Ch.4444. Midterm Exams (3)

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“With this… it’s over!”

As Falco shouted, one group of students was swept away by his wind magic.

At the same time, Luca approached with lightning speed and instantly collected all the necklaces.

Everything happened so quickly that the students couldn’t even make a sound of surprise.

“Good, let’s run!”

While Grid held back the group of students who were chasing after them with howls, Trisha deployed a protective barrier. Meanwhile, Luca picked up the slow-footed Falco and retreated.

It was a perfect execution of their plan.

“Well done, everyone!”

As soon as they reached safety, Trisha jumped up and down, clapping her hands.

Indeed, the situation deserved all the praise they could get.

“More than 9 necklaces—this must be a perfect score for the freshman midterm!”

Most students were in groups of three or four like them, but every battle had clearly been a struggle.

These were students of the Imperial Elphante Academy. None of them would give up their necklaces easily.

“That’s definitely true.”

Falco grinned as he checked the map.

The map of the plains had been distributed to all students. Not only did it show the terrain, but it also displayed the rankings of the “honor students” who had collected the most necklaces.

‘We are…’

All four of them had easily secured positions in the perfect score range among the hundreds of freshmen.

What was surprising was that they weren’t in first place despite their overwhelming performance.

Third place.

Even with such excellent results.

“…”

The talk about this year having exceptional freshmen was clearly no exaggeration.

Falco smirked as he looked at the names above them.

The person in second place was…

‘Faynol Leiphec? Who is that…?’

He knew all the freshmen who might achieve good scores. But this was a name Falco had never heard before.

And then.

“Wait a minute. This person is alone?”

“What?”

At Falco’s comment, his friends gathered around curiously.

“They collected 15 necklaces without even forming a group? What kind of monster is this?”

“Why are there so many monsters among our classmates…”

Trisha complained with a dejected expression, but Falco just chuckled and brushed it off.

Well, third place was enough to guarantee a perfect score anyway. No need to feel down about it.

More importantly, who was in first place that made 15 necklaces only good enough for second?

‘Ah, it’s Elia’s group.’

A bitter smile appeared on Falco’s face when he confirmed it.

Darwood Campbell, Elia Krisanax, and Yuria Greyhaunter.

Of course it would be the group of future hero candidates.

It made sense that these famous freshmen would achieve unparalleled results.

And their number was…

“…”

Falco blinked for a moment.

“Wait, is this broken?”

“Why?”

His friends gathered around again to check the number.

And immediately, they all understood why Falco had said that.

Because.

“…It’s over 100?”

“…”

Everyone was simultaneously at a loss for words.

●

In truth, when they first gathered, some students had questioned whether this was too excessive.

No matter how much bad reputation the opponents had, having over 100 people gang up against just three was nothing short of mob lynching.

And now, they were probably all sharing the same thought.

Ah. We were arrogant.

To think we considered ‘just’ 100 people to be enough.

“…!”

When Elia and Yuria drew their swords, they probably had no particular intention beyond defending themselves.

They were simply responding to an attack from the opposing side.

But the result.

First second.

The moment the swords were drawn, there was an immediate reaction in the surroundings. A pressure wave surged forward. Like a typhoon sweeping through, objects in all directions were blown away at once.

Next two seconds.

Everything in the path of the swords was caught in the tremendous current. The faces of students who instinctively realized the power behind the attack turned pale.

Final three seconds.

The swords of the two collided with the approaching students.

And simultaneously.

The landscape was completely “torn apart.”

-!

-!!

-!!!!!

The ground was overturned. Rocks in the path of the sword strikes were finely ground away, trees were uprooted and scattered into the sky, and the charging group of students was all thrown back.

And it didn’t stop there.

The extended physical energy swept away the students who were preparing spells or blessings in the back. They all collapsed like autumn leaves, though not as dramatically as the vanguard who had been launched into the sky.

“…”

“…”

Silence blanketed the surroundings.

What on earth was this?

Even some knights who had trained their body strengthening techniques to the extreme couldn’t produce such a scene.

Creating a typhoon by swinging a sword? Such things could only be found in fairy tales or myths!

And this was just the result of two people “swinging their swords once.”

Not only were those who had been swept away shocked, but Yuria and Elia’s mouths also gaped open simultaneously.

“…W-what is this…?”

[…]

Even these two were astonished by the power they had wielded. It didn’t seem like they were familiar with it.

Despite Yuria having cut down countless people and Elia having participated in monster subjugation.

Naturally, everyone’s gaze turned to the only person who remained “calm” in this situation.

“Not bad.”

And when those words flowed from the smiling lips of Darwood Campbell.

A chill ran down everyone’s spine.

They all instinctively realized.

This bizarre scene was entirely orchestrated by this man “alone.”

“…”

He was said to be aiming for the Holy Department.

Of course, exceptionally skilled priests could cast blessings that gave their companions unbelievable enhancement effects, but to cause a phenomenon like this.

What level of mastery was this?

“…I surrender.”

It was a natural progression when someone muttered those words.

The entity they were currently opposing.

Whether it was 100 or 200 people.

They had realized to their core that this was an opponent they could never handle.

●

First, a few pieces of information.

The mental world skill has a shorter duration than expected.

After all, the skill usage condition is to summon Calivan, a spiritual entity, using my holy power. With my current meager ability, I can only maintain it long enough for one or two attacks at most.

Of course, that doesn’t change the fact that it’s terrifyingly powerful.

‘Isn’t this actually too strong?’

Even I, who shared the buff, thought so.

Just now, the students who were first exposed to Elia and Yuria’s attack would have been turned into minced meat if I hadn’t used Ultima to cast a shield linked with the ascetic skill.

I knew that most stat buffs work by multiplying the base stat with the skill multiplier, but isn’t this too much?

Especially considering that these two have physical stats that currently range from B to C.

‘So I’ve been extracting less than half of half of the skill’s performance with my all-stat F.’

I sigh and run my hand through my hair.

‘I need to raise them.’

Stats are notoriously difficult to raise, even by veteran standards. There’s a reason I’ve been putting it off despite knowing I should do it.

Fortunately, there will definitely be opportunities to raise them soon. As soon as the midterms are over, various things will pop up.

‘Well, for now…’

There’s something else I’ve gained.

I manipulate the window again.

[ You’ve achieved many battle accomplishments through buffs placed on ‘party members’! ]

[ ‘AP (Assist Points)’ will be awarded! ]

[ You can increase the proficiency of desired traits through AP! ]

That’s right.

Serah has a system called AP. It means I can add experience to traits even if I just help party members without directly fighting.

And just now, the two who received my buffs took down nearly 100 people in one go.

The AP gained from that is at this level:

[ Trait: Breathing Method – Bucho’s proficiency increases. ]

[ Trait: Gaepung’s proficiency increases. ]

[ The proficiency of both traits has improved dramatically! ]

[ Both traits’ ranks have been promoted from ‘Basic’ to ‘General’! ]

[!Information!]

[ Confirming achievement of all conditions. ]

[ The two traits will be integrated! ]

↓↓↓↓

[ Trait: Ijilpung (Inner Rapid Wind) ] [ Rank: Basic ]

[ Proficiency: 0% ]

[ If you block an opponent’s attack with ‘deflection’ at the exact timing, you can return a significant portion of the damage to the opponent. ]

…This all happened at once.

A satisfactory outcome. Just with this alone, my combat power has increased significantly.

While I was thinking about this, I heard someone grunt and drop something with a thud beside me.

“…Wow.”

Elia exclaimed as he looked at the bag full of necklaces.

They were all left behind by those who had surrendered earlier.

“How many points will we get if we take all these?”

“It’s beyond points at this point.”

I respond with a smirk.

Of course, high achievements in the midterm exam will result in rewards in the main Serah game as well.

Three is considered high-ranking, ten is top-tier, and collecting twenty is considered legendary.

But.

When a player deliberately collects over 100 like this, there’s a hidden reward that can be obtained.

Mainly from the Production Department, which makes all sorts of weapons and equipment.

‘Just what I needed, those guys.’

I was planning to procure items needed for Chapter 2 from there anyway. This is quite a profitable outcome.

“By the way, teacher.”

Elia crossed his arms and stepped in front of me.

He looks sulky. Must have something to say.

“You did something strange to me again without saying anything, didn’t you?”

“…Yeah, that’s right.”

At Elia’s words, Yuria also pauses beside us and looks at me.

Judging by how her eyes are wandering around, she’s clearly concerned about what was just said.

“There were a lot of people watching too. Right? Rumors will spread everywhere?”

“…That’s right.”

“Teacher. Do you remember apologizing to me last time and saying you’d do whatever I wanted?”

“…”

I think I did say something like that.

When we went into the Otherworld together to farm ectoplasm, he got really angry, so I made that promise.

But why bring it up now?

Anxiously.

“Then I now have two wish tokens, right?”

Elia said with a mischievous smile, seeing my expression.

Despite his playful expression, my anxiety doubled.

“…What do you want me to do?”

“Se-cret. I won’t use them separately, but as one big favor worth two. Is that okay?”

Elia stuck out his tongue and giggled.

“I’ll tell you after the midterms are over, so please look forward to it.”

“…After they’re over?”

As I wondered what could be happening then,

I suddenly remembered what our family butler had said before.

-Isn’t there another event coming up soon? It’ll be easier to find partners too. I heard the head of the family met his wife there…

…No.

Surely not that.

If it’s really that, I’ll have to take this kid all the way to our territory.

As I was internally sweating profusely, Yuria raised her hand slightly from the side.

[Um…]

“Hm? What is it?”

[…I don’t think I’d consider it strange if you just declared yourself my master.]

“…”

[I might even prefer it…?]

Elia and I made eye contact.

There was an implicit agreement to ignore the text that had just appeared.

He cleared his throat and spoke.

“By the way, teacher. Are you acquainted with Margrave Kendrid?”

“…? No?”

Margrave Kendrid is the person who serves as Elia’s adoptive father.

He’s one of the continent’s top holy knights. I think he becomes a companion character in the later parts of the game.

I remember him as a character with formidable combat sustainability, characterized by a combination of refined combat techniques and high-level holy abilities.

“For someone who isn’t, your fighting style resembles his too much.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You’re good at close combat but also handle blessings well, knowing exactly where to apply them. If the Margrave himself saw you, he’d be quite interested, I think?”

“…Tell him I’m not interested.”

Gideon and Margrave Kendrid are famously at odds with each other among the high nobility.

They say if it weren’t for the imperial intervention, they would have gone to war several times by now.

And currently, I’m in a “master-disciple relationship” with Gideon—informal, but still a relationship. I’ll be seeing his face regularly.

The moment I get entangled with Margrave Kendrid, chaos is guaranteed.

‘I wonder how Gideon is doing.’

Right now, he’s probably secluded somewhere, focusing on training as per my instructions.

When he comes back from that… his growth will be quite impressive. Really.

“…Honestly, it’s only a matter of time before you get noticed anyway.”

Ignoring Elia’s muttering, I look ahead.

“Oh, we’ve arrived.”

A small stone building surrounded by a blue hemisphere.

The sanctuary marking the endpoint of the midterm exam.

We just need to enter and submit the necklaces to complete the event, but.

‘…It won’t end that easily.’

I look ahead with a bitter smile.

Based on my experience so far, there’s no way it will end so peacefully in there.

The midterm has always been a turning point for incidents in Serah. Without exception.

“Why are you just standing there?”

“…No, let’s go.”

Of course, we still have to go.

With that thought, I approach the sanctuary. Pushing open the heavy stone door with my body, inside was.

“…Wait.”

Elia exclaimed in a surprised voice.

“W-what is this? Is this part of the test too? No, this is absurd…!”

Because inside, there was a person collapsed in a bloody mess.

A horrific sight. As if someone had deliberately tortured them.

“…”

And.

“…!”

The moment I confirmed “who” it was, my heart clenched.

This is someone I know too. Unfortunately.

Why unfortunately?

Because near me was someone who absolutely should not see this person in such a state.

Looking to the side, I saw Yuria staring blankly in that direction.

Blankly. Continuously.

With no light in her eyes.

As if her mind had completely collapsed.

“…Sister?”

As a hollow “voice” instead of “text” flowed from Yuria, simultaneously,

A window appeared before my eyes.

[ Main Quest ]〖 Chapter 2 – Boy King 〗

[ Stop the rampage of the scapegoat with the ‘Curse of Severance’! ]

[ Fail if either ‘Lucien Greyhounter’ or ‘Yuria Greyhaunter’ dies! ]

[ Reward: Echo of Consecration x1 ]

[ Reward: Seed of Evil x1 ]

Right.

Of course it would be like this, fuck.

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