Chapter 83
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: 29. Midterms
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The fact that Elysia was in the same group as me.
And the rest of the group assignments I'd learned through that disaster named Barcan.
[Team 1: Kaien - Rosalyn]
[Team 2: Iris - Celine]
[Team 3: Hye-ra - Barcan]
'...This is ridiculous.'
Unlike what that Zig Kail professor had claimed about putting the groups together roughly, the assignments were strangely rational.
The personality clashes might be the worst possible.
But the balance of abilities looked perfect.
At least, considering each person's skills, it seemed like they could cover one another's weaknesses.
'Th-that Barcan guy... I might die if I'm grouped with him! Save meee!'
'How dare you whine like that. You clearly still lack training as a warrior.'
'H-Hiiik!'
"...Or not."
"Evan Dreadnote. You haven't finished the exam yet, have you?"
"Ah, sorry."
I'd been mumbling blankly into empty space.
Before long, a sharp voice cut through the air.
I turned my head to see the wrinkled proctor glaring at me.
His expression made it clear he'd kick me out if I said another word, so I quickly bowed my head.
Me, of all people.
'...I forgot I was in the middle of an exam.'
After the groups were set.
Time passed, and now it was the day of the midterm written exam.
A suffocating silence blanketed every classroom in the academy, including Class S.
The only sounds breaking the quiet were the scratch of pens and the occasional sigh.
'Isn't this too easy?'
It was so much simpler than I'd expected that I felt uneasy instead.
I wondered if this really was the academy's midterm.
I'd been tense since it was my first exam ever, just in case.
But they'd literally pulled every question straight from what the professors had told us to memorize in class, word for word.
Thanks to that, I'd finished my answer sheet in just ten minutes after the start.
With nothing left to do or even possible to do, I quietly scanned the room. What a sight.
Barcan was gripping his pen so hard the veins in his hand looked ready to burst.
Hye-ra was pushing up her glasses with a face on the verge of tears.
'Eh, they'll manage.'
It wasn't something I could help with anyway.
Growing bored of people-watching quickly, I leaned back in my chair and gazed lazily at the ceiling.
The sunlight pouring through the window was perfectly drowsy, making me want to close my eyes right then and there.
"Young Master Evan. Even if you're done, stay focused. This is your last warning."
The proctor's sharp rebuke snapped me back to attention.
"...Sorry."
I gave an awkward smile and straightened up again.
No matter what, I'd finished ages ago, and I couldn't even nap. This was driving me crazy.
What was I supposed to do with the rest of the time?
"Hee-hee."
As I covered my face with both hands and sighed inwardly.
A soft giggle came from the seat next to me.
"...?"
I subtly shifted the hands over my face and glanced toward the sound.
Elysia had apparently finished her exam too and was peeking at me with a stifled laugh.
"Almost done. Just hang in there a bit longer."
"...Guess I have to."
With that exchange, I shook off stray thoughts as best I could.
And waited endlessly for the bell signaling the end of the exam.
"Time's up! Put down your pens and submit your answer sheets to the front!"
The proctor's shout shattered the tense atmosphere in the exam room.
"Argh, seriously! I was one problem away!"
"H-Hee-hee... It's over... all over... my life..."
A chaotic mix of relief and despair filled the classroom.
Some slammed their heads on their desks and groaned, while others cheered in liberation.
And among them all.
One stood out especially.
"It's finally over!"
Barcan raised both arms high like a general returning victorious from war and let out a roar.
His massive frame made the desk wobble and creak in protest, but he paid it no mind.
"I burned it white-hot... Is this the true battle of a warrior?!"
...No, it was just an exam.
Anyone would think you'd slain the demon king or something.
I shook my head and grabbed my bag to stand.
There was about a week left until the practical exam anyway.
And no other classes during exam period.
'Good things are good.'
The thought of freedom for a while lightened my steps.
As I left the classroom and headed down to the first floor, things were oddly rowdy near the entrance.
"Isn't that a maid outfit? Walking around outside like that?"
"Who does she work for? Spill it."
"She's no maid—she's a whore, right?"
The male students were buzzing, crowding around one spot.
Their gazes mixed curiosity and lust, sticky and leering.
Vulgar jokes flew back and forth, making me instinctively frown.
...These bastards.
'Always so full of youthful vigor.'
Even for guys in their prime, this was too gross.
I wondered if I should intervene before something happened.
'...Too much hassle.'
I turned to ignore them and walk past.
I didn't want to get dragged into anything tiring today.
Let someone else play hero for justice. As I turned to go—
"Ah, there you are, Master!"
A familiar voice grabbed my ankle.
"...?"
No way, I thought, but still.
My stiffening neck slowly turned toward the voice—a woman who shouldn't be here.
In the middle of the crowd, a red-haired woman was waving at me.
A maid outfit cinched tight enough to burst, curves blatantly on display above it.
And a bright, innocent smile that ignored the stares around her completely.
"...Imir?"
Imir didn't care about the onlookers at all. The moment she spotted me, she plowed straight through the crowd and ran over.
With every step, something heavy jiggled, leaving the boys' jaws on the floor.
But Imir ignored them, linking her arm cheerfully with mine.
"Master. Exam or whatever's done now?"
It was, but.
"...Why are you here?"
"Why? You told me to come right after your exam ended."
"...Did I? When?"
To you?
I shot back with a baffled look.
I'd never heard of this. Never given such an order.
"This morning when you left. You said to pick you up after. So I waited nicely."
"..."
I narrowed my eyes and glared at her.
But her expression didn't change as she calmly spun her lie and hugged my arm tighter.
Her cleavage pressed against my arm, forming a dizzying shape.
"...Hah."
A short sigh escaped me.
Unless my memory had suddenly blanked out and some second personality I didn't know about had ordered her to.
I definitely hadn't said that.
To Imir, of all people.
So what planet had she pulled that nonsense from?
"...You're doing this on purpose, aren't you."
"Aw, Master. Embarrassed? Don't play hard to get when you know everything."
I glared at her with utter disbelief, but she just clung tighter to my arm and grinned shamelessly.
The stares around us grew even hotter, but whatever.
Imir didn't seem to care about that at all.
Of course. If she gave a damn about others' looks, she wouldn't be strutting around in that maid outfit to begin with.
'...This woman.'
It was obviously deliberate, no matter how I sliced it.
I couldn't think of a reason, so I wondered if she'd just eaten something bad. Then—
'Ah.'
A sudden thought narrowed my eyes.
Ever since that awkward incident with Kaien not long ago.
Imir— she'd been sticking to me extra close.
Acting like a completely different person, practically.
Like a cat marking its territory.
'...Jealousy?'
No way.
It sounded so absurd even to me that I shook my head.
Frostfang Imir, jealous?
Ridiculous. She was just bored and messing around.
That was the rationalization.
But one thing nagged at me.
Her oddly excited expression the whole time she clung on.
And the exaggerated physical contact compared to usual.
"...Let's move somewhere else first."
Staying here would just turn us into a spectacle for everyone.
In the end, I sighed and led her to a secluded spot.
After walking quite a ways to the back of the campus grounds, out of sight.
I looked at her, arms crossed and standing defiantly.
"So? What's the real reason you're here."
At my question, Imir blinked blankly for a moment.
Then she burst out laughing.
"Beats me. I don't know either."
She tilted her head and looked up at me.
Red hair spilled over her shoulders, exposing her pale nape.
"Just... got pissed off."
"From one to ten."
Her languid voice tickled my ear.
It carried a melancholy air so unlike her usual self.
"You okay?"
I called her name in a slightly serious tone, wondering if something had happened.
Imir licked her red lips and stepped closer.
"I don't know. My own feelings."
She placed a hand on my chest and whispered.
"Something definitely went down with that wench. But you won't tell me a thing, Master."
"Honestly, I wanna rip her apart. But you'd get mad if I did."
Her eyes wavered, burning red.
But the emotion in them wasn't murderous rage or fury.
With those confused pupils, she whined like a child.
"So I came. To check for myself."
Her fingertips trailed up my jaw to brush my lips.
Rough touch, but laced with strange heat.
"Do you know why I'm like this, Master? I sure don't."
She gazed at me—or rather, my lips—with hazy eyes.
Less seduction, more like a plea.
"You..."
"Just let me stay like this a bit."
Her voice barely above a whisper.
Without waiting for a reply, she rested her head on my shoulder.
A deep sigh, and her body heat seeped in.
[Absorbing negative emotion 'Jealousy.']
[Absorbing negative emotion 'Confusion.']
[Absorbing negative emotion 'Rivalry.']
I was speechless for a moment.
It was too intense and dangerous to dismiss as mere jealousy—the aura of emotion pouring from her.
Like a lost beast that had finally found sanctuary.