Chapter 37. What’s so great about an exam?

A flushed Adellian was running.

“Where on earth are you going?”

A male cadet running alongside Adellian asked her. His name was Piontek Ferdinand, a member of the Black Lion Class, where Adellian was the class president.

“To the vice-principal’s research lab.”

“Are you crazy? Why are you going there?”

“Because I can’t just stand by.”

“What does that mean?”

“The opening-of-term exam. I can’t let it be like this.”

“No, I mean……. Adellian!”

Despite Piontek’s shout, Adellian didn’t stop running. Piontek chased after Adellian, shaking his head. Right now, Adellian was heading to the vice-principal’s research lab to request to take the opening-of-term exam.

‘No, why?’

He couldn’t understand her.

‘You already got the score.’

Adellian was the top student. The top student position at Saint-Denis Military Academy was not given simply for having good academic ability. It was a position given after evaluating various abilities a knight should possess, such as attitude in life, attitude towards others, leadership, and command ability.

Such a top student received many tangible and intangible benefits. From the verifiable grades to the consideration of the professors. And the attitude of the other cadets towards Adellian.

The score Adellian received for the opening-of-term exam was included in those benefits. It was because she had not been able to take the opening-of-term exam.

“Hoo.”

Adellian, standing in front of the professors’ research building, caught her ragged breath.

Piontek, who had followed her, gasped for breath and blocked Adellian’s path.

“What are you doing?”

Adellian asked with a frown.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going to ask to take the opening-of-term exam, that’s what I’m going for.”

“No, I’m asking why you’re doing that. You already got the highest score. Is it because it’s not a perfect score?”

At Piontek’s words, Adellian’s eyes turned fierce.

“……Move.”

And she tried to enter the research building by pushing him with her hand. But Piontek stood his ground and blocked her movement with his body.

“You know. If you do this, they’ll never give you a perfect score. Are the professors crazy enough to give it?”

“I know.”

“Then why are you doing this?”

“I said move.”

“I can’t. The score you got is the best. There’s no guarantee that you’ll get a better score than that if you do it again.”

“I said it doesn’t matter!”

“It matters to me! Don’t you know how important your score is to our class right now?”

“……”

Adellian swallowed hard and looked at Piontek. At this, Piontek thought that his intention had been conveyed to Adellian and lowered his outstretched arms.

“You’re the class president. You can’t forget that.”

“If the class ranking changes because of just one opening-of-term exam score, isn’t that your problem, not mine?”

Contempt was contained in her gaze towards Piontek.

The class ranking was a very sensitive topic among the students. It was because the qualification to participate in the martial arts tournament was given according to the ranking.

A high ranking meant many participants, a low ranking meant few. What determined that ranking was the average score of the class members.

“It’s important to participate in the martial arts tournament. There are so many kids who want to go there.”

“Tell them to prove themselves and earn it. If not, they should just give up and live. Isn’t it better than going out without the skills and getting embarrassed?”

“No! You’re the class president. You have to think about the class.”

“What about the class president? Am I supposed to keep my mouth shut if it’s a beneficial injustice? That’s it. I can’t do that. So move.”

Adellian pushed Piontek aside and entered the research building.

Piontek let out a long sigh. Then he frowned and looked at the retreating Adellian.

“Aish, damn it.”

As if he hadn’t given up on persuading her, he quickly followed after Adellian.

***

Two days had passed since the interrogation.

After dinner, Michelle and I took a seat in the Red Deer Class dormitory lounge.

“Your Highness…….”

Michelle called me in a worried voice. No, was it a weak voice because she couldn’t eat her fill?

“Why?”

“We’re leaving in three days, right?”

I nodded at Michelle’s question. Michelle placed her hand on her stomach and hung her head low.

“Are you worried about the exam? Or are you worried about being hungry?”

“Both.”

“Really?”

“……Being hungry.”

I thought so.

I took out the bread and strawberry jam I had set aside and gave them to Michelle. The kid’s eyes twinkled as if stars were pouring out of them, and she repeatedly said thank you.

Yes, eat a lot. You have to eat a lot so you don’t suffer during the exam. Anyway, I don’t like the new opening-of-term exam at all.

‘They should have just told us to go into the monster forest and come out like the other kids.

Why a bothersome request.’

This opening-of-term exam was to enter a forest said to be inhabited by monsters and hunt them. The reason was that the damage to the town would be less if the monster population was reduced before the Demonic Moon came. That was also the reason why it was held earlier than usual.

‘That’s also why they didn’t believe me.’

The cadets and professors were stepping up to exterminate the monsters, so when I said a monster appeared in the town, they had no choice but to think it was a lie…….

“What are you going to do?”

Michelle, who had finished the arm-sized bread in one go, asked with her eyes half-closed.

Was she getting sleepy because her stomach was full and her back was warm? That one is only bright when she’s eating.

“You ate all of that already?”

“There wasn’t much.”

“It was about a 3-person portion.”

“……Was it?”

“Yeah, very much so.”

Michelle let out a long breath with a ‘Hmm’ and diligently wiped the area around her mouth.

In the meantime, I pondered how to solve the opening-of-term exam. I had to do it even if I didn’t like it.

The opening-of-term exam given to Michelle and me was to find a certain object. They said they would tell us what the object was on the day of departure.

‘Lucian Keller, was it?’

The person who prepared this exam was Professor Keller, who majored in herbology. He had a pretty good reputation within the school. He had many students who followed him.

They said his looks were handsome and his speech and behavior were considerate. When I met Keller directly and heard the explanation about the exam, I did get a similar feeling. To the point where I wondered if it was a bit too much.

“Do you think they’ll ask us to find some special medicinal herb?”

Michelle, who had cleanly wiped her mouth, said.

“No way.”

I doubt they would give such a blatant exam. It would be tiring if it became a problem later.

“What are you going to do about a companion?”

A companion…….

‘It might be tough for the two of you.’, ‘It’s a supplementary exam, so the difficulty is high.’, ‘I highly recommend you find one. Just because you go with a companion doesn’t mean you’ll get a lower exam score.’

Considering Keller’s words, it would be better to find at least one person rather than just the two of us going. In terms of type, a friend who can act as a shield like Bethel.

But there was a bit of a problem.

‘You have to find one only from within the Red Deer Class. Other classes are not allowed.’,

‘The classes were made to help each other.’

I recalled the atmosphere of the Red Deer Class. A wrinkle naturally formed on my forehead.

Apathy.

If someone asked me, ‘What kind of class is the Red Deer Class?’, I would answer like that.

I couldn’t feel any will from the members of the Red Deer Class. It was as if they were just letting time pass, waiting for the day to end. It felt like their goal was to just fill up the time and get a diploma from Saint-Denis Military Academy. If I told such people that we could change our exam scores, so let’s do it together…….

‘They wouldn’t even look at me. The only person who might at least turn their head is probably Odekerkh?’

A plump guy with a good build, a diligent guy who was busily moving around on his own, trying to do something. His name was Odekerkh Nicola, the youngest son of the Nicola Merchant Guild. He was also the only one who greeted me warmly when I appeared in the class. I don’t know if it was because he was the class president, though.

Deureureuk.

The lounge door opened and a familiar figure crossed the threshold. They say even a tiger appears if you talk about it; Odekerkh walked over with a shy expression, waddling.

“I, that…….”

It seemed Odekerkh was trying to say something. I sat with my chin propped up and stared at him intently.

“That… there is…….”

The guy kept looking back and forth between me and Michelle and fiddled with his lips. I swallowed a sigh. Seeing that he’s the class president, the Red Deer Class must be really short on talent.

“Uh…….”

“If you have something to say, just say it. Don’t be timid. No one here is going to eat you.”

“Ah! Uh… yeah.”

Suddenly, Odekerkh’s two cheeks turned red. Why on earth? Was he happy because I allowed him to speak?

“That, this time’s exam…….”

“What about the exam? You want to do it together?”

“Ah, no. To do well.”

Is he looking after me because he’s the class president? He’s a nice kid. So he probably got bullied a lot.

“Hey.”

“U-huh?”

“What did you get on the opening-of-term exam?”

“S-score? M-my score?”

“Since this one and I don’t have scores, it would obviously be you, right?”

“Ah… 15 points.”

“Out of how many points?”

“50 points.”

That’s a mess.

“Who got the highest score in the class?”

“Ah, Arnetta Montaigne. That… the girl who wears glasses and only reads books.”

“……Let’s say there is. How many points did that friend get?”

“31 points. It’s an upper-middle rank score.”

“And you’re in the lower rank?”

“……Yeah. But I’m still 2nd. In our class.”

Odekerkh timidly stated his position.

“The other kids… no. What’s the point of asking.”

If the 2nd place is like that, there’s no need to ask about the other kids. They’ll be stuck at the bottom anyway.

They said they would give the qualification to participate in the martial arts tournament based on the class ranking at the end of the semester. With the state of the Red Deer Class, maybe one person will go?

“That…….”

Odekerkh hung his head low and fidgeted with his hands. It seemed he had something else to say besides words of encouragement.

“Can’t you just say it frankly? She’s about to pass out.”

I pointed at Michelle. She was biting her lip and pressing on her solar plexus. It seemed she was feeling very frustrated with Odekerkh’s way of speaking.

“Ah! Sorry. That, just. I was afraid you’d hate it if I said it.”

“You could, if you speak as frustratingly as you are now. Very.”

“Ah…….”

“Would you just say what you’re trying to say frankly? I’m about to die of frustration too.”

“Ah, sorry.”

Suddenly, I feel like tormenting that guy.

“The exam, you know. That… can I take it with you?”

Finally, Odekerkh revealed his true feelings.

Instead of giving an immediate answer, I stroked my chin and fell into thought. Seeing this, Odekerkh said, ‘S-sorry,’ and extremely timidly said that it was an unreasonable request and I didn’t have to worry about it.

“Don’t go, stay here.”

I held back Odekerkh who was about to leave. It was because the fact that he was the son of the Nicola Merchant Guild didn’t seem bad. If he was in a merchant guild, he would have encountered many goods, so he could be helpful in finding the target.

I approached Odekerkh. He was flustered, saying, ‘Huh? Huh? Why, why?’, but he didn’t run away or anything. I took Odekerkh’s hand and sent mana through it. A small amount of mana rotated quickly through his circle.

“You’ve passed the 1st Circle.”

“Huh?”

Odekerkh was surprised, and his half-closed eyes opened wide and became like marbles.

“Who is the god you swore to?”

“Ah… Terion.”

He is the God of the Earth, just like Bethel. This is very good. His way of speaking is frustrating as hell, but it will get better if I nag him.

“Good.”

“Huh? W-what is?”

“Join us.”

Odekerkh’s face brightened. His eyes also drooped nicely, and the corners of his mouth also rose as if drawn. As if it was the first time his will had been accepted, his throbbing heart showed on his face.

Kwaang!

“Aigoo, you scared me.”

The lounge door opened with tremendous force. It opened so roughly and fiercely that white dust billowed up.

“W-what was that?”

Odekerkh looked at me and asked. Michelle also blinked her eyes and looked at me.

I was here too, how would I know what it is…….

“Maxim.”

A woman’s voice was heard through the thick dust. And a voice I had heard often.

No way…….

“A-Adellian?”

Odekerkh asked in a trembling voice. And as if to confirm this, the owner of the voice pushed through the dust and walked into the lounge.

It is Adellian.

“Take the exam with me.”

But what’s wrong with her?