A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy -
Chapter 88: Midterms (2)
Before starting the battle royale, it should be known that the midterm period is about 4 to 5 days.
Unlike the final exam where all knowledge is culminated for survival, the remaining exams are more like writing or review.
And while I may not know all the words, I’m yet to fully grasp the writing. Even though I’m not in a non-combat role but a combat one, writing is not crucial, but it is inconvenient for me.
"Explain the theory of magic."
"… …"
I know the theory of magic well. Thanks to Godin who explained it to me so well, I remember everything.
But the script of this world, and even more so the common language, though the words are easy, the grammatical system is quite complex.
Despite my efforts to learn so I can use magic, it's only been a month. The situation is frustrating for me.
‘…Let's write down as much as I can.'
It's better to write something than nothing at all. I picked up the pen and wrung out as much from my head as I could.
They might overlook the horrendous grammatical mess. Besides, the written component itself isn’t that important.
‘It was skipped and straight to battle royale in Soul World.'
Sometimes, I can recognize that this isn't a game, but reality. These are things that could be skipped over in Soul World.
The inability to skip brought unexpected challenges. How flustered I was every time.
"Alright. Please put down your pens. Hands off the exam papers."
In the midst of writing diligently, the professor announced the end of the test. I looked down at my paper with a bewildered face.
Not to mention if the grammar was correct or not, I hadn’t finished writing. Some questions I hadn’t even begun.
Some students, hoping to make a final sprint, reluctantly raised their hands from their exam papers.
I subtly looked around and quietly put my pen down. I don’t want to get marked for cheating.
"Did you finish?"
"No. I think I failed this exam."
"Why did it have to be so difficult?"
As soon as the exam ended, groans of frustration could be heard. The exam itself wasn’t particularly hard.
If one attended the lectures diligently, it was all manageable. I failed because I couldn't write.
"I wish we could hurry up and get this over with. Doesn't this only count for about 10%?"
Kara stretched and muttered her complaints. She, like me, prefers physical action over using her head.
She’d rather do practical training twice over than sit for nitpicky written exams. I feel similar to her.
"But it feels good to score high, doesn't it? Sister, did you write everything?"
"I just wrote something and laid down. Did you finish everything?"
"I did. If you pay attention in class, it's not hard. What about you, Sivar?"
Luna asked me. Kara naturally turned her gaze in my direction too.
I hesitated on whether to confess or not but decided to just be honest. It's not like it's that important anyway.
"Didn't finish."
"Why?"
"Can't write."
"…"
Luna and Kara's expressions grew complicated after hearing my admission of illiteracy. They looked as if wondering what that meant.
Let me clarify, speaking and writing are two different issues. There are many who can speak well but not write in this world.
"Well… That can happen. It took me months to learn the common language. Right, Luna?"
"I learned it in about two weeks…"
"Do you sometimes come off as really annoying?"
Luna might occasionally seem clueless, but she’s genuinely gifted in learning.
From applying what she learned about condensing and engraving on the spot to language skills.
Even in Soul World, you could choose various jobs, so perhaps that's why.
One can opt for a mage or even an ‘Alchemist' from the Eastern jobs. Seeing that, one can tell Luna has exceptional linguistic talent.
"Anyway, don't be too upset. The practical exam is what’s most important. Just do well there."
"The practice always seems unfair to me. I agree Sivar is strong, but to strip him of the right to attack seems excessive."
Kara seemed to consider the restriction on my right to attack as discrimination. As someone from Tatars and having experienced various forms of discrimination firsthand, it must resonate with her.
It's all in the name of balance, but it still feels too extreme. Like forcing weight classes to even out by literally cutting away at the flesh.
But it seems to be the only way they believe balance can be achieved.
Especially for a battle royale-like exam like this one.
"Maybe this is a good time to give up on everything. They should just leave balance aside and let it be. Don't you think so too, Sivar?"
"… …"
I was lost in thought for a moment and didn't respond. But my agreement works, so no problem.
After finishing the written exam, we moved to the location for the next test. The next exam was the emergency medical techniques I learned from Yeonhwa.
"Sivar, I will give you full marks so you can go back first."
"Oh."
This is one discrimination I welcome.
******
Time passed, and the actual midterm practice arrived.
The exam was held in a place with principles similar to those of a specialized dueling ground. As expected of the academy, it boasted a vast grounds.
Currently, it's just an empty flat ground, but once the test begins, the environment will change instantly. I’ve seen this in Soul World.
"Everyone's here. We'll start the exam soon. The rules haven't changed from what I told you earlier."
Marlboro reiterated the various rules before starting the exam.
Like in survival training, we were to wear specially crafted bracelets that will produce a protective shield if one faints.
However, the difference this time is the presence or absence of allies. If the shield activates but allies are nearby, they can deactivate it.
This arrangement wouldn't count as a disqualification, allowing one to rejoin the exam. However, fainting too often would lead to automatic disqualification.
At face value, it sounds like a rather ordinary battle royale. But Marlboro’s following words threw the students into confusion.
"Furthermore, with the agreement of your team members, you can start from any desired location. Ensure you come to a peaceful agreement before entering the exam."
"What does that mean? We can start from any location we want?"
"Does that mean we can just head to the center from the start?"
The student's murmuring echoed the content that seemed confusing. The rule to start from any location desired.
In other words, it means starting right from the central point where the artifact is. A rule that is bound to be controversial in many ways.
But the professors aren't fools. Marlboro, expecting such a reaction, continued smoothly.
"The actual center is not necessarily the center of the exam area but the center of the mana field. And the mana field will shrink in an almost random manner. The real center is based on the last remaining mana field."
The center is based on the mana field, not on the grounds. This single rule quelled the murmuring.
As the exam begins, rush to the actual center to claim the artifact. It's a rule to prevent this tactic beforehand.
‘Even if I'm lucky enough to find the artifact, it might be meaningless.'
As I felt during survival training, many scenarios tend to mess with you. It got a bit annoying.
Plus, the mana field in battle royale is assigned randomly each time, and even I have to search for it every time.
If that's the case, I might as well ask why they bothered taking away my right to attack. They just don’t want me to rampage.
"Then, discuss with your team members. You won't be assigned outside the mana field, so don't worry too much."
The moment I heard that, I headed straight for Grace and Yeonhwa.
Grace was contemplating a piece of paper handed out by the professor, and Yeonhwa was next to her, looking at it too.
One might wonder what the papers are; they don’t show a map, just a circle drawn. As said before, the map has to be obtained inside.
"Maybe we should just start at the absolute center?"
That was Yeonhwa’s suggestion. According to her, that strategy isn’t half bad.
Grace seemed to nod, thinking it’s somewhat of a viable tactic.
"That's fine, but it's dependent on where the mana field shrinks to. We can only leave it up to luck… Hm…"
There are various tactical strategies in battle royale. The most important thing is survival.
You have to survive to fight or not fight. Considering this, not meeting enemies is crucial.
Or you could take the strategy of targeting enemies right from the start. You could snatch up what they've farmed.
"Our team should avoid fighting as much as possible. It's not optimal without Sivar's right to attack."
Grace clicked her tongue in annoyance. One of the viable strategies was essentially rendered meaningless.
I didn't realize before, but it sure seems like discrimination. It may be just, but it isn’t really fair.
"Hmm… Sivar?"
"Yeah?"
"You don't mind not fighting the enemies, right?"
"Yeah."
It doesn’t matter. What's the use of combat when I don't even have the right to attack?
Upon hearing my answer, Grace smiled contently and turned her head toward Yeonhwa.
Without saying anything, Yeonhwa seemed to understand her intentions and nodded.
"Alright. We have to enter the ground to know for sure, but we've set our direction."
"What’s the plan?"
Grace had a very simple strategy in mind.
"Endurance."
"Huh?"
"Endurance. While others are fighting and scrambling, we'll just follow the mana field."
It was holding out.
"Just endure, and maybe Sivar can snatch up the artifact when the last mana field shrinks."
Well. Whether that's easy to achieve remains to be seen.
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