An Angel Lagging Behind in the Exam (9)

Soya racked her brains. Mixing mana of different attributes to synthesize black mana, dark mana? She recalled a recent paper she'd read. 'It's a fact proven by the latest research. When mana of opposing attributes meets, it degenerates toward the dark side.'

The girl hailed as a once-in-a-century magical genius immediately began drawing a magic circle.

"If I plug in the inverse threshold for red mana... No, to balance the ratios equally, I need Axston's magical dynamics formula..."

She muttered to herself, completely immersed in the magic circle. Watching her, Refri thought:

'I have no idea what she's doing, but she seems to know what she's about...?'

How did Refri know the way to crack this exam? Naturally, it was knowledge from the future. If the future didn't change, a major incident would erupt during next year's entrance exam. During Professor Klein's three-minute endurance test, a death would occur.

Deaths during the academy exam were commonplace. But the problem was that the deceased examinee was the granddaughter of America's top guild master. The guild master's granddaughter had aimed to endure five minutes and earn Professor Klein's letter of recommendation—and predictably, it ended in her death.

The ensuing uproar escalated into a hearing for Professor Klein. From the start, questions arose about whether deaths were even possible in academy exams, claims that five minutes was absolutely impossible—even for superhumans counted among the world's top ten... Klein was cornered.

But during the hearing, the professor demonstrated that five minutes was entirely feasible. Even ten, if done right. His answer was simple.

"Enduring five minutes in that room is a trivial task. The room's danger stems from one type of mana being overly concentrated. So just mix in other mana to stabilize it, right?"

With Professor Klein's magic, the room's color began to shift. The solution was straightforward: mix the mana from each room.

"This is the true answer to this exam. Who the hell just endures ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠five minutes like an idiot in a place like that? That's why the dimwits can't think straight."

A blatant sneer. The enraged guild master lunged at him but was instantly subdued by Klein, forced to his knees. It was the moment Klein's true power was revealed.

The Central Superhuman Academy, forged in alliance with other worlds and granted legal privileges, employed not just privileged professors but ones whose skills rivaled the world's greatest superhumans—a fact laid bare then.

"Hoo, in the end, no one truly passed this exam to the finish. Idiots. Useless trash..."

A twisted genius who despised the masses. Klein's true face spread across TVs worldwide.

"Done."

Soya spread her chalk-dusted hands wide.

"It's done!"

With her cry, the room's color rippled. The examinees reacted with 'What?' and 'No way...?' as they turned to Professor Klein. And for the first time, Klein dropped his inexplicable grin, staring at Soya in genuine surprise.

Refri nodded. 'Soya didn't grasp the true intent of this exam, but that doesn't change her being a genius. If she earns the recommendation letter this way, Klein—who recognizes her talent—will pledge full support.'

He nodded to himself, already rating his snowball effect highly.

And so, one room shifted to an imperfect hue—close to black, but tinged with hints of other manas. Soya turned to Refri.

"Even I would be in danger in a room full of black mana. But mix in colors from the other rooms, and it's way easier to pass, right? Didn't you think of that?"

"Yeah..."

Of course he had. But to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠direct Klein's attention to Soya, Refri had given only a subtle hint.

But... Professor Klein was watching this scene.

'Damn it, I don't wanna get chummy with that professor. Magic engineering's for rich kids anyway... and Klein's a dangerous guy who despises anyone not up to his standards.'

Refri wasn't a genius, naturally. So having Klein scrutinize him like this felt extremely risky. Better if the attention stayed on a genius like Soya—for both their sakes.

"You didn't think of it, huh. Hmph, well, that can happen."

Soya lifted her chin stiffly again, looking down at Refri with an annoyingly smug expression. Swallowing the urge to flick her forehead, Refri endured.

"Then shall we pass the exam?"

With that, Soya hummed a tune and stepped into the room. Refri pretended not to notice Klein's piercing gaze, mumbling nonsense like 'Huh, what's this floor made of?' to kill time.

But...

"Impressive. So it wasn't that girl who figured it out—you knew the real answer."

"...Haha. You into floors, by any chance?"

Klein regarded him with a friendly smile. Refri found the situation deeply uncomfortable and tried deflecting with small talk, but...

"No. What interests me is you, Refri."

"Ahaha, I'm not exceptional enough for a professor's attention."

"Yes, exactly. You're not exceptional."

Klein delivered the barb matter-of-factly, then assumed a noble posture like some haughty aristocrat.

"If you'd solved the exam yourself instead of handing it to that girl, you could've collected three recommendations for a legendary artifact..."

"Kinda regrettable, yeah."

"You'd forfeit a legendary artifact just to get that girl through?"

"..."

Klein frowned in exasperation.

"That's your flaw. Potential for excellence, hobbled by sentimentality. Stubborn concern for others. That's why you're not exceptional. If you'd been alone..."

"Even so..."

Refri had no choice but to think hard. 'Truth is, I help these kids for my own glory and angel power. And if I don't raise them, we'll all die to the Demon King.'

He couldn't say that, so he improvised.

"Being alone is lonely, you know."

Hearing Refri's rehearsed reply, Klein gravely misjudged the boy. Overflowing talent, yet unable to abandon people—like himself. Refri didn't dare look at Klein's expression. Anger? Irritation? But why did it feel so... sad?

For the first time in his life, Klein issued a recommendation to a student.

"...I'll grant you a recommendation letter. Since you solved it, that's only proper."

"Wow, thank you!"

"And Refri."

Klein said, turning away.

"I hold your talent in high regard."

He'd never said such a thing to a student before.

Thus, the second exam ended.

Now only the final third exam remained. If it followed the documentary, the third exam was "Guess My Species," overseen by Rusa, the overall supervisor.

'It'll probably change.'

Why? Because Refri had already guessed Rusa's species.

He didn't think the exam would halt, though. In the documentary, no one guessed it, so Rusa improvised a new one. Meaning another test was prepared.

Probably named...

Then came a girl's voice.

"Hey, what's your name?"

Soya asked cautiously after emerging from the exam. Refri smiled.

"Refri. No family name."

Soya eyed him intently. He looked truly angelic, utterly harmless. He'd saved her, believed in her, even helped with the exam...

The first such person in Soya's life.

'Still, can't trust him. Confirmation bias says all men are beasts, backed by evidence.'

With only her father as reference, Soya cautiously gathered intel. Poor clothes suggested poverty; powers indicated a holy healer type...

'Physically, I win!'

Soya reached her snap conclusion. A black mage ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like her, losing to a background-less healer? No way. Steeling herself, she spoke.

"It was a pass anyway, but your question sped it up. So..."

"So?"

Soya flushed. Noticing, she yanked her hat brim down.

"...Thanks."

'My angel power karma... it's so sweet!'

Refri smiled.

"So, um..."

Soya fidgeted before continuing.

"You owe me a favor, right? Not saying I'll welch. I'll repay it for sure. But... becoming the top mage takes time."

He knew that. Refri nodded.

"I'll repay it with interest, so help shorten that time. Y'know, like... comrades. A party or whatever. Good for you, good for me. You get repaid, and I... I got nothing good!"

Utter word salad. Her flailing hands were dizzying.

'Soya's been betrayed her whole life. She won't trust me right away. Offering her hand now... she just wants to use me.'

Why so flustered? Something tugged at his heart. Even oblivious Refri sensed it.

But he was using Soya too. So...

"Don't get the wrong idea. I don't need comrades. Just..."

"Let's party."

Refri extended his hand. Soya hesitated, then took it.

"...No choice, huh."

She shook it like she was doing him a favor. Refri thought again:

'Really wanna flick her forehead...'

But you can't flick angel power karma sources. The magnanimous Refri endured.

Atop a pillar in the hall, a girl swished her tail while peering down. The pink-haired girl pinned back her ears, radiating discomfort.

"What the heck is that little thief up to now?"

Hongwol glared at Soya with irritation. She looked like a nobody mage, nothing special. For such a mage to eye what she had marked for theft?

"That kid... grr."

She nearly let out a beastly growl, she thought, cheeks tinting red with embarrassment.

'I'm not an animal. I don't act like a cat. Wait...'

Her eyes caught a small glass ornament. Nudge—Hongwol flicked it lightly, and it plummeted, shattering.

Crash!

'Dunno why, but knocking stuff off shelves feels good.'

Her mood somewhat eased, Hongwol looked back at Refri.

But she wasn't the only one watching the boy. Another—Yumari, chatting with an acquaintance, stole glances at his actions.

'What is this feeling?'

Acts of kindness without reciprocation. A dragon who never changed his ways. The boy evoked that dragon endlessly.

'He reminds me of Mother...'

Truthfully, Yumari wanted to ignore him. Their life trajectories diverged; ignore him, and they'd never cross paths.

'The boy who hates me. Refri.'

She saw him chatting amiably with Soya. Yumari clenched her fist.

'He makes that face for other girls...'

Her resolve to cast him aside strengthened.

Thus, the third exam began. As explained, it was the final one, overseen by Rusa, the entrance exam's chief supervisor. Still in old-man mode, Rusa took the podium.

"Eh, good work on the exams."

"......"

"So, whaddaya wanna do?"

Yawning hugely, Rusa plopped down on the podium like it was a chore.

"I had a final exam planned, but some punk soloed it already..."

Murmurs rippled as examinees eyed each other.

'Who the hell?'

'Soloed the final exam?'

"Gotta settle that first. Come up here."

Refri sighed inwardly at Rusa's grin.

'Ah, please. Not now—I don't wanna stand out!'

Being spotlighted as a top student at Central Superhuman Academy had pros and cons. Pros: wealth and fame. Cons...

'Perfect terrorism bait. Especially for the Demon King's forces...'

With no faction to protect him, excess attention was poison for Refri.

"...Not coming up? Should I fetch you myself?"

Rusa stood again.