Chapter 35
A few days later, exam day finally arrived.
The academy’s midterms consisted of two parts: written and practical exams.
The first two days were for written exams, and the remaining three for practicals.
The practical portion was further divided into three events. First up was the promotion match.
A one-on-one duel in which a cadet from a lower class challenged one from a higher class.
‘Next midterm. The promotion match then. I’ll give it everything I’ve got and beat you. If you disappoint me like this again…’
This was the promotion match he’d been talking about.
Cadets from higher classes couldn’t refuse challenges from those in lower classes, and losing could get them demoted.
Of course, demotion wasn’t automatic. If they did well in the exams that followed, they could avoid it.
The second event was a death match.
Ten people fought at once. It was the practical evaluation—and the most important one.
The final event was the ranking challenge.
The ranking challenge. Its format was the same as the promotion match.
You could only challenge someone in your own class, though, and if the challenger lost, they’d definitely be demoted—a terrifying penalty.
On the other hand, winning meant an immediate rise in rank. High risk, high reward, as they say.
‘I’m in Class A, too, so I’ll challenge you in the ranking match. I’ll beat you then.’
That was what I’d said back then.
…Why had I lived such an embarrassing life?
‘Ahem. Anyway.’
It was a little embarrassing, but I had no intention of taking back what I’d said.
It wasn’t as if Ian would be demoted if I beat him. He’d only drop one place in the rankings.
I’ll beat the crap out of you, Ian.
-Flinch!
“I suddenly got a chill…”
“Again? Are you sure you’re not actually sick?”
I ignored Ian and Arin’s banter.
…
The written exams… well, they were over in no time.
“Ah… It’s finally over…”
“How’d you do?”
“Not well? I guessed on everything at the end.”
Some brag.
-Bonk!
“Ow! Why’d you hit me?!”
“That’s your punishment.”
“Grr! How well did you do, El?!”
“Me? Of course I got them all. It was easy.”
“Ah?!”
She sure found a lot of ways to say “Ah.”
“El got every question right on the entrance exam, too. This should be easy for her.”
“Ah?! You got every question right? Is El a genius?!”
“Heh. I am pretty smart.”
In truth, it was all thanks to the effectiveness of Korean-style cramming.
Still, unlike in my previous life, when I’d forget everything a few days later, I could remember it all now. Didn’t that mean I could call myself smart?
“But the exams aren’t over yet. The practicals start tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah. Brace yourself, Ian. I’m taking the top spot from you in the ranking challenge.”
“Hmph. Don’t cry when you get demoted.”
“El! Send Ian flying! I’ll be cheering you on, too!”
“Of course. Leave it to me.”
I wasn’t going to let my guard down like I had during the entrance exam.
…
The next day. The first day of practical exams dawned.
Though Ian and Arin, who were near the top of Class A, probably wouldn’t have to do anything today.
Most likely, as the lowest-ranked student in Class A, I’d be called up a lot.
They were probably thinking, “The bottom-ranked one should be an easy target!”
Sorry, guys! You’re all getting sliced up by me.
“And now, the academy’s first written exam event! The promotion match begins~!”
-Waaaaah!
Is this an exam or a festival?
The academy’s practical exams were usually held like festivals.
Of course, ordinary people could attend, too.
Wouldn’t some unknown person come in and commit a terrorist attack?
The academy could handle catching them just fine.
Wow! The academy is competent!
“Then we’ll begin with Class B’s promotion match! Contestant, come forward!”
At the host’s announcement, a student who looked to be from Class E stepped into the dueling arena.
More importantly, “contestant”… This was a whole show.
“Contestant, whom would you like to challenge?”
“I’d like to challenge Cadet El of Class A.”
Sigh… I knew it.
I’d expected to be called, but I hadn’t thought it would happen this quickly.
“Know your place! El! Go teach that person a lesson!”
“Yeah, El. Go play with him.”
Ian reacted calmly, as if he’d expected this, while Arin was even angrier than the person involved.
A few other students who knew my skill were looking at the Class B cadet with pity.
“Cadet El of Class A has been chosen! Cadet El, to the arena!”
With the host’s exaggerated announcement, I stepped into the arena.
“I’m Saia of Class B. I look forward to our match.”
“I’m El of Class A. Likewise.”
Oh? Saia might be a little stronger than I expected.
If Saia fought the twenty-ninth-ranked student who’d looked down on me on the first day, Saia would probably win.
Too bad. Saia had been too cautious.
“Then! Begin!”
At the host’s signal, Saia charged at me.
The weapon in Saia’s hand was a single-edged sword. Basically, a katana-like sword.
Used poorly, it was about as useless as a weapon could be, but in skilled hands, it had the best cutting power.
A weapon with a romantic feel.
I dodged Saia’s thrust by a hair’s breadth.
Then I closed in.
“Wha…!”
“You picked the wrong opponent.”
-Flick!
“Ow!”
I flicked Saia lightly on the forehead.
That alone was enough to show the difference in our skills.
“Want to keep going?”
“No. I surrender. The road to Class A is long.”
Hmm… I think I’m just the weird one here.
“Ooooooh! Cadet El has neutralized Cadet Saia with a single forehead flick!”
-Waaaaah!
As Saia surrendered, the host shouted out the result.
The audience’s cheers rose up along with the host’s announcement.
…This feels kind of nice.
“Ahem.”
Grinning, I waved to the audience.
-Waaaaah!
-So cool!
The cheers grew even louder.
Oh no. I can’t control the corners of my mouth.
I could feel Saia staring at me in bewilderment, but that was probably my imagination.
I could also feel Ian and Arin staring at me in disbelief from far away, but that was probably my imagination, too!
For now, I was just going to enjoy the attention!
…
After enjoying the attention for a while, I left the arena.
Then reality hit me hard.
…Why did I do that?
I’d known for a while that I had a bit of a need for attention, but maybe it had gotten out of hand because I hadn’t received any lately.
“A bit?”
“Just go with that and move on.”
Anyway.
“Next, a contestant from Class C will enter!”
Already?
“Was there only one student from Class B doing a promotion match? That’s unusual.”
“You’re right. Usually, there are even five.”
Yeah, no kidding.
“Well… at least it’ll be over quickly.”
If no one challenged anyone, that meant it would be over soon.
“I wonder who’ll be picked from Class B. Hope it’s someone worth watching…”
“I’m Rishur from Class C! I challenge the top student of Class A!”
“What?”
…Did I hear that wrong?
“…El. Did Rishur say they were challenging me?”
“Uh… if I heard right, yeah?”
“That’s what I heard, too…”
“Unbelievable! Contestant Rishur is challenging the top student! If Rishur loses badly, they could be demoted instead!”
“I don’t care. I only got a low rank on the entrance exam because I wasn’t in good shape. I deserve to be the top student!”
“There you have it! Top student Ian, please come to the arena!”
“Hmm… I’ll be back?”
“Uh… good luck.”
I couldn’t believe anyone was that gutsy.
If you challenged someone far stronger than you and got crushed, you could be demoted instead of promoted.
And yet, Rishur was picking a fight with Ian, the top student…
“Should we call that stupid or brave?”
“I think stupid is the right answer.”
“Right?”
That’s what I thought, too.
Anyway, since he’d been called, Ian stepped into the arena.
“I’m Rishur of Class C. You’d better not look down on me just because I’m in Class C.”
“…I can see that.”
Huh? Ian’s reaction was odd. Was Rishur stronger than I’d thought?
When I focused for a moment, I sensed an aura stronger than I’d expected.
Ohhh. So Rishur did have the skill to be confident.
Rishur definitely didn’t belong in Class C.
Rishur wouldn’t have looked out of place in Class A, either. But…
“Then the duel begins!”
But that was as far as it went.
“Here I come!”
“Sure.”
Rishur charged at Ian, swinging a massive axe.
The axe wrapped in vivid black magic power made Rishur look pretty strong, but…
“Haaah!”
“Huh…?”
-KABOOM!
Rishur was no match at all for Ian’s brilliant golden sword aura.
Rishur’s axe shattered with a single swing.
Rishur stared at it as if unable to understand what had happened.
…Poor guy.
“Ah! One strike! Rishur’s axe has been broken with just one blow!”
“That’s impossible…”
Still, Rishur was skilled enough to have been the top student.
Just not in a golden generation like this one, but in the worst generation.