Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Team Composition (1)
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The first exam was a week away.
However, the cadets gathered in the auditorium were already deep in thought.
Because the comprehensive evaluation had essentially already begun.
The most important thing in the team battle.
As everyone knew, it was ‘what kind of team you formed.’
In other words, team composition was the first hurdle of the evaluation—and the most crucial one.
And the ones struggling the most with this first hurdle were...
None other than the Martial Combat Department cadets.
“…So what are we supposed to do?”
“Why is this so complicated? My head’s killing me.”
“Hey, isn’t being good at fighting enough for a guy? Why do we have to calculate scores too?!”
They hated the public prejudice that ‘Martial Combat Department is just brute force!’ with a passion, but honestly, they couldn’t deny that they were in a tough spot right now.
“Why are you all looking at me like that?”
In the end, all their gazes turned to one person.
Victor Freysell.
He was the cadet who had faced Jeron in the first match of the placement exam.
An A-Rank in practical combat, he was called the brain of the Martial Combat Department for his unique analytical skills.
“Victor, please help us out!”
“How do we do this?”
Especially his close friends were practically in tears, clinging to his pant leg.
Victor initially refused coldly, saying, “This is part of the evaluation too!”
But in the end, he let out a sigh as if he had no choice and began explaining.
“Whew… You guys are hopeless. Fine. I’ll explain it just once, so listen up.”
At his words, the Martial Combat Department cadets’ eyes sparkled all at once.
Victor cleared his throat once and began his lecture in front of the gathered cadets.
“The rules are simple. Team size is 3 to 5 members. Total score limit is 250 points.”
In short, they had to allocate members within 250 points.
Form a team with high-scoring members, and the team size would be small.
Increase the team size, and the members’ scores would drop accordingly.
“The scores assigned to cadets are basically distributed according to practical combat rank.”
Victor explained the score ranges one by one.
S-Rank: 110 points or higher.
A-Rank: 75 to 100 points.
B-Rank: 50 to 74 points.
C-Rank: 40 to 49 points.
The lowest score was 40 points.
“…Class grades can cause some variation, but usually not by much.”
At that moment, one cadet raised his hand.
“But this is weird? Look, these two are both A-Rank, but their scores are way different.”
“Good point. The reason is that not all A-Ranks are the same.”
Victor pointed to the list of A-Rank cadets in the materials and explained.
“Even within the same A-Rank, they’re ranked from 1st to 10th, right? Basic scores differ accordingly. Especially the top A-Ranks are evaluated as being on a different level from other A-Ranks. You could call them A+ Rank.”
A+ Ranks were between 90 and 100 points.
Kaiser and Artel fell into this category.
“By the same logic, among S-Ranks, there’s a wall between the top 4 and the rest 6. They can be considered S+ Rank too.”
S+ Rank.
In other words, the scores for the top 4 S-Ranks were as follows.
Crown Prince Leonhardt at 150 points, an overwhelming 1st place.
Saintess Justina at 145 points, following behind.
And Karen and Ciel both at 140 points.
“His Highness the Crown Prince is perfect in both practical and theory, and the Saintess is amazing too, but not quite up to him. As for Cadet Karen and Cadet Ciel… their class grades seem a bit lacking.”
Karen was a sword idiot, so her theory grades weren’t great.
Ciel was a genius in theory too, but she often slacked off when uninterested, docking her points.
Victor continued.
“Because of this scoring structure, overly powerful combinations are blocked. For example…”
Forming a team with two or more S-Ranks was impossible due to score overflow.
Similarly, the top S+ Ranks couldn’t even form a 3-man team with just one A-Rank.
Victor also explained several other cheat combinations and why they were impossible.
“Ah~”
“So that’s how it is?”
Thanks to his explanation, the cadets finally grasped the true meaning of the score limit.
“So what combinations are the best?”
At the core question, Victor nodded.
“There are many variables, but generally, the strongest combinations can be narrowed down to three.”
Victor held up one finger.
“First, the ‘S+ One-Man Team.’ Center around one S+ Rank like His Highness or the Saintess, and fill the rest with B- or C-Ranks. It’s a high-risk, high-reward combo where everything relies on one powerhouse.”
At his words, a few cadets’ eyes lit up.
“It’s like splurging on one top-tier dish at a restaurant and skipping the sides.”
“Does that mean I could luck into teaming with the Saintess?”
“Yeah, but you’d just be dead weight.”
“Sigh. If it’s with the Saintess, I’d be happy as dead weight….”
Ignoring the weird reactions around him, Victor held up a second finger.
“Second, the ‘S-Rank Standard Team.’ Center around an S-Rank from 6th to 10th—not S+—and pair with A- and B-Ranks. Very powerful.”
“Whoa, that one’s seriously strong.”
“S-Rank plus A-Rank… that’s a den of monsters.”
“I wanna join too…”
The cadets marveled at the powerhouse team beyond their reach.
Victor held up his third finger.
“Third, the ‘A-Rank Balance Team.’ A team of three A-Ranks. No S-Rank, but the highest average skill across all members—a solid powerhouse.”
“Oh, that’s pretty good too?”
“Nice balance.”
Victor wrapped up his explanation.
“These are theoretically the strongest combos. In reality, you’ll see 4-man teams with one A-Rank mixed with B- and C-Ranks, or 5-man B- to C-Rank quantity-over-quality teams.”
“Ah, now it all clicks!”
“Thanks! Speed Victor!”
“…What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s a compliment, a compliment!”
Thanks to Victor’s clear explanation, they could finally see a path through the complicated team composition.
They began eagerly planning their own teams.
At that moment.
“Ah… I forgot something important. Actually, there’s one more theoretically ultimate combination.”
Victor muttered softly.
“Huh? The ultimate combination?”
“You said all those cheat ones are impossible.”
“What is it? What else?”
Instantly, the cadets’ attention focused back on him.
Victor sighed deeply and said.
“It’s simply…”
He flipped through the materials and pointed to one cadet’s name.
Jeron Airgia.
“‘Any team with just Jeron in it.’”
“…?!”
Jeron Airgia.
Practical combat A-Rank 1st place. Now a famous figure unknown to no one among the academy’s 1st-years.
“That guy’s a monster.”
Victor grimaced briefly, as if recalling the nightmare of the placement exam.
“His combat prowess rivals the top tier of S-Ranks, but for some reason, his score is only 85 points—not even A+—probably from whatever he does in class. If you can somehow coax him onto your team…”
He shook his head and finished.
“No matter what combo you make, it becomes an unbeatable cheat team.”
***
As Victor said, Jeron was essentially a joker card in this exam.
Thus, all cadets coveted him, but none could easily approach.
“…….”
They just watched from afar, whispering.
“Hey, someone go talk to him.”
“You go. I’m scared.”
“What if he ignores me?”
The overwhelming pressure from his prowess.
The mysterious aura from his looks and demeanor.
That made everyone hesitate.
It was the same now.
While other cadets fretted over team comps, he rested alone in the corner.
Not even standing or sitting on the floor.
He lounged on some bizarre throne-like thing made of darkness, from who-knows-where.
Few cadets had the guts to approach him and say, ‘Join our team.’
But even so, his value was insanely high.
A few bold ones began sneaking closer.
“Uh, hi? Jeron. Decided on a team? Our team has an A-Rank leader and solid power…”
“Jeron! Join our team! We’ve got great warriors and fighters. With you as the mage, it’d be perfect balance!”
Those approaching weren’t randos—they were A-Rank rankers renowned in their departments.
But.
“Uh… Jeron?”
“S-say something…”
Jeron just stared blankly at them, offering no real response.
As if he couldn’t hear them.
As the proposers stood awkwardly, flustered.
“Krahaha! There you are!”
With a hearty laugh, a massive red-haired man pushed through the crowd.
Martial Combat Department S-Rank 5th, Askal.
“Whoa, it’s Askal from Martial Combat!”
“Is he teaming with Jeron?”
The cadets buzzed.
But that wasn’t the end.
“Pardon the intrusion.”
Silently following was a black-haired man with narrowed eyes.
Assassination Department S-Rank 6th, Kain.
“Oh, even top Assassination Kain?”
“Two S-Ranks…”
The moment the two S-Rank rankers appeared, the surrounding A-Ranks freaked and cleared a path.
They soon stood before Jeron.
Askal spoke first.
“Nice to meet you, Jeron Airgia! I’ve heard all about you! Wanna form the ultimate team with me? My score’s 117. With you, just snag one decent C-Rank and it fits perfect.”
Boom!
Askal clapped his fists together and declared boldly.
“If we team up, this evaluation’s in the bag, right?!”
Right after, Kain jumped in, unwilling to lose.
“Jeron. My score’s 113, similar to Askal’s. But teaming with me would be way better.”
He continued calmly.
“I’ve watched all your fights. You prefer one-shot kills—perfect match for an assassin like me.”
The two exuded absolute confidence befitting S-Rank rankers.
As if Jeron couldn’t possibly refuse.
The watching cadets held their breath.
Who would Jeron choose?
“…”
Jeron was different this time.
Eyes closed, serious expression.
As if carefully weighing which offer was better.
Everyone waited for his choice.
But.
1 second… 2 seconds… 3 seconds…
10 seconds…
“?”
For some reason, even as time passed, Jeron didn’t open his eyes.
“…Nah, no way?”
“…No, he couldn’t be.”
Bewilderment spread across the cadets’ faces.
Is he… sleeping right now…?