Exam Period # 3
Exam Period # 3
"Kim Geun-cheol... you're the only one in the entire grade retaking the exam. Don't you think you need to try a little harder?"
Instructor Lee So-ra pressed her fingers to her forehead and spoke like she was in pain.
Honestly, if I were the teacher, I would've done the same thing. The grade's sole failure is in my class? You could ask them if they want to die and they'd have nothing to say.
"Well, the thing is... Actually, honestly, Instructor?"
"What is it?"
"I know I kinda bombed the general subjects, but I did pretty well on the theory exam, didn't I?"
My average for Korean, Math, English, and Electives was in the 20s. I mean, how the hell do you only get one out of five questions right? It's absurd. Statistically, this doesn't make sense. Call it a statistical anomaly, something like that. This is basically a massive screwjob, so they should just let it slide.
But that's limited to the general subjects.
"Well, your theory score is around 80 points. That's upper-middle tier."
My theory score average was 80.
A thoroughly satisfactory result. Look. Honestly, isn't theory way more important than Korean, Math, English, and Electives, which have literally zero practical use in life?
So I was confident.
Who cares if I screw up general subjects a bit?
I'm good at combat and sharp on theory.
"True. That is commendable. Well done, Kim Geun-cheol."
"Right?"
"Honestly, if you're going to live as a Hero, theory is probably more important than general subjects. This part is worthy of praise. However, as long as you're in school, a 20-point average is problematic. Kim Geun-cheol, you need to more than double your general subject scores."
"Yes..."
Fair point.
"If you don't want to turn Ares Academy into an idiot factory, study. Understand? The core of being a student is studying, Kim Geun-cheol."
"Understood..."
"The retest is next month. An average of 65 points. If you fail to pass that..."
"I get held back?"
"There is one final opportunity. You'd have to take classes during summer vacation and take the exam then. You'd be spending your precious summer vacation attending general subject lectures."
"Heugh...!"
Wait, I have to study general subjects during my precious summer vacation?
That was genuinely unimaginably awful! I've got so much theory study and conditioning to do, and I have to do that crap? It's too appalling!
"Naturally, if you fail then too, you're held back, no questions asked. You'd have to repeat your first year, and you wouldn't like that either, Kim Geun-cheol."
"Whew... Right. I will absolutely never let myself get held back. I understand, Instructor. I'll work hard to pass the retest."
"Do that."
But there's something weird about this.
Keeping a Hero cadet idle for a whole year just because they were bad at general subjects. This isn't normal... Sure, I acknowledge that since the academy is an educational institution, they're trying to instill a minimum level of scholarship.
But studying isn't everything in the world, and how can they do this? It's so unfair it's driving me crazy. Just thinking about studying general subjects felt like it was twisting my guts.
"You're dismissed."
"Yes. Goodbye, Instructor."
After receiving the notice about the retest, I walked out of the faculty office. And there was a woman waiting for me.
"Kim Geun-cheol? Done talking with the Instructor?"
It was Leona.
—Whump.
Leona was talking with her fist raised, practically like a threat, already filled with the determination to make me study. Is this what a hellish tutor is like? A hell teacher.
"Uh... yeah, it's over. We can go now."
Anyway, she was burning with fighting spirit, determined to stop me from failing no matter what. It's something I'm incredibly grateful for. Caring this much, she's basically an angel.
But even if I'm grateful, isn't this way too harsh?! I can't even run away and now I have to study!
"Good. With one month left until the retest, let's go through an accelerated course. The goal is a 65 average, so don't feel too pressured."
"Leona! Please, lower your fist! That's what's pressuring me!"
"But if I don't, Kim Geun-cheol won't get his act together!"
"What do you mean 'but if'—!"
Leona was still talking with her fist raised. Looking at that, the very idea of trying to slack off was evaporating! Fists really are remarkably effective.
"Let's go, then. Since I absolutely refuse to watch Kim Geun-cheol get held back, we're going to study mercilessly. You'll need to become a literal studying asura. Consider it a hell you can't survive without becoming an asura. Sniffle."
"Don't say stuff like that while you're already scaring me and wiping away your tears!"
So I came outside with Leona.
Uh.
"You're out? Let's go?"
Standing in front of the door, Yu-ri looked at me and spoke... Wait.
Isn't today the day I train in swordsmanship with Yu-ri?
"What? Leona was here too?"
"Kim Geun-cheol? What's going on?"
"Hang on. This..."
How do I handle this?
"Whatever it is, today we study!"
Right now, Leona was burning with enthusiasm to make me study. But Yu-ri equally wanted to train me in swordsmanship.
"Hey. Wait. Leona? Kim Geun-cheol has plans with me today, you know?"
"You mean swordsmanship training?"
"Yeah. Today's the day I teach him swordsmanship. That guy actually has more talent than you'd think. So I want to drill him pretty hard."
"I see... But still, Woo Yu-ri!"
"What?"
"Please let it slide for today! At this rate, Kim Geun-cheol is going to fail! His average is 20 points, so if he doesn't study today, he'll fail!"
"Ah, that thing from earlier?"
Yu-ri let out a small laugh.
"Hey, hey. Don't worry. Even Kim Geun-cheol knows he's about to fail, so he'll handle it himself somehow. For a Hero, swordsmanship is more important than studying. So, Kim Geun-cheol? Let's go."
Yu-ri said that and started to move beside me.
"Wait just a moment. If Kim Geun-cheol were the sort of kid who handles things himself, would he have gotten a 20-point average? Regrettably, I think I need to make him study until the retest. Kim Geun-cheol, what are you doing? Aren't you going to hold my hand?"
Leona stepped in front of me...!
Hold on!
This atmosphere is getting weird!
"What? Hey! If it's until the retest, that's a whole month! Do you have any idea how much swordsmanship I can teach in a month? Hey! We do swordsmanship first, then study! Problem solved!"
"No, if we finish all the swordsmanship, there won't be any time! Woo Yu-ri! Are you trying to make Kim Geun-cheol fail? We'll be too late!"
"What do you mean fail! As if he'd actually fail!"
"Don't you realize he actually could!"
"Shut up! Kim Geun-cheol! Get over here!"
"Eek! Kim Geun-cheol! Stay right there!"
—Fwish!
In an instant, Leona and Woo Yu-ri were glaring at each other!
"What the hell is going on...!"
Two women started competing over me!
This can't be happening!
"Hold on!!! Both of you be quiet!!!"
So I immediately yelled at the top of my lungs!
"Ah, you startled me. Kim Geun-cheol?"
"Hey! You're too loud!"
The gazes of Leona and Yu-ri, who'd been staring each other down, shifted toward me! Good! I understand perfectly that you're both worried about me!
Leona's worried I might fail, and Yu-ri figures since I'm in peak form, she should drill me even harder in swordsmanship! I'm so grateful, it's beautiful!
But fighting with each other over that good will is something that absolutely must not happen!
"P-please...!"
So I.
"Please don't fight over me!!!"
I confessed my feelings honestly.
"Please, don't fight over me!!! This is too agonizing!!!"
"What kinda bullshit is this bastard spouting!!!"
"Kim Geun-cheol, do you wanna die?!!"
"No! Wait! You're both fighting to claim me right now! Stop it!"
You can't do this!
"Do you want me to hit you with a Charge Attack, Kim Geun-cheol! Woo Yu-ri! This isn't working! Let's give Kim Geun-cheol a toss-up!"
"Fine!"
No, what's this about a Charge Attack!?
—Grab!
In that moment, the two women exerted monstrous strength and grabbed me by the collar. Faster than I could form a thought.
—Swoosh!
My body soared upward!
"Whaaaaaaat?!"
Am I flying right now?! A long floating sensation washed over me. In an instant, I was several stories above the ground.
—Whaaaam!
I fell back down!
"Uwaaaaaaaah!"
"Catch him!"
—Fwap!
And Leona and Yu-ri, who caught me falling, threw me high up again!
A crazy toss-up!
"Guys! I was trying to stop the fight out of good will! Please, don't fight over me!"
"Bullshit!"
"Bullshit!"
I seriously can't take this...!
* * *
After being tossed around for a long while like that, I was finally freed. My body was sapped from the constant rising and falling. As I sat on a bench catching my breath, I heard Leona and Yu-ri talking.
"Alright, Woo Yu-ri. I know very well that swordsmanship is important. But right now, it's an emergency. Let's compromise on the training time."
"Ugh... fine, whatever. It'd be a problem if Kim Geun-cheol fails. Let's set a schedule."
"I think it's correct to focus on studying first, at least until he takes the retest. An average of 20 points. How is that even acceptable? That score proves what kind of brain Kim Geun-cheol has for studying. If we don't crack down hard, he'll fail immediately. First, I want to make him study for about two hours right after class, five days a week. So, swordsmanship can happen after studying."
Wait, isn't she talking way too harshly though?
What about my brain for studying?
"Uh, Leona? Then what do I do for those two hours?"
"Go train somewhere."
"I can't do that. Let's set it. Mon-Wed-Fri, swordsmanship first. Tue-Thu, studying first. Let's go with that."
"At that rate, Kim Geun-cheol will definitely fail...! Sniffle! Woo Yu-ri, you don't understand the gravity of this situation! If he doesn't study first, he'll fail!"
Leona, bursting into tears!
"Hey! It's not like some bait-and-switch, why would he fail just from switching up the order?! Hey! That's it! We'll let Kim Geun-cheol decide! Kim Geun-cheol, get over here now!"
Seriously... I couldn't figure out why I'd ended up in this situation. It was just my friends looking out for me, and it turns into this?
"Kim Geun-cheol! Who are you going to learn from?!"
Leona raised her fist and shouted.
"Uh... Leona. I've been thinking."
"What?"
"Can't we just... all study together and then train together?"
"Together?"
Can't we just do it together? It'd be nice if we all studied and trained together.
"Bullshit. I don't wanna study, okay?"
Yu-ri said that completely shamelessly.
"Seriously, who in the world actually wants to study? You just do it. Yu-ri, you can just study theory. Let's just study together."
"Bullshit. Who are you to act tough about studying with a 20 average? I'll only study during class. Studying is ultra-gross."
"Yeah. Fair."
"I said I want to do swordsmanship! Let's do swordsmanship, swordsmanship!"
Yu-ri flat-out started shaking me by the shoulders in annoyance.
Ha, what can you do?
"Leona."
"Yes."
In times like this, it's the prior commitment that wins.
"Uh... this was something I arranged with Yu-ri first. I'll study my ass off, so please let this one slide. Mon-Wed-Fri were originally the days I learn swordsmanship."
"Kim Geun-cheol! What are you going to do if you really fail at this rate?!"
Leona covered her mouth with her hand and yelled.
"Hey! Leona! Don't worry! My theory score is in the 80s! I'll harness that tenacity and figure it out somehow!"
I yelled that to give her some faith!
"Guh...!"
Leona paused for a moment, then spoke.
"Whew... fine then. I guess there's no choice. I accept your resolve."
It worked!
"In exchange, when you're in class with me, we'll have a pop quiz every single day. Be ready if you fail! I'll come find you even after your swordsmanship training!"
"Got it!"
"And on Mon-Wed-Fri, I'll make you study during lunchtime too, so brace yourself!"
"Heugh!"
Even during lunchtime?!
"Then I'm off! Woo Yu-ri! Please take care of Kim Geun-cheol! Raise him well!"
"Wait, but Leona, what are you, Kim Geun-cheol's mom?"
"I'm just looking out for him as class president...!"
With those words, Leona zoomed right off.
Considering she was doing all this for my sake, I felt so sorry I could die...
"Oof, what a personality that young lady has. Jeez. Hey, Kim Geun-cheol. Let's hurry up and go swing some swords. You really need to learn properly at a time like this. You can study after we're done, so for now, it's swordsmanship."
"Understood, Master."
But what can you do.
Today is swordsmanship day.
* * *
"Hmph!"
—Stomp, stomp.
"Prior commitment, my ass!"
Leona shouted as she strode forcefully.
"That Leona is offering to teach you, and you run off? Unforgivable!"
Just you wait until tomorrow.
That was what Leona thought.