Episode 287

“This is a true contest. Professor will understand as well.”

That was what Lee Han said.

Professor Thunderstep had done his best to create the test, and Lee Han had done his best to solve it.

Fair competition, on equal terms.

In such a contest, nothing should be left lingering afterward.

‘He doesn’t exactly look like he’s understanding.’

Professor Thunderstep’s expression was nothing like that of a teacher graciously accepting his student’s victory.

The way he breathed and fumed, it seemed as if he was thinking, ‘Just wait until next semester’s exams.’

Yoner once again realized that people can communicate with just their expressions, even without words.

‘Will he really be okay?’

At this rate, they might have to make a Philosopher’s Stone in the second semester…

At that moment, Lee Han muttered,

“…But I can’t just intentionally do poorly.”

“……”

Yoner watched his friend with a pitying gaze.

It wasn’t that Lee Han hadn’t grasped the situation.

He understood it, but was deliberately ignoring it!

• * *

Professor Fliework looked at the entering students and spoke in a slightly apologetic voice.

“I’m sorry to say, but unlike other professors, my exam might not be very fun.”

“W… what kind of test is it, Professor?”

Instead of answering, Professor Fliework waved her wand. Exam papers, quill pens, and inkwells appeared on the students’ desks.

“A very traditional test—just solve the problems and write down your answers.”

“W… WOAAAAAAAH!”

“Thank you, Professor!!!”

“You’re the best, Professor!!”

“!?”

Professor Fliework was startled by the students’ enthusiastic response.

Why on earth?

“So this is what Lee Han meant when he said he’s happiest sitting down to study.”

Gainando said in a tearful voice.

To think they could just sit quietly and write with a quill, instead of running all over the place for exams…

‘That wasn’t exactly what I meant.’

Once the students were seated, the exam papers were flipped over.

1. When the following passage is true, select all that are necessarily true from the choices.

-Imperial Mage Tadingo tries to summon and contract with five demons. In this case, Demon Zerkuluo cannot be contracted unless contracted before Demon Boluda…

Seeing the densely packed problems, Lee Han felt relaxed.

A stark contrast to the darkening faces of his friends.

‘This isn’t that hard.’

“I… Lee Han tricked me. I’d rather be riding a horse.”

Next to him, Gainando whimpered, but Lee Han ignored him.

• * *

Muhadin, a priest of the Sisenza Order that worships knowledge and scholarship, lightly prayed and grabbed his quill.

Though they didn’t brag about it, students from the Phoenix Tower generally had high average grades.

As priests, if they weren’t interested in a class, they’d ruthlessly drop it, but given those grades, you could tell how hard they studied.

Even among those students, Muhadin was known for being erudite and brilliant.

Of course, for Muhadin, a test like -Basic Imperial Language and Logic- wasn’t difficult, just an easily cleared obstacle.

‘If only the other exams were like this.’

Muhadin had no interest in dodging magic while riding a horse.

No interest in swinging a staff to subdue summoned spirits, either.

Muhadin just wanted to sit, read, and study.

For him, a test like this, after a long time, was quite satisfying.

‘Is this number 3? Hm… Ah. Am I going too fast?’

Realizing he’d already solved half the test problems, Muhadin was surprised and looked up.

The hourglass in front of him showed there was plenty of time left.

‘Maybe I should slow down a bit…’

Tap—

Lee Han got up from his seat, turned in his test, and bowed his head.

“Thank you for the semester, Professor.”

“I should be the one thanking a student as outstanding as you, Wardanaz.”

Professor Fliework replied in a cheerful, bright voice. Lee Han was a little moved.

“Officials are the pillars who support the Empire, bearing the burdens of imperial labor.”

“Oh dear, that’s too much… I’m just a lackey! That’s not something you need to have any interest in, Wardanaz.”

Lee Han left the room, his face slightly clouded.

Feeling good, Professor Fliework didn’t notice the changed atmosphere in the classroom.

Muhadin snapped out of it and lowered his head.

‘…Guess I was solving it too slowly!’

• * *

Dukema of the Jay Family, from the White Tiger Tower, exchanged glances with his friend.

-Are you ready?

-Of course.

Their “preparation” was for the -Basic Imperial Language and Logic- test.

To be more precise, it was for cheating, but that was still a kind of test prep.

Cheating wouldn’t help much in other classes, but in a test like -Basic Imperial Language and Logic-, it could be quite effective.

‘We figured we’d be able to cheat at least once in one subject, and finally!’

If Lee Han heard, he’d say, ‘Pathetic idiots, you should have studied in that time,’ but the White Tiger Tower students were dead serious.

Luckily, Professor Fliework didn’t seem to be extra vigilant, either.

A golden opportunity.

‘Successfully sat right behind Wardanaz.’

‘All that’s left is to peek without getting caught.’

After the test had gone on for a while, Dukema decided it was time. He pulled a small spyglass with a blue lens out from his pocket.

He’d paid a fortune to a Black Turtle Tower student for this artifact.

With this, he’d be able to see Wardanaz’s test paper…!

Tap—

Lee Han got up, handed in his test, and was gone.

Both students were stunned speechless.

“???”

“???????”

‘He finished already??’

‘Already??’

‘What the hell is this guy…?!’

‘No! Come back!!’

No matter how much they screamed inside, Lee Han never returned. Gainando, feeling their gaze, was startled and blurted out,

“You punks! Trying to copy my test?! Professor! These guys are trying to copy my test!”

“Oh, no!”

“We were just surprised! We were just surprised and looked over!”

White Tiger Tower students could only give up on cheating with tears in their eyes.

With Wardanaz gone, the only person left to copy from was Gainando, which wouldn’t help anyway.

• * *

“They really are the worst! They tried to steal my test paper!”

“?”

“??”

Blue Dragon Tower students tilted their heads at Gainando’s words.

It wasn’t surprising that the White Tiger Tower tried to cheat—what was weird was that their target was Gainando.

“But why?”

“W-Who knows? Did they study less than Gainando?”

“Is that even possible?”

“No idea. White Tiger Tower guys don’t study for anything.”

“They must have been desperate…”

“Well, I’m off to the healing magic test.”

“Oh. I’ll go too, Wardanaz.”

“Me too.”

(The students who were forced) to take healing magic left along with Lee Han.

On the way to the classroom, they grumbled lightly.

“I mean, making us take it by force—especially right before exams…”

“I never imagined this would happen, right?”

Instead of getting hurt by their words, Lee Han gave only a gentle smile.

“Oh. Wait.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I should stop by the tower. I left my illusion magic book there.”

“What are you talking about, Wardanaz? The healing magic test is now!”

“Yeah. The next test after this one is the illusion magic test.”

“……”

“…Should we get it for you?”

Ignoring his friends’ consideration, Lee Han headed to the tower alone.

‘Actually, I’m not all that worried about the illusion magic exam.’

Of the remaining magic exams, the most daunting was still the imbuement magic test.

It was scheduled for last, making Lee Han’s heart heavy all finals week.

Compared to that, the illusion magic test was…

‘It’s the very model of a reasonable test.’

Lee Han retrieved his book from the tower and headed to the western classroom on the first floor of the main building.

That was where the healing magic test awaited.

‘Healing magic doesn’t seem all that difficult either.’

According to Professor Garcia, healing magic generally takes a great deal of time and practice before it can be used on real people.

For that reason, the types of problems that might come up for first-years would also be limited.

Lee Han anticipated the test would probably take the form of a written exam, like -Basic Imperial Language and Logic-.

“Wait. What are you doing there?”

“!”

Two familiar upperclassmen were approaching from the classroom side.

Phil and Chil, the two upperclassmen in charge of healing magic.

Ordinarily, if an upperclassman appeared at magic school, it meant…

“Are you here because of the test?”

“That’s right.”

“I thought you’d be surprised, but you’re not?”

“Excuse me?”

“Freshmen are usually shocked when they see upperclassmen, aren’t they? We were, back in our day.”

Phil said curiously.

At Einrogard, the second-years always startled the first-years when they first appeared.

Up until then, upperclassmen had been invisible, only to start showing up wandering around.

“That’s not the important thing. Come along—the test location has changed.”

“Something happen?”

“A third-year blew up a classroom during their exam, probably.”

“Wasn’t that a different classroom? I thought it was an artifact made by the second-years that exploded.”

“……”

Hearing these chilling stories, Lee Han followed the two upperclassmen.

What a maniacal school this was!

“Come to think of it, your other friends arrived first—why were you late?”

“I left my book behind, so I went to get it.”

“Oh. I s… Oh right, me too. Give me a sec.”

Phil apologized and turned back the way he’d come. Chil shrugged as if exasperated and said,

“Let’s just wait a minute. Sorry.”

“It’s fine. I have plenty of time.”

As Lee Han stood in the hallway to take out his book, Chil glanced around and chose a classroom, then opened the door.

“Don’t read standing up. Sit and read.”

“I’m all right, but… thank you.”

“What’s the big deal.”

Chil’s eyes, as he looked at Lee Han, were full of pity.

To take every class and have to attend healing magic too.

Even shouldering every curse in the world wouldn’t be as hard as this.

Any senior who didn’t show this much kindness to such a junior deserved to end up in the hottest part of hell.

Rumble…

Creeeaak…

“?”

As Lee Han entered the classroom, he heard the groans of animals and was puzzled.

He looked around to see pens piled up, and inside, animals were sitting either bandaged or looking sickly.

“What is this?”

“Oh. Those are injured animals brought in from the nearby villages. That’s this final exam.”

“!”

Lee Han was shocked.

Not only because of the animals, but because the test question was revealed so candidly.

‘Is this really okay? Maybe it doesn’t matter…’

Though a bit taken aback, since the exam was starting and because of the nature of healing magic, Lee Han said nothing.

“So the test is to heal these animals?”

“That’s right. If you’re interested, you can try practicing before it starts, too. I’ll watch over you.”

Lee Han was a little moved by the upperclassman’s thoughtfulness.

Letting you rehearse the final in advance!

In this field of study that torments students, there were strong bonds.

“Are you sure it’s all right?”

“Yeah. Anyway, students can’t heal them all during the exam, so the rest of us will have to anyway. If you mess up, I’ll be here.”

Chil had a reason for showing this kind of favoritism.

Because this was the second-year final, not the first-year final.