Final Exam (3)
The group that had stepped out briefly returned after about ten minutes. No clue what they talked about, but everyone wore an embarrassed look. Grace especially—her face was already flushed, and when our eyes met, it turned an even brighter red.
Faith had gone up too, and from their reactions, it looked like Luna's big mouth had struck again. Otherwise, why would it spike out of nowhere?
I wanted to ask what happened, but no way they'd tell me.
"Ahem. Ahem. Sivar?"
"?"
"That... uh, never mind. I'll tell you later."
What the hell.
If you're gonna say something, finish it.
I tilted my head at Grace's baffling reaction, which I couldn't make sense of at all. Half-assed sentences were one sure way to piss people off, and that's exactly what she was doing. Especially that uncharacteristic blush—it only made me more curious.
Guess I'll find out during finals.
It started next week anyway. Just had to wait a bit. Needed to plan the castle siege over the weekend.
But that thought didn't last long.
"As I mentioned earlier, this afternoon's class is free training. Oh, and Sivar?"
"Yeah?"
"Sivar, come with me for a bit."
Malboro, who was handling theory class, called me over as it wrapped up. Wonder what he wanted this time. Curiosity aside, with finals right around the corner, it probably wasn't anything good.
Warning me not to do anything stupid?
I followed him with a puzzled mind.
Malboro checked now and then to make sure I was keeping up as he led me somewhere. We walked a good long while—out of the main building, so probably outdoors.
"Over here."
"Got it."
We arrived at a vast training field, where Lee Yeonhwa and Sara waited, along with Godin. All the professors from our class gathered together? This didn't feel routine.
At least they wouldn't slap me with some weird penalty. I trusted that much.
"Godin. Same strength as the walls we'll use, right?"
"Yes. Strength and material both match perfectly—no need to worry."
Godin answered, pointing to one spot. There stood a massive wall. Not stacked stones, but a solid slab like reinforced concrete.
As I tilted my head at it, Malboro clapped a hand on my shoulder and pointed.
"See that? It's got the exact same durability as the walls you'll have to breach. You don't have to break it, but how well you do will affect the final strength."
Not his usual stiff class tone—friendly voice, through and through. Malboro was all business in official stuff, but personal matters? Warm as could be. Like the first time Luna dragged me to him.
No awkwardness there.
"Curious how tough it is? You can test it with this. Wanna try?"
Malboro handed me not an axe, but a massive hammer—a warhammer—and urged me on. I was curious about the wall's toughness myself, so I took it without hesitation.
Time to swing and see.
In Soul World, cannons barely punched through these.
This world's cannons—or rather, their gunpowder artillery—weren't advanced. That's why walls still mattered. Magic couldn't solve it either; pure science was the only fix. And honestly, better to bring a mage than fire a cannon—few words for way more boom. Efficiency king.
Mana just for the body, then.
Channel it into the hammer, and it'd probably explode. So I focused on my muscles.
Stepped up bold to the wall, touched it. Felt solid—no 3D-printed mana fake-out. Real texture.
Repairable, right?
Memory fuzzy, but yeah, they could fix it. Spray some material or whatever. Mechanics escaped me, so whatever.
I gripped the warhammer tight with both hands.
BAM!!
Slammed it full force. The crash hit my ears like thunder the instant hammer met wall. The shock through my hands? Rock solid.
"Takes major damage, as expected."
"He's hitting it directly."
"Like a battering ram. Wall, not gate, though."
Like the profs said, the wall was beyond dented—cracked to hell, on the verge. Spiderweb fissures from the impact, chunks raining down.
And that was pure muscle, no mana in the weapon.
Mana-infused? It'd crumple or straight-up shatter.
"Good. With interference from above, that'll do. Can't snipe from afar with cannons either. Godin?"
"Yes."
Malboro looked pleased and called Godin over. He didn't stand by me—went behind the wall, muttered something, and then...
Shhhhk—
The hammer strike started mending. Cracks spidering out? Regenerating.
He'd said it matched material and strength exactly, so some measure in place. Details weren't my business, so I didn't ask.
"Done. Next phase."
"Right. Sivar? Back over here."
Malboro called, so I returned the warhammer and went back. Note: the handle was bent bad from one swing. Profs looked queasy seeing it.
"Strength's insane. One hit and it's warped like that..."
"Yeah."
No mana in it, either.
Wanted to say it, but held back. Wasn't even full power—just a casual effort. Spill that, and it'd just give them headaches. Stayed quiet.
"Good work, Sivar. Sorry to drag you out. Here, take these."
"Oh."
Malboro handed over a fistful of candy. Not one—a handful.
Guy knew give-and-take.
Pocketed all but one, popped it. Didn't forget thanks. Wasn't a hassle, exam prep anyway.
"Thanks. Er, thank you."
"Hahaha. Kid. No suicidal crap in this exam. Especially no bombs on you."
"Yeah."
Never do that anyway. Bombs barely factor in this exam. Even cannon shells? Just big rocks. Bombs exist, but magic's better—no real development.
No Death Beam either.
Use that, and my Red Mana secret's out everywhere. Lord'd chew me out again. Rumors fine, but his wrath? Nope.
"Hm?"
Chewing candy, heading out—spotted something. A cannon. Real iron one. Trebuchet nearby, ignored.
"Hm? Sivar. Curious about the cannon?"
Malboro asked as I poked around it. Nodded, candy crunching. Probably for wall tests.
He eyed me and the cannon, then grinned warmly.
"Curious? Watch how it works. You might haul it—or smash it."
"Talking like it's fireworks."
"What's wrong with that? Prime age for big booms. First cannon for you too."
Treating me like a kid. But who skips vintage artillery? Classic man-romance.
Plus, old-school charm.
Test its power while at it.
If it sucks, got my own plan.
Malboro fiddled, explaining. First, shells.
"See these rounds? Cannonballs. Stones back in the day—too cheap now, iron's better."
"Explosives?"
"Exploding shells? High-explosives? Military only—no go."
Even if, wouldn't breach gates. Magic-proof walls? Bombs same deal.
Explained slow, loaded a shell. Looked hyped. Heard he shows his kid sometimes. Gets busted.
"Light the fuse now..."
Fizzle!
Struck a match. Watched close as it burned.
Couldn't watch full—Malboro yanked my arm, "Danger!"
Fuse done...
BOOM!
Deafening blast, acrid smoke. Shell rocketed out, slammed wall. Power? Meh. Cracked a bit—not like my swing. Barely noticeable.
Still, range merit.
"Cool, right? Military shells'd burst midair, but academy—nope."
"Hm..."
I'll do that later myself.
Ignored beaming Malboro, eyed scattered shells. Grabbed one. Heavy iron, but one-handed fine.
"Hey! Not taking that. Put it down."
"Really treating me like a kid."
"Kid's a troublemaker, remember? That's why."
"Haha."
Cozy vibe, gripped shell one-handed. Big mitts helped.
Eyed near-collapsed wall. We profs kept distance for exam sim.
Mana for body boost only...
More than hammer swing. Muscles thrummed alive.
Malboro yapped something—tuned out. Exam time.
"Sivar? What're you—"
He got nervous, me ignoring. My test mattered more.
Pulled arm back slow, hurled at wall full tilt.
WHOOSH!
Air ripped—shell launched like a missile. Way faster than cannon. Obvious.
Power?
CRASH!
Cannon hit primed it? Or my throw too hard? Wall teetered on total collapse.
Four, five more? Dust.
Exam walls tougher, bigger. Harder breach.
"Hm."
Guess I'd need real effort this exam. Otherwise, no dice.
Rubbing arm, thinking—profs' murmurs drifted over.
"...How we handling that? Faster than cannon."
"...No idea. Who knew he was the siege weapon?"
"Better now than exam day..."
"Gotta up the wall strength."
Shouldn't have shown 'em.