Unbelievable Facts and the Perfect Score
"Hmm! Not bad at all."
I grinned in satisfaction at the shattered targets. Perfect bullseyes without a single miss. To hit all five with one spell, I'd used the add-on incantation Professor Karnaroph taught us: Penta. No room for guidance formulas. So I'd activated my Dragon Eyes and gauged the wind.
I even paid attention to the grading criteria.
Projectile speed and accuracy were top-notch. Power-wise, each one could've punched through 1cm steel plate like butter. Casting speed was battle-ready. Truth be told, with all the exam cramming lately, I hadn't cut loose with magic in ages—stress was building up. It was about time to hit the tower, but I didn't expect such a prime opportunity. Yeah, time to make it flashy.
"Now, let's see those reactions..."
I turned to the students... only to freeze.
"Huh? What's up?"
Robert's eyes were practically bulging. Linea stared, speechless. Aris shook her head slowly. Even Karnaroph had his eyes wide, fixed on me. The other students were much the same.
"Wh-what the hell was that?"
"Basic Attack Magic... right?"
"My Basic Attack Magic didn't do that!?? The far targets are totally wrecked!"
"Pe-Penta Casting!!?"
"Is that the god of magic!?"
"A first-year doing that? What noble house is she from?"
"I heard she's a commoner?"
"You think that makes sense??"
"Should we recruit her?"
"Idiot, you think your family could pull that off? Didn't you see her hanging with the Scriptus ducal lady?"
Ah. Too flashy, maybe?
Someone shouted.
"As expected of Yumia! I knew it!! I saw it coming from that data submission!"
Then the cheers erupted.
"Yumia! Yumia! Yumia!"
"The exchange meet's on you, Yumia!!"
"Are we finally beating the knight school?!"
"Research prodigy Yumia in the making!"
Oh shit. Went too far.
Well, might as well enjoy it.
I slyly pulled my sunglasses from my pocket, slipped them on, and struck a cocky pose. For good measure, I flashed a V-sign with thumb and index finger. Heh heh. Attention's a hassle, but damn, I love it.
"Quiet!"
Karnaroph silenced the students.
"There was no rule against destroying all five at once... I'll handle that at my discretion."
"So, what's my score?"
"And come to my office later. We need to talk about those eyes."
"So, what's my score?"
Screw that. I needed my score.
"100 points."
Worth sneaking a peek at the grading rubric behind Aris's back. Imperial history tanked me hard; needed to make up for it. Penta Casting wasn't in the plan, though. What if I'd flopped? Final exams exist for a reason, folks.
"Thanks a bunch."
With my perfect score secured, I hopped into the spectator seats. The drop had some height, so for flair, I flipped through the air and landed clean. Cue more gasps from the students.
"100 points...?"
"From that Karnaroph?"
No, watch my flip! They're too busy geeking over the score to notice.
"First time I've seen a 100 in Karnaroph's class."
"Has it ever happened?"
"Heard it once a few years back..."
Aris, who'd been in her seat, looked stunned too—like she hadn't expected a perfect score.
"A h-hundred! Congrats!"
"How was my flip... eh, whatever."
"Even I couldn't pull that off... Just how strong are you, Yumia?"
"You nailed it. Thanks for the Penta Casting demo."
Robert swallowed his pride this time. Linea offered genuine thanks.
"Guess there's always someone better."
Robert steeled himself, frustrated.
"Learn from your big sis and grow."
Robert, you've got potential. Just not above me.
"That attitude pisses me off. You look younger anyway."
Hey now. I'm a full-grown adult.
"How old are you?"
"Twenty. Came to Reinhardt right after awakening my unique magic."
"Kid talking big."
"...Why do you act like you're way older?"
Because I am way older. Sigh, what do you know? That's why you're forever third place.
I inwardly cursed him out, then got curious.
"But didn't you study magic as a kid?"
"Practicing before your circuits mature can damage them. You're the weird one for doing it young."
"Huh. Makes sense."
"You there, quiet down."
The rest of the students scored decently after that. 30, 44, 28, 33, 32, 50 points. Most nailed three targets clean. Four tripped some up, but a few hit all four. Honestly, considering their growth potential... Korean hunter academies couldn't compete.
"Guess even a rotting prestige school stays elite."
"Hm? Rotting?"
Feels pretty solid to me.
"We produced two supernovas a decade ago, but Lunaris Knight School's been edging us out since. Those supernovas run the show now, though."
Something tells me I know those supernovas.
The exam continued. Surprisingly, my crew scored high.
"Casting, Bullet."
A white streak grazed the last target, chipping it slightly. Damage counts for points.
"77 points."
"Really!?"
Aris lit up with joy.
"I did it!"
"Good job. Great work."
I patted her head. She beamed happily.
Robert missed the last one.
"77 points. You've practiced hard."
Still, Karnaroph's praise and a tie score.
"How much did he dock...?"
Worlds apart from last time I saw.
"Hmph. Child's play when it's me."
But I could guess the sweat behind it.
"Grinding little punk..."
"What'd you say!?"
"Praise."
Real praise. Rare from me.
"Flawless. 100 points."
Linea cast by the book and hit her target score. Less hype than me, but still noteworthy. She was last.
"That concludes the midterm. Scores are solidly higher than expected. Good work."
Karnaroph wrapped up with boilerplate.
"Even low scorers—keep at it for finals."
His gaze landed on me.
"...Yumia, see me."
"Later?"
"......"
"Kidding."
"Prepare yourself for finals."
Eek.
Karnaroph's office was packed with elegant antique furniture. Communication orbs lined the walls. A chandelier shattered yellow light from the ceiling. Natural wood scent hung in the air. Nice place.
Karnaroph set coasters on the table and poured tea. An unfamiliar aroma—probably impossible on Earth. Seemed relaxing, but I tensed up. He was gathering mana.
One wrong move and I'm toast?
He had the power for it. His mana alone could crush Korea's S-ranks, easy.
"I'll just head out."
"Hahaha, why? Just a few simple questions."
"Simple questions with this much buildup...?"
"We've always thought you a normal commoner."
"Uh, yeah...?"
"Commoners aren't in the empire's census."
"Fair enough."
"Why the Dragon Eyes? And that near-high-elf affinity. Explain those two."
He raised his staff. A minute passed. Golden Truth Barrier enveloped the room walls. With this much prep, escape was iffy.
"No lies inside. Speak one, and golden currents climb your body. Harmless to humans—don't worry."
Casually deploying a billions-won artifact with a flick. Magic's busted.
I tested it immediately.
"I'm a good person."
Hm. Nothing.
"Works fine."
"Broken?"
Karnaroph recast.
"I'm a well-behaved student... Aghhh!!"
No pain, just full-body tingles.
"Functions perfectly."
"You hit it wrong!?"
Injustice! I've lived so tamely... Ah, that tingles too. Even intent to lie buzzed. No fooling this. Way beyond cheap artifacts structurally.
Karnaroph began.
"Are you a student here?"
"Yes."
"Humanity—which side?"
"Humanity's, obviously."
"Hostile to the empire?"
"No. Great country—gives magic, lets me sleep."
No food, though.
"What did you do before coming?"
"Hunter... or monster slayer? Lazed around killing beasts."
"How'd you get that constitution?"
"Dunno. Just appeared one day."
"...What."
All true. Now Karnaroph's turn to freak.