Jundong

“Alright everyone, prepare yourselves. Put down your writing tools.”

Ugh, this awkwardness is killing me.

I unnecessarily adjusted the collar of my white lab coat.

…My voice didn’t tremble, did it?

I glanced around at the students, trying to appear as natural as possible. Fortunately, none of them seemed to notice my discomfort.

Except for Orca and Leo.

I wish they’d stop looking at me like that… You’re making me nervous enough to mess up…

I cleared my throat to hide my awkwardness and recited the prepared lines.

“Don’t get too nervous just because it’s your first exam. This is just a process to confirm where you stand. If your results are low, work harder. If they’re high, keep pushing so others don’t catch up.”

Helping with exam supervision due to teacher shortages sounded good at first, but I’m way more nervous than I expected.

They told me metal detectors prevent electronic devices, and magic detectors can sense students’ mana, so I shouldn’t worry too much.

That cheating is impossible, and supervision is just to discourage any temptation.

Yet I still can’t relax for a simple reason. During my gaming days, there was an episode in a sub quest I always cleared.

As you might guess from me bringing this up now – it was about cheating.

Since the quest rewards were juicy, I always completed it and knew exactly how they cheated.

Not that I could catch them in real time even if I watched…

But knowing such an incident happens in the future makes me keep looking at students with suspicious eyes.

Not that I think Academy students would cheat on their first exam. Their pride should be sky-high at this stage.

A child praised as a genius would need at least half a year to fall low enough to cheat. That sub quest starts six months later anyway.

But this world’s already so different from the original story. Who knows what might happen.

…I turned to look at Orca and Leo.

Are they nervous? Or completely blank?

I can’t read their expressions.

All I can do is watch to prevent cheating.

They need to do well on this exam.

“I hope you all get good results matching your preparation. You may begin when the time starts.”

Though hypnosis helped, Orca and Leo studied extremely hard.

They haven’t studied long, but… I hope they won’t be disappointed with their results.

That way they’ll work harder for the next exam.

A bell piercing the quiet silence announced the exam’s start.

“Begin. Remember cheating is strictly punished – you all know better.”

The sound of students writing answers filled the room.

Everyone focused solely on writing what they knew. No signs of cheating whatsoever.

…Was I worrying over nothing?

Seriously. Who’d cheat on their first exam?

Frankly, even if someone cheated, I have no way to detect it.

The method I know involves engraving tiny text on writing tools and reading it through touch – how could I possibly spot that?

Are you crazy?

No matter how hard I watch, I’m just an ordinary person.

I can’t possibly track all their movements.

My determination to root out cheating for the students’ sake shattered within five minutes of the exam starting.

I thought maybe I could infer cheating from reactions, but all I see are students diligently writing answers.

Right, who do I think I am…

I gave up and stared blankly into space, then got bored and watched the students.

Got bored again and spaced out – repeating this cycle dozens of times.

…Around then, my body started itching.

Uncomfortable posture making me squirm, sore butt wanting to stand but not daring to move around and distract students…

Is this the room of time and spirit? How many minutes have passed?

“…”

Looking dazedly at the clock filled me with despair.

…Only 10 minutes passed? With 50 minutes remaining?

I can’t even sleep. I’m the proctor.

Students would obviously complain if the proctor slept in front of them.

And this is just the first subject exam.

I definitely volunteered to help with everything without thinking…

I’m dying of boredom.

Should’ve just helped with practical exams.

At least those would’ve been more entertaining.

But regrets change nothing as time crawls unbearably slow.

Gaaaaah…

***

“The instructions?”

“Perfect. Even if everything fails, the Academy will at least descend into chaos.”

“…Good.”

In a deserted Academy alleyway.

A teacher conversed with someone there.

“Well done, Teacher. This couldn’t have been easy from your position.”

“…It was necessary.”

The Academy’s security is indeed top-notch.

But compared to the Papal Court and Imperial Family’s security, it naturally falls short.

The Imperial Family wields the world’s strongest power, while the Papal Court serves as their check – weaker but still formidable.

However much they want to strike these forces, rash attacks could backfire, causing losses or organizational collapse if caught.

Hence they targeted the Academy.

The Imperial Family employs only rigorously vetted personnel. The Papal Court’s upper echelons undergo strict screenings too (details classified).

But the Academy?

Veronica running wild with the Emperor’s favor, hiring teachers based solely on her whims.

Security is lax compared to the other two, hiring standards chaotic.

Even if chaos erupts, there’s ample time to escape – at least enough to cut off tails like lizards.

…Moreover, after discovering both the Empire’s Princess and a Watcher enrolled this year, they became certain.

This was an opportunity bestowed by God.

“Your sacrifice won’t be forgotten.”

“…Right.”

The voice from the phone clearly offered condolences, but the teacher receiving the call detected no real emotion in it.

Empty words – nothing more, nothing less.

“Don’t worry. We’ll hide your relatives well.”

“How dare you say that knowing everything? You’re truly trash.”

Grinding.

Teeth gnashed so loudly it might’ve carried through the phone.

“Apologies. Seems my joke wasn’t amusing.”

“Joke? …You call that a joke? You know my family’s already dead!”

He’d realized they’d discard him after use from the first contact.

Knew this venting was pointless too.

But he’d grasped their hand instead of reporting to the Imperial Family for one reason – revenge. For his dead wife and daughter. They must’ve known.

They wouldn’t have approached without this background. Their anti-Imperial group remained undiscovered, proving their caution.

“…Well, technically it wasn’t wrong.”

“What?”

“Once your treason is known, the Imperial Family won’t hesitate to desecrate corpses.”

“…”

“Dig up graves, exhume urns… They might torture souls for revenge, no?”

“Th-that’s…”

“Quite possible. Even children know the Imperial Family hoards artifacts. Surely they have such relics?”

He couldn’t deny it.

The Imperial Family’s ugliness he’d witnessed – they were absolutely capable of such acts.

“Hence my offer. Your soul aside, your family’s shouldn’t suffer.”

“…Fine. Handle it.”

“Don’t worry. This is goodwill – repayment for your unpaid assistance.”

“…”

“May things go smoothly, Teacher Ian.”

“Right.”