Runic test (4)–result...

  ----

  I sat back lazily in my seat, stretching my arms behind my head.

  The leather of the chair creaked faintly under my weight.

  The tension that clung to the others seemed almost laughable to me.

  Sip—

  'At least I have coffee.'

  I lifted the warm paper cup to my lips, letting the rich aroma fill my senses before taking another slow sip.

  The slightly bitter, slightly sweet taste spread across my tongue, offering a small comfort amidst the otherwise dull atmosphere.

  Around me, low murmurs filled the air like a buzzing swarm.

  "Hey, how did your test go?"

  "It was... okay, I guess."

  "The written part was brutal."

  "Yeah, and that dummy? Damn thing was way faster than I expected."

  "I barely managed to beat it. My bracelet almost broke!"

  "Do you think we’ll pass?"

  "Who knows? But even if we fail, we can just retake it. It’s not like it's the end of the world."

  The nervous laughter that followed sounded hollow.

  Some players sat on the edge of their seats, fidgeting anxiously.

  Others leaned back like me, feigning calm but betraying it with restless tapping fingers or bouncing legs.

  I, however, felt none of their anxiety.

  It didn’t matter to me whether others passed or failed.

  Their worries were their own burdens, not mine.

  I took another long, unhurried sip of my coffee, savoring the moment.

  The cup warmed my hand, and the faint clicking of a nearby clock served as background music to my quiet observation.

  And then—

  Clang—

  The heavy iron gate at the front of the waiting room swung open with a deep, mechanical groan.

  All conversations died instantly.

  Heads snapped toward the entrance like soldiers at attention.

  Instructor Hilton entered first, a stack of documents under his arm, followed closely by several other instructors.

  Their crisp uniforms and unreadable expressions only heightened the already tense atmosphere.

  The players leaned forward, their eyes wide with anticipation, fear, and hope.

  Hilton stopped at the front of the room, his posture straight and imposing.

  He scanned the room slowly, letting the silence stretch unbearably thin.

  Finally, he spoke.

  "Your results have been finalized."

  At his words, a collective breath was held.

  Then—

  Whirr—

  A soft mechanical sound, and above Hilton’s head, a large blue holographic screen flickered into existence.

  I tilted my head slightly and casually looked up.

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  On the screen, rows of information appeared — names, numbers, ranks.

  And then I spotted it.

  Test Taker No. 12.

  My ID.

  Right beside it, in bold, brilliant gold letters:

  [SSS+] - Pass

  A small flicker of player information sat underneath, but it didn’t matter.

  The rating itself was enough to outshine everything else.

  The highest possible grade.

  I stared at it for a moment, then smiled faintly to myself.

  Not out of surprise — no, I wasn’t surprised at all.

  I had known this would happen.

  When it comes to runes, no one here knows more than I do.

  The buzzing erupted a second later.

  "Damn it! I failed!" someone groaned, smacking their forehead in frustration.

  "Yes! I actually passed!" another player shouted, pumping their fist into the air.

  The room was suddenly alive with mixed reactions — elation, despair, relief, and jealousy all swirling together like a storm.

  Some players slumped back into their chairs with wide smiles, while others buried their faces in their hands.

  A few glanced around, trying to figure out who among them had achieved that impossible SSS+ score.

  But I simply continued sipping my coffee, watching it all unfold like a distant observer.

  "Congratulations to those who passed."

  Hilton’s voice boomed over the noise, restoring some order.

  "And for those who failed — don’t be disheartened. The test can be retaken. As many times as necessary."

  His words carried a weight of authority, but also a strange kindness.

  The players visibly relaxed, some letting out deep, relieved sighs.

  I leaned back comfortably in my chair, enjoying another long sip of the now slightly cooled coffee.

  "Either way, you're all dismissed." Hilton said with a curt nod.

  And just then—

  [Quest Cleared!]

  [Your rewards are being given…]

  Bright system messages flashed in front of my vision, accompanied by a soft chime.

  A small window popped up, showing icons of reward items, bonus points, and experience flowing toward me like a shower of light.

  The tension in the room began to lift, players standing up, stretching, and chatting excitedly as they prepared to leave.

  But even amidst all that noise, all that celebration and lamentation — I stayed quiet.

  I set my empty cup down on the side table, feeling the corners of my lips tug up slightly.

  ‘Well... things are finally getting interesting.’

  I thought to myself and stood up.

  "Test taker No. 12, please stay behind for a bit."

  Instructor Hilton's firm voice echoed through the room just as I was about to move.

  I paused, slightly puzzled, and turned to face him.

  "Why? Did something happen?"

  I asked, a faint crease forming between my brows.

  "Nothing serious." Hilton chuckled lightly. "I just want to have a few words with you."

  "Alright."

  I replied simply, shrugging.

  'What could it be?'

  I wondered silently, studying Hilton’s expression.

  He doesn’t seem to harbor any ill intentions.

  His face was practically glowing with excitement, his usual strict demeanor softened.

  If anything, he looked like a teacher proud of a student’s achievement.

  Soon, the last of the players filed out of the room, their chatter and footsteps fading away into silence.

  Only I, Hilton, and the few other instructors remained.

  They slowly approached me, forming a small semi-circle around where I stood.

  Hilton cleared his throat, adjusting his collar before speaking.

  "Your results were... truly exceptional."

  He said, his tone carrying a note of genuine admiration. "Because of that, we’ve decided to offer you a special reward."

  "Reward?"

  I tilted my head slightly, curiosity flickering in my eyes.

  "Yes, though it’s nothing too grand."

  Hilton chuckled modestly. "We can personally recommend you to the Principal."

  Suddenly, a bright blue notification appeared before me:

  [You are being offered a chance to evolve your class!]

  Hilton continued.

  "You’re really strong, and we can tell you have tremendous potential. If you accept, we’ll make sure you receive the best resources and environment to grow even further."

  Another notification followed quickly:

  [Class Evolution: Rune Apprentice! Do you accept?]

  I blinked, briefly stunned.

  Rune Apprentice.

  It was a significant upgrade from my current class, Rune Scribe.

  Not just that — the support of the academy’s instructors and the Principal would surely accelerate my growth, providing exclusive knowledge, training, and opportunities I wouldn't find elsewhere.

  A tempting offer.

  But—

  I already had plans of my own.

  I didn’t have time to stay here and slowly climb the ranks under someone else's guidance.

  And honestly, when it came to runes...

  There was little they could teach me that I didn’t already know.

  I met Hilton’s hopeful gaze and offered a polite smile.

  "Your offer is generous... but I must decline."

  I said firmly.

  There was a brief pause.

  The instructors exchanged glances.

  Hilton frowned slightly, clearly surprised — and a little reluctant.

  "Are you sure?"

  He pressed gently.

  "You might not realize it yet, but this is a rare opportunity. Very few ever receive such a chance."

  I could see the sincerity in his eyes.

  And he was right — for most, it would be a life-changing offer.

  But not for me.

  I shook my head lightly.

  "No. I've already made up my mind. There's something else I must pursue."

  Hilton exhaled heavily, a mixture of resignation and respect passing over his features.

  "Haa... I understand."

  He said at last, then smiled warmly.

  "Still, we can’t let you leave empty-handed. Please, accept these."

  He reached into his coat and pulled out two items, handing them over carefully.

  The first was a thick, leather-bound book adorned with intricate silver runic patterns.

  The second was a small, polished badge bearing the emblem of a hammer and anvil.

  Hilton gestured to the book first.

  "This is a runic book. Many of its pages are already inscribed with powerful runes you can use whenever you need."

  He explained.

  "There are also blank pages inside — you can inscribe your own runes there as you grow. Think of it like a portable arsenal."

  I flipped the book open briefly, feeling the faint magical hum from the runes etched into the pages.

  A runic book.

  A rare and valuable item.

  Similar to a runestone, but in scroll form — where you tore a page to activate the rune’s power.

  Hilton then pointed to the badge.

  "And this badge belongs to a blacksmith located on the 12th floor. If you show this to him, he’ll craft one item for you free of charge."

  He smiled a little sheepishly.

  "Though I haven’t visited him in a few years, but trust me — he’s an excellent blacksmith. He is also an expert in rune engraving on his creations. You can ask for his guidance."

  I nodded appreciatively and carefully stored both items into my inventory.

  "Thank you. I appreciate it."

  Hilton gave a final nod.

  "Remember, our offer remains open. Should you ever change your mind, the academy’s doors will always welcome you."

  "Got it. Thanks again."

  I gave a slight bow of gratitude and turned toward the door.

  The instructors watched me go in silence, their expressions a mixture of admiration and lingering regret.

  I exited the room, walking down the long, polished corridor.

  My footsteps echoed softly off the marble floors.

  Passing through the grand doors at the end, I finally stepped out into the open, breathing in the fresh air of the outside world.

  Just then, a new system notification appeared before my eyes:

  [Would you like to proceed to the next floor?]

  A smile tugged at the corners of my lips.

  "Yes."

  I said without hesitation.

  Immediately, a countdown began.

  [Teleportation begins in 10 seconds…]

  A swirl of brilliant blue light began to gather around my body.

  It wrapped around me like a cocoon, growing brighter and brighter until my vision was completely consumed.

  While climbing floors, there are certain rules.

  [Please remain still during teleportation!]

  One should not move or take damage for certain seconds.

  [9, 8, 7......]

  one should not be in battle.

  [5, 4, 3.........]

  And lastly one should be in unrestricted area.

  Restricted areas are those from where you can't teleport to other floors such as this rune academy.

  [2, 1, 0.....!]

  The world around me blurred and distorted.

  I felt a strange floating sensation, like being caught in the eye of a storm.

  And then—

  Flash!

  The light faded, and my feet touched solid ground once more.

  My vision cleared to reveal a completely new scene.

  [You have arrived at the 2nd Floor!]

  Before me stretched a vibrant town, bustling with life.

  Tall, colorful buildings lined cobbled streets.

  Merchants hawked their goods at busy stalls, and adventurers in armor and robes moved about purposefully.

  Unlike the first floor, which had felt more like a training ground or a simulation, this place was alive — a true starting point for real journeys.

  From here on out, the real adventure was about to begin.