Midterm Massacre
Chapter 71
Midterms.
How long had it been since enrollment? About a month and a half?
Hmm. What was high school like again?
He couldn't remember clearly. Well, they'd gone on a school trip after just a month, so maybe it didn't matter.
"Everyone ready?"
"Yeah, all set."
The exam schedule went like this.
Basic History, Basic Divine Studies, Basic Alchemy, Basic Swordsmanship, Basic Mana Lecture.
Basic Mana Lecture was the very last one. Was that a relief or not...?
"At least the written exams are first."
"Alchemy has both written and practical."
"...Huh? S-sorry. But why?!"
"Beats me..."
Each subject took a full day.
Why?
"...Is all this the exam?"
"Correct. Now, heads down and mouths shut. If you speak, it'll count as cheating."
"..."
The sheer volume was insane. Eugene blankly counted the sheets one by one.
Each was the size of four A4 pages stuck together, and there were over twenty of them.
All essays, too. No multiple choice—they clearly had zero intention of letting anyone guess their way through.
If your score falls below a certain threshold, your class grade will drop by half.
...Holy shit. Perfect. Yeah. Uh-huh. Just perfect.
Most Sky Academy students were tough as nails. Four hours? They could sit for ten if needed.
Even the college entrance exam wasn't this brutal!
But no choice—he had to take it.
"Ughhhh... D-done..."
Four hours. He barely drank any water, focused solely on solving, and still almost ran out of time.
Thud thud!
"That's it for today's exam. Good work, everyone."
With those words, exam papers and pens flew through the air everywhere.
"Waaaaaah! It's over!"
"Yaaaaaah!! It's done! You shitty exam!!!!!!"
Kids, the professor hasn't left yet?
"The student who just swore, come here."
"..."
"And there are still plenty of exams left, so everyone get back to studying. If I catch anyone wandering outside..."
Her impression was already icy, but when her eyes narrowed, it didn't soften—it evolved from cold to terrifying.
"I'll be expecting great scores."
Wow. She really shut down the room...
"Ashy, head back to the dorm first. I gotta hit somewhere else."
"Where?"
"The vending area."
"Got it~ Hurry back."
He bought a bunch of snacks and drinks. He and Ashy were mostly done with writings, so no worries there, but Jenella was different.
She'd have to pull all-nighters for practicals.
His room was already littered with kids whose exams were over.
"Gaaahhh..."
Mosik was rolling on the floor, and Eodukshini—left behind to prevent cheating—was sleeping on Mosik's face.
The rest...
"Hey, that's my bed, you lunatics."
They were sleeping on his bed.
It was huge—big enough for three tall girls sprawled out—but not for him to squeeze in.
Plus, one wrong touch and he'd end up in jail.
"Lemme see. All three have schedules..."
Adria had all her practicals crammed on the last day. As royalty, she had tons of liberal arts to cover, so fewer practicals than them.
Ashy matched his schedule. Jenella was the issue—hers started on day two.
"Hey. Hey. Wake up."
He whispered quietly to avoid waking the others and shook Jenella.
Her eyebrows twitched, then her eyes slowly opened.
"Nngh...?"
"Gotta prep for exams. What kinda student sleeps on test day?"
"Noooo..."
"You gonna lose to Bulria? I'll tease you about it for a year."
"Nngh..."
When she still wouldn't budge, he grabbed her legs and carefully dragged her to the floor.
White box tee loosely thrown on with shorts. She looked right at home, which was ridiculous.
Am I your mom?
"Get up, dummy."
"Nngh... Nooo..."
"You asked for help."
"Just one more minute..."
"I get you pulled an all-nighter prepping, but you done after one? Nah. Up."
As he tugged her legs, she pushed back with her feet. What, you a cat?
Finally, after a few more minutes, Jenella rubbed her eyes and sat up.
He shook his head, but he wasn't annoyed.
This daily life—this is the normalcy I wanted.
Someone might call it a waste, pointless. But he'd craved this more than anyone.
Please let it last forever.
He prayed silently.
Next exam.
"I'm... off..."
"Fight on. Lose and I'll roast you all day."
Day two: Divine Studies. Ashy stroked the head of her assigned temporary divine beast.
Grrr.
The puffy-eyed tiger wagged its tail cutely.
No explanation needed for those bags.
"Hey, Eodukshini."
He glanced at the slime on his shoulder. Eodukshini boasted muscles no other tiger had.
—What. Why.
"What. Why?? The hell?!"
—...No, what is it, sir?
"Ready to run?"
—...
Eodukshini ran hard. Anyone could see it hustled. As a small slime, it took ten steps for others' one, but whenever Eugene watched, it even used divine power to sprint.
The professor and TA smiled warmly at the slime.
"Oh, that slime's adorable."
"Cute, right? Its name's Acidic."
—I'm not! I'm not Acidic!
"It talks?! Ho... Rare indeed. Is the owner...?"
"That student there."
"...Better not ask."
"Huh?? Professor, that kid's actually nice."
"TA, you haven't seen him go wild..."
Tch. Who's badmouthing me? He picked his ear and took the baton from the hardworking slime.
Glanced around. Unconsciously rubbed his nose.
What a mess.
Kyaaang!
"Hey! Hey! Where you going! Come back! I don't wanna make your bags worse!"
...Krraaang!
"Ow! Ow! Don't hit! Don't bite! Why won't you listen! I even gave you premium divine stone!"
"Gah!"
"Hey! It listens well, right?!"
"Y-yeah, it should!"
Divine beasts don't bond instantly. Ranks one and two meant nothing.
It was about control and obedience.
He jogged leisurely. Eodukshini hopped onto his head.
A tiger ran beside him. Not Ashy's blue one. He waved lightly.
"Hey?"
Kyaaang! Yap! Yap yap!
Why's it barking like a dog?
And daring to bark at me?
He clenched his fist.
"Who you showing teeth to? I'll smash ya."
Kyaang, kiiing...
The beast cowered and turned away.
He and Eodukshini shrugged in sync and jogged easily.
Whoosh—they reached the goal quick.
"Clear! First place, Eugene of Class S!"
"Wooooaaah!"
"Waaaahhh!"
"Th-that monster freak..."
First: him. Second: Ashy. Third: some kid he didn't know.
Next day, he and Jenella—half-dead—dragged to exams. Hers: Basic Magic Combat, teaching mages how to fight each other.
Alchemy split written and practical, but all in one day: morning written, afternoon practical.
Before class, he whispered to Eodukshini.
"Follow Jenella. If not, Adria. She's got liberal arts, no biggie."
—Hmph. Was gonna anyway.
"Where's this tsundere act from? Wanna die?"
—Kidding, kidding. Hehe.
Eodukshini hopped into Jenella's pocket.
"Now... everyone begin... Cheaters will... get hung from a tree... got it..."
Written wasn't bad. Worth the all-nighter. He rubbed his throbbing head, solved, submitted.
"Now... everyone to practical..."
Murdersonal nodded, her branchy hand wiggling.
The room warped; scenery shifted. Spatial transfer. Blink—he faced something weird.
...Isn't that a fireball?!
Why magic here?!
No sword. He grabbed a nearby branch and swung.
Split!
Fireball cleaved, fell aside. Calmly scanned.
Boom! Bang! Bwoom boom boom!
Seemed like a wide clearing in a dense forest. Trees everywhere just off the edge.
Mages duking it out in perfect fighting spots.
All strangers, but mages in open space...
Basic Magic Combat?
...They dropped everyone in the same arena?!
No partitions?!
Professors are nuts!
Bang! Bwoom!
"Gah! Help—!"
A student summoned near him got hit straight-on.
Ssshh.
Vines rose from earth, blocked it. Safety solid.
...Not the point!
"Seriously! When I get out! I'm complaining!"
A passing student gritted teeth and ran.
Complaint won't stick, though.
—Real battles... are unpredictable...
Murdersonal would say.
—You think enemies care about civilians? When they're blatant criminals? We fight protecting non-combatants without hesitation.
Magic Combat prof would probably claim. Never heard it, but the setup screamed it.
They're insane...
Difficulty nuts.
But oddly, no complaints might come. Break the chaos for top scores, get mad attention.
Probably...
My turn first.
Just in case, he crouched and called out.
"Professor. Can we team up?"
Saw her save that kid, so worth asking. Vines rose, formed a circle.
Good.
Ducked into nearby woods. Ashy'd sense and find him.
"Eugene!"
Slash! Boom!
Ashy cleaved a spell, arrived.
He slashed an incoming one happily.
Lightning hit nearby tree.
Rumble!
He grinned, high-fived approaching Ashy.
"Team up?"
"Obviously! Herbs first?"
"Yeah. We can't hit anyone, right?"
"Probably...? But seriously, which prof made this exam?"
"Dunno. Magic conveniently misses us, though?"
"Must be markers."
They chatted cheerfully, picked herbs. Banana Princess doing fine? Her teeth unscathed despite gripping herbs—relief.
"This one?"
"Yep."
Conscience intact—herbs easy, blatantly obvious.
He carefully dug. Vines rose from below, collected.
Hm, pass.
Vines circled; he circled back with fingers.
"Got mine too."
"In one piece?"
"...O-of course."
"Sure?"
Ashy stuttered oddly, but not his score.
Still, helped her pick, stretched sore back.
"Ugh. Potion time."
"Let's go."
Leaning to speak to ground—familiar presence incoming.
Eodukshini.
It hopped frantically, yelled.
—Master! Big trouble!
"What?"
—Jenella, Jenella...!