Wow! It's Summer! (3)
Thus, it was now June. After the May field training ended, only one major event remained in the academy calendar. Once we got past that, vacation awaited. But that event was the problem.
It was something every academy undergrad—from freshman Jackson to student council president Julius Keiar—hated or dreaded.
"Finals are right around the corner, and you're all hanging out in my room like this is fine?"
Final exams. The unavoidable rite of passage at any academy had arrived. No cancellations. The only time Esdinas Academy ever canceled finals was during the "Great War"—when the apocalypse hit and every undergrad was mobilized to fight it. And that was something our Special Class would face at the tail end of third year, second semester, right before graduation.
In other words, finals couldn't be dodged unless the world ended. They might get postponed or supplemented with makeups, but they were inevitable.
'One of the most annoying events for players.'
Throughout the game, class events popped up now and then to boost your specs. The issue? They demanded high school-level knowledge, which pissed off casual players just trying to enjoy the story.
- Match the Four Founders' names with their abilities.
It wasn't just real-world trivia; you had to study the game's lore and settings.
Players split into two camps. One dove in, treating it as content. Sure, there was grumbling like "Why study in a game?"—but your final score determined if you could romance a main heroine, so tons of players grinded for top marks.
- If I'd studied this hard in real life, I'd be pulling A+ in college! (self-deprecating laughs all around)
But humans gonna human—when there's an easy way, we cheat.
Players cross-checked questions and answers, building a perfect question bank over time. The devs threw in tons of problems and time limits, but never nuked wikis or constantly updated questions. They just tailored them to your heroines and progress.
Did all your training in the Empire? Empire questions. On a specific heroine route? Episode trivia from her events.
Like dating a heroine, praying or tossing coins at a fountain statue—then finals ask, "Who are the Four Founders of the ... statue?"
That's the game. But my "reality" was different.
Our Old School Building Special Class lessons covered finals material—mostly what Instructors Esta and Cardisha Alreister taught. They drilled what mattered, so I had to prep like it was real.
Which brought me to—
"Aren't you guys studying?"
I couldn't help asking the three students lounging in my room.
"This is a study session, Phoenix."
Unia answered, sprawled over the living room-style table in the center. Magic tomes and books piled in front of her, all skimmed at least once.
"Indeed. We're not not studying, are we?"
Rydmila Lionheart had claimed my bed, lying flat and flipping pages. She was "studying" magic theory, but it looked like pure pretense.
"Yeah."
Only Evangeline di Ershi sat properly at the table, grinding away. As top-student contender, she needed flawless scores—no distractions, total focus.
But.
"So why my room?"
All three chose my room over theirs. And not casual clothes—they wore embarrassing training outfits that'd draw stares even at the gym, prepping for the Grand Martial Tournament.
And on top of that—
"It's hot. You're in training gear too, Phoenix."
"Precisely. If anyone's embarrassed, it's us."
"Right? Don't get up. You're distracting."
Their not-unreasonable excuses meant I was in Grand Martial Tournament training gear too. If the faculty meeting hadn't shot down "at least keep the triangle on," I'd be down to just a thong like some bodybuilder photoshoot.
For the 4v4 team battles—to get used to teammates' movements without getting distracted.
Though, the real reason they gathered here...
"No choice. The Old School Building has no per-room AC."
This place lacked modern hotel staples like air-con, heaters, or boilers. Zero.
"...Can't you each grab a mana stone with cooling magic, hang it from the ceiling?"
"Inefficient."
"Yeah. Budget waste."
I thought it was smart, but Rydmila and Evangeline counterattacked.
"Those cooling mana stones ain't cheap."
"Exactly. This room stays cool even with four people—cool enough to need blankets."
"That's how efficient it is. Old School rooms turn into saunas with two people; this breeze is heaven."
All three pointed up. A small chandelier-like mana ornament spun like a pinwheel, emitting cool breezes with light.
Did they know? That ornament was powered by none other than the Wind Spirit.
Nya~a~a~ng!
Trapped indoors, it dashed through the mana circuits inside the magic tool, blasting cool air downward.
I got it. Who wants to work in this heat? Cafes get packed for AC blasts in summer; a sweltering dorm? You'd bail. Studying's the same. As someone who'd borrowed baking books from the library once, I knew: crap temps kill focus, breed rage.
So I understood—but—
"You three."
I pointed at the bed.
"You came for Sleep Studies, right?"
"......Hehe."
"Busted."
"Caught ya?"
They grinned in unison. Unia and Evangeline rose, heading to the bed where Rydmila lay.
"Ready to start?"
"Yes. Isn't studying just recalling what the instructors taught?"
"Right. Theory books count too."
"Hah."
I sighed.
"Shouldn't have taught you."
"Too late for that. You're the one who made us like this, Phoenix."
"Not getting bolder, Miss Unia?"
"To beat the mighty foe called finals, any means necessary—even dream studying."
Dream studying. Sleep Studies. Simple. While they slept, I massaged, infused mana, induced dreams. They'd relive memories, review the semester's lessons, etch them deep.
Efficiency? At least seven times better than regular cramming. Not just refreshing forgotten facts—experiencing them mentally.
Still—
"Eh, whatever."
Turning down a free meal? Not a man's style.
"If I flunk, you take responsibility?"
"Of course."
"Obviously."
"Don't worry. Can't even feed one guy? Hmph."
I reached out slowly as they closed their eyes.
Oh, three people, two hands? ...
"Come forth."
"Winds."
Whoosh.
Wind-mana clones based on my power floated up one by one, settling over them.