83 – Midterm Exam 3
The professors of the academy gathered in the office to grade the test papers of the first-year students.
-Scratch, scratch.
Although it was not efficient for everyone to gather and grade together, there was a time when a professor had taken money to manipulate a student’s test paper.
Since then, the professors started grading together like this.
-Scratch, scratch.
“Should we give at least some points for this?”
“Well, wouldn’t it be better not to give any points at all?”
“Right? It seems like they wrote a lot because they know less, but it would have been better if they had simply written what they know.”
Except for occasional discussions, the only sound in the office as they graded was the quiet scratching.
This quiet office had been noisy once before.
It was when they were grading Clara’s test paper.
‘This is truly amazing! How did they come up with something like this?’
‘Even I, the one who created the problem, didn’t expect this answer, but it’s excellent.’
It was a multiple-choice question, and Lucas got all the answers right, but what surprised the professors was Clara’s written response.
The professors were also impressed because Clara’s answer was accurate and professional enough for them to check separate references.
“Sigh…………”
When Elysia, who had been quietly grading papers without any movement, let out a sigh for the first time, some of the professors around her flinched.
The professors didn’t know much about Elysia because she didn’t socialize with them, but there was one thing they knew.
That Elysia was incredibly strong.
There was a time when a professor complained about Elysia’s attitude, saying she was arrogant, and Elysia silently slammed that professor into a wall.
So the professors didn’t dare to speak rashly to Elysia. Except for one person, that is.
Idra, who had been friends with Elysia even before coming to the academy, approached Elysia with a bright smile, despite the tense atmosphere.
“Director, why are you sighing so deeply? It’s been a while since I’ve seen you sigh like that.”
“Idra, here we are professors… Sigh, no. Let’s start with this.”
Idra, brushing her bangs aside, received the test paper that Elysia handed over.
The name “Loki” was written at the top of the test paper.
“hehehehe!”
Idra quickly scanned the test paper, holding her stomach, as if telling the office to leave.
The other professors suddenly stopped grading and looked at Idra, who was giggling.
“Oh, my stomach hurts. hahahaha! Would you like to see this?”
Hydra passed Loki’s test paper to another professor next to him.
Other professors gathered around, wondering what was going on.
“Uh… It seems like all the multiple-choice questions are wrong?”
“….. I think so too.”
It was clear at a glance since the professors had just been grading. Loki hadn’t gotten a single multiple-choice question correct.
“But at least there seems to be something written in the essay section, right?”
While all the multiple-choice answers were incorrect, the essay section was quite lengthy.
It was densely written, to the extent that one might think partial credit could be obtained.
The professors skimmed through Loki’s written essay.
“”””………………….””””
The professors were speechless after seeing Loki’s response.
The essay question was asking about the principles and structure of earth elemental magic.
Loki responded to the principles and structure of earth elemental magic as follows:
[When Professor Elysia reads this, she will probably be in the middle of grading, won’t she? Always thankful to Professor Elysia, who constantly works hard for us. In the future, ………………]
It was quite a moving piece of writing. It would’ve been elsewhere if not on the essay answer sheet.
Similar words were written in other essay answers.
“Sigh………..”
While Elysia let out a deep sigh, the other professors glanced at her.
Hydra, alone, clutched his stomach, rolling on the floor with laughter.
“hahahahaha! Isn’t this just a letter to the Headmaster?”
When Idra was rolling on the floor and laughing, another professor stared at the test paper Rocky had written.
“By the way, even if you answered all the multiple-choice questions, it’s hard to get them all wrong like this. Could it be intentional?”
“It’s so devastatingly off-target that it feels like it could be intentional, but is there really a need for that?”
“Rocky has the best attitude in class, though.”
“That’s true. Unlike other students, he has never caused a ruckus in class, not even once.”
Unlike Elysia’s practical classes, other professors taught theories. Sometimes, students chatted with each other or dozed off during lunch break, but Rocky diligently focused on the class without chatting or dozing off.
“Even the student who asks the most questions is Rocky.”
“Is it the same during my class? When I teach, Rocky asks the most questions.”
“But… if things continue like this, won’t Rocky face expulsion?”
As one professor had just mentioned, if a student’s grades are too poor, they may fail or even face expulsion.
“Hmm…”
It would be a shame to expel Rocky because his talent was too precious.
Starting from the academy’s entrance ceremony to dueling with Prince Lofri.
He freely wielded various magical arts and even used unique spells during the duel.
“Let’s observe for now since the practical exam is still ahead.”
The midterms were evaluated by combining written and practical scores.
It’s not that the written exam wasn’t important, but the practical portion carried much more weight.
It was common for rankings to change based on the practical scores, but the problem was that Rocky currently had a score of zero.
Thud!
When other professors were contemplating what to do, Elysia suddenly stood up.
“I’ll be back in a moment.”
“Where are you… even without saying, I think I know.”
Idra refrained from asking Elysia where she was going.
From Noble mtl dot com
In Elysia’s hand as she left, someone’s exam paper was crumpled.
* * *
Rocky – [0 Points]
Students who were friendly with me, having checked my rank and score, approached me.
I expected to be in last place, but never thought I wouldn’t get a single question right.
“Rocky, did you make a mistake? Or did the professors make a mistake?”
“Fool, did you forget to write your name, by any chance?”
It seemed like Lucas and Sophia couldn’t fathom that I got a zero for solving it.
People, you know. Huh? In life, you might end up with a zero.
As Lucas and Sophia said this, other students nearby started looking at me with pity.
“What do we do? Seems like they forgot to write their name.”
“Despite wearing that weird mask, they always participated diligently in class.”
“That’s true. I’ve never seen them talk or sleep during class.”
“If they had just written their name correctly, how many points would they have gotten?”
“Still, wouldn’t the professor have noticed? It’s too pitiful to get a zero just for not writing the name.”
No. I just randomly marked, and it turned out all wrong, so I got a zero.
Before I could speak truthfully, other students began offering me words of encouragement.
“Stay strong!”
“Yeah, if you do well in the practical, everything will be fine!”
“Right, so don’t be too disappointed!”
But my conscience, which didn’t have much time left, hurt too much.
“Thank you for comforting me like this! Next time, I’ll work hard without making such mistakes.”
By “mistakes” I meant not just a single line but a thoroughly dotted line.
Technically, it wasn’t an incorrect statement.
—
I was kneeling in a corner of the academy, holding up both hands.
While students cheering for me made me uncomfortable, I was stopped and caught by Professor Elysia as I wandered around.
“You know? I got a perfect score, the first in the academy’s history. Especially in the special class.”
“Oh! That’s fantastic news. I also saw it on the bulletin earlier!”
“And I got the first zero in the academy’s history too. Also in the special class.”
“Oh, that’s really sad news. I was in a hurry earlier and couldn’t check the bottom.”
Thunk!
“Ah!”
Elysia smacked her hand. It wasn’t forceful, but it was a fitting intensity, not too strong but not weak either.
“I’ve heard from other professors. You say you’re studying hard, so why are your scores like this?”
Ah, was that why everyone thought I would do well?
“I did listen attentively. But I didn’t understand a single word.”
Honestly, how could I possibly understand the structure and principles of magic?
Even if I wanted to learn from the beginning, the level being taught at the academy right now was very high.
It was impossible to ask the professor any questions. It’s like being in a school where the teacher is teaching calculus and you can’t even ask, “How do you add?”
Even if I start studying now, it will take at least three years to catch up to the level of other students.
“Sigh… The written test is already over, and you must excel in the practical exam.”
“If I excel, will there be a reward?”
Professor Elysia picked up a stone from the ground, squeezing it in her hand.
-Sssssss.
The stone turned into dust and scattered in the wind.
“If you fail to excel, there will be consequences.”
“I will definitely excel!”
Honestly, even if Professor Elysia hadn’t said it, I was determined to excel in the practical exam.
“Professor Elysia, do you know why cheating is not allowed in the written test?”
To my sudden question, Professor Elysia furrowed her brow.
“I don’t know what you’re trying to say, but I’ll answer for now. Cheating is not allowed because it violates the rules.”
“Right. Even though marking the answers in the test is not a true reflection of one’s abilities, it’s allowed because it doesn’t violate the rules.”
“So, what are you trying to say?”
“I will show you, within the boundaries of the rules, how I can excel in the practical exam using every means available.”
I stated confidently.
“Loki.”
“Yes?”
“Stop sulking and raise your hand again.”
Sigh.