Episode 111. Final Evaluation (1)

If you ask the candidates attending Reynaldo Hero School what the most important thing is, 9 out of 10 would answer without hesitation: “Overall evaluation ranking.”

Whether they are superhumans blessed with holy marks by the seven gods or saviors rescuing humanity from the hands of demons and monsters, heroes are no different from ordinary people who haven’t received holy marks in that they are still “human.”

And fundamentally, humans live for their own interests and safety.

Heroes are no exception.

Even though they are now “candidates” attending the same school, their statuses will vary greatly after graduation.

Some will receive high positions in their home countries or join large guilds to live comfortably.

Some will join small to medium-sized guilds and barely get by.

And some will join unknown mercenary groups and live as low-ranking mercenaries, rolling in the mud.

“It’s not for nothing that candidates are obsessed with their overall evaluation rankings.”

Anyway, there are a few factors that influence this overall evaluation ranking.

First, class attitude and diligence.

This isn’t a significant factor.

Unless you completely mess up, this won’t make or break your ranking.

Second, bonus points earned during classes.

This doesn’t mean much for mid to lower-ranking candidates, but it’s a significant factor for top-ranking candidates.

And finally, midterm and final evaluation scores.

These are the most influential factors in the overall ranking, and the final evaluation, in particular, is so important that it can determine your entire semester’s grade.

Especially since the final evaluation is mostly based on party evaluations.

Since your grade can depend on who you team up with, it’s no surprise that the school turns into a chaotic marketplace during exam season.

“Morris, did you find a party for the final?”

“Uh, if it’s okay, would you like to team up with me?”

“Is there anyone from the Magic Department who hasn’t found a party yet?!”

“No, you crazy leader! What are you going to do with five Warrior Department members in a five-person party?!”

“I don’t know anyone in the Support or Magic Departments, what am I supposed to do?!”

“Ahhh! I need support! I need a support class!!”

“Looking for a party member for the final evaluation (must be skilled, will execute immediately if not).”

When I entered the classroom, it felt like I had walked into a cult gathering, with the heat and madness palpable.

“Total chaos.”

Well, if you don’t find party members within the set period, you’ll be randomly assigned through a lottery called the “spin,” so the competition is naturally fierce.

“In my past life, I was always stuck with the spin.”

The look on my party members’ faces when I joined them, as if they had bitten into something disgusting, is still a painful memory even now.

“But.”

Now, the situation is different.

“Hmm.”

I sat leisurely at the back of the classroom, crossing my legs.

Leaning back in my chair, I watched the candidates frantically trying to form parties.

Their eyes briefly focused on me.

“Well, that’s to be expected.”

Generally, candidates from the Support or Magic Departments, which have fewer members compared to the Warrior Department, are treated like nobles.

But that’s only in “general” cases.

“Top-ranking Warrior Department candidates are the ones Support or Magic Department candidates line up to team up with.”

Of course, my current grades are far from top-ranking, more like bottom-tier.

But unofficially, I’m considered to be within the top five in the Warrior Department.

“Because of what I’ve shown so far.”

The fact that I slaughtered dozens of monsters during the Sealing Festival and overwhelmingly defeated Instructor Vincent in sparring class became quite the topic within the school.

In other words.

Based on rumors alone, I’m now considered a candidate on par with top-ranking Warrior Department candidates like Yuren, Morris, and Camila.

At this level, there should be quite a few candidates wanting to recruit me into their party.

“I’m not some unsellable trash that no one looks at, like in my past life.”

Ah, what a miserable time that was.

Trash stock, leftovers, expired food waste, etc.

The insults and ridicule I endured in my past life flashed through my mind, making my chest tighten.

“I thought I wouldn’t even remember these things because of how much I went through in my past life.”

But they say the trauma from your school days lasts a lifetime.

No matter how much time passes, the misery and helplessness I felt back then remain deeply embedded in my memory.

“But now, the tables have turned.”

If I was the weak one in my past life, now I’m the strong one.

If I was someone people avoided, now I’m someone they should revere.

“Come on, come! Wag your tails and beg, you bastards!”

I smirked as I watched the candidates glancing at me.

And then.

“Ah, damn… we need a few more from the warrior class.”

“Is there anyone good in the Warrior Department?”

“Should we ask Yuren?”

“Hey, do you think Yuren would join our party?”

……

“What about Camila?”

“Camila’s good too, but… she’ll definitely follow the Saintess.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

……

“Ah, Juliet! What about Juliet Kang?”

“Juliet said she already found a party. You know, that party with the Republic’s young masters.”

“Damn… even here, it’s all about connections.”

“It’s unfair, so unfair. How are the dirt-poor supposed to form a party?”

……

“I heard most of the top-ranking Warrior Department candidates have already formed parties.”

“Sigh. Is there really no one left…?”

“Nothing we can do. Let’s try to recruit Felix.”

“Felix is good, but his personality is a bit…”

Oh no.

“Late-ee.”

Am I going to end up in the spin again?

“What’s this?”

Well, fine.

Even if I’m overshadowed by Yuren or Camila, how am I being overlooked for Juliet and Felix?

“Didn’t they say I was stronger than Yuren at some point?”

Then shouldn’t they be swarming to me, begging me to join their party?

But why.

“Ugh, there’s really no one left.”

“I feel like this exam is already doomed…”

“Let’s try to recruit a support class first. If we have a support class in the party, it’s easier to get top-ranking Warrior Department members.”

Not a single person is coming to me?

“Sigh. I thought I was famous enough that even the fourth-years had heard of me. Was it all nonsense?”

Just as I was sighing in disbelief at this incomprehensible situation.

-Ah, right. That guy. The crazy third-year candidate who hides his strength and deliberately gets low overall evaluation scores.

Rios’s words suddenly flashed through my mind.

“…Ah.”

Only then did I realize the cause of this inexplicable situation.

“Now that I think about it, there was a rumor that I was deliberately getting low overall evaluation scores.”

In other words.

From the candidates’ perspective, no matter how strong I am, I’m someone with a unique preference for keeping my grades low.

“Damn it…”

Who would want to stay at the bottom on purpose?

“Sigh.”

Honestly, I didn’t care much about school grades.

What’s important is preparing for the coming disaster, saving my comrades, and changing the future, not school grades.

“But now that it’s come to this, it’s kind of frustrating.”

I never thought the label of “bottom-tier” that had haunted me all my life would stick with me even after my reincarnation.

“Ugh.”

As I was brooding over this.

“Ah… is this Dale’s classroom?”

A familiar voice reached my ears.

“Ah! It’s Yuren!”

“Yuren Helios from Class A, right? The descendant of the Sun’s Sword.”

“I heard he’s stronger than the professors?”

“Wow… he’s really handsome.”

“Why is Yuren in Class C?”

The classroom buzzed as Yuren appeared.

Yuren, accustomed to the attention, walked calmly toward me.

“So, you’re here, Dale.”

“What’s up?”

“Ah… it’s about the final evaluation.”

Yuren glanced at me before continuing.

“Would you like to team up with me?”

“……!”

Honestly, if you ask if I expected this offer, no.

Yuren… no, Yurina and I had been training together daily and got along well, so I thought it was likely we’d team up for the final evaluation.

But.

Thinking about it in your head and hearing the proposal directly are completely different.

Especially in a situation where your expectations have been betrayed (?).

“Yuren, you’re the only one for me!”

“Huh? Dale?”

Overcome with emotion, I hugged Yuren tightly.

Yuren, looking flustered, glanced around before clearing his throat and blushing.

“With Dale’s skills, I can trust you.”

“Hehe. That’s right, just trust me.”

I smirked and patted my chest.

As Yuren and I were chatting, Iris approached.

“Hmm. So, is Yuren our party’s fourth member?”

“…Huh?”

Our party?

Fourth member?

“Huh? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Uh… did we ever agree to form a party together?”

“No. Do we need to say it out loud? You, Camila, and I are definitely teaming up.”

Iris tilted her head as if it were obvious.

“Don’t tell me… you were thinking of recruiting someone else from the support class?”

“Come on, who’s better than our Saintess?”

I quickly shook my head and forced an awkward smile.

“By the way, so it’s me, Yuren, Camila, and Iris in the same party.”

The descendant of the Sun’s Sword, the future sword candidate of the Holy Kingdom, and the Saintess of the Holy Kingdom in the same party.

“This.”

Honestly, it’s a party so strong that not getting first place would be absurd.

“Finally, I’ll get first place for the first time in my life.”

As I was declaring victory even before the final evaluation began, Camila approached and asked.

“By the way, have you thought about the last party member?”

“Hmm. The last party member.”

Berald is in a different grade, so we can’t call him, and Juliet already found a party, as I heard earlier.

“Honestly, with this lineup, it’s better to take a lower-tier party member.”

The main focus of the final evaluation is party performance, but individual contributions are also evaluated for additional bonus points.

“These bonus points are quite significant.”

It’s a kind of penalty to prevent top-ranking candidates from only teaming up with each other.

In other words, candidates need to weigh whether to prioritize the party’s overall performance or the additional bonus points from individual contributions.

In that sense, with such an overwhelmingly capable party, there’s no need to add more competitors.

“Well, can’t we just take the last spot through the spin?”

“Hmm… I don’t like teaming up with someone I don’t know, but I guess we have no choice.”

“I agree too.”

Iris and Yuren also agreed with my opinion.

“Then the only one left is the candidate who gets in through the spin.”

Honestly, who could possibly contribute even a little among these powerhouse members?

“Well, it’s not my concern anyway.”

I forced a bitter smile and expressed my condolences to the last party member who would join through the spin.

* * *

And on the day of the final evaluation.

The last party member chosen through the spin was.

“Uh… ah, hi?”

A face full of freckles and a clumsy impression.

The candidate who kept glancing around nervously was.

“I, I’m Albert!”

“The Chosen One,” Albert Hoover.