". . . too easy?"

"Y-yeah. Isn't that too easy? We'll get into the first Ianua by just winning the second level!"

"Huh! I don't care if it is easy or not. Let's just consider it a golden ticket to the most elite cla.s.s in Magierstadt!"

Faustina glanced around to the students talking among themselves. Everybody was hyped—even more than the first level. Moderator Yusha's boost was proven to be effective. 

A large projection of what seemed like professors, not more than 12, appeared before the examinees.

A girl with a purple hair started to speak.

"We, the Professors, have been examining you. From your decision-making to magical potential." It was moderator Yusha, the girl with the purple hair. Faustina blinked. The professor looked young—in fact, too young. She had the body of a child, and similarly, she acted like one.

"Examining us?"

"What does that mean?"

A male professor with bronze skin and blond hair grinned. 

"We have been observing all of you from spherical lenses called 'cameras' invented by our researchers. They are invisible and are scattered around the entire testing grounds."

"Huh? I thought we were—you know—un.o.bservable from here?"

Moderator Yusha pouted.

"Of course! What Professor Miketsukami said is that the cameras are all in the testing grounds. In the Great Hall, you have your privacy and as I've said before, I can only relay information to all of you and see you when I'm making announcements!"

Faustina blinked. That was right. The professor did say that. 

"Wait . . . does this mean the teachers have been observing us? But you said you couldn't see us?"

Faustina glanced at the teachers. That's right. The moderator told them that after every announcement, they would be un.o.bservable. But why was it necessary, though? Faustina still couldn't put her finger into it. She couldn't just jump into conclusions about why they won't be observing them strategize. Doesn't that make it inconvenient to grade them? By doing that, they won't be seeing who's leading everyone.

Faustina set her eyes to Anakin, who was deep in thought.

"You will all embark on the second level of the exam. The elemental race. Now then, Professor Ramsha will tell you all the details." Said one of the teachers. A timid-looking man then raised his head. He had a clean appearance, but his brown hair looked naturally tousled.

"T-the elemental race is well . . . er. You know. Fighting elements. Y-yeah," he muttered, shrinking to his seat after an awkward stillness.

Silence.

"Ugh . . . Professor Ramsha, that's not how you explain the instructions!!! We told you to practice announcing beforehand!" Moderator Yusha bantered. She pouted her lips and took a deep breath before she flashed a smile.

"Now then, dear students! I'm sorry for the inconvenience." She beamed. "I will now explain the contents in detail."

Faustina gulped as the image being projected changed into visuals on how the race would be conducted.

"First is the racing grounds. The race would be conducted into the 'Crestfallen Cemetery' where the undead, ghosts, and even the vultures that attacked you, students, into the entrance, lurk."

"Wh-what did she say?"

"G-gh-ghosts?"

"Of course, these are all artificial monsters created by Magierstadt itself, so you do not need to worry about them haunting you in your sleep ~"

"Eek!"

"Yusha, stop that." One of the professors said.

"Teehee!" Yusha then beamed. "The Crestfallen Cemetery is a racing quadrangle that has four obstacles. The first obstacle would be the Fire Monster, Ignis. It is self-explanatory on what he does. The second obstacle would be the Water Monster, Aqua. Third would be Earth, Terra, and lastly the Wind Monster, Ventus."

"Fire? That's so extreme for the first obstacle . . ."

"But if there are only four of them, then that shouldn't be too difficult as long as we use magic that would repel them . . ."

The professor smiled.

"Remember when I said there would be ghosts and whatnots to the cemetery?" Professor Yusha grinned. Faustina felt a s.h.i.+ver run down her spine as he sees the professor's dark gaze and cunning smile.

Faustina thinned her lips. Just how hard this exam would be?

"There is someone amongst the ghosts you could talk to." She exclaimed.

"A ghost who can talk?"

"Isn't that just too creepy?"

"Yes, creepy. But would all of you be creeped out when I say that that certain ghost holds the key to take any of you to the first place?"

"What?!"

"A ghost with a key to the first place . . . !"

Moderator Yusha beamed. "That's right! The ghost who's the strongest amongst all the other ent.i.ties—a servant of the Undead Royals—the Ghost Hermit!"

"Ghost Hermit . . ." Faustina mumbled.

"Well, he's just a key to pa.s.s. He's extremely difficult to find, but once you defeat him, you will be able to even overthrow the person who's running to be first!" Yusha thundered, sending everyone filled with even more morale. Faustina glanced around. n.o.body was talking to each other anymore. And Faustina knew that this would transpire sooner or later. And that's because . . .

Every person right now is considered . . . an enemy!