Midterms, I Remember.

Midterms, huh. I remember them well. What an unforgettable episode.

It was the event that injected some much-needed tension into the lax atmosphere of Salenium Academy. At this time of year, Salenium turns into a full-blown battlefield. Desperate cries from those who bombed last semester and need to salvage at least one grade. Pure, unadulterated determination to catch up to their target rival. And the muddy struggles of those thinking, Even if I'm at the bottom, I'll score higher than that bastard. All these motivations tangle together in a bloody showdown.

And here I was, throwing myself right into the fray. No choice but to survive somehow.

Sitting at my desk, I skimmed through my books and paused to think.

"Hm."

The subjects I was taking were 'General Elemental Theory and Application,' 'Advanced Elemental Mana Linkage (Upper),' 'Intro to Basic Swordsmanship,' 'Herbology,' and 'General Imperial History.'

Intro to Basic Swordsmanship had no exam. Professor Bedel said it was idiotic to give wooden swords to greenhorns who'd barely held a blade for three months and make them spar. Better to spend that time building muscle, he'd grumbled.

Even for kids, these students could hold their own against a knight outside. Isn't that evaluation a bit harsh?

The stamina-boosting quest Professor Bedel gave me was still unfinished.

A list that looks familiar. But let me say this upfront: it's absolutely not because of that warning at the end.

Anyway, no exam for Intro to Basic Swordsmanship. That leaves Herbology, General Imperial History, Elemental Mana Linkage, and Elemental Theory and Application.

"Hmm."

Herbology isn't tough, really. You get tossed some random ingredients and have to brew a specific potion the professor demands within the time limit. It's infamous because the materials are all randomized, including some obscure ones.

But I've got recipes for every potion craftable via 'Creation,' plus substitutes for missing ingredients. Piece of cake.

General Imperial History's the same. Salenium's saga, this world's lore and history—it's all etched in my brain.

"So that leaves Elemental Theory and Mana Linkage."

What were those again? Recalling the midterms from when I played as Erhan in the Magic Division's second-year first semester...

"Huh."

This might not be as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠easy as I thought.

* * *

"The midterm for Elemental Theory? That's the one-on-one magic duel, right?"

"...I knew that. Just needed confirmation."

"Your magic skills are solid, even by my standards. You couldn't handle low-tier spells before, but now you're handling them like a pro. Saving Sub-Marquess Ebnis the other day was proof."

On the streets of the Magic Division, the girl walking beside me smiled brightly as she spoke.

"In my eyes, you're no weakling, Adrian. Though, of course, not strong enough to beat me. I'm the top student, after all."

Reina crossed her arms, nodding with a hum.

...Yeah. Reina, who handles mid-tier spells like low-tiers, would be a tough matchup.

One-on-one magic battle. Two students on a straight platform, staves in hand, duking it out with spells.

"It's a lottery draw anyway, single elimination—win once, and it counts toward your grade. Honestly, I'd prefer not drawing you."

Reina looked at me with eyes that seemed ready to well up.

"I don't want to hurt you, Adrian. I can't even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠imagine knocking you down myself. If something happened to you because of me, I'd never forgive myself."

Hm. I get it. I know you're saying that because you're too kind.

But I've got my side too.

"You won't listen anyway, will you?"

"Hm?"

"That's just who you are. But remember this: I hate the idea of you falling to someone else's attack even more. Even if it's Kelly... or Relbrian. So, Adrian, no matter the opponent, give it your all."

"Was planning to."

"Good. Let's both win and share our victory stories after."

Reina smiled, and I nodded back.

"Shall we? Self-study room."

"Yeah! Let's go!"

Reina grabbed my arm tight, humming happily like a kid. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠My arm felt like it might rip off, but whatever.

That's when it happened. If not for the guy across the street...

"Adrian."

Purple bobbed hair and headband. Immaculate uniform. Green armband.

Daisy von Shukros approached.

What the? She's glaring like she wants to kill me.

Reina stepped forward, hands on hips, and sparks flew between them—foreheads nearly touching.

"What brings you here, Lady Shukros?"

"Nothing the Wolfgang needs to know."

"Oh? Sadly, I'm Adrian's fiancée. There shouldn't be anything I don't know."

Reina stood tall. Shukros fired back just as boldly.

"From what I hear, the Wolfgang family already issued a divorce decree."

"Urk!"

"And you're ignoring family orders. Not sure how long you can hold out, but I'll be watching."

"Guh!"

Reina staggered from the no-breather double combo, deflating.

Shukros brushed past her and fixed her glare on me.

What? Planning to stab me with your [Ore] or something? Fat chance. My eyes are sharper than your hands.

But her words weren't what I expected.

"Straight to the point. I heard from the president yesterday. You're betting a perfect score in 'Mana Linkage' to prove your innocence."

Ah, that.

"I heard everything. My advice: don't make a fool of yourself. Confess everything to the president instead."

Got it. She's here to coax me out. Or maybe she's pissed herself.

She figures a guy who's always flunked can't beat her, the grade leader. So, don't stir trouble—just stay quiet.

Makes sense. If the academy's perennial loser suddenly said he'd top the year leader and clear his name, I'd be baffled too.

But.

"If you cancel now, we can pretend this never happened..."

"Who are you to judge me?"

Daisy von Shukros. As Magic Division's top dog, she's tough and strong. This mess only happened because original Adrian was a scoundrel who lost all trust.

If he'd kept quiet without causing drama, it'd have ended with a commendation for solving the incident. No interrogation about hidden secrets.

So, use this chance to rebuild trust. With the student council as witness—no one can deny it.

She shot back without flinching.

"Your past path speaks for itself."

"Ridiculous. By your logic, no one with a dark history gets redemption by living clean now. So, Daisy von Shukros, you're dead certain the guy who clung here on family name alone, flunking everything, can't beat you."

Of course. I've beaten her plenty. With perfect strategies in my head, my win chance is absolute zero loss.

But telling her a hundred times won't sway this stubborn top student. Need shock therapy.

I casually removed my glove and draped it over her shoulder.

"Wh-what...?"

"Daisy von Shukros. I challenge you to a duel."

"...D-duel?"

"I'll shatter that conviction etched in your heart. Beyond proving innocence, duel me with your Mana Linkage midterm score on the line."

"You mean the creative magitech development presentation on mana-magic linkage?"

"Yes."

"...You're wagering a duel with me and the president's bet for the top spot in that exam? Is that what you're saying? You mean it?"

Obviously. Her specialty's magitech crafting. Beating her at her own game crushes her pride but convinces her.

"A picture's worth a thousand words. You need to see it yourself to believe."

She nodded silently. I continued.

"Duels come with stakes. My win proves innocence to the president. Add this: if I win, you grant me one wish—whatever it is. If I lose, I abide your terms. Deal?"

This isn't just about innocence; I'd feel shortchanged. A vet never dodges challenges—they milk them. Gotta up the ante.

Her magitech's top-quality. Big gains.

"Understood. If I lose, I'll grant your one wish."

Accepting that means she thinks her win's guaranteed. Whatever her confidence, I'll smash it.

"Good."

"Then..."

"One more thing."

"What?"

I glanced at Reina, huddled and mumbling in the corner.

"Will our matchup flip your ranking with her?"

"Reina von Wolfgang overtaking me for top? Never in a million years. But if you beat me and block my perfect score, a faint possibility might glimmer for her."

I see. "Might," huh.

Reina von Wolfgang's first breakthrough is claiming Magic Division top spot. If our duel triggers her power-up event, why not?

"Then that's how we'll proceed."

"Understood. I have business—excuse me."

She dipped her head slightly and left. I turned ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to Reina.

She gritted her teeth.

"That wretched... I wanna smash her right now... Adrian, you sure about this?"

"About what?"

"Daisy von Shukros is really strong. I might edge her in spell battles, but theory subjects? No contest."

"If I beat her here, doesn't that bring you closer to top spot?"

Reina tapped her chin, tilted her head, then nodded.

"Well, yeah. Truth is, I'd love to crush her myself for it. But biting a already-defeated foe isn't honorable."

That's her take.

"Haha, honestly, I'd cheer you on regardless of my own goals. But that's why I'm worried."

"No need."

Daisy von Shukros has genius for devising and crafting magitech, but it's just game content. If I can't beat that, I don't deserve the vet title.

"I'll win for sure."