I Escaped the Exile Story Only To Find It Was a Regret Trope

21 – 4# S-Class Promotion Exam (1)

A heavy silence weighed down the training ground.

It was an atmosphere incomparable to when Baek Yushin and Selena had dueled before.

Of course, it had to be.

The S-Class is fundamentally different from other classes.

Unlike the general classes, the S-Class is the only one that exists across all grades.

This was due to the principal’s educational policy. In short, it was similar to the rotten apple theory.

Like the theory of a rotten apple that can make other apples rot.

Conversely, the argument was that good apples have a positive influence on each other when kept together.

For that reason, Principal Ban Serin gathered promising geniuses in Class S, regardless of their grade.

And this also became the reason why very few students could enter Class S.

If by any chance a rotten apple got in, the entire Class S could rot.

Usually, the number of students challenging the Class S promotion exam is at most five, and the average number is only three. In the original work, there were three when Baek Yushin challenged it.

‘No, rather, this is good.’

Hyunwoo barely held onto his shaking mentality. Anyway, Baek Yushin had been a target for a long time.

Nevertheless, the only reason Hyunwoo hadn’t attacked Baek Yushin until now was to eliminate any possible variables.

But now, there are no such variables.

Rather, he thought he would show the clear difference in level in this Class S promotion exam.

Until Principal Ban Serin appeared in front of them and announced the topic of the Class S promotion exam.

Soon, a strange mirror appeared in the center of the duel arena with a crackling sound like lightning.

“It seems everyone is here.”

What slowly emerged from the mirror was none other than Ban Serin, the principal of Cheongwol Academy.

Compared to her hair that sparkled like the Milky Way, her heavy, sunken cold purple eyes.

Hyunwoo unconsciously avoided her gaze. He had been severely scolded by her before.

[Interesting, I never thought there would be a student who would play tricks on me.]

[Ugh!]

[But this is the only warning. There won’t be a next time.]

Hyunwoo, who had a favorability system, had tried to target the principal before.

He judged that once he targeted the principal, everything would become very easy.

However, the result was a complete failure. For some reason, the favorability system didn’t work on her.

Instead, he was caught and even threatened. Thanks to that, Hyunwoo became afraid of her.

‘I didn’t want to meet her if possible… but I have no choice.’

The Class S promotion exam is directly led by Principal Ban Serin.

In other words, it was inevitable to face the principal.

Therefore, Hyunwoo was desperately overcoming his fear.

At the same time, he wondered. Why did the principal personally give Baek Yushin the opportunity for the promotion exam?

Principal Ban Serin only shows interest in humans who pique her curiosity.

In other words, if something doesn’t interest him at all, he sees it just like a pebble on the street.

But that principal personally recommended Baek Yushin for the S-Class promotion exam?

I felt like an idiot in an instant. I had prepared for the promotion exam for a whole year.

‘As expected, the protagonist is the protagonist.’

However, surprisingly, Hyunwoo felt his mind cooling down.

You have to admit what you have to admit. I was underestimating my opponent too much.

The opponent is clearly the protagonist of this world, and in the original work, he was an awakened one who had accumulated numerous achievements.

Of course, he would have that much ability. I had been ignoring him too much until now.

But this is it. Hyunwoo firmly decided not to let his guard down any longer.

Of course, apart from his calmness, his anger hadn’t disappeared. He had already failed countless times.

Feeling a sense of crisis, Hyunwoo pulled himself together and began to recognize Yushin as an enemy.

What is that guy thinking right now? Hyunwoo did his best to read his mind.

‘I’m hungry.’

Ironically, while Hyunwoo was so wary, Yushin wasn’t thinking about anything at all.

Yushin also knew a bit about the S-Class promotion exam.

In the end, isn’t it about the strongest among these five going up to the S-Class?

If so, there’s no reason to worry. In the end, the strong one will go up.

Just like in the dark fantasy world, where Yushin himself had strived to become stronger.

Crossing countless lines of death, gaining experience, and making the opponent’s strength his own.

Thanks to that, Yushin could somewhat gauge the opponent’s strength without directly fighting.

‘There are more strong ones than I thought?’

In the fantasy world Yushin was in, the strength that an ordinary person could reach with a lifetime of effort.

The upper limit of that strength is usually classified as the knight class. Although it is often underestimated.

The knight class also boasts tremendous strength, enough to be seen as superhuman by ordinary people.

And the next level is the hero class. A very powerful realm that surpasses even superhumans.

In Yushin’s view, as many as three students seemed to have reached the hero class.

Is it because they grew up in a more stable environment with a lot of support compared to the fantasy world?

“It’s a face I haven’t seen before, nice to meet you. I’m Lim Kangdu.”

“Oh, yeah. I’m Baek Yushin.”

A boy with an enormous build awkwardly smiled and extended his hand to Yushin.

He seemed to be about 2 meters and 30 centimeters tall, with black hair cut in a two-block style.

His massive frame was matched by considerable muscles. What is this? Could he be a gym rat?

One peculiar thing to note was his squinting eyes, as if he wasn’t fully opening them.

“It seems like my first opponent is you.”

“First opponent?”

“That’s right! The S-Class promotion test is decided in a tournament format.”

“So the person who wins all the matches becomes S-Class?”

“Exactly.”

The one who answered Yushin’s question was Ban Serin, who had already taken a position at the center of the arena.

Yushin turned his head. There was no one else in the arena except for himself and Im Gangdu.

Im Gangdu also dropped his awkward smile and faced Yushin with a stern expression.

Originally, only four people could challenge the S-Class promotion test.

Baek Yushin was a student who suddenly appeared like a parachute. So, it would have been easy to underestimate him.

But now, there isn’t a single student in the S-Class promotion test who underestimates their opponent. There’s a reason for that.

‘Especially since Baek Yushin achieved an overwhelming victory against Selena from Class A.’

Selena was one of the top students in Class A in terms of firepower alone.

But Yushin had the skill to counter all of her firepower head-on.

Naturally, they had to be cautious. Confirming this, Yushin let out a sigh.

‘He looks incredibly tough just by looking at him.’

The equipment he used was a shield and a one-handed sword, a classic combination if there ever was one.

Moreover, since he was a talent challenging the S-Class, he must have that power called “awakening.”

Judging that a prolonged battle would be troublesome, Yushin decided to go all out from the beginning.

As soon as the principal’s signal dropped, Yushin was the first to make a move.

Fatal Strike

Unique Name Slash

A desperate slash imbued with the resolve that if he couldn’t cut down his enemy, he would die.

However, predicting the opponent’s movements and power, and blocking all defenses and counterattacks,

In the end, the absolute slash that left Im Gangdu helplessly defeated him.

But, it didn’t feel like a definite cut. It felt like it bounced off hard steel.

And indeed, Yushin’s Gonik Slash couldn’t cut through Im Gangdu’s steel-like body.

“Indeed, the speed is incredibly fast.”

“……”

“But, this level of slash can be endured dozens of times without a problem.”

Before he knew it, Im Gangdu was clad in armor. Not the kind that shines brilliantly.

Armor made of crude steel. It was once an admiration towards a hero.

Though it had been wounded by the wall of reality. Even so, the admiration that hadn’t disappeared.

Right now, it was protecting Im Gangdu’s body. It was more like a fortress.

Blossom

Mobile Fortress

A hero is ultimately a protector! If so, he shall not fall until he protects perfectly!

If it was foolish, then it was foolish, but such foolishness. Yushin didn’t particularly dislike it.

In fact, no matter how weakened he was. Hadn’t he easily blocked the Gonik Slash?

That means, purely in terms of defense. He would be at the top level of this academy.

“You said you could endure it dozens of times earlier, right?”

“……?!”

“Then, shall we test it?”

Im Gangdu was astonished. Just as he was about to defend the attack and counterattack for sure.

The figure of the opponent, who was clearly one person, suddenly multiplied into four.

An illusion?

No.

Each one had a solid form.

What on earth is going on? Wasn’t the opponent a swordsman?

While Gangdu was astonished, Yushin was quickly checking the state of his clones.

Although the hardware had weakened, reducing the number of clones. It didn’t matter.

The technique that nurtures clones with similar power to himself, the beginning and end of all chaos.

Full Power

Flowing Clone Technique