I Became The Academy’s Narrow-Eyes

< Chapter 12: Kasha Hanahan >

Kasha Hanahan.

Her innate talent as a martial artist was a blessing.

All of Arienne would be filled with people who would gladly sell their souls to the devil to have her talent.

But for Kasha herself, the talent was not a blessing.

It was a curse.

That’s how Kasha viewed her talent with the sword.

The Hanahan family is an ancient lineage of wizards who have walked the path of magic for generations.

Kasha was born into that family with the qualities of a swordsman instead of a mage.

Kasha, for example, was a mutant of the Hanahan family.

Of course, no one in the family openly despised and discriminated against her.

But Kasha felt it herself.

Her father, the head of the Hanahan family, along with other family members did not acknowledge her as one of them.

Kasha wanted recognition from her family.

But her magical talents were thoroughly ordinary.

And in the eyes of the Hanahan family, ordinary magical talents were considered lowly qualities.

It would be impossible for her to gain recognition from her family through magic.

She had already tried desperately enough to know that for certain.

If she had any remaining potential within herself, it lay in this cursed talent for swordsmanship.

A talent that was unnecessary in the Hanahan family’s eyes.

An incompatible talent.

But if she could become the best.

Wouldn’t even then her family acknowledge her?

Yes, they would.

Surely they would do so eventually.

Kasha gripped the sword with such faith and expectation.

***

Kasha has reached the level of two-star achievement.

Her growth rate far surpassed others’.

It was a talent that, if it were replaced by a magical talent, would be considered special even within her own family.

But in Kasha’s opinion.

her family still didn’t recognize her.

Drin Lebringer.

The story of a peer like Kasha achieving third rank proficiency spread throughout the continent, reaching even the distant Hanahan territory beyond the Lebringer estate.

Kasha’s name was buried in the shadow cast by the great light of Drin Lebringer.

If she could surpass that shadow and go beyond Drin, Wouldn’t her family finally acknowledge her?

Kasha continued to move forward.

***

Kasha rose to three-star achievement.

Whenever people mentioned Drin’s name, they also mentioned Kasha’s.

A mutant from a mage family catching up to a genius from a swordsman’s family, how unusual.

Kasha of House Hanahan had finally caught up to Drin of House Lebringer.

She had reached the coveted position she had longed for so much.

But nothing has changed.

According to Kasha herself, her family still did not acknowledge her.

Maybe it wasn’t enough to just keep up with the best.

Maybe she should go beyond the best and become the best herself.

She and Drin are about to enter the Academy.

The Academy entrance exam. It was a chance for both of them.

She was going to take the top spot in the academy entrance exam.

In doing so, she would prove that she had surpassed Drin and become the best.

Then maybe her family will finally accept her.

The day of the long-awaited academy entrance exam arrived.

Kasha had passed the first test and was anxiously waiting for the second to begin.

There was a contestant who had reached four stars in the first entrance exam.

Drin Lebringer.

“…”

When she heard that name, Kasha’s sharp momentum faded away.

“How…”

Kasha had only just broken out of her third star.

She’d assumed Drin would be in a similar place to her.

But four stars?

Breaking through the barriers of the Second and reaching the Third, and breaking through the barriers of the Third and reaching the Fourth.

They might seem the same, but they were not.

Kasha knew this because she herself was stuck in front of a huge wall.

Kasha realized that if she were to reach the four-star level, it would be at least several years away.

To be in Drin’s shadow for so many more years. Not being recognized by her family.

Just thinking about it made her feel suffocated. But it’s okay. Eventually, she will surpass Drin and reach the Fourth star.

That way, she would be accepted by her family.

However, Kasha’s expectations crumbled at this very moment.

Along with the confidence that had sustained her until now.

Kasha muttered in disbelief.

“This is ridiculous….”

The person who had always been within reach inside Kasha seemed to have gone far beyond what she could ever catch up to.

It meant that the only way she could think of to be accepted by her family was gone.

“Ha, ha, ha…”

Kasha laughed hollowly due to disappointment.

She felt like she had lost everything. Even the path she was supposed to be on.

What was she supposed to do from here?

“I hear there’s a Drin Lebringer here.”

The words snapped Kasha out of her reverie.

There.

She stared at the place where Drin was said to be.

“Drin is there…”

Come to think of it, she hadn’t met Drin yet.

What kind of person was Drin, whom she had been chasing for so long?

In Kasha’s mind, the most perfect image of an opponent that she could imagine appeared.

With that image in mind, Kasha thought,

No wonder she couldn’t rise above her.

A person like that deserves her respect.

“…”

How happy she would be to be recognized by someone like that.

Kasha’s eyes come alive.

Kasha’s years of pursuit of Drin have been long.

Long enough for rivalry to turn to envy and longing.

Kasha’s long-lost need for recognition has found a new target.

Now, she has someone to look up to besides her family.

Drin Lebringer.

She wondered what she thought of her.

“Maybe-”

Maybe she, too, sees herself as an enemy.

Maybe she recognizes herself.

Could she say something like “I’ve always wanted to meet you”?

By the time she realizes it, Kasha is already approaching Drin.

And finally, she turned to face him.

“Ah.”

Kasha felt a shiver run down her spine at the sight of Drin, standing tall and alone among the nobles.

She was as gorgeous as she’d imagined.

No, she was more than she could have imagined.

From the beginning, just being able to face Drin filled Kasha with immense joy.

But the feeling was short-lived.

“Yes.”

“Yes, Kasha Hanahan. I am familiar with your reputation.”

“It comes from people who don’t know me or you very well. I don’t think it’s worth listening to.”

Kasha could tell from her conversation with Drin what she thought of her.

“Honestly, I don’t pay much attention to gossip and rumor, so I don’t think it’s going to give you the answers you’re looking for.”

Not only did she not see herself as an opponent, but she also didn’t even show any interest in Kasha.

Kasha felt embarrassed about her own assumption that Drin would recognize her.

That feeling quickly turned into a dark and negative emotion, and the target of that emotion shifted from Kasha herself to Drin.

As Kasha felt the black, sticky emotion stirring inside her, she vowed to herself.

“If I come out on top in these entrance exams, you will duel me.”

“Even without that condition, I would be happy to duel you if you wish.”

“Hmph. Talk all you want. It doesn’t change the fact that I’m going to take the top spot, and then I’m going to win a duel against you.”

She vowed to surpass Drin.

To make herself acknowledged.

Even if she had to sell her soul to the devil.

***.

Inside the second examination room where ten selected participants were seated, there was a heavy tension in the air.

Kasha, whose concern now was not passing the test but surpassing Drin, felt a different kind of tension as she listened to the examiner.

“Good afternoon, participants. I’m Examiner Sinia, in charge of the second round of exams.”

She was a young woman with a kindly face.

As soon as they made eye contact with her, the tension in the room dissipated as they broke out into nervous laughter.

“Now for the second part of the test: you are standing on a magic circle, and the moment I activate it, you will be trapped within a specific circle. The conditions for escaping the circle are simple and straightforward: you must defeat the combatant within the circle. You have five minutes. Do you have any questions?”

Someone spoke up.

He was a man with an alert expression who seemed like he would fly away with even a slight breeze due to his light-hearted demeanor.

“Entry number 348, please ask your question.”

“You said there was a combatant within the… circle?”

“That’s right.”

“Do you happen to know what that combat object is…”

“I can’t tell you, as it’s directly related to the content of the exam. Entry 348. May I ask the intent of your question?”

“Ah, that. It’s just that- I’m not used to combat, and I’m afraid…”

The man scratched his head and gave a wry smile.

He snorted.

The others chuckled.

Drin lowered her head in embarrassment, while Kasha looked at the man with a pitiful expression on her face.

The examiner found such participants cute and couldn’t help but laugh along.

“Of course, there are basic safety measures in place within these circles, and any injuries sustained within the circle will disappear the moment you leave, so there’s no need to worry, right?”

“Well, that’s a relief. Oh! By any chance, is it possible to die within these circles?”

“If a participant suffers fatal injuries, the boundaries will be destroyed and as mentioned before, those fatal injuries will also disappear upon exiting the boundaries. Does that answer your curiosity? Participant number 348.”

“Oh, and one last thing, would that be okay?”

“Of course!”

“Do you feel the same pain inside the circles…?”

Sigh.

The participants burst into laughter at the man’s words, who spoke out of fear.

‘What, such an idiot applied to the swordsmanship department…’

Kasha looked at him with a pathetic face.

Could it be that he mistakenly applied for the swordsmanship department instead of the magic or special departments?

It was a ridiculously stupid mistake, but she realized that this guy could really do that.

“Sigh. Ah. I’m sorry. It’s unfortunate for participant number 348, but pain can still be felt inside the circle. Still, it’s adjusted so that it doesn’t affect the participant’s mental state too much, so don’t be afraid.”

“I don’t want anything painful.”

“Please do well in your exam without any pain,” said the officer. “Do any of the other contestants have any questions? Okay, if so, I’ll activate the crystals in thirty seconds, everyone, get ready for battle!”

Kasha prepared herself for battle and glanced at the participants standing to her right.

With determination in her eyes, she vowed to surpass and defeat that woman no matter what happens during this entrance exam.

“I’m going to start the countdown – 5,4,3,2,1 – then good luck -”

The place around Kasha changed rapidly.

A battle target appeared in front of her.

“…”

It was a mana golem with a body that looked like it was made of five interwoven stone pillars.

For a swordsman raised in an orthodox swordsmanship family like Drin, it was a tricky opponent to deal with.

But what about Kasha, who was raised in an orthodox mage family?

“I win.”

As soon as Kasha confirmed their opponent in battle, a satisfied smile formed on her lips.

In this moment. Kasha was sure of it.

Among all applicants who participated in this entrance exam for the swordsmanship department, there would be no one who knew more about this opponent than herself.

***

When Kasha trained in practical combat at Hanahan Territory, she often used mana golems.

Thanks to that, Kasha had a thorough understanding of the behavior and movements of mana golems when facing swordsmen opponents.

While other participants were still trying to figure out how to attack the golem, Kasha already had it figured out.

-Swish

Kasha drove her sword into the golem’s mana core.

The golem collapses.

The magic circle was destroyed and everything around her collapsed.

Returning back to reality, Kasha immediately looked towards Drin’s position.

“Ha.”

There was no one there.

She had beaten Drin.

That Drin.

If things continued like this, she could surpass Drin. She could become number one!

Kasha was just about to sing a song of great joy.

“Huh?”

She hadn’t thought of anything but Drin.

It was only in hindsight that she recognized the figure standing next to her.

It was him.

The man who was asking the examiner a stupid question, the man who looked like he was about to be blown away by the wind.

“…?”

The sight of him sent Kasha into a state of cognitive dissonance.

‘Why is this guy here? No, I mean-why is he here now-‘

Then, in her ear, she heard the examiner’s voice.

“There’s a lot of talent in this test! Entry number 344. With a time of one minute and fifteen seconds, you’ve achieved a whopping second place among the current participants, congratulations!”

“…What?”

Second place?

Not first?

Kasha made an astonished sound and the man turned his head towards her with a puzzled expression on her face.

With a vacant smile, he said, “Did you hear that? We are currently ranked first and second in the second round of the exam! Oh~ This is so exciting, isn’t it?”

“…”

Kasha blinked her eyes without any reaction.

The face of the man who she thought was absent-minded earlier was even more absent-minded than she had imagined.