Perfect Score Uproar
Esdinas Academy handles final exam grading with magic. There are some subjective questions, but the common ones for all students are multiple-choice, so a simple magical click gets the results instantly. The instructors could obtain them right away, and as soon as they did, they gathered for an emergency staff meeting.
"So, you're saying he got a perfect score on the objective section?"
"That's correct."
"This can't be happening!"
They were debating over one answer sheet, sparking an urgent discussion.
"A perfect score? That's impossible at the academy!"
"But he got one."
"There must be cheating...!"
"Ahem."
Someone rashly suggested tampering, but some instructors were already scrutinizing the exam sheet uploaded to the magic panel.
"If it were just answers filled in, that'd be one thing, but look at these detailed solutions."
"Indeed. Some of it doesn't even seem like first-year undergraduate level. There are formulas from third-year seniors, even graduating class material."
"He wrote them out like he wanted us to see—claiming no cheating, pure skill."
"I can't accept this...!"
A first-year undergrad acing the exam should be cause for joy among instructors, but some showed no such delight.
"Instructor Esta, Instructor Cardisha! Wasn't there any foul play?"
"Are you saying that because you want to believe there was?"
"The special class took the exam separately in the old school building, and you two were the proctors!"
"We're instructors. Are you accusing us of risking our positions to rig scores for one student?"
"It's possible...!"
"It's not."
Instructor Cardisha chuckled softly and displayed one exam question on the large screen for all to see.
"For starters, this problem here wasn't even taught in the old school building."
"Urgh...!"
One instructor groaned, while others fidgeted, glancing around nervously.
"Comparative advantages of the seven magic attributes and ranks. That's not in the old school building's curriculum."
"Th-that's...! It's common knowledge!"
"Theoretically, sure, but isn't this graduating-class level? And next."
Instructor Cardisha pulled up another question.
"Biomagitech content isn't covered at all in the old school building, and solving this requires reading the relevant paper. Right, Instructor Yugenberg?"
"...Heh heh heh."
The middle-aged instructor whose name Cardisha had called outright stood up with a low laugh.
"Every year, we instructors set exam questions with at least one designed to trip students up."
"Cut the chit-chat."
"......First time seeing it."
The middle-aged instructor gritted his teeth at the interrupter but ignored him and pointed to the problem on screen.
"Look closely, everyone. That solution from the Ludbekia undergrad. As Instructor Cardisha said, you couldn't solve it without reading my paper directly."
Instructor Yugenberg's eyes, fixed on the solution, brimmed with an almost affectionate glow.
"And it's not just any—it's my current theory. Not the old one, but the updated paper from a month ago incorporating non-attribute mana research."
"That's..."
"Exactly! Phoenix the undergrad didn't just peek at old exams or get special favors. He went to the Hall of Wisdom himself, studied our latest papers—even the fresh ones!!"
Several instructors let out low groans at Instructor Yugenberg's words. Others shot wary glances, even smacking their lips briefly.
"Instructor Cardisha."
"Yes, Instructor?"
"Though you walk the path of magitech alchemy and I of biomagitech—"
"If Phoenix goes to grad school, I'm taking him."
"Liar."
Instructor Yugenberg wagged a finger at Cardisha's claim.
"A mere first-year wouldn't be thinking grad school yet. And if he were..."
"If he were?"
"You'd have been the first to push early graduation at the faculty meeting."
"......Tch."
Instructor Cardisha clicked her tongue and turned away.
"Ahem. Seems we've reached a conclusion."
Dean Ederson Lionheart, seated at the center, clapped to draw all eyes.
"In Esdinas Academy's 500-year history, top scorers emerge yearly, but perfect scores? Only five ever. And a first-year? This is unprecedented."
"......."
"This isn't the instructors' fault. Who could've predicted a first-year digging into papers we published just a month ago?"
"Well..."
"And you lot."
Dean Ederson swept his hand over certain male instructors, smirking.
"Wearing magic pants while spouting that? Really?"
"Ahem! Dean, that's...!"
"He studied our papers to master the theory behind making magic pants. We must respond... as befits the top scorer."
As Ederson's words pulled something to the surface, Instructor Esta shot to her feet.
Thwack!
"Listen up, everyone."
She slammed the table with mana-infused force, commanding attention with a steady voice.
"I won't tolerate pulling Phoenix to the academy dorm's top scorer suite just because he's number one."
No, she declared it.
"He's a special class student in the old school building."
"...Per academy rules, the top scorer for next semester...!"
I became the top scorer.
How? Simple—I studied that hard.
Magic theory? I'm an expert.
In-game, I crammed for heroine routes. In the demon realm, I spent over ten years studying mana's origins.
—Wrong! Today, it's infinite hunting: 100 direwolves for one hour.
...Forced studying. Naturally, I ended up with doctoral—no, professorial—knowledge of this world's magitech.
The only caution? Matching my knowledge to current "modern theory" on the exam. Trap questions, like the non-attribute one, threw me briefly, but I based my answer on a recent instructor paper.
It had errors, really.
Not true by natural laws. But for Esdinas Academy's exam, it was correct.
I didn't write what I knew, risking friction. I wrote what would make them cheer and support me gladly.
The exam's "right answers," literally.
"This is unfair."
"No it's not, runner-up Unia. Your opponent's me."
"I wrote the correct answer."
Runner-up Unia thrust her wrong exam question forward.
"Isn't this right?"
"It is."
"Then why did they mark it wrong?"
One thing: even as the tolerant main heroine, Unia won't compromise on this.
"Balancing the seven attributes makes non-attribute mana, sure. But it might not just be humanity's seven...!"
Magitech theory, especially what her master taught.
"Master couldn't be wrong."
"True."
Unia doesn't know her master is humanity's hero, the Ash Witch. But she won't think her wrong anyway.
"Spirit power, holy power, demon realm mana... Just because humanity can't use them doesn't mean neutralizing them to null is impossible...!"
Because to her, it's achievable truth.
"Unia."
"Yes."
"Think of academy instructors as ignorant fools for now."
"Hmm..."
"Roughly. You're preaching heliocentrism to geocentrists who believe it truth."
"Ah, got it."
Astronomy analogy, but she grasped it.
"The goddess church's long-held geocentrism... Heaven at the world's center, all revolving around it."
"Yep."
As a player, one unbeatable wrong answer: geocentrism vs. heliocentrism.
Common sense says geocentrism is truth here. But in Breadcademy lore, heliocentrism is canon—with "heaven" meaning the heavenly realm.
Players realize through this: Ah, medieval geocentrism world? Goddess church pushing it has issues.
"Unia. Academy way or goddess church? Or what you know?"
"...Blasphemy?"
"Truth doesn't change."
"...Then."
Unia whispered faintly.
"I don't think this land or heaven anywhere is the center."
"Whoa, heresy inquisitors dispatched if the goddess church hears. So, what's the center?"
"Master said."
Unia pointed skyward.
"The sun."
"Wise one."
"You too, Phoenix?"
"Of course. Academy folk don't get it."
I unfurled the prepped map for Unia.
"With finals done, summer plans? Chat?"
"Chat...?"
"Yeah. Heretics uncovering goddess church doctrines' hidden truths—world secrets."
"Map's blank?"
"We make it now."
Esdinas of the open skies. Nth-run special event.
"Scour old school library for past truths."
Old school conquest. Deepest basement: demon realm gate.
"Supplies?"
"First... swimsuits?"
"?"