TERNLF Vol. 1 Chapter 1 Part 3

Full title: The Exiled Reincarnated Noble Lives Freely

Note: If you found any typos/mistakes, pls write them in the comment. Thanks.

Translator: Canon

____________________________________________

The next day.

I awoke to the sound of the first bell, leapt out of the inn in a rush, and made my way toward the Adventurer Guild.

I had intended to wake before the bell rang, but it seemed that drinking alcohol for the first time in a long while yesterday had caused me to oversleep.

I had never been particularly tolerant of alcohol, in either my past or present life, so I rarely drank. But apparently, I had taken more emotional damage than I thought from the cold reception my brother had given me.

Regretting that I had stayed out drinking late at the tavern in front of the inn to blow off steam, I quickened my pace.

“If I’m late, they’ll make me come back tomorrow.”

If I passed the test, I would finally become an adventurer, just as I had long desired.

I couldn’t afford to be late.

“Still, everyone’s up surprisingly early.”

Though the sun had only just begun to rise, the streets were already bustling with people.

Carts and wagons piled high with food—likely returning from the morning market—rolled by.

Unlike the frontier fortress, where nearly everyone was a gruff, unshaven man, here I saw finely dressed women and polished gentlemen among the pedestrians.

I wondered where they were heading.

They were on foot, so they were likely not nobles.

“So the royal capital is this lively in the morning, huh.”

It had been ten years since I’d last come to the capital.

And ten years ago, I had still been a child, confined almost entirely to the noble quarter.

After my exile to the frontier, I had often traveled to nearby towns and villages—but the sheer number of people here was on another level entirely.

Acting like a wide-eyed country boy, I scanned the area and rushed over the moment I spotted the terminal for the shared carriages.

The carriages that circulate the capital are essentially this world’s version of a bus.

Large enough to carry more than ten passengers, these wagons make their rounds throughout the vast royal capital, transporting people to their destinations.

Dedicated carriage lanes ensured they moved faster than trying to weave through crowds on foot.

“Perfect. There’s an open seat.”

I managed to snag a vacant spot on the edge of the carriage.

As it began to roll forward, I gazed out the window at the passersby while heading toward the guild. Soon, the building came into view, and I saw a line of young people gathered outside, waiting for the doors to open.

Apparently, they were here for the same entrance exam as me.

“One, two, three, four… Looks like around twenty people.”

As the guild receptionist had mentioned yesterday, that was quite a turnout.

It must be exhausting to test this many people every single day.

“I don’t know what the exam involves, but I wonder how many of us will actually pass.”

Murmuring to myself, I approached the group, thinking I should at least say hello.

I raised one hand and was about to call out when—

Giii—iiik.

The doors of the guild began to creak open.

The sound was so grating it made my ears ache. I muttered, “Couldn’t they at least oil the hinges?”

A girl standing nearby heard me and replied, “They say it’s supposed to make that sound on purpose.”

She was likely a fellow examinee.

She held a staff—though it looked far from impressive—with great care, suggesting she was a magic user.

She seemed younger than me, perhaps fifteen or sixteen.

That said, appearances in this world were deceptive.

After all, many races besides humans existed here.

Even if they looked identical to humans, their growth rates and lifespans were often entirely different.

So it wasn’t rare for someone who looked childlike to actually be far older than me.

For all I knew, this girl could be under ten—or already over a hundred.

Still, she was definitely here to take the entrance exam.

Aside from her staff, she was also holding a test admission ticket.

“On purpose?”

“Yes. I heard the doors were designed to make that noise.”

“Why would they do something so nonsensical?”

“The current Guildmaster apparently said it ‘makes it sound more impressive.’ I overheard some adventurers saying he even had a spell formula crafted just for the noise.”

“That’s… quite the eccentric.”

I had no idea what was supposed to be impressive about such a harsh, jarring sound.

It was moments like this that reminded me just how different this world’s sense of values could be.

Exasperated, I turned my gaze to the creaking door.

“Huh? Isn’t that…”

The person opening the heavy-looking doors was the same receptionist who had processed my paperwork the day before.

“Wouldn’t that look more impressive if some burly old guy did it instead?”

No matter how imposing the sound, if a slender woman opened the doors effortlessly by herself, the intended dramatic effect was completely ruined.

“I suppose so… Wait, everyone else already went inside.”

While we had been chatting about the door, the other examinees had already entered.

“We should hurry too.”

“Yeah. If they tell us to come back tomorrow because we were late, that would be ridiculous.”

Panicked, I hurried after the girl and entered the guild.

At the entrance, I called out to the receptionist from yesterday, “I made it without oversleeping today.”

She responded flatly, “Those taking the entrance exam, please line up in front of the back counter.”

Maybe she really didn’t like me.

“Got it. Thanks.”

I offered a quick word of thanks and headed with the girl toward the back counter.

The exam registration had already begun.

We joined the end of the line and, to pass the time until it was our turn, began introducing ourselves.

Her name was Nikka.

She had come from a farming village north of the capital, traveling with a friend to become an adventurer.

“Why aren’t you with your friend?”

Since she had mentioned coming to register with a friend, it seemed strange to find her alone, so I asked.

“She’s scheduled for the second session of the exam, so I believe she’s still asleep at the inn.”

According to Nikka, the entrance exams were divided into a “first session” and a “second session,” depending on the information provided in one’s application form.

“Nobody told me anything about first or second sessions.”

“Really?”

“All they said was that the test was today and not to be late.”

“Perhaps the receptionist simply forgot to mention it. She did seem quite busy.”

That female staff member had clearly been annoyed at having to deal with me. More than forgetting, I suspect she just wanted to get rid of me quickly.

“Well, it’s not like I needed to know anyway.”

Shifting my focus, I moved on to a different topic.

“Anyway, Nikka, you’re a healer, right?”

I had assumed she was a mage, but it turned out she was actually a healer who could use recovery magic.

“Yes, though I can only use basic healing spells for now.”

Even basic healing magic, with enough time, could mend most injuries and illnesses, so long as they weren’t critical. In standard situations, having even a single novice healer in a party was said to be sufficient.

Well, I can use healing magic too, actually.

“They say healing magic is hard to master and requires talent, which is why healers are so rare.”

At the frontier fortress, very few could wield healing spells. Still, the individuals stationed there were the elite, and those who did use healing magic were at least intermediate-level or higher, so they could manage with only a few.

“Talent?”

Nikka tilted her head in confusion at my words.

Now that I thought about it, this world didn’t use the word “talent” the same way we did.

“I mean… a natural aptitude, something you're born with.”

“A natural aptitude... I’ve been able to use healing magic naturally for as long as I can remember, so I never really thought about it.”

“That’s impressive.”

Recalling my own training with healing magic at the frontier fortress, I couldn’t help but smile wryly.

Unlike Nikka, I had neither aptitude nor natural ability. At the same time, memories of those who had patiently taught me despite that surfaced in my mind. I owed them more gratitude than I could ever express.

Because I lacked talent, learning healing magic required me to first acquire a firm understanding of human anatomy. That foundational knowledge was essential.

What made it particularly grueling was being forced to watch real-time treatment of injuries up close. In my previous life, I couldn’t stand the sight of blood and avoided even gory movies, so it had been hell for me.

I vomited more times than I could count while having information forcibly drilled into me. After that, I began treating actual patients under the supervision of other healers—people who were ill or wounded.

By continuously treating a seemingly endless stream of patients in the infirmary of the frontier fortress, I eventually became capable of using healing magic.

And yet, Nikka had been born with the ability to use such magic without experiencing any of that torment. While I understood it couldn’t be helped, it still stung for someone like me who had to fight for every scrap of progress.

“Learning healing magic is incredibly difficult. That’s why someone like you, who can use it naturally, is a rare find.”

“Is it really? I just assumed anyone could easily learn beginner healing spells.”

“Haha…”

“Mr. Toa, your face seems a little stiff—did something—?”

Just as she began asking, perhaps noticing my dry laugh and strained expression—

“Next, please.”

“Oh, that’s me!”

—her name was called by a staff member, cutting our conversation short.

“May I see your ticket?”

Prompted by the staff, Nikka hurriedly handed over the ticket she had been holding.

“Nikka, correct? Your exam will be held in Classroom Three on the second floor. Please proceed straight ahead after you climb the stairs.”

After glancing at the stairs, she turned back to me and said, “Let’s both make sure we pass,” before heading toward the exam hall.

“Next, please.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

I stepped forward, watching Nikka’s back as she disappeared down the corridor.

“May I see your ticket? …Mr. Toa, correct? Your room is—”

The receptionist suddenly paused, her expression turning strangely conflicted.

“Is something wrong?”

“N-No, nothing at all. Please proceed to Classroom Ten on the third floor.”

“The third floor? Not the second?”

“Yes. It’s rarely used, but…”

Rarely used? What did that mean?

Could it be because I was the only one who chose “everything” as my purpose?

“Please hurry. If you’re late, you’ll have to retake the exam tomorrow.”

“That soon? It’s already starting?”

“Yes. You’re the last candidate for the first session. Now go, quickly.”

Still feeling slightly unsettled, I rushed up the stairs as directed.

Once on the third floor, I found several doors lining the corridor. I checked the nameplates to find my classroom.

There were only four rooms on this floor: one belonged to the Guildmaster, and of the remaining three, two were labeled “Conference Room” and “Main Conference Hall.”

“Huh? This is it?”

It was the last remaining room.

There, clearly inscribed above the door, were the words: “Classroom Ten.”

But judging by the length of the hallway and the spacing between doors, the other rooms appeared considerably larger, whereas this one looked no bigger than a standard single room in a business hotel.

“Well, guess I’ll go in and see for myself.”

Feeling uncertain, I opened the door.

“…Cramped.”

As expected, the room was far too small to be called a “classroom.” Not even a window adorned the space. Inside were only two chairs and a single desk, a layout so spartan it would’ve been more honest to call it a storage closet.

Yet one of the chairs was already occupied.

Was he the examiner?

“Ah, you must be Toa.”

The boy who addressed me looked unmistakably like a child. Even if he stood up, he’d probably only reach my chest.

“I’m Theo, the instructor in charge of magic at the Preasole Kingdom’s Guild Headquarters.”

But I could tell that this child’s appearance belied his actual age.

Because—

“…An Elf.”

I couldn’t help but murmur as my eyes fell upon the elongated, pointed ears of the boy seated before me.

Elves were a race whose lifespans far exceeded that of humans. Their physical appearance made it nearly impossible to guess their true age. Which meant that even if he looked like a child, it wasn’t unusual for him to possess the qualifications to be an instructor.

Still, I couldn’t hide my surprise at seeing an elf—whose kind typically disdained relations with other races—serving as an examiner in the royal capital’s guild.

“Why is an elf in a place like this?”

Theo didn’t bristle at my question. Instead, he replied cheerfully, “Even elves become adventurers sometimes, you know. I’m sure you’re aware of that. Anyway, don’t just stand there, take a seat.”

“Ah… right.”

Elven adventurers did exist, but they were rarely seen in cities inhabited predominantly by humans.

That was because elves, more than any other race, harbored deep-seated animosity toward humans. But from Theo—smiling with genuine warmth across the table—I sensed none of that hostility.

As I sat down opposite him, Theo glanced over the documents on the desk and posed a few verification questions based on the information written there. Once I had answered them all, he nodded and tucked the documents away.

“Everything checks out. So, what kind of trial is this exam, exactly?”

“Exam? Ah yes, the exam. We’ll be moving to the testing grounds now.”

“We’re not doing it here?”

Theo shook his head lightly in response.

“This place is a bit inconvenient. That’s why the exam will be conducted in…”

He spread both arms wide as he spoke.

“…my dimensional space.”

As soon as he uttered those words, I felt the air around me—and around the entire classroom—begin to warp.

In the next instant, the desk, the chairs, Theo, and I were no longer inside the cramped room. The scenery had changed completely.

Before me stretched an endless meadow, boundless in every direction.

The sky was a pale violet, completely devoid of clouds.

And standing there, already waiting for me, were four men and women.

“This is the dimensional space where the exam takes place—”

As I surveyed the area aloud, I turned toward the group.

“And those people over there… are they the examiners?”

“Correct. You’re quite perceptive.”

Theo smiled faintly and rose to his feet, walking over to stand beside the four figures.

“But you see, there’s no exam. And you’ll never pass it—ever.”

He spun on his heel before them and delivered that declaration with eerie finality.

“What are you talking about?”

I slowly stood and questioned him.

All five of them—including Theo—let out mocking laughter.

Then the burly, heavily muscled man on the far right stepped forward, pointing a finger at me as he answered my question.

“Didn’t Theo just praise you for your sharp intuition? And yet you’ve missed the obvious. You’re going to die here today—killed by us, erased along with this dimensional space.”

“Why? Why are you trying to kill me?”

Even as I voiced the question, I had already begun to piece together the answer.

Still, I clung to a sliver of hope that it might all be a mistake.

But—

“Life’s tough for a noble, huh? The moment you become inconvenient, they just toss you aside.”

“Can’t be helped. Leaving behind estranged relatives with grudges is a good way to get yourself killed.”

“Nothing uglier than a succession dispute among nobles.”

“So yeah, that’s how it is. Don’t blame us, blame your older brother.”

Each of them took turns voicing the truths I didn’t want to hear.

Their tone was unnervingly casual, completely detached from the gravity of the act they were about to commit: the premeditated murder of a fellow human being.

So it really is like that.

Among the nobility, it wasn’t uncommon for someone to eliminate relatives who posed even a theoretical threat to their claim to power.

Still, I never imagined I’d be the target of such a scheme myself.

“I never wanted to be head of the family in the first place.”

“Doesn’t matter. People say they don’t want the position, then go behind the scenes, have the current head assassinated, and seize control. It happens all the time.”

Theo shrugged and continued.

“Well, enough chit-chat. We’ll ‘take care of’ you nice and quickly, before the Guildmaster gets in.”

He raised one hand toward me.

The others followed suit, drawing weapons and falling into combat stances.

Just by watching their smooth, coordinated movements, I could tell this wasn’t their first time doing something like this. They had murdered someone before, likely many times.

And on each of their faces remained the same derisive smirks they had worn earlier.

They clearly believed this would be yet another easy job.

Scoffing at their lack of professionalism, I retrieved both my staff and sword from storage: staff in my left hand, sword in my right.

“A sword and a staff? You serious? Never seen anyone dual-wield those before.”

“Some cocky kids think they can master both magic and swordsmanship, but holding both at once? That’s a new level of stupid.”

“Does he not know staffs work best when held in both hands?”

“Even if it were a dagger, that setup’s impractical. What an idiot.”

The so-called examiners—no, assassins—sneered at my choice of equipment.

Sure, they weren’t wrong. Two-handed wielding would allow for better mana flow and faster sword strikes.

But for me, this setup was simply the most efficient way to deal with multiple opponents.

“Appreciate the concern, but I’ll pass.”

I lifted my sword and pointed the tip at them.

Then, tapping my own shoulder with the staff, I flashed a confident grin.

“All right, let’s be clear. If you’re coming for my life, I assume you’re ready to stake yours as well. I won’t hold back, so whoever’s prepared to die first, step up.”

Mimicking their earlier jeers, I offered a faint chuckle and goaded them.

“Cocky little brat.”

“Putting on airs, aren’t we?”

Their words were dismissive, but their eyes now brimmed with murderous intent.

So it worked.

“You’ll know if it’s a bluff once you come at me.”

This time, I spun the tip of my staff toward them in a playful swirl.

To be honest, I didn’t feel even remotely threatened. But to ensure a flawless victory, it would be best to shake their composure first.

Anger might grant strength, but it also clouds judgment.

I knew that truth intimately.

“If you’re too scared to attack, then I guess I’ll just—”

Just as I raised my staff to cast a spell, the one assassin who had remained emotionless throughout—Theo—finally made his move.

Well then, time for the first one.

“You sure talk big for someone about to die, go on and drop dead.”

Theo channeled mana into his outstretched hand and began chanting a spell.

“【Blazing Hellfire】!”

To think he’d open with a high-tier fire spell, an advanced version of 【Blazing Tinder】—that was unexpected. Was it spite from being provoked, or had he sensed my true strength and chosen to skip the beginner-level incantations?

No matter the reason, I always masked my abilities to keep them from being detected. Unless one possessed an exceptionally high-level 【Appraisal】 skill, there was no way they could see through my concealment, and this Elf standing before me certainly wasn’t on that level.

So it was probably just wounded pride. Behind that smug grin, Theo was quietly seething. Perhaps he’d never been mocked before in his life.

“Burn to ashes!”

As he cackled maniacally, the torrent of hellfire surged toward me. But from within that inferno, I sensed motion—several presences shifting behind the flames.

“You know the drill. Let’s go!”

“Right!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“What a pain. But work is work.”

From the blaze of 【Blazing Hellfire】, three assassins emerged: one wielding a broadsword, another a dagger, and the third a morning star. The fourth had drawn a shortbow, its tip now aimed squarely at me. He must’ve had a magic tool for item storage.

Given they had someone capable of conjuring a dimensional pocket, it wasn’t surprising they had access to tools like that.

“Not bad coordination.”

I muttered as I observed the four approaching.

Even if their target somehow evaded or blocked the flames, the follow-up was a trio of close-range strikes—executed in perfect unison. And if, by some miracle, their prey withstood that too, the archer would finish the job. No escape, no survivors. That formation made it clear they were professionals, this wasn’t their first “assignment.”

“If I really were some pampered noble brat raised in a mansion, I guess this would’ve been enough.”

I raised the staff in my left hand, pointing it at the incoming flames, and quietly whispered a spell.

“【Shield Magic】.”

The moment the inferno was about to engulf me, a protective barrier materialized around my body. 【Blazing Hellfire】 slammed directly into it and detonated.

“He didn’t dodge—he used 【Shield Magic】?! There’s no way that could block Theo’s 【Blazing Hellfire】!”

“He probably thought if he just blocked the first strike, he’d be able to tank the rest. Idiot. Theo’s magic will blow right through a shield like that! That noble brat’s nothing but—”

A female assassin burst through the explosion’s smoke, dagger in hand, poised to deliver the killing blow.

But she never got the chance to finish her sentence.

“Gnk—!”

Still moving at full speed, she crashed headfirst into the 【Shield Magic】 surrounding me. Her face smashed into the barrier with a disgusting crunch, blood spurting from her nose as she crumpled to the ground.

While she lay exposed, stunned and defenseless, I brought down my sword in a single, unceremonious swing.

To her credit, even in that state, her eyes widened and she instinctively raised her dagger in an attempt to parry.

“Quick reflexes.”

But no ordinary blade could block mine, not when it was reinforced with enhancement magic.

“GYAAAHHHH!”

The sword didn’t slow for even a moment. It tore through the assassin’s body, slicing clean through her dagger and cleaving her torso. Blood and screams erupted as one.

“That’s one down.”

I shook the blood off my blade and set my sights on the next target.

Despite having just killed a person with my own hands, I felt no hesitation. Not even a flicker of guilt.

If this had happened back when I first arrived in this world—if I’d grown up as a proper noble, untouched by hardship—I might have still clung to the moral values of my previous life.

But the border fortress changed me.

The enemies I faced there weren’t just monsters.

There were factions—forces that saw the fortress as a threat to be eliminated. Not just enemy nations, but schemers from within, pulling strings in the shadows. The battles we fought weren’t always honorable. Sometimes they were brutal, treacherous.

I’d been forced to fight not only beasts, but fellow men. And after everything I’d seen, human screams no longer fazed me.

“Damn it…”

“This guy, he’s trouble.”

The assassins seemed rattled by the woman’s death. Two of them, who had been closing in, now hesitated a few paces away from my shield. Their reaction was faster than expected.

I’d hoped to take out another one in that same flow, but it seemed that wasn’t happening. Still, the outcome had only been delayed—not avoided.

“What’s wrong? Not coming?”

I threw out a casual taunt.

If they’d taken the bait, it would’ve made things easier but they weren’t that foolish. They kept their distance, wary now.

“—Then I’ll come to you.”

I raised my staff again—this time aiming it at the man by Theo’s side, the one ready to loose an arrow.

“Crap—”

“Get down!”

The two in front of me realized what I was doing, but it was already too late.

“【Lightning Arrow】.”

The moment I invoked it, an arrow of pure light materialized before me and instantly launched toward the archer.

He reflexively released his bow and twisted his body to dodge. His reaction was fast, he should have made it.

“GAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!”

But a scream rang out through the dimensional space.

The arrow twisted midair, altering its trajectory and pierced the archer’s body directly.

“The trajectory of the 【Lightning Arrow】... changed?”

Theo’s voice trembled with disbelief as he stared at his fallen comrade.

“That’s impossible. 【Lightning Arrow】 can’t do that.”

“Oh, but it can.”

“Bullshit! There’s no way some noble brat could pull that off!”

“Oh? Showing your true colors now, aren’t you, Elf? But just so you know, I’m not your average noble brat.”

As I spoke, the two remaining assassins leapt in, trying to take advantage of the opening created by my spell.

I turned toward them, slashing with my sword in a wide arc, cutting both down in one clean stroke.

Their instincts were sharp, striking while I was vulnerable. But they hadn’t realized that “vulnerability” was a trap.

They were too used to overpowering their targets. Too used to easy kills.

“N-No way…”

“Both of us… at the same time…?”

I looked down at the two motionless bodies, flicked the blood off my sword, and then pointed the blade toward Theo.

“Well, any last words?”

“Who… who the hell are you?!”

He screamed, trembling, his face pale with terror.

“That’s your final question?”

I chuckled softly.

“Well, I’ll humor you. If I had to say… I guess you could call me the top disciple of some heroes.”

“Heroes? Top disciple?”

“Yeah. You don’t need to understand. And you won’t need to think about it either, because you’re about to die right here.”

With that, I unleashed a bolt of lightning from my staff, aimed to end it all.

—

Next→