episode_0034

The midterm exam for the first semester is a group project consisting of pairs.

Two students randomly selected from Class A of the 1st year Swordsmanship Department form a team to test how well they can coordinate their attacks against monsters.

Most 1st-year students have little experience working with others. Before entering Arcana Academy, most of them would have learned swordsmanship directly from their family.

“I’m the odd one out.”

Typically, someone like me with a lot of practical experience would either become a Royal Knight or a court magician.

Since the main reason for attending the academy is to be recruited into the Royal Knights or court magicians, skipping the academy altogether is better if you have enough experience.

Therefore, most academy students lack practical experience. Naturally, the idea of coordinating attacks with someone else would feel awkward.

Combat is not a solo endeavor.

Just having someone watch your back during a fight significantly increases efficiency. If you can fight without worrying about your back, your options increase.

This is why adventurers move in groups of at least two. Even though I prefer to wander alone, I always found a party to enter slightly more challenging dungeons.

Therefore, the purpose of the practical midterm exam is to teach students who are not used to coordinating with others how to fight together.

And today, with only a week left until the midterm exam begins, it was the day to form teams.

“Yerena, who do you want to be in a team with?”

“Of course, Sian, you.”

“We probably won’t be in the same team. Each team can only have one mark bearer. Besides, if we were together, it would make evaluation difficult.”

Remember, this group evaluation for the midterm exam is to test the ability to coordinate attacks.

Two mark bearers. And not just any mark bearers, but the heir of the Frost family and a promising Gold-tier adventurer in one team would not allow for a proper evaluation.

Even the Royal Knights would struggle to handle two girls like us.

Remember, this is a 1st-year midterm exam. So, the level of the monsters prepared is adjusted to match the average 1st-year student.

With that explanation, Yerena looked disappointed as she glanced around.

“…Then, it seems like I don’t have a preferred partner. I’m not the type to approach others first.”

“Yerena, how about getting closer to some other kids? You won’t be lonely without me, right?”

“Not really. And do you think other kids will really see me as a friend?”

Yerena’s cold eyes scanned the surroundings.

There were various emotions mixed in the gazes directed at us.

The kind of gaze that seemed to say, “I’ll get close to the Frost family’s daughter and the highly regarded Gold-tier adventurer and gain something out of it.”

“Oh.”

“I’m not blaming those kids. The academy is where they come to test these abilities. But it’s unavoidable that it’s uncomfortable.”

Yerena Frost is a good friend to me. But to other kids, she appears as the daughter of the Frost family.

Since I know Yerena’s personality from my past life, and being a commoner with exceptional combat skills and not much to lose, unlike me, most Class A students are nobles.

“The academy doesn’t discriminate based on status, but they can’t protect all students after graduation. So, it’s a natural reaction. Sian, you not caring about those things makes you special.”

“Uh, I’m not that special…”

“Hmm.”

Yerena, who was staring at me intently, cautiously touched my chin. Her cold eyes drew closer.

They say when you’re too surprised, you can’t even speak.

I was in that state right now. The girl who was always as cold as ice in front of others, I never imagined she would suddenly approach me like this. A faint smile spread across Yerena’s lips.

In a voice so small that others couldn’t hear, Yerena whispered to me. However, her voice was clear enough for my sensitive ears to hear.

“Do you know how special it is to be the only person I’ve opened my heart to?”

“Uh, um…?”

A cool yet somehow alluring voice, completely opposite to Yerena’s usual image, tickled my ears. In reflex, a foolish voice popped out of me.

If I were a man, I might have mistakenly thought that Yerena had feelings for me.

Alone, with my face turning red, I looked at myself with narrowed grape-colored eyes, and Yerena muttered.

“Hehe, even in this state, you’re cute.”

“Ah…”

Honestly, I need to increase my resistance to women. I should get used to being a woman now.

When I was active as an adventurer, it was a concern that I didn’t really need to be honest. Adventurers are such free-spirited people, always meeting and parting ways. There was no time to develop feelings for someone.

But now it was different.

Just yesterday, I acted without thinking and made Regina uncomfortable. Today, I found myself swayed by Yerena again.

This can’t go on. I didn’t want to lose the few friends I made in this world.

“Alright, is everyone here? I’m taking attendance.”

Interrupting my endless thoughts of digging into the ground was the lively voice of Teacher Ellen.

“Oh, right. Cyan and Yerena Frost. Will you two come with me after attendance is done?”

“Oh, yes!”

“Understood.”

When I came to my senses, the smile that had been on Yerena’s lips had disappeared.

Looking at Yerena, who had returned to her usual Ice Princess mode, I suddenly wondered if I had seen things.

Not knowing what to do, my hand fidgeted under the desk, and Yerena’s hand gently wrapped around mine.

“Why did you call us?”

“Oh, it’s nothing special. I wanted to talk about the midterm exam groupings. As you know, it’s a bit ambiguous to apply the same evaluation criteria to you, considering your abilities are quite different from the other students, right?”

“That’s true.”

This isn’t arrogance on my part.

It’s a bit strange to evaluate a normal first-year student and a girl who has been active as an adventurer for nearly five years, capturing even Marquis-level demons, on the same level.

Moreover, Yerena Frost is already an accomplished knight who has gained a lot of practical experience near the Absolute Defense Line.

It’s hard to evaluate Yerena, who at the age of seventeen was already cutting down monsters near the Absolute Defense Line, as just a simple demon hunter.

“So, I’m thinking of applying slightly different criteria to you two. What do you think?”

“I agree. I’m already tired of just killing monsters.”

“I’m fine with it too. The Academy is a place to learn, and I don’t think we can learn much if we’re evaluated the same as other students.”

“Sounds good.”

With a sly smile, Teacher Ellen took out two sheets of paper. Holding a paper with the photos and personal information of two Academy female students in each hand, she continued.

“Originally, the midterm exam was supposed to be monster hunting in pairs, but I think you two could handle it alone, so I decided to change the rules a bit. I also changed your group members.”

“Are they students from Class B?”

“Yes.”

The grades are divided into classes A to F, and students are assigned to each class based on the practical evaluation they had on the first day.

Class A students excel in all aspects such as swordsmanship, martial arts, physical strength, power, magic usage, situational judgment, crisis management, etc., while Class B students stand out in certain areas.

Some have gone beyond the hexagon, while others have delved deep inside. It’s a gathering of students with a strong sense of initiative.

“The original test was about catching as many demons as possible within the time limit, but the test you will take is a bit different.”

“How exactly is it different?”

“We want to see if you can accurately identify your team members’ weaknesses and how well you can adapt to them. Since I already know your individual abilities, there’s no need to evaluate them.”

Teacher Ellen continued as she handed out papers to us.

“So, I’m thinking of halving the points for the demons you catch. Your role is to help your team’s mage catch as many demons as possible. How does that sound?”

“I’m fine with that. I’ve tried something like that before.”

Mages are important assets anywhere. Therefore, adventurer parties are mainly composed of mages.

So, back when I was a novice adventurer, I often took on the mission of escorting mages. As the last line of defense to protect the mage.

“I’m okay with it too. Fighting on the Northern Defense Line, such situations often arise.”

“Great. Since I thought you would agree, I’ve already called the students who will be in the same team as you.”

Ellen called out to the students outside the door, muttering to herself.

And when I saw the girl assigned to the same team as me, I couldn’t help but be surprised.

“…?!”

The girl with short, shimmering silver hair and aquamarine eyes was a striking figure, a girl who had never appeared in the original story’s 1,000 chapters.