Chapter 187 – Midterm #02

The academy’s first-year martial arts professor, Shimada Ryusuke’s midterm preparation was perfect.

“School, Professor! You have passed 6 steps of the regime at once!”
“Haha, it looks like you’re in a bad shape today, considering what you did lightly. I think we can finish all the arrangements before the students arrive.”

Lava turtles, whose shells change color depending on the size of the impact applied to their shells, and the ‘Scarecrow’, a physical force measurement device made using their shells, are ready.

The content of the test is also simple, after moving up to 5 steps, hit the ‘scarecrow’ with your hands, and how strong the impact is in the correct posture.

Professor Shimada had little to do.
After checking the measurement results of the ‘Scarecrow’, the strength was insufficient. Or, if you give the right advice, such as bad posture or poor waist movement, that’s it.

No one gets hurt, and easy-to-learn practice! How good is that? As most students want to test their strength with all their might, this test has not had any complaints every year.

Even if the condition is exceptionally good and the score is good, the immaturity is revealed in the posture, and if the score is bad, isn’t it entirely the student’s fault? It was a test that was perfect for the level of first graders, and the students are also satisfied.

That’s right, this year, too, we should have had to move on in an atmosphere where everyone was satisfied.

“Hey… What happened to Chunma-senpai this time…”
“Ah, never mind me, I’m just here to take a look, so it doesn’t matter if I treat it as nonexistent.”

There was no way it could be. Don’t worry even if you have in front of a master of heaven and earth, who is said to have opened a new horizon for martial arts in the Republic of Korea!

“It’s just a simple test. I’m worried that I won’t be filled with Heavenly Demon-nim’s castle…”
Haha! Do you think I’ll give a damn to the other first-year brats? Don’t worry, I’ll just see how well my students and great-granddaughters do.”

It wasn’t really a comforting word. After all, isn’t it that he has no interest in the disciples he raised and only the disciples of the Heavenly Demon himself?

‘…Let’s be patient, yes. It’s better to have no expectations than to burden the first year.’

In the end, Professor Shimada, who was unable to oust the great senior, told himself to think in the best possible way.
However, the Heavenly Demon wasn’t the only one who came to Professor Shidama’s class that day.

“Excuse me. I need to set up recording equipment, so would it be all right if I use the vacant seat over here?”
“What are the Imperial Imperial Guards doing in my class?!”
“Oh, no big deal. I am only observing because Prince Richard ordered us to record this exam. We don’t mind.”

Professor Shimada was perplexed when the imperial guards, famous for carrying out the orders of the imperial family without a single error, set up video recording equipment on one side of the exam hall.

Even when the current student council president took the exam in the first year, the SS did not come directly. But what about this test?

“Hello, my name is Norman Linkled, the vice-captain of the Lily Knights who are in charge of protecting the princess. She asked that the princess want to record this test as a video, and she asked if she could record it as a video if you’re not rude?”
“…Yes? What is that?”
“Ah, it is said that it is never shown outside, and is recorded only for personal collection. You don’t have to worry too much.”
“Ah…Yes…”

Soon after, the vice-captain of the Lily Knights, an order of royal guards who assisted the female imperial family, appeared.

The vice-captain herself introduced herself politely and exalted herself as a professor, but as Professor Shimada remembered, she was no different from a high-ranking aristocrat from an imperial count family, so she had to break out in a cold sweat.

Moreover, since the Imperial Guard had already installed the recording equipment, there was no justification for refusal, so Professor Shimada had no choice but to permit the recording.

“I am Priest Thomas, the representative of the Northern Church! I’d like to record this exam, would you mind?”
“My name is Emma, ​​the maid of honor who assists the royal family of the kingdom. Our princess has requested that we record this test as a video record. Would you be able to cooperate?”
“Hello! My name is Demon Al’Miraj! Our monarch and our contractor, Miss Violet, said they would like to watch this test, so I came to relay it!”
“I’m Lua, the priestess of the Southern Church. Can we prepare over there too?”
“…”

Something is very, very, very wrong. Royalty? Imperial family? Maid-in-waiting? An agent of the Northern Church? The priest of the Southern Church? What the hell is a demon lord?

“Looks like this is the place where Artin said he was taking the exam?”
“I guess so, Heavenly Demon-nim over there sits at the front and waits impatiently for when it will start.”
“Lu, Ruberus Dean!! And Duke Vincent!!!”
“Uh-huh, didn’t the academy tell you to call me vice-president instead of duke, Professor Ryusuke? When was the last time I gave up my title?”

Even at the appearance of Ruberus, the great mage and dean of the academy, and Duke Vincent Nottingham, one of the Three Swordsmen of the former empire and vice-president, Professor Shimada’s whole body started to convulse.

“Hey, what’s going on here…?”
“Well, just because the academy expects students to take exams this time. I’m just here to take a look, so don’t be too pressured, Professor Shimada.”
“Isn’t that the test of the hero and the hero’s companion? I came to see with only one eye how talented a genius he is. Maybe we’ll set a new record this time.”
“Yes? A new record? What else is that…?”
“Well? Didn’t you know?”

For Professor Hashimada, who was half mentally out of this messy situation, Vice Dean Vincent pointed to two people who were preparing for an exam in the distance.

“Since Cayenne Silversword and Artin Ludwig are currently scoring perfect scores in all exams, they all passed Professor Helic’s exam in the first period perfectly, so everyone has high expectations.”
“Wasn’t that great? Both of them were perfect swordsmanship without any superfluities, like the swords of a swordsman who had been trained through life and death for decades. It was to the extent that even I, who was not versed in swordsmanship, could recognize it.”
“What about the magic practice, and it seems like you have such great skills that you will have a pretty good match even if you compete against the current student council president! Watching it, my eyes hurt for the first time in a long time.”
“I look forward to seeing what I will show you this time. Even if it’s for a short period of time, he’s a disciple who learned directly from the Heavenly Demon.”

Professor Shimada couldn’t understand the two people’s excited chatter.

‘I like the Three Swordsmen? Do you have a good match with Prince Richard, who is on the verge of the 7th circle? Those two?’

The two had never shown such genius, at least in their own classes. Rather, Xiao Mei, who was originally famous as a martial arts genius, was far more unique than them.

It was clear that he was in the form of a gemstone with quite a talent, but it was difficult to say that he was unique except for his physical abilities that exceeded his peers.

‘..Maybe, did you get it in moderation in my class? Is it not good compared to Heavenly Demon-nim’s class?’

Fifteen years into his academy teaching career, Professor Ryusuke Samada began to think seriously about his own curriculum. And at the same time, fear crept in.

Having to show off her mediocre curriculum her in front of so many people involved is a hundred times more of a burden than having the academy’s audit team flocking to her.

‘..Stomach, stomach hurts..’

It’s been a while since Professor Shimada walked the path of a martial artist, and his stomach began to ache with tension and stress.

Fortunately, Professor Shimada was able to regain his composure only after pouring three pills of the Cheongsimhwan he had prepared for the student into his mouth.

*

“Are you okay, brother? You don’t look very good?”
“…Um, I didn’t expect so many to come…”
“How are you? Just be lighthearted and do what you always do! Didn’t you do well in swordsmanship class?”

At Xiaomei’s words, I sighed. I know it’s easier said than done.

Swordsmanship, which he has learned over 10 years, and magic, which he has learned all about through a contract with Mephisto, compared to martial arts, which he has just learned in this episode, so the burden is extraordinary.

In fact, not only me, but all the other students complained of the burden of the huge crowd standing on one side of the exam hall, and were receiving Cheongsim pills one by one from the assistants.

“Are you okay, partner? Shall I hold your hand? Or would you like a pat on the back?”
“…Even if I hold your hand, I have to hold it. Why do you hold my hand, Cayenne?”
“Yeah, I’m Artin’s companion and partner, right? Is this the only relationship the Goddess approves of? Is it your partner’s duty to relieve your partner’s tension?”
“Guys, since your head hurts, why don’t you stop arguing over me?”

On the other hand, Karen and Xiaomei are fighting each other with a relaxed look as if there is no tension at all.

I understand. This may not be a big deal to Shao Mei, who originally grew up with expectations as the daughter of a god of war in Taishan Dojo, or Karen, who was praised as a hero.

But I was different. I don’t know if it’s because I couldn’t sleep, but I just forgot to take a sedative because my stomach was rumbling.

‘This test is the biggest test. All of the exams scheduled after this are areas I am good at…’

Currently, he has received perfect marks in writing and other practical skills. I think that even if he competed with the prince in his first year, he would have scored equal to or better than that.

Practical alchemy, kingdom combat, and monster analysis prepared after this were easier. In other words, this is a notice.

“Your brother is really…If you’re that nervous, you could have replaced the martial arts practice with something else…You didn’t have to forcefully include martial arts as one of the subjects, right?”
“…Still, I promised myself that I would learn martial arts in this life, but it’s a bit cowardly to avoid martial arts and only fight with ones you’re confident in.”
“Yes? Why is that cowardly? Use your brain to come up with a good strategy! In the first place, my older brother’s talents aren’t as outstanding as those of a crown prince!”

Xiao-Mei looked at me as if she didn’t understand and put on a puzzled expression, but I just put on a small smile.

That’s right. The image of me forcibly working in various areas with the talent that would not be enough to wave the same way every time would be close to an idiot to anyone’s eyes.

“Just think of it as my insistence on becoming stronger, actually, thanks to you, you’ve become so strong that you can’t even compare it to the first playthrough, right?”
“…I’m not saying that I would like to learn martial arts, but it’s really stubborn.”

As she chuckled at Xiao Mei’s grunt, her large hand tapped her on my shoulder.

“How are you? If Artin is satisfied, that’s enough. Is it not?”
“Zorba, are you finished with being ‘cheered’ by your lovers?”
“Well, I received a lot of energy, it’s me, I already got the grades from the notes!”

Returning with traces of ‘cheering’ on both cheeks, Zorba smiled kindly and began to put her shoulder on me. I don’t really like boys’ shoulder straps.

“Isn’t it much better than when you were locked up in that room? It seems like Artin, who was intelligent when he was young, is regaining his appearance of him, so I look good these days.”
“Well, that’s true… But you can see that I’m overdoing it, right?”
“Artin is not a child, and according to what he says, he is already an old man in spirit, right? I’ll take care of it. Is it not?”
“…Uncle! Hey! Cancel that!”

I was moved by Zorba’s words to her. Uncle! Let alone social life, I only went through school life a few times, but you said you were a man!

“Why? Right? It’s been repeated 5 times, so it’s not like your mental age is much older than us…”
“No. My brother Artin is still young.”
“Right, Zorba. I wish you would stop talking.”
“Uh? Uh huh?”

Zorba, who trembled at my words, suddenly put on a puzzled expression at the voices of Shao Mei and Karen that were as cold as ice.

‘Ah, come to think of it, Shao Mei and Karen have been with me since the 1st playthrough..?’

If I’m an uncle, naturally, the people who have memories of me are also ajumma, so it follows that Shion and Unicor, who are already mature adults, are the youngest in our harem.

“You two, why are you both staring at me like that? Doesn’t it seem like it contains something to live for?”
“Cancel that bullshit right now, otherwise the lower your score on this test, the more hellish training you’ll have.”
“… I think I can help with that too. I think the others will help too.”
“Oh, Artin? Can you calm them down? Am I too scared?”

It’s fun I deliberately ignored Zorba’s eyes asking for help.

Well, thanks to Zorba, the pressure that had been crushing her chest her just before had disappeared. He must have also hit a land mine after knowing that I was nervous and talking nonsense to lighten the mood.

‘…Compared to that goddamn family, Zorba is much more like family. I wish I was of the Pelkass family too.’

Looking at Zorba screaming in pain with cold eyes that would kill even the people of Shao Mei and Karen, I had to feel a bit regretful. They have the same hair color, but how good would it be if they had a hidden blood relationship?

“Ruler! Students, please be quiet! Let’s start the test now!”
“What? It’s the beginning of the test! Shall we go, brother!”
“… Is it okay if I leave Zorba alone?”
“It’s okay, it’s okay! You will recover with ‘cheering’ on your own, right? Isn’t it?”
“That’s right, it’s a joke, so don’t worry too much, Artin.”
“…”

Like a herbivore trembling in front of a predator, Zorba’s limbs began to tremble wildly, and it was truly pitiful.

But there was no time to appease Zorba. Actually, the test that will decide this midterm is right around the corner.

“Then, you can come forward in turn from step 1 and start the test!”

Without fail, he would get a perfect score and clear the quest perfectly.

And I will become Agnes’ proud fiancée, and I will be an existence that no one can ignore.

Because that’s the only way to prove me.