Chapter 124: The Exam
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 124: The Exam
Emerging from the Ancient Potions classroom, Muen returned to his dormitory. After a quick shower and a change of clothes, he wolfed down a hasty breakfast at the dining hall and jogged all the way to the classroom for Magic Basic Theory.
Then, he stopped short, startled.
A massive crowd had gathered outside the classroom door, packing the hallway so tightly it was nearly impassable.
The moment they spotted Muen, a commotion erupted.
"He’s here! He’s here! He’s actually come!"
"It’s Muen Campbell!"
"..."
Don't these people have their own exams to take?
Muen scanned the crowd before checking the time. There were only about fifteen minutes left before the exam began.
Normally, students would be filing into the classroom to wait or frantically flipping through their textbooks for a last-minute cram session. They shouldn't be turning the hallway into a scene from a red carpet event.
Are they all here just to watch the spectacle?
The realization made Muen’s lip twitch.
He recalled what his Senior had told him about the rumors spreading through the school...
To these people, was watching a scandal unfold really more important than their own exams?
"This level of attention... I feel like a celebrity walking the red carpet."
Under the collective gaze of the crowd, Muen steeled himself and pushed through the throng toward the classroom.
Thanks to the noble upbringing he had received as a Duke’s son, being the center of attention didn't make him lose his composure. However, as he passed by, he couldn't help but overhear the hushed whispers.
"Wow, Muen Campbell actually dared to show up. After talking such a big game, isn't he afraid of making a fool of himself?"
"He has to show up precisely because he talked so big. If he ran away now, people would look down on him even more."
"True. But he actually looks pretty confident."
"Heh, he’s just faking it. With his level, how could he possibly get an eighty? Eight points is more like it..."
"Whoa, that’s a bit much. I heard he’s been working really hard lately..."
"What’s the point of hard work? I work hard too, and I still fail."
"Haha, fair point."
"..."
Muen walked on in silence, offering no rebuttal. He knew that arguing at this moment was pointless.
Facts would be the best counterattack against prejudice and rumors.
All he had to do now was give this exam everything he had.
And yet...
"It’s still a bit irritating."
Muen lowered his gaze, his fists tightening involuntarily.
But just then—
"Student Muen!"
He heard a shout.
It was the cry of a young girl, screaming with all her might, her voice even cracking slightly from the effort.
Even amidst the noisy crowd, it was piercingly clear.
Startled, Muen looked up toward the source of the sound.
"Good luck, Student Muen! We believe in you!"
"You can definitely get an eighty!"
"Kick the asses of everyone who looked down on you!"
"Go for it! I bet my entire month’s allowance on you winning! You can do it!"
There, in the most prominent spot, stood three adorable first-year girls, shouting at the top of their lungs. Their faces were flushed bright red as they waved flags emblazoned with "Good Luck." They wore white headbands with "♥ Muen" written in red ink. Like a band of brigands, they crashed into Muen’s field of vision with such brute force that his eyes began to sting.
"You guys—"
Muen’s mind struggled to process the scene. He didn't understand what these three magical creatures—who almost made him want to cry—were doing here.
Why did it feel like the world had brightened the moment they appeared?
Standing beside the Three Little Ones was Senior Sister Fanny from the Magic Painting Club, whom Muen had met once before. She gave him a helpless, wry smile.
"Muen Campbell, I’ve also been 'coerced' by these three into betting quite a bit of money on you. You’d better keep your word."
"I..."
Muen froze for a moment, then nodded vigorously.
"I will!"
He turned back to the three girls, who looked like they might faint from excitement just from making eye contact with him.
"I definitely will."
Yes.
There was no longer any reason to be angry.
It didn't matter how others saw him or how much they doubted him.
He knew for a fact that over the past month, he had given this everything he had.
So, no matter what anyone said, his only task now was to display the fruits of his labor to the world.
Only hard work never betrays you.
The serious studying, the endless practice problems, the nights with only two hours of sleep...
None of that would lie.
Muen squared his shoulders and lifted his chin, looking every bit like a future Duke carrying the glory of the Campbells. With firm, steady strides, he walked into the classroom.
He stepped onto... his battlefield.
*
After Muen entered, the briefly silenced crowd erupted into noise once more.
"Whoa, he actually looks really confident. What do I do? I bet a lot of money that he’d fail!"
"Don't panic. It’s definitely an act. Don't forget he’s a noble. Aren't nobles experts at putting on a front?"
"Speaking of which, he’s a Duke’s son. What if he found a way to cheat? Like bribing the proctor or something?"
"Now that you mention it, that’s possible. Otherwise, how could a bottom-tier student who got a three last semester be this confident?"
"Then what about our money—"
"Ahem—"
A dry cough rang out, instantly suppressing the cacophony.
Every student loitering there suddenly felt as if a massive shadow had fallen over them.
Like rolling storm clouds sweeping across the sky.
"The exam is about to begin. What are you all doing here?!"
Then came the thunder.
A majestic elder stood at the entrance of the hallway, a bundle of exam papers tucked under his arm. His furious gaze swept across the crowd.
"Do you want me to dock every single one of your credits?"
"It’s Professor Prang!"
"Why is he here?"
"Is he proctoring? But would a professor of his stature personally do something like this?"
"Run, run! He looks like he’s about to explode!"
After a brief moment of confusion, the crowd scattered like startled birds.
Even Senior Sister Fanny had to drag the Three Little Ones away, despite their desire to wait for Muen to finish.
Professor Prang’s severity and terrifying reputation were deeply ingrained in the hearts of everyone at the Academy.
*
Inside the classroom.
Muen sat quietly at his desk.
Flipping through his book now was pointless, so he cleared his mind, adjusting his mental state while waiting for the exam to begin.
Other students filed in one by one. As they passed Muen, they couldn't help but steal glances at him. More than the exam itself, the question of whether Muen Campbell could fulfill the boast he made a month ago seemed to be what weighed on everyone's minds.
"Since Teacher Fran is unwell, I will be personally proctoring this exam," Professor Prang announced from the podium, delivering news that was, for many, quite unfortunate.
"Ehhh—"
A wave of groans filled the room. If Teacher Fran were proctoring, some might have entertained certain... creative ideas.
But with Professor Prang, a man famous for being stern and old-fashioned...
Trying to cheat in front of a powerful Crown Bearer? Kid, do you have a death wish?
Even Muen was a bit shocked. Under normal circumstances, someone of Professor Prang’s status would never personally proctor a second-year exam.
Is Teacher Fran really sick?
Muen scratched his head but didn't dwell on it.
"What’s with the 'ehhh'? If you’re taking the exam seriously, what difference does the proctor make?"
Professor Prang’s majestic gaze swept over the students as he sneered.
"I hope certain individuals will abandon any unsavory thoughts right now. Because if I catch you... hmph."
As he spoke, he gave Muen a particularly meaningful look.
"..."
Muen’s lip twitched. Do I really look like the type who would cheat to you?
However, he quickly suppressed his annoyance.
As Professor Prang said, if one was serious about the exam, the proctor didn't matter.
The bell chimed exactly on the hour.
The exam began.
Muen gripped his pen and started.
His eyes swept over the questions, and as if by instinct, the knowledge carved into the depths of his mind transformed into answers, flowing from the tip of his pen.
Time felt stretched thin, yet simultaneously fleeting.
The classroom was silent, save for the scritch-scratch of pens on paper.
Eventually, even those sounds faded from his awareness. Muen could only feel the pristine white paper being gradually filled with ink.
The bell chimed again, and Muen snapped out of his trance.
A withered hand pressed down on his exam paper.
"Muen Campbell, you may go."
Professor Prang spoke softly, his eyes containing a hint of shock and pity that others would find hard to detect.
"The exam is over."