Once the commotion settled, the tutors signaled for the candidates to board the carriage one by one.
This wasn’t some regular carriage. It was a Cariliman Academy magic carriage, pulled by a unicorn.
For most ordinary people, the chance to ride something like this would come only once in a lifetime.
Unlike Aesphyra, who confidently boarded first, Vinny blended into the crowd and climbed aboard slowly.
The interior was extravagantly furnished, full of opulence and a kind of refined cultural elegance.
Sculptures, ornaments, oil paintings, and decorative artwork filled the space with a sense of sophistication—so much so that one hesitated to even approach carelessly.
Just brushing up against the wrong thing felt like it could lead to a lifetime of debt.
Vinny was not what you’d call a cultured person. He’d barely attended any art or cultural courses, so to him, these furnishings just looked... classy. Fancy. Meaningful, maybe?
Whether they were real or fake—or what they meant—he had no clue.
“This candidate, no need to be so cautious. The decorations are just replicas,” said one of the tutors with a kind smile, clearly noticing Vinny’s hesitation.
Really? All fake?
Of course. Who would actually stick priceless treasures inside a moving carriage? What if something broke?
Vinny nodded to himself.
“Good imitations,” he muttered silently.
“They may be replicas, but they were crafted by renowned artisans. Each one’s worth at least a hundred gold coins,” the tall tutor added with a sigh.
Vinny’s interest died immediately.
So even the fakes were more valuable than he was. Great.
He had thought about walking around to take a closer look—maybe even reaching out to touch one—but that thought vanished in an instant.
He stepped away obediently and settled into a corner seat.
Staring out the window, he felt like a humble rice bowl, waiting passively for someone to pour something in.
After everyone boarded, the students were assigned to their compartments.
Cariliman Academy was wealthy enough to give every candidate their own room, even if it was modest.
Just a narrow corridor and a single bed. No bathroom. No movable space. That was it.
Still, the ride was incredibly smooth.
Thanks to the unicorn’s pull—and the layered magic circles on the wheels—the movement was seamless. If not for the shifting scenery outside, you’d barely know you were traveling at all.
The atmosphere among the candidates gradually lightened.
Most were nobles from all over the Camella Kingdom, and where nobles gathered, banquets were inevitable.
That evening, a well-known noble heir took the initiative to organize a banquet inside the carriage.
The noble candidates chatted loudly, many reuniting with old acquaintances they hadn’t seen in a long time.
Vinny, meanwhile, sat in silence with the key to his room clutched in hand. He leaned lazily against the window, still half-slouched.
Technically, he was a noble too.
But with his notorious reputation, no one wanted anything to do with him.
Even the commoners avoided him like he carried the plague. They were worried any association would ruin their own futures.
No one wanted to approach someone so thoroughly hated.
Vinny didn’t mind. If anything, he preferred the peace and quiet.
Before entering the carriage, he’d taken special care to note Aesphyra’s location—making sure she was at least twenty meters away.
But he hadn’t seen her at all, which likely meant she wasn’t in the same carriage.
Vinny exhaled in relief. He watched as the scenery outside began to blur, fields shrinking into the distance, and gradually drifted into sleep.
He wasn’t sure how long had passed.
Groggy, he rubbed his forehead and looked around in confusion before peeking out the window.
It was already dusk.
His stomach gave a fierce growl.
He hadn’t eaten anything all day.
Hunger gnawed at him.
He stood up, stretched, and wandered into the next carriage in search of food.
The moment he pushed the door open, soft crystal lights dazzled his eyes, and a wave of lively noise washed ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) over him.
He narrowed his gaze slightly, taking in the scene.
Sure enough—it was Cariliman’s banquet carriage.
Luxurious enough to host an actual celebration inside.
How was it so spacious?
The answer lay in the unicorn pulling it.
Unicorns weren’t just powerful—they possessed superior magical abilities.
They didn’t rely on raw strength like horses. They used magic, skill, and grace. Physical power only played a small part.
A unicorn could even lift the entire carriage into the air—if not for the risk of passengers getting motion sick.
The fact that this one was pulling multiple carriages at once? Proof it was no ordinary unicorn.
Under the warm glow of the crystal lamps, the nobles laughed and celebrated as if the entrance exam had already ended in victory.
At the heart of the banquet stood the heirs of the kingdom’s top families.
Confident. Charming. Laughing among themselves like they already belonged at Cariliman Academy.
A bit further back were the lesser nobles, chatting in smaller groups.
And in the far corners—the commoner candidates.
Vinny didn’t see Aesphyra. But then again, his focus wasn’t on her—it was on the food.
At the end of the day, no matter how much the nobles looked down on the commoners, none of those commoners dared get close to Vinny either.
To them, Vinny wasn’t just a noble. He was the worst kind of noble.
The kind they resented.
How could someone like him, born into status and power without any merit, be handed what they had to fight for?
He had no talent, no virtue.
Even his noble status might be fake. He was nothing but a fraud.
Someone who tricked the world and stole what others bled to earn.
Forget the elite nobles—they were too untouchable to resent.
But Vinny?
He was within reach.
He was the perfect target for jealousy.
Not that Vinny noticed.
He was too busy looking for something to eat.
He did think he felt a few eyes lingering on him.
But whatever.
His attention zeroed in on the roasted goose on the banquet table.
His eyes lit up. He made his way toward it.
Just as he reached out—
“Young Master Vinny, you’ve got quite the appetite,” said a voice, full of mockery.
“......”
Vinny turned slowly.
In front of him stood a freckled, brown-haired young man.
“Who are you?” Vinny asked flatly.
Still hungry. Still annoyed.
“My name’s Max. You were quite the star back on the platform.”
“Oh. Max. Got it. Now move.”
“Don’t be in such a rush, Young Master Vinny. I saw you instruct Miss Aesphyra with the unicorn earlier. That was so impressive.”
A small crowd began to gather, picking up on the tension.
“With that kind of refined insight—you truly are a noble,” Max continued, twisting the word noble just enough to make it an insult.
Vinny frowned.
Wasn’t this just about bandaging a hoof? Why act like he’d just saved the empire?
Wait... why is this guy provoking me? I’m not the protagonist.
Where’s Aesphyra?
Shouldn’t this kind of random NPC-becomes-arrogant scene be her problem?
Seriously—weren’t they all background characters? Why target him?
“I don’t get it,” Vinny said. “What are you actually trying to say?”
“I’ve heard for a long time that Young Master Vinny is a descendant of the goddess,” Max said with a smile. “Seeing you show such skill, I assume you’ve studied the Soul Armament [Holy Emissary] passed down by your ancestor?”
Ah. Now Vinny understood.
The guy was mocking him.
Calling him unworthy. A fake.
Vinny pressed his lips together.
Honestly, he wanted to deliver a protagonist-level retort.
A face-slap. A classic reversal.
But he wasn’t the protagonist. He didn’t have the power.
Still... that didn’t mean he’d let this slide.
He wasn’t someone you could just push around.
He wasn’t going to bully anyone—but if you started with him, you'd better be ready to finish it.
Fine if it’s the heroines. They’ve got the script.
But you? A fellow background extra?
You think you can step on me?
Go ask around. Murder, arson, dog theft, candy snatching—I’ve done it all.
I’m the greatest villain in generations!
So, Vinny raised his chin, tapped into his inner menace, and said with full villainous disdain:
“So what if I’m not talented? I’ve got long arms, don’t I?”
Max blinked, caught off guard.
Vinny sneered.
“Why are you all aiming your weapons at me? Did I ever do anything to you?”
One of the commoner candidates mumbled, “Flies don’t bite seamless eggs... especially rotten ones.”
“Oh? So you’re admitting you’re flies?”
Vinny smirked.
“How many flawless nobles are out there? Plenty of highborn kids have no talent, just waiting to die of mediocrity. But I don’t see you flies biting them.”
“Did I know you before?”
“...No.”
“Did I ever bully you?”
“...You have a reputation—”
“I asked: did I ever bully you?”
“...No.”
“Then why are you picking a fight with me?”
Vinny tilted his head mockingly.
“Is it because you couldn’t cozy up to the high nobles, so you needed someone lower to pick on?”
He pointed at the actual aristocrats in the room.
“Let’s be honest—it wasn’t me who shoved you to the edges of this banquet. It was them.”
“Don’t play little hero now. You’re not. You’re just cowards looking for someone weak to vent on. And lucky me, I’m an easy target.”
“If I haven’t hurt you, why are your guns aimed at me?”
“If you only ever bully the weak, then don’t be surprised when someone stronger puts you in your place.”
The crowd stiffened. Some flushed with shame.
Vinny rolled his eyes, brushed past them, and grabbed the goose leg.
But just as he turned—
A stunning face appeared right in front of him.
Vinny froze.
The goose leg almost slipped from his fingers.
“Young Master Vinny, good evening,” Aesphyra greeted him with a gentle smile.
“...Good evening,” Vinny replied after a beat.
No, wait—wasn’t she a ghost?
How did she appear so quietly behind him??
How long had she been standing there?
Why hadn’t anyone seen her??
Something about that smile gave Vinny a terrible feeling.
She was so perfect, so radiant, that one could easily mistake her warmth for affection.
But Vinny knew better.
If this world had a favorability meter, hers would be in the deep green—hovering around -99.
And yet, she still smiled like that.
Terrifying.
“Miss Aesphyra,” he said stiffly, “as you can see, I’m a little hungry. I’ll take my leave.”
“Huh? Where are you going, Young Master Vinny?” Aesphyra tilted her head, feigning innocence.
“This is the banquet hall. Why leave?”
Then, with a bright smile that could melt steel:
“Young Master Vinny—are you afraid of me?”
“Afraid? What are you even saying?” Vinny grit his teeth. “Why would I be afraid of you? What’s there to be afraid of?!”
His tone cracked with tension.
His character arc couldn’t collapse here.
“Pfft,” Aesphyra chuckled. “Young Master Vinny, you’re too tense. I was only joking.”
Oh? A joke?
Right.
The day he became the punchline, the joke would be very real.
And not funny at all.