Ch.4847. Midterm Exams (1)

# 47. Midterm Exams (1)

Rachel used her skill with eyes blazing like flames.

-WHOOSH!-

An enormous amount of fire began to manifest at the tip of her staff, which was aimed high at the sky.

The flames formed a sphere that grew larger and larger.

As a result, a sphere of fire resembling the sun hovered above Rachel’s head, flaunting its presence.

[Two Suns]

It was a magnificent skill that could hardly be considered a mere ability.

Rachel’s second unique skill, [Two Suns], embraced the frozen surroundings with warmth and gifted vitality to the flora and fauna there.

The plants and animals on the set gazed at the sun as if entranced.

Elizabeth also looked at the sun with a gentle smile.

“They say there can’t be two suns under the sky… but that can only be seen as a sun. Seems a bit dangerous.”

However, contrary to her words, her expression was incredibly relaxed.

She looked as if she had some means to resist that sun.

“It’s going to be a little hot.”

Rachel hurled the massive sun toward her.

The sun flew toward her at a speed that couldn’t be called fast, but it wasn’t easy to avoid either.

Though slow, its enormous size made it difficult to dodge.

Of course, it wasn’t so large that it would be impossible to avoid.

If she used [Swift], she could have easily dodged it with room to spare, but she didn’t.

“It’s still a bit weak.”

She stood still without moving a single step from her position.

From there, she pointed her staff at the sun diligently flying toward her.

And she whispered very softly.

“Absolute Zero.”

With that small whisper, a blue light shot from her staff and touched the enormous sun.

Rachel thought the blue light was so small that it would simply be consumed by the sun without any effect.

But reality proved otherwise.

-CRACK!-

When the sun touched the blue light, it began to freeze starting from the point of contact.

In just a few seconds, the massive sun froze completely.

The sun that had been blazing moments ago vanished without a trace, and in its place stood an ice mass of the same size.

“Still, this is quite impressive.”

She said this while poking her creation with one finger.

-CRACK!-

Instantly, the massive ice mass split in half.

Rachel felt empty knowing her ultimate move had been blocked so easily, and she despaired at the woman’s overwhelming power.

The woman reached out her hand toward Rachel, whose eyes were clearly different from before.

“You pass.”

“But… I couldn’t even land a single hit…”

“Not yet, of course.”

Rachel finally understood the passing criteria for this survival test.

And that what she valued wasn’t current ability.

“And among the 3,000 people who have taken this survival test so far, you fought the best.”

She continued with a bright smile.

“You’re more than qualified to pass, Rachel. And… um…”

She hesitated slightly before speaking.

Rachel listened attentively to her words.

“May I… call you Rachel?”

“Of course! Can I call you unni?”

She answered with a radiant smile.

“Certainly.”

***

Today, as usual, our party had taken over the library.

However, there was one difference.

The new party members were here too.

Eve, Reina, Chris, and Rachel.

All four of them had gathered here.

‘Why are they so nervous?’

Except for Rachel, the other three seemed somewhat intimidated in her presence.

Only Rachel had directly faced her, so I couldn’t understand why these guys were so tense.

I whispered to Chris, who was frozen beside me.

“Why are you all so nervous?”

“How could we not be? We’re sitting at the same table as the princess.”

“Fair point…”

Even though we’re students at the same academy, she’s the First Princess of the Kainis Empire.

No matter how high-born these noble children are, she’s still someone of such high status that they can’t help but be intimidated.

I asked that high and mighty person.

“So why are we all gathered here?”

“I have something to ask.”

She stood up from her seat in the middle of the table.

Then she asked us.

“Why did you all want to join our party?”

The people who heard this gave different answers.

To protect the country, to reach a higher position, to be acknowledged by someone…

There were many responses.

And they all had something in common.

They all felt that “their own strength was insufficient.”

Their solo efforts made growth too slow, and they applied because they thought joining this party would help them grow faster and more surely.

“Everyone’s very honest. Albert, what made you decide to join my party?”

I retorted with a playful tone.

“You invited me first.”

“You didn’t join just because of an invitation.”

Her sharp observation caught me off guard.

I answered as honestly as they had.

“Because you’re here, Princess.”

Hearing my excessively honest answer, she blushed, and the others looked at me as if I were strange.

I quietly asked Chris beside me.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Just… thinking you’re quite something…”

She calmed her flushed face and asked them again.

“So, do you all need power?”

Almost everyone present nodded to that question.

“Then you’ve all come to the right place. We’ll take responsibility for turning you all into the finest warriors.”

Everyone was looking at her with shining eyes as she said this, but I couldn’t.

I asked her.

“We?”

“Yes, we.”

“Who’s included in that ‘we’?”

“The original party members, of course. Me, Riel, Aelin, and Albert.”

Somehow, I had a bad feeling about this.

She asked them again.

“My training method might be a bit difficult. Is everyone okay with that?”

They nodded vigorously again.

“Then starting tomorrow…”

I interrupted her to inform her of an important fact.

“We’re in exam period, you know?”

The midterm exams scheduled for early May were less than a week away.

She genuinely seemed unaware of this fact.

“Eh? When does it start?”

“From next Wednesday to Friday.”

Today being the last Tuesday of April, there was barely a week left.

I shared something that apparently only she didn’t know.

“I heard that from this year, they’re adding a survival component to the exams.”

“Really?”

Everyone was surprised that she didn’t know this.

She seemed concerned for us.

“Has everyone prepared for the exams?”

“I have.”

Honestly, the class content was all easy, so the written portion wouldn’t be a problem.

And the practical was a given, and I was confident about the survival and melee combat held on the last day.

And not just me—the others seemed to share similar thoughts judging by their expressions.

Indeed, they were all among the top students in the first year, so their confidence was even more apparent.

“Looks like I’ll be facing you again during midterms…”

However, only Chris’s face was dark as he said this.

The melee combat during midterms involves five duels with people judged to be of similar skill, and then the content and results of those duels are reflected in the student’s grades.

That’s why Chris thought he would face me.

She, who had been listening to our conversation, said:

“I don’t think so. Albert will probably face second and third-year students.”

“They let us fight against second and third-years too?”

“Yes, at least they did for me.”

Indeed, with her level of skill, it would have been difficult to find a match in the same year.

‘Would there even be anyone in the second or third year who could match the Empress?’ I couldn’t help but wonder.

Normally, they match you with the same year, but there are exceptions, it seems.

“I’m looking forward to seeing who I’ll face.”

I didn’t know much about the second and third-year students, so I was even more excited.

Duels with strong opponents are always thrilling.

And then the strongest student in this academy said to me:

“If we do face each other, I’ll be counting on you.”

“If that happens, I hope I can land at least one hit.”

“It won’t be easy.”

She and I gazed at each other with intense looks, and the people around us watched with pleased expressions.

Except for one person.

As it was getting late, I hurriedly wrapped things up.

“Then let’s start training after the midterms are over. Everyone can go now.”