The hero's gender is yet to be determined after rebirth.

The second and third steps were still effortless, and Lorenwei became even more confident in her talent.

When I watched others climb the stairs, there was always an invisible pressure weighing on them, making each step slow and cautious. But I, with my exceptional talent, felt no pressure at all. What does that mean?

Each elemental stage has nine steps in total, it should be a breeze! Huh?

Before she could think any further, the scenery suddenly changed.

The green steps beneath her feet were no longer there; she was now standing on the second section of yellow earth-elemental steps.

"Huh? What's going on..." Lorenwei wanted to say something, but could she tell the people below that she felt no pressure?

Looking down, he saw that everyone was looking at him.

"Level three," the teacher said softly. "It should be D, a mediocre talent. You can cast this type of elemental magic, but there's not much future in it."

Lorenwei tried to climb the earth-elemental staircase again.

There was absolutely no pressure, and he easily stepped onto the third step. But just as he was about to step onto the fourth step, he was teleported away again.

"Still a D grade." The teachers and examinees below also looked on.

"Damn it—" Lorenwei stood in front of the red fire elemental staircase and shouted down, "Is there something wrong? I can definitely get to the fourth step."

"Huh?" Neither the teacher nor the other candidates understood.

“I’m not under any pressure at all,” Lorenwei explained loudly to the crowd below.

"Hey, you have great mental fortitude," one of the test takers laughed.

The nervous girl earlier said enviously, "That's great. I wish I had that kind of confidence."

The teacher gave a thumbs-up and smiled, "Good, that's the kind of courage you need! Keep it up!"

Lorenwei: "..."

Further up, the same applies to the fire and water elemental steps.

Lorenwei was teleported away twice before reaching level four.

“Dark element…” Lorenwei looked at the black steps, and her heart began to pound.

Never mind, she continued climbing, still without feeling any pressure.

When she reached the fourth step of the Dark Element Staircase, she slowly and gently put down her foot.

The people below also started to sense that something was amiss.

"Another D grade?" some of the candidates below exclaimed in surprise.

All five talents are fairly evenly distributed at the third level. Based on the teacher's experience, this is considered a D level.

"Could it really be broken?" The teacher was also a little uncertain.

It's common for elementalists to lack talent; those who surpass a C level are significantly stronger than average. However, an average of five Ds is truly rare; at least, he hasn't encountered one since taking office. At most, there are three Ds, plus other different levels of talent.

“Light element.” Lorenwei remained calm on the last section of the white steps.

She turned around.

"Hey? Don't give up! Keep going!" Meilan shouted from below.

Other candidates also felt that this ordinary-looking boy should be rejected.

However, to everyone's surprise, Lorenwei started climbing the stairs backwards...

Level 1, Level 2, Level 3...

There are no problems at all, and I feel no pressure whatsoever.

The fourth step was about to be tested. Lorenwei turned around and stared at the steps without moving an inch.

Damn it, am I going to get teleported away again? That would be so embarrassing.

Lorenwei stretched out her foot and wiggled it twice.

There seems to be no reaction.

She tentatively lunged forward, then abruptly stopped.

A bead of sweat appeared on the teacher's forehead as he watched from below. This young man is quite something; he's actually using a feint against the elemental talent that senses the steps?

At this moment, Lorenwei snorted, deciding not to waste any more time. With a "hey!" she jumped up the low step with both feet together, like in a hopscotch game, making an exaggerated movement.

However, just as his feet were about to touch the ground, his figure vanished again.

The next second, Lorenwei returned to the line below.

"How is this possible..." Lorenwei couldn't believe that her talent was only at the third level.

Even with the teacher's somewhat humorous reassurance, she still couldn't believe it.

"Maybe it really is broken?" the teacher joked before letting the remaining students who hadn't taken the exam go up.

The remaining candidates were all normal; some lacked talent, while others were exceptional.

"It seems you really are quite mediocre and average in terms of talent," the teacher smiled.

"Thank you." Lorenwei couldn't quite describe her feelings.

Meilan quickly came over to comfort her: "It's alright, it's alright. Talent is just the foundation for hard work. Many inspirational examples still tell us that hard work is the most important thing."

Hearing her gentle voice, Lorenwei felt a little relieved, but still asked curiously, "Any examples?"

Meilan: "Old Zhang in our village is too poor. Everyone says he can't afford to get married, but he doesn't get discouraged. He insists on going down to the river to fish every day, and even dares to risk his life in very dangerous sections of the river."

Lorenwei: "So, after working hard and earning money, you finally got married?"

Meilan: "I got bitten between the legs by a three-eyed fish and now I'm someone else's wife!"

Lorenwei: "..."

While Meilan comforted Lorenwei, Lorenwei's adoptive parents had already witnessed the entire talent assessment process.

The principal's third office (concealed).

“Ais, you’ve gone too far. Look at Vivi’s disappointed face.” Jason saw the relevant scene through the crystal in the examination room.

Aisser smiled and said, "I just enhanced the effect of the Weakness Ring. The Weakness Ring is meant to make people ordinary, and their talents should also seem ordinary, which is in line with our original intention of training her."

“You’re so cruel to your own children,” Bordonna remarked, watching the drama unfold.

At that moment, Crystal Communications connected.

A female subordinate reported: "Your Excellency, we have just discovered two special applicants and are reporting them to you: Princess Kurara of the Grand Duchy of Posey and Viscount Clowell of the Fite Empire."

“Cromwell?” Headmistress Bordona frowned.

Aisser asked, "Although Moonlight Academy is located in the Fate Empire, as far as I know, the relationship isn't very good, is it?"

Bordonna nodded: "Yes, our academy is, after all, aligned with the Holy Maiden Sect, while the establishment of the Fate Empire originated from the Holy Son Sect. Viscount Cromwell is the direct heir of the Cromwell family and the most outstanding genius among the young people of his generation."

She paused here.

Jason quickly said, "Nikka Academy? The academy founded by the handsome Romeo the Holy Son? It was considered a friendly academy back then, right? From what you're saying..."

“That’s right, they’re up to no good.” Bordonna said apologetically to Aisser. “Aisser, I can’t spend time with you.”

“Understood, you need to go to the site and take care of things,” Aisser said with a smile. “Jansen and I will go with you.”

“…Thank you!” Although Bordonna wasn’t afraid of the Cromwell family, she was worried about how much power was behind them. Especially since they were a noble family, she wondered if the Emperor was involved in today’s events.

"Bordonna, remember to call me Aisses when we're out."

"clear."

After the viewing platform was ready, Bordonna invited Ethers and Jason to sit on the platform.

It's very similar to the central spectator stands of a stadium in another world, except the atmosphere is more casual, with tea tables and lounge chairs, almost like watching a play. With the spectator stands now open, the previously semi-enclosed assessment area has had its barriers removed, and some trees and rocks used for obstruction have been moved.

Hundreds or even thousands of people can see the Wall of Sighs and the Mountain of Elemental Talent Evaluation.

"Those two women on the stage are so beautiful, especially the one who looks like a female mage. I've never seen anyone so beautiful."

"The man is quite handsome and has a good presence." These were the words of the female teacher.

"Who is that woman with the voluptuous figure?" the examinee asked.

"Watching this makes my ass rock hard..."

One teacher quickly warned, "Don't talk nonsense, that's the school principal!"

The examinee was so frightened that he covered his mouth.

Kurara, who was taking an exam, was invited over.

Princess Kurara, now dressed in light silver armor and a white warrior's outfit, slowly walked toward the viewing platform with a demeanor that combined the grace of a lady with the fierceness of a knight.

"This child is only fourteen years old, but his figure is almost comparable to mine!" Bordonna sized him up.

Kurara stepped forward and greeted the headmaster with one hand: "Kurara from the Posei region greets Headmaster."

This is extremely polite; nobles are not required to bow to teachers, even the headmaster. Moreover, the fact that he mentioned coming from the Bohemian region without mentioning the Grand Duchy of Bohemian is a very humble tone.

Looking further into the distance, the caravan and knights of the Grand Duchy of Posey were resting on the outer edge of the ring. They hadn't even entered the area for the academy exams, let alone the registration area.

After exchanging a few polite words, Kurara sat down in the guest section of the viewing platform.

"Is the headmaster here for the ceremony? I bet he'll invite me." A male voice drifted from afar.

Before the invitation could even be delivered, Cromwell himself, accompanied by several bodyguards and knights, strode toward the viewing platform.

Anyone with a modicum of sensitivity could tell that something was off.

Chapters 032-033: It's Lorenwei's turn to appear! (Bonus Chapter)

Cromwell strode toward the viewing platform with a smile, his figure half a head taller than his peers.

Kurara glanced at Viscount Cromwell, her gaze somewhat puzzled: Had he caught a cold? The voice sounded different from the one she'd heard in the carriage… She had a grudge against him, but they'd never met face-to-face.

Cromwell walked up the steps from the viewing platform.

But Bordona didn't even rise to greet Cromwell, nor did she offer him a seat. This was a stark contrast to her treatment of Kurara. The key question is whether he was merely a pawn, and what does this symbolize?

"Who are these two...?" Cromwell asked.

He was asking about the Estèmes couple. The question was slightly impolite, but they weren't dressed as nobles; their attire was only slightly better than that of commoners. What prompted him to ask was that the two were seated at the same level as Bordonna.