On the day of the Final Exam. As I entered the Examination Hall, I was enveloped in shock and groaned.
“What… is this.”
To my astonishment, there were written test papers prepared in the examination hall. Believing that this exam would be 100% practical like the Midterm Exam, I stared at the examiner with the betrayed feeling of a Roman Emperor.
The examiner tilted his head with an expression of feigned ignorance, meeting my gaze, and only after belatedly realizing he had done nothing wrong did I finally look down at the test paper with a stutter.
‘Crap.’
The test paper contained basic general knowledge questions, theories about tactics and strategy, and some problems testing literary knowledge.
Naturally, I didn’t know the answers because I hadn’t studied.
‘The Master said I didn’t need to study.’
In the midst of all this, there had been a seemingly reasonable excuse for not studying. During class, while I was dozing off, both professors and instructors had given me advice.
—If you’re a Master, you don’t even need this kind of tactics or strategy, but what are you? Cadet Kail.
Believing their words that Masters didn’t need to study, I hadn’t studied at all, and now I felt utterly betrayed… Feeling indignant, I began answering the test questions just as they had taught me.
I resorted to bold fabrications like ‘I wasn’t taught this,’ ‘I don’t know,’ and ‘They never explained this.’
Having miraculously finished all the questions in record time, I slammed my head on the desk, determined to make up for it by acing the practical exam.
* * *
For Kail, who was a Master, achieving a perfect score in the practical exam wasn’t particularly difficult. In fact, even without being a Master, getting a perfect score wasn’t that hard either.
‘What is this?’
Kail gawked at the absolute evaluation system, where completing a specific mission within predetermined criteria automatically granted full points.
How could rankings even be decided this way? Naturally, those with higher written scores would rank higher.
Though Kail managed to secure an A-rank in the practical portion, he was certain his written score would either be a failing grade or barely passable. With this thought, he stormed directly to the Headmaster’s office to protest.
“Headmaster!”
BANG-! Bursting through the door with a thunderous knock, Kail froze as he saw the startled Headmaster and the secretary hastily rising from beneath the desk.
“Getting up to something in broad daylight, huh…?”
“…It’s not what you’re thinking. A document just fell down here.”
“Yeah, sure.”
Under Kail’s scrutinizing gaze, the secretary awkwardly cleared her throat and carefully slipped out of the Headmaster’s office. Watching her leave, Kail turned back to face the Headmaster.
The Headmaster wiped away cold sweat, clearly uncomfortable with the situation, glaring at Kail.
“So—Cadet Kail. What trouble have you caused this time?”
“No, I’ve come to file a complaint.”
“A complaint? About what?”
“About the test questions.”
“Ah, so today was the Final Exam.”
He clearly already knew the exam format had changed. Kail protested, asking why he hadn’t been informed beforehand.
In response, the Headmaster glared back, questioning why he should have been told.
“Informing you about the change in test format would constitute cheating.”
“But still, surely—”
“—And what exactly is the problem with the exam changing like this?”
“…Because I won’t be able to get first place.”
“Isn’t it possible you might not? People can’t excel at everything, after all.”
“How can a Master not come in first place?”
Hearing Kail grumble, the Headmaster slowly smiled and began correcting Kail’s perspective.
“Cadet Kail. Our Academy doesn’t give grades based on someone being a Master. It awards scores based on how well students follow the curriculum.”
“There should be exceptions.”
“The Academy isn’t a place to nurture a minority of mutants. It’s a place to cultivate many gems. We don’t sacrifice the majority for the sake of the few.”
At these words, Kail fell silent. He realized the Headmaster was right. This also meant he wouldn’t secure first place in this final exam.
Kail, who had confidently expected to take first place again, left the Headmaster’s office unable to hide his disappointment.
As he stepped out, the Headmaster’s voice followed him.
“Ah, Cadet Kail.”
“…Yes, what is it?”
“Have a good Vacation.”
“Thank you…”
That’s right.
The Final Exam was over.
Now Vacation begins.
The season all Academy cadets had been waiting for.
* * *
On the first day of Vacation, countless Carriages came and went from the Academy. It was the first time since the Academy’s entrance ceremony that Kail had seen so many Carriages.
Watching the parade of Carriages, Kail sighed and headed toward his mansion. Rather than joining the procession leaving the Academy grounds, he decided it would be better to spend the night at the mansion before heading home.
But Yuri was different.
“I’ll go ahead.”
“Huh? Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“Yeah… See you later, Kail.”
“Huh?”
Watching Yuri leave with unusual coldness, Kail sensed something was off but didn’t stop her. However, unable to shake his unease, he immediately asked Sera why she was acting this way.
“Yuri’s acting strange.”
“What now?”
“No, listen. Yesterday—”
Kail began explaining to Sera Yuri’s sudden departure and her cold treatment of him.
After hearing everything, Sera stared at Kail incredulously.
“Are you an idiot? No, wait, you really are.”
“What? Why?”
“It’s obvious she’s jealous! She’s sulking because you don’t understand her feelings!!”
Realizing Yuri’s emotions after Sera’s outburst, Kail understood her behavior. However, he had a valid reason for not going on a Date with her.
“If I go out with Yuri, we won’t be able to find our Affinity.”
“…Ugh, that’s true.”
“Yeah. Taking care of your engagement is important. But there’s something even more important than that.”
Kail’s expression hardened as he looked at Sera.
“Survival.”
He understood the cruelty of this World. It wasn’t a place where Masters could strut around fearlessly.
Of course, he later learned that Masters dropping like flies was partly due to him slicing everyone he encountered to bits, but the point remained: even Masters could easily die if they weren’t careful.
He needed to grow stronger. He had to prepare for threats.
‘Even if it means making enemies of the entire World.’
He had to gain the power to survive.
This world wasn’t a Game; once you died, it was over. If he died, he couldn’t save Yuri, Sera, or Arthur.
“So? Where’s the first place we’re going?”
“—Before that, Kail, which path will you choose? The easy and fast one, or the difficult and slow one?”
“With options like that, obviously the easy and fast one. Who would pick the difficult and slow route?”
“Right? Good, got it.”
Hearing Kail’s answer, Sera nodded. Just as he said, no one would choose the latter under normal circumstances.
That is, until they learned the catch.
“Oh, by the way—it’s an easy path, but if you fail, you die.”
“…What?”
She smiled sweetly as she said this.
The easy and fast path.
The stakes? Your life.
* * *
CLATTER- The Carriage shook violently. Upon reaching their destination, the terrified coachman called out to Kail and Sera in a trembling voice.
“W-we’ve arrived, Young Master…”
“Huh? Already?”
SWOOSH- Opening the door and stepping out, Kail tilted his head in confusion upon realizing they’d only reached the edge of the forest.
“What? We’re still far from the destination.”
“It’s impossible to go further… The horses are too scared to enter.”
“Is that so? Sera, let’s get out.”
“Grrr-!”
Following Kail’s command, Sera hopped out of the Carriage carrying a bag stuffed with supplies. Letting out a sigh, she handed the coachman a pouch of Money and spoke.
“Starting tomorrow, come here every day at this time for a week. Wait for an hour, and if we don’t return, you can leave.”
“Y-yes… Understood…”
“Oh, and if we don’t show up by the last day, please send this letter to the Academy. Thank you.”
The coachman didn’t respond, quickly driving off to escape the area. Watching him flee in a panic, Kail chuckled dryly.
“Was it really that scary?”
“Of course! Don’t you know how many people have died entering here by mistake?”
“Is it really that dangerous?”
“Not really. It’s just that the forest is like a maze. Once you go in, you can’t get out.”
“What? So we’re trapped too?”
“Pfft, we’ve got you and me, don’t we?”
Sera patted her rock-solid chest confidently.
“Don’t worry! Whether it’s the Great Witch’s Forest or whatever, I’ll conquer it!”
With that, she strode into the forest. Kail quietly followed, gazing into the ominous Magic Power rippling through the air, welcoming them.
