Chapter 51

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 51

Chapter Title: Midterm Evaluation (2)

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After finishing the academy written exam,

Beep-

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

As I submitted my answer sheet with every problem solved,

the familiar test-end chime rang out.

At the same moment, mana surged through my entire body,

and my vision shifted like a hologram.

'It looked tough...'

The academy written exam.

I'd expected a certain level of difficulty for a midterm evaluation,

but the actual questions were brutally hard, way beyond what anyone anticipated...

'Without Piercing Eyes, I wouldn't have solved a single one...'

I had Piercing Eyes, so it didn't matter to me,

but as my vision switched, I could see inside the massive academy building—

every cadet was pouring out words laced with despair and resentment.

'What about the other S-Class cadets...'

I glanced at them,

then quickly shifted my gaze to check on the other S-Class cadets and the five main characters.

But there was no real difference;

they were all spilling out the same despair-filled complaints.

Clearly, no one had seen this level of difficulty coming.

Seeing that,

I spoke to Libia and Isabel in turn, both looking utterly dejected.

"Libia, Isabel, how'd the exam go?"

A simple question,

but their responses came with eyes full of gloom and despair, words that felt utterly miserable.

"No..."

"I bombed it..."

"Eh... It's okay, the test was really hard this time."

I offered some small words of comfort, but their moods didn't improve at all...

'They need time...'

This didn't seem like the moment for talking;

they needed time to pull themselves together.

So, leaving it for later, I left the building and headed back to the dorms.

'It's dark...'

The sun had fully set,

night had fallen.

We'd crammed all the academy coursework written exams into a single day,

so it was no surprise.

Walking the dark path,

I thought about the remaining schedule as I made my way to the dorms.

Two days of exams for required and elective subjects,

then two days of spars with cadets of similar skill levels.

'The achievements I can farm...'

Among them, there were five achievements I could snag.

One each from the three electives,

and two from the student spars.

None of them would be hard for me now, armed with all these perks.

'And next week...'

Then next week,

the week when Baal kidnaps Isabel.

That was far more important to me than the midterms.

Lost in thoughts of the events left before break,

I arrived at the dorms, went inside, showered quickly, and changed.

Tomorrow was the day for the three required subject exams.

No achievements tied to them,

but still exams.

To prepare for any surprises,

I turned in early.

The day after the academy written exams,

the required subject exams passed without any of the potential issues I'd prepared for yesterday—

just ordinary.

Thanks to being loaded with all sorts of perks...

"This magic exam will test your mana manipulation and the demonstration and completion of basic spell formulas."

The required subject, magic exam...

"Hm... As expected of top honors. Aden, perfect score."

And...

"This swordsmanship exam will test pure swordsmanship, no mana allowed!"

The required subject, swordsmanship exam...

"As expected of you, Aden! Perfect score! Perfect!"

The same for...

"This practical combat studies exam will proceed just like our normal classes."

The practical combat studies exam, running exactly like a regular class...

"Aden, you got the highest score. Congrats."

Perfect scores.

The midterms flowed by easily with the highest possible marks...

And so we reached the day for elective exams.

"Um, Aden... What exactly is the Imperial Swordsmanship exam like...?"

I turned at Libia's voice from beside me.

She'd already shaken off the gloom from the written exam

and was quietly asking me about the Imperial Swordsmanship test content.

"Just... spars."

I gave her a rough rundown of the Imperial Swordsmanship exam.

It wasn't like I minded telling her.

'It's nothing special...'

The exam was just that unremarkable...

Cael vs. cadet.

No mana,

pure swordsmanship duel with Cael.

That was the whole exam.

After explaining the Imperial Swordsmanship exam,

we kept walking and arrived at the building where the comprehensive evaluation week exams had been held.

As we entered,

unlike before, the entrance signs showed elective subject names instead of letters.

"Over there, let's go, Libia."

Confirming the sign,

we went inside with Libia, and a waiting room filled with tons of cadets came into view.

Waiting there with her for our turns...

Before Libia,

the announcement calling my name came first.

"You go ahead, Aden!"

Hearing it,

Libia waved, telling me to go first, so I gave a quick wave back

and started through the mana-filled passageway.

There appeared a wide sparring arena,

and in its center, Cael standing.

Entering the arena while eyeing him,

Cael spoke as he saw me.

"Cadet Aden, you're here!"

"Yes, hello."

"The Imperial Swordsmanship exam is a one-on-one duel!"

Short exchange,

followed by an explanation of the exam.

A no-mana one-on-one duel.

Testing basic stance and swordsmanship completion through it.

'All stuff I already know...'

It was exactly as I'd played in the game,

so I half-listened to Cael's explanation

while preparing to fight him.

"Great stance, Aden! I'll use this chance to show you the greatness of Imperial Swordsmanship that you refused before!"

Finishing his explanation, Cael continued upon seeing my form.

'Still holding ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a grudge...'

Apparently,

he was still sore about me refusing Imperial Swordsmanship lessons before.

"Let's start right away—!"

After that petty remark,

Cael declared the start and charged at me.

Every movement of his

was captured in minute detail by Space Domination.

And...

Combining all that analyzed info,

my body began tracing the optimal response to the charging Cael.

Clang-!

The resounding clash of metal.

After fully blocking his swing toward my waist,

I twisted my blade at an angle for a counterattack.

Whoosh-

However,

even though it was the optimal motion leading into the strike,

my attack cut empty air.

Despite no mana, Cael had barely dodged it.

Unable to leap away like in class without mana,

I instantly redirected my missed swing and slashed again.

Clang-!

Too hard for him to dodge, Cael barely parried with his sword.

And again,

Clang-!

Clang-!

Clang-!

We traded defense and offense in several exchanges,

but neither landed a hit, and we pulled back.

Afterward,

judging this would drag on forever, I quickly thought of another approach.

'My movements are superior...'

Obviously,

with Pioneer's action assist, my movements outclassed Cael's...

'The issue is purely the stat gap...'

Still, I hadn't landed a blow because,

mana aside, his other stats were higher.

'I need to deflect.'

Then,

minimize stat reliance—pure combat technique.

A deflection that strains Cael's wrist,

like a masterstroke.

Having quickly devised a way to handle him,

Cael and I charged again, swinging our swords.

Clang-!

First,

a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠normal clash sent my sword bouncing back.

Then,

I twisted the rebounding blade toward Cael's head.

Seeing it,

Cael quickly raised his sword to deflect.

And then—

Kreeeeen—

In an instant, I twisted my sword path,

scraping and forcing his blade aside.

"Ngh...!"

"Urgh...!"

His sword wrenched violently in response.

As I abruptly twisted to bend his blade, and his wrist followed,

pained groans escaped us both.

But with Pioneer's assist, the pain meant nothing to me;

I spun my body, slashing from the opposite side.

Cael, wrist already strained, couldn't reposition his sword or dodge,

and soon—

Thud.

Mana rose from Cael's body,

catching my training sword.

At the same moment—

The translucent achievement clear window popped up,

followed by Cael's words...

"Perfect score, Cadet Aden!"

The Imperial Swordsmanship exam was over.