“A blind person taking the academy entrance exam?”

What an absurd notion.

Did we even prepare a braille test sheet?

Of course not. Who would’ve thought a disabled person would attempt to become a hunter?

There was no room for accommodations.

This was the Korean Hunter Academy, renowned for having the strictest standards in the world. Not only was it difficult to pass the requirements, but the very environment itself never considered the needs of the disabled.

Hunters faced dangerous, grueling tasks.

From the moment they set foot inside the tower, their lives were on the line. They had to fight monstrous enemies, witness the deaths of their comrades, and sometimes even stand at the brink of death themselves.

Even among the awakened, many chose to hide their abilities and live normal lives instead of embracing this perilous reality. No matter how great the rewards, the risk to their mental well-being and their very lives was no trivial matter.

And yet, a blind girl had waltzed into the academy, aiming to become a hunter.

A 12-year-old elementary schooler, no less.

“Yes. And she even brought a guide dog with her. White fur, short tail—pretty cute, actually.”

“Idiot. Your job was to tell examinees that animals aren’t allowed in the test site, not to admire how cute the dog is.”

“Well, she was already registered, and all the proper procedures were followed. And the dog—man, it was smart. When the girl told it to wait, it didn’t move an inch.”

“She should’ve been eliminated on paperwork. How did she even make it to the written test?”

“I looked into it. She was admitted under Professor Park Hangyeol’s recommendation.”

“The Flame of Majesty? Fine, let’s say she got in properly. But how the hell is she supposed to take the test? If she can’t see, she can’t read the questions, let alone answer them.”

“Well… maybe she’s an awakened with some kind of sensory skill? She’s definitely blind, but she walks perfectly fine and moves naturally. I doubt Professor Park would recommend her without a reason.”

“This is ridiculous. A blind 12-year-old taking the hunter academy entrance exam. I’ve worked here for 12 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this.”

“Exactly. If she passes, she’ll be the youngest academy student in history.”

“She won’t pass. There aren’t any braille textbooks, so how could she have studied? And this year, the heir of the Grand Ten Thousand Tower is applying. The professors made the test exceptionally difficult to block them out. What chance does a 12-year-old have? She’ll be eliminated immediately.”

The Grand Ten Thousand Tower.

A transnational research institution established by Europe’s hunter associations, royalty, and academic institutions. A towering symbol of Europe’s prominence in the global hunter community, built in the image of the tower itself.

Its master was a national power-ranked hunter known as the Omnigod, an adversary to the Martial God who founded the Korean Hunter Academy.

For some time, the heir of the Grand Ten Thousand Tower had been making headlines, announcing their intent to enroll in the Korean Academy. This stirred the academy’s faculty into high alert.

The professors had painstakingly designed the test to maintain the academy’s prestige. The stakes were clear—this was a battle of institutional pride.

The Grand Ten Thousand Tower wanted its heir to claim the top spot at the world’s most prestigious hunter academy, reinforcing its reputation as the foremost hunter institution.

If successful, it would be akin to planting a landmark in enemy territory.

On the other hand, the academy couldn’t allow the heir to waltz in easily. They needed to prove that even the Grand Ten Thousand Tower’s greatest prodigy was just another applicant here.

“Are you talking about Arkeana?”

“Yes. I thought it was just a rumor, but who knew they’d actually show up? A genius raised by Europe’s most powerful research lab, choosing to enroll here. No wonder the professors went all out designing the exam. How does a blind kid expect to solve these questions? This is the hardest test in history.”

“Yeah, I think Professor Park made a mistake. Why would he waste his recommendation—one that each professor can only use once—on a kid like that?”

“No clue. But thanks to his recommendation, at least she got a chance to take the written exam. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have even been accepted.”

Doubt. Dismissal. Pity.

No one expected anything from the blind girl.

Such was the academy’s prestige.

The income gap between certified and uncertified hunters was astronomical. Graduates of the academy were guaranteed power and fame, often becoming elite climbers of the tower.

Meanwhile, uncertified hunters were usually left scraping the bottom, risking their lives in menial battles with little reward.

They fell on the lower floors, perished in meaningless fights, and struggled in a world that barely recognized them as hunters at all.

The Korean Hunter Academy was the world’s tallest, narrowest gateway.

Only those who passed through it survived in the tower, and they became the very embodiment of power and authority.

Here, a young girl wearing black sunglasses was nothing but an object of ridicule and pity.

But they didn’t know.

That blind girl was a master of cheating.

The age range varied.

There were no other elementary schoolers like me, but the test site was filled with examinees ranging from late teens to people in their 40s and 50s.

Each had their own stories and motivations written across their faces.

A middle-aged man gripping his pen with determination.

A young man whose hands trembled from nerves.

An older woman furrowing her brows as she stared at the test paper.

Honestly,

It was surprising to see so many older individuals taking the hunter academy exam.

The dangers of entering the tower were no small matter.

These were people who had likely been part of the workforce for years, yet here they were, willing to start over in this perilous profession.

Perhaps it was inspiring.

Or maybe it was just desperation.

Then again, they were probably just as shocked to see me.

A literal child sitting in the same exam hall, taking the same test.

They didn’t say anything, but their expressions spoke volumes.

‘Who is this kid?’

‘Is this a joke? She wants to be a hunter?’

‘She’s younger than my daughter.’

I could feel their gazes through Ideation, filled with curiosity, doubt, and mild discomfort.

Lowering my head slightly, I adjusted my sunglasses, shielding my face from their scrutiny.

Discrimination was always unpleasant.

Disabled people had an uncanny ability to pick up on the subtle tensions in a room.

Ding—!

The test began, and the room grew tense.

The soft rustling of papers filled the air, punctuated by the scratch of pens against paper.

But most of the examinees simply clutched their foreheads and sighed heavily.

The questions must have been brutal.

Confusion and anxiety spread across their faces.

• Analyze the thermodynamic mechanics behind magically activated Arcane Flames.
  
  

• Identify the correct neurophysiological impact of Craviolax’s antigenic protein on the human nervous system.
  
  

• The following passage is an excerpt from the 2032 Tower Crisis Response Treaty (TCRT). Identify the false statement.
  
  

• The first World Boss, [Source of All Evil], appeared in New York, prompting the creation of the World Boss Emergency Accord (WBEA). Identify which provision is NOT included in this treaty.
  
  
  

I had no idea what any of this meant.

I simply lowered my gaze and twirled my pencil between my fingers.

It spun fluidly, flicking between my fingertips like a seasoned street performer’s trick.

Studying had never been part of my life.

As a blind person, traditional academics were never something I considered.

The very idea of attending the academy had never even crossed my mind.

Yet here I was, sitting in this exam hall.

All I had were my sunglasses and my cheating eyes.

‘Well, that’s all I need.’

While I sat idly, the other examinees scribbled frantically.

Some stared blankly at the test, gripping their hair in frustration.

Others turned their pages aggressively, their ears burning red with stress.

Pitiful.

But one person stood out.

Dressed neatly, with unkempt but scholarly hair, the kind of student who exuded ‘model student’ energy.

Even their glasses screamed overachiever.

They breezed through the exam without hesitation, filling out answers with confident strokes.

‘Oh. Now that’s a proper nerd.’

Target acquired.

From behind my sunglasses, I activated my ability.

The test paper in front of the student was crystal clear to me.

Every answer was carefully written in flawless, textbook-perfect handwriting.

‘Perfect.’

Grinning to myself, I began copying their answers.

Until—

I hesitated on the last page.

‘Should I get one wrong on purpose?’

If I copied everything too perfectly, it would be too obvious.

So, I intentionally wrote one answer incorrectly.

Just enough to make it look natural.

‘That should put me above the passing line.’

Once the written test ended, we moved straight to the practical exam.

I sat on a bench with Hayangi, waiting in line.

There were so many examinees that we had to queue for our turn.

[From what I hear, they use advanced technology to grade the tests instantly. The practical exam this afternoon will be the real deciding factor for admissions. Are you prepared?]

“Prepared? Well….”

Before I could answer, my stomach let out a loud growl.

It wasn’t deafening, but because I had Ideation active, the sound was amplified in my own head.

Grrrrooowl.

[Ah. You haven’t eaten, have you?]

“Yeah. Man, I’m starving.”

Saying it out loud made it worse.

I had been so focused on the exam that I completely forgot to eat.

‘Crap. I don’t have any money either.’

I reached into my pockets, only to find them completely empty.

‘If only Achilles hadn’t destroyed my house….’

The battle with the World Boss had turned my entire room into rubble.

Not that I had much money to begin with, living off government assistance.

“What do I do now?”

Grrrrooowl.

Another stomach growl.

Sighing, I suddenly remembered.

“Oh, right.”

I reached into my inventory and pulled out a small plastic pouch.

Inside was a shimmering purple powder.

20 grams of Magic Stone Powder.

My reward for clearing the first floor of the tower.

It looked like nothing more than sparkling dust, but it contained pure tower energy—a valuable commodity.

If I sold it, I’d have enough for a decent meal.

“I just need to find a place to sell this.”

I clutched the pouch, weighing my options.

There were trading posts where I could exchange it for cash, but I had no idea where to find one.

And if I left to sell it, I might miss my turn for the practical exam.

“What a dilemma.”

At that moment—

“The practical exam will be conducted in order of written test scores.”

Silence fell over the waiting area.

Everyone turned their attention to the test administrator.

“So, those with the highest scores will go first and finish early, meaning they can grab lunch faster?”

[Hah. As if you, who didn’t study at all, would score high enough for that. Don’t get your hopes up—focus on making up for it in the practical exam. That’s why I taught you how to use Ideation.]

He had a point, so I nodded.

I had cheated, but I wasn’t expecting much.

After all, what were the odds that my target had answered everything correctly?

Even though this academy attracted geniuses from all over the world, I was satisfied as long as I scored high enough to pass. Besides, I had intentionally answered a few questions incorrectly.

“The OMR card grading has just been completed. The first examinee to proceed with the practical exam is…”

All eyes turned toward the model student I had copied from.

“That must be Arkeana…”

“Wow, they seriously look like a top student.”

“Of course, the heir of the Grand Ten Thousand Tower would be first.”

“The Omnigod’s disciple. Their level is completely different from ours.”

“This entrance exam was ridiculously hard thanks to them.”

“This is the worst possible generation of applicants, with all these prodigies competing.”

So that model student was actually a big deal.

‘Oh, I guess I picked the right target. If my score is high, I can take the practical test early and go eat.’

There was no way I’d be first, though.

Completely relaxed, I idly petted Hayangi as I waited for the next name to be called.

Her fur was warm and soft.

But when my name was announced—

I nearly dropped the Magic Stone Powder in my hand.

“The first examinee for the practical exam is Erniaan Ludwig, who scored a perfect score on the written test. Please proceed to the exam hall immediately.”

Silence.

Not even murmurs. Not even breaths.

Then, someone gulped audibly, and suddenly, the entire room erupted in whispers.

“A perfect score? What? Someone got a perfect score?”

“The top scorer isn’t Arkeana?”

“That kid—when they had that argument at the reception, I remember hearing the name Erniaan… No way…”

“Erniaan? That’s a Western name. Are they a foreign student?”

“I heard they were recommended by Professor Park Hangyeol.”

“But how does a disabled person get a perfect score…?”

Shock and disbelief.

Disbelieving stares filled with suspicion, confusion, and outright incredulity shot toward me like arrows.

I adjusted my sunglasses, keeping my eyes closed.

‘Damn, I didn’t expect this. How did this happen? The answers I intentionally got wrong must have been correct after all.’

Achilles chuckled beside me.

[Your name is being etched into history. Do not be ashamed.]

“…Still, being first place is a bit much. It’s overwhelming.”

Black sunglasses.

A small frame.

A guide dog with a disability assistance tag.

To them, it must have looked like the most ridiculous sight in the world.

A 12-year-old blind girl had just achieved the first perfect score in academy history.

I entered the practical exam hall.

A vast, empty space.

The floor was made of reinforced stone and metal, solid and unyielding. The walls were marked with countless scratches and battle scars.

The examiner stood before me, their deep eyes filled with an intensity akin to a wounded beast.

They looked like they knew how to fight.

“For the practical evaluation, we will assess your ability to wield Ideation.”