The enigmatic laughter faded from the depths of the forest… as though it had never existed in the first place.
As for Kim… he reclaimed his composure swiftly. In his old world, panic meant death, and undisciplined curiosity invited catastrophe. Therefore, he did not advance toward the source of the voice. He did not attempt to investigate. He showed absolutely no reaction.
He simply ignored it.
Just as a seasoned hunter ignores a minor rustle in the woods until the proper moment arrives.
> "Not now."
>
He whispered the words to himself, then continued his stride.
Elsewhere… the proctors inside the academy were tracking the examination through colossal magical mirrors. Hundreds of students. Dozens of battles. Monsters encroaching from every conceivable direction.
Yet, a single individual… was beginning to arrest the attention of certain professors. Not because he was the strongest, but because he was the strangest.
One of the professors remarked:
> "That commoner again."
>
A bald man glanced toward the mirror.
> "Which one?"
>
The professor pointed directly at Kim.
> "This one."
>
Kim's image materialized. Walking serenely. Not fighting. Not fleeing. Utilizing no magic whatsoever. Merely observing.
The bald professor frowned.
> "And what is so remarkable about that?"
>
The other professor smiled, then pointed to a secondary display showing a map of the forest, tracking the positions of both monsters and students.
He explained:
> "Observe him since his entry."
> "He has bypassed every high-tier monster."
> "He has selected the safest possible paths."
> "In fact, he evaded three distinct ambushes before they even transpired."
>
Silence fell over the room. The eyes of several professors narrowed.
> "Is he merely fortunate?"
> "No."
> "Fortunate once? Yes."
> "Twice? Plausible."
> "But ten consecutive times?"
>
He shook his head.
> "That is not fortune."
>
Elder Eldar, however, remained utterly silent. Observing. Just observing.
Meanwhile, Kim was traversing the heart of the forest. But the truth? He was far from wandering aimlessly.
Since the moment he stepped through the portal, he had been compiling data. Footprints. Remnants of skirmishes. The migration patterns of the beasts. The direction of the wind. Even the psychological behavior of the students.
Everything entered his mind. Everything became a distinct piece in a grander mosaic.
Then, he came to a sudden halt.
Before him flowed a narrow river, and on the opposite bank stood a congregation of students: five nobles and three commoners.
The commoners were laden with heavy bags, harvesting herbs, and performing the grueling labor, while the nobles sat idly, barking orders.
Kim approached silently and listened.
> "Hurry up, you filthy peasant!"
>
One of the nobles bellowed at a destitute youth.
> "Do you genuinely believe yourself our equal?"
>
The youth lowered his head, offering no rebuttal.
Kim let out a faint, subtle smile. Then, he sat beneath a nearby tree, appearing as nothing more than a casual passerby. He watched. He listened. He analyzed.
Within minutes, he understood the entire dynamic.
The leader of the faction—the blond noble—was reckless, arrogant, and obsessed with validation. The second was a blind subordinate. The third was a coward. As for the commoners? They had forfeited all hope a long time ago.
Kim smiled.
> *People are far easier to read than books sometimes.*
>
Suddenly, a massive gray wolf burst from the thicket.
One of the nobles leaped backward in absolute terror.
> "A monster!"
>
He hoisted his magic staff frantically, unleashing a torrent of fire. But consumed by his own dread, he missed the target entirely. In fact, he did worse.
The spell struck a massive tree near the river bank. The trunk began to tilt precariously, then crashed heavily over the solitary wooden bridge.
The bridge shattered, severing their only route of retreat.
A stunned silence fell, followed immediately by the frantic shouting of the nobles.
> "You absolute idiot!"
> "What have you done?!"
>
Kim, however, looked upon the spectacle with profound tranquility. Then, he smiled.
Because this… was precisely what he had been waiting for.
**A crisis.**
When a crisis manifests, the true architecture of a human is laid bare.
While everyone else engaged in bitter arguments, his eyes scanned the scene slowly. Calibrating their reactions. Their vulnerabilities. Their greed. Their fear. And their vanity.
Then, he whispered to himself:
> "Now…"
> "Let us see whom I shall utilize first."
>
> *"People do not reveal their true nature when things are going well… they reveal it when everything begins to fall apart."*
>