Ch.5959. Class Placement Exam (1)

The Canola Field Subjugation and Cleanup Operations had finally ended, and peace returned to the Academy once more.

The damage to the Academy and its students wasn’t severe, and thanks to the effort put into caring for students’ trauma, it didn’t take long for things to return to normal.

Consequently, the exams that had been temporarily forgotten amid the subjugation and defense operations were now back on the agenda.

“Finally… finally…”

“Please. Please.”

“Let me advance this time too…!”

The class placement exam that would evaluate students’ abilities and determine their class assignments had arrived.

The repeatedly postponed Academy class placement exam would ultimately be conducted under the Grand Duke’s leadership rather than the Noble Alliance, who had been nitpicking and delaying it.

The students, who had been waiting for this day and had made thorough preparations, were filled with tension and anxiety during this time when their class placements would be decided.

Professor Muniher, who had completed the exam preparations, stepped onto the podium in the courtyard.

“As previously announced, this class placement exam will be conducted through duels.”

With those words, the students’ reactions were split.

Former lower-class students were intimidated by the mention of duels, while former upper-class students were excited by the word.

In past class placement exams that included duels, the upper and lower classes were often blatantly predetermined.

They would completely block approaches or restrict movement, and once mobility was limited, students would typically retire after being hit by projectile attacks.

No matter how skilled the vanguards were, the duel exams thoroughly discriminated against them with rules proposed by the Noble Alliance that even tied their hands.

However, this time would be different.

“Previously, students taking the exam would receive mana badges, and the outcome would be determined by monitoring their durability. But this time, you’ll be randomly matched with duel opponents within the Talbert Arc. That’s all there is to the exam you’ll be taking.”

Viewed this way, it was surprisingly simple and straightforward for him. That would have been the end of it.

“However, if you obsess only over winning or losing, you’ll be in for a rude awakening.”

Due to clear differences in position characteristics, the duel exams that had frequently been part of class placement tests typically determined grades based on wins and losses.

Students wearing mana badges would lose if their badge light turned red after receiving a certain amount of damage in the duel room.

It was a simple but clear system that extremely favored ranged positions who could cast elemental magic from a distance.

But what was the warning this time?

He said students would be randomly matched with duel opponents within the Talbert Arc.

Not knowing who your opponent would be, with the location changed from a duel room to somewhere within the Talbert Arc, and no announcement about which field would be used.

Thinking about it carefully, it was similar to the end-of-semester evaluation.

Just before the exam full of variables was about to begin, one person faced a moment of choice.

‘What do I do now?’

There were two options to consider.

One was to just get through this exam without encountering former teammates.

The other was…

“Junon.”

“Silvia?”

“You know… that time you said you’d do anything for me.”

“Hmm? I do remember that…”

He had said those words out of gratitude and apology to Silvia who had struggled alongside him. If she wanted something, she could ask.

It had been a tremendous help when Silvia put the others in their place and fixed their roles while facing the Osoftera.

Even during the occupation of Alcaide Hall, thanks to Silvia’s restraint in preventing one team from taking action first, they were able to comfortably make it through the final minute Professor Dahlia had mentioned.

She was essentially the unsung hero of the occupation battle fought under even worse conditions.

So naturally, he wanted to repay Silvia on humanitarian grounds alone.

“But there’s not much time until the exam starts. Are you bringing this up now?”

The issue was that the timing seemed rather odd.

“Yes. It has to be now.”

“Oh… okay. Tell me then.”

What could be so important that she was setting the mood like she was about to make a major announcement right before the class placement exam?

Still, seeing Silvia who seemed to have made a firm decision, it was only polite to respond properly.

“I don’t want you to just let things slide this time.”

“Hmm? Let things slide?”

“Your image keeps getting distorted. You were actually the hero of the Osoftera defense, but you deliberately passed the credit to others… it really upset me.”

“Silvia…”

“I want the others to see you properly this time. So… I want you not to let things slide in this exam like you did during the Osoftera defense.”

He hadn’t known. He hadn’t realized Silvia had been holding onto this.

During the end-of-semester evaluation, he’d just accepted it since he didn’t know much about it, and during the beginning-of-semester evaluation, he only remembered her asking about it once.

After that, she hadn’t particularly paid attention or asked about it. So he naturally thought Silvia would pretend not to notice this time too. After all, the attention he usually received from others wasn’t particularly positive.

But with this one request, Junon finally understood Silvia’s true feelings.

‘So… that’s why you deliberately stayed with me then.’

After the Osoftera defense ended, why had Silvia stayed by his side despite hating the smell of blood so much that it made her nauseous?

Simply because they were friends? That seemed insufficient.

Given her personality, she must have endured as much as possible.

She must have swallowed each and every malicious accusation and slander directed at him, enduring it over and over again.

If Silvia hadn’t endured and let it go, she might have ended up like Michelle whom they encountered in the underground waterway.

The reason Silvia accompanied him to near the dormitory that day while smelling the blood scent was to try to strip away some of the prejudice and preconceptions, he could surmise.

“…So you want me to shed my current image a bit?”

“Yes!”

Silvia’s face lit up just because Junon had realized this.

What Silvia, who was the first to recognize his righteous and kind nature and whose life had been transformed by Junon’s help, wanted.

What Silvia was asking of him now.

She wanted him to reveal his skills and character to gain everyone’s recognition, rather than being surrounded by false rumors and malicious slander.

“I see. So this is your request.”

Ironically, until Silvia spoke to him, Junon had been contemplating between two options.

But now he had made a definite decision.

“Let’s meet in Class A, Silvia.”

“Yes. Absolutely!!”

He decided not to choose the second option of avoiding the Tembris party members and half-heartedly taking the exam to end up in a lower class.

***

Aris found herself occasionally recalling without realizing it.

The image of her teammate Erika, left all alone after the other members had fled during the Osoftera battle.

‘I can’t concentrate. And it’s right before the exam.’

Although it was because of the others, there was no denying that it had created anxiety.

And ironically, what came to mind next was Junon, who had resolved the situation and cleaned up her mistake.

Erika’s pierced abdomen was still a nightmare for Aris.

How could she not compare?

The formation Junon chose, the occupation strategy he selected, and the results he achieved.

Despite the important class placement exam right in front of her, her hand wouldn’t leave her forehead where she had lifted her pink bangs.

Even though Charlotte had advised her, the scene still gripped her mind like an aftereffect, overlapping with her thoughts.

“I thought you’d be the most relaxed one, Aris.”

A teammate who looked like an older sister despite being the same age, with a brown bob that suited her seemingly insensitive face, approached Aris.

“…It’s none of your business, so don’t worry about it, Senia.”

“You’re still prickly even when someone’s concerned about you.”

“Who asked for your concern? That’s what they call being nosy.”

Even among teammates, conflicts exist.

Conflicts with Senia were quite frequent.

However, today the atmosphere felt somewhat different.

“No matter how much you dislike it, we’re still teammates. How can I ignore it when I can clearly see you’re not in good condition?”

As expected.

“You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”

“Hmm? Maybe?”

It must be payback for that time.

She hadn’t apologized to Senia, who had threatened to leave the team after Aris needlessly provoked her in the mock battle room.

But she felt like being a little spiteful.

“This isn’t a mock battle, so what right do you have to criticize me, Senia?”

“Oh, I’m so sorry for being nosy?”

“Glad you understand. Then please don’t do it again next time.”

“Yes, yes.”

This reminded her of when she first met Senia.

They had clashed over differing opinions during their first mock battle, hadn’t they? She recalled her first impression, which she hadn’t remembered before.

She hadn’t liked Senia’s haughty and indifferent expression or her dismissive way of speaking. They were complete opposites in personality. Their conflicts seemed to stem from having completely opposite personalities.

But contrary to expectations, Senia got properly angry when she was upset.

What Aris had received from Senia then was concern. Genuine concern for a teammate.

She didn’t know why that angry face came to mind now, but thanks to it, Erika’s image that had been emerging like trauma no longer appeared.

“But you seem okay today?”

Senia said with a grin. She had come looking for Aris out of concern before the exam, but there was no need to worry.

Aris didn’t look like she would mess up the exam.

“…Sorry, Senia. I guess I was just being sensitive then.”

“If you’re sorry, just do well on the exam, Aris. Then I’ll forgive you.”

Aris had apologized at just the right moment.

Senia, who responded with a smile, headed toward the exam venue as if nothing had happened.

“What’s with her. So annoying.”

Aris muttered as Senia walked away smiling.

“Don’t think about anything else. Focus on the exam, Aris.”

The team still had many shortcomings, and to become proficient, they ultimately needed to learn from experienced students and professors.

Goden, the team leader, had said they should advance in this class placement and learn more.

The mistake she had made this time kept coming to mind, but she was able to bury it with the help of her teammates.

All that remained was to properly take the exam.

But why did that particularly dark black hair seem more noticeable today?

“Let’s meet in Class A, Silvia.”

“Yes. Absolutely!!”

“So knock down all your duel opponents without mercy. As quickly as possible so we can meet soon.”

With those words, the conversation between Silvia and Junon came to an end. Then they entered the exam venue and disappeared.

There was something rather significant about the end of their conversation.

Moreover, the whispering voices around them particularly irritated her ears as soon as he went in.

“What does he mean by ‘knock down all opponents without mercy’?”

“Does he know the bracket or something this time? If he’s telling Silvia about it…”

“That professor really seems to favor him quite a bit.”

Those who viewed him unfavorably were watching his every word, making it unsurprising that he would be suspected.

At this, a girl pushing her pink hair back suddenly spoke up.

“You all openly fled when facing the Osoftera, and you have the nerve to say that?”

“F-fled? That’s not…”

“We had no choice because we were in danger too…”

“Erika almost died because of that. At least the person you’re dismissing stood his ground until the end. You just can’t admit that you’re inferior to him, can you?”

They might have tried to argue, but they closed their mouths again.

They had nothing to say when Aris, the hero of this defense battle, said those words.

If she had been an easy target, they might have talked back, but Aris’s achievements so far made it disrespectful to even compare them with hers.

Those who had been busy running away couldn’t make a sound against Aris, and the flow of conversation completely shifted.

Seizing the moment, Aris added one more thing.

“If not, then prove it with this exam. Prove that you’re better than Junon.”

With that addition, they snorted and quickly made their way to the exam venue.

It was a clear provocation. To stimulate those who were already defeated.

“Of course we can prove that!”

“We didn’t run away. It was a strategic retreat. We’ll prove it properly in this exam.”

“I was worried about setting you up. I hope you won’t be a coward and run away like last time in this exam.”

“I told you we didn’t run away!”

“Hey, forget it. We’ll just crush him in there.”

Literally, if it bothers you, prove it with this exam.

Aris practically pushed the three into the duel room with that taunt.

Thanks to this, the atmosphere didn’t deteriorate further with more suspicion about Junon’s words.

‘…This probably isn’t enough though.’

The least she could do was divert attention.

She owed him an enormous debt.

Her teammate’s life. Her own life. And possibly something more beyond that.

From their first meeting, she had made a somewhat impulsive judgment based on memories that hadn’t even surfaced yet and attacked Junon first.

The reason was to prevent him from joining the Tembris party.

For similar reasons, Junon must have heard the same from Erika.

However, he seemed to have absolutely no interest in the Tembris party from the beginning. Rather, he wished to avoid any contact with them.

The more she reflected on it, the more foolish it seemed to have hurled angry words and threatened with magic attacks someone who had no such intentions.

But now it’s different. The emotional girl who had messed things up now knows he saved her teammate’s life and her own.

So it’s not difficult to prevent things from turning disadvantageous for Junon in this way. The problem is that she still can’t meet his eyes.

As if she had become a great sinner, Aris had involuntarily flinched earlier when Junon passed by just three steps away from her on his way into the exam venue.

‘…But this is better.’

Granting his wish to not be associated with the Tembris party and preventing his name from becoming known, for better or worse.

That was all she could do for Junon right now.

─Room 5. Would the designated students please prepare.

‘Everything will be fine with time.’

Someday, just as she did with Senia, she hoped she could look him in the eye and offer words of apology.