Chapter 14
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Obsessed Over by the Academy's Top Student
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The class placement exam took place in one of the academy's fields.
Fields were massive zones designed for practical training in various environments like forests, seas, volcanoes, and more.
Today's exam was in the most straightforward one: the forest field.
I listened to the exam briefing while reading a tier-2 magic summary post on the gallery.
"Welcome, freshmen. I'm Professor Neyk, in charge of overseeing the class placement exam. As you've heard, the freshman class placement exam is a 'Beast Hunt.' Catch beasts in the field to rack up points—the higher the beast's risk level and grade, the more points you get."
A professor who looked utterly exhausted stepped out and began the explanation.
The exam was simple: hunt the most beasts to claim the top ranks.
Like the rest of the field, an auto-protection spell was in place. If you hit a critical danger zone or tapped out, you'd be teleported back to the waiting room, and your points up to that moment would be your final score.
"Unlike the entrance exam, which ended in a single duel, this class placement exam is your chance to show your true mettle. Your class will be determined by these results. Classes come with different perks, so I recommend taking it seriously. Every exam from here on out will be a chance to prove yourself."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Hisenna steeling her resolve.
"This time, I'm definitely taking top spot...!"
That was the essence of the academy and mages, apparently. Constantly proving yourself, always aiming higher.
Growth through competition. Personal effort. That seemed to be the academy's vibe.
That's why they announced the entrance exam top scorer just to throw everyone back into the fray.
I was starting to get the picture. I could see why they separated the entrance exam from class placement.
"In addition to the auto-protection spell, teaching assistants are patrolling their assigned sectors across the vast field, so focus on the exam. No potions, artifacts, or any aids allowed."
"I have a question. Can we knock out other cadets?"
"Yes. If you're in danger, you auto-eliminate. You need to keep defenses up not just against beasts, but rivals too. Whether wasting mana to eliminate a competitor is worth it or if you'd be better off hunting more beasts in that time is up to you."
But I didn't think targeting other cadets was necessary.
You couldn't steal their points. Better to focus on your own hunts.
"Phew. This time, I'm really taking top spot."
"Top spot's mine, Ian. I panicked last time and lost, but I'm confident in beast hunts."
"Pfft. A scrub like you taking top?"
"Elrim, you're getting eliminated the second I spot you."
"N-No, that won't do."
I had to ace this class placement exam no matter what.
A-Class meant more cadet subsidies and perks.
For broke me, A-Class was a must. Top score would mean even bigger scholarships.
"Alright, teleporting everyone to the field. It's enormous. Let's begin."
Professor Neyk snapped his fingers, and I felt my body lift as the scenery shifted.
Title: Guys, class placement exam's on right now
Author: Kim Muggle
(Photo of hunting beasts in the forest field)
I'm in the class placement exam rn. Gotta hunt as many beasts as possible for 1st place. Missed out on entrance exam top spot, so I really want this one.
Higher-grade beasts give more points. How do I hunt more high-grade ones?
Stuck in place grabbing nearby ones for now. Cleared most locals, so gotta scout and hunt next.
Any tricks to aggro a bunch for big points at once, or quick point farming?
This guy's getting greedier for freebies lol
No artifacts or beast-luring potions in an exam. Hunting strong ones is key, I guess.
Pic shows all 9th and 8th-grade beasts. Freshman exam, so they nerfed 'em. Just hunt a ton.
Grab a sword. Beast hunting with a blade nets you 100x more than others.
100x? Come on...
Freshman swinging a sword? Instant expulsion lol
Get outta here, sword noob lol
(Swordfight meme)
Hmm. The archmages' responses weren't the instant fixes I'd hoped for.
Seemed like running around and hunting as much as possible was the best bet.
As CantDoThisEither said, no super strong beasts since it was a freshman exam. Just zip around and grab 'em.
Any magic to lure or aggro beasts?
Blow up the whole field with explosion magic. (Super complex explosion spell diagram)
Wtf how am I supposed to cast that? How many constructs even?
10th-tier magic lol how's the kid gonna cast it
They just spoil 10th-tier spells lol
Blowing up the field = expulsion lol
???: Just blow everything up and I'm #1, right?
No way he can cast that. Mana shortage too. 10th-tier's overkill.
Use beast lure potion. Heh heh heh...
Just ram 'em and bounce~ Light, bounce, bounce, god, god, god, bouncy~
This duo in ages
DrugAddict drops in and we get multi-orgasm vibes lol
Ffs stop bouncing. No beast lures. No artifacts or potions allowed anyway.
Mind magic can lure, but beasts resist well. Taunt magic exists, but makes 'em more aggressive—solo tanking's tough sans tank. Hunting 7th-grade like in the pic seems optimal.
Hmm... Got it for now.
No quick solutions popping up, so I closed the gallery.
Unless you're an archmage, my skills weren't there yet.
Running hard and stacking points it was, then.
Hoped for pro tips to snag top or at least A-Class. Kinda disappointing.
[Rock's Parabolic Trajectory]
[Rock's Parabolic Trajectory]
I spammed [Rock's Parabolic Trajectory], now second nature, while darting through the forest.
As the gallery archmages said, the beasts weren't that tough.
Three hits from this low-damage spell took most down.
Clumps or tanky ones got higher-damage spells.
Blasting every sighted beast meant no defense casts yet.
"410 points. Where's that rank 'em? No rankings shown sucks."
The number floating over my head tracked points, but no overall ranks.
Field must be huge—I hadn't seen another cadet yet.
Then, footsteps from behind.
"...Top scorer?"
The top scorer emerged from the brush. Delicate pretty boy: Chayuri Floridel.
380 hovered over Chayuri's head.
2-3 beasts' difference from me. Neck and neck.
Couldn't let my guard down.
"...410 points? Who might you be?"
"Me? Ian."
A sweetly resonant tenor voice, androgynously beautiful like his looks.
But his eyes were weird. He knew we were freshmen—why ask who? I gave my name...
"Ian? From which house?"
"Commoner."
"Commoner...?"
His gaze sharpened more.
Like, 'How's some commoner outscoring me?'
Top scorer my ass—guy was off.
No time for this; needed to farm points.
Plus, he was my prime rival for first.
But I was ahead of the entrance topper. Keep this pace, maybe I'd win?
I brushed off Chayuri and resumed moving.
"Gotta farm points—later!"
[Rock's Parabolic Trajectory]
[Rock's Parabolic Trajectory]
Back to flinging rocks at beasts.
Weird-looking rabbits, giant squirrels—dropped like flies.
Plant-types? Torched 'em for points.
But then.
"Your casting speed is impressive."
"Why're you following?!"
Chayuri was hot on my tail, fast.
Cool mana around his feet—speed spell, probably.
Knocking out cadets didn't steal points.
High-score chasers should've hunted more beasts instead.
No reason to split beasts with me.
So his goal was...
That realization hit—I whipped up a gallery post.
My posting speed beats your sprint, bastard.
Title: F**k guys I got a stalker
Author: Kim Muggle
That pretty boy entrance topper. Ran into him beast hunting, sees my score and goes '...410 points? Who might you be?' then chases me.
Told him commoner, got that 'How dare this peasant outscore me' glare. Oh, his was 390 btw.
What do? Fight? Real combat—rolling allowed?
F**k looks strong af. Front roll, back roll, side roll everything to win.
Topper wants #1 bad—might kill ya.
Elim quick and keep hunting. Drag it out, others gap you.
BAM-!
Before I could finish reading, a spell shot from Chayuri.
Light mana bolt, but accelerating viciously fast.
I hastily cast [Overlapping Square Shield].
[Overlapping Square Shield]
"Ugh-?"
The impact was no joke.
Way stronger than Elrim's duel hit.
A bit more and it'd shatter.
"Tier-3?"
"You can appraise spells too. Sorry, but I need top in class placement too. You'll have to drop."
"Dude, just hunt fair and square! Others are scoring while we dick around!"
"Doesn't matter. I'll end this quick. Looks like tier-2's your limit..."
Chayuri started another cast.
No time for gallery—I went full defense casts.
Unlike other freshmen, Chayuri had tier-3 proficiency like Hisenna.
And fast casting too.
Me? Tier-2s, plus one tier-5.
Tier-5 would win, but his tier-3 came faster.
I'd given him first turn early—my tier-5 opener was unlikely.
Defend for now was best.
PANG—another Chayuri spell incoming.
"F**k... why you do this?! You'll regret cocky-ing out!"
"Try me. Your speed's suspiciously fast, but no tier-3, right?"
This guy's taunt game rivaled Elrim's...!
Gallery archmages gifting tier-3 would be easy win. No safe browse time.
Wait, no. Even seeing tier-3, my first cast would lag his. Newbie here.
No wonder mages prized casting speed.
Tier-5 potential useless if enemy outpaces your turn.
No choice. Tier-2 casts faster than 3.
Spam tier-2 first, fish for openings...
As I geared to mass-[Rock's Parabolic Trajectory],
BOOM- BOOM-
A massive roar halted me and Chayuri.
BOOM-CRUNCH—trees dying.
We both whipped toward the sound.
And there...
"Why's something like that in class placement?!"
"W-What? Wasn't it just weak beasts?"
Definitely not 9th or 8th-grade small fry.
At least ten times my size,
a colossal bear-form beast covered in shimmering silver fur glared down at us.