The Academy’s Guide to Useless Students – Chapter 35

The day of the midterm test had arrived.

I visited Theodore’s workshop, which he had moved to within the empire.

“Welcome! — Ah, Yuto!”

Charlotte greeted me, her tail wagging happily. Her cat ears perked up as if she was declaring her presence.

Even upon a second look, a case of a beastkin being an apprentice to a dwarf left a strong impression.

“Is Mr. Theodore working?”

“Yes! Your requested item is in the final stages. He’s been working nonstop and pulling all-nighters.”

“I hope he isn’t overworking himself…”

That was a lie.

I was just grateful for his labor. I waited for Theodore while chatting trivialities with Charlotte.

“Ha! This is quite a delicacy!”

Theodore came out of the workshop, chugging soda, clearly pleased with the local specialties I had brought him.

“How did you know I was here? It just so happens the item is finished.”

“It took longer than I expected.”

“Well, it’s a masterpiece that rivals a holy relic. Do you know how much the materials for forging cost…”

“You have to invest generously in your equipment.”

It’s only natural since it directly ties to one’s life.

Theodore handed over the [finished product] with a shrug, as if he understood. It was a long coat made from pristine white fabric.

The design was quite close to a modern trench coat.

“Unique style, right? I couldn’t picture it when Charlotte brought the blueprints, but now that it’s finished, it looks quite impressive, doesn’t it?”

“Hehe, I based it on a type of clothing called ‘kozzo’ that is often worn by folks from the Northern Continent!”

Charlotte flashed a cheeky smile.

“That’s excellent.”

I was truly amazed.

The sense of modern fashion was infused into it.

With proper planning, I might turn it into a lucrative venture.

Swoosh. Swoosh.

Putting that aside for now, I donned the [Versatile Coat] made from the materials of the [Dosesets Kimono].

The soft touch wrapping around my body and the subtly sturdy material felt just right.

━━━━

[Versatile Coat]

[SS Grade – Noble Item]

– An item bound to the wearer, custom-made.

-(Fire)(Water)(Wind)(Earth)(Light)(Dark)(Thunder)
8Attribute Resistances.

-(Mental)(Illusion) Resistances.

-(Poison)(Paralysis) Resistances.

– Protects from cold.

– Protects from heat.

━━━━

Such insane performance, right?

Since it was custom-made, the grading criteria were different. It could easily be regarded at the level just beneath a [Holy Relic] based on loot standards.

“Wow. Quite impressive, huh? It oddly suits you.”

“Really! You look like a proper gentleman!”

“Huh? Charlotte, why are you suddenly blushing? Did you fall for me? Hahaha!”

“W-What are you talking about!… Master, please be quiet!”

Such embarrassment.

Anyway, now that everything was wrapped up, it was finally time to dive into the main event. I left the workshop and made my way directly to the academy.

To tackle the upcoming Demon Fire episode.

“From now on, the test will begin. The duration until the test ends is two days. Supplies, including essentials, will be distributed at checkpoints. Markers will be displayed so that you can see them from anywhere. If you think you can survive by running away without fighting—well, that would be a foolish notion. Your location info will be revealed every 30 minutes. That’s all for the explanation. We all enter through the portal.”

The instructor’s firm hand gesture marked the start of the survival test. While some cadets trembled in anxiety, others entered the portal with serious expressions, gripping their weapons tightly.

“Cletta, good luck.”

“Yeah… Mankey, you too.”

With steely determination, Cletta stepped through the portal. Yuto informed her of a goal outside the midterm test: she must win the duel against Laura Freeze during this exam. That task would become an undeniable pressure.

But she had to do it.

This would be the turning point of Cletta Barriet awakening and determining Laura Freeze’s value.

Yuto had something in mind to assist her.

He slipped back from the line.

In order to keep an eye on the biggest hindrance to this plan.

“I found you.”

A cadet wielding dual swords with long pink hair. If she was strong enough to stand toe-to-toe with Laura Freeze, there was a high probability she could interfere in Cletta’s duel. It was something needing preemptive measures, so he had to implement the plan.

“Kiring.”

“Yuto? Are you finally going to help me out with that internal racket!?”

“No, I refuse.”

“Ugh… Then what do you want?”

“Shall we collaborate during this test?”

“Collaborate?”

Yuto whispered softly in Kiring’s ear and explained.

“Although the test is individual, there are no restrictions against ‘collaboration.’ And the ultimate goal is to rank within the top three and get promoted to Class A.”

“Hmm? You could easily secure a ranking, Yuto. Surely, you don’t need collaboration?”

“My purpose is to place Cletta within the top three.”

“…You’re talking about that horrid cat?”

Yuto didn’t bother to argue over the name. There was no time for that.

“In any case, if we want to get Cletta in the top three, we need to address a certain issue.”

“What issue is that?”

“Laura Freeze. We have to eliminate her.”

“Laura Freeze? Is she strong!?”

Yuto quickly cut off Kiring’s curiosity.

“She doesn’t fight fairly. If we leave her be, innocent cadets will suffer.”

“Th-That can’t be! We must inform the instructor right away… Ugh!”

Yuto covered her mouth.

And looked deeply into her eyes.

“We cannot do that. If the midterm test is halted, the opportunity for promotion will vanish. Don’t you want to move up too? Into the battlefield where strong individuals await?”

“Whoa! I-I want to go too!”

Kiring’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

Noticing her enthusiasm, Yuto decided to move forward with the plan.

“How about it? Help me out so we can get all three of us promoted.”

“Sure! I’ll join that plan!”

“Alright. Then just follow my instructions, Kiring.”

“Got it! What should I do?!”

Yuto pointed to the marking bracelet he had received as a support device.

“This device is used to unveil personal location information every 30 minutes. Kiring, please utilize the hidden function of this equipment.”

“Hidden function?”

“It has a ‘Target Mark’ function that allows you to disclose your location information to your opponent. Please use that to let me know your location.”

“Got it. So I can rapidly join in, huh?”

“Exactly! Once we pass through the portal, we’ll be designated at random locations.”

“Understood. I’ll follow your lead, Yuto!”

“Great! Let’s go right away.”

Having finished sharing the operation, the two stepped through the portal. Watching quietly from the side, Geoffrey raised an eyebrow while sipping the tea offered by the vice-instructor.

“…Did such a function exist?”

The shimmering landscape abruptly transformed into a forest. Kiring surveyed her surroundings, realizing she had successfully warped.

“Let’s see… the hidden function Yuto mentioned… Aha, found it!”

Kiring rubbed the red gem located at the bottom of the bracelet as Yuto had instructed.

Now, Yuto would be joining her after receiving the coordinates.

However, suddenly in front of Kiring appeared a clunky notification window.

[Emergency Escape Function Activated.]

“Eh?”

[Exiting the test area… You have been disqualified.]

Instructor Geoffrey couldn’t hide his disillusionment as he looked at Kiring, who had popped up unexpectedly.

“Kiring. You’re the fastest dropout.”

Kiring turned to look back toward the portal, frozen in disbelief. The harsh reality was spinning her mind.

At the same time — after entering the test, Yuto confirmed that the list of dropouts had been updated.

[One dropout has been updated.]

It was a sign of success for the plan.

Yuto exhaled a short breath and stretched.

“She was easier than I thought.”

With the hindrance removed, he could now freely enjoy the duel. To do that, he had to brush away the false premise of the ‘midterm test.’

Swoosh.

The [Insight’s Blade] revealed its form.

He planned to slice through the [Illusion] magic that had been gnawing at his mind since he arrived at the test site. But an unexpected effect was occurring.

[‘Versatile Coat’’s Illusion Resistance is activating.]

‘So that was a thing…?’

I probably should have lent the coat to Cletta. But there was no need to worry. This was the “Mental Barrier Enhancement” training he had been honing for times like this. By now, she must have realized the essence of the test.