The Discarded Son's Skill Market
Chapter 6: The Academy Test

Chapter 6: The Academy Test

Because the Academy is administered by the Association of the Awakened, even the great families cannot interfere with its student selection process; it is even difficult for them to operate directly within the Academy’s grounds.

It was the best place for him right now, especially because of the academy’s famous "Privileged Access to Guilds." They could even help you find a guild to join, which not only provides you with resources and money, but also protection.

As he looked out at the modern city around him, Zaid thought about everything he needed.

With his current strength, he’d barely qualify as a Rank F... better known as a "Freighter" in dungeon missions. However, that was good enough for him.

Farming in that situation would be easy.

Soon the taxi arrived at its destination.

Zaid got out and looked at the imposing medieval-style building before him.

The Academy of the Awakened was enormous, but it hadn’t been built recently. Before the system arrived 10 years ago, several centuries-old universities had operated here.

Eight years ago, it became the grand and opulent Academy of the Awakened in the Great Capital of Toluria, and it boasts one of the finest academic faculties on the continent.

Zaid swallowed hard at the sight of this imposing structure, but also at the large number of people coming and going.

Some with their heads bowed... they hadn’t been accepted.

Others smiled proudly and radiated happiness.

Some were wearing the academy’s uniform; they were already students.

Zaid covered his face slightly and walked past to avoid being spotted so early on.

"I’m here to register," Zaid said after reaching one of the counters staffed by attendants.

The man on the other side of the glass took his token and, after verifying its authenticity, let him through.

"Go to the left, into that building, Room 11. Wait your turn."

Zaid took his token back and headed in that direction.

’Room 11...’ He read the sign before going inside.

There were 19 people sitting in chairs, arranged as if they were in a class. In front of them stood a teacher, reading a newspaper. The class hadn’t started yet because one person was still missing to fill the room.

As soon as he opened the door, everyone turned to look at him.

But he stared, in shock, at the teacher.

"Zaid Zachary... What the hell are you doing here?" asked the teacher, setting the newspaper aside.

"Robinson Shawn," Zaid muttered, puzzled.

Since when had that bully of his become a teacher?

"I asked you a question," Robinson said, clearly annoyed by his presence there.

Zaid sighed. ’As long as I don’t end up with him as a teacher...’ he thought.

It would be a pain to have to deal with this guy throughout his entire academic career.

He decided to ignore his question and showed him the sealed token. "I’m here to enroll," he replied simply.

He then walked over to seat number 20.

Robinson felt angry, but instead of anger, he showed mockery.

"Enroll in the academy? Zaid Zachary, I think you’re thinking too highly of yourself."

Zaid ignored him and sat down.

That made his eye twitch. But he put up with it—for now.

With all 20 chairs filled, he closed the door and pulled back the curtain covering the blackboard.

Instead of a blackboard, there was a well-known rock called "The Rock of Statistics," which was used to read a person’s approximate statistics and thus measure their strength.

"Since everyone is here, it’s time to begin. The test here is simple, and it’s the only one that will determine whether you’re accepted into the academy." He pointed to the rock.

"Just strike the rock. If you manage to make it glow, it will reveal an average of your stats. Anyone with a total of over 40 and a predominant strength of about 13 to 15 points passes," he said, preparing to give the signal.

"What if we’re wizards?" A girl spoke up, a little nervously. Everyone turned to look at her—some with approval for her question, and others who seemed to be thinking: How can you not know something so simple?

So she lowered her head. "I-I’m a wizard... I don’t have many strength points."

"The rock reads all the stats the same way. If your primary stat is Strength and you meet the requirements, it will light up blue. If it’s Vitality, it will light up yellow. If it’s Agility, it will light up green, and if it’s Intelligence, it will light up red. The test is fair," Robinson replied patiently, with a warm smile.

The girl nodded nervously and thanked him. "T-thank you."

Robinson then stood to one side of the rock and began to call out. "Luke Shawn."

The first in line, a member of Robinson’s own family, stood up proudly and walked over to the rock.

Robinson nodded at him. "That shouldn’t be a problem for you, Young Master." He smiled at him.

Luke shrugged, clenched his right fist, and unleashed a straight punch at the rock.

BOOM!

A harmless explosion was preceded by a bluish glow on the rock. The blue was quite intense, highlighting his Strength attribute as his primary one.

But it also flashed green and red, emphasizing that his stats were quite similar to one another.

[Average of 80 to 90 Stat Points]

"T-that high?"

"An average above 80!" someone exclaimed in shock.

"Just as expected of Young Master Luke..."

Zaid frowned. ’Maybe he has 25 stat points in strength. I’d heard about him—he’s barely 15 years old and already so strong.’

He must have leveled up a few times to achieve that.

"He’s... really strong." Suddenly, a whisper snapped Zaid out of his reverie.

He turned and looked at the girl sitting next to him. For a moment, he felt his body tense up.

She was a young woman from a small town of unusual beauty. Fair-skinned, slightly tanned, with wavy black hair, deep-set eyes, and a strong presence—she was even a little muscular.

Anyone could tell she wasn’t wealthy.

But that didn’t scare him.

She had that blue-and-black snake he’d seen before, wrapped around her neck!

Zaid tried to speak, but his tongue got tied up and he couldn’t say a word.

Just then, the snake disappeared!

Zaid blinked. ’Huh? A-an illusion?’ he wondered. ’Am I going crazy?’

’It must be because I didn’t sleep last night.’ He shook his head to clear his mind.

At that moment, she shivered slightly. Zaid didn’t miss this.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, a little concerned.

Had that snake bitten her?

"Huh?" She was startled by his voice and looked up. They locked eyes for a moment before she looked back down at the floor. "N-no. It’s nothing," she replied.

Zaid nodded. ’I must be too tired,’ he thought. He decided to ignore what he had seen and looked straight ahead.

Luke was heading back to his seat at that moment. He and Zaid exchanged glances.

Zaid could see a strange anger radiating from the guy’s face, so he immediately understood what was going on.

’Oh, so you’re after this girl and she’s rejecting you, but you want to force yourself on her.’ Zaid laughed.

Just as you’d expect from the famous Luke Shawn. He has all these beauties falling for his false chivalry, while others simply slap him in the face.

Too bad this little girl can’t do the latter.

The teacher continued calling them up, one by one.