Exam's End, Time for Rewards
Practical Exam Terminated. The practical exam has concluded.
Injured students, please head to the central tent for treatment from Instructor Marcel...
It's not just Instructor Marcel.
As soon as the exam wrapped up, all the instructors gathered at the tents set up on the grounds.
Fortunately, no cadets had suffered severe injuries, and Instructor Marcel's cleanup didn't take long.
"Instructors! Great work, everyone!"
"You brats, have your fun, but don't go causing trouble out there."
Ed Instructor's gruff remark drew laughter from the lingering cadets as they dispersed.
With the multi-day exam finally over, most cadets poured out of the academy, heading to the bustling streets for after-parties.
The tents, now empty of cadets without exception.
The instructors could finally chat freely.
The point drawing attention now was Juyeon's empty belt. As the instructors turned questioning gazes her way, Juyeon lifted the corner of her mouth and laid out the facts plainly.
"The bead was taken by Cadet Rohan."
"!!! "
The instructors knew Juyeon's personality well.
She wasn't the type to go easy on cadets just because they were under her charge. She wouldn't let her guard down against a student and had surely run the exam with utmost strictness.
Knowing that, the instructors present couldn't hide their shock.
"Hah! That guy's something else."
Ed scratched his shaggy hair, replaying his close-quarters fight with Rohan.
There must have been more to it than what he'd shown him. Otherwise, he never would've reached Juyeon.
'So he didn't go all out against me? What an interesting guy.'
Far from feeling slighted as an instructor, Ed was intrigued. It was downright entertaining.
He could hardly contain his curiosity about how much Rohan would grow by the second-semester exam.
In the brief silence filled with admiration.
Instructor Marcel stroked his beard and spoke up.
"Cadet Rohan... showed some impressive resolve. He's one to watch going forward."
"I felt the same."
Instructor Marcel and Instructor Palkenhain, who had briefly crossed paths with Rohan, heaped on the praise without reservation.
With their years of experience and sharp eyes, they'd gleaned much in that short time.
It felt like the moment to share impressions of Rohan one by one, so Carrot and Ed glanced at Juyeon and chimed in.
"He switched up his combat style so freely and was tough as nails!"
"Every moment fighting him felt like my hair was standing on end... It didn't feel like testing a cadet at all."
Juyeon didn't bother hiding her rising smile.
She was thrilled that her charge was earning such praise.
"The cadets close to him might catch that vibe in a good way... get influenced or change because of him."
"That would be for the best."
Everyone nodded at Instructor Palkenhain and Instructor Marcel's exchange.
All the instructors here had been hailed as geniuses back in their cadet days at Dongnaidae.
But their style was more like Ichinose Yui or Noah Frozenheart—different from Rohan's unique edge.
Not even Juyeon fit that mold.
That's why they all sensed it.
Having someone as unconventional as Rohan as a rival during these prime growth years could propel them even higher.
Juyeon struggled to keep her smile in check amid the continued praise for Rohan.
To change the subject, she spoke up.
"Any other notable cases? I'm curious if anyone's got beads left."
At her words, topics poured out as if they'd been waiting.
"Quite a few cadets failed my test. We should run extra classes and a re-exam."
Instructor Marcel, who had started with one bead per cadet, wasn't pleased with the leftovers.
Too many cadets had ample mana but lacked finesse.
The bigger their mana pools grew, the harder it'd be to fix, so corrections were needed ASAP.
The other instructors felt the same.
Instructor Carrot had 4 out of 20 beads left.
Ed Instructor, with the same number, had 11 remaining.
"Leaving that many beads? Instructor Ed, you're too harsh."
"I noted the ones who earned bonus points. We can still rank them fine."
Ed brushed off Carrot's tease, and Instructor Marcel stood.
"Let's head out and talk more."
Instructors grabbing a meal after exams was commonplace.
Especially on days like today, when cadets swarmed the streets.
If trouble arose, they'd need to move fast, so an instructors' gathering was all but guaranteed.
As they left the tent for the staff parking lot.
Carrot clung right to Juyeon.
"Instructor Juyeon! You could have a drink today, right? Ed and I won't drink if you do!"
"No, why drag me into—?"
Ed's flustered voice trailed from behind, but Carrot ignored him, pressing Juyeon.
She wanted to tempt the ever-restrained Juyeon with some primal fun now and then.
But Juyeon shook her head, saying it was fine. And she truly meant it.
Her promise with Rohan still lingered in her mind.
"I've got a day set aside for drinks separately."
She wanted to save the booze for future joys.
That was her mood right now.
Rohan grabbed his bag after hearing the exam-end broadcast.
He told Ichinose and Noah, who were resting nearby, to get ready quick and he'd be in touch.
Then he left Orion Academy for Sion Testarosa's mansion.
Sion and Clara, having aced their mission perfectly, were resting at the mansion.
Shouldn't he go pick them up?
'Gotta shower too.'
Sniffing his sleeve brought a whiff of sweat.
He considered washing up at the dorms first, but Sion and Clara's messages had him turning straight there.
"Hmm..."
Rohan accepted the homeowners' kindness and decided to use the mansion's shower.
His clothes were already in the room Sion had given him anyway.
He arrived at the mansion with quick steps.
Before he could work the lock, the door swung open from inside.
"Oppa...!"
"Come on in. Good work out there."
The lightly dressed girls welcomed him.
Rohan set his bag and weapon on the living room floor and thanked Sion Testarosa and Clara.
"Sorry for dragging you two along with my selfish request."
"It was good experience for Clara and me too. Never realized how useless my skill could feel."
Sion blinked her heart-shaped pupils at Rohan.
Heart Sniping.
Sion's skill that curved bullets toward the heart.
"Used a lot of mana? If you're tired, we can rest today. Tomorrow's fine."
"Not that much. Just a couple short bursts to find the ideal angle."
Heart Sniping wasn't some absurd skill that hit the heart from a headshot at point-blank.
It boosted accuracy and added a subtle curve when sniping the heart from a distance.
Without solid marksmanship fundamentals, it was tricky to use effectively.
And to wield the curve intentionally like Sion did required innate talent and grueling training.
"O-Oppa...!"
"Yeah?"
"My shoulders are sore... from handling a heavy gun after so long..."
Absurd for Clara's physical prowess, but.
Rohan didn't entertain such thoughts.
"Hurts a lot?"
"J-Just a bit? Feels like it'd loosen up if you rubbed it..."
"Timing's tricky... I'll massage you when we get back. Can you hold out?"
Sion watched the two with a smile.
Rohan was soft on her, but even softer on Clara.
That gentleness made the girls subtly vent their desires.
"Rohan. My legs feel heavy."
"..."
Rohan faltered, eyes dropping to Sion's thighs.
Meeting his gaze, Sion felt a slight flush as she stepped closer.
Rohan's thick, musky scent clouded her mind.
"Not gonna help? It'll pile up more if you go out."
"If you want it, of course I will. No time now, so I'll shower first."
Rohan nodded readily to Sion's request, and Clara mentally added her spot for evening whining.
"Rohan. Put your clothes in the basket. I'll wash and put them in your room."
"Can't make the homeowner do that. I'll handle it."
"No. Our clothes and Clara's are running now. Underwear's out drying too."
"R-Right...!"
"Ah."
With Rohan at a loss for words, this was their chance.
Sion and Clara nudged his back toward the shower.
"Hurry and wash up. Didn't you say we're short on time?"
"Sorry. Be right out."
As Rohan shut the door and vanished.
Sion and Clara exchanged pleased nods.
Rohan's discarded clothes fell under "rewards" for the girls too.
The fun times were just beginning.