Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Overwhelming Top Student
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Five minutes before the exam,
two proctors glanced at their watches simultaneously.
"Entry is now closed. Any electronic devices found will result in a zero, so turn them all off and put them in your bags."
The students settled into their chairs, lightly stretching their bodies.
The scrape of chairs, a few coughs, and then silence descended.
Exam papers were handed out.
As the second hand on the wall clock passed 12, the proctor's mouth opened.
"Begin."
Rustle.
The papers flipped over in unison.
Yoo Seo-ha was confident in math and science, but the other subjects worried him. Skipping middle school had left Korean language and social studies especially challenging. Even at Gifted High School, liberal arts subjects couldn't be conquered by rote memorization alone.
His simple conclusion: memorize everything and understand it fully.
The method: mind maps.
Seo-ha had memorized every textbook.
Since he'd attended classes diligently, the main branches were already etched in his mind. By memorizing references and class notes, he filled in the sub-branches.
Mind maps aren't widely used despite their efficiency because drawing them physically takes so much time and effort.
But Seo-ha didn't need to draw them. Mere associations in his head structured the map and let it expand.
This wasn't solely because his brain was exceptional.
His childhood habit of creating knowledge maps from encyclopedias had made this performance possible.
First period: Korean.
The moment he opened the exam paper, Seo-ha immersed himself in the passage.
Long text, archaic vocabulary, convoluted sentences.
Other students frowned, but Seo-ha's eyes remained calm.
In his mind, a colossal world tree unfurled its trunk.
From the first sentence's "philosophical discourse," the trunk split once, then branched into countless derivatives below. Seo-ha's consciousness raced along the trunk at high speed, searching for the needed information.
This was his idea of efficient studying: structuring thought.
'Number 2.'
He selected the answer easily.
The instant he read the question, its information's location was pinpointed in his mind.
'Question 3 is the speaker's inner conflict—links to the second branch on the right, ontology.'
His pencil sliced across the paper crisply.
Seo-ha didn't need to read the passage twice. Information once embedded in the structure didn't fade easily. Parts other students revisited top to bottom were already "recorded data" for him.
Even metaphors, symbolism, emotions, and nuances in literature stripped away their masks before Seo-ha's logic.
Thick trunks represented the work's background; branches extending from them captured the speaker's emotions and recurring symbols. No matter how veiled in metaphor, Seo-ha's mental mind map classified and interpreted it into structured language.
'Nice! I can nail them all.'
The mind map was a perfect match for the systematically inclined Seo-ha.
But had he gotten too cocky?
His hand, flying through the problems, suddenly halted.
'Huh? Never seen this novel before.'
An out-of-scope passage had appeared.
Seo-ha broke into a sweat as he read it. He tried matching it to existing data, but it was no easy task.
Dissecting the ambiguity of unfamiliar literature required far more data.
Seo-ha decided to commit this problem to memory.
Second period: Math I & II.
The classroom atmosphere turned icy as the papers were distributed.
This was the infamous Gifted High School math exam.
Groans of agony echoed here and there.
Of course, none of that applied to Seo-ha.
He'd struggled with high school-style problems at first enrollment, but now he was different.
Answering countless questions on the anonymous board had taught him exactly what solutions the teachers wanted.
Question 1.
[Given arbitrary 2n+1 integers, prove that some non-empty subset sums to a multiple of n.]
Olympiad-level, but Seo-ha could solve it mentally.
It required just two steps of reasoning.
But Seo-ha didn't do that.
He calmly wrote out his answer in pen.
A courteous five-step proof.
"...Therefore, among any 2n+1 integers, there always exists a non-empty subset whose sum is divisible by n."
Actually a remarkably concise proof, but it was the best for Seo-ha. Fortunately, it was safely within the no-deduct range.
Many people had helped him reach this point.
So he felt a heavy sense of responsibility.
'I don't want to disappoint them by stubbornly sticking to my own way.'
Most past mathematicians had been nobles or from wealthy merchant families.
In an era where survival came first, it was only natural. But not all were like that.
Gauss's father was a lowborn bricklayer, his mother illiterate.
They were so poor they couldn't even recall his exact birthdate. (Gauss later calculated it from his mother's tales.)
Even in such conditions, he shone and became one of history's great scholars.
Seo-ha, with far better circumstances, couldn't forgive himself for botching the exam out of mere laziness.
Tae-jin stared piercingly at the problem.
'As tough as they say.'
Last year's first-year average was 47 points—math even lower.
He realized killer questions acted as discriminators every 10 points.
'At least it's not unseen.'
Through "Orizwa's Problem Solutions," he'd encountered countless types. This was one Seo-ha had explained in extra detail.
Tae-jin felt like he knew how to approach the answer.
Gifted High School gathered the nation's top 0.1% geniuses.
The standard deviation among students was astonishingly narrow. Missing one problem could drop ranks by dozens.
He barely solved it and moved on.
Devastatingly hard, but not untouchable.
Suddenly, he recalled his parents laughing as they talked about him. Tae-jin truly wanted to be a son they could boast about.
He shook his head.
'No stray thoughts.'
No one here lacked goals. No one lacked talent.
A wry smile crossed his lips.
Wasn't it just like a gladiatorial arena?
Those with superior talent climbed higher.
Everyone put in the effort anyway.
Tae-jin wondered: Had the school's barren atmosphere at the semester's start stemmed from everyone thinking this way?
Amid them stood one outlier.
The student who answered everyone's questions all night long—Orizwa—had shifted their view from rivals to allies.
Tae-jin wanted to ask Seo-ha seriously, "Hey! Aren't you breaking the rules just by existing?"
"Time's up!"
The proctor announced the end.
"It's over."
Ki-beom let out a strangled cry before slamming his head on the desk and going limp like the dead.
Everyone was in the same boat. They wanted to cheer, but lacked the energy. They'd skimped sleep to the bare minimum needed for focus over three grueling days.
"Let's go."
Tae-jin, who had approached unnoticed, grabbed Ki-beom's arm and hauled him up.
Ki-beom staggered to his feet.
"Thought I was gonna die for real."
"Same."
Sharing the ordeal had forged camaraderie.
"Seo-ha, come on!"
"Yeah, let's grab some food."
As they exited the classroom, the hallway was already swarming with students from other classes.
Some threw their arms up in liberation, others collapsed onto the floor.
Bodies exhausted, but faces beamed brighter than ever.
After eating, Seo-ha returned to the dorm and finally got some proper sleep.
A week after the exam, following a few days of grading adjustments, the report cards were distributed.
'Dodged a bullet.'
Seo-ha breathed a sigh of relief.
No dramatic wall-posting of rankings like in dramas.
"Yoo Seo-ha, what's your score?"
Soccer team members like Ki-beom and Tae-jin hounded him relentlessly, but Seo-ha successfully guarded his grades.
Rumors swirled on the anonymous board that the first-year top spot was definitely Orizwa, so he was desperate.
Before afternoon classes, static buzzed from the classroom speaker, followed by an announcement.
-All students, please gather immediately in Seminar Room 1. I repeat, all students...
The students exchanged glances.
"Seminar room? Suddenly?"
"Yeah, we don't do assemblies here, right?"
"Maybe a professor showed up? Could be a special lecture."
Seminar Room 1 was a large auditorium for research presentations or guest lectures.
First-years moved hesitantly, glancing around. Soon, second- and third-years joined in the halls.
"Im Soo-jung again?"
"Nah, too many gunning for revenge."
"She's vicious though. Won't yield."
"Chemistry's her weak spot, at least."
Seniors descended the stairs nonchalantly, as if it were routine.
By the time they arrived, teachers already lined the stage. The tiered floor sloped downward, offering a clear view of the entire room.
"Something's up."
"An event?"
Students filed to their grade-designated sections, filling seats while eyeing each other.
Once seated, the event began.
-Ahem. Mic check. We will now commence the commendation for academic excellence.
Seo-ha jolted in surprise, scanning for someone to explain. Across the room, Soo-jung caught his eye and flashed a playful "Didn't know, huh?" smirk.
The vice principal, emcee, continued.
-As you know, our school doesn't publicize rankings. However, announcing top performers by subject and overall is fitting reward for their efforts and meaningful motivation for you all.
The vice principal unfolded a sheet of paper.
-Third-year Math top: Im Soo-jung from Class 2!
Applause erupted.
Soo-jung rose, gave a slight bow, and walked to the stage.
She was called up three more times after.
Math, physics, earth science, and overall top score. Plaques already filled her hands.
As second-years wrapped up, tension gripped the first-year section.
The vice principal checked the list and gave a meaningful smile.
-For first-years, we'll announce all at once.
"Why just us?"
"What's going on?"
Whispers rippled.
-Korean, English, math, chemistry, biology, earth science, physics, social studies, and even the college preparatory program—all topped by Yoo Seo-ha from Class 1-1.
The margin was so overwhelming we debated excluding this student from standard deviation calculations.
-Yoo Seo-ha, please come forward!
Face flushed, Seo-ha shot up and hurried to the stage.
Clap clap clap!
Applause spread gradually, soon filling the seminar room.
The principal, looking thoroughly pleased as if he'd anticipated this, handed Seo-ha his plaques.
Tae-jin overheard nearby third-years murmuring.
"What do we do about freshmen now? At least we tried taking her down."
"Hero parties were fun. Studies got lively too."
"That's straight-up world-ender level."
"World number one—gotta let 'em have it. Even beat Im Soo-jung."
-Please gather for commemorative photos.
All top students assembled on stage.
Other grades had multiples; first-years had one lone figure.
Flash.
"Congratulations!"
As the event ended, Seo-ha rushed off stage toward the exit.
'Gotta get out quick...'
But Ki-beom grabbed him hard from behind.
"Where do you think you're going!"
Seo-ha's arms were pinned, leaving him helpless. Classmates swarmed, encircling him.
"You're done."
At Tae-jin's word, the soccer team rifled through Seo-ha's uniform.
Soon, the report card tucked in his back pocket was uncovered.
"Got it."
Ki-beom snatched it and unfolded.
"Me too!"
"Lemme see."
A crowd surged in an instant.
All gasped, hands over mouths.
"Oh my god."
"What is this? No way, I'm scared."
"Knew you'd be first, but not by this much."
Five math subjects: all 100. Four sciences: all 100. Korean 91, English 94, social studies 96. Even the college prep program: A+.
The exam's overall average: 48 points.
Seo-ha had been struck from every competitor's list that day.