Chapter 30

“Doesn’t this honestly make no sense?”

A teaching assistant said with a face full of disbelief. The day they first heard about the group evaluation problem from Professor Karen. Even he, who would usually die for the professor’s words, immediately presented an opposing opinion. Of course, the other teaching assistants felt the same.

Why?

Because the level of the problem was insanely high. No matter how high the standards of the students at Lepheria Academy are, this was just not right.

Everyone intuitively knew that if it stayed this way, it would become synonymous with a difficulty failure prone, forever etched in the academy’s history.

But despite the teaching assistants opposition, the decision was made to go ahead with the original plan. After all, the professor is the superior, and the teaching assistants are forever the inferiors.

Anyway, such an insane level of problem.

At best, only one group was expected to score full marks. The group of Elaine, the overwhelmingly top student of the second year. But then.

“It doesn’t make sense.”

Another teaching assistant chimed in.

“Honestly, I don’t have confidence in scoring full marks either.”

All the teaching assistants here were talents who had achieved excellent grades at renowned academies across the continent during their school days. Among them, of course, were those from Lepheria itself.

Even these talents, dreaming of becoming professors, doubted they could score full marks, such was the level of the problem.

“Still, I thought the top student could do it. But what about those kids?”

That was it. The fundamental reason why they thought it made no sense. Because of Max’s group.

One of the worst troublemakers, And two with no presence, Their combination was already doomed from the start. No, putting aside all that, they were just common class students. That’s the end of it.

They simply weren’t capable of solving such high level problems. But now they did not just solve it… full marks…? Maybe because I was too shocked earlier, I don’t even have the spirit to be surprised now.

“Could it really be a problem leak?”

No matter how much I thought about it, that was the only cause. But then, The teaching assistant next to me slapped my back as if to say stop talking nonsense.

“You crazy. The professor wouldn’t do that, and if it was us, who would be crazy enough to do such a thing?” They were all living a tearful life as teaching assistants, hoping to get a professor’s position somewhere secluded.

Who would take such a risk and do something crazy that would ruin everything they’ve worked so hard to build?

“Well, that’s true.”

The teaching assistant who blurted out the dangerous words eventually agreed. Thinking about it again, even if Max was paying for a leak, it wouldn’t make sense. Leaking to such a lunatic would just mean getting caught and going to jail.

“By the way, what’s the last problem?”

“I don’t know either. Haven’t you heard anything?”

“Yeah. But I did hear the professor say that she would give a prize to the students who score full marks on the last problem.”

“A prize? That’s unexpected, but I get it…”

It’s already impressive enough to have full marks so far, but to get full marks on the last problem too? I’d understand even if they were given ten prizes.

But it’s probably just a free meal voucher at a restaurant in the shopping district or a free pass to a public bath.

“Hey, quiet down. The professor is speaking.”

The teaching assistants quickly fell silent.

“All groups that have scored full marks so far, please come forward.”

Though she said groups, there were only two.

Elaine’s group

And my group

But they were polar opposites. On one side, the royal class and the pride of the second year, and on the other, the common class and the shame of the second year.

You could tell just by the way people looked at them. Their side receiving looks as if it was a matter of course. On the other hand, our side received skeptical and scornful looks as if to say, “How on earth did you guys…?”

Well, I’m used to such looks, so I’m not disturbed. Riviera is a special case among special cases, so there’s no way she’d be affected,

But just one person. Tofu mental Allen was just looking down at the ground, completely intimidated…

“Hey, this guy?”

But then I saw it.

Allen’s lips were forming a very faint smile. A smiling person is a true first class. Does that mean this guy’s mental state has improved?

“That can’t be.”

This guy is just unable to hide his joy at scoring full marks for the first time in his life, sucking up too much honey. I let out a chuckle.

“Hey, you.”

“Even the neighborhood mutt knows gratitude, right?”

In other words, if you scored full marks because of me, you should know to repay the favor.

After all, even though I’m just an extra, I have a background, and I’m a useful guy at the common class level, so there’s no loss in saying this…

“The spear of Benesse does not weigh grudges, but it does not forget the weight of gratitude.”

Suddenly, Allen spoke solemnly, out of character. But that’s a familiar saying.

The famous motto of the Benesse family, known as ‘The Spear of the Kingdom.’ Do not draw your spear out of personal grudge. But never forget and repay the gratitude you’ve received.

That’s what it means. A truly magnanimous motto. You can feel the weight befitting the reputation of the Kingdom’s Spear.

But when this guy says it, the weight just drops, there’s nothing I can do about it.

Even so, this guy is definitely the eldest son of the Benesse family. Talking about gratitude, the family motto just pops out without him realizing.

“…That’s right.”

Realizing this, he scratched the back of his head and trailed off awkwardly.

I smirked.

“Hey, remember some grudges too.”

If he had, he wouldn’t have been bullied so much, even if he was timid. No one dares to bully someone who brandishes a spear, not even a thug grandfather. But what can I do? That’s the family motto.

Anyway, while we were exchanging these words, we arrived in front of Professor Karen.

“Honestly, it’s beyond my expectations. I never expected two groups to score full marks.”

Professor Karen continued with a satisfied smile.

“Let’s all give a round of applause for the excellent achievements of these students.”

Clap, clap, clap.

The applause sounded one beat late. It was a reluctant applause. Seeing their bitter faces made me laugh.

The applause stopped, and Professor Karen spoke again.

“Did you all think this was the end? But there’s still time left, isn’t there? The test isn’t over yet.”

The reaction was as if they were saying, isn’t this too much without actually booing.

Professor Karen laughed.

“Anyway, those students don’t even qualify, do they? The only ones qualified to take on this problem are the students from these two groups. Shouldn’t we determine the true full marker?”

The true full marker.

That’s right. The full marks Professor Karen had in mind were up to the fourth problem. Although it’s not mentioned in the family tree, the game also mentions that Elaine’s group solved the last problem and became the only ones with full marks.

And it will flow just like that in reality.

Why?

Because our group has no answer.

“Ah, I should have dropped out at the third one.”

I clicked my tongue. Even if the score might be a bit higher, I didn’t like the image damage at the end. I’ve been on a winning streak, showing only perfection, but now there’s a blemish.

“Shall we go then?”

Snap.

Suddenly, Professor Karen snapped her fingers.

And then

The world changed.

“Where, where is this?”

Panic stricken voices were heard. Among them, unbelievably, was the voice of a teaching assistant. It seemed they hadn’t been given any prior notice either.

“It’s spatial translocation.”

A calm voice I heard for the first time.

It was Elaine.

Like a genius, she seemed to have grasped the situation at a glance.

“Spatial translocation?”

I looked around.

Outside the window, a dizzying cliff was visible. It looked like a building precariously built on top of the cliff. Somehow the scenery felt familiar.

“Could this be”

“Excellent. Yes, it’s spatial translocation magic.”

Professor Karen’s words turned the teaching assistants expressions sour.

“Pro, Professor! Spatial translocation magic is too dangerous…”

They were right.

Spatial translocation magic was a very high level and dangerous magic. A small mistake could result in the body being torn to shreds and death. So their reaction was understandable.

But,

‘That monster wouldn’t make a mistake.’

‘The Red Eyed Inquirer’ Karen Mayfield A genius magician recognized as the most talented even within the Mayfield magician family. Such a monster wouldn’t make that kind of mistake.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. That’s why I connected to the safest place in advance.”

Professor Karen said with a slight smile.

“Welcome. To the Mayfield house.”

‘I thought so.’

The feeling that I had seen this place before wasn’t a mistake. This was Professor Karen’s family home. The Mayfield house, famous for its castle on the cliff.

“The, The Mayfield house?”

“Gasp… That far?”

“This is the famous…”

Everyone looked around the interior with eyes full of wonder and surprise. Located at the very end of the northern continent, it was a place difficult for even professionals to reach, let alone students and teaching assistants. That’s why their reactions were full of wonder.

“But why suddenly this place?”

One of the teaching assistants asked with a puzzled look.

It was a question on everyone’s mind.

Honestly, I was curious too. Because this was an event I hadn’t experienced in the game. Professor Karen’s eyes looked at the students.

“You’ve been invited here because you’re qualified. And…”

Her words continued.

“It’s also because of the prize.”

“A prize?”

This was news to me.

But the teaching assistants seemed to know something about it. Yet, their expressions suggested that things were going differently than they had thought.

“Yes, it’s an item that can’t be casually taken out of the family home.”

Can’t be casually taken out?

By Professor Karen?

Who is she?

She may not be the head, but she holds an absolute position in the Mayfield house. And yet she can’t take it out?

‘Something’s up…’

I felt a strange premonition. The others seemed to feel it too, as their expressions became odd.

‘No way.’

I dismissed the one assumption that came to mind. Because it was an item that, no matter how much money you had in the game, you couldn’t obtain.

Why? Because it’s not something sold for money.

“What is the item?”

In the atmosphere where no one dared to speak up, the only male in Elaine’s group, the leader of the Royals, took the initiative and asked with a tense face.

Instead of answering, Professor Karen simply clapped her hands lightly. Then, a maid looking woman came with something in her hands and carefully handed it over to Professor Karen.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Not at all, miss.”

The maid smiled.

Then she whispered in a low voice.

“I hope you’ll bring the person who will become your husband next time you visit. Oh, is he among them?”

“…You have no filter in front of the students.”

Professor Karen shook her head slightly.

“Hehe, sorry.”

The maid winked. Then she bowed to the visitors and left. Even from the maid’s attitude, one could guess that the Mayfield house was not an authoritarian place.

Is it because they have characters who speak honorifically in the family?

I even thought that. Anyway, that wasn’t important. Everyone’s attention was focused on the item wrapped in an elegant cloth. That item must be the prize Professor Karen mentioned.

“Shall we open it?”

Professor Karen unwrapped the cloth. And then…

A transparent glass bottle with a blue liquid appeared. Just looking at it, one could feel a clean, refreshing color.

“That is…?”

Most of them seemed to be seeing it for the first time, tilting their heads curiously.

But…

My eyes widened. That precious item is popping out here? Elaine’s eyes also widened. Riviera swallowed his saliva.

“The Tears of Frost…”

Elaine murmured.

At that moment.

“What, what did you say?!”

“The, The Tears of Frost?!”

The faces of the others were also filled with shock.