Chapter 33: The Practical Assessment.
Seven days had passed smoothly, and many significant developments had occurred during that time. The production of Draco’s shampoo had officially begun today, with Marcus assuring him that the first royalty payment would be delivered within a week.
They had negotiated weekly payments during their contract discussions, which was unusual since royalties were typically paid quarterly. However, Marcus had readily agreed to the arrangement, understanding that a young entrepreneur would benefit from more frequent cash flow.
Marcus’s business instincts are genuinely impressive, Draco reflected as he made his way toward the academy. The merchant’s advertising strategy had been nothing short of masterful.
Marcus had managed to flood the market with anticipation for the shampoo through various partnerships with established shops and influential nobles. He had distributed free samples to key aristocratic families, knowing that word-of-mouth recommendations from respected sources would create immediate demand among the wealthy class.
The strategy was working brilliantly. Draco had heard that several noble ladies were already inquiring about purchasing full bottles before the official launch. The buzz created by the samples had generated genuine excitement in circles that typically ignored new products.
I estimate the first week alone will earn me several thousand gold coins, Draco calculated with satisfaction.
[You have received +2 EXP.]
[You have received 1 Stat point.]
He had just completed his daily mission routine before heading to the academy. Today was examination day, and despite the nervous energy he could sense from other students, Draco felt remarkably calm about the upcoming challenge.
—
Draco Von Ashblade [Awakened] EXP: 97/100
Title: None
Talent: Dragon Lord (SSS-Rank)
Strength: 15(+3) / Agility: 22 (+3) / Constitution: 15 / Mana: 51
Beastmaster Manual: Uncommon-Rank [4/4 EXP]
Skills: Stone Heart(Uncommon, Lvl.1)
Stat points: 7
—
Three experience points away from reaching level one.
He had deliberately saved his accumulated stat points over the past seven days specifically for this examination. Without knowing which gate they would be entering or what specific challenges they might face, Draco wanted the flexibility to adapt his attributes based on the actual situation.
Better to be prepared for anything. Seven stat points can make a significant difference if allocated properly.
Furthermore, his bond with Zephyr had continued strengthening through their daily cultivation sessions. The connection between them had evolved to the next stage.
[Pet no.1] Hummingbird
[Rank] Common
[Talent] D (Hidden Potential: SSS)
[Connection] Advanced
[Skills]
[Hyper-Sonic] [Nano-Vision]
The advanced connection allowed Draco to sense Zephyr’s emotions and mental state without verbal communicatio and vice versa.
He could tell when something made his companion happy, worried, or excited simply through their shared bond. The improvement made their coordination almost seamless.
[Master, I can feel your confidence. It’s making me excited for today!] Zephyr chirped from his position on Draco’s shoulder.
Arriving at the academy grounds, Draco saw that the instructors were already assembled outside the main building, surrounded by nervous students from various classes. The atmosphere was tense for those at the bottom and normal for those at the top.
From what Draco could perceive, those below C-Class were mostly worried, except a few. As for those in C-Class and above, most were not worried, whilst very few were.
To prevent cheating and advance preparation, the academy had kept the specific gate location secret until the last moment. Students could theoretically study all the gates in and around the city to prepare better, but that would require researching nearly a hundred different locations and their characteristics.
It was a monumental task that the academy actually encouraged. If someone invested that much effort, they deserved whatever advantage it provided.
In Draco’s eyes, it was a smart policy. It rewarded dedicated preparation while preventing simple information sharing.
As Draco checked the assembled groups, Lyra approached him with Aurelius trotting beside her. The golden retriever’s tail wagged as usual, and his relaxed demeanour suggested he sensed no deception or ill intent from Draco.
"Hey, are you ready for this examination?" Lyra asked, though Draco could detect a slight nervousness beneath her confident exterior.
Draco shrugged his shoulders before replying. "As ready as anyone can be for an unknown challenge. How are you feeling about it?"
"Confident enough. Aurelius and I have been practising our coordination extensively." She glanced around at the other students. "Though I have to admit, some of our classmates look terrified."
About twenty meters away, Clair and Amy were engaged in their own conversation, occasionally glancing in Draco’s direction. Amy had been watching him and Lyra interact for several minutes before finally speaking to her friend.
"Clair, you were wrong about him; he really did awaken a talent, a B-rank talent, too. He’s actually stronger than we who have C-rank talents." Amy said quietly.
Clair shook her head slowly, clearly conflicted about her earlier assumptions. "While it’s true he awakened a higher-ranked talent, that doesn’t necessarily mean he is stronger than us. We both have offensive talents, and his is beast taming.
Beast tamers are usually considered the weakest among combat-focused talents. And he only awakened recently, so he still needs time to understand and adapt to his abilities. I guess he was lucky with a late awakening after all. Still, I heard rumours that he was disowned by his family, so whether his talent turns out to be a blessing or a curse is something only time will tell."
Amy glanced at Draco once more, noting how calm and composed he appeared compared to the obvious anxiety displayed by most other students. "I suppose you are right. But, he certainly doesn’t look worried about today."
Their speculation was interrupted by an instructor’s voice calling for attention.
"Students! Form groups by class and prepare for departure. It’s time to head to your examination site."
The academy had prepared several large wagons pulled by common-rank beasts specifically bred for transportation. These creatures resembled oversized horses but possessed more endurance and stability, making them ideal for carrying groups of students safely across longer distances.
So we’re travelling somewhere outside the immediate city area. That suggests they’ve chosen a gate that’s isolated enough to prevent interference or advance scouting.
Unlike his E-class classmates, who were facing their first real gate experience, he had already survived solo combat against an elite-rank beast. Whatever challenges awaited them in today’s examination, he was confident in his ability to handle them.
[Master, this is exciting. Our first official academy adventure.] Zephyr’s enthusiasm was infectious, helping to maintain Draco’s positive attitude despite the serious nature of the upcoming test.