Chapter 35

It has been a week since I started attending the academy.

No, to be precise, it should be said that it has been two weeks.

“Aria?”

“[Did you call for me?]”

As I responded to Stella’s call, her expression changed in a strange way.

“Um… are you angry?”

“[… It’s just your imagination, Sister. I’m just a bit tired.]”

“Uh… mmm…”

I never expected Stella would ask me something like this.

Could it be that I’ve been accumulating stress without realizing it since I’m back to living at the chapel these days?

Since I communicate through thoughts rather than normal conversation, my emotions tend to be conveyed more directly.

It seems that, despite thinking I’ve organized my feelings well, a touch of annoyance and irritation is slipping out unintentionally.

However… this is a bit unfair to me.

It’s all because of the chapel inside the academy.

“Forcing someone to be good…”

It’s clear that religion drives people mad.

As a saint, I shouldn’t be saying such things, but spending all day locked in a room praying… or listening to prayers while singing sacred music…

And sitting in the confession room to listen to the worries of the academy students.

I don’t get it; I’ve only been doing confessions for a week, yet why is it so popular?

Anyway, as I go through all this, I feel like I’m gradually losing my mind.

If there are people who enjoy this kind of mental labor, then they won’t have any issues, but it’s tougher for me since I’m not that type.

“Who would have thought I’d miss the cathedral…”

I hadn’t spent that much time there, and since I lived as a saint, I had a relatively free schedule. But now, at the academy to learn, I’m living just like the other nuns.

I’ve only been a week, but it feels like I’m being brainwashed into the doctrine of light…

“Should I self-harm…?”

I would never have entertained such thoughts before, but after the stimulating life in the realm and fighting demons as soon as I arrived at the academy, now I’m supposed to have a peaceful life at the cathedral…

How do people endure such a thing?

Actually, life in the realm was hard, but much easier in a different way.

It feels absurd to say that a place where people are dying or losing body parts and corpses are everywhere felt more comfortable.

While just observing the space might not be good for mental health, it’s not like I was entirely happy.

Well, I don’t want to return to the way things were in the realm.

There are plenty of pleasant things, but I feel a sense of depletion as a person, which makes me dislike it.

Anyway…

Life in the chapel inside the academy was excruciatingly frustrating for me.

Aside from the mandatory subjects, I had to attend classes at the Department of Sacred Studies, so skipping them was not an option.

If possible, in the spirit of the academy, I would have preferred to engage in practical experiences where someone might get hurt, and if they were seriously injured, I could heal them…

My original goal was to assist in the growth of those around me while hunting the Demon King, leaving this place with the legacy of a noble saint.

I chose the academy as a stepping stone for that purpose.

I didn’t come to the academy to spend my days in boredom praying to God.

But they say happiness comes after hardship.

After a week of enduring dull routines at the chapel, the time has finally come for a class where I can showcase my abilities.

Well, to call it a class might not be quite right.

It’s more of a test.

“Finally…!”

The class assignment test!

The significance of this test lies in the fact that the academy doesn’t know our current level, so it is necessary to conduct the test to determine it.

It serves as an evaluation after the entrance exam, with the final testing to confirm what level we should be taught at.

In the game too, the class assignments are decided through this class assignment test.

One of the primary objectives of being at the academy is to enter a higher class.

Due to the significant implications for class efficiency, entering Class A is not just a choice but a necessity.

Currently, no one’s class is determined; it will be set through the scores from the entrance exam and the class assignment test.

The entrance exam has already been taken, so nothing can change that, but how we perform in the class assignment test will significantly alter our future at the academy.

And the most important point.

That would be which class I will enter.

“A-class…!”

The goal I need to aim for is Class A.

Evan, Stella, and the party members I’ll recruit all need to be in Class A.

Most candidates who can join the hero party are quite individualistic; thus, to gather members to defeat the Demon King, it’s better to be in the same class where we can naturally get to know each other and build bonds.

It’s not enough just to form a party; they need to grow close as comrades and build camaraderie.

“Now, I will explain the class assignment test.”

The instructor said those words and began explaining using a magic-imbued crystal orb.

The class assignment test consists of a three-member team: one from the Swordsmanship Department, one from the Magic Department, and one randomly selected from other departments.

While there are various departments, most people utilizing weapons are in the Swordsmanship Department, and those using powers related to magic are all in the Magic Department, resulting in relatively fewer academy members from other departments.

Take me, for instance; I’m in the Department of Sacred Studies.

While here, there are a relatively higher number of members, other departments have very few students.

It is no exaggeration to say that they spend enormous amounts of money every year just to efficiently educate a larger number of students.

The testing location is conducted in the Great Forest managed by the academy.

The basic principle is survival, but points are awarded for catching other parties or monsters. According to the test’s setup, if a team captures a commanding entity that causes such attacks, that team receives the highest score, ending the test.

Though it may be called a monster’s commanding entity, it is simply referred to as a boss monster in the context of the game.

‘This is exactly as I remember it.’

In the game’s story, there shouldn’t be any demons attacking during the class assignment test, so I didn’t need to worry.

However, it can’t be dismissed that the story might change now that demons have been captured, but with the class assignment test being so crucial, concerns about that tend to fade into the background.

In a situation where it’s uncertain whether there will be an attack, it’s difficult to prepare, isn’t it?

So, what I need to worry about now is not the demon attack, but whether I can get into Class A.

If I can’t get in, I won’t be able to form a party as the center, and I won’t be able to grow together with them through various activities, making it akin to the world’s end.

I could eventually enter Class A if I work hard later, but by then, they would have already formed strong bonds, making it nearly impossible.

I have to treat this as my last chance to work hard.

“Then, I will call out names, and three of you will come out to stand together.”

The much-anticipated team gacha time…

In the game, it was literally determined randomly, and the gacha probability varied depending on the game’s difficulty.

In easy mode, you would almost always team up with those who could become members of the hero party, but in contrast, on the highest difficulty, it was entirely random.

If luck was on my side, I might get one team member, but most often, it would be an extra or a mob character with no real storyline, creating a huge nuisance.

I could only hope to meet individuals who wouldn’t be a burden.

If I could just find some who would listen moderately, I could carry them since I possess all the know-how to get into Class A.

“Please…!”

Only let me meet normal people…!

I prayed earnestly in my mind.

I begged to a God I hadn’t believed in at all since becoming a saint.

As numerous names were called, the very first name summoned from our group was Stella.

“Ah…”

The sadness of not being able to team up with me sent her glancing back at me with lingering regret, but since I couldn’t do anything about it, I just returned a sheepish smile.

How long did I wait for another name to be called again?

“Evan.”

Evan’s name was called.

And then, the instructor’s thoughts froze me in place.

“Albert Lakhar.”

Albert Lakhar.

He was the boy who had almost fought Evan the day before the entrance ceremony.

And then…

“Aria Saint Anastasio.”

My name was called.