Subject Evaluation Test (4)

Professor Strict’s [Composition of Strategy and Command System].

It was a class infamous among cadets.

The reason was not only that she filled the lectures to capacity, but also, crucially, because the exam was difficult.

It wasn’t something that could be solved just by reading the textbook and cramming knowledge into your head.

‘It’s no wonder they say no one would take it if it weren’t a mandatory major.’

In fact, strategy was an essential virtue for cadets who would actively work as <Hunters>.

Simply charging recklessly and fighting randomly would make one a monster, not a human.

‘This is basic knowledge not only for leaders but also for party members participating together.’

That was why everyone grumbled but still listened attentively to Professor Strict.

In reality, her class was hard to follow, but it taught knowledge that must be known in the future.

Of course, I was the exception.

Rather, I enjoyed it.

It felt like playing the ‘GAL’ strategy mode to my heart’s content after a long time.

Utilizing party members appropriately, achieving the best results in the shortest time with minimal resource consumption.

Memories of performing operations with my father and brothers long ago resurfaced vividly.

‘I was the one who devised the strategies back then, too.’

Of course, I was really scolded a lot.

Father didn’t say much, but my brothers always clamored.

―Hey, you bastard. How could you order us to stall right in the middle of enemy territory?!
―I thought I was really going to die because of you! Can’t you see the bullet wound on my side?

Hmm…
Honestly, I didn’t quite understand.

‘Operations are originally…’

Isn’t it natural to assume that some sacrifices will occur to some extent?

At least, that was the strategy I was taught.

‘Of course.’

In terms of sacrifice, the one who should be prioritized was the one giving orders, which was me.

The reason why my older brothers only grumbled without saying much might be because I was the first to enter the enemy camp.

‘Because an operation where everyone is safe is realistically difficult.’

Instead, I showed definite results.
That was what unfolded before my eyes now.

The <Virtual Test> was progressing smoothly.

This problem also produced a very good result.

Based on the ‘GAL’ standard, it was an answer sheet that would definitely receive 3 stars.

‘In the process, one person was severely injured, but…’

Well, it’s okay.

As long as they focused on recovery, they’d only need about a year of rehabilitation.

The most important thing was the fact that we won the battle without anyone dying.

As I continued to solve, I eventually reached the back page.

“Is this the last problem now?”

I felt a slight tinge of regret as I looked over the final problem.

The location was a canyon.
The environment was a desert.
The time was night.
The layout and composition were…

“Huh?”

I checked the problem again.

There was no mistake.

This was almost identical to the problem Professor Stict had told me to try solving back then.

The only difference was that there was only one tank.

And there were notably many <Recovery Items>.

“Hmm…”

I slowly calculated in my head.
The tank’s HP and equipment.
And the number of health recovery consumables.

“Alright, I can do this.”

First, I stored the majority of the <Potions> in the warehouse.

They were high-grade potions that could heal every broken bone and regenerate flesh.

It wasn’t wise to expend more resources on battles I could easily win.

Following almost the exact same approach as before, I executed my strategy.

A tanker was pushed to the brink of death, but survived through perfect HP calculation.

As a result, while the divided enemies self-destructed, they secured a complete victory.

‘Though both legs of the tanker were severed.’

This was excellent enough.

Once they returned, they could receive professional treatmen, and regenerating severed limbs wouldn’t be an issue.

‘Perfect.’

Yu Seha reviewed the problem once again.

Perhaps because he was too focused on the exam.

He didn’t notice the gaze watching him intently.

“……”

The owner of the gaze was none other than Professor Strict.

Her eyes were fixed on Yu Seha’s problem-solving.

Fiercely intense, mechanical…
As if no human emotions were felt in the answer sheet.

It was undoubtedly excellent, but for some reason, Professor Strict had a sad expression.

A few days later.

After the three <Written and Practical> exams were completed, the midterm results were announced.

I carefully examined the results sheet prominently posted on the bulletin board.

What caught my eye first was, as expected…

<Midterm Results Announcement>

【Moon Bora】: Overall 2nd place.

It was the name of Moon Bora, naturally at the top.

‘As expected, she’s amazing.’

Currently, Moon Bora was off to attend exclusive classes under <Snow Ice Lady> Cheon Mira, so she wasn’t here.

I wondered how she would have reacted to seeing these results.

―Hehe~ It’s only natural.

‘Hmm, I kind of feel like she’d say that.’

I chuckled softly and looked over the other students’ scorecards.

Found it.

In the upper-middle tier, the name Ma Hana appeared.

Although other subjects were average, <Byproduct Harvest> had a score higher than Moon Bora, practically the top score.

‘As expected, Meowi.’

You received the reward for your hard work.

Next was Ju Na-young…

‘Where is she?’

After not seeing her for a moment, I was able to find her name in the lower-middle ranks.

Nothing particularly outstanding…

But compared to the past, when she was close to failing, just having all subjects grow evenly made me feel proud.

‘If she’s watching, she’d probably be jumping with joy.’

Alright, that’s it for checking on the kids.

Now, I decided to look for my name.

In fact, it wasn’t that difficult to find.

<Midterm Results Announcement>

【Yu Seha】: Overall 19th place.

It wasn’t the very top, but it was a score that placed me well within the upper ranks.

I nodded in satisfaction, then noticed something puzzling.

Huh? Wait a minute…

The ranking aside…

Isn’t the evaluation score next to it a bit low?

As I quietly examined it, I found the cause.

Professor Strict’s <Strategy Exam>.
It recorded a slightly lower score than what I had graded myself.

‘Huh?’

That shouldn’t be.
According to my calculations, there was nothing wrong.

With a sense of puzzlement, I held my phone up to the terminal.

Immediately, the professors’ comments popped up.

Thanks to this, I found out that the last question of the <Strategy Exam> was marked with a △.

It meant half correct, half wrong.

I looked at Professor Strict’s comments with a bewildered mind.

「Cadet Yu Seha. You might find some parts of your exam results difficult to understand. Please visit my office after the <Midterm Exams> are over. I want to explain something that I’ve been meaning to discuss with you. I once thought it was just a trivial matter. That was short-sighted of me.」

Cadet Yu Seha needs to learn something important before <Strategy Tactics>.

‘Hmm?’

I tilted my head in curiosity but soon dismissed it.

‘It’s not like my rank will change even if it’s acknowledged…’

Well, later on…
I can just visit.

Right after the <Midterm Score> results were announced.

My companions and I didn’t have time to dwell on it as we proceeded to the next exam.

This exam was Professor Cha Yeo-ju’s <Interpersonal Combat Class Among Hunters>.

In this case, it wasn’t like the first day, where people faced off against each other.

The test proceeded in a one-on-one format against pre-prepared dummies.

“Hoo…”
“Cadet Yu Seha, that’s enough.”

Cha Yeo-ju, who was watching, blew the whistle to end the match.

Looking down.

The dummy, incapacitated by precise attacks to its vital points, lay sprawled out.

“Well done. Excellent work.”
“Thank you.”

With Cha Yeo-ju’s brief compliment, I felt assured of achieving a satisfactory result.

Thus, the matches proceeded in order.

Finally, it continued to the test of our angelic Meowi.

“Meow!”

Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow!!!

A charming battle cry.

Unable to withstand the cuteness, the dummy burst and collapsed from the shockwave of [Push Shield].

“……”
“…M-Meow?”

Cha Yeo-ju silently stared at Meowi.

On the other hand, Meowi trembled for a moment at Cha Yeo-ju’s action of not blowing the whistle despite the match being over.

Eventually, unable to watch any longer, I gently spoke up.

“Um, Professor?”
“…Hm? Ah… I’m sorry. I was momentarily lost in thought…”

Cha Yeo-ju gave a short nod to Meowi, who was trembling like a frightened cat.

“Everyone, good work.”

With this, the <Practical Exam> had concluded.

After the morning exam ended, the afternoon exam arrived.

The subject was <Basic Swordsmanship>.

It was also the last <Departmental Subject Evaluation> exam.

“Lower left!”

A short command.
Upon hearing the signal, the cadets, including myself, blindfolded with bandages, executed a lower left slash.

During the process, mutterings of ‘Ah… darn!’, ‘I made a mistake!’ could be heard.

Peng Jin-ah, who was watching for a moment, went over to the cadet who made a mistake and patted their shoulder.

A low sigh escaped from a fellow student’s mouth at the signal of elimination.

“You worked hard.”
“…Th-thank you.”

Peng Jin-ah’s <Basic Swordsmanship> practical exam involved wearing a special blindfold that blocked all senses except hearing, and swinging a wooden sword according to the swordsmanship instructions she had taught.

Proper sequence of the process.
Movements of the upper and lower body.
Finally, the final score was evaluated based on the sword’s sway.

Any cadet who made a clear mistake in the process was checked for the previous score only and was marked down.

“We will proceed again. Upper right!”

“Haah!!!”

A moment later.

“Stop, everyone up to there.”

The signal indicating the end of the match.

At Peng Jin-ah’s firm words, the remaining 10 of us, including myself, removed the blindfolds from our eyes.

I turned my gaze.

Right beside me, a girl with short blue hair, drenched in sweat, gave a light wink.

Ryu Da-rae, a classmate with the <Shaman Warrior> class.

Judging by her joyful expression, it seemed she managed to achieve satisfactory results.

Peng Jin-ah, who had been observing us, finished checking the scores and gave a short nod.

“Everyone did well. This concludes the <Practical> exam.”

With Peng Jin-ah’s test as the final, the <Subject Evaluation by Major> exams were over.

Now, what was left were the <Sparring Match> exam and the <Monster Summoning> exam.

‘Well… this is where the real challenge begins.’

Not that I was particularly worried.

Unlike the <Written> exams that required studying, for the other two, as long as I showed my full capabilities, I was guaranteed to score at the top.

Peng Jin-ah soon announced the dismissal.

All the cadets hurriedly left, but I remained still in my place.

I’d become a bit more perceptive now.

As expected.

Peng Jin-ah, who was sternly crossing her arms, glanced at me.

There was a faint aura in her eyes…

I was sure that if I had tried to turn back as before, she would have sent a murderous intent to stop me.

“Ahem…”

Peng Jin-ah slowly approached.

“…How was the exam, Cadet Yu Seha?”
“I did my best, Professor.”
“Hmm, that’s fortunate…”

Peng Jin-ah coughed.

Fiddling with her fingers, she soon made the same proposal as before, making me wonder if it was déjà vu.

“Perhaps tea…”
“Yes?”
“Do you want to drink tea… alone with me, Cadet Yu Seha?”

Pfft.

A laugh escaped me involuntarily.

At that, Peng Jin-ah’s face flushed red.

‘Is this really a 30-year-old?’

How could it be?

I vigorously nodded at the actions of my master, which I now found endearing.

“Yes, I like it, Master.”
“…D-don’t suddenly call me master. Ahem, a-anyway… that’s good. I’ve recently obtained some nice tea and desserts, you see.”

“…Let’s go to the office together.”
“Yes.”