Midterm Exams – 2

The Academy’s midterm exams take place throughout the entire week. Whether to hold exams quickly on Monday and Tuesday and release students, or to give them more study time and hold exams on Wednesday and Thursday is entirely up to the professor’s discretion.

The content of exams also varies by subject. Some have ordinary written tests, while others have their own special examination methods.

Basic Swordsmanship I was one of those special subjects. Befitting a swordsmanship course, the exam was 100% practical.

“As previously announced, the exam will be conducted through duels with opponents of similar skill levels. While winning or losing will certainly affect your grades, what’s more important is the content of the duel. This means that winning doesn’t guarantee a good grade, and losing doesn’t mean you’ll get a poor grade. Don’t obsess over winning—focus on demonstrating what you’ve learned.”

Instructor Helford, still with his bandit-like face, spoke with great force in his voice. Despite being in an outdoor training ground rather than an indoor classroom, his voice resonated powerfully. Probably because it was a formal duel, the exam was held in the outdoor training ground. This was the first time using the outdoor training ground since the semester began, so everyone should have been excited, but they all seemed tense and kept their mouths shut.

Me? Honestly, I didn’t feel much of anything. It’s awkward to say, but excluding Wilhelm, there were no students at the Academy who could match Mikhail’s skills. I could probably even defeat the instructors depending on the situation. This was based on Mikhail’s memories.

Helford glanced over all of us. He clicked his tongue in disapproval at the overly tense students.

“If you’re that tense, you won’t even show half of what you normally can. Relax your bodies. You’ll get hurt.”

That was probably his way of trying to ease our tension, but everyone just stiffened their bodies even more. Helford sighed, seemingly giving up.

“Well, it’s your first exam, and this is the first duel between students, so I suppose my words won’t ease your tension. Just try not to get hurt. Any questions?”

I raised my hand. Helford’s eyebrows curled up slightly at my gesture.

“Ah, yes. Mikhail will duel with me.”

He answered before I could even ask my question. Being matched against an instructor made the surrounding students look at me with sympathy in their eyes. This was because my original opponent, Wilhelm, had taken a leave of absence, leaving me without a partner.

But I was actually pleased. It would be troublesome if someone got hurt while fighting an unskilled opponent. Of course we’d be using practice swords, but if someone was hit wrong, it wouldn’t end with just a bruise. Besides, since they said they would judge the process rather than the outcome, it didn’t really matter if I lost. Of course, if I won, it would almost certainly guarantee a perfect score.

Whatever method I used, winning would be the jackpot. Would a teacher give a low score to a student who defeated them in a duel? Why would they want to hear the backbiting that would follow? As I thought earlier, teachers are people too and care about their reputation. They have to think about their retirement and campus opinion significantly affects their evaluations.

I sat down, wiping away the sweat that flowed despite my brief movement. I could feel hot gazes directed at me. It’s a natural reaction, since I defeated an instructor, even if by somewhat unorthodox means. I turned my eyes toward the direction from which I felt the strongest gaze.

‘Wow, she’s going to bore holes in me.’

Cordelia was staring at me intensely.

With a waiting opponent list, I felt a bit awkward. The winner should challenge the next person, and being the winner would be advantageous as you could fight while maximizing your strengths and minimize your weaknesses, but since I’d just defeated the instructor, there was no need to fight anymore. It was a strange feeling, watching others fight while I’d already finished.

I sat back down in my place and wiped away the sweat with a handkerchief. I could feel the heat of others’ stares. It was a natural reaction since I’d defeated a teacher, even if through somewhat unconventional means. Among those stares, I turned toward the direction from which the strongest gaze was coming.

‘Wow, she’s going to burn holes through me.’

Cordelia was staring at me intently.

Honestly, I felt a little disappointed. Using my own strength proved difficult. I had been feeling hopeful lately since I could make natural movements with my own will rather than relying on Mikhail’s memories. But as soon as I concentrated, Mikhail’s memories began to assist me naturally. It seems I still need the help of this mysterious power to display real skill.

I followed the sword path guided by Mikhail’s memories. A diagonal slash from the upper right to the lower left—what could be called the most basic foundation of swordsmanship.

Clang!

An unpleasant metallic sound rang out with sparks. As expected, Helford easily blocked my sword by bringing his own to meet it. He maintained the momentum and pushed my sword away with force.

Our swords became entangled. A clear battle of strength. Helford possesses tremendous power fitting his build. Though I was clearly in the position to press down when our swords first clashed, in an instant the situation reversed with him pressing down on me from above. It’s obvious that pressing down from above is more advantageous than pushing up from below. Continuing this battle of strength wouldn’t be a wise choice.

I momentarily applied force to push his sword away slightly. His sword floated in the air, and I seized that opportunity to rotate my wrist greatly. Naturally, the sword also turned in the opposite direction. My sword aimed at the empty left side of Helford’s head. A clean back-edge slash delivered in the blink of an eye.

However, Helford hadn’t earned his position as an instructor for nothing. His sword, having somehow returned to its original position, blocked my sword once again. This time, as if refusing to allow such a surprise attack, his sword naturally glided along mine.

Scriiitch Helford’s crossguard completely blocked my sword while slithering in like a snake. What should I do? In Helford’s class, he taught that in this situation, one should use a half-swording technique to knock the sword away.

But Mikhail’s instinct was different. I kicked him with all my might. Thud A dull sound like kicking a leather bag rang out. With this level of impact, I thought he would certainly fall, but Helford merely took a small step back. His body was sturdier than I expected. But my offensive didn’t end there. I immediately stuck close to him.

WHAM!

And followed with an iron mountain strike. It’s called an iron mountain strike, but really I just rammed him hard with my shoulder. An even louder and duller sound than before rang out. A tingling sensation. That one had properly connected with his solar plexus. Urgh This one must have hurt quite a bit as Helford’s mouth opened. No matter how sturdy a person is, they can’t remain unaffected when hit in a vital point.

With the strong impact, his guard opened wide. I immediately swung my practice sword and placed it against his neck.

Helford stared blankly at my sword for a moment, then rose from his position. He recovered quickly as if the hit wasn’t that significant, despite taking such a blow. However, his expression clearly showed he’d taken a solid hit.

“I don’t remember teaching this type of body technique in class.”

“I was desperate, sir.”

Helford reprimanded me. I felt like a student being scolded for solving a problem with an advanced formula I’d studied ahead. When you think about it, it’s not that different.

He opened his mouth with a hollow laugh, seemingly dumbfounded by the fact that he was defeated through an unexpected method.

“Next person, come up.”

Although he said he would judge the process rather than the outcome, he won’t give me a low score. With all these students having seen me win, why would he risk criticism by giving a low score? As I thought earlier, teachers are people too and care about their reputation. They need to consider their retirement, and campus opinion significantly affects their evaluations.

I sat down, wiping away the sweat that flowed despite my brief movement. I could feel hot gazes directed at me. It’s a natural reaction since I defeated an instructor, even if through somewhat unorthodox means. I turned my eyes toward the direction from which I felt the strongest gaze.

‘Wow, she’s going to bore holes in me.’

Cordelia was staring at me intensely.