Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Midterm Evaluation (1)
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An extremely early morning, before even the sun had risen.
"Huuu... All set."
Careful not to wake her roommates, Fuyuno Tsubaki finished preparing to head out without even turning on the bathroom light. She slung her bag over her shoulder and stepped out of the dormitory.
At a time when she would normally still be lost in dreams, her eyes were unprecedentedly clear and sharp.
It wasn't because she'd gone to bed early or because she was superhuman.
"Hehe..."
The sole reason—heading to see Yang Woo-bin—gave Fuyuno Tsubaki the energy to stride forward vigorously.
On the day of the midterm evaluation, she was making her way to the training grounds where he awaited for a final check.
"Hoo... Hoo..."
"Whoa..."
"Hm?"
I was warming up in a handstand, doing one-armed pushups while wearing weighted vests, belts, and anklets. Then, from behind me came the sound of someone gaping in awe, unable to hold back their admiration.
The voice dripped with an unmistakable sultriness, so I knew who it was without even looking.
I slowly pushed up my bent arm and stood right up from the position.
"Phew, you're here, Fuyuno Tsubaki."
I draped the towel I'd left on the ground around my neck and turned my head. There stood Fuyuno Tsubaki, covering her face with both hands, her ears flushed bright red.
"...What are you doing?"
"Uh, uhu? Ah? Oh, n-no, it's just..."
"If you're gonna look, look. If you're gonna cover, cover properly. With your fingers spread like that, is that even covering?"
"Eep!"
Fuyuno Tsubaki hurriedly pressed her splayed fingers together, then hesitantly lowered her hands.
Her face was so red it was obvious even her crown was burning.
Watching her frozen solid like that was pretty amusing, but today was a busy day.
"Enough spacing out. Go grab some ice from the freezer."
"Y-yeah. G-got it..."
At my words, Fuyuno Tsubaki scurried off, her face still beet red.
I watched her retreating figure, roughly wiped the sweat from my body with the towel, and put on my top.
"...Here it is."
Fuyuno Tsubaki returned holding bags brimming with ice in both hands, her face still flushed.
Now that I had my top on, she could at least meet my eyes. I jerked my chin at her and said,
"Alright, give it a try."
"O-okay!"
Fuyuno Tsubaki nodded, then set the ice bags down on the ground.
She closed her eyes, clasped her hands as if in prayer, and began muttering in a small voice.
"Help me... Inner Qi Yang Woo-bin...!"
As she chanted the weird incantation like some spell—Qi Yang Woo-bin or whatever—the cubed ice in the bags began floating up into the air with a clatter.
Each piece of ice flew freely through the air as if it had a mind of its own. Looked like she had no issues handling the cold energy.
"Good. That's plenty."
"Really? Hehe..."
"But that inner Qi Yang Woo-bin stuff? Cut it out. ...Feels weird."
"Huh? O-oh, okay, Yang Woo-bin..."
At my words, Fuyuno Tsubaki nodded and promised not to mention Qi Yang Woo-bin anymore.
From confirming she could handle the cold casually to shutting down that nonsense—we'd done everything. All that was left was polishing her form.
I patted the shoulder of Fuyuno Tsubaki, who looked a bit downcast at my refusal, and said,
"Fuyuno Tsubaki, I'll make you breakfast. Let's go."
"Ah, sure!"
Dabcheon Academy's midterm evaluations are divided into written and practical exams.
"Yang Woo-bin, how'd the written exam go?"
"Fine."
"Whoa... As expected of Yang Woo-bin!"
We'd just finished the written exam—a simple test in the circular lecture hall based on what we'd learned.
Surprisingly, Fuyuno Tsubaki was good at studying and seemed to have done just fine.
I'd scored enough not to get tripped up by the written part, too.
"Fuyuno Tsubaki, you can slack off after promoting to Jincheon Class. The written exam's just a formality, so don't get too excited."
"Ah, y-yeah. Sorry, Yang Woo-bin..."
But wrapping up the written exam smoothly didn't mean we could relax.
The real crux of the midterm evaluation was the practical exam.
In Dabcheon, where martial prowess defined a person's worth, the written test was basic, but the practical was the true flower of the evaluation... no, of Dabcheon itself.
The method and format varied by year and semester, so cadets faced the practical without knowing what to expect.
Real combat always came in unexpected forms, so this approach trained them to adapt skillfully.
Of course, that didn't apply to me.
I was a veteran of Reversal Hero Saga, and naturally, I knew exactly how the midterm practical would go and what would happen.
The first-years' practical this time was a straightforward beast hunt.
Five doors, each hiding a beast. Enter one at random to fight—luck itself was part of the evaluation in this brutally realistic setup.
Of course, knowing what beast lurked behind each door, that didn't apply to me either.
"Doors? What doors? What the hell are they making us do?"
"What's with the doors? Do you know something?"
"They said Dabcheon's practical formats change every time. No point guessing among ourselves."
"Damn, so what do we do?"
The announcement echoed through the halls with no further explanation, leaving the Ban class cadets buzzing in confusion.
"Fuyuno Tsubaki, you know, right?"
"Yeah! Yang Woo-bin, first door. Me, third door!"
"Okay."
Of course, Fuyuno Tsubaki and I, who knew exactly what beast was behind each door, just headed to the exam hall leisurely.
"Well then, shall we get going?"
"Y-yeah! H-hehe, l-let's do our best...!"
"...You."
But upon arriving at the exam hall, Fuyuno Tsubaki's complexion turned worrisome.
"Ah, uh. Uhaa... Wh-what, Yang Woo-bin?"
Her teeth chattered, her body trembled, her fingers fidgeted endlessly, and her eyes darted everywhere.
She'd been fine until entering the hall, but now her face had gone from pale blue to ghostly white—anyone could see she was freaking out from nerves.
After all that training together and awakening new power just yesterday, she still lacked confidence in herself.
As the one who'd painstakingly made and fed her that elixir, it was frustrating.
But yelling in frustration would just backfire on her, so I simply placed my hand on her ash-gray hair.
"Ah, uh? W-Yang Woo-bin?!"
Fuyuno Tsubaki's crown flushed red in an instant. She forgot her trembling and looked up at me with moist eyes.
I just calmly told her what needed saying.
"This exam's a breeze for you. Especially the one in the third door. Just do exactly what I taught you, and you'll pass easy."
"Hic, huu. Yeah."
At my words, Fuyuno Tsubaki exhaled a heated, excited breath and nodded for some reason.
Her trembling stopped, and her lips curved up leisurely.
But to prevent her from relaxing too soon and choking under pressure once it started, I drove the nail in with one more line.
"So. If you don't pass, you're dead."
She flinched at that, then smiled brightly and replied,
"Yeah! I'll definitely pass!"
I'd said it to scare her, but why was she happy about the "dead" part?
Puzzled, Fuyuno Tsubaki and I headed to our respective doors.
I wonder if she'll do alright. She should. Honestly, with that Extreme Yin Body trait, failing that one would make her an idiot. But Fuyuno Tsubaki is an idiot. Damn, should I have trained her harder?
"Cadet Yang Woo-bin, final confirmation. You select the first door?"
Lost in worries about Fuyuno Tsubaki, it was suddenly my turn.
"Ah, yes."
"Confirmed. Then, open the door and commence the exam."
I nodded, the guide opened the door, and I stepped toward the light pouring out.
Whoosh-!
The sensation from the entrance exam—the space around me twisting entirely.
That indescribable, eerie feeling swept through my body once. When I opened my eyes, a whole new scene filled my vision.
"Whoa."
I'd landed in a massive circular arena reminiscent of Rome's Colosseum.
I'd known I'd end up here, but facing it in reality, the arena's grandeur drew out an involuntary gasp.
But no time to gawk.
Rumble rumble rumble...
From the opposite side's elevator came the sound of pulleys turning.
Clunk!
Soon, a heavy thud announced the elevator's arrival, shaking the arena floor. The iron gate creaked open, revealing the beast inside.
"Grrrrrr..."
A four-legged beast emerged silently from the gate, its two saber-like fangs gleaming: a Blade Panther.
"Damn. Looks vicious as hell."
This was the beast I'd face in the practical exam.