My Stepmom is Too Pretty, and It’s Troubling Me – Chapter 107

Anyway, the freshman representative Nordal’s oath of office has ended, marking the conclusion of the Academy’s entrance ceremony.

Honestly, the only thing that stood out as somewhat entertaining was Nordal’s looks. But hey, that was something at least!

After all, it’s when you see something beautiful among a bunch of unattractive things that beauty shines the brightest, right?

“Finally, it’s over!”

“I heard there’s a test coming up next. What’s that about?”

“I don’t know! Maybe they’ll let us know soon?”

Well, that’s true.

After the entrance ceremony, we were still waiting in the Auditorium.

Some high-ranking nobles or whatever are still leaving after attending the academy’s entrance ceremony. As Ella said, it seems they’ll let us know in a bit.

So, while we were just sitting in our chairs waiting, a younger teacher, but still middle-aged compared to the first elderly gentleman, came up on stage.

Most likely, they were going to provide guidance regarding the test after the entrance ceremony.

– From now on, we will conduct a class allocation test for the freshmen entering Solkemia Academy.

A thick voice echoed throughout the Auditorium through a megaphone.

Hmm… Just as I expected.

– The test will be conducted in the same manner for everyone, with no special privileges or penalties for any of the freshmen.

The gist of what was being said was nothing special.

To put it simply, the exam consists of two parts: one written and one practical.

The written test is related to the subjects taught at the academy, while the practical involves fighting monsters.

How… cliché.

Should I feel thankful that it’s not some boring target practice?

After listening to the entire explanation, we began moving towards the exam venue. It wasn’t a mass movement; we were divided in groups.

“Ella, you’ll do well on the test, right?”

“Hehe! What do you think I am? I’m here to study hard at the Academy, unlike you!”

“Well, that’s a relief. If you do well here, we might get to switch dormitory rooms.”

“Hohoho!”

Ella was showing her confidence.

Well… It’s true that she came with a decent purpose compared to me. Unlike me, she actually came to learn at the Academy… I had nothing to say.

“Hmmm… Looks like they’re placing the freshmen in classrooms.”

They really seem to want everyone to take the test under the same conditions.

I’d always found it hard to understand how the Academy could claim to treat status and rank equally, but it does seem like they’re sincere about it in this regard.

Of course, considering Nordal, the freshman representative, today, it hardly feels equal at all.

“Ella, good luck on the test.”

“Hehe! Don’t worry about me, worry about yourself!”

As I was entering the classroom one by one, the classroom filled up right when it was Ella’s turn.

Well… I didn’t really need to take the test together with Ella, so I didn’t mind too much, but I felt a little disappointed.

It would have been fun to watch her take the test from the back of the classroom.

And so, I ended up in a different classroom from Ella.

“Hmmm…”

Since I was the first to enter, I ended up sitting in the front row, and that didn’t feel great at all. In school, the best seats are always in the back corner, right?

You get less attention from others, and it’s a place where you can just relax.

It was a bit disappointing, but considering it was a test, I wasn’t going to complain too much.

– Tap… Tap…

As I spent my time waiting for the other students to come in, a figure that looked like an instructor walked into the classroom.

Was it the academy’s unique uniform? A woman dressed in such attire.

She clearly looked like a teacher, so I assumed she came for the test.

“When the clock strikes 11, the exam papers will appear on top of your desks. Along with the exam papers, the writing tools will also appear, so don’t worry, just wait a bit.”

“…Hmm.”

I’m not exactly sure, but it seems they distribute the exam papers through magic.

I wonder if it’s because this is a place supported by the Empire?

The level of sophistication definitely felt high. I don’t think Ashley ever showed off magic like that… Personally, I found it a little fascinating.

So, while I listened to the sound of the clock hands ticking, I waited slowly, and soon the small magic circle on my desk lit up brightly with a loud ticking sound.

And then…

“Oh…”

Just as mentioned, the exam paper and pen appeared on my desk.

What kind of magic is this?

I was a bit curious, but right now, the test took priority, so I decided to analyze the magic afterward.

– Scratch… Scratch…

Anyway, I started solving the test questions.

Actually, most of the problems were nothing special, so I could solve them without much trouble.

What was the correct explanation regarding the structure of the low-level magic ‘Ignition’ magic circle?

Which of the characteristics of monsters transformed by magic stones is incorrect?

Who is not a character mentioned in Chapter 3 of Solkemia Empire’s founding myth?

Most of these were things I learned around the age of 6 or 7.

Sure, I started learning about magic later, but I didn’t feel that any of the test questions were particularly difficult.

There were even questions about art, which was somewhat surprising, but I learned a lot of that from William over the years.

Nothing really difficult at all.

“…Hmm.”

After what? Ten minutes? Fifteen…? I managed to finish all the problems in a surprisingly short time.

There were 50 questions, but they were way easier than I expected; it really was nothing.

“Haah…”

“Ugh…”

“What is this…”

“I haven’t learned this…”

“…….Huh?”

Without meaning to, I let out a small sound.

Once I finished all the test questions and put down my pen, resting my chin in my hand, I suddenly heard something strange.

The sighs, laments, disappointments, and frustrations from around the students were cutting through my ears.

“…?”

Why is everyone reacting like that?

Of course, I couldn’t see the other students’ reactions since I was sitting in the front, but I could definitely hear it… I couldn’t help but pay attention.

Isn’t this the kind of stuff everyone should learn?

I might not know about magic, but I thought I learned plenty about other fields a long time ago.

“…?”

Oh wait, most of the freshmen in this classroom are probably commoners, so that might explain it.

It makes sense that questions regarding art could be hard for commoner students.

If that’s not it…

“…”

Is that it?

*

Anyway, the written test turned out to be easier than expected.

No, it was just plain easy.

Hmm… It felt so trivial that I might get a perfect score, but it also made me wonder if everyone else would end up scoring perfectly too.

“I hope the practical test is a bit harder.”

“…Huh?”

“It was so easy that it wasn’t even fun.”

“…What are you talking about?”

As Ella and I moved to the practical test venue, she suddenly asked me.

What’s up with that?

“Wasn’t the written test easy?”

“…It was hard!”

“Huh?”

“Huh?”

“…No, wasn’t it easy? The founding myth of the Solkemia Empire, we all learned that when we were 6, and with monsters, most of them were just low-level monsters… and all the magic-related questions were just intermediate or lower magic spells, right?”

I didn’t really know what was going on, but I calmly explained to Ella.

Something felt off.

I started explaining why the questions from 1 to 50 were easy.

“The picture in question 37, ‘The Scream and the Knight,’ was inspired by a scene from the founding myth…”

“Question 43, the low-level magic, the symbols drawn in the center of the magic circle for the magic bullet are…”

I explained, and with each explanation, Ella started to look more and more horrified as I wrapped up my explanation.

“…How do you know all that?”

“Uh… I learned it?”

“What kind of 13-year-old noble learns all that…?”

“…Huh?”

…Isn’t this something everyone learns as a given?

I learned it early because of the tutors William hired, but these were just basic things I already knew…

But judging by Ella’s reaction, maybe she might be right.

No, according to William, nobles are supposed to learn all this from childhood…

“…Ella, how many questions did you answer?”

“…I solved 28 out of 50.”

“…Oh dear.”

…Something.

A bit…

Hmm…

“…Should we just focus on the practical test…?”

“Are you trying to change the subject right now!? What on earth have you been doing all this time…!”

“…I have no idea? I think we should focus on the practical test. Didn’t they say we’ll be fighting some kind of monster soon?”

“No, that’s just avoiding the question…!”

…Hmm.

I really don’t know anything.

Yeah, let’s just chalk it up to that and smoothly move on. It’s way too late to question things now, isn’t it?

“Haha…”

…I might just realize how severe the consequences of early education might be.

Hmm. But if I get a good grade, I can use a better dormitory room.

Maybe it’s actually lucky?

In the end, I’ve increased my chances of getting better grades than others, so I decided to think of it that way.