Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: The First Academy Exam
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—Among the following values, which is the true value that the majority of cadets should deem correct?
1. What matters most on the battlefield is not the process. It is the result. Only victory and defeat matter.
2. The process is more important than the result of victory or defeat. The course of the battle should be followed, and the most rational process should be adhered to. Victory must be prioritized, even if it means accepting some losses.
3. Both process and result are important. However, if one must be chosen, the result is more important than the process. Therefore, minor losses are an unavoidable sacrifice.
4. It is acceptable not to achieve a great victory on the battlefield. The strategy that results in the fewest allied casualties should be the top priority.
5. On the battlefield, it is most important to defeat many monsters and gain an advantage. The losses incurred in the process are unavoidable and must be accepted.
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The next day arrived before I knew it.
Looking at the exam paper, I realized something new.
In the novel *Grand Royal Academy*, detailed examples of questions like this never appeared.
After all, no reader would enjoy seeing such things. So naturally, the author didn't write them.
But.
Experiencing it firsthand felt different.
“…Hmm.”
“This seems too difficult.”
“Ugh…”
Groans of struggle could be heard from the cadets nearby.
We were in the middle of the ethics exam.
The academy places great importance on establishing a cadet's values. It made sense. If a cadet they had painstakingly educated went astray and became a criminal, or a ‘lawless one’—a major problem within the empire—there would be no greater loss to the nation.
It was only natural for the academy to prioritize the character of its cadets.
And to me, the answers were perfectly clear.
Tap.
I let out a small laugh as I marked the answer.
In this world, people enter Grand Royal Academy after becoming adults and receiving their Traits.
But that didn't mean there weren't academies for basic education before adulthood. Depending on one's personal circumstances and means, they might or might not have attended one.
And I had a gut feeling.
The education I received in my original world.
It was on a higher level than that of the academies in this world. An education established and refined by countless people—the modern era was clearly more advanced.
Rustle, rustle, rustle.
A smile never left my lips as I breezed through the questions, turning the pages of the exam.
‘Easy.’
To me, the questions were mostly simple.
I used to read a lot of novels as a hobby, and though I mostly read satisfying power fantasies, reading so many stories gave me a sense of why most protagonists pursue good and why they must do so.
Even without studying separately, it was a great help in subjects like language, morals, and ethics.
At first, I wondered how it could be helpful, but it turned out to be surprisingly effective.
Tap.
Just like that, I finished all the questions, completing the entire eight-page exam.
I gently lifted my head and looked around.
Everyone seemed to be struggling, seated at a slightly greater distance from each other than usual.
“Haaah…”
David, in the seat right next to me, sighed heavily and clutched his head, which made me laugh in spite of myself.
‘This feels even better than I expected.’
My Trait may be the lowest in this classroom—Common—but in terms of knowledge, I'm ahead of most of the cadets here.
I can say that with certainty.
Considering my knowledge of the future, I could even say I'm ahead of the instructor, Kalli.
As I thought that, I turned my gaze.
“...”
“...”
My eyes met Kalli's, as if by chance.
She seemed a little surprised when our eyes met, as if she had been watching me the whole time. For a moment, I wondered what to do.
Cadets who finished the exam could submit it and leave class early.
I could hand in my paper and leave the classroom right now. But it felt like a waste to let go of this mental superiority I was feeling for the first time in a while.
I wanted to savor this feeling a little longer.
While I was contemplating,
Screech.
The sound of a chair slowly pushing back was followed by a cadet standing up.
Click.
Clack.
The sound of dignified, confident footsteps echoed.
My gaze was drawn to them, and I couldn't help but feel incredulous.
‘Luna Vermont.’
Her pink twintails made her instantly recognizable, even from a distance.
“Cadet Luna, are you already finished with the exam?”
Kalli asked, sounding a bit surprised, and a few other cadets looked up from their exams.
As their eyes focused on her, Luna smiled confidently.
“Yes. It was too easy.”
At her haughty, confident tone, I couldn't help but burst out laughing.
“Pfft…”
Was my laugh too loud?
Kalli, and even Luna, glanced at me. I quickly covered my mouth and suppressed my laughter.
Ahem. Ahem. I cleared my throat and composed myself, and only then did Kalli look away.
“Cadet Luna. Well, I hope you get a good result.”
“Yes. Thank you, Instructor.”
While answering Kalli politely, Luna shot a fierce glare at me before leaving the classroom. I had to stifle another laugh at the sight.
I mean, really…
How could I not laugh seeing Luna?
‘Luna Vermont answered the ethics exam correctly?’
I couldn't imagine it in the slightest.
That arrogant, condescending noble heroine, Luna, giving the correct answers on an *ethics* exam of all things... I'd sooner believe the sun rises in the west.
After Millia also submitted her exam, I figured it was about time for me to get up too.
I wanted to enjoy the atmosphere in the classroom a little longer, but seeing Luna just now felt like I'd already enjoyed it to the fullest.
Screech.
I stood up and calmly organized my belongings.
My simple tools. I arranged them so I could hand in my exam paper easily and started walking.
Passing by David, I offered a word.
“David. Good luck with that.”
“What... Han Cheon-seong. You're already done?”
I gave a light nod at David's surprised voice and headed down.
Thud.
Thud.
As I walked, my heart felt light from having done well on the exam. A sense of superiority from knowing I was definitely ahead of the other cadets. As these positive feelings deepened my smile…
...my gaze unconsciously shifted to one side.
"..."
And there, I saw a cadet glaring at me with a look full of hostility.
It was a cadet I recognized.
With a confident expression under his light blond hair... the one who had asked Kalli that question... the cadet who was completely clueless.
‘Was his name Jerad Readri?’
I seemed to recall that was his name. I had no idea why he was looking at me with such animosity.
We've certainly never had any significant interaction, nor do I remember ever speaking to him.
I met the strangely hostile cadet's gaze for a moment before turning away.
‘He's not even a major or minor character. Not worth my attention.’
He was showing me malice out of nowhere, and since he wasn't an important character, I had no desire to engage with him.
Besides, in this world, there are far more people than you'd think who openly despise those with Common Traits. Maybe he heard about me and took an extreme dislike to me.
Thud.
Reaching Kalli, I confidently held out my exam paper.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Are you finished already?”
Kalli's voice was so gentle that I was taken by surprise.
‘Is this okay?’
After how persistently I pestered her for a spar yesterday... I thought she might have lost any affection for me. But surprisingly, her gaze was quite favorable.
Even this close, I could feel that she definitely saw me in a positive light.
“Yes. I'm finished. It was a bit easy for me.”
...The last part was unnecessary, but I couldn't help myself.
This is the first time I've felt this confident in a subject. How could I not be excited?
Kalli smiled brightly at my words.
“Is that so? Well then, Cadet Han Cheon-seong. I hope you get a good grade.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Just as I was about to turn away after her words.
“Ah, wait. Cadet Han Cheon-seong.”
Kalli called out to me in a low voice.
Despite its softness, her voice was clear to me, and I couldn't help but stop.
“Yes, Instructor Kalli.”
I replied calmly, meeting her gaze.
“...Ah, it's nothing. Good work on the exam.”
Kalli trailed off with an awkward smile. I wondered what that was about but nodded anyway.
“Yes. I'll be on my way then. Thank you for the lecture today.”
When I spoke with extra gratitude, Kalli gave me a gentle smile.
Screech.
I carefully closed the classroom door behind me. I felt incredibly refreshed.
“I think I'll get pretty good grades on the written exams.”
Of course, I'll have to put in the effort, but I couldn't imagine getting a low score on the written portion.
As I turned my head, the quiet academy hallway came into view.
And so did the two young women walking down it.
It was Luna and Millia.
“...Huh? The answer to question 13 isn't 3?”
“Yeah. Luna, I think the answer to that one is 5.”
“Millia. But it really looked like 3 was the answer. Are you sure it's not 3?”
“Luna... if it's 3, that's completely wrong. Maybe if it were one of the other options, but it's definitely not 3.”
I could see Luna and Millia chatting quietly.
Watching their backs, I felt a flicker of temptation.
‘It's obviously impossible with Luna….’
But I could become friends with Millia. I saw a pretty good chance of that.
People say birds of a feather flock together, but sometimes, people with completely different personalities become friends.
Just like the peculiar relationship between 'Luna and Millia'.
Compared to Luna's arrogant personality, Millia was quite affectionate and understanding, almost like a saint.
With someone like Millia, I could definitely get close. We could develop a pretty good relationship.
Thud.
...As soon as I had the thought, I was already walking toward them.