Chapter 14

As those around them listened with interest, they placed their bets one after another, and the wagers on Allen's assigned class were quickly settled.

Emmy, the capable magic engineer, immediately recorded who had bet on what.

The most popular bet was Class A, but given that Allen was from a viscount's family in a rural area, there were some concerns about his academic performance, and a fair number of votes also went to Classes B and C.

With 20 students per class and 100 students passing, there were classes up to Class E.

However, based on Allen's magic power and the results of the practical exam, even if his academic test score was at the cutoff point of 500th place, he was already guaranteed to be in Class C or higher.

With the bets confirmed, Due continued his story.

"... Well, after that, if you've seen the video, you probably get the general idea. He suddenly launched a clumsy attack, which was a ploy to gauge my response from the start.

Thinking that I wouldn't get hurt if I could move that much, he swung a horizontal strike, which I parried, causing him to drop his weapon.

I then delivered a spinning kick to his face from the blind spot where his body had moved.

From the first hit and the spinning kick, it was clear that he was using a movement technique that was as difficult as the one devised by the old man Godolphin, and he was using a body-strengthening magic at a level close to full power. Considering his morning run, it's almost certain that he had already adjusted himself by the time he walked to the reception."

"May I ask two questions?"

Dante, the gentle-jawed muscleman, raised his hand.

"Indeed, it was a sharp spinning kick, but it didn't seem to be at a level where it could touch the bangs of Due Over, the commander of the Third Legion of the Kingdom's Knights, known as 'One Thousand Miles in a Single Rush.'"

"Hmm? Ah, from this angle, it's hard to see, isn't it? I was underestimating him a bit... That kid deliberately placed his wooden sword to the right of the center, adjusting the direction it would fly when deflected. The aim was to guide my gaze to check if the flying weapon would hit the standing examinee. That's when the kick came from a blind spot, and my reaction was delayed."

"Hmm, I see. That clears up my second question as well. I was wondering how he could suddenly drop his weapon, even if it was to create an opening against a superior opponent... He must have calculated the return on that move. Moreover, he immediately obtained a weapon from a nearby examinee."

"That's the nasty part of that kid's character. Looking back, he seemed unusually focused on the other examinees. But in certain situations, he was counting them as part of his strategy, treating them as cards to play. Don't you think he's a bit rotten?"

"I'm not sure about his character, but indeed, as the old man Godolphin said, he doesn't seem to be a fool..."

"Alright, everyone, let's get back to grading..."

Just as Muzika was about to continue,

"By the way, did the old man Godolphin see the video of Due's exam after that?"

Justin added with a grin.

"Hmm? I haven't seen it yet... Was there another interesting candidate?"

A few of them had seen it and looked awkwardly away.

"No one came to Due's station after that! Not a single person! I couldn't see it well from my spot, but he must have looked really scary after getting a point taken from a student! Hahaha!"

Patch, who couldn't read the room, laughed loudly, and Due's forehead veins bulged.

"I'm not going to get mad at a 12-year-old kid!"

Justin quickly added,

"That's true. He did seem in a good mood after the kid left. He was standing there with that fierce smile, looking forward to the next challenging examinee. But as no one came, his expression gradually turned lonely..."

As Justin egged him on, the capable magic engineer Emmy immediately switched the video.

There, on the screen, was Due's lonely back, standing alone near the reception.

"Hahaha! Emmy, this angle is perfect!"

Patch laughed again, and a few others couldn't help but chuckle.

"Don't show that!

Honestly, they're all reading the room and choosing their examiners based on their moods! The ones who came straight to me at the beginning were normal, but the rest were no good. The level has dropped, hasn't it?!"

"Ho ho ho. Well, everyone, let's laugh it off. After playing with such a fun toy, it's understandable to be a bit excited and let some presence leak out.

...But I do hope the examinees show a bit more spirit!"

Godolphin tightened the atmosphere, and everyone's smiles faded. Muzika then prompted them to get back to work.

"Alright, everyone, let's get back to grading! We're way behind schedule! We don't have time!"

But as everyone was about to return to their work, the capable magic engineer Emmy whispered,

"Ah... The reason no one came to Due's station. I might have seen it earlier..."

Everyone stopped in their tracks.

Emmy fiddled with her magic device again.

'The grumpy bearded examiner is in a bad mood from a hangover, so it's better not to go near him!'

There, Allen was seen giving a cute girl a secret tip with a friendly smile.

"That girl apparently told two of her friends about it in the 'Cut-off Grass,' and it probably spread among the examinees like wildfire."

Emmy added.

"That brat! What kind of nonsense is he spreading! I didn't have time to drink before the exam! I pushed through the night and even took your exams, you brats!"

Due, who had just declared that he wouldn't get mad at a 12-year-old, snapped.

The capable magic engineer Emmy showed Due's lonely, lonely back again.

Patch held back for a moment.

But when the crucial Godolphin burst out laughing, everyone joined in.

"Hahaha!"

"It's so funny!"

"Due's back after that!"

'Thank you! My name is Allen Lovaine!'

Emmy's fingers moved swiftly.

"...Don't act so cheerful and fake!"

Due declared that he would change his bet from Class A to a long shot of Allen failing the academic test.

◆

Late at night—

As we were trying to catch up with the slow progress of the practical exam grading, a man in charge of the academic exams entered the room.

"The results of the academic exams are in!"

Everyone's eyes immediately turned to the man, sensing something unusual.

"Hmm. How did Allen Lovaine do?"

The old man, who was once a relentless warrior and is now known as 'Buddha Godolphin,' asked with a smile. But the aura of determination from his past days was still palpable.

After the repeated provocations by Justin and Emmy over the past few hours, the bets had skyrocketed, and with the significant income of the people in the room, the amount now at stake on Allen's score was no laughing matter...

"Ah, Allen Lovaine??

Well, that kid... Ah, —"

Everyone was stunned by the report.

◆

10:30 AM.

Weaving through the crowd of anxious examinees, I stood in front of the board where the list of successful candidates was posted.

I was confident.

I kept telling myself it would be fine, but in my previous life, despite all my efforts, I couldn't reach the 'Pinnacle of the Highest Academy' in the capital.

I couldn't shake off the bad feeling.

Starting from the E Class section, I searched for my name with a prayerful heart.

Then, my mother casually said,

"Allen, it's there. Over there."

I hurriedly checked where she was pointing and saw the following:

─────────

Allen Lovaine

Magic Power (C)

Knight Course Practical Exam (S)

Academic Exam (A)

Assigned Class (A!)

Knight Course Overall Rank (4/50)

─────────

I knew that a C in magic power meant a rank between 40th and 60th among the successful candidates. That made sense.

I had expected something around that level.

An A in the academic exam meant a rank between 2nd and 20th overall. It seemed a bit too good, but I was proud of the result of my hard work.

But what about the practical exam (S)?

Only one person gets an S in each category, meaning the top evaluation among all examinees.

...Huh?

I had taken the exam from a hungover security guard with a scruffy beard. I wondered if there was some mistake, but another item caught my attention.

Assigned Class (A!)

...Is there such a class?

I looked at my mother, who was standing next to me.

She was staring at the board with a puzzled expression.

August 4, 2022: I have revised the text to correct the misuse of words.