Ch.55EP.16 – The Knight Hates Tests (2)

“I-Instructor, c-could you possibly increase our training time?”

“?”

Number 7 chick, was her name Rose?

A passionate female student who appeared after Levi’s fault.

While it’s admirable, Ihan knows.

Such requests aren’t made because she wants to become a knight.

“A-And if possible, I’d like to improve my physical strength and athletic ability, w-would that be possible?”

“If you want that in a short time, it would be quite difficult in many ways, you know?”

“Y-You’re not saying it’s impossible, so I’ll do it.”

“…I see your physical education grade is hanging by a thread.”

“Yes.”

The desperate struggle for survival.

How many was that now?

Just today, more than ten students had already asked him to create new training regimens.

Some students even brought potions, premium chocolates, or whiskey as if they were bribes.

But knowing these weren’t really bribes, just desperate pleas to somehow improve their physical strength and athletic abilities, Ihan could only feel dejected.

This isn’t a gym, for crying out loud.

It felt like being asked for intensive lessons by people desperately wanting abs before summer.

Still, well.

“Everyone stop with the bribes. Those who want to improve their physical strength and athletic abilities, come every morning at 7 AM without missing a single day. I don’t know about athletic ability, but I’ll definitely build up your stamina.”

-Yes, yes!

The chicks left with happy expressions.

They looked like they’d gained a thousand allies now that he’d agreed to help.

But anyone who had truly trained under Ihan would know.

It was like avoiding a snake only to meet a cliff.

“They’re doing something they’ll regret.”

“I think many will die tomorrow.”

Garand and Arno wore sympathetic expressions, already envisioning the wailing scenes of the chicks.

However.

“Urrrgh!”

“W-Why is there so much to memorize!”

“…Isn’t being good with a sword enough? Why does a knight need to study?”

“Because you’re not a knight yet.”

“…That’s true.”

While some would be wailing tomorrow, quite a few were already wailing now.

Scratch, scratch.

In the training ground, where there should have been only the sounds of wooden swords cutting through air and jump ropes, many students were studying with pens and pencils instead of practice swords.

The library and study rooms were already full, so they were crouched here studying.

The bear-like students cleverly used their bear fur like mats to study on, which seemed quite comfortable.

…I told them to use it as armor instead.

“Still, I guess they’re better than those wasting money?”

But even more wasteful than them were the young masters who had purchased desks and turned part of the training ground into a study area.

Although Ihan had permitted them to use it freely, he was disgruntled at what seemed like a ridiculous expense.

They just couldn’t help showing off their rich young master status.

“This is why I call you young masters.”

“W-We can hear you, Instructor.”

“I want you to hear, you fools. Why didn’t you study regularly instead of cramming now?”

“…We were busy.”

“Tsk, tsk, all talk.”

“……”

They had much to say, but chose not to engage with him.

Rather than arguing, they focused on memorizing as much as possible.

“…Hmm.”

Looking at the training ground swept by this untimely wave of academic fervor, Ihan suddenly recalled a famous saying.

“They say it’s comedy when seen from afar, tragedy when seen up close.”

True to those words, while the scene was amusing, it was also too pitiful to laugh at, so Ihan just shook his head and decided to do some squats.

Just ten thousand of them.

* * *

The exams at Pendragon Royal Academy are a famous “Big Event” for the citizens of the royal capital.

Why am I suddenly barking like a dog?

No, I’m not making barking sounds, I’m stating facts.

Of course, you might wonder why exam periods are classified as big events, but this can be understood in a similar context to the War Game held the previous day.

“Do you know when the debate will be held?”

“I’ll finally get to see a Polo match, ah! Does it overlap with the tennis match?”

“Hmm, I’ll just wait for the cricket.”

“Why that boring cricket? I’d rather watch the yacht ‘exam’.”

“Cricket has its own charm!”

“You’re obsessed.”

Due to the Royal Academy’s emphasis on both literary and martial arts, over 90% of students had to take sports courses as mandatory liberal arts subjects.

A healthy mind in a healthy body?

That sounds familiar.

Whatever the reason, what matters is that students had to excel not only in written exams but also in sports.

They needed to be at least average.

But while these were desperate tests for grades for the students, for commoners they were rare opportunities to watch high-class leisure sports.

Yes, amusingly, the Academy opened to the public during exam periods like midterm evaluations.

Like the War Game, public participation was allowed.

The purpose of this openness was said to be promoting the level of students to the general public and demonstrating authority, but rumors strongly suggested the real reason was for nobles to show off their superiority.

Still, watching these sports provided great entertainment for the people.

Regardless of the era, nothing penetrates and harmonizes the psychology of crowds like sports.

…Perhaps someone who understood this crowd psychology deliberately included sports subjects.

To gather the hearts of the people.

But even these massive sporting events were merely side dishes.

The maximum event that the intellectual and ruling classes of this country anticipated was none other than:

“Wow, I wonder who came up with the idea of replacing written exams with debates and presentations?”

Debates, exhibitions, and presentations were the most important evaluation subjects for grading students.

It was intense.

If you went into law, military studies, literature, or arts, debates had to last at least 100 minutes.

During those 100 minutes, you had to cite examples from terms, cases, and papers learned in class.

The evaluation criteria were given to professors and renowned scholars who received formal invitations, and if you didn’t make a strong impression and show intellectual aspects through debate, your score would be immediately reduced.

The same applied to exhibitions and presentations.

Experts and professors from each field gathered to evaluate everything.

Like debates, how professional and thorough the preparation was.

Also, how well they had internalized knowledge, and how they handled unexpected situations like questions.

It seemed more like “real practice” than an exam.

To this observation:

“The Academy, no, the Kingdom wants this. Not just talents with good test scores, but excellent talents who can be sufficiently useful in real situations. After all, isn’t studying just a common thing that gets good grades with memorization and comprehension? That’s why the Academy carefully observes how well students respond and judge in large venues like debate forums, and how well they’ve internalized the knowledge they’ve learned. And thanks to these exams, the Academy always produces quality talents for the world.”

“……”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I thought your statement was obnoxious.”

“Huh?”

Damian Pollet tilted his head, wondering if he had said something strange.

He thought he had only made obvious statements.

Despite his appearance, Damian Pollet was quite talented, and Ihan thought heaven was truly unfair.

Why was someone with such a personality so versatile?

‘Then are those who can’t memorize just goldfish?’

How difficult is it to exercise that memorization and comprehension, to express it as “just”?

Ihan wanted to twist this guy’s neck right away, but he held back.

He couldn’t let his worker disappear.

‘Still, it’s good for practical purposes.’

To give credit where it’s due, he could see how serious this country was about nurturing talent.

The determination to graduate only confirmed talents through practical methods.

Perhaps this was the holy land of early talent education?

‘If I had attended here, I think I would have quit immediately.’

He wasn’t sure about other things, but debates and presentations were beyond his capacity.

“So each student has to do at least five debates and presentations?”

“Not necessarily, but if you’re not confident in showing a good performance, making up for it with quantity is best.”

“And if you don’t show above-average performance, you’re expelled.”

“Those who fail to properly answer questions from professors and intellectuals are immediately disqualified. That’s why those who lack regular study are at a disadvantage.”

“You’re fine with this?”

“Nobles often study expected questions and debate topics through private tutors before entering the Academy, so they’re relatively comfortable.”

“Wow, I see.”

The chicks, that is, the noble young ladies, were all more passionate about sports than preparing for debates and presentations for a reason.

They had already received thorough early education through private tutors, so they had fewer worries.

That’s why they focused only on their weak subjects.

“Cunning creatures.”

“That’s how noble young ladies are. They may look pure and innocent on the outside, but they’re no different from foxes.”

“I’ll relay those exact words to the chicks.”

“!!?”

“I’m joking.”

“I-Instructor, my heart almost stopped because I thought you might actually do it.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

“…It’s not exaggeration.”

Ignoring Damian, whose complexion had paled, Ihan understood why there were so many dropouts from the Academy.

It was surprising that even 10% graduated when they had to take such harsh exams.

“…Huh?”

While checking the grueling exam schedule, Ihan doubted his eyes.

He seemed to have seen something strange.

“What’s this? Why is it like this?”

“What do you mean?”

“No, I mean the last day of exams.”

The exams lasted for almost two weeks.

But peculiarly, on the last day, there were no other exams.

Only:

“Why is the Swordsmanship Department exam featured like it’s the main event?”

The Swordsmanship Department exam.

That exam was written on the schedule as if it were the grand finale, and Ihan blinked in confusion.

But Damian responded as if it were obvious:

“Isn’t it obvious? It’s essentially the biggest spectacle—I mean, exam schedule.”

“Did you just say ‘spectacle’?”

“I-It was a slip of the tongue. …B-Besides, look! You entrusted the entire schedule to me without checking it yourself, so you’re late with this information.”

“How dare you lecture me.”

SMACK!

“AAAAGH!”

This slave—no, assistant—dared to talk back.

He still had no manners.

Ihan ignored the assistant who was writhing in pain while clutching the back of his head, and properly read the schedule and plan.

To understand why the Swordsmanship Department exam was the grand finale.

And shortly after:

“…No wonder so many students drop out.”

It was absurd, and he could understand why commoner students from the Swordsmanship Department were dropping out in droves.

This was an exam that commoners, swordsmen who hadn’t learned martial techniques, could never pass.

[‘Solo combat with a Troll’].

In other words, monster subjugation.

However:

“…Why do I feel uneasy?”

The bitterness he felt from the content about a “familiar” troll being subjugated.

Ihan didn’t know why he felt familiarity with trolls, and he tilted his head with a strange sense of discomfort.