Chapter 14: The Summit
Kai and the spear user attacked simultaneously.
A sword from the front.
A spear from the side.
The distance between them vanished in an instant.
Vee's mind raced.
"If I block Kai..."
"The spear hits."
"If I dodge the spear..."
"Kai cuts me down."
There was only one option left.
A skill he had never used before.
A skill born from his battle with the Crimson Flame Lion...
And strengthened by the blessing of the God of Life.
His mana surged violently.
The System reacted.
---
SKILL AWAKENED
Super Flash (Lv. 1)
Description: Compresses mana into the legs, allowing the user to burst forward at blinding speed for a short duration.
Warning: High mana consumption.
---
Vee grinned.
"...Perfect."
Blue lightning crackled around his feet.
Kai's eyes narrowed.
The spear user's smile widened.
"What now?"
Vee bent his knees.
"Sorry, gentlemen..."
"...I'm choosing life."
SUPER FLASH!
BOOOOM!!
The ground exploded beneath him.
A streak of blue light shot between Kai and the spear user before either could react.
Both attacks struck empty air.
Kai's sword sliced through nothing.
The spear pierced only the wind.
"...!"
The spear user's eyes widened.
"He's fast!"
Vee didn't stop.
He sprinted through the forest like a bolt of lightning.
Trees blurred past him.
The countdown ticked lower.
00:09:54
"I am not failing this exam because you two are battle addicts!"
His laughter echoed through the forest.
A minute later...
The trees parted.
Bright sunlight flooded his vision.
Stone steps appeared before him.
At the top...
The Academy Summit.
Vee climbed the final step and exhaled deeply.
"...Finally."
He placed both hands on his knees.
"...What a day."
A familiar voice spoke behind him.
"What a way to end a fight."
Vee froze.
He slowly turned.
Kai stood a few meters away, completely calm.
"...You followed me?"
Kai shrugged.
"You reached the summit."
"So did I."
A second laugh echoed nearby.
"And don't forget me."
The spear user walked up the last few steps, resting his spear across his shoulders as if he hadn't just sprinted through an entire mountain.
He stopped in front of Vee.
"That was disappointing."
Vee blinked.
"...For who?"
"For me."
"You escaped."
He pointed his spear at Vee.
"You owe me a fight."
Vee immediately shook his head.
"I owe you absolutely nothing."
"You ran."
"I passed the exam."
"You avoided combat."
"I demonstrated excellent survival instincts."
The spear user folded his arms.
"...Coward."
Vee placed a hand over his heart.
"I prefer the term 'strategically alive.'"
A few nearby students burst into laughter.
The spear user sighed.
"...You're impossible."
"So I've been told."
The young man smiled.
"By the way..."
"I suppose I should introduce myself."
He gave a small, confident bow.
"I am Prince Leon Valerian."
Vee's eyes widened.
"...Another royal?"
Leon smirked.
"You sound disappointed."
"I was hoping I'd met my yearly quota already."
Leon laughed loudly.
"I like you."
"I'm still not fighting you."
"We'll see."
Before their banter could continue—
"Vee."
The three turned.
Princess Aurelia walked onto the summit beside Luna, her black-haired companion.
The moment she saw Vee...
A warm smile spread across her face.
"There you are."
Vee smiled back and waved.
"Made it."
"I can see that."
Leon looked from Aurelia...
To Vee...
Then back again.
A mischievous grin slowly appeared on his face.
"So..."
"The princess has a thing for you, huh?"
Vee nearly choked.
"What?!"
Aurelia blinked before lightly rolling her eyes.
Leon continued teasing.
"I've known Aurelia for years."
"She doesn't smile at many people like that."
Vee immediately placed a hand against Leon's face and gently pushed him away.
"We're just friends."
Leon kept talking even as his face was being pushed sideways.
"Mmph... That's what they all say..."
"No."
Vee replied firmly.
"We're."
"Just."
"Friends."
Aurelia covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Luna quietly watched the exchange.
A tiny smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
For the first time since arriving at the Academy...
The future heroes of the kingdom stood together.
None of them realized...
Within a few short years...
Their names would shake the entire continent.
Chapter 14: The Forgotten Prince
The summit gradually became crowded.
One after another, students emerged from the forest.
Some walked proudly, barely showing signs of fatigue.
Others limped toward the finish line, covered in scratches and dirt.
A few collapsed the moment they crossed the boundary, breathing heavily after narrowly surviving the examination.
Academy staff quickly moved among them, healing the injured and recording the names of those who had passed.
The enormous stone plaza buzzed with conversations.
"I thought I was going to die."
"Did you see that giant bear?"
"I lost my entire team halfway through."
"I can't believe we actually made it."
Vee sat on the edge of a stone railing, happily eating the bread a servant had handed him.
"...Best bread I've ever tasted."
Leon laughed.
"You say that because you're starving."
"I stand by my statement."
Kai stood several meters away, leaning against a pillar with his eyes closed.
As usual...
He ignored everyone.
Aurelia and Luna chatted quietly nearby.
For the first time since the examination had begun...
Everyone finally had a chance to breathe.
---
Vee's eyes wandered across the crowd.
Students from noble families.
Commoners.
Foreign exchange students.
Even a few beastkin.
Then...
His gaze stopped.
"...Hm?"
Standing near the edge of the plaza was someone much shorter than everyone else.
A boy.
Perhaps no taller than Vee's shoulder.
Brown hair.
Golden eyes.
Small but well-built.
A beautifully crafted hammer rested on his back.
He looked completely overwhelmed by the crowd.
Whenever someone walked too close...
He instinctively took a step backward.
"A dwarf..."
Vee's eyes widened slightly.
Then memories surfaced.
"That's him..."
"The Forgotten Prince."
In the original story...
Almost nobody paid attention to the quiet dwarf during the entrance examination.
He wasn't famous for combat.
He wasn't considered a genius.
Many nobles even mocked him because of his height.
But years later...
He would create one of the greatest inventions in history.
A weapon that would completely change warfare across the continent.
Kings would compete for his loyalty.
Empires would fear his genius.
"And everyone ignored him..."
Vee stood up immediately.
Leon noticed.
"Where are you going?"
"I'll be back."
Without another explanation, Vee walked straight toward the dwarf.
---
The dwarf noticed someone approaching.
His shoulders stiffened.
"Is he coming over here?"
"Did I do something wrong?"
"Maybe I'm standing where I shouldn't..."
He quietly lowered his head.
Vee stopped in front of him.
"Hi."
"...H-Hello."
The dwarf's voice was barely louder than a whisper.
"My name's Vee."
The dwarf blinked.
"...M-My name..."
"...is Borin."
Vee smiled.
"It's nice to meet you, Borin."
The dwarf looked confused.
"...Y-You're..."
"...not making fun of me?"
Vee frowned.
"Why would I?"
"My height."
Vee looked him up and down.
"...You know..."
"You're actually taller than my expectations."
Borin's eyes widened.
Then...
A tiny laugh escaped him.
"You... tell strange jokes."
"So I've been told."
The atmosphere relaxed almost instantly.
Vee noticed the hammer on Borin's back.
"You're a blacksmith?"
Borin nodded enthusiastically.
"I love making things."
"Weapons."
"Armor."
"Machines."
His eyes lit up.
"I even have ideas for inventions..."
"...though no one really listens."
Vee's expression became serious.
"I would."
Borin froze.
"...Really?"
"Of course."
"I think inventors change the world."
For a brief moment...
Borin simply stared at him.
No one had ever said those words to him before.
Not even among his own people.
A small smile slowly appeared on his face.
"Thank you."
---
"Vee!"
Before Vee could continue...
Thunk!
Something lightly knocked against the back of his head.
"Ow!"
He turned around.
Princess Aurelia stood behind him with her hands on her hips.
She looked at him with mock disapproval.
"What are you doing?"
Vee rubbed the back of his head.
"Talking?"
She glanced at Borin.
Then back at Vee.
Her expression became dramatically serious.
"Bullying this cute prince?"
Vee blinked.
"...Prince?"
Borin turned bright red.
"P-Princess..."
"P-Please don't..."
Aurelia giggled.
She gently placed a hand on Borin's shoulder.
"Everyone."
She looked toward the nearby students who had begun watching.
"This is Prince Borin Ironforge."
"The youngest prince of the Dwarven Kingdom."
Gasps spread through the plaza.
"A prince?"
"The dwarves sent royalty?"
"I had no idea..."
Borin looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.
Vee frowned at Aurelia.
"I wasn't bullying him."
"I know."
She smiled teasingly.
"But your face looked so serious."
"I had to interrupt."
Vee sighed.
"You really enjoy causing me problems."
"I prefer the word 'entertainment.'"
Leon, who had wandered over unnoticed, crossed his arms with a grin.
"I don't know..."
"From where I was standing..."
"It definitely looked like bullying."
Vee pointed at him.
"You stay out of this."
"No."
Luna quietly covered her mouth, hiding a small laugh.
Even Kai opened one eye for a brief second before closing it again.
Vee looked around.
"...Why does everyone always assume I'm the problem?"
Aurelia smiled innocently.
"Because it's funny."
Vee dramatically looked toward the sky.
"I miss my mother."
That made Borin laugh properly for the first time all day.
The sound surprised even him.
Vee looked at the shy prince and smiled.
"Good."
"The story may have ignored you..."
"But I won't."
Some people changed history with a sword.
Others with magic.
And some...
With nothing more than a hammer and an idea.
Vee had a feeling that one day, the quiet dwarf standing before him would become one of the greatest names the continent had ever known.
And this time...
He wouldn't have to walk that path alone.
To be continued