I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City - Chapter 91



90 – The Clueless Partner

Armed with knowledge and theories piled up in his head, the act of defeating the letter-monster sitting on the blank page.

Ah! The written exam! As bitter as the name, what a truly desirable b*stard.

How diligently theyd been planted, asses glued to their unseen spots. Able to prove it without spilling a drop of blood; someone could prove themselves and vent their frustrations in this much time.

Ten minutes remaining.

Juyeons voice, supervising the exam, seeped cleanly into the cadets’ ears.

Only Juyeon supervised the exam for the entire class.

But no one attempted to cheat. Not even a thought.

They knew that even with Juyeons back turned, the moment they tried anything, they would be caught. No doubt.

Rohan, with the feeling of a gas fire flickering outside, rechecked if he’d written his name and number correctly.

Hed lost count how many times he’d checked, but reassured by his neatly written details, he turned back to the questions.

The last two questions

The written exam was coming to an end. To avoid losing focus, hed even had a light lunch of supplements.

The slight hunger sharpened his senses.

There were a few questions where he couldn’t see the answers, perhaps from a lack of study depth, but overall he felt he had a pretty good flow.

Five minutes remaining.

As an aside, Noah Frozenheart had been dripping sweat since the start of the exam.

Hed immediately slammed his head onto the desk after the first subject. The image of Ichinose feeding him snacks without surprise had been striking.

This was the first time he was seriously tackling theory.

The invested time and being tested on his weak points seemed to be wearing him down quite a bit.

Exam finished. Put down your pens and place your hands on your heads.

A rush of movement. No cadet begged for more time.

That kind of thing, Juyeon snatches it away without mercy.

“Mhm.”

Juyeon, having gathered the test papers, finished counting them and checking the names.

She placed the test papers in a thick envelope.

Looking at Rohan and Noah, who seemed particularly exhausted, she smiled faintly.

“Everyone worked hard. You can rest comfortably until right before departure. Just gather in the classroom by the time I stated.

Juyeon, with the paper bag tucked under her arm, left the classroom with a click-clack sound.

Students, their tension released, exhaled with near-groans.

“Wow, I’m gonna die.”

“Ughhh…”

Rohan and Noah melted onto their desks like slime.

“Noah. You worked hard.”

“Hug me…”

“That’s a difficult request. I’ll feed you snacks instead.”

Ichinose didn’t hold back praise for Noah, who had taken on studying for the first time.

And one more person.

Knowing that Rohan, who had constantly bombarded her with questions via message, had also put in considerable effort, she briefly glanced his way.

Rohan. What you’re going to say next is… “Let’s just rest quietly. What else are you trying to do?”!

Let’s just rest quietly. What else are you try… Huh?

Ahahahaha!!!

Gilbert lets out a whoop of joy.

Rohan, completely spent from the exam, just covers his ears, limp.

“That was something,”

Ichinose says, a smirk playing on his lips, before turning his gaze away.

He starts checking on Noah, slumped beside him.

Numerous transport ships are waiting on the ground at Orion Academy.

They’re models made by the nation of Sepia Archipelago, known as the best in aerial travel; they’re ships in shape but move at high speeds through the sky.

“Attention.”

Each class lines up in front of their assigned transport ship.

Under the darkening sky, they listen to their instructors explanation.

“Before departure, I’ll go over the practical exam. Questions will be later, so focus now.”

Juyeon continues, her gaze fixed on the paper in her hand.

“First, you’ll be paired up randomly. Only standard-issue Orion Academy weapons are allowed. If you absolutely need to use your own weapon, explain it to an instructor.”

In that case, you’ll get a hefty point deduction. Even so, its clear it wouldnt be easily permitted.

Not a single student had brought their own weapons into Abyss City either.

And the monsters on the uninhabited island will only be the ones you’ve been taught about in class so far.”

Orion Academy operates on the premise that students understand the characteristics of monsters and how to deal with them.

That single statement gives the strongest feeling that this is, in fact, a test.

Food and water are expected to be self-sufficient. Even saying that, some of you will try to endure with magic, considering the short duration, right?

Juyeon flicks the paper in her hand once, making it stiffly flat.

“But since this trial is based on the Monolith’s anomaly, the instructors will intervene. This part is about failing a lot and learning a lot.

This trial, with its clear endpoint, yet the setting itself implies a moment with no foreseeable end.

Furthermore, Rohan understands what the phrase will intervene means.

Separately, small amounts of food and water have been hidden in various places on the deserted island. Sometimes supplies will be made visible for all to see. The problems that arise from this are for the cadets to resolve on their own.

The purpose is transparent.

It was clear they were observing the point of conflict and discord.

Given the nature of this, I understand that disagreements and minor skirmishes that don’t cross the line are to be expected in this trial. That too, has become part of the education in this current situation. But

Heat flickered at the edge of Juyeons sharp gaze.

An overwhelming force emanated, warning everyone.

Dont seriously try to kill each other.

The sensation of those words being branded into the depths of consciousness.

Rohan felt Dick, sitting in the back row, swallow hard with tension.

Instructors and other personnel will be watching at all times.

Juyeon’s gaze encompassed each and every cadet in Class 1.

Even with the instructors present, blind spots will exist, hence the deep co-existence of concern and anxiety in that gaze.

The most important point is this: If you have a physical problem, do not be stubborn and immediately use the signal flare. The instructors are hoping that no casualties will occur in this trial.

Juyeon lessened the intensity she had been exuding, softening the atmosphere.

She flicked her red bangs with her fingers, clearing the air.

Now, I’ll explain the evaluation categories and scores.

The trial content: treat the deserted island as a dungeon created by the Monolith and survive well. That was the subject.

The evaluation criteria were varied: cooperation, physical condition after the exam, the number of monsters dealt with, partner evaluations after the practical test, and so on.

Juyeon folded the paper and tucked it into his inner pocket before speaking.

“That concludes things. I’ll take questions now.”

As soon as he finished, Ichinose raised his hand.

With Juyeon’s permission, he asked,

“I’m curious if the two-person pairings are categorized as front and rear guards.”

“Balancing to face monsters like that would be optimal. However, this test is, as it were, completely random. Were not doing that.

“Up until today, the education at Orion Academy has always had basic conditions and assumptions.”

Going to a location where monsters are, and then subjugating them, requires thorough preparation.

Even if you encounter them suddenly on the street, those who make a living by force are expected to be prepared to some extent.

But the place were going, the dungeon, breaks all those conditions and assumptions.

Powerless citizens get mixed into places they cant escape, and elements that quickly degrade an individuals condition coexist.

Consumables are quickly depleted, and even when people who can fight are gathered, it’s pure luck if their formations dont overlap.

“The anomalies the Monolith causes don’t take things like that into consideration. If support types are paired together, theyll have to establish their own countermeasures and survival methods, and the opposite is also true.”

“Understood.”

“Next question, please.”

In a solemn atmosphere, questions and answers came and went.

Juyeon, confirming no more students were raising their hands, led Class 1 onto the transport ship.

“It’ll take a good while to get there. You’re free to sleep until your name is called.”

The partner for our deserted island stay was decided by lottery inside the transport ship.

Hands in a box, pull out a number.

Matching numbers meant you were paired.

“Number?”

“It’s number 12!”

Though the total number was odd, meaning one team of three would be formed, Class 1 was even.

“Next.”

It was Rohan’s turn. He stepped forward and reached into the box.

His eyes squeezed shut at the feel of the papers.

‘Please.’

He just hoped he’d get someone he could actually talk to.

–Thunk.

He grabbed a single paper and pulled his hand out. Gilbert, an onlooker, was staring intently.

“What number is it?”

At Juyeon’s voice, he unfolded the paper.

“It’s number 3.”

Gilbert clicked his tongue with a “Tch!”

Rohan breathed out, relieved.

“Number 3, thats already been drawn.

I want to know who it is.

Look to your right.

At Jooyeon’s words, I turned my head.

A girl with closed eyes was displaying her number.

Number 3, written on the paper.

Rohanns partner for the deserted island survival was decided to be Ichinose Yui.

Please take care of me.