Rezé was dragged away by the instructor’s hand.
It sounded like Rezé’s scream of ‘Hii, hiiieek!’ could be heard.
I never expected Rezé to end up in Yuridia and Teron’s team.
I didn’t anticipate it at all. But.
‘It’s rather fortunate. Those two aren’t incompetents.’
They will buy enough time for Rezé to play an active role.
Well, it doesn’t change the fact that she’ll have a 1:1 with Caron at the end though.
“Will she be okay?”
“She’ll be fine. The strategy is perfect.”
“That’s not what I mean. She was trembling just from the thought of taking the pop quiz. And now she’s stuck between those two… The tension must be immense.”
“Keke, you’re worrying unnecessarily.”
“…It’s only natural to worry. If she doesn’t get into the advanced class, someone will throw a fit.”
Throwing a fit if she doesn’t get into the advanced class. What kind of bastard would do that?
“Keke, whoever it is, they sound like a bad person.”
Then Luna glared at me. Wait, could that someone be…
“Was it me?”
“Who else could it be? You made her work so hard during training!”
Luna even crossed her arms and expressed her discontent.
But this is a misunderstanding. Even if Rezé doesn’t get into the advanced class, it won’t cause big problems.
Conversation, training, joining, etc.
It will just increase the number of annoying things I have to put up with a bit.
“That training wasn’t for getting into the advanced class. It’s for the future.”
“…Are you being sincere?”
“Keke, look at these earnest eyes. Do I look like someone who would lie?”
Luna’s face slowly approached.
Close enough for my face to be reflected in her pupils.
Soon Luna swiftly turned her head.
“Tsk, what can be seen to trust or not. Those eyes are cheating.”
“Keke, trust me. I’m being honest.”
“Did you eat something wrong today? You seem different from usual.”
Luna tilted her head.
But I’m being sincere about it being okay even if Rezé doesn’t get into the advanced class.
In the first place, the reason I accepted Rezé was partly because Luna earnestly requested it, but…
‘It’s to use her during the urgent dispatch episode that happens during the midterm exam.’
A request for help from an area where erosion occurred, emergency dispatch of academy students, and the battle against a 5th-grade demon that unfolds there.
Originally, fighting a 5th-grade demon is impossible, but activating a Hidden Piece makes the battle possible.
And in the strategy I’ve devised now, Rezé is essential.
So there’s no way I would abandon Rezé.
Of course, the probability of abandoning her is high if she becomes useless after the urgent dispatch episode.
‘Huh? Wait. The party condition for the urgent dispatch episode was definitely…’
The minimum favorability to form a party, current location, and.
‘Being in the same class.’
“……”
That’s right. If Rezé doesn’t get into the advanced class, we won’t be able to form a party.
My grand plan to take down a 5th-grade demon will become completely ruined.
Moreover, this is the only chance to change classes before the final exam.
“Hmm… Thinking about it, she should still get into the advanced class.”
“…Die.”
Crunch!
Luna bit my ear.
“Next, Team 4! Enter!”
Under the instructor’s guidance, the kids of Team 4 entered the labyrinth.
Someone alone, someone in pairs, and someone gathered in groups of three or five.
They disappeared into the stone labyrinth.
They didn’t even think about eliminating competitors. Because here, there are…
“What are you doing not going?”
“Ohoho! What are you doing, Teron? Aha, did you forget how to walk from only giving orders?”
Two beasts. Two beasts that were desperate to devour each other at that.
“I’m giving you a chance. Can’t you even recognize mercy?”
“Oh my, I’m so grateful! But if you act so leisurely, you might fail? This test won’t be easy.”
Yuridia, who had received a hint from Caron.
‘Same yet different.’
After pondering for a day, she realized that this pop quiz was an evolved version of the entrance exam.
Not only did she devise a strategy, but she also shared the information with the kids who followed her.
“……”
Yuridia’s raised nose, overflowing confidence, and the stone labyrinth.
Teron, who had been thinking for a moment, chuckled.
“What, so it was something like that. It’s not a big deal compared to what I thought.”
Teron easily figured it out.
That this pop quiz was an evolved version of the entrance exam.
However, that doesn’t mean Yuridia is at a disadvantage.
“Ohoho! As expected of Teron. Well, I don’t know if the others have realized it.”
That’s right. Yuridia not only shared information with the kids who followed her, but also devised a strategy.
On the other hand, the Teron faction has to figure it out themselves and devise a strategy.
Currently, it was safe to say that the Yuridia faction had an overwhelming advantage.
Teron clicked his tongue.
‘Tsk, Yuridia used her head.’
Because she shared the information this morning, the spies Teron had hidden couldn’t be active either.
“Ohoho, not going to fight?”
“…Don’t rush your life.”
At first, he planned to make Yuridia fail as soon as the test started, but after seeing the labyrinth, his thoughts changed.
Precisely because of Caron’s last words.
-You’re free to fight or not, but remember this. If you recklessly make enemies, you’ll be in trouble at the end.
Just as the labyrinth made of bushes changed to stone, it was only natural for there to be changes in the second stage illusion magic test and the third stage group duel test.
“Teacher Caron doesn’t talk nonsense. Yuridia, you’re lucky.”
“Hmm~ Well, I agree with that. Should I consider this fortunate? Well, the lucky one is Teron though.”
“…Tsk.”
Teron took steps towards the labyrinth.
Dealing with Yuridia here might be the best judgment.
‘But even if Yuridia fails in the 1st stage labyrinth, she won’t be dropped from the advanced class.’
In fact, Teron knew the reason for taking the pop quiz.
Competition with the Holy Kingdom kids who will soon arrive at the academy, the Empire taking the top spots to show the difference in level and maintain their pride.
Although the academy is keeping it a secret, it’s not a secret they can hide even from Teron, a high-ranking noble.
‘In other words, even if Yuridia fails in the 1st stage labyrinth, they won’t do something stupid like dropping her from the advanced class.’
The Empire isn’t stupid enough to be blinded by immediate gains and miss out on bigger gains.
And this applies to Teron as well.
“What! Let’s go together!”
Yuridia grumbling and following behind him.
Despite her appearance, she’s called a genius of magic. Moreover, she even ranked 2nd in the entrance exam.
No matter how he thought about it, there was no way Yuridia would be dropped from the advanced class. Therefore.
‘Gain profit in a different way.’
Teron’s mind spun quickly.
The most urgent problem currently is the downfall of the Yuridia faction and the complete domination of the 1st years.
Then.
‘Show the difference in level in front of the teachers and kids.’
Show an overwhelming difference in skill and let them know who the true master of the 1st years is.
A good opportunity to dampen the momentum of the Yuridia faction, which has been gaining power recently.
‘Teacher Caron’s meaningful words are a problem, but…’
He can deal with Yuridia after seeing how the third stage test has changed.
Teron was confident he could crush Yuridia anytime.
As they continued through the labyrinth.
“Excuse me?”
Step step-.
“Teron, can’t you hear me?”
Step step-.
“Teron is an idiot.”
“…Can’t you just shut up and go? We’re in the middle of a test.”
Teron and Yuridia using the superior method of following the right wall.
Certainly, it was boring to just walk.
But isn’t this a test?
Moreover, they competed for 1st place in the entrance exam.
And what? It’s boring?
‘…Am I competing with this kid?’
Sigh.
Teron couldn’t help but sigh.
“…So, do you have anything to do?”
“Well, we can just chat. Come to think of it, have we ever had a personal conversation, just the two of us?”
Teron and Yuridia are the leaders of their respective factions.
With many eyes watching, there was no time for personal conversations.
Suddenly, Teron thought it might be a better time than he expected.
‘If persuasion works, I might be able to absorb the Yuridia faction.’
Although the Yuridia faction has recently been recruiting kids belonging to the neutral faction, the Teron faction still maintains an absolute advantage.
If he promises her an appropriate position, he might be able to easily absorb her forces.
“That’s true. Fine. What do you want to talk about?”
“Is there anyone you’re interested in lately?”
Yuridia’s eyes sparkled, and seeing that, Teron’s eyes also sparkled.
She must be asking who he’s trying to recruit lately.
There won’t be another chance to have such a serious conversation in the future.
Teron decided to speak boldly without hiding.
“It’s Alex.”
“Ah, Alex?”
“Yes. Weirdly enough, he catches my eye.”
Although Zero has caught a lot of attention by causing incidents, Alex is the protagonist of this game.
The protagonist buff couldn’t be ignored, and Teron had been casting glances at him.
‘Hmph, he seems to have gotten close to Yuridia, but I can’t easily give him up.’
Seeing the noticeably flustered Yuridia, Teron smiled victoriously.
Yuridia looking around, not knowing what to do. She approached and whispered in his ear.
“I-I didn’t know you had such tastes. Don’t worry. I’ll keep this a secret.”
“…?”
“Mmm, it can be like that! Gender doesn’t matter in love! If you have any concerns in the future, confide in me!”
Only then did Teron realize.
Yuridia wanted to have a love talk, not a serious conversation.
‘There’s no way I would do that! Even if I did, there’s even less reason to tell you, who I’m not even close with!’
Teron clenched his fist.
Barely suppressing the urge to punch her, Teron opened his mouth.
“That’s not what I meant. It was about recruitment.”
“Huh? Was it something like that? What a pity…”
Is she disappointed that he’s thinking of recruiting, or disappointed that a forbidden love didn’t come to fruition?
Teron sighed.
“Well, it’s just a wish. It doesn’t seem like Alex will come to me.”
“Hmm~ Well, Alex is a bit picky. He seems light-hearted, but there’s a serious side to him, should I say?”
“Let me give you some advice. It’s better to be careful with Alex. Someone like him isn’t the type to be subordinate to others.”
“Well, maybe it’s because Teron lacks the capacity to embrace him?”
“……”
Teron shut his mouth after that.
He realized that conversing with Yuridia had no nutritional value at all.
“Ahh~ If it were Alex or Zero, they would have matched the conversation. We would have talked a lot about love too.”
“……”
And so, the two broke through the labyrinth and even the illusion test.
They were able to reach the 3rd stage where Caron was.
“Wait for a moment. In 23 minutes, we will begin the final test.”
Caron didn’t say anything more after that. He only repeated the same words whenever other kids arrived.
“How do you think the group duel has changed? Well, do you have any predictions?”
“…First, shut that mouth. That much is clear.”
Yuridia’s mouth was wide open.
He doesn’t match the conversation well, and responds curtly.
Yuridia was about to shout ‘Forget marriage, you won’t even be able to date!’.
She then noticed something strange.
“Rather… Are you okay? You’re sweating a lot.”
Teron sweating like it was raining.
Yuridia offered a handkerchief, but Teron didn’t accept it.
‘Damn illusion test.’
Teron, who didn’t possess an artifact.
It wasn’t to the point he couldn’t overcome it. But.
‘It reminded me of bad memories.’
Daike might also recall the same memories, or perhaps even worse ones.
Leaning against a tree and recovering his mind, Caron, who was looking at his pocket watch, shouted.
“Eight people. Everyone gather! We will now begin the 3rd test.”
The rule was simple.
The eight people here will face Caron.
That was the true nature of the final test.
“Tsk!”
Teron clicked his tongue.
Originally, he wanted to eliminate Yuridia as soon as it started, but if he did that, he would receive a terrible score for attacking an ally in front of the enemy.
“…As expected of Annwood Academy. It doesn’t resolve easily.”
Boom-!
As Teron stomped his foot, the ground sank deeply.
At the same time, he took a stance by extending his left fist forward.
“Oho, finally going to show your skills? The boxing technique of the Vyuern family… I can look forward to it.”
Caron holding wooden daggers in both hands.
Caron’s main weapon. It means he will take this seriously.
“No choice. Yuridia, temporary alliance.”
“Ohoho! Don’t fall behind!”
Thus, the final test of Team 4 began. And.
Tap tap-.
Somewhere in the forest near the dueling ground.
A rock… no, a rock-shaped box.
Began to move while wriggling.
–TL Notes–
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