72 – Midterm Exam (3)
Bright morning, Class A. The lively, chattering students are a perfect fit for the academy, and as always, this day was no different.
A routine that is nothing special.
During the first semester, first-year students do not take classes tailored to their individual abilities. It was common to start with a light level first, such as general magic or physical training, and then be assigned to a major subject by the time the second semester began.
At that time, one could freely study swordsmanship and other weapon techniques, magic, as well as divine power and alchemy.
But to put it another way, in the end, you will not take classes in such major subjects for the first semester.
Now that the students had become quite accustomed to life at the academy, there was no longer any tension.
When they first found out that Class A’s teacher was the Gold Dragon Tsumei, there were quite a few people who despaired, but not anymore. Surprisingly, the only dragon in this world was a being that could communicate quite well.
Up to now, I have been receiving slightly jealous looks from some students in Class B.
It was probably thought to be special treatment. In reality, Tsumei was quite an excellent teacher. Just being a ‘dragon’ is enough to attract admiration.
Anyway.
So, there was no other reason why the story became so long. As always, the students of Class A were chatting with each other in a similar atmosphere today.
School life is not bad. What is puzzling is that the academy’s training is not as thorough as expected.
Actually, even that wasn’t a bad thing, so the students didn’t have any major complaints.
Rattle-
At least, if their teacher didn’t look around the classroom a little earlier than usual -.
The noisy atmosphere must have lasted for quite a long time.
“… ….”
“… ….”
In other words, Tsumei’s appearance meant that there was enough pressure to make them silence at once.
The classroom suddenly became calm.
Neither Tsumei nor the students thought the feeling of silence was strange.
Because it was natural.
No matter how much Tsumei got used to it, that didn’t mean she was ‘comfortable’ any time soon. Tsumei stood on the podium, receiving the students’ cautious gaze.
“You probably know.”
And opens her mouth. In a voice that doesn’t seem like a big deal and has a very calm tone.
“Today is the midterm exam. It will be held over 3 days, and the order will be based on student number. The guy who took the exam on day 1 has had free time ever since. The same goes for the 2nd and 3rd days. “There will be no separate classes, so you can do whatever you want.”
The students couldn’t help but express their doubts with their expressions at the words that just continued like that. Free time?
Isn’t the reason the midterm exams are held for three days simply because there are many types of tests to be taken?
“The eyes look like they have a lot of questions.”
Of course, Tsumei did not fail to notice the students’ questions. She seemed to know better, as she simply nodded her head briefly before continuing.
“First of all, the academy won’t specifically tell you the content of the exam…. It doesn’t really matter if the student who took the exam passes it on to other students. “Maybe it won’t be too late before everyone finds out what test awaits them, right?”
At those words, the students exchanged glances with each other.
Somehow subtle gestures, their meaning was obvious.
“Um, Dean?”
The person who bravely stepped forward as a representative was a male student with dark golden hair. Tsu Mei slightly tilted her head and recalled her memories.
I think his name was Nick Claude.
“Why?”
At that time, Tsumei asked again, and Nick spoke in a slightly nervous yet calm voice.
“Wouldn’t that put students who take the test early on at a disadvantage? I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a disadvantage, but there would be a big difference between knowing the content of the test in advance and going without it…….”
It was a reasonable question. It was reasonable, and would generally not be wrong.
But.
“It doesn’t matter.”
As if Tsumei had been waiting for that question, she looked around at her students with a satisfied smile.
It was a very meaningful look.
“Whether you know the test content in advance or not. I guess that’s fine. Even if you know the content, it won’t give you an advantage.”
Conversely, a confident answer.
There was no lie in Tsumei’s words, so the students had to remain even more tense.
A voice so confident? What on earth did you prepare?
‘…… It could be that it is a problem of such vicious difficulty that a first year student cannot solve it no matter what they do.’
Nick thought this while sighing inwardly. He couldn’t think of anything else, and from the beginning, most students, including Nick, assumed the midterm exam would be an ordinary written exam.
A guess that usually cannot be wrong. It was expected that any educational institution with common sense would meet the expectations.
“Okay then.”
Unfortunately, this was not an ‘ordinary’ educational institution. Never.
As this was an academy founded by Dragon himself in the first place, it would have been a mistake to expect an ordinary test.
“A-1 and A-2. You guys go first. “Follow me.”
Tsumei smiled a smile that made her students feel intimidated, and she summoned two advance parties.
One male student and one female student slowly stood up with heavy expressions.
Rumbling… ….
Is it because of my mood that the sound of the classroom’s front door closing, which I usually hear often, feels particularly cold today?
Even though Tsumei left, the students did not immediately open their mouths and looked at each other.
It would have been much more convenient if I had been notified in advance that such and such a test was awaiting me. Since it wasn’t even that, I couldn’t help but feel nervous.
Gradually, students began to be divided into several categories.
First of all, those who feel a little bit of curiosity but are not nervous beyond a certain level.
Nick was included here.
In addition, there are those who are frightened and frown at Tsumei itself, which instills a vague fear of the test rather than the test itself, and on the contrary, there are those who feel interested and talk in a low voice. There were various cases…
‘This is the beginning.’
Dante, who knew better than anyone else why Tsumei, the teacher in charge, left, sowing confusion in the classroom like that, only prayed briefly.
The first two students, number 1 and number 2, came forward. First of all, I hope they come back without any serious injuries.
*****
Regardless of what I hoped for, I didn’t really think such a prayer would work. Well, since I knew very well what this midterm exam meant, I couldn’t help but…….
I looked at the two students who had just returned to class with a gaze filled with bitter emotions.
“Ugh… ….”
“… ….”
Even though everyone in the class was staring at me, I didn’t say anything. One of them just groaned helplessly, and the other just went back to his seat and sat down with a tired expression.
If there’s one thing they have in common, it’s that they both have extremely sharp eyes.
‘Hmm.’
I turned my head to the side with a short sigh.
“Let’s go, next.”
The identity of the person who knocks on the door and forces numbers 3 and 4 to stand up is, of course, Tsume. She pushed the back of her two friends as they left the classroom in fear and closed the door once again.
Rumbling… ….
Suddenly, I was curious.
Is that being done on purpose? What, creating an atmosphere of fear?
“Wow.”
Anyway, I couldn’t have a good expression either.
The other students seemed embarrassed by the return of the advance team and their unfavorable appearance, but I had a different reason than that.
I know why. That’s why the two advance team members had the same gaunt expressions as those who returned from a special haunted house tour.
From noble mtl dot com
…… In fact, the expression “Haunted house” Would not be entirely wrong.
I continued to sigh and turned my head again. This time, my intention was not to look at the advance team, but at the girl right next to me.
Did he notice the gaze?
Before I could say anything, she spoke up first.
“Why?”
“No, just.”
Hearing Beatrice’s calm voice, I pointed to the two students who were surrounded by many students.
“Don’t they look sick? “Why don’t you treat me?”
She also turned her head in that direction.
“Well, there doesn’t seem to be any noticeable trauma. “It doesn’t seem like there were any injuries, but it seems like he received separate treatment.”
“…… Okay?”
As I blinked in fascination, Beatrice slightly narrowed her eyebrows and glanced at me.
“What is it? “What do you want to say?”
I lightly shrugged my shoulders.
“Not much?”
“The look in your eyes isn’t ‘that good’ at all? “If you have something to say, say it quickly.”
It was a quite sharp reaction. Yes, our saint is naturally sharp, but this feels a bit more excessive than usual.
And I burst out laughing because I didn’t know what would happen to Riche today or tomorrow.
“You said there was no trauma, right?”
“…… But what?”
I spoke briefly, and Beatrice, who had a disapproving expression on her face as if she didn’t like the sound of my laughter, nodded.
I looked away again before continuing. Slowly, ‘the true nature of the midterm exam’ was coming out little by little through the mouths of these two students.
Also, Beatrice seemed to be paying close attention to their words, pretending not to be like that.
I laughed and laughed.
“Then when you look at them, why do they look so bad?”
In some ways, the question posed may be nothing special, just a simple topic of conversation. In reality, that wasn’t the case.
My goal was to get on the nerves of this innocent girl who was now my only conversation partner in the classroom.
“… ….”
In response to my seemingly casual question, Beatrice frowned for a moment and then sighed. Then he puts the correct answer into his mouth.
“I was scared.”
I was scared.
At first glance, it may have felt like you were belittling the other person, but it wasn’t actually wrong. In fact, that was the reason why the two students’ complexions were not very good.
And I also knew well why Beatrice was more sensitive than usual right now.
The reason her frown was frowned was not because she thought the two students were unsophisticated. A slightly more fundamental reason.
In fact, Beatrice had a timid side in some quite unpleasant ways. Speaking of which, I guess I should say that she has a bit of a small liver.
She was none other than Tsumei, who created an atmosphere of fear (?) And her appearance as a defeated remnant of the two advance teams made her cower.
He’s a confident friend no matter what happens, but it feels like he gets angry every time I ask him to watch a horror movie?
Beatrice was exactly like that.
For me, it was a reaction that I couldn’t help but be pleased with.
“Actually.”
So, she lowered her voice and opened her mouth.
“I know what the exam content is, but this is so…….”
I pretended not to taste her again, as if I was secretly embarrassed, and Beatrice paused for a moment and looked up at me. She took the bait.
I continued speaking with a dark smile on my mind.
“It was quite brutal. I wonder what kind of experience they make children experience. “At that point, they might be scared.”
“… ….”
Beatrice didn’t respond, but it was actually good news. Because it probably means that she is immersed in it.
I clicked my tongue with a complicated expression to give a neat ending.
“You forcefully confuse me and then intentionally shock me by showing me ‘something like that’ at the end… …. When I see Tsumei sometimes, I hear that her thinking has become outdated. “Is this training in courage through inter-clinic studies?”
I ended my speech with a phrase that would stimulate the imagination, such as ‘I hope no trauma remains.’ If I say more than this, the effect won’t be great…
In the beginning, I thought this wasn’t enough and it was overflowing.
“…… Ha ha ha.”
Beatrice lowered her head, almost croaking, with a laugh that gave the impression that she was trying hard to laugh.
“I see, it’s a test with that kind of content. “What on earth is Tsumei thinking?”
As he speaks, he secretly casts his gaze towards me.
It was a hopeful expression and eyes.
“…… “Yeah.”
She hesitated briefly, and eventually she gave me an earnest look.
“Just in case, um. “Can you tell me what ‘that thing’ that appears at the end is?”
It was indeed a question with clear intent.
“…… “Puhup.”
In the end, I couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing. I shouldn’t have laughed.
“… ….”
Beatrice paused for a moment, then widened her eyes with a stiff expression, as if she had guessed something.
“No way.”
An unbearable sense of betrayal began to appear on her face as she looked at me. And that feeling of betrayal soon turned into unbearable shame and irritation, which shot back at me fiercely –
“Wait a minute, wait a minute.”
I first stopped Beatrice before she could reach out with her vicious hand towards me. Wow, I said.
Beatrice’s eyes were extremely creepy, but this time I wasn’t left without something to say.
“I said this, but I did.”
Of course, it wasn’t something I brought up just with the intention of making fun of it.
“You should prepare your mind a little. “If you make a mistake, you will have a mental breakdown.”
Beatrice, who had been preparing to punish me, hesitated once again at my words. He studies my expression, but still looks at me with suspicion.
It’s unfair. But this time it’s not really a lie.
Well, it’s not enough to be a trauma or anything, but there’s a reason why the advance team came back with such blank faces.
Isn’t that right?
Even though I only saw it on the screen, I remember being quite shocked. In addition, there were occasional posts from some newbies who made a fuss about whether this was a horror game.
I thought it couldn’t be possible, but looking at the appearance of the advance team, it seemed like the scene from the game was realized in reality.
I lightly tapped Beatrice on the shoulder to encourage her.
A day after that.
So, it’s the second day since the midterm exams started. Day 2.
Beatrice’s turn came earlier than mine, and she was quite anxious about my warning, which was not a warning. About 30 minutes after she followed Tsumei to the containment facility in Building C where her exam would be held.
Rumbling… ….
Beatrice returned with the now quite familiar sound of the classroom door opening.
Because it was a sight that had already been seen several times over the course of a day, the other students did not pay much attention to it.
“… ….”
She returned to her original position with a trudging, uncharacteristically weak gait, and sat down just as helplessly. Dump!
It’s half mushy, no, it looks like it’s about to melt.
I looked down at ‘what used to be Beatrice’ with pity, and ‘what used to be Beatrice’ muttered softly in a half-sniffling voice.
“I am a half-hearted person who cannot utilize all of the divine power even after receiving the power of a saint…. Yes, Banpoon is a magician…. That machine is right…. You have been given the greatest power in the world, so why is that all you can do? Why can’t I just do that… ? Is it head to head? Why do you live… ?”
The child is broken.
This cannot help but be a pity.
“Next. “Please come out number 77 or 78.”
But what can we do? Now I also have to head to that testing center. It was impossible to give warm comfort.
Stay strong, Beatrice.
After just patting my back a couple of times, I got up and followed Tsumei.
Now it was my turn.