Chapter 286 Mid-Term Exams
Mid-term exams.
Most of the time, they were the type of exams that would be overshadowed by the finals in college courses.
But, in Ark, things were slightly different.
Since the mid-term exams were one of the important events of the first semester. The reason?
Because after the mid-term exams, the classes that are formed for the sake of general education would actually start mixing with some events where interclass sparing or interclass duels, etc.
And the communities would also be accessible for the first graders after the first mid-terms ended. After all, mid-term scores were different from the entrance exam scores as they would provide a more detailed explanation for students' inclination towards any area.
Therefore, the mid-terms were basically a starting point for the academy and the game to expand more since, after that, more and more heroines would be accessible.
'That guy will try to use this event for sure. Right now, his relationship with Celia and Emma is at rock bottom.' I thought, making my way toward the classroom.
'Then, I should also use this opportunity to gather as much data as possible.' Continuing my thoughts, I remember the events of the game. Even though demons would not be active in the mid-term exams, it was normally in the game. Right now, I have no way of knowing what is going to happen in the future with exact time stamps.
"Brother…. Are you listening to me?" Just as I was thinking to myself, I heard Diana's voice coming beside me.
"Of course," I answered. After all, multitasking was one thing I was proud of.
"Then, what was the last thing I said?" Diana quizzed, testing my attention. But I could clearly see the mischievousness in her eyes.
"What do you think the practical exam will be like?" Repeating the last thing she had said, I smirked for a second to show off.
"….." Hearing this, her eyes brightened, but at the same time, a small flush was on her cheeks.
"It will be sparring with instructors," I answered my own question with an absolute tone. After all, I knew it from the game.
"I see…." Diana nodded her head. "That makes sense. Testing this many students would be a lot harder if it was another test."
'She no more asks anything about how I knew about that.' I thought. This was one of the reasons why I liked this little sister of mine. After all, different from Aliya and Lirienne, the faith she had within me soared to the skies.
/SWOOSH/
Just as we were walking on the way, suddenly, a plant moved at a rapid speed spurting from the ground.
"Kyaaa!" And following that, a scream of surprise came.
'But, she does have this habit.' No matter what, a yandere was a yandere, after all. After the rumors had depleted and my reputation returned to normal, I became a celebrity once again. Therefore, from time to time, there were those stalkers that were watching me from the sides, most of them being girls, since if I saw a guy stalking me, I would smash his face to the ground.
I am straight, and this won't change. ((N1))
"What was it?" I asked, nonchalantly making my way, even though I knew what she did.
"It was a bug, nothing important to take your attention, brother," Diana answered with an angelic smile; it was ironic that what she did was demonic. The dark aura spreading from her was still there after all.
"I see. But don't hurt your hand to catch a bug." I said, implying her to be careful with her actions. Even though she was the second rank in the academy, that didn't mean she could carelessly attack people.
Though I still appreciated my little sister's support and adoration, even if it sometimes led to unexpected and amusing situations. I knew she meant well and just wanted to have some 'fun.'
"I will."
Just like that, we reached the building where we would take the written exam.
"Then good luck, brother, though I doubt you would need it."
"You too."
A suffocating and depressive aura filled the classroom as I stepped inside. The students wore tired expressions, and dark circles under their eyes hinted at sleepless nights spent studying and preparing for the mid-term exams.
The pressure and stress were palpable, and it seemed like the weight of the upcoming evaluations was taking its toll on everyone.
The normal gaze they would throw at the newcomers was nowhere to be seen as usual. Their eyes looked dead, as almost all of them gave the vibe of zombies. The small mana traces left inside their bodies, eyes, ears, and brains were enough to show that the supplemental potions they had taken for the exam were about to show their effects.
I took my seat, glancing around the room, and couldn't help but feel a mixture of nostalgia and pity. Nostalgia because it reminded me of the times on Earth when my friends would cram for the exams on the last days. And pity because I would see the effort they had put into the exams going to waste. After all, none of them were working or studying to master the skills but doing it so that they could pass the exams…
I mean, to be honest, I should normally not criticize them too much since not everyone has photographic memory where they can remember the things they see once.
Because of that, I was relaxed. After all, if you study diligently, there is no way you will need to cram on the last day of exams, but at the same time, the amount of time I needed to put into studying was smaller than most.
In any case, just as I was drowning in my thoughts, suddenly, I heard a faint whisper.
"Callius, how are you?" It was Aliya, who was looking at me with a faint smile.
"Normal?"
"Heh… Of course, you are relaxed."
"Aren't you relaxed too? Your heartbeat and mana don't seem different from normal?" I answered.
"Well, I guess I am," She replied, offering a small smile. "I mean, I've prepared for the exams, and I feel confident in my abilities. Besides, stressing out won't do any good, right?"
This was one of the strengths of this girl. She was someone that was very good at managing her emotions. 'The innate talent of future money demoness.' I thought.
Though the things she had said were not welcomed well by the other students around us, after all, almost all of them had their heartbeats increased.
However, as we chatted, the rest of the students slowly started to come to life. The oppressive atmosphere began to lift, and some of the exhaustion on their faces eased. It seemed that the knowledge that there were those that weren't nervous about the exam and were behaving normally made them relaxed slightly.
Just as our conversation continued, someone entered the classroom. Someone with a huge presence.
As the instructor entered the classroom, we all turned our attention to him. He had a stack of papers in his hand, and his expression was serious.
"Good morning, class. Today's mid-term exam will be a written evaluation of your understanding of the fundamentals of magic theory," the instructor announced. "You will have three hours to complete the exam, and there will be ten questions."
"The questions will cover a range of topics, including the principles of elemental magic, mana manipulation, and spellcasting techniques. You will be required to provide detailed explanations and examples to demonstrate your understanding."
He continued, "Mana usage is strictly prohibited during the exam. Any attempts to copy or communicate with other students will be considered cheating and will result in severe punishment."
A murmur spread through the room, and I saw some nervous glances exchanged among the students. Cheating was not tolerated at Ark, and the consequences were severe.
'Heh, there were those who tried to attempt it in the game. Let's see whether it will happen this time or not.' I thought, looking at the murmurs spreading.
/FLICK/
And with a flick of his fingers, suddenly, a wave of mana spread into the classroom.
"Huh?"
Destroying the mana stored inside the bodies of the students.
"Just like the enhancement potions."
Finishing his words with that, he started handing out the exam papers.
"When you're ready, you may begin. Know that every student's own timer will start the moment their pen touches the papers." the instructor said, distributing the exam papers to each student.
<Ding! New quest {First-Rank} generated.>
Hearing the sound of the system, I nodded my head. 'Just as I expected, another system quest.' Though, at that point, there was no need for me to read the quest at all, since it was pretty obvious.
As everyone received their papers, the room fell into a focused silence.
I read through the questions, taking in their complexities and formulating my responses in my mind.
'Wow…. How easy….' I thought to myself, seeing the questions.
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Question 1:
Calculate the average magical power output of the elementary spell 'Earth Shake.' Under the conditions of mana wavelength of Lunar Eclipse Phenomenon.
Question 2:
Inscribe the enchantment sequence for the spell "Arcane Tempest" using the celestial coordinates of the Northern Star constellation as the reference point.
Question 3:
Find the missing part of the chants shown underneath.
.
.
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https://discord.gg/XJEgBRM3C
Just like that, I started writing the answers to the questions just to finish everything in just 30 minutes….
--------------------------A/N-------------------------
N1: No offense to gay readers if there is one, but it is what it is. There was no way Callius would let a man stalk him.
Hope you liked the chapter. The next one will be filled with action.
You can check my discord if you want. You will be able to see the illustrations here and engage in a conversation with me if I am available.
https://discord.gg/XJEgBRM3C
Check out my new book if you are interested.
This time it will have a modern hunter theme, where MC will be driven by the feeling of vengeance.
The name is; Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest
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