Purity Academy
The educational institution where the original protagonist, Eva Amethyst, enrolls, and the main stage for the novel Academy Lily Princess.
A world-renowned prestigious academy that trains Guardians responsible for protecting citizens by hunting the monsters pouring out from dungeons.
Even in a place rife with class systems and rampant discrimination, it selects students solely based on talent, regardless of status.
And today, December 27th, the entrance exam held once every three years is taking place in the Zerta Kingdom.
"This feels almost like just taking a casual stroll around the neighborhood."
I muttered softly in front of the checkpoint guarded by sentries.
Having thoroughly read the novel, I knew there was a slum right near the kingdom's capital, but arriving at my destination in less than 30 minutes of walking made me truly realize just how close it was.
Once you pass this checkpoint, you can enter the kingdom's capital, 'Rozipool.' From there, it's just a short way to the dome arena where the entrance exam is held.
"Alright then, let's go."
There was no reason to hesitate, so I stepped right up to the checkpoint.
"Halt right there!"
As I lingered in front of the checkpoint, a soldier in uniform approached me.
"What brings you here?"
"I have business in Rozipool. May I pass?"
"Please present your identification."
At the soldier's request, I pulled a rectangular plastic card I'd prepared in advance from my pocket and handed it over.
Beep!
"Verified. You may proceed."
The soldier scanned my ID on the recognition device, confirmed it, and stepped aside.
I pocketed the card they handed back and passed through the checkpoint.
"Smooth entry into the city."
Anyone else from the slums might be different, but since you're Solis, it's a whole other story.
The Zerta Kingdom's cities don't let in anyone whose identity can't be verified.
And people from the outskirts, commonly called untouchables, aren't even issued IDs.
Treated as less than human, they can't even wander near the cities without it being a crime, so they don't come close. But Solis was a special case.
Reader, as I've said over and over—absolutely, never! Even if you reveal your name, you must not mention your family name. Got it?
"That's the tenth time you've said that. My ears are calloused."
Solis, despite being from a bandit village, had an ID.
It was a keepsake left by his mother before she passed, but at the time, Solis thought there was no way an untouchable mother could get an ID for her son.
Suspecting it might be a forgery, he cherished it but never dared enter the city.
Having pored over the author's worldbuilding notes dozens of times, I knew his secret, so I confidently went through the identity check at the checkpoint.
Anyway, having safely arrived in the capital, I took in the cityscape I'd only read about.
Skyscrapers towering into the sky, the morning sun reflecting off glass exteriors in dazzling brilliance—this place pulsed with the dynamic energy unique to a metropolis, a mix of car horns and the bustling chatter of crowds.
A shocking, unfamiliar sight absent from Solis's memories. Compared to the slum he lived in, it felt like leaping several centuries ahead in gleaming development. Yet, strangely, it was also utterly familiar to me.
"This is basically a dead ringer for South Korea."
It was a nostalgic sight, perfectly mimicking the architectural styles and scenery of my homeland on that blue planet, Earth.
The differences? Lusher tree-lined streets, less crowded sidewalks, and much cleaner roads, I suppose.
"Mr. Author, hate to say it, but straight-up copying our entire world feels a bit shameless."
The age of your world, Reader, and our world's star aren't that different. It's the result of pursuing functionally superior and aesthetically pleasing designs, leading to similar outcomes. Like how the triangle is the most stable shape—it's all about efficiency.
"..."
I told you, it's true! I'm a god, but I've said a million times I can't directly interfere in this world!
"Joking. I know, so no need for the extra explanation."
If I were the god—or rather, the author—and could intervene, I wouldn't waste power on trivial details like this. I'd pour everything into fixing that botched ending.
Since that's impossible, they summoned me to this world. I have no choice but to believe it.
More importantly, hurry to the registration desk. Miss even a second, and you'll be like a dog chasing chickens staring at the roof.
"No need to rush me. I know."
The academy entrance exam is open to anyone regardless of age, gender, or region, but in reality, very few actually take it.
Accepting everyone would take forever just processing applicants, so the academy has a screening process to prove minimal talent for admission.
That process was already in full swing in this city.
Around the dome arena handling entrance applications, a blue barrier draped like a curtain. Transparent and thin enough to see right through, yet its toughness rivaled tempered steel, its hardness diamond.
Recalling the line from the novel, I headed toward the dome arena for applications.
Though the exact location wasn't specified in the original, the overwhelming barrier covering multiple buildings made it impossible to miss in the city—it screamed its presence.
The real problem came next.
"I have to get past this to meet the protagonist, right?"
Yes. If you can't get past this, you can't even start changing the ending or anything.
I placed my hand on the blue wall blocking my path.
Despite its thin, fragile appearance, the icy barrier didn't budge even when I pushed with all my might.
"Can't break this with brute force, huh?"
If that were possible, people wouldn't be suffering like this.
Clang!
"Damn, it won't budge!"
"Don't give up! Fight it!"
"One more time, all together! One, two!"
People swinging baseball bats into position, hammering the blue wall repeatedly with tools like hammers and pickaxes. The suffering the author mentioned overflowed around the barrier.
"Everyone's working hard."
Enrolling in Purity Academy lets you live free of status restrictions. For people in this world, upward mobility like that is priceless.
This was a different world from the one I'd lived in. Class systems were deeply entrenched, taken as a given.
Technology on par with Earth—maybe even superior. But only a tiny elite enjoyed its benefits.
Excluding city dwellers, most couldn't even read or write. Those outside without IDs weren't treated as human.
And even among that elite, nobles oppressed commoners. Breaking legs or killing on a whim went unpunished. A mad world.
The novel proceeded from the perspective of the protagonist—a perfect beauty with talent, power, and looks—so it seemed peaceful. But the darkness it hid was horrific.
The utterly normal desire to live humanely, something anyone in a civilized world would want. Break this barrier, and that dream becomes reality. No reason not to try.
"Even reading it as a webnovel, I thought the discrimination was insane. Seeing it in person makes it worse."
This barrier, made of solidified pure mana, doesn't scratch from ordinary impacts. The standard strategy is enhancing body or gear with mana to strike, but even that barely leaves a mark with average mana levels.
Considering the truth of this world—the origins of nobility and mana—the odds of an average person having the talent to break through were lower than winning the lottery jackpot.
These people probably sensed deep down it was an insurmountable wall, no matter the effort.
"We can do it! Just a bit more!"
"We may lack mana, but do we lack pride?"
"Rawr! Here goes! Ultimate move: Pickaxe Barrage Sixteen Combo!"
Even as blood soaked their hands and sweat drenched them like drowned rats, they didn't quit. Their fierce will to succeed clashed against the wall of reality but never retreated.
Why are you staring at them like that?
"Nah, just thinking everyone's really giving it their all."
Not sarcasm—pure admiration slipped out.
Having lived comfortably, never desperately craving anything to the point of bleeding like them, it felt almost wondrous to me.
Do they look pitiful to you?
"No way. I think their efforts are dazzlingly cool. That said, it's a shame it's an impossible dream."
Don't worry. You know this, Reader. The moment Eva gathers all the Divine Artifacts and concludes the story, this deep-rooted discrimination ends.
"Yeah, I know. Can't not know after replaying the ending a bunch of times."
Eva, gathering all the scattered relics of the Divine King, finally achieves ascension.
Ascending to transcendent status, she etches her will, her wish, onto the stone tablet of the world.
A world without discrimination, where all coexist in harmony free of prejudice—an ideal paradise.
It was a warm tribute to the one she once loved most, a being born from the bitter sorrow named discrimination. A miraculous gift to her best friend who chose death for her sake.
This world's end is a happy one. I had zero intention of twisting the conclusion Eva carefully crafted.
My task was singular: wipe away the filthy mud staining that pure girl's faith. Erase that one blemish.
Anyway, my musing dragged on too long.
Linger here more, and I'd definitely be late.
So now, I cross this wall.
"Let's get started."
Let's go!
I steeled myself, awakening the mana dormant in my heart and circulating it through my body.
A golden dawn illuminating the world erupted like an explosion, warm light enveloping my chilled flesh.
Soon it transformed into blazing heat driving out the world's darkness. I stood tall, cloaked in sacred flames, a dazzling sun ablaze.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡Solar Body
Solis's ultimate secret technique. Circulates mana through the body to shatter human limits and reach transcendent realms. Currently incomplete, but sufficient to pierce the barrier.
Solis's ultimate secret art.
A spell that circulates mana through the flesh to break human boundaries and attain transcendence.
In its current incomplete state, it was more than enough to punch a hole in the barrier.
I gathered the fiercely rising flames into my fist, condensing them to a single point, and unleashed a resolute punch.
Wait, stooooop!
"Hm?"
I noticed the author's cry hitting my eardrums too late. My fist had already slammed into the towering mana wall.
Crash!
A massive crack, big enough for several people to pass through, formed at the impact point as expected.
It would've been perfect if it stopped there, but did I overdo the power?
Rumble!
"Wh-what the hell is that?!"
"The barrier's collapsing!"
"Everyone, run!"
The fatal crack in the barrier upholding the city's borders spread razor-sharp in an instant, shattering into pieces that rained down over the city like blue shards heralding doom, blanketing people's homes.
"What the heck is going on?!"
"Is this rotten world finally ending?"
"Quit yapping and run!"
"Someone's buried here! Call rescue, quick!"
"Hm."
Fuck, hit it way too hard.
Gazing at the city hurtling toward ruin, I mulled over my bitter regret.