Crushing the Midterms
My midterm growth had been a resounding success. The Lightning Fragment made up for my lacking attack power, and reaching 4th Circle had strengthened me overall. Considering the story progression, this level of balance before Act 1 was downright absurd.
'Dorothy's probably the only one stronger than me at this point.' But she was an outlier from the start, so comparing didn't really mean much.
"Ugh… Is this really doing anything?"
"Of course it is. Everything has meaning."
Inside the academy's training room, I was putting Luel through the wringer now that I'd successfully upgraded to Dante Ver. 2. Naturally. If she came to me on her own two feet, I wasn't going to go easy on her.
"It's… so tough?"
"All training is tough. Medicine tastes bitter, doesn't it?"
"Ughhh!!"
It wasn't anything fancy—just the basics. I applied mana pressure in the sealed training room, and she just swung her sword inside it. Calling it "training" was almost generous.
'It's just fundamentals.'
A swordsman closing their eyes mid-battle? Unthinkable. Luel never closed hers when swinging, either. But not every situation was comfortable, which was why we did this. Compared to the enemies she'd face ahead, this pressure was child's play.
"Oh, right—have you prepped for midterms?"
Luel asked casually while swinging her blade, as if it had just occurred to her. Midterms already? Time flew.
"Prep… Well, practical's sorted."
"Written?"
"…It'll work out."
I had Insight, plus Lilia as my legal cheating method. I'd focused on practical and slacked on theory.
"You?"
"Written's good. Now practical."
The academy first-year midterm practical exam. Unforgettable—the game's first boss fight.
'Eh, our hero will handle it fine.'
I glanced at Luel, diligently swinging away in focus. Not a mage, yet her overwhelming immersion and freakish self-growth speed. She'd crush it effortlessly. Plus, I was training her personally now.
"I won't lose this time. Practical."
She must've been stewing over her loss to me. Cheeky disciple harboring grudges against her master. Outrageous.
"Oh yeah? Feels too easy for my pupil, huh?"
"Eek! W-wait a sec!!!!"
Gravity x5.
In an academy where every exam mattered immensely, midterms carried enormous weight.
"Whew, written was a breeze as expected."
"Yeah. You didn't even study."
"I paid attention in class."
Insight helped a ton, but no need to mention it. Time to bolster my master's dignity.
"More than that, human practical exams… Exciting~."
"Yeah?"
She probably meant curious about the format, but it hit different for me.
'Midterms, huh…'
The rules were simple. Each student got a defensive magic bracelet measuring damage taken. Deal 100+ damage to eliminate opponents. Knockouts earned points; survival added more. Deathmatch until the four directional monsters—east, west, south, north—were cleared. Monsters gave high points per kill, so hunting benefited everyone.
"Testing real combat power?"
"Well… It's for combat departments only."
Written exams gave plenty of chances. Magic department like mine focused on producing firepower, so practicals dominated.
"Everyone got their bracelets on?"
In the academy's artificial gate exam hall, students nodded at the instructor's question.
"Shake to call instructors if needed."
"Got it!!"
"Professor Barhen oversees overall."
Barhen appeared, looking haggard—dark circles screaming all-nighter nonsense.
"Everyone… Good luck on the exam."
Students buzzed. The usually icy prof being nice? Shocking.
"Dante."
"Yeah?"
"Team up?"
Luel nudged my side invitingly. Was I nuts? Get swept up near the protagonist?
"Random spawn inside anyway."
"Oh… If we meet?"
"We'll see."
"Eh."
Politely declined, then steadied my breath. Luel'd handle the grind; I'd farm points safely for grades.
"Enter."
I focused on my circle, stepping toward the gate.
The exam unfolded inside the academy's artificial gate.
"Feels like a forest."
"Yeah. South spawn, I guess."
South. Perfect—opposite the Act 1 boss in the north. Dodged a bullet there.
'Grab south boss first, then hunt students en route.'
As I moved, presences encircled me.
"That obvious? You guys good?"
I smiled, slowly raising mana.
"Dunno. Even you're human—handle this many?"
At least ten. Gathered fast post-spawn. Targeting the top rank?
"Smart call. But scout the opponent."
I poured mana into my circle, entering immersion. Crimson-black lightning crackled up my body.
Frontline swordsmen, rear mages—balanced formation.
"Aim vitals!! One-shot 'em!!"
"No chance."
I dodged attacks in sequence, countering with vital punches. Magic? Unnecessary. They couldn't touch Belloa combined.
"H-he's magic department!?"
"Missed his qualifier?"
Lightning-clad fist smashed a jaw clean.
"Guh…."
Three down out of ten-plus. Survivors' morale shattered.
"H-how do we beat that!!!"
"Dunno—overwhelm with firepower!"
Mage spells flew. Dodge for physical builds, counter for magic—but whatever.
—KABOOOM!!!
"Th-that psycho!?"
"…No damage?"
Dust cleared; their eyes mixed panic and terror. I'd just stood there, mana-shrouded. Shocking for their firepower play.
"Run!!"
"Fuck, we can't win!!!!"
Rear mages bailed first. Smart—flee unwinnable fights.
But.
'I'm a mage at heart.'
Lightning Spear
Hand in gun shape—black dot at fingertip. Compressed lightning orb.
Instantly, four bullets pierced student heads. They dissolved into light particles.
"Lame. Done?"
No answer. Mages wiped; rest frozen. Realized fleeing was futile, just stood there.
"Spare us once? We'll team up."
"Sure. Team with you, top spot's yours."
Tsk tsk. Opportunistic bats.
"Hm. Not bad?"
Group movement? Solid against zerg rushes. And survivors were all frontline—rears eliminated.
'Decent comp.'
I could tank and DPS, but multitasking sucked. Possible solo, but meatshields eased it. Decent offer.
"But…"
"Yeah?"
"Don't wanna split boss points."
Boss points divided by group size.
"Huh?"
Killing intent flashed in survivors' eyes. Desperate last stand?
As if.
"Gonna team with one survivor."
"……Huh?"
"Kill each other. Now."
Instantly, hostile glares turned inward. Challengers swung at each other.
And.
"Oh. Last one standing?"
"Hic! Y-yes…."
Surprisingly, a slender girl. Wielding a massive greatsword unfit for her frame.
Oh. Not bad?
Trait:Unicorn's Curse detects a virgin.
Ah. Shut it, you.