[KATXU'S POV]
It's been three days since the pre-examination, and we're finally starting to recover. Danryu and Poco—the fairy-eared dwarf—are still on bed rest, but at least they're conscious now. Ren, despite being untouched physically, is focusing on recovering his mana after the battle with the Spider Queen. The examiners have granted us five days to regain our strength, though part of the reason is also due to their ongoing investigation. They said that the Spider Queen wasn't supposed to be in the labyrinth.
[THREE DAYS AGO]
As we emerged on the other side of the gate, I was still carrying Danryu on my back, while Ren and his massive teddy bear were in front of me.
"Two minutes left..." We had barely made it in time. Even escaping the exit was a challenge.
We had to fight through more monsters and a shifting maze in those final moments. I managed to push through with the remaining examinees who had fought alongside me against the Spider Queen.
Danryu, Ren, and Poco were still unconscious. It was a struggle, but somehow, we made it.
Not all of us did.
We rescued a few unconscious examinees from our group, but others weren't as lucky. Some had to surrender, overwhelmed by the sheer difference in power between them and the Queen.
Out of nearly fifty of us who entered that spiders' cave, only nine returned. Exhausted. Drained of mana. Some of us had collapsed the moment we stepped through the gate. I was relieved to learn that unconscious examinees wouldn't be eliminated automatically—at least they had a chance if they could survive and escape the labyrinth.
"Time's up!" Examiner Dolfo's voice echoed, amplified by a spell.
"126 examinees remaining..." A voice rang out from everywhere.
Out of 500+ examinees, we had lost so many in just the pre-examination.
Yet, something felt... off. Looking around, I noticed that among the remaining examinees, our group was the only one with unconscious members. We were bruised, battered, and utterly drained. The others? They looked tired, yes—but none seemed to have sustained serious injuries. Compared to our casualties, the difference was too obvious to ignore.
"Congratulations, Passers! You are now qualified to take the entrance exam of Arkhos Arcadia!" Dolfo announced.
Murmurs filled the air, followed by scattered cheers. Some examinees shouted in celebration.
"This isn't the usual protocol, but due to recent events, we are granting you five days to heal and recover your mana. Additionally, those involved in the Spider Cage Incident will be interviewed individually within the next two days." Dolfo continued, his voice firm.
"Examinees, please take this time to rest and enjoy your stay in the inner village."
The inner village—a small settlement built by those living within the academy—was simple but enough to house us for the next five days.
***
The interview was completed yesterday. They told us that the Ant Queen wasn't supposed to be in that cave—it was a S+-rank monster. That's why they had to question us thoroughly about what happened.
I still couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. An S+-rank monster appearing in a test meant for examinees like us? That wasn't normal.
I pushed the thoughts aside as I sat down between Danryu's bed and Ren's, who was still fast asleep.
"Hey Danryu, you're awake. How are your wounds?" I asked, leaning slightly toward him.
Danryu glanced at me, then quickly looked away, scowling. "I'm fine, don't worry about me. Worry about yourself, you nosy Normal!"
I held back a chuckle. He was angry, but not really. Danryu had always been the prideful type, and the fact that he had fainted—and worse, had to be carried by me, a so-called Normal—was probably eating away at him. He wasn't mad at me, just embarrassed.
"Hehe, I'm actually fine now. Thanks for the potion you gave me yesterday—it helped me recover faster," I said, scratching my head.
"Don't flatter yourself. I just gave you that as an exchange for helping me get past the pre-examination," he huffed, still refusing to meet my gaze. His ears were turning red, and his cheeks had a faint blush.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever helps you sleep at night," I teased, grinning.
Danryu clicked his tongue. "Tch. If I hadn't been drained after that fight, I wouldn't have needed anyone's help!"
"Riiight, and let me guess, you let yourself get knocked out just to test me?" I smirked.
He scoffed. "Obviously. I was merely evaluating how useful you'd be in an actual battle."
"So you planned to faint face-first into the dirt, huh? Bold strategy."
"Shut up, Normal!" he growled, finally turning his head, but that just exposed the full shade of red spreading across his face.
I laughed. Danryu might be stubborn, but this was just his way of accepting things.
"By the way, do you remember what happened after you passed out?" I asked, shifting the conversation.
Danryu frowned slightly, deep in thought. "Bits and pieces… I remember hearing Ren's voice. And... something about the maze shifting?"
I nodded. "Yeah, Ren went wild for a bit. Summoned that giant teddy of his to clear the way. We barely made it out before time ran out."
"Tsk. That kid has too much mana. It's annoying." Danryu muttered, crossing his arms. "And that damn teddy bear gives me the creeps."
"Heh, yeah, but it saved our skins," I said, glancing at Ren, who was still peacefully asleep. "We owe him."
Danryu exhaled, finally relaxing against the pillows. "Yeah... I guess we do."
There was a short silence before Danryu suddenly muttered, "Still, can't believe I was carried by a Normal..."
"You really need to let that go, man."
"Never."
I sighed. This guy…
***
As the door swung open, Poco stepped into our apartment, his tiny frame carrying an unusual amount of excitement.
"Hey guys..." he called out.
Ren stirred slightly in his bed but didn't wake up. Danryu, who had been leaning against the window with his arms crossed, only glanced at him before looking away.
"I've got good news! The academy just gave us a hint about our first exam."
That got my attention. I sat up straighter.
"It will be a team-based exam—seven members per team. We can choose whoever we want, but... they didn't give any details about what the game will be."
Poco's expression turned serious. "So, we need to be strategic with our choices. If it's a test of raw strength, we need someone powerful. If it's strategy, we'll need the smartest person we can find. It also depends on whether we'll rely more on skills or pure magic."
That made sense. We couldn't blindly pick teammates without knowing what we were up against.
"So, are we all okay with being on the same team?" I asked, glancing at Danryu.
"Tsk!" Danryu clicked his tongue quietly. I knew exactly what he was thinking— one Normal, two kids, and now we have to find three more?
I grinned. "What's wrong, Back Princess? Not happy with your squad?"
Danryu's eye twitched, and he shot me a glare. "Nothing." He exhaled sharply before continuing, "But what if it's a trap? What if the seven of us have to fight each other? There are so many possible scenarios. I don't want to fight two kids and a Normal. It's messed up."
I laughed. "Nah, we gotta gamble. Besides, if it turns out that way, at least we already know each other's skills. And don't worry—when you drop, I'll carry you again. Hahaha!"
"Shut up!" Danryu snapped, his face slightly red.
"I agree," Poco said, nodding.
"Whatever." Danryu rolled his eyes and crossed his arms tighter.
"So we're all in, then?" I confirmed. "We need three more people. Poco, you have someone in mind?"
Poco nodded. "Yeah, I already found one. I'll introduce her to you tommorow."
I smirked and turned to Danryu. "Oh? Is she stronger than you, or is she just here to keep you from getting lost?"
Danryu's head snapped toward me. "EXCUSE ME?!"
Poco burst out laughing. "Oh, that's a good one!"
"I swear, Katxu, you're pushing it—" Danryu growled.
"Hey, I'm just saying, you do have a history of getting knocked out and needing rescue. Maybe we should recruit a babysitter instead of a fighter."
"I will throw you out of this window."
"Aww, see? You already need anger management support too!"
Danryu grabbed the nearest pillow and hurled it at my face. I barely dodged it, laughing the whole time.
"Alright, alright," Poco said, still chuckling. "We still need two more members, though. Any thoughts?"
"A tank would be good," I suggested. "Someone who can take hits and buy time if we get into a straight-up fight."
"Or maybe a specialist with weird abilities," Poco added. "Something unpredictable that could be useful no matter what the game is."
"That's assuming we even get to use our abilities," Danryu muttered. "For all we know, it could be a test of pure wits or endurance."
I shrugged. "Then we should pick people who can adapt fast."
"Fine. But if we get stuck with another Normal, I'm leaving."
"Aww, Danryu, are we not good enough for you?" I teased.
"Not even close."
I laughed. "Alright, then. Let's meet Poco's mystery recruit tomorrow and start scouting for the last two."
***
Ren and Grimm sat beside me, munching on cookies, while I focused on finishing an actual breakfast. Across the room, Danryu sat apart from us, busy grinding herbs and mixing potions. He hadn't said much all morning, which probably meant he was still brooding about something.
Just then, the door burst open.
"Good morning, team!" Poco called out as he entered our apartment, a shy little girl standing beside him.
"She's Kelly, my sister. She's the one I was talking about yesterday."
"What? Another child!?" Danryu groaned, rubbing his temples.
I smirked. "Don't worry, Kelly, he's just mad because he's afraid of being the weakest one here. Right, Back Princess?"
Danryu shot me a glare. "Shut up, Normal!"
Kelly giggled softly. "I-It's okay. I'm used to people underestimating me." She smiled sweetly before adding, "B-But if you keep making fun of me, I might just forget to cook for you later."
I gasped, dramatically clutching my chest. "Not the food! I take it back, your majesty, please spare me!"
Ren and Grimm laughed while still stuffing their faces with cookies.
"She controls the food element," Poco explained. "Don't worry, she's way stronger than she looks. Don't be fooled by her external appearance. Also, she's 97 years old."
Danryu blinked. "Excuse me... what?"
"H-Hi guys! I brought you food!" Kelly said cheerfully, handing out plates filled with pastries and sweets.
"Yay, cake!" Ren cheered, his teddy bear—currently in human form—grabbing a slice with equal enthusiasm. The two of them immediately started munching away while Kelly used her magic to prepare even more food for him.
While Ren enjoyed Kelly's food, Poco and I sat to the side, discussing who to pick for the final team slots.
"We only have a few hours left to submit our choices." I reminded him.
"Actually, we're at an advantage in terms of numbers," Poco pointed out. "Three of us—including me—have summoning abilities. That could be really useful, right?"
"Yeah, but we need someone who's..." I started, then paused. "...Wait, what was that smart thing you said yesterday? Let me repeat it to sound intelligent—"
"Don't try too hard, Katxu," Poco sighed.
I grinned. "What if we recruit the katana guy?"
Danryu immediately slammed his potion bottle on the table. "Who? Dairon?! Are you insane?!"
"Why not?" I shrugged. "He seems strong and smart, and also, let's take advantage of the fact that no one else wants to team up with him right now."
"I agree," Poco nodded, but his face remained serious. "But, repeating what Danryu said before—what if we're forced to fight each other?"
I leaned back and stretched. "Simple. We fight him first, then figure out the rest. Easy!"
Danryu groaned, rubbing his temples like he was getting a headache. "Hayst... whatever. But if we do fight, you're the one surrendering."
I grinned. "Sure. Let's do it!"
Poco nodded. "Alright, but… who's gonna talk to him?"
I smirked. "I will. But I'm bringing Ren with me so I have a cute kid as bait. Maybe he'll say yes out of sheer cuteness pressure."
Poco chuckled. "Good idea. But let's be careful. Maybe lead him somewhere with a lot of people so we can stand by in case something happens?"
Danryu rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah, because sneaky recruiting never goes wrong."
"Relax, Back Princess," I teased. "I'll just casually ask him to join, and if he refuses, Ren will hit him with puppy eyes. Foolproof plan."
"And if he tries to kill you?" Danryu raised an eyebrow.
"Then I hope Ren's puppy eyes work fast enough," I grinned.
"I still say this is stupid," Danryu muttered.
"Then it's a good thing you're used to being stuck in stupid situations with us," I shot back.
"Shut. Up."
"Alright, let's move. We only have a few hours left." Poco reminded us.
As we prepared to leave, I couldn't help but feel a little excited. Recruiting Dairon was going to be interesting.
***
Me and Ren were walking through the bustling bazaar, surrounded by the lively chatter of examinees enjoying their break before the next stage of the exam. The scent of grilled meat, freshly baked bread, and something oddly sparkling from a nearby alchemist's stall filled the air. Some examinees were buying supplies, others were testing out their magic, and a few were just showing off.
I was carrying Ren in front of me, his tiny hands resting on my shoulders as his big, curious eyes scanned everything around us.
"Katxu, look!" He pointed excitedly at a stall where a merchant was juggling flaming fruit.
"Yeah, yeah, cool stuff, buddy," I muttered absentmindedly. My mind was locked onto a bigger problem—finding Dairon and convincing him to join our team.
That part? Still working on it.
I took a deep breath and started practicing my approach.
"Hey, bro! Wazzup!"
I cringed immediately. Ew. No. I'd rather fight another S+-rank monster than say that out loud.
"Yo, Dairon! Need a team? We got space—wait, why do I sound like I'm selling him a gym membership?"
I groaned.
"Dairon, you seem like a logical guy, so logically speaking, our team is the best option—okay, no. Now I sound like Poco when he's trying to negotiate extra snacks."
Ren blinked, tilting his head. "Katxu, why are you talking to yourself? Did your brain fall out?"
"No, I'm just practicing!" I huffed.
"Practicing what? Failing?"
I gasped. "Ren! That was rude!"
"Hmmm…" He tapped his chin, then nodded proudly. "Poco said roasting makes people stronger!"
I sighed. I'm gonna have to talk to Poco about what he's teaching this kid.
"Fine, then. If you're so smart, tell me—what should I say to Dairon?" I asked.
Ren's face lit up. His little hands grabbed my shoulders, and he took a deep breath—
"HELLO, PAPPI!!!"
His high-pitched, extra cute voice rang through the bazaar, loud enough that a few nearby people actually turned to look at us.
I lost it.
Laughter exploded out of me, my stomach hurting from how hard I was laughing.
"REN, WHAT?!" I barely managed to say, holding onto him so I wouldn't drop him.
"It works!" Ren beamed proudly. "When Poco said that to a lady yesterday, she gave him free food!"
I wheezed. "That—That's not—" I had to catch my breath. "That's not how this works, buddy!"
Ren pouted. "Well, it made you happy, so I win!"
I sighed, still chuckling as I wiped a tear from my eye. "Alright, alright. You win, Ren."
At least I wasn't nervous anymore. Still had no idea how to recruit Dairon, but one crisis at a time.
***
I was still searching for Dairon, scanning the crowd, but he was nowhere to be found.
"Ugh, that man is impossible to track down. Where the hell could he be?" I grumbled in my head, shifting Ren onto my back. Carrying him in front had gotten tiring, and now his small arms wrapped loosely around my shoulders as he rested his chin on my head.
We reached the end of the bazaar, where the lively stalls and bright lanterns faded into darkness. Ahead of us stretched a forest, dimly lit by scattered orbs and lanterns swaying in the breeze. The eerie glow made the trees look taller than they were, stretching their shadows unnaturally.
Then—I saw him.
Dairon.
He was leaning against the side of a chair, one arm draped over the backrest, the other resting on his knee. His head was slightly tilted, his sharp golden eyes fixed directly on me. He wasn't just looking—he was staring, as if he had been expecting us. The dim light flickered across his face, casting harsh shadows that made his expression unreadable.
My body froze for a second.
Why does it feel like I just walked into a trap?
I swallowed hard. "Here we go," I muttered under my breath, forcing my legs to move.
As I stepped forward, my pulse pounded in my ears. I knew Poco and the others were hidden nearby, but that didn't make this feel any less like I was walking into something dangerous.
Dairon didn't move. He just watched—his expression calm, but there was an unmistakable pressure in the air around him.
I could feel it.
Something about him made my instincts scream "This guy is not safe."
Before I could even open my mouth, his voice cut through the air.
"Hey. You need something from me, right?"
His tone was flat, cold—but there was a dangerous edge underneath it, like a blade waiting to be drawn.
I stiffened. My first thought was—was he really talking to us? I instinctively glanced around to make sure no one else was standing behind me.
Just as I was about to answer, Ren opened his mouth—
"Hello, Pap—!"
I panicked, immediately slamming my hand over his mouth, muffling the rest of whatever cursed word he was about to say. Ren let out a confused "mmf!", but at least I had stopped the real disaster from happening.
Dairon raised an eyebrow. "The hell was that?"
"N-nothing! He's just a kid—ignore him!" I stammered, shifting Ren slightly on my back so he wouldn't try that again.
Dairon exhaled through his nose, his golden eyes locking onto mine again.
"Yeah, you moron. I'm talking to you."
His stare was heavy—too heavy. It was the kind of gaze that made you feel like you were being evaluated, measured, and—worst of all—judged unworthy.
I forced myself to hold eye contact, but it felt like my own body wanted to flinch away.
"H-how did you know we were looking for you?" I asked, and immediately regretted how shaky my voice sounded.
Dairon didn't blink. "Tch. You've been walking around the bazaar looking like a lost idiot. Now you're here. It doesn't take a genius to figure it out."
I felt my pride take psychic damage.
"W-well… yeah. We are looking for you," I admitted, trying to sound more confident.
Dairon slowly pushed himself off the chair, standing up way too smoothly.
"For what?"
I tensed instinctively. Why did that sound like a challenge?
"We want you on our team," I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. "You're strong, smart, and no one else seems to be recruiting you. We figured we could take advantage of that and form a strong group together."
Dairon tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable.
The silence dragged.
The air felt thicker, like the temperature had dropped a few degrees.
I suddenly became hyper-aware of how still he was.
He wasn't blinking.
He wasn't shifting his weight.
He was just standing there, motionless.
Then, his hand twitched—a barely noticeable flex of his fingers.
My instincts screamed—MOVE.
I felt my breathing catch.
Was he about to attack?!
I swallowed, my heartbeat pounding in my ears.
Then—Dairon slowly looked down, his bangs casting a shadow over his eyes.
My mind spiraled.
Wait—what does that mean?! Is he thinking? Is he preparing to fight? Did I say something wrong? Oh crap—did I just trigger a battle flag?!
I gripped Ren tightly, my body already on edge.
The silence dragged on.
And in my head, all I could think was—
"We're so dead."