After defeating the mountain bandits, the rest of the journey was quiet.

The passengers thanked me for protecting them, and one woman gently said, “It’s not your fault this happened.” I nodded, but I wasn’t thinking about it anymore.

As the gates of Abbadon appeared in the distance, I remembered a conversation between my father and Master Raven.

“Even though he’s just a boy, he’s more mature than his age,” Raven had said one evening, sipping a cup of steaming coffee in our yard. His sharp eyes softened, something that rarely happened. “When he decides to act, he doesn’t hesitate. He’s not like the other children who are unsure of themselves. He’s different.”

Raven, the one-armed swordsman, Sword Demon, was one of the ten greatest swordsmen on the continent.

A man whose name inspired both fear and admiration.

But when I trained under him, I learned he was more than just a legend.

One night, as we rested by a campfire after training, he told me his story.

“I wasn’t always this way,” he said, his eyes fixed on the fire. “There was a time when I was lost in the darkness. Then I met her.”

He spoke of a beautiful blonde-haired woman—his first and only love. She was kind but strong-willed, and somehow, she had seen something in him worth saving.

For two years, he courted Lisa, and eventually, they married.

They built a life together, raising children while enduring life’s hardships.

“She saved me,” he said with a small smile. “Without her, I would’ve stayed a cold, bloodthirsty man. Now I’m here, an old man, teaching brats like you.”

It was hard to believe that this ruthless Sword Demon was once a devoted husband and father.

But when I thought of him sipping coffee and smiling, it made sense.

As the carriage rolled through the gates of Abbadon, I left those memories behind.

Abbadon was nothing like my village.

The outer walls were massive, built from dark gray stone to defend against enemies.

Guards stood at the gates, watching everyone carefully.

Inside, the city was alive and full of people.

Wide streets made of stone stretched out in all directions, filled with stalls selling everything you could imagine—fresh fruits, clothes, tools, and even exotic animals.

Merchants shouted to attract customers, and blacksmiths hammered loudly as they worked.

The buildings were sturdy and built to last, made of stone and wood.

Some had carvings of animals or strange symbols, while others had bright banners hanging from them, showing which family or guild owned them.

Adventurers wearing armor and carrying swords walked alongside merchants pulling carts.

Children ran through the streets, laughing and playing.

The whole city felt alive, as though everyone was chasing after their dreams.

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This was Abbadon, the northern city ruled by Duke Gaius Dragonia, a man known as the Divine Swordmaster—one of the four heavens.

After making my way through the crowded streets, I finally arrived at the White Tiger Academy.

The academy’s gates were tall and made of black iron, with statues of white tigers on either side.

The tigers looked fierce and regal, their eyes carved to seem as though they were watching anyone who approached.

Beyond the gates, a wide cobblestone path led to the main building.

The campus was enormous, with neatly trimmed gardens and tall white stone buildings with blue-tiled roofs.

Each structure seemed to have a purpose—libraries, lecture halls, dormitories, and training grounds.

The sound of laughter, chatter, and the occasional clash of weapons filled the air.

Students in neat uniforms moved through the ground, some carrying books while others practiced in the open fields.

Unlike the adventurers I had seen in the city, these were students with bright futures, their faces filled with focus and determination.

The White Tiger Academy wasn’t just about mastering swordsmanship or martial prowess.

It was a place for nurturing gifted individuals in various fields—magic, swordsmanship, alchemy, and academics.

Here, students honed their skills under the guidance of some of the finest teachers in the northern region.

Today was the annual entrance exam at White Tiger Academy.

I had signed up, submitted all my documents, and now, here I was, heading to the stadium where students from all over had gathered.

Most of them were from noble families, and some even had connections to the academy.

I, on the other hand, was here thanks to a recommendation letter from my master.

It wasn’t the traditional path, but I had made it nonetheless.

I took a seat at the farthest corner of the stadium and settled in.

That’s when I noticed her—a beautiful crimson-haired woman sitting alone.

Her icy cold presence was clear from the way she held herself.

She gave off a strong “don’t talk to me” vibe. But, as always, my curiosity got the better of me.

“Excuse me, is this seat available?” I asked.

She barely glanced at me before turning away, completely ignoring me.

Ah, one of those typical ojousamas, huh? I thought, a small smirk forming on my face.

“If you’ll excuse me,” I said, and without waiting for a response, I sat beside her.

She turned to look at me, clearly taken aback. “Did I give you permission to sit here?”

I shrugged, completely unbothered. “No, did I do something wrong?”

She let out a heavy sigh, pouting.

This was the first time someone had acted so casually toward her.

Normally, people would bow and apologize profusely just for being in her presence.

But I wasn’t one of those people, and she seemed to let it slide.

Still, I wasn’t too focused on her.

The entrance exam was coming up, and that’s what had my attention.

A few moments later, the academy’s dean appeared.

With a simple gesture, he teleported onto the stage.

He looked young but had the laid-back demeanor of someone much older.

Despite his relaxed attitude, every student immediately fell silent, as if the very air had changed. His presence was overwhelming.

“Alright, alright, let’s get this over with,” the dean said, his tone casual but with a hint of seriousness. "I know you’re all excited, but here’s something important for you to know—this is White Tiger Academy. Only the strongest survive here. It doesn’t matter who you are, what your family name is. What matters is your talent and your skills. That’s the only thing that will get you through here."

He paused, then added with a smile, "Some of you will make it, and some of you won’t. It’s that simple. So don’t expect any hand-holding or easy passes. Prove that you’re worthy of being here.”

He smiled faintly, giving off the vibe of someone who had seen it all.

“Alright, enough of that. Go ahead and get to your rooms. The real test is about to begin.”

With that, he waved his hand and teleported away, leaving the students to digest his words.

The students remained silent for a moment, still processing the dean’s speech. I, however, was more concerned with what came next.

The voice of the speaker echoed through the stadium, announcing the next steps.

[Attention all students! Please gather in your respective blocks according to the announcements. The first groupings are now being made. Block A, Block B, and so on. Please make your way to your assigned rooms immediately.]

Kaiser was called for Block A.

Block A? I thought, surprised.

“A commoner like me, in Block A? I had expected to be in Block E at best. But with the recommendation from my master and my abilities, it seemed like I had earned a spot in the Block A.”

Well, as long as I passed, I didn’t mind.

I followed the crowd to the designated room for Block A. Inside, various students had already gathered.

I noticed a pair of twin girls with horns sticking out of their heads, their sharp features giving them a demon-like appearance.

Nearby stood a prince and princess from some far-off country, their noble presence impossible to ignore.

An elegant elf stood next to them, while a petite dwarf woman, much smaller than the typical dwarves I’d seen, was chatting with some of the others.

A lizardman, his scales glistening like polished stones, leaned against the wall, and a few demi-humans mingled around.

I raised an eyebrow. Is this block just for humans, or is it a mix? I wondered. There seemed to be a variety of races here, which only proved that the academy valued talent over everything else.

I was still getting used to the idea of sharing a space with so many different races, but it didn’t matter much. What mattered now was performing well in the upcoming exam.

The combat instructor entered the room, and his presence was terrifying. He looked more like a Yakuza boss of the underworld than a human. He wore an eyepatch—was he cosplaying?

He cleared his throat. "Ehem! Silence!"

With just a single word, the room fell dead silent. His aura was overwhelming and strong. He glanced at the students, his expression cold and serious.

“I am Darius Vorn, your combat instructor. I don’t care where you came from or who you are. What matters here is your talent and skills. You’ll prove yourself in this test.”

He handed out the test papers. “Answer carefully. Your survival depends on how well you perform here.”

I frowned when I looked at the test. It wasn’t what I expected. It wasn’t academic at all. Instead, it was full of basic knowledge and trick questions. How would you defeat a troll? What would you do if stranded alone in the wilderness? Could you survive if the demon king resurrected?

I couldn’t help but curse under my breath. “Damn it! I never studied in my whole life. You’re asking me to answer this? I learned a bit from my parents, but they were commoners, and my master was a battle-crazy maniac.”

Still, surprisingly, the test wasn’t that difficult. It was just basic knowledge—stuff my master probably drilled into me without me even realizing it.

I finished the test well before the time ran out.

Afterward, I left the room, my mind still racing. The professor, however, stayed behind, grading the papers with a cold expression. When he got to mine, his eyes widened slightly.

To think that a student would answer the questions I intentionally left... the hardest ones that no one else has solved yet.

Darius Vorn smirked, a hint of amusement crossing his face. “Hmph. Interesting.”