THAT DAY I BECAME A STAR

"So, as I was saying. There is a little test all omega students pass when they come."

"What for?"

"It is in order to measure your actual level. That way, you can compare your progress all along your time here."

"Sounds cool."

"And it is.." Cordel brings out some sort of wand with a crystal at an extremity. He then infuses it with his Angas and behind me, the wall of the hall starts moving.

When I turn, the walls have already half disappeared somewhere. Then, something comes out of the shadow behind the walls. A machine of sort, I think.

This thing looks weird, there is also a board right next to it, with names and numbers. Wait…

"Farner…2996…Excia….2630…." The fuck does all that mean?

"This is a running machine."

"A running machine?"

"Yes. You stand on it and start running. Basically, the machine will estimate your potential based on how you step as you run, your speed, and other things then it will you an estimated value of your potential."

"What do you mean by potential?"

"It is the strength you can reach as a warrior."

Farner stands up and joins us.

"Strength? You can measure that?"

"Well, Teach Smith seems to have managed to do so."

Who, the almost crying baby on the ground? Really?

"Don't look at him like that. He may not look like it but he is a genius, you know? It is not for nothing that he is the head of researches here."

"I see. He really doesn't look like it."

"So, will you give it a go?"

"I have a question. Have everyone use such a thing?" I didn't see anything like this in the previous dorm not did it look like it could have one from how plain that dorm was.

"Yes, everyone here has used it before. You can see al of our-"

"I meant everyone in the academy."

"Ah…No, sorry. We are the only ones who have this. I mean, the necessary expense to make only one are quite high and…"

"They aren't worth it, right?"

"W-what? No, it not that. It's just-"

"Stop sugar-coating your words. You said it yourself before. Everybody can be useful if he is in the right place. So since they don't have any use, they can use as cannon fodder while you, the chosen few, will progress and reach new heights."

"I…"

"And what is wrong with that?!!" Lanuvel, not you again…

She walks to me like a storm and even gets past Farner who was in her way like she was not even there.

"Whose fault is it if they are weak, huh?! If they don't like it, they should just get stronger instead of mopping around about their weakness!!"

"I never said it was a bad thing."

"Eh?" You are still as impulsive as ever.

"The world is ruthless and unfair. You are either strong and feared or weak and stepped on. As you can see, we both agree."

"I…I see. Well, I wouldn't go that far but…"

"There is no but."

I have finally glued that mouth of yours. Ah, it feels so good. If only I could have done that four years ago. Well, it wouldn't have changed anything but…

I stand on the weird machine and it starts shining on some places.

"The crystals placed inside will activate once you step on it. Then, the carpet on which you are standing right now will start moving backward. You will have to run in order to avoid falling down."

Wait, all those lights are crystals? There are more than a thousand shining points on this thing.

"Wow!" Suddenly, the carpet starts moving backward as Cordel said. Is this for real?!!

The carpet moves slowly at first, then the speed rapidly increases. Still, it is pretty easy to-

"Wha-" I am thrown away like a vulgar rock after I heard some kind of weird noise. The sound was almost inaudible.

"Wait, seriously?"

"Only that? Ahahaha!! Even I did way better!"

"Is it an error?"

I can hear everyone's reactions as I stand up. Cordel looks at me like an owl. Farner…looks sad.

"Your score is sixty-three. That's the lowest score we had here. Ever."

"Wait, sixty-three!!!" Smith stands up like he heard the voice if a god. He practically jumps to the machine and checks it all over. Looking, lightly hitting there…Then he looks at the board again.

"Wow, it is really sixty-three. I don't think even a Selpie would be that weak."

"Ahahaha! That's one comparison you made there, teacher!!" Lanuvel starts laughing like crazy, soon followed by pink panties and one or two other people.

"Wait? What was it you said? Either weak and stepped on or strong and feared?!! Well, You just blow it up!!! Congrats, mister feared guy!!"

Well, at least, now I know why I can't do anything right when it matters. I don't even have the level of some animal I have never even heard of.