The Eve of the Exam
The day before the exam, the Demon Realm training had finally concluded for every class, from S Class all the way down to E Class. After more than a month of sequential training, I found myself surprisingly satisfied with the results.
All the sparring requests have disappeared.
Because of that, more than half the gazes directed at me now saw me as some kind of monster, but it wasn’t a bad feeling. The annoying challenges had vanished, after all.
······There were probably some worthwhile ones among them.
Even so, none of them could compare to Shane. I had been sparring with her every single day, so I felt no particular excitement anymore.
Is it finally time for the exam?
Cain had said that once the Demon Realm training for all classes was over, the exam would begin. It was probably the first exam.
I wonder if he’ll explain the details today.
Since every class had finished their training, I was currently heading toward S Class. The air had grown slightly milder, signaling the start of a new day.
Creak.
When I opened the door and stepped inside, a woman stood gazing out the window, her hair fluttering in the breeze. She turned her head. I met her eyes—greener than nature itself.
“Adel?”
“Banya? Were you waiting here alone?”
Only Banya was in the classroom. I walked over to her.
“Yes. I woke up strangely early today.”
Banya scratched her head as if she didn’t understand it herself.
“Why did you come so early, Adel?”
“I woke up early too.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“······.”
“······.”
We weren’t exactly strangers, yet the atmosphere had grown oddly quiet. In the chilly silence, Banya smiled faintly and asked,
“Adel.”
“What?”
“Why won’t you drink with me?”
“······.”
Her eyes weren’t smiling.
“What happened to our promise to have a drink together?”
“······.”
“I’m curious, Adel. What do you think happened?”
“······.”
I couldn’t say a word.
······I’m really sorry.
The last time I drank was a month ago, with Shane, Siris, and Christina. I had no excuse for failing to keep my promise to drink with Banya before that.
Banya extended her fist. For a split second I flinched, thinking she was about to hit me.
“Adel.”
“······Yeah.”
I answered like a man condemned to death.
She unfolded only her little finger.
“Promise me. Once the exam is over, drink with me.”
Faced with her forgiving expression, I immediately hooked my own little finger around hers.
“Yeah. Let’s drink right after it ends.”
We sealed the promise tightly with our pinkies.
······I have to keep this one.
If I broke it, I’d be no better than trash.
“Okay. I’ll be waiting.”
Banya’s face wore a soft smile as she answered.
As expected.
Even after I drank with others first, she still forgave me. That gentle nature really did feel like the World Tree’s mother. Or perhaps not a tree—maybe an elf?
She probably wasn’t a real elf. There had been someone in the hero records who resembled her, but it wasn’t Banya.
It would be interesting if she really were an elf, though.
I let out a dry laugh. The idea felt too absurd.
Creak!
Other students began entering, so we each took our seats.
“Adel. Morning.”
“······Morning.”
“Yeah. Morning.”
Christina with her radiant golden hair greeted me, while Siris, rubbing her sleepy eyes behind her, waved a slender hand.
“Adel.”
Shane entered the classroom, tying back her blazing red hair. For some reason, the line of her neck made me avert my gaze.
“Hnn······.”
When I looked away, Shane let out a dissatisfied hum. I glanced at her again and saw a faintly satisfied smile on her lips as she sat down.
“Lord Adel.”
“Daren.”
Daren arrived as well—it felt like it had been a while. After my close friends came Cain.
“Everyone’s here.”
His usual indifferent tone reached my ears. He clapped his hands to gather everyone’s attention.
“The Demon Realm training for the other classes has ended. That means the exam is next.”
Cain spoke with a note of anticipation.
“You already know the schedule, but to put it simply, the exam will take place over three days starting the day after tomorrow.”
After glancing at each of us, he continued.
“I’ll be looking forward to it. Prepare for your first lesson.”
It was the first time Cain had openly said he was looking forward to something. The students stared at him with eyes burning like flames. Watching them, he gave a small nod and left the S Class classroom.
Looking forward to it, huh.
Outwardly I showed nothing, but inside I carried a flame that felt like it would burn forever. The S Class students all headed for the S Class training hall.
“Adel. Shall we go?”
Christina approached with a bright smile, extending her hand. The other girls stood behind her.
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
I took her hand and stood up. We, too, made our way to the S Class training hall.
***
One day passed. It was now the day before the exam at Heiden Academy. Banya walked toward the private training room, lost in thought.
What should I do······
It wasn’t because of the exam. The exam at Heiden Academy was easy if you were skilled, difficult if you weren’t. For Banya, it was at least an easy test where she could maintain her ranking.
I’m really looking forward to drinking······
The promise she had made with Adel yesterday was what occupied her mind. The problem was how much she was anticipating it.
······It’s annoying that he drank with the others first, but······
Even though she had forgiven him, she couldn’t help feeling this way.
I wonder what it’ll be like.
Banya briefly imagined the scene—drinking with Adel. Entering a tavern together. Sharing drinks. The look in his eyes when he was drunk, slightly unfocused, gazing at her······. She found herself looking forward to all of it.
Thump.
A soft smile unconsciously formed on her lips.
Ah, what do I do?
What was this feeling, slowly rising and warming her chest? She felt happy even while standing still. The more she imagined Adel, the stronger it grew.
What is this?
Thump. Her heart pounded as if it might stop.
What did my sisters say again?
Banya recalled conversations with her knowledgeable elf sisters.
—More importantly, Banya, what’s your type? For men, I mean.
—Right. Banya. I’ve always wondered. What kind of men does the eldest daughter of House Crescent like?
—······I don’t know. I’ve never really thought about it.
That wasn’t it.
—······Banya. You don’t have to answer that. You all, stop asking. Banya’s still a child. We have to protect her.
—······I’m not a baby. You don’t have to be so overprotective.
That wasn’t it either.
—Banya, listen carefully. Someday, someone will appear who makes your heart race and who you feel you can’t live without. You’ll have to judge carefully then.
—If someone makes your heart race, then you either like them or love them.
—Really? I still don’t understand.
That was it. The most important words among everything her elf sisters had said. Especially the part about liking someone—it stuck in her mind.
Thump.
Adel, who made her heart race and made her want to be with him. For now, Banya defined this feeling as “liking.” Whether it would later become mere affection or turn into eternal love, no one could say.
***
I sat on my dorm bed, clenching and unclenching my fists.
“The exam is tomorrow······.”
It was the first test since the entrance exam. I wanted to do well if possible. The first button was always important, after all.
······But I don’t have any information.
Information existed, but because the academy changed its exam format every year, it was impossible to know exactly. Sometimes it was battle royale style, sometimes a tournament, and once they even made us fight demons inside an illusion spell. They adjusted the difficulty to match the students’ levels, so it wasn’t entirely unfair.
It’ll be one of the formats they’ve used before······.
Since there were more than five different types, it was impossible to predict. Trying to guess wouldn’t change anything anyway. What mattered was how I had prepared up until now. Since it was 100% practical skill, if I had trained every day and grown stronger, there was nothing to worry about. I had trained almost every single day, so anticipation outweighed any anxiety.
I wonder how it’ll go.
Unlike for most people, this exam held quite a bit of importance for me.
I’ll finally know my exact level.
The entrance exam had been an exception. To me, it had felt more like one-on-one private tutoring than a real test. Without it, I wouldn’t even have known how to fight desperately or handle firearms.
I’m looking forward to it.
Just how strong was I, exactly? My personal estimate was somewhere above 100th place. I was growing faster than even I had expected. Maybe I could break into the top 20 by the next exam. That was still a long way off.
Tomorrow.
The exam that might change my life was about to begin. I calmed my mind and lay down on the bed.
Time to sleep.
On days like this, sleep was essential. If I stayed up training and ended up exhausted tomorrow, I might not be able to show proper results. I closed my eyes with as peaceful a heart as possible.