THE REBIRTH OF A GENIUS. CREATOR/DESTROYER

Chapter 23. Before the Entrance Exam

Someone had a lifeless expression as he walked out of the Artisan tower. This person was none other than Leonard. His body was covered in cold sweat as he thought about what he should do. The village people he thought he could step on anytime now existed, he should not provoke. But he and his family had already provoked him. "I'll just shut up. There are many people in the city who want their wealth. So, if the news did not spread, there was a chance that he would die. So, I'm gonna stay away from this." He muttered as he ran towards his house.

Meanwhile, at an expensive inn nearby. Sam and his friends were eating while chatting merrily.

"Okay, everybody's attention. Here let me toast to our own craftsman, Sam." Marvin stood up and toasted with his wine glass. In this world, a 16-year-old person is considered an adult and can drink at will. At the table only Sam is a minor. Even Paul is 16 years old. So, everyone except Sam drank wine while he was stuck with fruit juice.

"Sam, how old are you really?" Philip asked from the side. Everyone looked at Sam curiously. They really want to know how old Sam really is. Although he said that he would reach 15 in about two months, it was an unclear answer.

"I think I'll be 15 in a few days. Sam said without interest. But the other expression turned grim. Sam observed that and asked indifferently. "What?"

"You know what that means, right?" ask Freya.

"What do you mean?" Sam asked confusedly.

"Why are you so dense even with your mind like that. Even though you are only 15 years old, you are already an Artisan, it is also a higher rank. Do you know how people feel when they compare themselves to you?" Philip explained.

"Well, that's bad for them, if they think like that. If it wasn't for the fact that these nobles were after me, I wouldn't be bothered to take the exam." Sam replied as if taking this exam alone was exhausting work. Everyone else sitting at the table felt that they had nothing to talk about anymore when they heard his answer. They just sit and finish their food. After that the two girls go to their house and the other boys shamelessly follow Sam to his house. As soon as he entered the mansion, Sam was greeted by Yanwu. Before Sam went to the Artisan tower, Yanwu said he wanted to go out to do something and then leave. Seeing that Yanwu had returned, Sam felt relieved. Sam felt that Yanwu had something on his mind but he did not ask anything.

Sam and the other boys sat in the living room and chatted. Philip asked between the two.

"Sam, do you know how the reception went?"

"No."

"Well, I'll tell you later. In fact we cannot call it a simple acceptance. Because it involves those students who were accepted into the academy last year" said Philip.

"Why?" Sam asked in a confused tone.

“Soal the process is not only for admission but also for the assessment of the previous year's students. They will place the previous year's students against the candidates for the exam in the final round of the competition. So, that's why we're involved too." This time, Marvin replied.

"Actually, what are the qualifications to take the exam?" ask Sam.

“Usia and cultivation first and foremost. The first round is this. Candidates should not be older than 16 and should not be younger than 15. Age will be graded with high precision, measuring up to the day. Paul and I wanted to take the exam at the same time. So I took the exam last year. Now I will reach seventeen and he is about 16 years old.

When it comes to cultivation assessment. The minimum requirement is the initiation of the 9th stage and there is no problem, which does not reach the final stage of Acolyte." Philip says.

The second round would eliminate a large number of candidates for all competitions. That changes every time. There will always be danger in it. There will always be some death. The ones left after the competition will have permission to enter the academy." Marvin continued after a bit of a pause. "The third and final "competition was a group fight between Senior and the remaining candidates after the exam. In this competition they will sort new and senior students according to their results and there will be significant prizes based on the score." Marvin finished explaining. Sam started thinking and asking questions. "Will there be a gun restriction?"

"Any weapon above rank 1 will be rejected. Candidates were unable to use such array discs and inscriptions as well. Pills and other medicines are also not allowed. Said Philip.

"Well then you prepare well for the test then we will not visit you tomorrow. See you at the academy." Philip and the others left, leaving Sam alone. As soon as they left, Yanwu came and landed in front of Sam.

"Sam, I have to be out for a few days." Yanwu said as soon as he landed.

"What's going on?" Sam asked Yanwu as he felt his seriousness.

"I need to investigate something. I'll be back in ten days." Yanwu assured Sam. The token Sam got from the city gate for the beasts left a special aura on them which made the security of the city guards recognize them. So, Yanwu could come and go as he pleased. Even if he didn't have it, he could still turn into an ordinary crow and travel as he pleased.

Sam lay on his bed and just stared at the ceiling. After a while his eyes closed as he slowly fell asleep.

The next morning, Leonard completely underestimated the coverage the news would bring by a 2nd rank artisan aged 15. The entire city at this moment knew that there were young and highly ranked craftsmen in the city. This news had even received more attention than a young man who bought a high-priced mansion in an auction using fire spirit stones against a noble family. But it seemed like no one was making a connection between these two young men.

Sam walks the streets when he hears people talking about him. He walked to the Artisan Tower. As soon as he entered the tower, the workers in the handyman tower became stiff. Generally, the first floor was a weapon shop and the receptionist would be there to serve the people who came to the tower for purposes other than buying weapons from the shop. There will always be a few staff who serve customers. If a high-ranking craftsman like Sam entered the tower, then they would jump in excitement to serve him. But now no one dared to approach him because they had ruined such an opportunity by giving a bad impression yesterday.

Sam walked towards the reception. When he saw the person sitting at the reception, Sam could not help but feel shocked. Because the people at the reception are the same as yesterday. Kelly is the daughter of the tower chief. She did not expect him to work at the reception the next day after such a commotion. When Sam looked at her, he also looked at her and their gazes met. When he saw her, he could not help feeling confused. He lost all pride arrogance from yesterday, there was no sign of willfulness that he showed yesterday. But Sam didn't want to interact with him.

He just stopped in his tracks and looked around. He then saw a young man who was not serving customers, he called out to him. "Excuse me." The young man immediately stiffened but he was still walking and standing in front of Sam.

"Can I trouble you to find an elder here? I need to ask them something." Sam asked the young man in a polite but neutral tone. As soon as he finished, the young maid nodded her head and left in a hurry. They are not far from the reception. So, Kelly had clearly heard their discussion. He felt a little lost. In fact, it was the receptionist's job to tell the elders if someone came to see them, but Sam didn't even bother to talk to him. He felt the same indifference he had shown him yesterday.

After Sam left yesterday, he stayed alone and pondered his behavior. He then understood that, he was already too used to doing things his own way inside the Artisan tower. That was the reason, he acted arrogantly after he became an Artisan at the age of 18. He got drunk on being called a genius and started acting like he wanted to. Now when Sam tramples on her like there's nothing, she understands how delusional she really is.

Sam then called another officer and asked for some materials. Then the officer brought the material and Sam completed the transaction. Then Sam waited a few more minutes.

The young man who left early came rushing over from the top floor, behind him was the middle-aged tower head.

"Sir Sam, how can I help you?" ask the head of the tower to Sam in a humble tone.

"I need to borrow the forging room for a while. You see there's acceptance into Starwood Academy the day after tomorrow. I have to make a weapon for myself." Sam said in a polite tone.

"Sure, sure. You can definitely borrow it. I'll lead now." The tower chief agreed quickly and began to lead. Sam followed. Behind them, Kelly looked at Sam as if he was going to say something but he didn't say anything.

The head of the tower takes Sam to a private forging room. This room does not have transparent walls, but rather has completely opaque walls to respect the privacy of Craftsmen. The platform also only has a single groove that can only be operated with a badge. Sam checked the room and nodded in satisfaction. Then he turned towards the head of the tower and nodded. The head of the tower got a hint and turned to leave, albeit reluctantly.

Sam stayed in the forging room making things all the time until night. No one knows what he's doing. As the sun was about to set, Sam finally came out. His face looked tired but there was a satisfied grin there. His good looks had a unique charm attached to him because of that grin. When she looked straight there was a beautiful and sexy woman standing with her head bowed. This is Kelly. Sensing her gaze, Kelly looked towards her and as soon as she saw it, she walked towards him and stood right in front of him. Sam was about to move and leave.

"Sorry." She said in a sweet, alluring yet timid voice. Sam stopped his steps and looked at him with a questioning look.

"I just want to apologize for my arrogant behavior yesterday. I know it won't change the fact that I'm arrogant and unreasonable; I just hope you can forgive me." He said in the same timid voice.

Looking at his appearance, Sam understood what was happening. He had never felt the indifference he had shown yesterday before. He felt that his existence was always precious. But know that one does not even acknowledge its existence. Seeing him, Sam sighed.

"Why do you seek forgiveness?" ask Sam. He was confused and looked at her in silence. He wanted to say something, but he didn't know how to say it. Sam then continued.

"I don't care if you're arrogant. Actually, I'm arrogant myself. Even though you're being arrogant makes me unhappy. That'sthat's all. Not more. That's not enough for me to ignore completely. At most I will be laughing at your naivety for being arrogant in front of a higher person, you cannot hold back your arrogance and losing will disgust you. But if you can't even keep your word, that's when you'll become an existence that I won't admit to." Sam finished and left without turning around. Kelly stood on the spot with a brooding expression and after a while she smiled and looked in the direction where Sam went.

Actually, Sam doesn't like to talk much. But when she saw Kelly, she saw herself inside her. In his previous life, there was a time when Sam wanted nothing but recognition from others. As Sam begins to get the results of all his hard work and talent, he wants nothing more than recognition from everyone who is superior to him. He wanted them to feel that his existence was important. Kelly was in the same situation. Sam doesn't know why he's like that. But he felt that was what happened.

Sam comes to the first floor, where another young man takes a shift as a receptionist. He walked over to the counter and asked. "I want to buy some arrows." When the receptionist saw who it was and stood up. He immediately acknowledged her request and immediately asked. "Sir, how much do you want?"

"I need 10 rank 1 arrows and 200 normal arrows" Sam said. The receptionist nodded and Sam left the tower after he completed the transaction. Sam slowly walked into the mansion. No one from the noble family targeted him now that his acceptance was imminent. On the way to his house, Sam bought some items needed for the inscription and went to his place. That night he just lay on the bed staring at the ceiling. He doesn't know what he's supposed to do. Everything had gone too fast since he came to this world. He suddenly remembered a little girl. 'Stella. I hope you're in peace now.' Sam thought as he slowly muttered something.

"Good birthday to Sam." Today is Sam's birthday in this world. It will be his birthday from now on. He slept as tiny teardrops flowed through his left eye signifying his loneliness, in this alien world.