Ch.1313. End-of-Term Evaluation (1)

“Wak!”

As I turned a corner of the training room, Senia appeared without fail, trying to startle me with her mischievous face.

“…”

“Aw, no fun. You don’t even get surprised anymore. Anyway, happy to see me? Again today.”

Oh, seriously…

How can she expect to get my attention like this?

For days now, Senia has been following me around asking for just one sparring match. I know she’s not usually this combative.

But what am I supposed to do?

“I wonder how someone who gets flustered by simple surprises like this managed to defeat Silvia.”

“…”

“That’s what I’m curious about. How did you develop a method to beat Silvia in such a short time? Just tell me that, and I’ll leave you alone.”

Even my smallest actions serve as clues for Senia to deduce my methods.

I guarantee that even if I were to lie right now, she’d sense it and make me fall into my own trap.

It’s no wonder that guy noticed her sharp insight. It’s practically an indefensible attack.

And once again, Senia persistently stuck to my side, repeating the same words.

“Come on, just one sparring match? I’ve been patient enough. It’s not like I’m going to eat you alive.”

I ran away because I was worried she might figure something out, but I didn’t know it would be this painful.

No, regardless of the reason, what’s important is to never show anything on the surface.

With someone else, I might be able to drive them away with harsh words or profanity, but that would never work with Senia.

So… I’ll just say what needs to be said.

“From my perspective, you make me uncomfortable.”

Getting close to you would only cause me trouble, so stop following me.

***

[Name: Michel Granodia]

[Age: 18]

[Year: Levrant Academy 2nd Year]

[Class: A]

[Magic Color: Red, Blue]

[Magic Capacity: A]

[Magic Concentration: A-]

[Magic Saturation: A-]

[Magic Rotation: A+]

[Magic Level: A]

[Suitable Position: All positions except vanguard and support]

[Magic Adaptation Ratio: 89:11]

[Unique Magic: -]

“…Nothing special.”

Except for the addition of one magic color.

I’ve been continuously training in various aspects of magic, including the practice related to advice received during the guest lecture.

But Michel was still troubled by the absence of one particular item on the list.

Unique Magic. As graduating as quickly as possible was the goal, developing and fully blooming a unique magic was absolutely essential.

Others tried to convince her that her current progress was fine or advised her not to rush, but she couldn’t afford that luxury.

The freezing device was operating to preserve the body of a student who had committed suicide for autopsy, and she had already spent most of her savings.

To make matters worse, many children at the orphanage had grown enough to start school.

Not only did they need financial support, but despite the maids helping out a bit, money was needed for clothes, food, and education.

This only made Michel more anxious.

“Hah… what should I do…?”

Her unique magic showed no signs of emerging, and her status as a student with no experience facing magical beasts was severely holding her back.

She wished someone would help her.

As the expense report prepared by the maid caught Michel’s blue eyes, she crumpled it in frustration.

Amid this, voices came from a nearby alley.

—From my perspective, you make me uncomfortable.

—What’s uncomfortable about it? Sparring is…

—Do you really think so? Your persistent questioning, and those questions that somehow sound like threats?

Curious about the situation, she listened in and found a male and female student arguing.

They didn’t seem about to fight violently, but their opinions were clearly not aligning.

From what she gathered, a boy named Junon had shown growth to a girl named Senia, and the girl was eager to improve and seeking advice.

Michel could relate to that desire for improvement.

Still, she was about to leave, thinking it wasn’t her place to interfere, when—

—I need to move up to Class C. That’s why I’m sincerely asking for your advice. You defeated Silvia, after all.

…Silvia?

That name sounded familiar.

‘Could it be…!’

Was that boy the one who knocked out the girl in the infirmary?

—Silvia or whoever—

Michel thought carefully and realized this made no sense.

The name Junon belonged to someone from Class E, infamous among students for being reckless. His nickname was “The Weakest Vanguard” because his unique magic had nothing to do with attack.

The student named Silvia who had kept her mouth shut in the infirmary was from Class C.

She was the daughter of Count Kutelli with decent grades, a long-range mage who primarily used wind elements.

Based on these two people’s information, Michel could guess that Junon had repeatedly challenged Silvia throughout the academy and lost.

But… what did the girl just say? Junon defeated Silvia?

That’s impossible. But hadn’t she seen it with her own eyes? Silvia unconscious with her ash-gray hair disheveled.

This meant that this boy Junon had overcome a two-class difference.

‘But how…?’

No, now wasn’t the time to question how it was possible.

If he had closed such a skill gap in a short time, Michel suspected Junon might have something special.

—…I understand. I didn’t know you felt that way.

With the girl’s final words, their conversation ended, and the sound of footsteps split in opposite directions before fading away.

‘I need to go…! Erica must be waiting!’

Michel headed toward her partner whom she had agreed to meet today.

Junon’s modest wish to avoid encountering his former colleagues would apparently not be granted.

***

Exactly two weeks had passed since the victory banquet.

The inferior student riot incident should have further tarnished the reputation of vanguard and support positions.

If the incident had escalated, the end-of-term evaluation would have been delayed further, and Professor Muniher would have needed more time to arrive, investigate, and catch the real culprit.

But none of that happened.

The banquet hall, which should have had a partially collapsed outer wall under construction, was intact, and the end-of-term evaluation was held earlier than usual.

And it seemed that other matters had progressed during these two weeks as well.

—Hey, did you see the bulletin board?

—I have eyes, you know. Of course I saw it!

—How could those professors do such things? Seriously.

From the murmuring students’ words,

And recalling the official documents and notices posted on the bulletin board,

It was clear that things had moved quickly.

—You were close to that professor, weren’t you? Do you know something?

—No! I just did some advance studying!

—You idiots. It had nothing to do with students. It was corruption!

—But it seems like some professors who weren’t really involved were also dismissed?

—Right. Like Professor Kyoph. He was a good person.

‘A good person, they say.’

I wonder how these fools would react if they were in Class D or E and had to listen to Professor Kyoph’s lectures.

The people they’re mentioning are the ones who openly rebuked and were obsessed with humiliating students in the classroom.

They can say such things because they’ve never experienced that treatment.

“Everyone seems to be here. You’ve all checked your partners’ names, right? If anyone has forgotten, raise your hand.”

While the students were chattering, he arrived.

Professor Muniher.

A man whose accolades couldn’t be counted on one hand appeared.

“Then, I’ll briefly explain this end-of-term evaluation before we begin.”

As Professor Muniher touched the Talbert Arc in front of all first and second-year students, the scene suddenly changed to a field.

The Mizar Hall’s mock battle room had transformed into the venue for the end-of-term evaluation.

Information about magical beasts and geography obtained by frontline fighters became reality, sending vivid sensations.

The scent of trees and soil forming a forest wafted on the gentle breeze.

It was Shute, a region in the northeastern part of the Ardelion Principality with the most indistinct climate.

‘And specifically… Mount Utulum.’

Mount Utulum, a mountain without a single village located in the northeastern direction of Shute. It was a place I couldn’t forget because I had suffered there during my Tembris days, hunting a troublesome magical beast. And,

—Wow… is this really the place?

—Yes. The place the expedition team captured.

—So this is what it looks like. Amazing.

It was also a place that excited students, secured by Princess Ophelia’s expedition team and the Arcab party.

Being a mountainous terrain that could maintain high ground, and with its rugged landscape at the northeastern edge, it was a place difficult to recapture once lost.

This was where the end-of-term evaluation for all first and second-year students would take place.

However, professors and students weren’t the only ones present.

—Who are they? Were they always at the academy?

—I don’t know… I’m seeing them for the first time too.

People holding only recording materials stood in a line.

The evaluation process was so different from usual that students cast anxious glances.

As if anticipating this, Professor Muniher added a comment, seeing through the students’ psychology.

“Those people are just instructors who will observe you and act in emergencies, and supervisors who will grade you. Don’t think too much about it.”

This seemed to sufficiently answer the students’ various thoughts.

Some breathed sighs of relief, others licked their lips in disappointment upon hearing the instructors were from Hardia, and some were flustered that their thoughts had been seen through.

Leaving these various reactions behind, Professor Muniher continued.

“This end-of-term evaluation consists of four stages. I will not tell you about deduction or bonus points, so do your best with all your might.”

Despite being a practical exam, he’s not disclosing any rules. This means we’re starting this test without even knowing its purpose!

Already, the students are stirring, asking what this means.

‘I was once like them too.’

Even I, with memories of the past, don’t really understand why the end-of-term evaluation is conducted this way.

The test is so different and unusual, how could I?

One clue might be that Professor Muniher wasn’t originally a professor at Levrant Academy?

He’s not only a genius of the century but also a big shot who invented numerous magical tools, contributed to the development of the Empire and Principality, and even received the Emperor’s medal directly.

But it would be a huge mistake to think of him as just a bookworm focused on research. He’s a survivor of the Mirum Decisive Battle, where only 1/3 of the Artena Empire’s forces returned, so his skills are guaranteed.

Soon, that eccentric professor’s face will noticeably furrow after the end-of-term evaluation ends.

The image of him criticizing the miserable reality of Levrant Academy students is still vivid in my mind.

Perhaps I’ll see it again today.

Following the guidance of the judges, we headed toward a rock face, the gateway to the first stage.

“The first stage is simple. Just climb over that rock face. From the second stage onward, instructors stationed at each stage will explain. That’s all.”

After saying that, he used the Talbert Arc to give each student a pocket and a pocket watch.

—This pocket seems to have a lightening magic cast on it.

—It seems to reduce volume too. But what’s inside…

—Just useless things.

The 8-meter rock face in front of us and the given pocket. The intention seems to be to use these to climb over.

‘But those guys probably won’t think that way.’

There were only items that would seem like junk to mages: rope, hooks, cloth, anchors, etc.

Magic is so convenient and useful, after all.

Most students can climb the rock face using their precious magic.

However, for those without talent in magic or whose magic doesn’t help with climbing, these items could be essential.

Within 5 minutes of the test starting, all examinees in the field were confused, with some asking what these items were for.

Amidst this, one person took the lead and used magic to climb over the rock face.

—This is a speed game!

It was as if one person had set the starting line.

—I’ll go quickly too!

—Uh… uhhhh…? Whatever!

Once one person used magic to leap over, the rest of the students followed suit, using magic and quickly disappearing from the cliff.

They were rushing ahead, believing that speed was key, even though no one had said so.

***

Crunch- Crunch-

‘Where is he… where the hell is he…!’

Silvia’s fingernails broke into small pieces against her teeth.

The once smooth surface was now rough, broken beyond recognition.

If she bit down any harder, she might draw blood.

But Silvia had no suitable method to address the urgent matter at hand.

“Silvia? What’s wrong…?”

“Go ahead.”

“But…”

“Just go. I’m fine.”

“Ah, okay…”

As if her end-of-term evaluation partner mattered right now.

Silvia said such things to herself as she moved in all directions, searching for just one person.

Knowing he wasn’t an opponent she could defeat in a rematch, her only option was to find him and talk. If possible, she needed to manipulate the situation.

To make matters worse, time was running out.

Would the Count accept the excuse of an end-of-term evaluation? Not a chance.

Therefore, if she couldn’t handle this immediately after the evaluation, news of her failure would reach the Count’s ears, and excommunication—a death sentence—would await Silvia.

‘You should be visible by now…! Where are you?’

Had he already climbed the rock face?

No… that guy couldn’t possibly use magic properly in the first place.

He surely hadn’t crossed over yet…

“Ah…!”

Turning her head, she caught sight of a boy with distinctive black hair.

‘Found him.’

A glimmer of hope began to shine for Silvia.