Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Midterm Exam
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The flower bed, once lush with greenery, now bloomed with flowers of every color and beauty.
A month that had felt so leisurely had flown by in the blink of an eye.
"Alright, that's it for today's class. As you all know, tomorrow is the midterm exam. You'd do well to manage your condition carefully."
"Understood!"
With those words from Serin as she neatly packed away her teaching materials, the class came to an end.
The students in the lecture hall rushed out in droves, each seemingly eager to prepare for the midterm in their own way.
'I wonder... how much stronger I've gotten.'
Over that one month, I wanted to test the growth I'd achieved.
I'd sparred daily with Arien to build real combat experience.
I'd honed my sharp instincts under Serin's swordsmanship tutelage.
In my spare time, I'd cleared achievements with Lea and Estelle or focused on strength training.
◆ Name: Rowen
◆ Title: Freshman
Free Stat Points: 5 → 15
◆ Traits
[Swordsmanship Lv. 5]
└ [Serin-style Swordsmanship Lv. 3] → [Lv. 4]
◆ Skills
[A: Weakness Perception]
[S: Eye of Truth]
◆ Unique Traits
[EX: ??]
[A: Tenacity]
'Ugh... it's enough to bring tears to my eyes.'
This growth rate was hard to believe for just one month of training.
It was probably thanks to the trait and the help from those around me.
For some reason, Lian's workouts only seemed to get harder no matter how many I did.
Still, I'd built up a decent amount of muscle because of it.
Plus, skipping the status window for that final achievement had been inconvenient, but...
Watching the stats jump all at once was pretty satisfying in its own way.
"Rowen~ Let's go grab some food!"
Unlike the other tense students, Lea approached with her usual bright smile.
Well, with her specs, she had no reason to be nervous anyway.
◆ Name: Lea
◆ Title: Freshman
◆ Traits
[Shield Mastery Lv. 6]
◆ Skills
[S: Curtain of Protection]
◆ Unique Traits
[S: Oath of Indomitability]
Lea had focused solely on training outside of the time she spent with me, so her stats had grown significantly compared to before.
She'd clearly recognized her weaknesses and trained her agility and aura accordingly—no need to worry about her.
She was basically guaranteed a top 15 spot in this midterm.
"Alright, let's rest up and have some fun today, just like the professor said."
"Really? Yay! This is gonna be awesome! Food first, then the café!"
She looked like her tail—if she had one—would be spinning like a propeller.
'...She's cute.'
She then put on a thoughtful expression, pondering how to make the most of the day.
Well, no need to train right up to the day before the exam.
Now that my growth was on track, condition management was key, just as Serin had said.
"Hey, Estelle! Hurry up and come on!"
"...Okay."
As we stepped into the hallway, Estelle was waiting for us.
Her signature cool expression drew every student's gaze around her.
She showed no interest in them, but when her eyes met ours, a subtle warmth flickered across her face.
She approached us at Lea's call, as if accustomed to it.
'...These two have gotten surprisingly close.'
When Lea and Estelle had first met, there'd been an awkward tension, with both seeming uncomfortable around each other.
But after spending time together as a trio, they'd naturally grown friendly.
'If anything, Lea seems to be the one looking after Estelle.'
Lea had witnessed Estelle's quirky habits firsthand and suspected for a while that they were intentional.
But once she realized they were genuine, she'd given Estelle that exasperated look.
"...Where did you leave your staff?"
"I don't know... I looked everywhere, but it's gone."
"How could you lose something that expensive?!"
Once, as the two were about to spar, Estelle had lost her staff.
It was a birthday gift from her siblings, who doted on their duke family's youngest daughter.
Even Estelle, with her muted emotions, had moped around all day with a downcast expression.
"Ughhh... I'll help you look, so cheer up!"
"...Really?"
"Yeah, we gotta find it before someone else takes it."
After Lea, me, and Estelle searched the academy all day...
We found the staff tucked away in a corner of the academy cafeteria.
"Estelle, if it's that precious, you need to take better care of it. Your family has plenty of money—use a subspace pouch or something."
"...Thanks."
"Ugh... I can't leave you alone; you're too unreliable! Stick with us from now on."
"Okay. Got it, Lea."
Since then, Estelle seemed grateful to Lea and followed her closely.
Lea, in turn, treated her like a scatterbrained kid who needed watching.
'...They suit each other well.'
Like an innocent young lady oblivious to the world and her fretful nanny watching over her.
"Why are you suddenly linking arms with Rowen?!"
"...Friends do that, she said."
"Who said?!"
"My sister..."
"..."
...Though they still bickered like this sometimes.
I was plenty satisfied just knowing their former rivalry had turned into friendship.
"Hmm, Rowen. Even so, linking arms on both sides is a bit much. You're blocking the whole hallway."
"..."
"Practically a Casanova."
"Gah!"
Of course, their occasional misinterpreted antics led to awkward situations.
...But if improving their bond came at the cost of my reputation, I could handle it.
"Uwaaaah... I wonder what the midterm's even about? They won't tell us anything—it's driving me crazy!"
"Haha, yeah. The professors said it's top secret."
After a hearty meal at the academy cafeteria, we'd come to Vienne Café for dessert.
Lea was so curious about the exam that she slumped over the table, wriggling in frustration.
'Well, can't blame her.'
In truth, the exam rules were simple.
The entire first-year class warps to a large island to collect 'mana coins' floating around for points.
Take down the boss in the forest center for big points, or attack other students to steal theirs.
Various methods tested not just combat prowess, but also quick thinking and situational judgment.
But as always, some exploited the rules.
Students colluded for trades and bribes, so the exam details were kept secret.
"Still, Rowen's gotten way stronger, so he'll definitely score high!"
"...If the proctors aren't idiots, they'll recognize his true value."
"Haha, thanks, everyone. I'll do my best."
Deep down, I'd love to roam all day collecting points.
But with a must-do task ahead, I planned to coast through this one.
The Demon King's army's interference began with this midterm.
'Demon of Deception'
A demon planted by the Demon King's army, aware of the exam site.
It was relatively weak to avoid detection, but true to its name, it wielded illusions to sow chaos—far from ignorable.
It showed illusions to the exam boss, the so-called 'Forest Guardian,' driving it berserk.
Then, amid the chaos, it kidnapped students to weaken our forces.
To stop that, I had to infiltrate its lair for a boss fight.
Once I eliminated it, the proctors would sense the demon aura and halt the exam.
I'd slip away in the confusion.
'Can't let the Heresy Inquisitors catch me.'
The Saintess's personal guards, the Heresy Inquisitors.
Fanatics who went mad at the scent of demons—I couldn't let them know I'd dealt with one.
'That'd lead straight to a bad end.'
Admit to slaying the demon?
They'd drag me to the front lines immediately.
Refuse?
They'd brand me a heretic for defying God's will.
Deny it?
They'd accuse me of colluding with the demon and label me a heretic anyway.
A no-win trap of utter nonsense.
To avoid it, I couldn't get caught at all.
'All preparations are set, so it should be fine.'
I had Eye of Truth for the Demon of Deception and strength to spare.
The downside? No shot at a top score this exam.
But scores mattered less than protecting others.
I could shine in the remaining exams.
"...Estelle. Rowen's plotting something weird again, isn't he?"
"...Yeah. That determined look. He's definitely up to something."
"..."
As if reading my mind, Lea and Estelle fixed me with sharp stares.
They looked puzzled, wearing strange expressions.
Like they were thinking, 'He won't come back hurt again, will he?'
'I really can't afford to get injured this time...'
Their faces screamed they'd unleash who-knows-what if I showed up hurt.
I felt myself shrinking involuntarily.