Chapter 53
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: The Mage of the Final Exam (2)
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The place they led me to was a small, empty lecture room.
...No, it wasn't small. It felt plenty spacious for just me.
To give a space like this just to seat one person.
And the other Linea Hall freshmen must have gotten personal rooms this size too.
Why on earth were they wasting so many resources on a mere freshman exam?
Did they borrow the entire main magic hall building? Then where were the upperclassmen supposed to take theirs?
Not only was the room huge, but the magic woven into it was impressive too.
I scanned the lecture room.
Storage, Oblivion, and... Dream.
An illusion magic barrier, intricately constructed.
I immediately understood the purpose of the spells on the room.
Once you leave this space, you'd forget everything that happened here, as if it were just a dream.
For preventing exam leaks, this was overkill.
The TA's voice broke my contemplation.
"Time's almost up, so I'll explain the exam for 'Fundamentals of Magic Theory'."
He recited mechanically, without even checking my reaction.
I could feel the plight of a grad student—or rather, an academy researcher.
"There are 7 problems total, and the exam period runs the entire week—until midnight on Monday next week."
"...Yes?"
"If you wish, you can work on them in this private room 24 hours a day, even over the weekend."
It was so absurd I just blinked blankly.
Wait, did that mean I had to stay locked in here for a whole week? Sleeping curled up on the hard floor?
"Uh... you mean eat and sleep here too? What about people with other exams?"
"No. You can go out whenever, take care of business comfortably."
I looked around the room again.
Ah. Now it made sense.
Why they'd layered such complex anti-leak magic on a private room.
How thorough. So thorough.
The midterm hadn't been like this.
"Oh, and Professor said Lunaris has no other exams this week."
So friendly, telling me to take it easy without pressure.
I glanced at the thick stack of papers in the TA's arms.
"Looks too big for a 1-hour cut like the midterm..."
Still, I could probably finish today.
"I don't have to stay the full week, right? I can leave once I'm done?"
"You can leave anytime, even without finishing. You're free to forfeit."
Part of me wanted to bolt without even writing my name.
But I couldn't give up my dorm bed. As long as I kept Linea Hall residency, that'd be enough.
Then, a beep-beep-beep alarm rang from the TA's wrist.
"Time. Exam starts now."
I took the exam paper and sprawled casually on the floor, skimming the problems.
1, 2, 3... 4, 5...
And the last one, 6.
He'd said there were 7 problems...
"Interesting."
The moment I sent mana to my fingertip,
A magic circle blanketed the room, and the text on the paper glowed brightly.
The letters embedded in the paper lifted off as if alive,
Then began reassembling into a new problem.
*
After Lunaris left with the TA,
"The princess is gone, Lunaris too..."
Claire was drowning in profound gloom.
"Just me... left here..."
Of all things, the two people she'd been closest to lately were the status pinnacle 'Princess' Celestina and the talent pinnacle 'top student' Lunaris.
Just her, plain old Claire.
Nothing-special Claire.
The feeling of inadequacy made her dig into the ground for no reason.
Tch. Leaving me behind like this.
Just watch. I'll get into Linea Hall this time for sure.
Matching their eye level might be impossible,
But I'll catch at least their toes—I'll work hard, keep working!
Then the front door of the large lecture hall opened, and the professor entered with the TAs.
Everyone but the professor carried armfuls of thick exam bundles.
Claire swallowed dryly without thinking. Exams that thick were never easy.
But more eye-catching than the papers was the professor's face.
For some reason, he looked more gaunt than during midterms.
Pale complexion, heavy dark circles under his eyes.
He looked a decade older in just a few weeks. So pitiful.
The professor cleared his throat with a dry cough.
"Ahem... 'Fundamentals of Magic Theory' has 6 problems, 4 hours from now—until 5 p.m."
He set the exam stacks on the desk and continued.
"Those who finish early can leave first."
More time than expected.
Forty minutes per problem left room to solve, review for mistakes.
Claire clenched her fist, vowing.
Lost points to mistakes last midterm—gotta be careful this time. Careful, super careful...
Seemed she wasn't the only one worried about errors.
"Oh, one more thing. If you spot anything odd on the exam paper, don't skip it—quietly come to me up front for confirmation."
Laughter rippled through the room at the professor's words.
Everyone recalling the midterm.
Lunaris openly calling out a problem error and filling her answer sheet—it was still hot gossip months later.
Soon, the start alarm rang.
Thick exam papers flew through the air, landing before each student.
Claire grabbed hers and flipped from first page to last.
Surprisingly few actual problem pages—mostly blank space.
How long were the solutions supposed to be...?
Her mind reeled; she rubbed her temples needlessly.
Sighs escaped, but she straightened and started on problem 1.
"Haa..."
Another sigh burst out.
Tough from the start.
—Claire, that equation's wrong.
Small mercy: it was the exact problem Lunaris had grilled her on.
Recalling her smug top-student friend's lazy voice, Claire solved it slowly.
Right hand scratching out equations scritch-scratch, left hand channeling mana to weave a magic circle.
...Ah, got it.
After the answer, she glanced at the clock on the wall.
First problem: just over 15 minutes.
Problems got harder later—not a bad pace.
Feeling good... Keep going steady!
Problem 2, then 3.
Tough, sure.
But why were they flowing so smoothly?
Looking closer, every one was stuff Lunaris had handpicked.
What a pinpoint tutor... Wait, no—she was always teasing and picking on me. Bratty genius.
After the exam, buy her a treat and scold her.
Come to think of it, what did Lunaris like? She devoured those egg tarts last time...
The quill, nonstop till then, paused at problem 4.
Unlike prior basics-only ones, advanced concepts mixed in—no clue.
Claire scratched her head, glanced at the clock.
Time: barely over an hour.
"...Huh?"
Something off.
Couldn't have solved this fast.
And Headmaster Raymond said this exam was brutal.
All smoke and mirrors?
Chill creeping in, she flipped ahead just in case.
All seems right...
Now noticing: solutions awfully short compared to blank space.
—Your logic jumps too much.
Lunaris's smug voice echoed in her head.
Don't just chase the answer—think about the intent. Yawwwn...
Claire stared at the paper, recalling the faint unease when she first took it.
Come to think, isn't this paper weirdly thick?
She tapped the edge with her fingers.
At first, chalked it to practice blanks, but now suspicions piled up.
Faint mana texture when focusing.
And the professor's pre-exam words nagged.
—If you find anything 'odd' on the 'exam paper', don't skip—quietly come confirm with me up front.
Sounded like errors, but...
Maybe something in the paper itself.
Heart pounding, Claire clutched it and stood quietly.
All eyes in the room on her.
She gulped and approached the professor.
At the podium, the dozing professor slowly raised his head.
He stared, then snapped fingers—soundproof barrier up.
Something's there, alright.
Quick-witted Claire was certain.
"Problem with something?"
"Uh... the paper seems off."
His eyes gleamed.
"Off with the paper?"
"Yes. Not the problems—the paper itself."
He covered his mouth, yawned hugely, waved dismissively.
"Haven't slept making these last few weeks. Not up for questions."
"...?"
"TA's outside—ask him."
"...Yes. Got it."
Claire hugged the papers and hurried out.
The same TA who'd taken Lunaris stood in the hall.
He fired a question at her.
"Student, any other exams this week?"
"Uh... Thursday practical."
He nodded, pulled a small notepad.
Jotted quickly.
"Understood. I'll talk to professor, reschedule it."
What? Change exam schedule?
As Claire tilted her head, the TA spoke again.
"Now, guidance for 'Fundamentals of Magic Theory' final."
"...?"
"7 problems total. Until midnight Monday next week."
"...!"
"Taken in a separate private room. Enter/leave freely anytime."
Puzzle pieces clicked in Claire's mind.
So—the hidden 7th problem in that paper?
"Uh... TA?"
"Yes?"
"This the real exam?"
"You could say so. More like, you seized a chance for extra points?"
Now Claire got why Linea Hall students—class reps—got called to privates.
Only they qualified for the extra problem.
And she'd proven it by spotting the paper's oddity.
"Yesss!!"
Finally, on the same starting line as those top students.