Class Assignment Exam (1)

Our freshmen class was loaded onto massive carts, rumbling toward some unknown destination. It felt less like heading to a class assignment exam and more like we were being hauled off as prisoners.

Clunk! Midway through the journey, one of the carts hit a rock, letting out a deafening jolt—as if that were the cue. Azela, the professor who had stood at the front of us freshmen earlier to announce the start of the exam, opened her mouth to speak. She felt more like a drill instructor than a professor, though.

"While we're en route to the exam site, I'll explain the rules of this class assignment exam. I won't repeat myself twice, so etch it into your brains."

"Yes, ma'am!"

A thunderous response echoed back, and the female professor, holding a slender baton like a conductor's wand, pointed it into the air. A translucent screen materialized, displaying a vast forest landscape.

"The place we're heading to is called the Spirit Forest. Does any freshman here know about it?"

"Yes, I do."

"Ho ho, go ahead and tell us."

A female student raised her hand with impressive confidence, and Azela nodded approvingly, gesturing for her to speak.

"It's a forest inhabited by numerous spirits, which makes the mana density in the air exceptionally high. Because of that, this area was originally uninhabitable for humans, but after the academy's founding principal, Sir Teleos, resolved the issue, he established the academy here."

"A perfect explanation."

Clap clap. Figures every group needed an encyclopedia type like her. Still, the Spirit Forest, huh. Just the name alone suggested it was no walk in the park.

"Thanks to that, the spirits in this forest aren't overly hostile toward humans. But they absolutely despise anyone who disturbs their territory. Do you understand what that means?"

"...That we might end up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in pitched battles with the spirits during the exam."

"Correct."

I voiced the conclusion I'd drawn, and Azela clapped once more. Knew it. Academy class assignment exams were infamous for being so intense you'd blurt out, "This is what counts as a placement test?" Chaos was inevitable—fights breaking out, of course—and if that pissed off the spirits, we'd be the ones eating the fallout. They picked this spot on purpose to force that risk. Sneaky bastards.

"That's the end of the explanation about the exam site. Now, let's get into the real details."

Whoosh! Azela yanked off the tarp covering the cart she rode alone, and a pile of bracelets spilled out. Everyone blinked in confusion, wondering what the hell they were.

"The moment you arrive at the forest, you'll don these bracelets and be warped to random locations via teleportation magic. Press the bottom part like this..."

Click.

"And a small gem infused with mana pops out. Every bracelet—except those of the top entrants—has exactly one embedded equally. Collect a total of three, then escape through the portal at the designated point. Got it?"

So, pure survival mode. I nodded in understanding, but someone else urgently raised their hand from another spot.

"Professor, you said 'except for the top entrants.' Does that mean they get a different number of gems?"

"Yes. Top entrants start with three. In other words, they can escape without taking any from others. Class assignments will be based on escape order."

Hmm, makes sense. Even top dogs deserved some handicap. Each department had about a hundred students, splitting into three classes—so top-tier Class A would take around thirty. Gotcha.

"But put another way, beating a top entrant nets you an instant escape ticket. There has to be real incentive to challenge the strong."

True. Regular students might balk at facing a top entrant. So, go for the big reward and risk it, or play it safe and pick on the weaklings. Fight or flight, easy choice.

"For the record, supervisors will monitor your entire exam in real-time. It factors into your evaluation, so keep that in mind."

Beep. Azela pressed the button at the top of her bracelet, and a small screen appeared with some text.

"Press this for basic info on anyone within five meters. Nothing too detailed."

Like a power level scanner. Curious, I slipped on a bracelet and tested the button.

Hmm. Handy little system. Not super detailed, but knowing specialties would be gold in a fight. Someone like Theo, specialized in non-combat magic, could team up temporarily with a combat type. Not bad at all.

Clunk!

"That's the end of the explanation. Everyone, prepare to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠disembark!"

The cart wheels slowed with a soft grind, drowned out by Azela's booming voice. That's when the dense entrance to the forest came into view.

All the freshmen teleported into the forest depths simultaneously, and about thirty minutes later...

Silvena wandered the woods, her face twisted in boredom and disappointment.

'How is there not a single guy willing to take a swing at me?'

She sensed plenty of presences scouting her, but no one dared approach. She'd expected as much—no freshman could match her skills. She'd ditched any hopes early, but this was beyond disappointing.

She didn't need a worthy rival, just someone bold enough to clash swords, even if just to learn a lesson. Or a gutsy fool who called her out by name and charged head-on. Was that too much to ask?

"L-Lady! Take the gem, please just let me pass...?!"

"...Fine."

Even those who met her eyes tucked tail quick, offering up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠their gems. Pathetic. As the knight class top entrant, she already had three—no need for theirs, and she hadn't even demanded any. Objectively, she should be the prey: others grinding their teeth to topple her for an instant win.

'Might as well find the exit.'

Interest gone, Silvena decided to bail. No one here could satisfy her anyway.

As she trudged on in silence—

Swish...!

"Hm...?"

An unfamiliar mana signature pinged her senses, accompanied by footsteps rustling through the grass. A fight nearby? No high hopes, but it might kill the boredom. She headed toward it.

"Hah... huff...!"

"Heh heh, even your pathetic struggling ends now?"

There: a brown-haired guy with an honest face, cornered by a woman wielding a hefty two-handed sword. He was ass-down in the grass, gasping; she smirked down at him.

'Ugly scene.'

Not her style. Back in the frozen north, barbarian hordes were constant—only tough women survived, men needing protection. Not that she minded, but it bred biases: men as frail, weak, always seeking shelter. Like this guy.

'And the ones tormenting them are no better.'

She also loathed bullies who got off on dominating the weak. Like this woman. The mix turned her stomach.

'Shouldn't have looked.'

The guy was losing hard, but meddling would mess with the fair exam. Interest faded; time to go—

"You held out pretty long, huh? Real academy material. Heh heh!"

'Academy material?'

The swordswoman's odd phrasing made Silvena's head snap up—like she wasn't one herself.

And then—

"Cute face, too. Thought about playing with you... but no time. Say bye."

"...!"

Without hesitation, the woman swung wide for his neck. Accidents happened in academy exams, sure—realistic training and all—but deliberately going for the kill? Beyond the pale.

Silvena kicked off to intervene—

Claaaang!

Metal crashed on metal, halting her. A man had appeared from nowhere, blocking the blade.

'That guy...'

And Silvena knew his face all too well.