I Became an Illegal Cheat User

2 – Entrance Exam (2)

Before one knew it, the day of the entrance exam arrived.

“That was close…”

There was a moment when I almost couldn’t gather the items needed for the exam.

In games, moving around and acquiring items was easy. But now, in this reality, I had to run around physically and even find people selling the required items.

Still, I managed to figure out the locations to some extent, but it wasn’t without its challenges…

“Who would have known that the prices would be different.”

There was a change in the always fixed prices.

Fortunately, there was enough money to match the change, and, as a bonus, I also discovered the functions of the inventory.

Well, there is a status window, so it’s only natural to have an inventory.

Bubbling.

“There’s a lot.”

Even though there’s a lot, it’s still too much. There were a lot of people when I applied for the entrance exam, but just looking at the number of people in front of me now, it seems like there are at least several thousand, if not more.

Still, the inside of the academy still looks spacious.

It was a scene that revealed how vast Arena Academy was.

‘…Feels a bit lonely.’

Sitting on a bench and looking around at the people nearby, I see a variety of individuals.

People who came with their parents.

Those who came with relatives, friends, or lovers.

Seeing groups of three or five gathered, I couldn’t help but feel a bit lonely.

Even before entering the game, I was alone.

And here, I was still alone.

But it’s okay.

Most of those countless people will probably be eliminated.

As I try to console myself for the lonely feeling, a commotion breaks out somewhere.

“Hey, hey! Look over there!”

“Oh, oh…! It’s, it’s them. The one famous in England…”

Turning my gaze to where the commotion is, I could see the reason for the excitement.

Someone was drawing the attention of the crowd.

‘That person is…’

Dazzling golden hair.

Blue eyes that resemble a clear lake.

A gender-neutral appearance that could captivate anyone, regardless of gender.

‘The descendant of the Knight King.’

Main character level. Arthur Pendragon.

That’s right.

That Arthur, indeed.

The owner of ‘Excalibur,’ which mainly appears in comics, movies, or games.

The sword hanging from his waist must be Excalibur.

A flicker.

Am I staring too much at the sword?

Suddenly, Arthur’s gaze caught me off guard, but I smoothly turned my head away, avoiding eye contact.

“…!”

I almost met his eyes.

To others, it might seem odd to be so worked up over mere eye contact.

Among Arthur’s talents is something called ‘Fairy Eye.’

Ranked S, Fairy Eye can read the disposition and inner thoughts of others just by locking eyes with them.

Unless one possesses a specific mental ability or skill, resisting Fairy Eye’s power is nearly impossible.

It truly feels like an unfair advantage.

“I shouldn’t meet his eyes just yet.”

Although I don’t possess a particularly malicious disposition that Arthur detests, if it were revealed that I know the secret of possessing the sacred sword Excalibur here at the Academy where transcendent beings oversee, I’d likely be caught immediately.

“Or worse, be eliminated discreetly.”

Knowledge about Excalibur’s whereabouts was still a closely guarded secret, known only to a tiny minority.

As I averted Arthur’s gaze, another disturbance arose.

“Oh, oh!”

“It’s Seo Yeon Lee!”

As if a famous celebrity had appeared, I turned my gaze in that direction. There stood someone who, like Arthur, had everyone’s attention.

Long, jet-black hair that fell to her waist, with dark black eyes resembling obsidian.

A well-balanced figure that seemed to have trained extensively in martial arts.

And notably, a stunningly beautiful woman with a considerable bosom.

She was not just a main character but also one of the heroines.

“I knew the character illustration was pretty, but in reality, she’s incredibly beautiful.”

However, that doesn’t mean I’ve developed an interest.

It would be nice to have a connection with such a woman, but the moment a connection is formed, it becomes incredibly exhausting.

In accordance with the cheers of the people, Yi Seo-yeon is very popular among fans.

She is also the daughter of Gim Seong (劍星), the guild master of the Mirinae Guild, one of the top three guilds in Korea, and one of the transcendents in Korea.

By the way, Gim Seong, Lee Jung-baek, dotes on his daughter a lot. Very much so.

Even if it’s just a simple friendship with Yi Seo-yeon, interference comes from all directions, so it’s best to avoid contact with her whenever possible.

Just recalling the things done to achieve challenges related to Yi Seo-yeon makes one shudder.

‘Nevertheless…’

She is a pitiable person.

Never having had a true friend due to excessive attention from the surroundings and her father’s overwhelming affection.

Still, that’s one thing, and this is another.

Even though her situation is lamentable, I don’t really want to form a connection with her.

‘For the clear of the ‘Ending Quest,’ it’s necessary to have all main characters survive, but there’s no need to be close, right?’

‘I might secretly help from time to time.’

Just observe from a distance and lend a hand when there’s danger.

Thinking so, I turned my gaze away from Yi Seo-yeon and headed towards the exam venue where I was about to start the test.

&

“…”

Yi Seo-yeon’s gaze was directed at the back of a man heading towards the exam venue.

‘A feeling I’ve never experienced before.’

Although not a talent or skill, Yi Seo-yeon has been sensitive to people’s emotions since birth.

In the chaotic and uncomfortable waves of emotions in the surrounding crowd, she strangely couldn’t feel those emotions from that man.

As if…

‘Pity?’

…Why?

For the first time since birth, Yi Seo-yeon couldn’t take her eyes off the unfamiliar emotion that the man seemed to feel.

‘Who could it be?’

Who is it that considers themselves pitiful?

Yi Seo-yeon became curious.

That man.

&

&

&

– All exam candidates, please take your seats.

The sound of the loudspeaker echoed as soon as I entered the exam hall.

In response, the candidates who were outside hurriedly came in.

I sat roughly in the back and observed the candidates.

Everyone seemed tense.

Although not everyone was nervous, there were some who appeared confident from time to time.

As I looked at those people, I rechecked the items I had prepared in my inventory and reviewed my plan once again.

While inspecting the items, and soon thinking about the upcoming test.

Someone sat down next to me.

“…?”

Out of all the available seats, why sit next to me?

Surprised, I turned my head towards the person next to me.

“…!”

And I couldn’t help but gasp.

“Yeo Seo-yeon…?”

Seo-yeon, who should have been sitting in front, was sitting next to me.

‘Why?’

Why is she sitting here?

“…Hello.”

Without any signs of confusion or hesitation, Seo-yeon greeted me while looking straight at me.

“Uh, uh… Hello.”

And that was it.

After exchanging greetings, Seo-yeon turned her head forward as if she had finished her business.

I couldn’t erase the bewildered feeling from seeing that.

The only reason she sat next to me was to say hello?

That Seo-

‘Where did the Lee Seo-yeon I know go?’

Lee Seo-yeon in the game.

She was the most difficult heroine to build affection with.

Perhaps due to excessive attention from people, or maybe because of the overwhelming influence of double protection, she tended to be uncomfortable with the touch of strangers.

More precisely, she didn’t know how to form connections with others.

As a result, she rejected approaches from men and women who showed interest in her, responding with a cold expression and tone, without exception.

That’s why her nickname was the ‘Ice Princess.’

For some reason, she, who usually refused anyone approaching with interest, greeted someone first.

Personally, it’s fine.

But the situation is not good at all.

“Lee Seo-yeon greeted first?”

“Who is that?”

“I’ve never seen her before.”

‘…Oh no.’

It happens like this.

People’s attention is drawn.

Whispers can be heard from various places.

Just because Lee Seo-yeon greeted first, people have already started showing interest in me.

‘Not good.’

Unwanted attention.

I wanted to stay quiet like a common extra, as I still couldn’t use cheat tools.

If this continues, the exam might become a bit more challenging.

‘But still….’

Does it matter?

It might get a bit tougher, but passing the exam shouldn’t be a problem.

More importantly,

‘Doesn’t this guy hear the whispers around him?’

I turned my eyes and glanced slightly at Lee Seo-yeon next to me.

Since the greeting, she has been steadfastly looking ahead.

With that expressionless face that exudes coldness, it seems like she pays no attention to any whispers or stares from the surroundings.

“When I look at it this way, she seems just like the Lee Seoyeon I knew.”

From the greeting just moments ago, it’s hard to say for sure.

But there’s one thing I’m certain about.

There’s something different between the Lee Seoyeon from the game ‘Arena Academy’ and the one standing next to me now.

Well, entering a world that was originally a game is already something unbelievable.

Even if Seoyeon’s actions seem a bit different, I guess I have to accept it.

Having organized my thoughts like that, I turned my gaze forward.

– Those who have taken their seats, please wear this watch on your wrist.

As the guide holding the loudspeaker said this, a watch that looked like a smartwatch appeared in front of everyone, including me sitting in the chair.

When I put it on my wrist, someone appeared in the auditorium in a flash.

“Uh… uh! That person is!”

“The, the Archmage!”

Everyone’s gaze turned upward.

An old man with flowing white hair, wearing loose white robes like Dumbledore in Harry Potter. His name is Yoo Baek.

He is Seoyeon’s father, one of the transcendents in Korea like Gyeomseong, and holds the title of Archmage.

And also the headmaster of Arena Academy.

Appearing for the start of the entrance exam, he raised the wand in his hand to his throat and began to speak.

“Welcome to all the examinees gathered here.”

A voice that enters the ears sharply, even though he doesn’t speak loudly or use magic.

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“I am Yoo Baek, the headmaster of Arena Academy.”

Who wouldn’t know him?

A transcendent and the headmaster of the academy. Archmage, Yoo Baek.

Still, as the headmaster, he welcomed us with a warm introduction as we, aspiring students, were about to enter the academy.

“Now, let’s begin the exam.”

As the headmaster said this, he waved his wand once towards the empty space.

Then, light began to emanate from the bodies of the people sitting in the chairs.

“Mass Teleport?!”

“Yeah, he’s truly an Archmage…”

The light appearing on the bodies of the examinees, including myself, was a precursor to teleportation.

No one, yet it seemed like there were at least three thousand people being moved all at once.

Truly, it was a transcendent performance.

“Please do your best, everyone.”

With those words, the scenery changed in an instant.

A ceiling where the sky couldn’t be seen.

A towering wall impossible to scale without flying.

And multiple paths.

The first test, the maze challenge, had begun.