Chapter 91
Time passed, and the midterm exams had officially begun.
The midterms were carried out over a total of three days.
From Monday to Tuesday, for two days, were the written exams.
And the practical exam was held over the course of one day.
However, the date of that practical exam differed for each year.
‘The 3rd years on Wednesday, the 2nd years on Thursday, and the 1st years on Friday.’
According to the setting, this was a method the Academy had maintained since long ago.
‘Was it to let students watch the exams of other years?’
I didn’t know the exact reason, but what mattered was that we could conveniently go watch the practical exams of seniors or juniors from other years.
In other words, on Thursday I could go see Lisa’s swordsmanship exam, and on Friday Lisa could come to see mine.
‘Well, the practical exam is something to think about when the time comes. For now, I should properly focus on the written exams.’
When it came to using my body, I had gained things thanks to my transmigration, but when it came to using my head, I hadn’t received anything.
I knew quite a lot about this game, but most of it was fragmentary knowledge.
Because of that, I had to study for the written exams without any tricks.
‘Still, I was lucky the contents weren’t that difficult.’
Lysquare Academy placed more emphasis on practical subjects than on written ones.
Thanks to that, there weren’t any particularly difficult subjects among the written exams.
Of course, the subjects teaching the Empire’s history and law required a lot of memorization, but aside from those two, everything else was manageable.
‘Let’s at least avoid repeating a year.’
If grades became too low, graduation itself could be postponed.
I really didn’t want to go through that, so at the very least, I wanted grades good enough to graduate safely.
‘Anyway, it’s the first exam.’
The tests started today.
I could clearly feel that it had already been nearly two months since I came to this world.
‘I’ve completely adapted now.’
Maybe because I had gone through all sorts of events during those two months, living here no longer felt particularly uncomfortable.
The road ahead was long, but I felt that I could somehow make my way through it.
“…I should go take the exam.”
After shaking off the random thoughts, I headed to the classroom early in the morning once again.
“Gideon, Gideon! Did you do well on the exam?”
“Yes, since I wrote down everything, I think I did well.”
Tuesday, which meant the last day of the written exams.
As soon as the final written exam ended, Layla approached me.
“Ooo, really? I found it difficult. Ugh, history is just too hard.”
“There was quite a bit to memorize.”
“That’s what I’m saying. I thought my head would explode while studying.”
“But Lady Layla, shouldn’t you at least get history right, even if you miss the other subjects?”
“Mm… yeah. My dad told me that even if I forget everything else, I must learn history properly. He said that as royalty, knowing the Empire’s history is only natural.”
Layla let out a deep sigh, then continued with a curious expression.
“More importantly, Gideon. Was it question 15? You know, the one about the founding of the Empire.”
“Ah, yes. I remember that question.”
“What did you write for the part about the Isrinbloom Ducal Family? The one about the person who made Muktaba the best in ironcraft.”
“If you mean that, the nomadic chieftain who governed fire in Muktaba was……”
Layla waved her hand.
“No, not that one. The… the one who made Muktaba the best in ironcraft and steelwork.”
“I wrote Murama Isrinbloom for now.”
Layla had asked, so I answered, but I couldn’t be confident.
“But honestly, I might have gotten it wrong too. My memory is hazy. The Isrinbloom Ducal Family has so many famous leaders.”
“Yeah, exactly. That’s why I got confused too. Hmm… Ah! Sara! Come here for a second.”
“Hm? Princess, did you call?”
Tilting her head, Sara walked over to Layla.
“You know. For question 15, what did you write about the Isrinbloom Ducal Family? The person who made Muktaba the best in ironcraft.”
“Ah… th-that question, I… I wrote Ashiro Isrinbloom……”
“Huh? Ashiro Isrinbloom? Isn’t that person unrelated to the steel industry?”
I had no choice but to nod at Layla’s words.
If what I studied was right, Ashiro Isrinbloom……
“Yes, that’s correct, Lady Layla.”
Jason approached us with a dry laugh.
“Ashiro Isrinbloom was the one who planned the city of Muktaba. Gideon, you’re correct. Muktaba’s steel industry and ironcraft reached their peak thanks to Murasa Isrinbloom.”
“I’m relieved I got it right.”
“You studied hard, so it’s natural. But Sara, you…”
Jason looked at Sara in disbelief.
“How can you not know someone from your own ducal family’s lineage?”
“I-I just got confused! Our family has so many outstanding figures……”
“Even so. Out of all people, you shouldn’t be the one getting confused, right?”
“S-shut up.”
Sara shouted with a reddened face, but Jason kept teasing her with a sly grin.
Leaving the bickering pair behind, I stepped out of the classroom and found Lisa waiting for me.
“Did you do well on the exam?”
“Yes, I think I did okay.”
“Of course you did. I tutored you until late, remember.”
“It helped a lot.”
I wasn’t just saying it; Lisa’s tutoring truly had helped me in many ways.
As rumored of a model student, Lisa seemed to study quite well.
“Heheh. Good. Anyway, the practical exams start tomorrow.”
“I still have some time.”
“Right. You take yours on Friday. Tomorrow is the 3rd years’ practical exam… If you have time, want to go watch Nia-unnie take hers together?”
“Yes, that sounds good.”
“And on Thursday, I’m taking mine. You’ll watch, right? I want to show you my cool side.”
“Of course I should go.”
Hearing that, Lisa smiled faintly and lightly nipped my neck.
“Heheh. Make sure you come. I’ll definitely go watch you shine on Friday too.”
“…Yes, understood.”
Now, only the practical exam remained.
I wasn’t certain things would go well, but I planned to do my very best.
* * *
Thursday, the day the 2nd years took their practical exam.
The sight Lisa showed that day was certainly overwhelming.
‘Every time she swung that greatsword once, all the monsters went flying.’
The midterm for the 2nd-year Swordsmanship Class was simple.
They just had to defeat monsters.
Simple, but the monsters were quite strong, so it required coming up with proper strategies and tactics on the spot.
Because it was a rather difficult test, most 2nd-year students had no choice but to struggle.
But Lisa was the exception.
‘People say if your head is weak, your body suffers… but if your body is too strong, then your head doesn’t have to.’
The core of this exam was quickly figuring out strategies and tactics suited to the situation… but Lisa simply suppressed everything with her physical power.
She was so strong that strategy and tactics weren’t even necessary.
‘But it was clear that the Balmuth Family’s swordsmanship really shined when fighting groups of enemies.’
The weakness of the Balmuth Family’s swordsmanship was dueling—specifically facing humans one-on-one.
But when fighting monsters, especially large numbers of them, nothing beat the Balmuth Family’s technique.
Keeeeegh―?!
Kraaaagh―!
Monsters went flying one after another from Lisa’s sword.
Watching that sight, I let out a faint laugh without meaning to.
‘I must never make her angry.’
If the day came when she genuinely got angry at me… she might literally fold me in half.
Anyway, once time passed and the 2nd-year Swordsmanship Class midterm ended—
“How was I?”
“You were amazing.”
“I used a bit more strength than usual because you were watching.”
Lisa came straight to me and spoke.
Her expression was blank, but her eyes were oddly excited… and expectant.
“I did well, right?”
“Yes, you did extremely well.”
“Yeah, I did well, right?”
“Yes, you…”
“……”
Lisa silently looked up at me.
No—more precisely, she slightly lowered her head toward me.
Seeing that, I felt like I knew what she wanted, so I quietly smiled and gently patted her head.
“You worked hard.”
“Mm, I did work hard.”
At my touch, Lisa gave a small smile and wrapped her arms around my waist.
Then she bit my neck.
At first, I thought she was just nibbling affectionately…
“Ugh? L-Lady Lisa?”
“What? I’m thirsty.”
“This is the hallway.”
“…Should we go to the Disciplinary Committee room?”
“Yes, let’s go. But please don’t drink too much. I have my exam tomorrow.”
Right—tomorrow was finally the last day of the midterms.
Depending on the situation, I might have to face Sara again.
“Alright! That’s it! Gideon, you win!”
At Luke’s shout, I lowered my sword.
The first match held Friday morning.
My opponent was a commoner student named Paulo, and I defeated him without difficulty.
“Good work.”
“Eh? Ah… th-thank you.”
I held out a hand to the fallen Paulo, and although flustered, he grasped my hand and stood up.
“Thank you.”
“Think nothing of it.”
Anyway, I won the first match easily.
And according to Instructor Luke, the round of 6 would be finished by the end of the morning.
‘The round of 6 should begin soon. Then my opponent will be……’
I glanced at the nearby board.
Although the round of 12 wasn’t completely over yet, the student I would face in the round of 6 was an obvious match.
‘Dave Bonscora.’
The second son of the Bonscora Marquisate and a fighter no weaker than Jason or Sara.
No—depending on circumstances, he might even be stronger than both.
He was in the middle of his match right now…
Boom―!
His opponent went flying from a single strike by Dave.
Seeing that, I instinctively knew this sparring match would not be easy.
Time passed, and the round of 6 began.
As expected, in the first and second matches of the round, both Sara and Jason displayed overwhelming skill and took their victories.
And the last, the third match, was mine against Dave.
“You two, come to the center of the gym and wait there for a moment. We’ll begin soon.”
At Luke’s words, Dave and I walked to the center of the gym and stood facing each other.
To break the awkward silence, I spoke first.
“It’s an honor to cross swords with you, Lord Dave.”
“……”
“I’ve heard much about the Bonscora Family’s swordsmanship. So I—”
“Shut up.”
“…Yes.”
I expected it, but he truly was curt.
No—more accurately, he was probably holding his words back to suppress his emotions.
The Bonscora Family was one that transformed their repressed emotions into power.
“Alright, you two. Draw your swords and get ready. Prepare…”
At Luke’s instruction, Dave and I both drew our swords.
And immediately, I cloaked my body in aura, while Dave…
‘That must be the Bonscora Family’s… Black Smoke.’
Black smoke appeared around his body.
A power called Black Smoke—unique to the Bonscora Family—which suppressed negative emotions and transformed them into strength.
That power enhanced physical ability in all aspects.
“…Begin!”
At Luke’s shout, Dave charged at me.
A very fast speed—almost comparable to Jason.
As his sword swung toward me, I instinctively raised mine to meet it.
And when our swords collided—
Boom―!
With a tremendous sound, I was sent flying backward.
‘Ha, damn.’
While flying back, I had no choice but to curse internally.
Jason’s speed combined with Lisa’s strength.
I expected a strong opponent, but Dave was clearly not someone easy to handle.