Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: The Hellish Quiz
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1
“Today, as announced, we’ll have the note quiz.”
Edmund’s voice echoed evenly throughout the lecture hall from the podium.
His black hair was neatly combed back without a single stray strand, and his suit was impeccably wrinkle-free, reaching the realm of perfectionism.
Meanwhile, Clara, with her dark circles stretched even longer than yesterday, was bustling around the room distributing quiz papers and answer sheets.
Seeing her in the same outfit as yesterday, it looked like she hadn’t made it home after all.
The pitiful life of a teaching assistant…
Naturally, a quiz paper and answer sheet were placed in front of me too.
They were face down, sealed with security magic, making it impossible to peek at the questions beforehand.
“Please don’t open the quiz paper or answer sheet until the exam begins.”
Clara, having finished distributing, stood by the podium and forced a bright tone.
As if he’d been waiting, Edmund elegantly drew a pocket watch from his jacket pocket with a flourish.
“There is one question, and it’s essay format. Exam time is 90 minutes. Open book.”
A few students brightened at the words “open book.”
It wouldn’t take long for despair to wash over their faces.
One essay question, with a whopping 90 minutes?
Open book, no less?
No need to hear more.
The difficulty would easily surpass the depths of hellfire.
Even flipping through the textbook wouldn’t let you copy a single line onto the answer sheet.
For me, though, this was perfect.
Better than a half-baked easy difficulty—when everything’s hellish, it’s easier to blend in.
“Then let’s begin.”
Without any warning, Edmund pressed the crown of his pocket watch.
Click.
The students around me flipped their papers in unison.
I turned over my quiz paper and answer sheet to check the contents.
Let’s see.
As Edmund said, there was just one problem.
[In the Clarukum Ruins, there exists a space constructed with a rune barrier. Referring to the following rune barrier formula, infer logically the purpose for which this space was built and the function and purpose of the Clarukum Ruins.]
Below the problem was a diagram of a circular rune barrier formula.
It was a double-layered structure using three lines of runes.
Clarakum Ruins, huh…
The ancient ruins located in the northern continent were definitely called Clarukum.
Muttering it a few times, the surrounding scenery and map drew themselves in my mind.
Man, this difficulty is pretty high.
Doesn’t seem like something for a note quiz.
Even as a final exam, most students would get shredded.
Glancing around, not a single one had picked up their quill.
Over half had their heads buried in their textbooks, while the remaining few clutched their heads in agony.
Hellish difficulty, as expected.
And the answer to this problem couldn’t be found no matter how much you rummaged through the textbook.
The Clarukum Ruins were still under ongoing research.
The documents available in Broken World only offered various speculations, so no definitive answer would pop out from the textbook.
The problem even explicitly said to infer.
Well, that’s the general case.
I had experience entering and exiting the Clarukum Ruins multiple times.
Through a monitor, sure, but the fact that I’d seen and explored it firsthand didn’t change.
I picked up my quill.
I scanned the circular rune barrier formula drawn below the problem.
The Clarukum Ruins featured massive pillars, thick stone walls, and dome-shaped ceilings, characteristic of pre-17th century architecture.
Little was known about the pre-17th century ancient era in Broken World.
However, it was well-established that rune barrier formulas from that time formed circles.
A circular rune barrier formula consisted mainly of three parts.
The core rune at the center, surrounded by the inner circle and outer circle.
Interpreting the runes used here allowed speculation on the barrier’s purpose.
Let’s see.
First, the outer circle was a protective device to preserve and maintain the rune forms.
Not some advanced spell or complex security—it was simply to physically and magically maintain the circle’s shape.
A quick glance showed only basic runes fulfilling that role, so it could be ignored.
The inner circle was a security measure assisting the core rune.
Read clockwise from 12 o’clock, combine it with the core rune to figure out the correct arrangement of the arbitrarily placed core runes.
The core rune here had 6 characters, the inner circle 36.
Finding the right combination was pure grunt work.
Even the runes themselves were under research, so not all characters were deciphered.
Easier said than done—it was time-consuming and tricky.
Fortunately, my past self had figured it out, tearing my hair out in front of the monitor.
Recalling from memory and reading it down… temperature maintenance, sealing, opening gate, gate open/close, intrusion restriction, mana registration.
That made six words.
A sealed space maintaining temperature, with doors that could open and close freely, but entry restricted to those registered with mana.
Even grasping this much made the barrier’s purpose obvious.
Add the internal layout of the Clarukum Ruins, and speculation turned to certainty.
The Clarukum Ruins were structured with all above- and below-ground paths converging on a massive hall.
And this rune barrier was found underground… so the Clarukum Ruins were an ancient civilization’s banquet hall, and the rune barrier was used in a storage for ingredients in that hall.
…Writing all that would be too eye-catching.
Since the difficulty was hellish, I moderated the info and moved my quill accordingly.
It took about 10 minutes to complete the answer.
More time went into balancing it—not too perfect, not too half-assed—than just transcribing known facts.
I checked for logical errors or leaps.
As soon as the ink dried, I stood and headed to the podium.
First one up, but no one paid me any mind.
Theo must have been the first to submit last midterm too.
Everyone just shrugged it off.
I could almost hear whispers of “that failing student’s at it again.”
In reality, it was quiet—exam rules kept mouths shut.
Ignoring it all, I stood before Edmund.
I confidently handed over the quiz and answer sheet, and he narrowed his eyes like he’d spotted a bug.
“A blank sheet again?”
Looks like Theo turned in a blank last time.
A blank on the midterm would’ve gotten him dragged to the disciplinary committee already, so it must’ve been a note quiz.
Proof that the glares weren’t unwarranted.
That was that, but mine wasn’t blank, so I stood tall.
“If you want to get expelled, I recommend withdrawing…”
Edmund started sharply, then paused as he glanced at the answer sheet.
Narrowing his eyes further while scanning it, he must’ve been shocked I’d actually written something substantial.
“I’ll step out first.”
No reason to stick around after finishing the exam.
As I bowed lightly to leave, Edmund suddenly pressed his pocket watch crown.
Click.
“Hold on.”
Everyone froze.
Even I, about to exit, gripped the doorknob and just turned my head.
“The exam is canceled.”
A slight murmur rippled at the abrupt announcement.
But with Professor Edmund on the podium, it didn’t grow loud or last long.
“The third-year quiz was distributed by mistake.”
“What? Yes!?”
Teaching assistant Clara jumped in shock, burying her head in my submitted quiz paper.
Trembling, she bowed to Edmund.
“I’m sorry! It was my mistake!”
Clara’s reaction was genuine, no acting.
This really was a third-year quiz.
In other words, I was screwed.
Screwed big time.
Cold sweat trickled down my spine.
“Today’s note quiz is canceled. Next lecture will proceed as normal. Dismissed.”
Turning from the podium, Edmund looked straight at me.
“Theo Agrit, follow me to the research lab.”
2
“Do you like black tea?”
“…I don’t dislike it.”
Edmund picked up the teapot the moment we entered his professor’s research lab.
A coffee pot sat right beside it—probably Clara’s.
Clara herself was absent, off handling the mess of the misdistributed third-year quiz.
Soon, a subtle aroma filled the research lab.
Soft yet rich, sweet with a bitter edge.
“Sit.”
Edmund placed teacups on the sofa table and took the head seat.
As I sat where a cup was set, he personally tilted the teapot to fill it.
“…The aroma is lovely.”
“Tea leaves from the Magart region.”
“Roer black tea, then.”
“You know your stuff.”
The most iconic item farmable in the Magart region was Roer tea leaves.
The item tooltip called it premium black tea, so I’d responded without thinking.
Did I just open the door to conversation? A chill ran up my spine.
“You turned in an assignment.”
“…Pardon?”
“The Understanding Runes assignment.”
Come to think of it, Edmund taught Understanding Runes too.
I’d expected questions about solving the third-year quiz, but the sudden assignment talk threw me.
“That assignment was quite excellent. Hard to believe it came from a first-year.”
“…Thank you.”
“And solving the third-year quiz question too.”
“……”
I slowly tilted my teacup.
Barely suppressing the trembling in my hands from the ominous feeling.
Edmund glared at me, then finally said it.
“The level of thought and analysis was impressive. A little polishing, and it’d make a fine paper.”
Damn it.
I’d tried to moderate, but old report-writing habits must’ve made it too polished.
Solving the third-year problem, plus the Understanding Runes assignment—it chained together, no denying it.
I just gave an awkward smile.
Like a freshman hauled before a professor, squirming on pins and needles.
Which I actually was.
“Any post-graduation plans?”
“…Still first year, so I’m mulling it over.”
“If you haven’t decided, come to my lab. With that depth of thinking, you’d breeze through master’s. I’ll help you complete a doctorate.”
It actually happened.
A direct grad school pitch.
I hadn’t done anything wrong.
Of course, it wasn’t all bad.
Completing the elite Esterro Academy’s advanced track would solidify my path even more.
But that was it.
I just wanted to live peacefully, traveling this world—not climb the ladder.
Plus, seeing Clara’s state, life under Edmund wouldn’t be peaceful.
“Thank you for the offer, but I’m sorry. I want to explore more fields for now.”
“I’m not saying decide now. Just keep it in mind until graduation.”
I thought I’d refused politely, but Edmund didn’t back down.
He fixed his navy eyes on me and slid over a sheet of paper.
Special paper preserved with magic.
“This is a rune I’m researching. You might be able to decipher it. Or even if not, it might quench your thirst for knowledge. Either way, bring it back once you’ve decided.”
“Ah, yes. Understood.”
I couldn’t stay in this space any longer.
Instinct and gut screamed warnings.
Taking the paper, I stood, and Edmund added casually.
“Did the black tea suit your taste?”
“…Yes.”
“It was a gift, not to my liking. Take it.”
…?
Pardon?
Why give me this?
Of course, I couldn’t refuse a professor’s offer.
Carrying the premium tea leaves and the rune-scribed paper, I left Edmund’s research lab behind.