Episode 33

Kendra nudged Welton and whispered,

“Student Yuseford, you shouldn’t be impersonating a teacher.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Shall we begin by calling attendance?”

This marks the beginning.

If everything up to our arrival at the Academy served as a prelude, then this moment signifies the actual prologue.

Two years remain until the protagonist of this novel enrolls in college.

Yet, all the main supporting characters destined to form close bonds with the protagonist are already present.

It’s advantageous to familiarize ourselves with them early on.

First and foremost, the person of interest.

“Zelnya von Adelwein.”

Naturally, she stands out.

She would have secured the top position if not for the anomaly known as ‘me’. A prodigious talent with unmatched skills, yet tragically, her dissatisfaction led her to consort with an Outer God, sealing her fate.

As the formidable boss during the college segment, she poses a significant threat. Befriending her and eventually becoming allies would be ideal, but her complex personality complicates matters.

Following her is,

“James Hendilton.”

Hardworking and reserved. He consistently goes above and beyond on any assignment, often bearing the brunt of group projects.

“Merlin Whiritia.”

A vibrant youth with a penchant for biology and an affinity for rounding numbers. Standing at 149.4 cm, her growth has ceased.

“Matus Baitling.”

A native of a frontier planet, his temperament is as fiery as his hair color. His troubled past doesn’t pique my interest, nor am I aware of his current circumstances. Currently, he’s glaring at me.

“Christine Herset.”

Her stunning appearance could easily place her on the runway rather than in the legal field. A staunch opponent of injustice, she frequently utters ‘corruption’ at any given opportunity. Loyalty is her forte.

“Welton Yuseford.”

The individual renowned for his peculiar habit of consuming sundae soup, sans the actual sundae.

“Ceti von Reinhardt.”

“Yes.”

“And… Aidel von Reinhardt.”

These names, if mentioned, would undoubtedly draw attention.

As I regained my focus, I realized Kendra was locking eyes with me.

But it wasn’t just Kendra.

The entire room seemed fixated on me, with every pair of eyes either boldly staring or covertly glancing my way.

“Aidel, your performance in the written test was nothing short of remarkable. Securing the top spot is a significant achievement. Congratulations.”

“Seems there was a connection after all! A breeding ground for admission scandals!”

“Chris, perhaps this is a moment where silence serves us best?”

The classroom erupted into a cacophony of whispers and murmurs.

Kendra initiated what appeared to be an orientation, cleverly masked as a speech.

“As many of you are aware, our Federation is currently embroiled in war. Countless lives continue to be lost to the monsters and avatars spawned by the Outer Gods.”

Silence fell over the room.

“None of you are exempt. The Outer Gods will not spare you simply because of your youth.”

Kendra referenced a tragic incident from the practical test.

Several students had suffered the loss of their limbs.

“In an instant, life as you know it could end.”

The room remained enveloped in silence.

“Though this isn’t a military institution, you must adopt a soldier’s discipline. I urge you to commit fully to your studies and to rigorously engage in your drills.”

Kendra’s words carried a certain forcefulness, compelling the students to listen intently.

“Mastering the plasma sword is essential. And now, you must also learn to manipulate Ether.”

Only with these skills, can you hope to survive.

“Does anyone here think they can forego swordsmanship because they’re aiming for a research career or because they’ll be working behind the scenes? If you do, think again. You won’t score well in this class with that mindset. Remember this. That’s all I have to say!”

A few students nodded in understanding.

Kendra leaned forward on the table, a grin spreading across her face.

“I must say, I’m impressed by the intellect of this group.”

However,

She didn’t stop there.

“…but don’t assume you’ll all still be here in two weeks.”

This was the moment to pay close attention.

I straightened up, ready to listen more intently.

“In three days, the entire school will undergo a reassignment test.”

“A reassignment test?”

“Yes, it’s designed to cover the practical skills that the entrance test didn’t fully assess. Given your intelligence, I’m sure you grasp the significance?”

The reassignment test was essentially a second chance for students with exceptional combat skills to ascend to the elite class.

Put simply, it was a method to distinguish the truly capable from the rest within the cohort.

“A question, teacher. How will the practical evaluation be conducted?”

“You’re curious about the method? Ah, well…”

Kendra paused, scratching her head.

“I’m not sure.”

“Excuse me?”

The room filled with puzzled expressions.

“The specifics will be determined by a lottery on the day of the test.”

The notion of having a structured class within three days was quickly dismissed. We were briefly introduced to ether manipulation before being thrust into the reassignment test.

“The test’s topic will be announced now. You will engage in a mock battle against a monster. This is similar to what you faced during the entrance test, but it’s designed to assess a broader range of skills, so please be prepared.”

And so,

“That’s ridiculous,” a student from the regular class blurted out, sparking a wave of murmurs across the room.

Despite the unrest, the elite class students remained unruffled. Their confidence was built on a foundation of exceptional skills across various disciplines; the prospect of an enhanced practical test hardly fazed them.

“I wish we could just get this pointless exercise over with,” Zelnya muttered, inspecting her sharp plasma sword with a yawn. It was said that Zelnya required eight hours of sleep each day due to her intensive mental exertion—a testament to her cerebral prowess.

The other students mirrored Zelnya’s composure, seemingly assured of their unchanging status.

Ceti, too, shared this confidence.

Yet, I stood alone in my anxiety.

‘Ether behaves like a pulsating star, its close-range properties akin to a strong nuclear force, while its essence is reminiscent of light,’ I reminded myself, flexing my fingers as I recalled the Ether manipulation techniques our homeroom teacher had imparted.

A subtle, intangible energy enveloped my hands, coursing through my arms and pulsing at my wrists.

This energy, when channeled into the plasma sword, enables the ionization of matter at ambient temperatures. The fusion of this generated energy with the innate power of Ether results in the incineration of monsters—a principle underpinning the Plasma-Ether Sword’s functionality.

As I focused on mastering Ether manipulation, a sudden announcement disrupted my concentration:

Panic set in, my forehead beading with cold sweat.

Already at a disadvantage in strength, how was I to compete without Ether?

“The test is straightforward. Utilize the Dodeca Forest before you as your arena. Your objective is to either confront or evade B-grade golems while collecting Ether fragments.”

Golems, of all challenges.

I pondered whether the ‘Calipers of Wisdom’, known for their mind-destroying capabilities, would be an effective weapon in my arsenal.

However, a more pressing question loomed: could I, with my current level of physical strength, even approach a B-grade golem? My confidence wavered.

“Yah, but you,” Ceti suddenly interjected, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Last time, I saw you effortlessly dispatching monsters. Could it be that you possess a natural aptitude for physical activity?” she inquired.

“What?” I was so taken aback that words failed me.

Was Ceti actually praising me? No, that couldn’t be right. Moreover, she was lauding a skill I didn’t even possess.

“His swordsmanship is noteworthy too?”

“Perhaps it’s because he’s the top student…”

“Don’t be deceived. It could all be a facade.”

“Yet, being the top student must count for something, right?”

This was madness. They were setting expectations I couldn’t possibly meet.

Ceti’s casual remark had unwittingly placed me a thousand coins in debt, metaphorically speaking. Her words had sent shockwaves through the class, leaving a tangible impact.

“You’re nothing but a fool, and I’ll prove it,” Zelnya declared, visibly shaken by the conversation.

At least Zelnya’s assessment seemed grounded in reality.

No, this was all wrong. I was in deep trouble, a conclusion I arrived at without much deliberation.

Yet, amidst this turmoil, could there be a glimmer of hope?

The overseeing teacher elaborated on the upcoming reassignment exam. “This test is designed to evaluate your abilities against a comprehensive set of criteria. It’s not solely about physical strength. You’ll need a keen sensitivity to detect Ether, the capacity for rapid decision-making, mathematical skills to navigate the Ether map, and the ability to work effectively with teammates.”

It meant that physical strength wasn’t everything; intelligence or the support of teammates could make up for it.

A collective sigh of relief rose from the lower-ranked students.

“However, teams are limited to three members. Once formed, you must register your group, and the points earned will be split equally among its members.”

“Ah.”

The instructor’s final remark, especially about ‘dividing the points equally,’ dashed the hopes of the lower-ranked students.

It felt like a cruel tease of hope.

“Haha, teamwork, interesting. But count me out.”

Welton Yuseford smirked, caressing his blade.

“I can manage on my own.”

Matus Baitling shared the sentiment.

Most of the elite students avoided forming teams. Their superior skills made solo efforts more advantageous than teamwork.

Besides, there was little incentive to collaborate, given their brief acquaintance.

Only childhood friends, Merlin Whiritia and Christine Herseth, teamed up.

And then there was me.

“Yah.”

My sister’s voice was calling me.