Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.16 – Knights Hate Exams (2)
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"I-Instructor! C-Could you maybe increase our training time?"
"?"
Number 7 chick—was her name Rose?
The enthusiastic female cadet who appeared after Levi Polt.
It was commendable, but Lee Han knew.
That this request wasn't because she wanted to become a knight.
"A-And if possible, it'd be great if you could help improve our stamina and athletic ability... I-Is that possible?"
"To do that in a short time would probably be tough in many ways."
"Y-You're not saying it's impossible... Then I'll do it."
"...Your physical training scores must be borderline."
"Yessir."
This was just desperate flailing for survival.
How many was that now?
Already over ten cadets today had come asking him to revise their training regimen.
Some even brought potions, fancy chocolates, or whiskey like it was bribery.
But it wasn't real bribery—just desperate pleas to boost their stamina and coordination—so Lee Han just felt deflated.
This wasn't a gym, after all.
It felt like summer was coming, so they were frantically begging for crash abs classes.
Still, whatever.
"Cut the bribes, everyone. If you want stamina boosts and better athleticism, show up every morning at 7 a.m. without fail. I can't guarantee athletic gains, but I'll whip your stamina into shape."
-Yes, sir!
The chicks left with joyful faces.
Like they'd just gained a heavenly army now that he agreed to help.
But anyone who'd trained seriously under him would know.
They'd dodged the snake only to tumble off a cliff.
"They're gonna regret it."
"A bunch'll drop tomorrow, I bet."
Garand and Arno wore pitying expressions, already picturing the chicks wailing.
However.
"Ughhh!"
"Why is there so much to memorize?!"
"...Can't we just swing a sword well? Why do knights need to study?!"
"We're not knights yet."
"......True."
While some would wail tomorrow, plenty were already wailing now.
Scratch, scratch.
The training grounds, which should have echoed with wooden sword whooshes and jump rope slaps, were now filled with cadets clutching ballpoints and pencils instead, studying.
The library and study halls were already packed, so some huddled in corners to cram.
The bear-like ones cleverly spread their bear pelts like mats—seemed comfy for studying.
...Use them instead of armor, he said.
"Better than the ones wasting money, I guess?"
But the real wasters were the young masters who'd bought desks and turned the training grounds into a study hall.
Lee Han had permitted it, but it felt like such a pointless expense.
Rich kids just couldn't stop flaunting it.
"That's why I call you young masters."
"E-Everyone can hear, Instructor."
"Good, let 'em. That's what you get for not studying sooner."
"...We were busy."
"All talk, no action. Tsk tsk."
"......"
They had plenty to say, but arguing would've wasted time better spent memorizing.
"...Hmm."
Lee Han watched the sudden study fever sweep the grounds and recalled a famous quote.
"Tragedy from afar, comedy up close, huh."
It was funny, but not laugh-out-loud funny amid the spectacle, so he shook his head and got back to squats.
Just ten thousand.
The exams at Pendragon Royal Academy were a famous "big event" for the capital's citizens.
Why bark like a fool all of a sudden?
No barking—just facts.
You might ask why exam period counts as a big event, but it's similar to the war games held the day before.
"Know when the debate starts?"
"Finally, some polo matches! Oh, overlapping with tennis?"
"Hm, I'll wait for cricket."
"Why that boring cricket? Better watch the yacht 'exam'."
"Cricket has its own charm!"
"You're hopeless."
Due to the academy's emphasis on balanced martial and scholarly arts, over 90% of cadets had to take sports as required electives.
Healthy body, healthy mind?
Sounds familiar.
Anyway, the point was cadets needed top scores not just in written exams, but sports too.
At least average.
But to cadets, desperate for grades, it was life-or-death.
To commoners, it was a rare chance to watch elite leisure sports.
Yes, amusingly, midterms opened the academy to the public.
Like war games, spectators allowed.
Ostensibly to showcase cadets' prowess and academy prestige to the masses.
But rumor had it nobles just flexing superiority.
Still, it was prime entertainment for the masses.
No matter the era, nothing unites and soothes crowds like sports.
...Maybe someone savvy added sports classes to harness that.
To rally the people's hearts.
But even this massive sports event was just a side show.
The real climax the intellectuals and elites awaited was...
"Whose idea was it to replace written exams with debates and presentations?"
Debates, exhibitions, presentations—these evaluated cadets most rigorously.
Brutal.
Law, military science, literature, arts? Debates lasted 100+ minutes minimum.
Citing class terms, cases, papers—nonstop.
Judged by professors and invited scholars.
No strong impression or intellect shown? Instant deduction.
Exhibitions and presentations same deal.
Experts and profs graded everything.
How specialized, prepared...
How internalized the knowledge.
Handling sudden questions, crises...
More "real combat" than exam.
On that note.
"The academy—no, the kingdom—wants that. Not just book-smart grads, but ones who shine in the field. Studying's just rote memory and comprehension anyway, right? So they test response, judgment on big stages like debates. How well they've made it their own. That's why the academy always produces top talent."
"......"
"Why the look?"
"Sounds obnoxious."
"Huh?"
Damian Pollet tilted his head, wondering what was weird.
He'd just stated the obvious.
A prodigy despite his looks—Lee Han thought the heavens unfair.
How was this guy so talented?
'So guys who can't memorize are goldfish?'
Expressing that as "just" anything?
Lee Han wanted to shut him up but held back.
Couldn't lose his errand boy.
'Real-world focus is good, though.'
Fair's fair: the kingdom was dead serious about talent.
Only grads who could hack real scenarios.
Early talent factory?
'I'd have dropped out day one.'
Debates, presentations? Not his scene.
"Five+ debates and presentations per student?"
"Not mandatory, but quantity over quality if you're unsure."
"Fail average? Expulsion."
"More like flunk profs' and elites' questions. Crammers are screwed."
"You're fine?"
"Nobles prep with tutors on likely topics pre-enrollment. More leeway."
"Ah, figures."
That explained why noble ladies obsessed sports over debates.
Already tutored solid.
So focus weak spots.
"Clever foxes."
"Noble ladies always are. Look pure, but sly as foxes."
"I'll tell the chicks that."
"!!?"
"Kidding."
"You scared me, Instructor—I thought you'd do it."
"Drama queen."
"...Not drama."
Ignoring Damian's paling face, Lee Han got why dropouts were rampant.
10% graduation rate? Miracle.
"......Huh?"
Scanning the brutal schedule, Lee Han doubted his eyes.
Something off.
"What is this? Why's it like that?"
"Like what?"
"Last day of exams."
Nearly two weeks straight.
But final day? No exams.
Just.
"Why's the swordsmanship department exam the main event?"
Swordsmanship exam.
Scheduled last, like grand finale.
Lee Han blinked.
Damian shrugged like obvious.
"Of course? Biggest draw—no, exam."
"Did you say 'draw'?"
"M-Misheard. ...Look, you dumped scheduling on me, skipped checks—info lag."
"Nag much?"
Smack!
"Aaaah!"
Slave—no, assistant—daring to sass.
Manners still lacking.
Lee Han ignored the writhing assistant clutching his head and read the schedule properly.
To learn why swordsmanship was climax.
Moments later.
"...No wonder dropout rates."
Ridiculous. Explained commoner sword cadets quitting en masse.
Non-fighting technique swordsmen couldn't pass.
So-called beast subjugation.
But.
"......Why the unease?"
Bittersweet pang at "troll" slated for slaying.
Lee Han puzzled over the odd familiarity with trolls, tilting his head in vague discomfort.