“The midterm exam has been postponed?”
“W-Why?”
“And what’s with this pop quiz…”
“What about the date? It’s not tomorrow, right?”
The confused kids poured out questions one after another.
Caron’s answer to this was extremely simple.
“The pop quiz will be in a week, and what kind of test it will be is a secret.”
“Wh-What do you mean…!”
“You’re noisy.”
Caron’s voice was not just cold, but eerie.
The noisy training ground became quiet in an instant.
The kids who had been voicing their complaints one by one, taking advantage of the noise, all shut their mouths at once.
“What’s the point of a test?”
“…To find out the level or degree of talent, skill, and knowledge according to a certain procedure.”
“Then what’s the point of telling you the content in advance?”
“B-But…”
“If you have a complaint, raise your hand and speak. Don’t cowardly hide among the crowd and chatter.”
At this point, the training ground went beyond quiet and became still.
I also stayed quiet.
‘It’s because I know the reason for the pop quiz and what kind of test it will be, but…’
It’s because the ‘story’ is progressing. A story where the protagonist plays an active role at that.
Flash!
Yuridia raised her hand. So confidently that you could hear the sound of “flash” in your ears.
The kids’ faces turned pale.
Rebelling against Caron. She must be out of her mind.
“…It seems you have a lot of complaints. Go ahead and blabber. If you’re ready to pay the price of demerit points.”
Caron, standing in front of Yuridia, looked down at her.
A gaze so cold that it was overwhelming to even face.
But Yuridia, who met his gaze, only tilted her head.
“It’s strange. You know that what we’re asking right now doesn’t mean that, right?”
“Oh? Then what does it mean?”
“In the history of Annwood Academy, the midterm exam has only been postponed three times.”
Yuridia counted on her fingers one by one.
The descent of a Legion Commander, the assassination attempt on the Academy, and the war with the Doron Kingdom.
Although the Academy has had many big and small incidents as long as its history, the midterm exam has only been postponed for the three events Yuridia mentioned.
It means that Annwood Academy’s schedule cannot be changed easily.
In other words, the fact that the midterm exam was postponed means that an incident of that scale is about to occur… or.
“It means it has already happened. A major accident that we don’t know about.”
“……”
“So it’s only natural for the students to be confused. We need a sufficient explanation. If the pop quiz we’re taking this time is…”
If it’s a national crisis, or even a crisis beyond the continent.
“We need to prepare for it.”
The training ground became noisy again.
They realized that the pop quiz wasn’t the problem.
Fear tends to be contagious by nature.
“W-War?”
“Is there a place foolish enough to target the Empire?”
“That can’t be! Currently, the Empire is evaluated by everyone to have the power to unify the continent and still have strength left over!”
“All that’s left are the demons… Could it be that a Legion Commander has descended?”
“N-Now that you mention it, weren’t there incidents of demon attacks recently?”
The kids were thrown into confusion.
About 40 years ago, the 5th Legion Commander Crowley descended upon the Rohan Kingdom.
Although the kids weren’t even born then, they clearly knew that Legion Commanders were dangerous.
That was the extent of a Legion Commander’s majesty.
To the point where kids who had never experienced war trembled in fear.
“Tsk, you guys are still clueless.”
What calmed them down was the sound of Caron clicking his tongue.
“I thought the advanced class would be a bit different… You’re no different from the regular class kids. Yuridia!”
“Yes, I’m listening.”
Everyone thought Yuridia would receive demerit points.
However.
“I will give you 2 merit points.”
“…?”
What Yuridia received were not demerit points, but merit points.
“Me? Why?”
“Because you didn’t hand over your lifeline to others.”
“…Lifeline?”
“That’s right. You should at least make an effort to find out what the mission is and why. If you blindly follow orders, you’re likely to die.”
“But you scolded us and blocked our questions!”
“Yes, you all threw away your lifelines. Except you, Yuridia.”
Some kids nodded their heads.
They understood Caron’s words. Of course, the number of kids who didn’t understand was far greater.
“Don’t carelessly entrust your lifeline to others. This time, Yuridia will pick up all the lifelines you threw away, so you can live… but such luck won’t continue.”
Listening to Caron’s words, I couldn’t help but be surprised.
‘The lines have been added?’
In the game, Caron’s speech, which ended with “Yes. You all threw away your lifelines. Except you, Yuridia,” has become quite long.
‘Actually, there were many users who didn’t understand Caron’s words in this part.’
If it weren’t for the efforts of users trying to find the hidden meaning in Caron’s words, I wouldn’t have understood either.
“It’s good to get help from comrades, but if one comrade holds the lifelines of dozens or hundreds of people, the burden will naturally become heavy.”
“……”
“At least if you’re a kid in the advanced class, take care of your own lifeline! Will you be like this on the battlefield too?”
The kids who realized their mistake hung their heads low.
Of course, I was busy being amazed in the meantime.
‘He became really kind? He even explains what they did wrong.’
Is it because he obtained information about the Four Heavenly Kings through me, or is it because of the upcoming fight with Volcan?
Caron has become incredibly kind for his standards.
Of course, the kids don’t seem to have noticed.
And it wasn’t just the lines that changed.
“As much as Yuridia has taken on the burden, an appropriate reward must be provided. Yuridia!”
“Yes, Teacher.”
“I will give you a hint for the 1st stage of the 3-stage pop quiz. Come to me after class.”
The training ground was filled with shock.
Not only is it surprising that the pop quiz has as many as 3 stages, but also because Yuridia will receive a hint for the 1st stage.
‘Yuridia receiving it is the same as the entire Yuridia faction knowing.’
An opportunity to take a significant lead in the competition against the Teron faction.
Everyone couldn’t help but be shocked.
Teron immediately raised his hand and asked.
“Three stages. Isn’t the scale too big for a pop quiz?”
“Not really. It’s a test that will end in a day.”
“…You’re saying a 3-stage test will be over in a day?”
The kids became even more confused.
They instinctively knew it would be extremely difficult.
“If you don’t like it, drop out. It’s a test that won’t be included in your grades. However…”
However?
“Only the members of the advanced class will change.”
“You’re telling us not to even think about dropping out!!”
In the end, kids shouted out.
‘It’s because the benefits the advanced class receives are huge.’
Starting with scholarships, maintenance allowance, meetings with figures from nobility, politics, finance, and commerce, invitations to party halls, and support for employment and starting a business after graduation.
There are no related episodes now since it’s the 1st semester of the 1st year, but they pour in like water starting from the 2nd year.
“The members of the advanced class change after the final exams! But you’re going to change it before the midterms! This is unfair!”
They’re complaining directly to Caron, so you can imagine how great the benefits of the advanced class are.
Of course, Caron simply ignored them.
“Isn’t it fine if you do well on the pop quiz?”
“W-Well, that’s true, but…”
“If you respond diligently like during the entrance exam, you can continue to stay. That’s all for today’s class.”
Yuridia followed Caron as he left the classroom.
To hear the hint for the 1st stage of the pop quiz.
At the same time, the classroom became noisy. Especially where Teron was.
“What should we do? The Yuridia faction has gained an advantage.”
“It’s a pop quiz, but it will be practical like Caron, right?”
“All 3 stages being practical… This is serious.”
“A considerable number of kids in the Yuridia faction are from the regular class. If they come up…”
Although the Teron faction is excellent overall, if they are outnumbered in the advanced class, future fights won’t be smooth.
The atmosphere couldn’t help but be bad.
“Don’t be alarmed. It’s only the 1st stage.”
“W-Well, that’s true, but…”
“And he said he would give a hint, not information. Teacher Caron’s hints can’t be easy.”
Perhaps because he’s a protagonist-level character in charge of an episode.
His reasoning is extraordinary.
“That’s right. What Teron said is correct.”
“We just need to do what we’ve been doing. Rather, this test will be an opportunity to expand our forces. Tell the kids in the regular class. Training begins today.”
“Yes!”
Teron, who instantly dispelled the kids’ anxiety, left the classroom majestically.
He has considerable confidence. But.
‘It won’t be easy. Caron has practically given out all the information.’
3 stages, a test that ends in a day, and to respond like during the entrance exam.
That’s right. The true nature of the pop quiz is…
‘The evolved version of the entrance exam.’
A labyrinth, an illusion magic test, and group duels.
We are scheduled to take 3 subjects excluding the secret test and written exam.
In other words, Caron has practically revealed all the details about the pop quiz.
‘I don’t know what kind of hint Yuridia will receive, but…’
Seeing that Hidden Piece has been activated, the story will unfold in Yuridia’s favor.
Teron may find himself in a far more difficult situation than he thinks.
‘Well, now’s not the time to worry about them.’
The labyrinth and illusion magic tests won’t be a problem.
The same goes for the group duels.
If I had progressed the story ‘as originally’ that is.
‘Lucia’s Hidden Piece. There’s a high probability it will be connected to this.’
8 days until Lucia leaves, and 7 days until the pop quiz.
It’s an incredible coincidence. No, at this point, it should be seen as intentional.
There’s no reason for Lucia to appear in the labyrinth or illusion magic.
Then.
‘It means Lucia will appear in the third one, the group duels…’
My stats have risen, but it’s uncertain whether I can gain Lucia’s recognition.
No, to be honest, it’s zero.
It means the situation is so bleak that even the word ‘uncertain’ is not allowed.
“Keke, this is driving me crazy.”
“That’s not new. You were already crazy. Don’t worry, you can’t go any crazier.”
…Right.
Thanks, Luna.
The training ground I arrived at after the meal.
There were two things different from usual.
One was that Rezé, who rested over the weekend, looked to be in good condition.
And the other…
“Ugh…”
Lucia was training.
This was a very surprising thing.
It’s surprising enough that she arrived before us, but she was training while sweating profusely.
“Keke, it seems the sun rose from the west today.”
“You say disrespectful things so casually. Won’t it hurt if you get hit like that?”
Lucia wiped her sweat and approached.
“You’re here? Train on your own. I’ll watch over you one by one.”
“Keke, what’s with the sudden training?”
“Ah, an urgent subjugation mission came up.”
“Subjugation?”
“Yeah, it’s a secret what it is. But I’ll still watch over your training before I go, so don’t worry.”
If it’s a subjugation at this time, there’s only one.
The subjugation of the ‘Maestro of the Battlefield, Volkan’ that I created through Caron.
‘Did Lucia decide to join? She said she absolutely wouldn’t…’
She may have made some kind of deal with Caron after we parted ways yesterday.
Judging by her appearance and atmosphere without a single wound, it doesn’t seem to have ended too badly.
‘We might really be able to kill one of the Four Heavenly Kings.’
I don’t know the strength of the subjugation team, but Elester, Caron, and Lucia alone have the power of one legion.
There won’t be an easier target than the unprepared Necromancer.
Hope for clearing was rising high.
That’s when…
“Ah, and I will personally oversee the test for you two.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m talking about the pop quiz. Be prepared. I plan to take it in peak condition.”
…It’s already hard to gain recognition from Pig Lucia, but now I have to gain recognition from Lucia who has recovered her strength.
I found another Hidden Piece that turns Pig Lucia into Human Lucia.
But.
I wasn’t happy at all.
–TL Notes–
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