The Novel's Professor

Guile stared at Arcuied's back, watching the snowy white haired student step forward to the portal — vanishing along with his teammates.

Guile nodded, satisfied. He shifted his attention to the room, staring at the swarm of students. He narrowed his eyes as he smiled.

Good, they were all filled with ambition and impatience.

"Alright, next group." Guile shouted, his arms crossing over his chest. "Team Eugene! come forward!"

Hearing the name, all the students immediately distanced from each other — forming a straight line in the middle of the room. It did not matter whether they were a noble or a civilian. They obediently took a step back and shifted their attention to Eugene.

... None would dare to disrespect a Pendragon after all. In a Kingdom where the nobles were the absolute forces — disrespecting one of the largest noble houses was akin to a death sentence of eternity.

In the line, a thin, handsome blonde haired man nonchalantly walked through. Each and every of his movements showed grace and pride. Behind him, three other students followed.

The first student was a burly man with rough features. He looked like a towering hulk with his unnaturally large body and arms. His face grinned, liking the attention.

In contrast, the second student was a thin man with average features. There was nothing noteworthy about him except for the red ruby ornament ring on his hand. His head lowered, feeling nervous from the attention.

The third student had the most similarity with Eugene — unlike the brutish features of the first, nor the common pathetic show of the second — the third student was a beautiful female teen with elegant mannerisms. Her head was raised arrogantly as she followed.

"Leader Eugene?" Guile asked, staring at the approaching students.

Eugene nodded with a smirk as he stepped forward to the portal, his body vanishing.

Guile nodded in acknowledgement, his hand raising as he called out once more. "Ali Grimstone. Warringson Humba. Veena Grace. Go forward."

The thin, nervous student — Ali was startled from the sudden noise. His eyes shifted to Guile, realizing he was being called. He hastily nodded as he followed after Eugene.

Behind him, the burly giant student chuckled in jeer mockery.

The burly giant student, Warringson, proudly stepped forward, his grin widening as he looked at the portal. In everyone's gaze, his body vanished from the room.

The charming female student, Veena, nodded as she walked to the portal. At that moment, all of Team Eugene had been transported to the dimension.

"Alright, let's hurry this up." Guile yawned, his head shaking. "Group Amber! Come!"

As soon as the words dropped, graceful and light footsteps echoed in the room. Everyone's eyes shifted to the line in the middle — staring at the thin, beautiful student that has black hair.

Amber Hong, the daughter of the world's richest man.

In the same respect as Eugene, all the students quieted down. The Hong family — in comparison was not at all a pure noble family by any means. It was a civilian family at the start that rose to become nobility. But from the sheer power and authority the Hong family has, they might as well be considered as such.

Nobility was just a status of power and authority. And The Hong Family had all of that.

Amber nodded. She stopped for a moment as she glanced at Guile.

"Amber, go on ahead." Guile said with a smile. He waved his hand. "Good luck little missy, your father is watching after all."

Even though Guile's voice was small, the contents of the message resounded through everyone in the room. In that instant, everyone's mind turned into a flurry. Amber's father was not just the richest man — he was also the guild leader of the strongest guild in the world.

If such a person was watching, then..

At that moment, the smart students in the room formed of theory in themselves. They raised their head, their eyes darting around the room... Perhaps there were more guild leaders watching.

Amber frowned, her lips pursing. Shaking her head, she stepped forward to the portal.

"Shao Lu, Eimi and Heidi." Guile called out. "Go ahead."

In the line, a thin man with sharp eyes followed. Next was a beautiful noblewoman. Finally, the last was a burly female student with large eyes.

Respectively, Shao Lu, Eimi and Heidi.

"Alright, time for the next." Guile nodded, satisfied. He stared at the smartwatch, his expression turning into a grimace. "Team Kojiro! come over here."

"Oh? My turn already?" A nonchalant voice resounded in the room.

Everyone immediately shifted their attention to where the voice came from. In the middle of the room, a thin and frail figure walked. Behind the figure, three other students followed.

"Kojiro!" Guile shouted, his arms crossed over his chest. "Hurry up!"

"Relax, chief." Kojiro answered, chuckling. He nudged his hand, grabbing the handle of the sword at his waist. He slowly approached the portal, sighing. "It's hard to walk in my state, you know?"

Guile frowned.

"The day I believe an elite member of the Murasaki family would slow down would be the same day I turn senile." Guile sighed deeply. "Also, you do know that Regend is also watching this?"

Hearing his words, Kojiro's eyes widened in disbelief. His body shuddered. He muttered: ".. Wh-what?! That old geezer is watching?!"

Behind him, a green-haired student appeared.

"Okay, up you go, Leader~" Xiao hummed, his hand pushing Kojiro to the portal.

"Huh? huh?" Kojiro felt a sudden force push him. His body was shoved to the portal, slowly being distorted as he disappeared. Before he completely vanished, he shouted:

"Xiaooooo...."

Kojiro's voice slowly disappeared as his body vanished from the portal, transported to the dimension.

Guile widened his eyes, surprised. He stared at the manic green-haired student, sighing as he shook his head.

"... What?" Xiao asked, feeling the stares of everybody directed at him. Did he do something wrong?

"Xiao! Why did you push our Leader?!" Beside Xiao, a brown haired student shouted. "D—"

"Stop the scuffle and just enter the portal." Guile said. "Xiao, Fallio, and Venice. Enter."

Xiao looked at the brown haired student, shrugging in response as he nonchalantly entered the portal.

The brown haired student, Fallio  — stretched his hand to Xiao, withdrawing it as he sighed. A hand suddenly patted his shoulder, comforting him.

"There, there, Fallio." Venice comforted. "They're troublesome to deal with, but their capabilities are real~"

"...That is true." Fallio nodded, his arm brushing off Venice's hand. He walked to the portal. Venice chuckled, following her teammates as she vanished along with them.

"Now, Team Elysa!" Guile shouted. "Also, Team Ruby. Along with Team Grisaia. Enter the portal in succession."

—

Inside a dimension of ruin, a colossal vast maze formed by obsidian rock surrounded most of the land. The maze had several entrances — all leading to various areas with diverse sceneries.

Outside, several instructors wearing formal attire stood at the entrance, blocking the path. In front of them, the swarm of students waited impatiently as all of them held their weapons tightly.

"This stuffy air..." Arcuied muttered. He gripped the sword on his back in instinct. He felt it. Inside the maze, groups of demons waited for them. "...This really is a demon dimension. I never thought the Academy could get a hold of one."

"Did you say something?" Sophia asked. In her hand, she held a long icy blue sycthe. "Leader Arc? "

"Hm?" Arcuied snapped out of his thoughts, shifting his attention to Sophia. He stared at her for a while before shaking his head. He answered. "It's nothing."

"Are you sure?" Sophia frowned.

Arcuied opened his mouth. However, before he could speak — a loud shout suddenly resounded in the dimension, startling him as his body staggered.

Every student was the same — the sheer earth rupturing echo of the shout made their body stagger. They shifted their head to where the shout came from, staring at the bald headed figure at the front.

The bald headed figure exuded an intimidating aura. He wore a formal attire, black suit and a black tie. Thick black sunglasses were plastered on his face, covering his eyes.

Even with the glasses, all the students could still feel the figure's sharp gaze. Making their body stand up properly.

Behind the bald headed figure, several other figures followed, wearing the same formal attire.

"First Years!" The bald headed figure shouted, his hand on his back. "I am the Deputy Head of Security, Larkinson Silver, responsible of keeping you students alive. Any of your deaths and lives reflect on our performance."

The students frowned, thinking of their possible deaths.

"Worry not. Before the test started, the academy installed an application on your smartwatch." Larkinson continued.

In that moment, countless beeps rang throughout the dimension. Arcuied stared at the smartwatch on his wrist. A hologram popped out, showing a long list of rules.

"This application would help you with any of your questions... and most importantly, your survival," Larkinson said, his expression stern. "In the moment of near death, a special feature would activate on the watch and help you hold out temporarily until we arrive. Keep safe of your smartwatch, the moment it malfunctions — we no longer hold the safety of your life. However, this feature could be activated in advance too. The app teaches you to do that."

Arcuied nodded, his eyes staring at the application... There was also a demon logo plastered on the app — he pressed it. At that moment, the hologram changed to a bounty list of demons.

"...However, this feature could also be activated in advance. By calling out a special command on your smartwatch, the security would automatically be sent to your way." Lark continued. "It is also important to note that the moment security arrives to help you — you are no longer able to participate in the exam. Therefore, disqualified for the rest of the week."

All the students nodded, listening intently. It was an emergency button.

"Also...for the last one," Lark paused, his hand removing the black sunglasses in his eyes. In that moment, his face was exposed — his eyes were depthless black in color, while his pupils were crimson red like the red sun.

Lark continued, staring at the students menacingly. "We can see everything. So for your feuds and rivalries... keep them from staining your hands with bloodshed."

All the students shuddered, feeling an invisible force press them down.

Arcuied frowned. Deputy Head Lark most likely meant that they could see any attempt to murder or backstab inside the mention. If there ever was something similar, he would stop it on his own.

"Thats all," Lark concluded, his back turning. "Now, First Years. Go wild."

In that moment, every group of students eyed one of the entrances of the maze — without hesitation, they ran, creating a stampede as they entered the vast maze.