111. Midterm Evaluation (2)
111. Midterm Evaluation (2)
A few days later.
In the deep hours before dawn, while everyone slept.
Hummm—
The Midterm Evaluation began with no warning, utterly out of nowhere.
Brilliant white magic circles bloomed over the bodies of the cadets lying in their beds.
Geometric patterns rotated. Their attire shifted into comfortable gym clothes, and in an instant, the scenery around them changed in an instant.
They were in a wide open space, sealed on all sides, with massive windows set into the left and right walls.
This was grand magic, cast simultaneously upon every single first-year cadet of Velvet Academy.
And who else would pull off something so absurd?
'Who else? The Chairman, obviously...'
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The summoned cadets dropped out of thin air, one after another.
Caught in the depths of a deep sleep only to suddenly slam onto the floor, they jolted upright, startled and disoriented. They looked around wildly, rubbing their sore backs.
"......Huh? Wha—!?"
"What the—!"
"Where is...."
"Which bastard did this!!!"
Every single cadet wore a look of pure bewilderment.
'No one would've expected the midterm to just drop on them like this.'
That was when I heard it.
"Jin Yu-ha!"
A frantic voice called my name from right beside me.
I turned my head to find Shin Se-hee standing there, clutching a dog-shaped body pillow almost as big as she was.
"Wh-What in the world is going on...?"
She looked just as flustered as everyone else, clearly thrown by the unexpected situation.
Summoned without a chance to prepare, yet her appearance was still radiant.
'Her bare face looks the same as usual, huh? Anyway, a dog body pillow... She's got cuter taste than I thought.'
I was eyeing her pillow for a moment when Shin Se-hee gave a forced little cough and, clearly embarrassed, hid it behind her back.
But the pillow was so huge that the dog's face still peeked out over her shoulder.
"It's the midterm."
I said, a smirk slipping out.
"......Th-The midterm? I understood it was definitely scheduled for tomorrow. You're saying it's now?"
"It's past midnight. So technically, it's today."
At my matter-of-fact tone, Shin Se-hee's eyes went wide, as if I'd just said something utterly unthinkable.
The cadets all knew the midterm was today, but they knew nothing about how the exam would be conducted or where.
Which was only natural. Chairwoman Rina was the one overseeing the evaluation.
And since it was tradition for the midterm to be administered in a completely different way each year—and for secrecy, even the instructors got no advance word—there was nothing anyone could've done about it.
'Well, I did know.'
Because I remembered the CG cutscene from the game,
I'd been able to figure out how this Midterm Evaluation would play out ahead of time.
So last night—the day before—I'd waited for the summoning with a backpack stuffed to the brim.
"......Jin Yu-ha, what's with the bag?"
Shin Se-hee must have noticed my attire was different from the other cadets, because she narrowed her eyes as she asked.
"Oh, me? Well, you know, I had no idea what to expect for the midterm tomorrow, so I was up packing until dawn? Wow! Talk about lucky, huh?"
I said it in the most plain, natural voice I could manage.
Shin Se-hee's eyes narrowed to slits as she fixed me with a stare.
"Are you seriously calling that acting right now?"
Huh. I thought my acting tone was perfect. How'd she know?
"......If you knew, you could've given me a heads-up."
She grumbled with a pout, clearly feeling a little hurt.
'Still, that would've been tricky.'
It would've looked suspicious, you know?
If everyone else showed up empty-handed and only my party was lugging around loaded packs, the Brat would definitely find that fishy.
Shin Se-hee, who'd been puffing out her cheeks, let out a soft sigh.
"Still, at least there's that silver lining. We do have the Subspace Tattoos, and the things we always carry inside."
"Uhh, hate to say it... but that won't work either?"
"What?"
"Try checking it."
At my chin-jerk, Shin Se-hee immediately activated the Subspace Tattoo on the back of her hand.
Hummm.
Fzzzt—
But the tattoo only flickered with light for a moment before sputtering out.
"It—It won't open! Wh-What's going on!?"
"If we could use those, we'd have way too big an advantage."
Did she really think Chairwoman Rina wouldn't account for something like that?
She'd obviously locked down the Subspace Tattoos when she summoned us here so they couldn't be accessed.
Shin Se-hee tapped at her Subspace Tattoo a few more times, as if she couldn't believe it, then her expression went hollow.
"......So, what is the exam?"
She asked me, but I didn't answer.
Because any second now, the Brat herself was going to appear and explain it all.
"Have you all come to your senses?"
Speak of the devil—Chairwoman Rina's voice came from above.
Everyone's heads tilted upward.
Chairwoman Rina was floating in midair.
Arms folded, she wore a triumphant expression like an elementary schooler who'd just aced a spelling test.
"You will now undertake the Midterm Evaluation."
The cadets started buzzing at her proclamation.
"Midterm...?"
"So suddenly?"
"I didn't even get to pack the stuff I'd prepared...!"
Rina frowned at the restless atmosphere.
"Quiet! I'll explain now, so shut your mouths, all of you."
As if deciding to at least hear what she had to say, the commotion died down.
"First. The place you're all in right now is inside a Flying Ship."
Heads whipped around.
Through the dark windows on either side, buildings no larger than matchboxes were visible far below.
Snap—
Rina snapped her fingers, and every cadet's head was forcibly locked facing her.
"Now I'll explain the exam format. Starting today, you cadets must survive for two weeks on the Uninhabited Island. The grading method is very simple. Whoever acquires the most Coins receives the highest score."
"How do we acquire Coins?"
One cadet's hand shot up.
"I was about to explain, so don't rush me!"
"Y-Yes!"
Rina's brow furrowed. She waved a hand, and a massive full map of the Uninhabited Island materialized in the air.
Then, ten locations marked in red with the word SHOP lit up on it.
"Here, ten shops. You can use Coins at these locations to purchase daily necessities for island life. At the same time, you can sell the Magic Stones and byproducts from hunting Monsters to exchange for Coins."
Shin Se-hee's expression hardened.
Because an exam where you earn Coins by hunting monsters was far too favorable for Damage Dealers.
As if she hadn't forgotten that point either, Rina added more.
"Yes, obviously that alone isn't fair. So, a differential base amount of Coins will be provided according to each Role. Damage Dealers receive 50 Coins. Tanks receive 100 Coins. Special receives 500 Coins. And Support and Healers each receive 2000 Coins."
Ah.
The light of understanding dawned in the cadets' eyes.
"For this Midterm Evaluation, parties of up to three people are permitted. Once formed, a party cannot be arbitrarily disbanded. Additionally, combat between cadets is prohibited for the first week. As for the remaining week—you can figure out the rest without me spelling it out. If you succeed in subduing an opponent, you can claim 50% of the Coins they were carrying."
At those words, the cadets began scanning their surroundings, sizing each other up.
Though no one knew the details, the 2000 Coins allotted to Healers and Supports was undoubtedly an extremely high price.
Placing a Healer or Support in your party was bound to be the key to a good score.
On top of that, since they couldn't attack each other for the first week,
the Healers and Supports—who could purchase daily necessities with their Coins—would essentially become kings.
But that didn't mean they could just coast.
Once the week was up, combat between cadets would be permitted. To guarantee their safety, they'd have to form a party with other cadets who could protect them until then.
In other words, who you formed a party with was what truly mattered in this Midterm Evaluation.
"Jin Yu-ha."
Shin Se-hee, having caught on fast, called out to me.
"Yeah."
"Will you form a party with me?"
"......I want to, believe me. But the question is, will we even land in the same place?"
"What?"
"Once we meet up, let's party. But we also have to consider the case where we can't find each other. If three days pass and we still haven't met, let's agree to pair up with someone else."
"Ah, we aren't all landing together?"
Shin Se-hee caught my meaning right away and shot the question back.
I gave a small nod.
"Then I'll begin sending you down to the Uninhabited Island, one by one."
Hummm—
The form of one cadet standing before her grew hazy, and then they vanished from the spot.
They would've landed somewhere on the Uninhabited Island.
Right then, Rina's eyes locked onto me.
"......Jin Yu-ha. What is that?"
Seeing the backpack I had slung over my shoulders, she opened her mouth, looking completely dumbfounded.
"Ah, well, you see...?"
I was about to trot out the exact same excuse I'd given Shin Se-hee moments ago, but
"......Jin Yu-ha, I think it's best if you just keep your mouth shut."
Shin Se-hee jabbed me in the ribs, whispering in a tiny voice.
Hmm. The world just didn't seem ready to accept my acting skills yet.
"Seol-hee again...! She must've told you to pack your bags in advance, just in case anything happened!"
With my mouth clamped shut, Chairwoman Rina seemed to jump to her own convenient conclusion, shouting in a voice that boiled with fury.
"Jin Yu-ha, do you have any blades or weapons in there? Or Magic Stones or rations, anything like that...!"
"No, nothing."
Rina stared hard at my bag.
She was clearly checking if there was anything incriminating inside.
But I'd already taken out everything Rina might've flagged ahead of time, so I puffed out my chest with complete confidence.
After double- and triple-checking, Rina slowly closed her eyes.
"Ha. Honestly. What is she so worried about with this guy...!"
She threw a fit, but whatever.
A Brat grinding her teeth is still just a Brat.
"Get lost and go down already!"
Along with my bag, I was summoned down to the Uninhabited Island.