Ch.106Final Exams (3)

“Lezia Pillots.

The protagonist of the original work ‘The World as Seen by the Young Prince,’ a girl who holds a place in Class A with her upper-tier grades.

At the same time, she was also considered one of the greatest summoning talents of the modern era.

However, just as good seeds don’t always bloom, even the greatest talent needs time to mature.

Being still inexperienced, the protagonist had various problems.

Especially recently, her worries had grown deeper.

“What should I do…?”

The origin of her troubles lay in her ability.

From the time she first began communing with her summons until now, the protagonist had a consistent challenge.

It was the fact that she couldn’t freely activate her ability.

The miracle of dragons.

This must be the necessary side effect of realizing such power.

In reality, transcendent beings could overturn natural laws with a single breath, so it was too much for a fragile girl to fully contain such a miracle.

Like trying to fit an ocean into a pot.

“I… I succeeded… I was scared, but I overcame it.”

“I wanted to be helpful to you, even just once.”

Of course.

Lezia had already overcome that limitation once before.

Despite the fear of walking on a knife’s edge, she had discovered how to bloom without wilting.

It was thanks to a single tender affection for someone precious.

However, after that learning experience, a new reaction had formed—her heart had tilted toward depending too much on that moment.

The girl felt her fear disappear only when that person was by her side.

In other words.

“I can’t do it when I’m alone…”

All her feelings were being controlled by him.

It was difficult to properly control her ability.

The process leading up to summoning was always successful.

But even if she called forth a transcendent being, how long she could hold it in this world depended entirely on the summoner’s capability.

Sometimes they would disappear in less than 10 seconds.

In the girl’s case, it was like rolling dice.

Depending on her condition that day, the summon might last a long time or disappear before even exhaling a single breath.

Her ability fluctuated as unstably as the summoner’s inner state.

But.

When she was by the snake’s side, things were different.

“I believe without a doubt.”

“That Lezia will become a star brighter than anyone else.”

“Of course, until then, I’ll stay by your side.”

Perhaps because that moment had remained such an intense memory.

Being near the snake was uniquely comforting.

It felt like all the world’s worries disappeared.

When all concerns scattered like dust and only the breath of the person she depended on remained, Lezia could activate her ability without any flaws.

She could maintain her summon in the best possible condition.

‘Because you were there.’

The only person who believed in her insignificant self.

The person who made her forget her weakness.

That’s why the protagonist couldn’t help but give her heart to the snake.

The two words of dependence.

“Um… Sir.”

“Yes, Lezia?”

“About the practical exam, I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor?”

This final exam was important to the girl.

As it was the semester’s conclusion witnessed by the entire student body, it was an opportunity to proudly prove herself to those who had mocked her.

For that, she needed to show overwhelming results.

Although.

Since she had been admitted on the Dean’s recommendation, she wouldn’t be expelled, but she didn’t want to keep barely hanging on to Class A like this.

She wanted to proudly declare her qualifications in front of those who subtly looked down on her.

Through that, she wanted to stand by the boy’s side.

She wanted to contribute even a little to his brilliant light.

That’s why the girl made her request.

“Could you possibly come watch my match during tomorrow’s practical exam?”

A step forward.

Asking him to watch over her inexperienced self.

***

On the day of the practical exam.

Many people gathered at the public training ground where the test was being held.

Even excluding those waiting for their turn, students from other grades and faculty members densely filled the seats.

The widely spread spectator stands were bustling with noise.

All were people who had come to watch.

Eyes uniformly tinged with anticipation.

Everyone was watching the circular arena.

Perhaps because it was one of the most notable events in the academy, students of all grades seemed interested in observing.

Especially on the first day, there were matches that attracted attention in many ways.

“The 6th test will begin shortly.”

“Students taking this test, please move according to the announcement.”

The 6th test.

It was the match Lezia was participating in.

[Test #6]

[Lezia Pillots vs. Britten Bladers]

As always.

Tests conducted as duels starkly reveal the gap between opponents.

In other words, they clearly show who is stronger and who is weaker.

This particular matchup garnered special attention from spectators since it pitted Lezia, the lowest-ranked student in Class A, against Britten, the top student in Class B.

After all, this exam could potentially change class assignments for the second semester.

“If he does well, Britten might move up a class, right?”

“Does the other one drop to Class B?”

“It’s not that simple… but there’s a possibility, isn’t there? If he completely dominates, it might happen.”

“Seems entirely possible. The opponent is so weak after all.”

Lezia Pillots.

There was much talk about her.

Though she had proven her ability by controlling a dragon, that had happened in the desert, another world entirely.

Most of the academy still didn’t know about the girl.

The only image of Lezia that students remembered was her miserable state at the beginning of the semester during the class assignment test, when she was brutally trampled by the villainess.

She remained labeled as overrated, someone who couldn’t even properly control her own ability.

“What about this time? Who are you betting on?”

“Without a doubt, Britten.”

“The other one hasn’t shown anything. Meanwhile, Britten has consistently held the top position in Class B throughout the semester.”

“She doesn’t have that overwhelming feeling like the other Class A students…”

“I really can’t understand how she passed the entrance exam in the first place.”

“Like we would know.”

Perhaps it was inevitable.

Gallimar Academy was filled with fierce competition.

She was too easy a target.

There were also many rumors about her trying to mingle with nobles despite not knowing her place.

The opinion was that despite being a commoner of unknown birth, she was trying to cling to the children of prestigious families like Judas and Amelia.

The higher position one appears to hold weakly, the more mercilessly it gets torn apart.

“I heard she summons something really impressive?”

“A wyvern? Wasn’t that just a rumor?”

“There are various opinions about that. Some kids say it’s a made-up rumor, while others say she can control a dragon but her skill is terrible.”

“Either way, Britten’s victory seems like a foregone conclusion.”

“That’s true.”

Some students even believed her ability was fake.

Since there was no training exchange between different classes in principle, unless they were in the same class, they couldn’t verify the truth of the rumors.

At the very least, the opportunities to demonstrate her ability had long since passed.

It wasn’t strange that some people didn’t believe.

“Let’s see how badly she gets crushed.”

“I bet it’ll be over in 5 minutes.”

“5 minutes? Then I’ll go with 3 minutes.”

“I just hope she doesn’t do anything too pathetic.”

Students whispering gossip among themselves.

To most, the girl seemed like a flower broken by the roadside.

But they didn’t know.

That despite the dark dawn spreading between the leaves, the protagonist had ultimately borne beautiful fruit.

It didn’t take long for public opinion to reverse.

“Contestants, please wait at your designated positions.”

“The test will proceed as a duel. The test ends when one opponent is subdued or incapacitated.”

“Additionally, the test will end if one side surrenders.”

It happened with the first sentence announcing the start of the match.

Right after the announcement sounded.

“Ready… begin!”

Before the opponent could make any attempt, the girl’s lips uttered a faint call.

A silence that echoed barely audibly.

A voice that, though momentary, dominated the surrounding air.

“Lend me your strength.”

Transcending.

“Ephri.”

The next moment.

A cry that seemed to collapse the world came from the sky.

With a single wingbeat clearing the white clouds spread across the sky, a massive creature landed precisely in the center of the circular arena.

The cool autumn air heated up from that being’s presence.

Only surprised screams filled the spectator stands.

However, even those noises were erased by a terrifying roar.

It was the dragon’s roar.

KUOOOOO-!!

A majesty that delivered bone-shattering fear throughout the arena.

Before the dragon, which bowed its head as if submitting, stood a pink-haired girl gently stroking its nose.

Her pupils shone, perhaps due to the flickering flames.

The instantly transformed atmosphere captivated the audience.

Lezia extended her hand.

“Everything.”

The command that followed was execution.

Total Incineration.

“Burn it all.”

Grrrrrr-!

Blazing flames gathered in the massive mouth, followed by a white flash that engulfed the entire arena.

It was a spectacle of brilliance that could deceive the midday sun into thinking there were two of them.

***

Just 10 seconds.

That was how long it took for the test to end.

“Everything… burn it all.”

In fact, by the time she was murmuring that spell, her opponent was already losing consciousness and collapsing.

It wasn’t pressure that a student-level person could withstand.

Just making eye contact briefly was enough to make the boy, who had been evaluated as Class B’s top student, foam at the mouth and collapse.

The same was true for other students sitting in the spectator stands.

Though they were safe thanks to the barrier between the arena, students here and there complained of nausea.

I was enjoying the ensuing cries.

“Stop! Match over!”

It was none other than the supervisor who ended the situation.

Perhaps realizing it was becoming dangerous.

The professor who was observing the test jumped in and blocked the flames Ephri was spewing with a massive shield.

Though he clearly minimized the damage by coating it with magic.

The outside of the shield was already melting from the extreme heat.

“What in the…”

The professor was bewildered.

It was fortunate that the attacking side had belatedly controlled its power; if it had swept through at maximum output, the defense might not have been guaranteed.

Perhaps it might have been consumed. The thought seemed to make cold sweat run down his face.

Even amid all this, the dragon continued to roar.

KUOOOOO-!

“Ahem.”

I quietly observed.

As the head teaching assistant, I was accompanying Lezia’s match from the closest position.

It was to fulfill the girl’s request.

“Could you possibly come watch my match during tomorrow’s practical exam?”

I was a bit surprised at the time.

That after long deliberation, her request was merely this.

My inflated expectations were somewhat deflated.

Of course, since I had planned to watch anyway, I gladly agreed to the girl’s request.

Thanks to that, I was able to spend time enjoying an interesting spectacle.

“Britten Bladers is judged defeated. The winner is Lezia Pillots.”

The hastily sounding announcement.

The unusually agitated voice contained news of the protagonist’s victory.

Behind it followed the supporting characters’ astonishment.

“W-what did I just see?”

“A wyvern…?”

“She really could summon it?! I thought it was all nonsense until now…!”

“I told you it was real!”

“Just hearing its roar made me feel like my whole body was being crushed with fear…”

“…I think I wet myself.”

“You’re crazy.”

Reactions flipped in an instant.

The words that had mocked the girl until just before disappeared, and only admiring responses covered the spectator stands.

Ridicule shatters in an instant when faced with overwhelming power.

Unable to even think about enjoying such exhilaration, our protagonist runs toward me as soon as the match ends.

Those green eyes were sparkling brightly.

“I did it! Sir!”

Whoosh-!

The girl threw herself into my arms.

It was somewhat sudden skinship, but I decided to let it pass without comment.

In this situation, praise should come first.

“Well done. That was truly magnificent.”

“Hehe…!”

“I suppose you really do deliver when it counts.”

“T-that’s… because you were by my side, Sir.”

“To think you’ve even mastered humility.”

I embrace her slender back.

The warmth that fits in my arms.

While warming the autumn temperature with that warmth, I stroke her soft hair with my hand.

It was an affectionate embrace, almost suggesting lovers.

After staying like that for a few minutes.

“…Ah.”

The girl belatedly stiffens.

Perhaps she became self-aware.

On the screen displayed largely above the arena, two people embracing each other were being broadcast.

Truly bold contact in front of the entire student body.

“Uh, um, ah…?”

Her white face instantly turns red.

Becoming a hot tomato.

Not long after, the protagonist awkwardly tries to separate from my body.

I deliberately teased her by holding her tight and trapping her between my arms so she couldn’t escape from the screen.

Her panicked fluttering was quite a sight to see.

“S-Sir…?!”

“My… having expended so much energy, you must rest. Please lean on me and relax.”

“No, th-this isn’t the situation for…!”

A bit of commotion.

With that intimacy in the background, the practical exam concluded.

It was a successfully completed schedule.

***

Meanwhile.

After all the practical exams ended.

“Hmm… so you’re the one? The person who’s supposedly my doctor’s lover.”

The rose looking down at the shrinking summoner asks.

Despite leaning on a wheelchair, her leaf-like eyes were shining brightly.

A cold gaze pierces Lezia.

“Hieek…!”

The girl cowers, thoroughly frightened.

Though she tries to shake her head desperately, what returns is invariably a vicious thorn.

“I-it’s not like that… I just, without thinking, because I was happy.”

“So what?”

“……”

“I didn’t particularly ask for a reason.”

“Sniff…”

“Why are you about to cry? I haven’t said anything yet. Do I look that temperamental to you?”

“N-no…!”

“No?”

“Ah, uuu… S-Sir, please help me, please…”

A voice desperately sending a rescue request.

The vulnerable protagonist had to remain crushed under the princess’s atmosphere for a while.”