blasted them with a high-level spell.

But with these words coming from Black, she found she couldn’t feel the slightest bit of repulsion, only a shyness that made her heart pound like a frantic deer.

“B-But…”

She struggled to find her voice, which was as faint as the buzz of a mosquito.

“I’m the president. The arrangements are already set, I can’t just change them…”

“Otherwise, people will think I’m arrogant and taking advantage of my position. It won’t look good.”

Seeing her hesitate, Black steeled himself and committed to the “act” completely.

He pressed both his arms against the wall behind Kristine, forming a narrow enclosure that almost trapped her entirely between himself and the wall.

Then he leaned in slightly, closing the already minimal distance, his eyes incredibly sincere, his tone carrying an irresistible plea.

“My lady Saintess~”

That form of address was delivered with exceptional gentleness.

“Today, I don’t want to be separated from you for even a second. Just consider it indulging a small, selfish wish of mine, alright?”

“!”

Kristine felt her brain completely shut down.

At this moment, Black seemed like the incubus described in the Church’s scriptures.

His pleading gaze was like magic, making it impossible for her to think, wanting only to drown in it.

Black raised a hand and gently brushed aside a stray lock of hair by her ear, his fingertips intentionally or unintentionally grazing her burning earlobe.

This subtle movement made Kristine’s entire body tremble, and her breathing noticeably quickened.

She turned her head away, no longer daring to look into his eyes, and covered her burning cheeks with her hand, compromising in a trembling voice that only she could hear.

“O… Okay… I… I’ll think of a way…”

…

Hearing Kristine agree, a great weight finally lifted from Black’s heart, and he let out a long, silent sigh of relief.

…

What Leon said actually had some merit.

As long as Kristine didn’t enter Area A and stayed by his side.

No matter what happened, he would be able to respond in time.

When the two of them came out of the storage room, the blush on Kristine’s face had not yet faded, and her gaze was somewhat unfocused.

This appearance, witnessed by everyone in the waiting area, immediately drew countless shocked stares.

Black nonchalantly returned to the ranks of the Dragon-Slaying Guard.

Unsurprisingly, he was met with the meaningful gazes of Leon, Land, and the others.

Leon clapped Black’s shoulder hard, lowered his voice, and spoke with a tone full of admiration.

“Not bad, Black! You’ve got some real nerve! Even Her Highness the Saintess… you two are that close?”

He winked, then reminded him seriously.

“But you’d better watch out for that guy Seth. He’s always considered Saintess Kristine his property!”

Let others misunderstand if they wanted to; he had already achieved his goal.

Changing the course of events with just a single act was a huge win.

On the other side, Kristine composed herself and went to discuss the matter in a low voice with the coordinating academic affairs teacher.

The teacher was surprised at first, but seeing Kristine’s face grow redder and redder, she eventually smiled and nodded.

The Saintess was experiencing the first stirrings of love. As her teacher, she would naturally approve her request to change areas.

While waiting, Black also saw his cousin Brenna standing in the line for Area A.

Black nodded in acknowledgment, thinking to himself, ‘As expected.’

Brenna was one of the volunteers who might have met with misfortune in the original plot.

But now, as long as Kristine didn’t go to Area A, Brenna and the other volunteers should be safe.

This put him much at ease.

Before the proctoring teams set out, Kristine brought several students to the assembly point for Area B, where Black was.

This action once again drew the attention of the surrounding crowd, sparking a flurry of discussion.

“Let’s go.”

After exchanging a glance, Black and Kristine, along with Leon, Land, and a few other female students, entered the Area B examination site in the back mountains.

Once inside.

The group split up, maintaining a certain distance from each other as they patrolled and observed the new students’ battles with the low-level draconic creatures.

About half an hour passed, and everything was still normal.

Although the new students were inexperienced, they handled the low-tier draconic creatures with relative ease.

As Black patrolled, he pondered.

‘The protagonist in the game never came to Area B, so I have no idea what might happen here.’

‘Where in Area B will those high-level draconic creatures that were set up appear? When will they appear? What are their specific levels?’

He had no answers to any of these questions.

As he was lost in thought, he didn’t notice the somewhat resentful gaze coming from Kristine.

Kristine’s cheeks were puffed out, and her pretty face looked wronged, as if she had been bullied.

She didn’t understand. Didn’t Black say he wanted to stay with her all day today?

At the very least, they should be talking.

For example, talking about favorite foods, hobbies, childhood stories, or aspirations regarding the opposite s*x.

Or, for instance, she was very curious about how Black had survived being swallowed by Jörmungandr and how he had made it to Servia from the bottom of the sea.

Kristine’s knowledge of Black was actually very limited, and she had hoped to use this opportunity to deepen their relationship.

But after they entered, Black hadn’t said a single word to her.

He was just spacing out over there, looking preoccupied.

She had tried to initiate a conversation herself, but Black was lost in his own world.

He would only respond to her with “Mm,” “Ah,” or “Oh,” which was beyond perfunctory.

Just as Kristine couldn’t take it anymore and was about to stomp hard on Black’s foot.

“BOOM!!!”

A violent explosion roared from deep within the dense forest in the distance.

It was followed by screams and the angry roars of draconic creatures!

The ground itself seemed to tremble.

‘What was bound to happen has happened!’

Black reacted in an instant.

He exchanged a look with Kristine, Leon, and the others, and saw the same grave confirmation of “trouble” in their eyes.

“Over there! Quickly!”

Black shouted in a low voice, and the group no longer hesitated.

They swiftly sped towards the direction of the sound.

……

Meanwhile, at the command and coordination point on the outskirts of the examination area.

The academic affairs teacher, Locke, was receiving safety reports from the proctors in each area via a communication spell.

“Teacher Locke! A high-level draconic creature has been spotted in Area B! Several Flame Dragons!”

Hearing the panicked voice of a student proctor, Locke’s expression changed.

He had not anticipated this situation at all.

The entrance exams had gone without a single incident for ten years.

High-level draconic creatures? How could there be high-level draconic creatures in the back mountains?

He had been an academic affairs teacher for many years and knew very well that only low-level draconic creatures were released for the entrance exam.

The back mountains only had wild spirit beasts, not a single wild draconic creature.

Let alone something like a Flame Dragon, which only dwelled near active volcanoes.

The situation was urgent. He immediately began to dispatch nearby personnel for support.

Just then, an unexpected figure appeared before Locke.

It was a scholarly gentleman, elegantly dressed with a refined demeanor.

“Professor Alvin?”

Locke was somewhat surprised, not expecting this man to be here.

It was usually very difficult to see him around the academy.