Ch.117117. Delving In (4)

Midterm Exams.

Like spring rain that suddenly arrives when cherry blossoms are at their most beautiful, midterm exams approached just as the freshmen were enjoying their time the most. During exam periods, the magic tower invariably falls into silence. The gloomy groans of professors… no, teaching assistants suffering headaches from creating exam questions, combined with the agony of students who had begun studying, created scenes reminiscent of some bizarre cult ritual.

“…Does anyone know the exam coverage for ‘Introduction to Circle Magic Theory’?”

In the student cafeteria, Yujin cautiously brought up the topic. It was a mandatory basic course for both knights and mages. How could someone not keep track of exam coverage when they’d barely been in school since enrollment? Kora glared at Yujin with that reproachful expression.

“I don’t know. Probably everything we’ve covered so far. Study on your own.”

“Won’t you please save this poor lost lamb just once?”

“Cut the crap. Shut up and study. You’re just hoping to mooch off my notes.”

Perhaps it was knightly of her, or maybe she was just irritable because of exam season. Kora’s words were blunt. A mage begging to be taught about magic, while a knight looked at him with contempt. Nearby freshmen watched this unusual scene with curiosity.

“Natalie… help me just this once. I already knew most of the class content, so I couldn’t focus properly during lectures. Just tell me what’s covered and what’s not…”

Natalie kept her head down, completely ignoring Yujin’s begging. Yujin looked back and forth between Natalie and Kora with a dissatisfied expression. Of course, both of them easily ignored his gaze.

“Why have you been so sullen these past few days?”

Yujin asked Natalie, but she showed no reaction. Already a woman of few words, Natalie now seemed to have glue on her lips, refusing to speak at all. Her brow was always slightly furrowed, and her eyes seemed unfocused even when walking. Now she was staring at a book, but whether she was actually studying was questionable, as the pages weren’t turning at all.

“…Fine. You might have some troubles you can’t talk about.”

As Yujin made his own interpretation and tapped his textbook, a note suddenly appeared before his eyes. Yujin picked it up indifferently, then grinned when he saw its contents.

‘Chapters 1 through 4, up to page 102.’

Yujin looked at Kora, who had passed him the note, with sparkling eyes. Kora shook her head and focused on her own work. Smiling broadly, Yujin finally opened his book and began studying with his pen.

‘…That attack.’

Meanwhile, Natalie could only think about the Hero’s movements. Those eyes that perfectly caught her speed. Movements that were several steps ahead of her. Natalie knew she lacked the experience to defeat the Hero through movement alone. What had helped her respond to the Hero’s attacks was instinct. Instinctively twisting her body, blocking attacks, and minimizing damage.

‘Next time I’ll see it.’

And those ten or so minutes were precious combat experience for Natalie, serving as the foundation for her growth and filling in her lack of experience.

‘If Ms. Natalie can better utilize that power in the next extended class, I’ll consider sparring. There are better methods than forcing your way through like today.’

The Hero had said this with a smile. Natalie exhaled as she looked at the target’s smile.

‘For the next assignment I prepare. If you can complete it within five lives, I’ll consider sparring.’

Right. She still had far too little information about the Hero. She needed more combat experience and learning. That was the purpose of her infiltration. Natalie looked at Yujin and Kora. An opportunity that would be lost not after five attempts, but if even one of them died. How could she train these two to survive?

“So Natalie, are you actually studying?”

Natalie responded to Yujin’s words for the first time. Yujin couldn’t hide his surprise at Natalie’s glaring gaze.

“What? Why are you suddenly looking at me like that? Did something happen?”

Natalie shook her head and dropped her gaze back to her book. She needed to make those two more accustomed to combat before the next special lecture. There had to be a good way.

“…’Basic Understanding and Exploration of Monster Combat.’ Did the professor mention how that exam will be conducted?”

“I don’t know. Since it’s a practical exam, we probably won’t be using paper and pen. The professor himself wouldn’t want to conduct the exam that way either.”

As if finding a clue in Kora and Yujin’s conversation, Natalie suddenly raised her head. Both of them flinched at her sudden movement, and Natalie placed her hand firmly on the book and said:

“We need to train.”

“Suddenly?”

“Basic Understanding and Exploration of Monster Combat. Don’t you all want to get good scores?”

Yujin and Kora hesitantly nodded. This wasn’t simply about grades or getting an A+. It was an opportunity to impress the Hero. A chance to grow significantly. Though she had been doubtful about the subject, now those doubts had all faded.

“Of course… It’s a much more important exam than just some major course.”

Whether he was already tired of studying or truly believed the exam was important, Yujin unusually agreed with Natalie, his eyes shining. Introduction to Circle Magic Theory? If he failed, he could just retake it, but this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Even the model student Kora couldn’t completely deny this.

“Then how do you propose we train? We don’t have the authority to activate barriers.”

“Training grounds.”

Natalie said this as she closed her book and stood up. Yujin and Kora hurriedly gathered their book bags and stood up as well. Among the three, Natalie was the most independent and stubborn. Yujin and Kora were occasionally swept along by her.

“…You’re not planning to face us yourself, are you?”

Yujin and Kora hastily followed Natalie. She walked out of the library without hesitation and headed toward the training grounds with familiar steps. An ominous feeling crept up their spines. Perhaps they should have stayed in the library to study. The three of them walked through the campus, where spring breezes were beginning to blow, receiving curious glances from others until they reached the main entrance of the training grounds.

“You two are weak individually.”

Natalie said as she flung open the door to the training grounds. Yujin furrowed his brows at her words, while Kora nodded very slowly as if accepting it. They didn’t feel like objecting because they had witnessed Natalie’s skills firsthand.

“You’re quite judgmental for a fellow first-year. Well, from your perspective, I guess that’s not wrong.”

Yujin grumbled but accepted Natalie’s words. He was confident he wouldn’t lose to anyone in the academy across all years, but Natalie was already a monster beyond academy standards.

“Right. It’s not appropriate for a commoner without even a family name to speak that way to the son of House Greyson and the daughter of House Poison. I wonder how great you think you are.”

A mocking voice came from behind them. Kora frowned and turned her head, while Yujin lazily glanced over. Students who appeared to be second-years were sneering at the three of them.

“The way you act. It’s like you think you’re some prodigy from a noble family with powerful backing and exceptional skills. I hear there’s a lot of talk among the first-years?”

One of the students approached and bent slightly at the waist.

“Watch yourself. Exercise restraint. This is sincere advice from a senior. If you don’t want your school life to become difficult later. How long do you think those kids beside you will pretend to be your friends?”

Then the upperclassman turned to Yujin and Kora.

“And you two, how long will you keep being friendly with this nobody? You’re encouraging him to act like he’s actually a noble. No matter how exceptional he might be, how long do you think he’ll keep that top position? Stop this and show your faces at the Noble Society. With names like Greyson and Poison, you could certainly secure a place.”

The upperclassman turned his back after saying this. Yujin, who didn’t like the sight of that retreating figure, casually opened his mouth.

“For nobles, they act just like back-alley thugs.”

It was clearly meant for them to hear. The upperclassmen who had been walking away stopped and turned around at Yujin’s voice. Yujin approached them with a twisted smile, as if looking at something pathetic.

“Since I don’t recognize your faces, you must be nothing more than lackeys of those Noble Society seniors, right? I bet you were sent here to deliver warnings. Those meticulous people wouldn’t personally come to make classist remarks.”

The upperclassmen’s faces twisted in anger.

“Watch your words, junior. If you stop there, we’ll pretend we didn’t hear anything.”

“You don’t need to pretend you didn’t hear.”

This time it was Kora who stepped forward.

“You’re petty and pathetic. If you thought Poison and Greyson would follow along just because you talk like that, you’re greatly mistaken. Either the people in the Noble Society are making a big mistake…”

Kora stood beside Yujin, blocking Natalie. Natalie blinked as she looked at the two freshmen standing in front of her.

“Or they’re testing how obediently you follow them like dogs. Isn’t that right? Why don’t you use your brains and think about it?”

The upperclassmen approached with twisted faces, but the two stood firm with expressions that showed they weren’t intimidated at all.

“If you want to crush us with power, why don’t you reveal your family names? We might pretend to be a little scared. Well, it wouldn’t take much research to find out who you are. Probably just figureheads with high titles but no substance.”

“You’ll regret continuing to run your mouth like that.”

Yujin couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the upperclassman’s words.

“Why? Will you go back and tattle to the Noble Society seniors? ‘The Greyson troublemaker bullied us~’ Like that? As if they’d listen.”

Giggling and wiping away tears, Yujin added:

“They’d probably say, ‘Oh really? Well, let them do as they please.’ They wouldn’t want to make enemies of us, even if they can’t make us friends. Unless they’re exceptionally stupid.”

The upperclassmen’s expressions couldn’t have been more humiliated. With faces flushed red, they turned their target to Natalie.

“This insolence must come from hanging around that commoner. Tsk. This is why commoners who don’t know their place…”

The upperclassmen barely managed to salvage their actions. And Yujin’s twisted smile had now changed to a bright one. The upperclassmen showed confusion, not understanding this change in expression.

“Let’s see if you can say those words in front of the professor.”

“Professor? Ha. Which professor are you talking about? Most professors would nod in agreement with what I said.”

Kora sighed as she looked at the upperclassmen who failed to realize the reality before them.

“Don’t loiter in front of the training grounds. You’re disturbing those who want to use it.”

At that voice, the upperclassmen eagerly turned their heads, only to freeze. The Hero, Ilroy, was watching the confrontation between the freshmen and seniors with a stack of documents in hand.

“Aren’t you all supposed to be studying during exam period?”

“We’re currently dealing with seniors who are interfering with our exam preparation. Plus classist remarks on top.”

The Hero glanced at the upperclassmen and sighed.

“You’re not fifteen-year-old kids anymore, why are you picking fights? Seniors bullying juniors is unsightly, so go back and study. You don’t have the luxury of leisure time like these freshmen.”

The Hero waved his hand dismissively, and the upperclassmen, their faces pale, scurried away. Yujin watched them leave with an even more cheerful laugh, and Kora also wore an expression of satisfaction.

“So, what brings you all to the training grounds?”

“Ah, we were thinking of training to prepare for your exam, Professor.”

“I don’t believe I’ve mentioned how I’ll be conducting the exam.”

The Hero turned his gaze to Natalie, who avoided his eyes. The Hero smiled slightly at her.

“Well, go ahead in. I quite like your attitude.”

At the Hero’s praise, Kora’s eyes widened, and Yujin tried not to show his delight. Their motivation apparently boosted, the two quickly ran into the training grounds.

“You’ve made good friends, Natalie. I hope you continue to get along well.”

Natalie stared blankly at the space where her classmates had disappeared.

“They didn’t need to step in.”

“Isn’t that what makes friends valuable?”

At the Hero’s words, Natalie turned her head to look at him. For some reason, he was giving her a deep smile.