After being escorted away by Finney, who carried an aura as if she were ready to slay gods and Buddhas alike, Valo settled into temporary lodgings at the Hero Party’s dormitory near the Clock Tower.
As Finney put it: “This is to protect you better, Mother!”
“What? There’s a misunderstanding between my adoptive mother and me? No, Mother, you don’t understand. She… has always been that way.”
‘This is ridiculous. Does the Female Hero really think she knows the character designs better than I do?’
‘Also, Finney, our mother-daughter relationship is just an act. It’s not real. You should… still remember that, right?’
Valo never found the opportunity to clarify things throughout the entire night.
Fortunately, the next morning, a messenger from the Clock Tower arrived with the Great Sage’s response regarding yesterday’s events.
As the head of the Empire’s most prestigious academy, even as a powerful figure, the Great Sage could not lead the way in violating the Clock Tower’s strict regulations by granting someone back-door entry.
However, the Great Sage could arrange a simple, temporary entrance exam for Kaika.
As long as Kaika met the standards, she could transfer into the Clock Tower.
This finally allowed Valo to breathe a temporary sigh of relief.
‘I didn’t lick those feet for nothing; that old geezer is at least somewhat reasonable.’
Thus, several days later, during the afternoon.
Inside a circular, arena-like building within the Clock Tower.
The vast space was illuminated without any blind spots, and the central area was separated from the surrounding stands by a transparent barrier that looked like a giant soap bubble.
This was a venue the Clock Tower only used for major competitive events, but right now, it was being used by the Great Sage as a temporary examination hall for Kaika’s entrance exam.
The examiner was already waiting in the center of the arena—the red-haired Hero stood with her sword planted in the ground.
Beneath her pale white uniform, her short skirt paired with black stockings showcased Finney’s composure and confidence in her own strength.
‘Would a beautiful girl in an anime-style game even be fit for a fight if she wasn’t wearing stockings and a short skirt!?’
[Valorant] really didn’t hold back when it came to fan service.
The criteria for Kaika’s entrance exam were simple—the geniuses within the Clock Tower always possessed extraordinary talent in magic and martial arts, and Finney, as the Hero, was certainly the most authoritative examiner.
As long as Kaika could maintain her stance under Finney’s offensive for a certain period of time during live combat until the Great Sage in the stands called a halt, she would pass.
Watching from the sidelines, Valo almost laughed out loud.
Finney’s goal was to help her and Kaika settle down with disguised identities within the Empire, so she would definitely hold back during the fight.
‘Hee hee, here comes the easy pass.’
However, that alone wasn’t nearly enough to put her at ease.
After learning the passing criteria from the Great Sage beside her, Valo immediately ran down the stands and approached Kaika.
“Mother?”
The black-haired Elf girl was at the edge of the arena, examining the rows of training weapons.
The moment Valo ran over, she withdrew her gaze and looked over with an air of indifference.
It was as if the upcoming entrance exam was nothing for Kaika to worry about or feel nervous over.
Clearly, Kaika should have realized during their journey just how prestigious the Clock Tower was. Any ambitious youth would dream of entering, right?
“The exam requirements are out…”
Valo didn’t have time for trivialities.
After quickly stating the passing conditions to Kaika, she immediately lowered her voice and said, “Anyway, during the exam later, you must hide your Demon King Faction magic and techniques. Don’t let even a trace of them show. Do you understand?”
Her daughter’s entrance exam? Valo wasn’t worried about that at all—as the daughter from the highest difficulty start, Kaika’s talent was no lower than Finney’s.
What she was truly worried about was the disguise. The judge not far away was the Great Sage.
If Kaika accidentally slipped up, the fact that her own identity was the Demon King being discovered would be the least of her problems…
Once their identities were exposed, it would be like pulling a thread that unraveled everything.
A series of Bad Endings would follow, including the Matricide Plot Kill involving these two little terrors, Finney and Kaika…
Even with cheats, she wouldn’t be able to escape that.
“I understand, Mother.”
The girl blinked and tilted her head, asking, “But will I be able to pass like that?”
“No problem, no problem~” Seeing her daughter agree, Valo relaxed and waved her hand, saying casually, “Your examiner is Finney. For my sake, she’ll definitely go easy on you secretly…”
But mid-sentence, a strange, eerie chill made Valo shiver involuntarily!
She turned her head and found that Kaika, who had looked sluggish just a moment ago, was now staring directly at her!
“Uh, Kaika?”
Their eyes met. Although a smile curled at the corners of the girl’s lips, her eyes betrayed a dangerous hint of jealousy. “Mother~ I know what to do~”
“Of course I can handle the disguise, but…”
“Why should I have to rely on that woman for your sake?”
‘Huh? What?’
‘Kaika, don’t you dare expose our secrets just for some pointless rivalry between genius girls!’
However, Valo didn’t have time to give more instructions—Kaika casually picked up a straight sword and, leaving a trail of fragrance behind, walked briskly toward Finney in the center of the circular arena.
The entrance exam began immediately!
At first, the scene looked normal to Valo. Seeing that Kaika chose a contest of martial arts, Finney cooperatively launched a charge in the same manner.
Furthermore, this Hero was indeed considerate and clever; from the moment they clashed, she began to hold back subtly—holding back so skillfully that even if the Great Sage noticed, it would be hard to say anything.
However, before Valo could celebrate, the tone abruptly shifted.
“Kaika, this intensity is about right… keep it up for a bit longer, and my adoptive mother should call for a stop and let you pass.”
“Is that so? But why should I let her praise you afterward, Mother?”
“Eh? Wait… what are you doing!?”
Valo couldn’t hear what her two daughters were whispering in the arena because, in the next second, she saw it: Kaika took a step back to widen the distance!
Then, she held her sword horizontally in front of her.
“I don’t need your help to please Mother.”
“Besides, how can one cheat on an entrance exam, Big Sister?”
Her left hand ignited with dark purple flames as she slowly wiped them across the blade.
Vwoom—
It was a flaming straight sword!
In the Demon Clan, only high-ranking members could access this through grimoires—the Fel-fire Enchantment.
This specific magic, which only members of the Demon Clan could learn, combined with Kaika’s suddenly agile and swift counterattack…
Even a fool could see that there was something wrong with the origins of Valo’s Elf daughter!
Caught off guard, Finney was pushed back a great distance by Kaika’s slash, nearly falling to the ground!
What followed was a barrage of attacks mixed with Fel magic, a continuous chain of strikes with zero cooldown!
Suddenly, the Hero, dressed only in her school uniform, found it difficult to cope!
“…Kaika, you really didn’t use your full strength on the night you tried to assassinate me.”
“But what are you doing now!? Mother should have warned you! You’re going to make them suspicious of Mother!”
However, the only response Kaika gave was a cold gaze.
“Mother? She’s my mother, not yours…”
“Why are you worrying about my mother?”
“Isn’t this my entrance exam? Before it’s over… you’d better be careful, Hero.”
Looking at the entrance exam that was supposed to be a mere formality suddenly turn into a battle of the gods, Valo had only one thought: she was terrified.
She had just told Kaika to hide her identity!
Even if the Kaika of this timeline had a terrible relationship with her, how could the girl be stupid enough to blow up her own mother’s future along with her own?
Turning her head, Valo saw the Great Sage in the stands, and the look in those eyes was already beyond suspicious!
‘Damn it, how could that old geezer’s look be anything but suspicious?’
By now, the two genius girls were already fighting with lightning and thunder, blades and shadows clashing.
Many high-level ultimate moves from the game were being tossed around like they cost nothing!
An exam?
This was clearly a contest of who could max out their stats!
‘It’s over!’