Chapter 85 : The product of effort

As those in the know are already aware, just because it’s an important day doesn’t mean anything special happens.

For instance, no dramatic background music plays, nor does one’s mind clear up and become hyper-focused. Today, too, is just another ordinary day.

The brightening morning was still blue, and the surroundings were quiet. The academy, which had just crossed dawn, greeted a morning as static as ever.

It had been a while since I came outside, and I noticed that my uncut hair had grown quite messy. Come on, I’m not a vagrant.

They weren’t even flags, yet those wild strands were screaming silently until a few snips restored them to order.

It had been so long since I had a proper haircut that I felt extreme fatigue, but it was fine. As someone once said, sleep is for the dead. Right now, my condition was both the worst and the best at the same time.

After arriving early at the exam room and gathering my focus, I sensed someone entering as footsteps approached. It was someone I knew.

[Trea…]

“Do me a favor and don’t call me by my name.”

I slowly opened my eyes and looked at her—someone I could no longer go back to.

Yeah, it should have been like this from the very beginning.

“Because it’s disgusting.”

In subculture, there’s often a type of protagonist referred to as “hidden powerhouse.”

Someone who never shows their full strength, gaining superiority over enemies and admiration from allies—an emotional indulgence genre. To be honest, I never hated it until now.

But watching it beyond the screen is one thing—experiencing it firsthand is completely different. There’s nothing more infuriating than being played like a puppet in someone else’s palm.

As I tapped on the desk and twisted my legs, my lips let out a tone as sharp and cold as my appearance. Despite summer’s arrival, a chill lingered in the air.

“Don’t go easy on me and intentionally get things wrong or anything.”

There was no reply, and I didn’t expect one. I stood up and walked out of the classroom. People around whispered and stared, but I behaved as I always did.

“I’ll really kill you next time.”

Even after a month, my body still showed a visceral rejection toward her.

I was glad there were no mirrors nearby. My eyes were surely twisted like a demon’s.

The academy’s final exam, held in written format, ended in a single day. A written test, not a practical one—kind and cruel all at once, compressing everything into one burst.

It was funny how an ordinary day could carry the weight of all past efforts. The fact that I was so worked up about a test I wouldn’t have cared about otherwise made me feel strange.

If someone more sociable than me had possessed my body, they probably would’ve formed a study group and had tea time instead of beating their brains out.

Secret meetings among noble ladies. For someone like me, that was nothing but a pointless fantasy with neither the ability nor will to pursue it.

‘So it begins.’

There’s a huge difference between “I’ll try my best” and “I’ll get a perfect score no matter what.” Even the history class I used to ignore—I had to memorize every page of those books.

Names of unseen kings, wars waged before I was born, poured out like a torrent.

So far, there hadn’t been any serious issues. No memory-based subject had managed to trip me up.

But even now, despite being certain of my answers, the mental exhaustion and psychological stress were immense.

I looked like a soldier walking through gunfire. Even if the bullets didn’t hit me directly, the pressure was still unbearable.

‘Still, I’m fine.’

I had fought and defeated a dragon. No way I’d collapse in a place like this. I took a deep breath and glanced around.

Due to the insane difficulty, wails erupted all around. That must be what normal students look like. I wondered what face Tephe was making. Sadly, I couldn’t see her from where I sat.

‘Hoo.’

Time passed, and at last only the final exam remained. The problem was—it was magic studies, the most important one.

During the break before the last test, the classroom was filled with despair. People collapsed on their desks, some were crying.

Many students were completely worn out, and I wasn’t much better. I was drained both mentally and physically.

Considering how much I had abused my body over the past month, the fact that I could still move was a miracle. I desperately wanted to just collapse.

The only hopeful part was that, so far, I didn’t think I had answered anything wrong.

Though I hadn’t checked my answers yet, assuming I made no mistakes—I was still at a perfect score. Maybe that’s what kept me on my feet.

Soon, the supervising assistant entered and handed out the last exam papers.

‘Finally, the last one.’

My head was already foggy, and if I let my guard down even a bit, the black letters would dance—but I couldn’t stop.

All for the sake of defeating you. So I’d never lose again. I had endured everything just for that. I couldn’t fall here.

I flipped the first page and let out a breath. Professor Abel, who taught magic, had prepared this test like a whetted blade—it was tough from the start.

Catalysts that repel mana? As if average students would know that. As time passed, not only did the sound of pens fade, but more students collapsed onto their desks.

Amiter probably collapsed the moment it started. Thinking about that oddly encouraged me.

‘Right, after everything I’ve endured, like always…’

Pause. My hand, which had moved without a hitch, suddenly froze.

For the first time, I encountered a problem I didn’t know.

Professor Abel didn’t earn his job just because of his majestic mustache. His white hair proved his decades as a mage.

And he was a professor who dealt with students. To think I could know everything he knows—that would be pure arrogance.

The question on the test paper was a brand new type I had never seen before. Of all times, now?

‘…I expected this.’

I never believed I wouldn’t face a single unknown question—but facing it head-on still made my hands tremble uncontrollably.

I clasped both hands together and took a deep breath. My trembling breath didn’t make me look sane.

‘Stay calm. Stay calm.’

I didn’t move. Forcing strength into my trembling hands, I racked my brain desperately.

Don’t panic.

You can do this. Let’s see. It’s a modified question about the Ritual of Demonization and its dispelling method. So what was the Ritual?

Don’t panic.

Was this covered in class? Try to remember. First, interpret the spell. Damn this academy. What even is this Ritual of Demonization?

Don’t panic.

Who am I? Where am I? Focus, stay focused. Without knowing the terms, trying to insert runes forcibly? Useless. I wish my hands and feet would stop shaking.

Damn it, I said stay calm. Get a grip. After everything I’ve…

Don’t panic.

Crack.
When I came to my senses, the pen in my hand had already snapped in half.

At the same time, the bell rang—signaling the end of the test.

Everyone loves stories of poetic justice. A kind protagonist faces trials, defeats the villain, and finds happiness in the end.

A good person gets rewarded, while the evil one suffers in the flames of karma—who wouldn’t like that?

And in this novel, I was the villain. A third-rate antagonist crushing the protagonist and living freely—no one would enjoy that story.

Villains must meet a suitably miserable end. The goal of survival I clung to when I first arrived in this world had long since faded.

Clatter.
I dropped the small dagger I had held to my chest.

Even as a villain, dying like this felt too empty.

Instead of picking it back up, I traced my fingers through the air, opening a subspace.

After all my hesitation, I was finally able to make a decision today.

There was no hesitation as I pulled out the pitch-black necklace and ring hidden deep inside the subspace.

Dark energy began to surge violently.