Ch.27First Semester Evaluation (4)

Although we entered the labyrinth in formation, I plan to conduct the evaluations individually.

When multiple monsters attack, I’ll handle all but one of them first. Then the student will battle the remaining monster.

Despite the hassle, this was the only way to ensure each student faces the same monster under identical conditions.

“We’ll proceed in the order of your current formation.”

Since Lael is positioned at the very back, right behind me…

The order will be: Lael, Ludmila, Ed, Denevan, Frit, and finally Flan.

“You’ll likely be facing D-rank monsters, Red-Eye Lizards. Their only notable features are their speed and sharp teeth, but if you’re careless, they can take your life in an instant.”

Just then, I heard the splash of someone stepping in a puddle.

“One seems to have arrived right on time. Take a good look first. Lael, you’re up for evaluation.”

Six red eyes appeared at the edge of the magical light’s reach. I created two sharp rocks using earth-attribute mana.

The rocks shot from my fingertips, piercing precisely through one lizard’s head, while simultaneously Lael rushed forward and dispatched the remaining one with the greatsword on her back.

Perfect coordination. A connection forged through years of adventuring.

But wait—this is supposed to be a Black Magic evaluation.

Lael seemed to realize this too, as she froze in place.

“Lael, we’ll try again. Use Black Magic this time.”

“Yes…”

In the end, I gave Lael a B. She was still awkward handling the medium, resulting in excessive injuries.

After her, Ludmila and Ed also received Bs, while Denevan was the only one to earn an A.

He had clearly practiced extensively on his own. His speed in applying attributes to mana was impressive, and his handling of the medium was quite good.

“Blackout!”

Frit’s Black Magic hit the Red-Eye Lizard.

Not bad skills. Just about B-level.

However, his spell choice was wrong.

Most labyrinths are dark to begin with. Monsters that move well in such places have highly developed senses beyond just sight. Blackout won’t completely stop their movement.

Nevertheless, Frit’s blade successfully pierced the lizard’s neck. The monster, suddenly experiencing a bodily change, became confused and stopped attacking.

Watching this, I returned the mana I had gathered at my fingertips to normal.

So Flan is the only one left?

“Flan, please prepare for your evaluation.”

“Y-yes!”

“No need to be nervous. Everyone else did well, didn’t they?”

“That’s true, but…”

I have a bad feeling about this.

As we moved a bit deeper, a Red-Eye Lizard appeared.

I quietly tapped her shoulder twice, signaling the start of the evaluation.

Flan began moving forward slowly with a dagger in hand. I had been worried about her complexion since entering the labyrinth, but it seemed my concerns were unfounded.

Well, she’s always been diligent, so she should be able to get at least a B.

But she had only been pretending to be fine.

When the monster charged in earnest, she startled, lost her balance, and collided with the labyrinth wall. Hitting the wall was dangerous, but if she could quickly regain her posture, it wouldn’t be a problem.

If only she could regain her posture.

“Kyaaaah!”

The wall she hit crumbled with a rumble, swallowing her into somewhere unknown.

I rushed to where Flan had been, but she had already disappeared into the darkness.

My mind immediately fell into panic.

Why? How did this happen? I thought the exploration was complete and we even had maps of the labyrinth’s interior.

Had the labyrinth’s structure changed? That would be serious trouble. It meant Flan had fallen into an area with unknown monsters.

Should I jump in after her? But what about the remaining students?

Half out of my mind, I slapped both my cheeks. I couldn’t be like this. The students were probably even more shocked than I was.

I turned to look at the students. They all wore expressions soaked in fear. Even Lael seemed flustered.

“Lael, take the other students back to the Academy.”

“What? Oh, yes. I will.”

I didn’t want to ask this. Really didn’t. Absolutely didn’t.

But I couldn’t leave Flan in an unknown space because of my personal feelings.

She’s my student, after all.

“When you return to the Academy, please request help. Tell them the labyrinth’s structure has changed, creating unexplored areas. They’ll understand.”

Lael nodded and handed me her magic pouch.

“You might run short on potions. There are also some simple snacks inside that might help.”

I took the pouch from her hand and said, “See you at the Academy.”

* * * * *

The direction of Flan’s scream wasn’t vertical but diagonal.

I already knew the tunnel was dug diagonally, but I didn’t realize it would be this deep.

How much further down does it go?

Just then, light began to appear ahead.

“Flan! Get out of the way! You’ll die if you’re hit!”

“Professor!”

Reaching the end of the tunnel, I landed… well, not safely, but rolled about five times.

“Professor! Are you okay?!”

“Yes… I’m fine. Are you alright, Flan?”

“I’m okay too.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. At least we’d avoided the worst-case scenario.

Now the question was how to escape from here.

Considering how slippery the tunnel was due to water, climbing back up seemed impossible. That left only one option.

Wait here for rescue.

The labyrinth’s structure might have changed, creating another entrance, but that was uncertain. I couldn’t risk our lives on something so uncertain.

Flan tugged at my clothes and asked, “Um… Professor… we can get back, right?”

“Yes, if we wait here, someone will surely come to rescue us.”

“That’s a relief…”

But the labyrinth wouldn’t let us just wait peacefully.

After all, a labyrinth is essentially a nest where monsters congregate.

I positioned Flan in the safest place possible and continuously battled monsters.

Fortunately, most were B-rank monsters, Poison Snakes, so the battles weren’t particularly difficult. The problem was that they kept coming endlessly, as this was an unexplored area.

Eventually, the continuous fighting left my body exhausted.

I drank an antidote and poured potion on my wounds. Then I cast an illusion on a snake rapidly slithering from the distance. The snake suddenly turned its head and fought with another snake beside it until both perished.

It had seemed manageable when I was with a party, but alone it was truly precarious. And this was just about holding out, not exploring.

Just then, Flan, who had been hiding in a corner, stood up and approached me.

“I-I’ll help you too.”

“It’s fine. If you jump in half-prepared, you’ll only get in the way.”

It was a harsh thing to say to her, but it was the truth.

Someone who gets terrified at the sight of a D-rank monster couldn’t possibly fight B-rank monsters.

I stretched my hand upward and used water magic. Strongly condensed water shot from my fingertips, and something fell from above with a thud.

It was a Poison Snake with its head missing.

“Eeeek!”

“See? How can you help when you’re so startled? Just staying put is the most helpful thing you can do.”

Flan hung her head low.

Was my tone too sharp?

I’m quite exhausted right now, so it can’t be helped.

As I was thinking I should apologize later, Flan raised her head and stared intently into my eyes.

“I can do it. I can help you.”

Has she lost her mind?

“Flan, I apologize if I hurt your pride. But our lives are at stake here.”

Just then, I heard a slithering sound from behind.

As I hurriedly turned to respond, a quiet voice was heard.

“Illusion.”

Flan’s Black Magic hit the snake precisely, and the two snakes began fighting each other.

It was hard to believe this was the same person who had been trembling before a mere D-rank monster not long ago.

Moreover, judging by the wound on her palm, she seemed to handle the medium well. And the illusion was effective against a B-rank monster.

“A.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m grading your course evaluation as an A.”

“I’m not sure this is the situation to be happy about that…?”

“No, you can be happy about it.”

Just then, Professor Anette’s voice echoed from the tunnel we had fallen through.

“Professor Crow! Are you alive?!”

Hearing that voice, Flan embraced me. Tears were flowing from her eyes.

I’m the one who wants to cry. Why are you crying?

More importantly, please let go. I think I broke some bones when I rolled earlier.