Chapter 275
The boy of about 15 years old looked appalling. He weighed more than 150 kilos (about 350 lb). His back was hunched over, his deep-set little eyes looked in different directions, which wasn’t too obvious, though, as they were hidden under his bushy unibrow. His face was red and blotchy, with a big nose covered with blackheads and acne. His thin, patchy mustache looked creepy, but they were no match to his crooked yellowish teeth that were too large for his mouth. His head was crowned with greasy hair the color of… milk chocolate.
This creature evoked a gag reflex in anyone who was unlucky to look at him. However, the cultivation of this scarecrow left much to be desired, which instilled confidence in the traumatized applicants.
«AAAAH! It’s a monster!» … «What is this? Mamma mia! Ew!» … «Yuck, it’s disgusting! I’ve never seen anyone uglier than him!» … «Take him away! Or even better beat him up! Someone beat him up!» – Some girls were speechless, others screamed and swore, their faces distorted with disgust. They could barely suppress the urge to throw up.
«Ugh, this scum is the beginning of the second phase! Ha-ha-ha! Is this a joke?» … «Who invited the freak circus to Cernos?» … «My eyes! I seem to have gone blind! AAAAAH!» … «Holy shit, what a freak!» … «Now I have seen everything, and I wish I haven’t! Does anyone have a memory loss pill?» – The guys laughed so hard their stomachs hurt. They finally released the stress accumulated before the text mocking this wondrous creation, in a certain sense. The applicants felt much better.
The fat guy gave a condescending glance at those present with a look of the master of all things. He grinned, raised his chin haughtily, and waddled towards the examination building, swinging his arms, with a self-confident expression on his face.
It was, of course, Kyon in his new guise. He had chosen his next personality to pursue two purposes: differ as much as possible from the famous goddess’s messenger, and zap negative emotions from everyone around. If he gave a shit about what other people thought, he might have been more careful picking up a new personality for himself.
The mocking laughter around quickly changed to shock and disbelief. – «Why is he acting like he’s a big shot? They should have finished off the freak at birth!»
However, no one in the crowd went as far as to attack the fat guy. They didn’t want to get their hands dirty. The girls felt like they were going to faint.
«Hey, fat freak!» – The bravest pure-blood descendant of the Romanovs came closer to the new boy. If he made a good impression on those influential friends, they might even make friends with him.
Kyon pointed at himself in confusion. – «Are you talking to me?» – His high-pitched voice was so annoying that everyone had yet another urge to beat him to death.
«To you! Who else?» – Romanov grinned viciously, clenching his fists. He would pin the pathetic second phaser with a single blow! It was a perfect plan to rise at the expense of this scum, sucking up to the Grands at the same time.
All of a sudden, two imposing bodyguards wearing sunglasses and all-black suits materialized out of nowhere in front of the ugly guy. Their square faces seemed made of stone, their powerful auras were awe-inspiring. They looked down at the bully as if he were an annoying midge.
Vladimir ensured that the two strongest security officers of the department would watch over his best investigator and the goddess’s messenger rolled in one. Moreover, at Lovr’s request, he pulled some strings to help Lovr complete his task of dealing with demons.
«You must have me confused with somebody else.» – Kyon squinted suspiciously, peering from behind the bruiser.
The color drained from Romanov’s face. His eyes nearly popped out of her head. – «I… I…» – He swallowed nervously, stepping back. – «I wasn’t talking to you, sir!»
«Really? Weren’t you?»
«I wasn’t! I swear on my mum’s life!» ��� Romanov exclaimed, his teeth chattering loudly.
Kyon looked back, spotted another fat guy and let out a shrill laugh. – «I’m messing with you! Of course, you weren’t talking to me. Who would ever call me a freak if I’m so handsome and slender? It’s ridiculous! Ha ha ha!» – He turned away and went to the school building, giggling quietly all the way.
Romanov froze like a statue. Everyone around him was stunned, too. No one could get it: was this freak joking or just immensely arrogant? Anyway, one thing was clear: the boy had an influential family in another higher-ranking kingdom, or he wouldn’t have been allowed into the school grounds accompanied by bodyguards. Only princes and princesses could take guards with them. And yet, it just boggled the mind: was this monster unaware of how ugly he looked?
When the fat guy walked away, Romanov fell to his knees and covered his red face with his hands. The quiet chuckles and sidelong glances of the Grands had completely destroyed the last remnants of his pride.
Meanwhile, a charming couple approached the waiting area: a handsome blond guy walked in with an irresistible blonde girl on his arm. Everything about them was perfect: from their impeccable manners to their exquisite outwear! Compared to the fat monster, they looked like angels. No one could take their eyes off them.
«This gentleman is so handsome! He must be from some great neighboring kingdom! But who is this feeble hag on his arm?» … «I can’t feel his cultivation. He must be very powerful! Where does this noble gentleman come from?» … «I would never believe that no one knows anything about this handsome guy! Spit it out, girls! Who is he? And who is this chick next to him?» … «Look! They have matching rings. Could they be married?» – One of the girls asked with resentment and jealousy in her voice.
Franz ignored the chatter around them. As he stood at the testing building with Marina, he was so happy he felt like singing out loud. Who would have thought that Kyon would persuade his dear girl to act like she was his bride? Franz hadn’t proposed to her yet. He didn’t dare. First, he needed to make her fall in love with him. It was a matter of time, and Franz had enough of it.
Sam Grand noticed the ridiculous expression on his friend’s face and shook him by the shoulders, feeling concerned. – «Alex, are you all right. Alex?»
Alex Grand closed his mouth at last. – «Sam, I’ve never seen such a beautiful girl! She… She is the ideal girl! She is perfection! I’m sure that this girl is a pure-blood descendant of some powerful family from a high-ranking kingdom! Will she really study here? It’s a sign I’ve been waiting for!»
«Actually, she is married… And you as always jump to conclusions. Hey! Do you hear me? She has a husband, Alex!» – Sam clicked his fingers at his friend’s nose.
«I don’t give a damn! I’ve fallen in love at first sight for the first time in my life! I must at least try!» – Alex pushed his friend away and strode confidently towards the dazzlingly beautiful girl.
As he approached her, he put his hand to his heart and said pompously:
«Your Grace! I will have no peace until I find out your name!»
«Marina Smirnov.» – The girl replied with a smile, charmingly tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
«Marina Smirnov… You must be from a faraway land.»
«I am pure-blood Smirnov from Athens…» – She said, following the legend that Kyon had made up for her. He had asked her to declare her non-existent status at once. Kyon had forged all her documents and formations. No one would ever reveal the truth.
{Huh! I knew it! Cool!} – «Wow! You are from the kingdom of the first rank! I feel privileged! Oh, forgive my manners, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Alex Grand, a pure-blood royal descendant…»
«Nice to meet you.» – Marina said shyly.
«You know, my brother is a student at Cernos. He is the third most powerful person here! I know a lot about this school from his stories! I will gladly tell you everything I know and show you around. Don’t worry about anything. No one will ever touch you as long as I am around.» – His eyes sparkled with passion as he took her soft hand.
Franz listened quietly, boiling with anger. Was the dude flirting with his girlfriend and future wife right in front of him, or was he imagining things? The former formacist was well known for his jealousy when he worked at the Stones estate. He even assigned spies to watch her every step and allay his suspicions. Now the unforgivable things were happening right in front of him. Jealousy and rage were building up in him, turning into a typhoon that could sweep away everything in its path, and when the pompous prig took his beloved by the hand, Franz felt like someone had poured boiling water on him. He shoved the lover boy away from Marina. – «You’re asking for it, you little shit! Are you fucking molesting my wife in front of me?»
«Ew! You’re being rude, sir. I am not molesting anyone! Why would you say so? Are you jealous of your wife? If you love her, trust her!» – Alex’s scathing words hit home.
«Boys, don’t fight over me…»
«Stay out of this, my dear Marina. The fucking twat has crossed the line, and he knows it! I will make him pay for everything!» – Franz rushed forward and slapped his rival across the face.
Suddenly, Alex reacted with equal speed.
~bang~
The impact of the blow sent them flying a couple of steps in opposite directions.
Thousands of excited spectators crowded around them, forming a kind of arena. The aggressive fighters emanated a powerful aura that put everyone under tremendous pressure. The day had only begun, and they had already had enough excitement to last them a lifetime.
«Did you really attack me just because I took your wife by the hand?» – Alex asked, genuinely surprised, but his voice held a note of disdain.
Franz, being a hundred years more experienced than the arrogant brat, felt that he was losing ground. If Marina weren’t there, watching him, he might have taken it easy. Most likely, he wouldn’t have paid the slightest attention to the jerk. But his beloved girl had always been his only weak point. Even Yegorka, his student’s son, got what he deserved and lost his balls. Why would Franz be kind to some disrespectful stranger?
Franz’s fist vibrated with energy concentrated within when a water stream enveloped it, shimmering as if lit by thousand rays of sunlight. – «You had it coming!»
«Ha! Come on! Give it to me!» – Alex’s fist was engulfed in a dazzling flame. He smiled dreamily, not taking his eyes off his rival. Winning his wife away was the easiest thing in the world! The doofus had dug his own grave. All Alex needed was to give the blond guy a nice thrashing to prove to Marina that her husband was nothing but a failure. The rest was a matter of technique.
«Please, don’t!» – Marina screamed in panic, but no one heard her.
Franz and Alex had already rushed towards each other…
��Stop it!»
The impressive, rumbling and, at the same time, melodic voice made everyone freeze at once. The applicants turned to the source of the sound and saw a good-looking, effeminate man on the balcony of the school building. He was about thirty, with long blond hair fluttering in the wind.
«It’s the headmaster of Cernos!»
Franz and Alex exchanged hostile glances and reluctantly parted ways.
The headmaster looked at Franz with a strange gleam in his eyes, then he majestically raised his hands and solemnly said:
«Welcome to the annual entrance exam at Cernos School! My name is Nulan Grand, the principal of Cernos. You will have two exams today. The combat will test your talent, and the written test will assess your knowledge. You can earn up to 50 points on each exam. If you applied for theoretical research, you don’t have to face the combat, but the written test will be twice as long and difficult and will get you up to a hundred points. The minimum admission requirement is 75 points…»
While the headmaster was talking about details, Alex was looking at his newly found love:
«Marina has applied for academic research as her cultivation is too weak. I bet she has chosen alchemy! Oh great goddess, I’m begging you, let her pass! Am I asking too much?» – He folded his palms in prayer, his eyes raised to heaven.
When Sam heard such nonsense from his extravagant friend, he covered his face with his hand, shaking his head in disapproval.
«…Our school boasts of the best teachers and masters, and also our unique dormitories. The highest floors and the lowest room numbers are designed for the students with the highest status. The rooms are located on five floors, not counting the three underground levels. Those of you who get 95 points at the exams will be offered financial grants and the accommodation on the elite 5th floor, where each of the residents has their own servants. Ninety points will provide you with the rooms on the 4th floor. The rest you can think for yourself. Research dating back a century has shown that our student accommodation system motivates young people to try harder and strive to reach greater heights. But don’t hold your breath. The rumors that nine out of ten applicants fail are true, so you will have to give your best. And never forget that our school has a spotless reputation. No bribes, no dirty tricks can improve your performance or help you earn more points than you deserve!!»
About a thousand hearts started beating faster with excitement. The applicants dreamed of completing at least the minimum admission requirements, let alone living on the highest floors. But the idea that no spoiled rich kids or cunning swindlers would get to Cernos was heart-warming.
«By the way, I just learned some amazing news.» – Headmaster Nulan said in a low voice. – «Queen Vlada has sent Kara Grand to take the entrance exam! The princess will sit the test like everyone else, there’s no favoritism! As for Her Majesty’s motive, well, judge for yourself. I invite you to come inside and follow the instructions of the senior examiner. Good luck to you all!» – The principal finished his welcoming speech and disappeared inside the building.
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