Artificial Fantasy

Chapter 159: Unknown Realm

[A few minutes ago with Zale...]

[Event Quests]. It's a new type of [Quest] added to <Isekai Online> as part of the new [Monarch of Light] expansion. While random events do happen from time to time in the game, some can be triggered based on your current [Quest]. Unlike the former, they're affected based on the player's actions and interactions with the important NPC. But I heard that kid's name from those teachers just now. Why are they talking about him? And this notification...

[NOTICE]

[A new event related to the [Crystal Academy Entrance Exam] has been activated.]

I have a bad feeling about this. I know I'm not supposed to participate as a proctor for this exam, but I can't let those guys ruin it for those boys. Without losing my cool, I move closer to the door frame to hear their conversation a bit clearly.

[This is bad. The young lord is supposed to get the guaranteed seat in the top class for this school year. However, he's complaining that a young mage adventurer is stealing his spotlight, and by the looks of it, a skilled magician himself,] one of the teachers with brown unkempt hair said.

[We can't afford to lose our place in this academy. Without his parents, how would we be able to continue our careers if we don't put young <Calzi> in [Arcana Class]?] Another with black combed hair said in concern.

[Then we have no choice. We have to put Participant No. 18 in his place to ensure Calzi's seat.]

The black-haired teacher's eyes widen in shock. [Hang on, isn't that going too far? I thought we're not supposed to rig the young lord's test results for the exam, let alone rig the adventurer's.]

[We're not. But I heard there's going to be a battle test as the last phase of the exam. I've gone ahead and 'altered' one of the [Armored Puppets] so it's strong enough to beat that adventurer, but not too strong to kill him. This way, he will fail the test no matter what he does. He's not allowed to use his [Familiar], and even if he's really an [Insignis] who passed his [Sign Creation Ceremony], he's also not allowed to use his [Signs]. I'm sure once he faces the altered puppet, it's all over for him.]

Participant No. 18... That must be one of the boys' numbers. So they're trying to rig the test so they could lose, huh? Like hell I will let them! I didn't even wait for a [Quest Notice] to pop up as I cast my spell behind their backs.

"Unda, heed my call. Turn the drops into threads and bind my foes." Waterdrops appear around me as they turned into threads with some gathered and fused into two large water whips. "[Water Weave]!"

With more "limbs" to work with, I quickly grab the teachers before they could sense my mana and bind their limbs by turning some of the water whips into ice.

[What the f- What is this?!]

As usual, my spells never fail. This gives me a chance to confront them head-on without any conflict in the hallway or office.

"It's okay. I'm just here to ask some questions," I declare with a smirk.

[A-Assistant Zale?! Why are you here?!]

[Aren't you supposed to be helping out the proctors for the entrance exam?!] Another asks in horror.

"Save your acting. I know you somehow rigged the final phase of the exam to make one of the participants lose," I sternly say. "Unless you want to be executed for going against the law of the academy."

Both corrupt teachers gasp at my threat as expected. Figures there would be some bad apples in the academy willing to help certain privileged do anything and everything to ace their exams, even at cost to more deserving, hard-working students who earned the good marks.