Ch.33Reassignment Exam (1)

Kendra nudged Welton and said.

“Yusoford student. You shouldn’t impersonate a teacher.”

“Yes.”

“Well then, shall I start taking attendance?”

So this is where it begins.

If everything until entering Academia was the prologue to the prologue, then from now on is the prologue.

Two years until the protagonist of this novel enters college.

However, all the main and supporting characters who will build relationships with that protagonist are here.

It wouldn’t hurt to become friends with them in advance.

First, the most noteworthy person.

“Zernya von und zu Trisha Adelbein.”

Of course it’s that person.

The one who would have been valedictorian if I hadn’t been a variable. A hexagonal talent with overwhelming skills. But a girl with bad luck who, unsatisfied with her talent, summoned an outer god and suffered misfortune.

She’s also dangerous as the boss of the college part. It would be great if we could become friends and allies, but it’s difficult to build a relationship because of her uniquely twisted personality.

And next.

“James Hedelton.”

A diligent and quiet guy. Does more than his share when given assignments. The biggest victim of group projects.

“Mezulen Hueritia.”

A green little one. Height is 149.4cm, with growth plates already closed. Suspiciously fond of biology talk and rounding numbers.

“Mathers Byteling.”

From a frontier planet. His actions are as violent as his hair color. Honestly, I don’t care about his unfortunate past, and I’m not sure what his current state is. He’s particularly glaring at me.

“Kristin Heresset.”

With looks suitable for modeling rather than law. Can’t stand injustice. The word “corruption” constantly comes out of her mouth. She’s quite loyal.

“Welton Yusoford.”

The guy who eats blood sausage soup without the blood sausage.

“Seti von Adelbein Rheinland.”

“Yes.”

“And… Eidel Rheinland.”

I suppose these are the people to watch out for.

When I came to my senses, I realized Kendra was making eye contact with me.

No, not just Kendra.

Everyone in the class was either openly staring at me or at least glancing in my direction.

“Eidel, you were quite impressive during the written exam. So you ended up being the valedictorian. Congratulations.”

“I knew there were connections! A hotbed of admission corruption!”

“Chris, wouldn’t it be better to stay quiet here?”

The classroom suddenly became noisy.

Kendra began a speech disguised as orientation.

“As you know, the Federation is at war. Many people are still dying because of the monsters and incarnate bodies created by outer gods.”

“……”

“It’s no different for you. Outer gods don’t spare you just because you’re young.”

Kendra mentioned the major accident that occurred during the practical evaluation.

Many students nearly lost their arms there.

“Truly out of nowhere, you or your friends could die tomorrow.”

“……”

“Even though this isn’t the military, you’ll have to live like it is. I hope you’ll devote yourself to your studies while also being diligent in military training.”

Kendra spoke somewhat forcefully. The students gulped.

“You need to learn how to handle a Plasma Sword. Also, how to manipulate Aether.”

That’s the only way to survive.

“Is there anyone who thinks they don’t need swordsmanship because they’re going into research or working in the rear? If there is, you won’t get good grades here. Keep that in mind. That’s all!”

Several students nodded.

Kendra leaned on the podium and grinned.

“Anyway, I’m glad this batch of students is so bright.”

Bang!

She continued.

“…But don’t think everyone will remain in this class after two weeks.”

This is where the important story begins.

It’s time for me to open my ears and listen properly.

“Three days from now, all students will take a reassignment test.”

“A reassignment test?”

“Yes. It’s meant to complement the practical evaluation that couldn’t be properly conducted during admissions. You’re all smart, so you know what I mean, right?”

Since admission was inevitable, the meaning was to give students with excellent combat abilities a chance to play in the advanced class through the reassignment test.

Simply put, they wanted to separate the full grains of rice from the empty ones.

It was their own way of compensating.

“Excuse me, teacher. What about the practical evaluation method?”

“The evaluation method? Ah, right……”

Kendra scratched her head and said.

“I don’t know.”

“What?”

The students’ expressions turned dumb.

“It’ll be decided by drawing lots on the day.”

***

Three days was too short for proper classes. We only learned the basics of handling Aether before taking the reassignment test.

“I’ll reveal the subject. The test subject is actual combat with mock monsters. Know that we’ve designed a test that’s almost identical to what you had during admissions, but can evaluate you from more diverse aspects.”

So they say.

“This is absurd.”

A student from the middle class blurted out. Starting with that, a restless atmosphere began to spread.

However, the elite class students were relatively calm.

They already had excellent skills in various areas. There was no reason to be agitated about an enhanced practical evaluation.

“I wish we could just get this meaningless thing over with quickly.”

Zernya grumbled. She was checking her sharp-looking Plasma Sword while yawning.

Come to think of it, Zernya was set to sleep eight hours a day. They say she sleeps a lot because she uses her brain so much.

Other students were also calm. They all seemed to think there would be no change in their class.

Even Seti thought so.

I’m the only one who’s nervous.

‘Aether is like a pulsating star. Its aspect at close range is like a strong nuclear force, and its essence can be thought of as a light element.’

I clenched and unclenched my hands, recalling the Aether utilization method taught by our homeroom teacher.

Saaah.

I could feel the formless energy flowing through my ulna, through my wrist, and around both hands.

If you insert this energy into a Plasma Sword, ionization of matter becomes possible at room temperature.

Combining this created energy with Aether’s inherent energy to burn monsters. That’s the mechanism of the Plasma-Aether Sword.

It was while I was manipulating Aether and getting used to the sensation that:

[— Notice: Due to the influence of outer gods, you cannot accumulate or emit Aether in this test.]

What the hell.

Cold sweat poured down.

My physical strength is already weak, and if I don’t have Aether either, what am I supposed to do?

“The test content is simple. Using the Dodeca Forest you see there as a stage, you’ll either confront or avoid B-class golems while collecting Aether fragments.”

Golems, huh.

I’m not sure if attacking with the ‘Wisdom Calipers’ that destroy the mind would be effective.

Can I even approach a B-class golem with my current physical condition? I’m not sure.

“Hey, come to think of it, you.”

Of all times, Seti approached me.

“I saw you smashing monster heads last time. Are you actually talented at physical movement?”

“What.”

I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t speak.

Seti is complimenting me?

No, wait. He’s praising something that isn’t true.

“Is your sword handling skill also excellent?”

“So the valedictorian is different after all……”

“Don’t be fooled. It might be an illusion.”

“But still, being valedictorian, you must be amazing, right?”

No. You crazy people. Don’t expect anything.

I clearly understood what it means to incur a thousand-nyang debt with one word.

A single sentence uttered by Seti created tremendous ripple effects throughout the elite class.

And there was one student who openly staggered from that ripple effect.

“You foam-covered fool, I’ll break you myself.”

It was Zernya.

Yes, at least you’re evaluating me properly.

No, damn it. This isn’t right.

I’m screwed.

It was a conclusion I could reach without deep contemplation.

But fortunately?

The supervisor overseeing the reassignment test added:

“This reassignment test is being conducted to evaluate you according to appropriate and suitable criteria. Therefore, we will comprehensively require not only simple force, but also sensitivity to detect Aether, instantaneous judgment to grasp situations, mathematical and scientific thinking to interpret Aether maps, and friendliness to create teammates and collaborate.”

In other words, even if your physical strength is weak, you can cover it with intelligence or the power of teammates.

A sigh of relief erupted among the lower-ranked students.

“However, teams can have up to three people. Once you form a group, you must report it, and at the end, the points earned will be divided equally among you.”

“Ah.”

The lower-ranked students’ hopes were crushed upon hearing the instructor’s last words, that “points will be divided.”

This is complete hope torture.

“Haha, collaboration? Interesting. Of course, I won’t be doing it.”

Welton Yusoford grinned as he caressed his sword.

“…Alone is enough.”

Mathers Byteling was the same.

Most of the elite class didn’t form teams. They all had excellent skills, so individual play was more beneficial than collaboration.

Above all, there was no reason to cooperate when they had just met.

At most, childhood friends Mezulen Hueritia and Kristin Heresset formed a team.

And I.

“Hey.”

I was called by my sister.