Sakuramoria

Velfazif is one of the oldest and most respected houses of Tioske. Gideon is its youngest heir, known for his family's characteristic penchant for machinery and high technology. Some called him unsociable, indifferent, and selfish, yet there were also those who said the complete opposite. Regardless of the truth, he spent a significant portion of his time at home in his room, cluttered with blueprints, books by famous scientists, and tools, resembling an improvised workshop — his favorite pastime was studying, modeling, and constructing various items. He dreamed of making a brilliant invention — a discovery that would change the world. That way, he would surpass his older brothers, elevate his family name to an international level, make his parents proud, gain fame, and stand alongside the great figures of history.

The dim, flickering flame of a candle cast light on a table piled with volumes by famous inventors, technical specifications, and parts. Gideon looked at the incomprehensible contraption before him, with bolts sticking out and clumsy forms, with vexation and disappointment. This time, he had tried to create an innovative weapon capable of felling the sturdiest opponent in an instant — but this thing lacked power and was falling apart before his eyes. Heaving a heavy sigh, he turned away, walked to the window, and threw it wide open. The fresh night air washed over him, dispelling despair and fatigue. Behind him, the papers on the table stirred, and the candle flame swayed dangerously. Another failure... He had no understanding of how to create something new that even simply worked, let alone something outstanding. What would help him gain this understanding?

The young man turned around, his gaze falling upon a newspaper lying on the edge of the table. "NAILS announces student recruitment" — read the headline of an article in plain sight. The decision was not long in coming.

The entrance exam.

1. You are a traveler who has stopped to catch your breath and recuperate in a demon village that you came across on your way. You were received very well, but at some point during your stay, a squad of demon hunters appeared at the village's doorstep. The squad leader offers you to leave peacefully and allow him to carry out his mission. Without your help, the village will likely be destroyed, whereas your involvement guarantees the demons' victory, but at the risk of losing your life. What do you do and why?

The situation seemed strangely familiar, although Gideon could swear nothing like this had ever happened to him. Maybe he had dreamed something similar recently?... Regardless, it took him a while to remember that demons are the inhabitants of Eolia who became outcasts. But Eolia is in a completely different part of the world, what's the point of a question about it on this exam?
d) Your own option.

In my opinion, the situation is described too narrowly and unambiguously. Since the outcomes are so obvious, and I have absolutely no obligations to the demons other than needing to show gratitude for their warm welcome — which is sufficiently expressed with words and some kind of gift — it all comes down purely to common sense. Common sense dictates that I should point out the demons' good faith to the hunters, but pleas for them to retreat are unnecessary, as is participation in the battle on either side.

2. You are the captain of the city guard and are investigating a murder case involving your subordinates in broad daylight.
Crime scene: Tifa Lit's house. Signs of a fierce struggle are visible at the entrance to the house, there is a smell of medication, burn marks from magic and cold weapon strikes are noticeable on the interior; traces of gunpowder are only present in one room — where Nicholas was killed. <...> Can you determine the sequence of events and name the culprits?

The guy looked at the many letters in confusion, then at the pile of appendices with additional sheets of text. All of this — for just one question among many? He suddenly doubted whether he really wanted to enroll in NAILS. What the hell was he supposed to analyze some excerpts from a crime chronicle for on an entrance exam, and in such quantity at that?

Here, on the contrary, the situation is described too broadly — an abundance of information all lumped together. To reconstruct the true sequence of events and build a complete picture, more than one investigation would need to be opened, as it's obvious that several incidents occurred which, although connected, may have different culprits, not necessarily present at the scene. Regarding the murder of the guardsmen, it's extremely simple — based on the condition of the bodies, Ailis and Rulka are responsible for their deaths, Pants also confessed to involvement; the others require further investigation.

3. You are a traveler who has taken a job from the mayor of City M; your duties are patrolling the surroundings and apprehending/eliminating violators. In a forest not far from City M, you find a group of violators which also includes the mayor's son. During negotiations, it turns out that the mayor plans to kill a large number of people in order to magically improve his health, and the violators are trying to prevent him from doing so. The violators offer to part ways peacefully, what are your actions?

The student thought. Then he thought again. And again. But instead of an answer, only questions surfaced in his mind.

Same as the question about the hunters, only here nothing is clear at all. In which case is it prescribed to apprehend or eliminate? Why exactly were these people perceived as violators? Maybe they are murderers pursuing my friends? In short, without more precise information, I can't see how to give a truly well-founded answer here, but lacking the ability to obtain it, I choose the option that preserves lives — to part ways with the violators peacefully.

4. You are a student at the military academy of a mighty empire, and on one holiday, unexpectedly but with all due ceremony, the empress herself visits its halls surrounded by her retinue. It is expected of you and the other students that you approach Her Majesty, kneel, touch her boot with your lips, carefully wipe it with a handkerchief, thank her for such an honor, and accept a wrapped gift. What do you do?

Imagining the described event, Gideon grimaced. The compiler of this exam truly has an unhealthy imagination. One simply cannot avoid answering this in kind.

The unexpected intrusion of the empress with her expectations, perverse even by aristocratic standards, evokes sincere disgust. I approach her and with great feeling tell her how deeply struck and admiring I am of her nobility and beauty, how I have long dreamed of seeing her in person even out of the corner of my eye, and how shocked I now am to be so close to her, after which I fall into a deep faint from the excess of overwhelming charm (actually from a fit of disgust) and remain in it until she leaves.

5. You are a princess of a small kingdom, whose capital has a crime problem. While patrolling the city streets, you notice a suspicious group of foreigners. When you try to stop them for questioning, one of them starts insulting and threatening you in every way. The fate of this man and his companions lies in your hands (or rather, those of the group of riders accompanying you). What do you do and why?

The young man couldn't help but chuckle. The situation itself is rather comical; it would need some extra seasoning. And here he thought it was a serious exam... Although after the previous questions, it was already clear that at least partially, this is someone's sick joke.
i) I will be impressed by his bravery and marry him.

I'm a princess, seriously? I can't perceive this question as anything other than a joke, so such is the answer.

6. You are a citizen of an empire with great class inequality, and you have the opportunity to join one of the political factions to change the order of things in the country. Which faction's goals are closest to you (you may determine your own social status in this society)?

Scanning the list of options with his eyes, the guy realized that none of them interested him and wondered what relevance this had to Sakumoriam, divided into prefectures, each with its own traditions.
k) I will not join anyone.

I did not find among the listed options a faction advocating for technological progress, so I am not joining anyone.

7. While traveling through the desert with your friends, you come across a merchant. He offers to buy some unfamiliar fruits from him at a good price. According to him, they taste very bad but are extremely healthy. Will you try them?

After glancing at this question, Gideon re-read the previous ones and found it amusing that only this one hinted at performing a group action rather than an individual one, and also marveled once again at their trickiness and inappropriateness.

I don't really like eating things that don't taste good, so probably not. I hope my friends won't chase after dubious health benefits and convince me by their example to do the same.

8. What, in your opinion, are the pros and cons of being tall or short and having large/small breasts? What role do these physical characteristics play in our society and on the battlefield?

At this question, Gideon's patience finally snapped. Grinding his teeth, he clenched the quill in his hand until it hurt and wrote:

I'm tired of answering your fu strange questions.

Pressing his hand to his forehead and closing his eyes, he sat like that for about ten seconds. Coming to his senses, he crossed out the entire phrase. After a little thought, he additionally smeared it with ink so that not a single word could be made out, then wrote below:

Tall height
+ you look impressive
- you scrape your head on passages
Short height
+ you can get into places others can't
- you look insignificant

Regarding the chest, see the answers of those who have one.

The remaining questions looked unexpectedly sensible, but Gideon was already too psychologically drained to write much about them.

9. Express your thoughts on Sakumoriam.

Sakumoriam is a progressive and highly cultured state with many wonderful traditions.

10. What are your expectations from the time spent at NAILS.

To define my views on life and acquire skills that will lead to success.

27.01.3979/Tioske/174-M-IV

Attack: 15
Health: 110
Defense: 0
Accuracy: 10
Evasion: 10
Speed: 10
Will: 10
Intellect: 14
AP: 3
Critical: 0%
Event Points: 1
Bonus: -15% to the cost of learning high-tech skills.

Inventory: personalized modified pistol, skillfully crafted rapier, personally assembled wristwatch, cloak with family crest — a hawk clutching a chisel in its claws, the book "Technologies of the Future" by Trillium A. Seiso, clothing, money.