Chapter 112: End-of-Term Report Card (3)
0pC‘My already strong mental resilience has greatly improved. Now, I can even control the Immortal Function to some extent.’41Y
irdnO6XShirone’s specialty was the Defense Form of the Four Way Formation. Like most who specialized in defense, teachers had expected Shirone to become a defensive mage.JyMqd
Zf0LehZHowever, the Immortal Function reversed that tendency. Now, his strength in resilience became an essential element supporting his offensive power.NlDa0M
O0i9MC7Around 20 seconds later, Shirone gritted his teeth and attempted the final acceleration. The score broke through 340 points as a fearsome speed caused a sonic boom.wiqW3K
wqABeep-!OhTmq2D
bhN4WThe measuring time ended, and the buzzer sounded. Shirone closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Despite dozens of children gathered, silence filled the hall. Everyone was staring intently at the scoreboard.pR426e
Tq5V7gt410 points.5Am
EIYtOn average, it meant enduring 30 seconds at a rate of 13.6 pulses per second. Notably, the last 5 seconds were rapid strikes exceeding 15 pulses per second.LHc
N22O“It’s incredible. What’s with these kids lately? Are they really going to become our seniors next semester?”Gvoz
Lka“No matter what, promotion will be tough. His theoretical grades are average. Raising the score in such a short time isn’t easy.”0yt
Ci3SHuShirone looked back at Canis. It was an unspoken declaration could he become a senior too?snVT
GxN“He’s truly amazing, that boy.”Vwk
TsTF4OhArin admired him with pure amazement. Infinite mental strength through the Immortal Function, and the resilience to control it. Adding to that his unique magical affinity to imbue mass into light.c8N
pwjYHe could only be described as a mage specially favored by the gods.z4qpALQ
x3vo3k“Hmph, only now can he be called a worthy rival.”6R2w5Ry
tRrzdfCanis’s fighting spirit flared like never before. Initially, he thought it was just a difference in attributes. But Shirone’s demonstration shattered that illusion, surpassing even in a contest of physical strength.Zwz
UDt2Dw0After glaring at Shirone for a long while, Canis turned away abruptly.0wirNyt
P5ib“Let’s go, Arin. It seems our tour here is over.”5Ho
SdQTRwAs Canis and Arin walked away, the students felt a sense of relief. Although Shirone wasn’t representative of Class Five’s level, the satisfaction of outperforming a disciple of an Archmage was universal.pld58
TXAPPMF“Shirone, that was epic. Bombed the test, but I feel great. So what if he’s an ArchMage’s disciple? How dare he underestimate Class Five of the magic academy?”5EPAaMQ
ZO3“Shirone, and also Yiruki and Nade. Are you guys really planning to promote this time?”EKKNxmD
sODx“Well, we’re just doing our best.”rGp
OXnB0bShirone evaded a direct answer. However, Nade, having secured third place, was overjoyed at having passed the practical exam.xP5Ok
vvEFJ“Hahaha! Of course! Get ready to treat us seniors properly! Come on, let’s practice from now. Call me ‘Senior’!”eDlV1W
hV2arA chorus of complaints erupted from the students.Tf7
7WmGzH“Such arrogance! Fall flat on your face!”oDI4xk
E1DGA“If he’s a senior, I’d rather not attend school!”W0810q
1tX“How can you be so confident about promotion when you might fail the theory? I’ll pray every night you don’t get promoted!”zVa
v8UtLCBNade, unfazed, stood tall and laughed amidst the jeers. His amicable nature with all students made it bearable.hElUYF
yfPShirone and Yiruki quietly slipped away.wjia1
i36hGb‘Ah, so embarrassing.’Iqn
0sok3The final practical exam had ended.7bM
YA3woSummer was fading.EDASdw
trlVyCold winds blew in the mornings and evenings, and the plants prepared to don their colorful autumn attire. Yet, the days remained warm, and the children were busy burning through the last of the semester.BflYJ
O08Only a week remained. Classes had ended the previous week, leaving only the final exams.RRD2pWO
nsCcThe exams were scheduled to start with Class Ten, proceeding daily in sequence. On the sixth day, Class Five students, with hearts about to burst, made their way to the examination hall.r98cEka
ZYfNeShirone’s group nibbled at breakfast and arrived early at the exam venue.SXGVQD4
lIlhLNPThe exam lasted a grueling 12 hours with only a 5-minute break. Compared to regular schools, it was almost like hard labor, but maintaining concentration was as crucial as knowledge for the students of the magic academy.MyD
dc9JmLThe exam questions were categorized into Types A, B, and C. The questions were the same, but the answer arrangements differed, to prevent cheating and lucky guesses.LSfg
gwN1Shirone had Type A, Yiruki had Type B, and Nade had Type C. Assigned to different examination halls, they came out to the hallway to ease their tension before the start. With half a year’s worth of effort on the line, even the most mischievous couldn’t help but feel stiff.fIFu4
HNwtXINade shivered continuously, despite the warm weather.WFDfghe
1okMj“Ugh. I’m dying. How about you, Shirone?”kfSvBX
My6Trs“I feel like throwing up. One mistake in any problem, and it’s over. Especially in math.”0J4G
2VJ“Let’s stay calm. Anyway, we have plenty of time. No need to get tense until we actually get the test papers.”hsMxF3
agDvReassured by Yiruki’s words, they calmed down. But at the sound of the bell signaling the start of the exam, anyone would turn pale.Bl7Upi
OQKCry4“Let’s go in. See you later with smiles.”eFjfP
fqD“Yeah. Lets go!”bEYpZ
j7n5The three parted ways, each entering their respective examination halls, promising to see each other in 12 hours.CN3
gM6iThe Supernatural Psychic Science Research Laboratory.cZtots
CXDhShirone and his group were busy grading. The test papers were impossible to leak, but Yiruki perfectly recreated the questions.FBJ4
onfpDA Savant’s memory knows no oblivion. It was as if filing papers in a drawer in their mind, to be taken out and read whenever needed.SaHr5d
uYt3USAs Yiruki called out the questions, Nade wrote them down, and Shirone found the answers. They worked till dawn to recreate the entire set of exam papers.bVib
fQlExhausted but determined, they began matching their answers. Since Yiruki recreated Type B, Shirone’s answers had to be aligned one-to-one.YNWZoZT
fJl4“Phew, I’m nervous. I think I might have botched a few subjects.”L9nOIrA
8Zz7xmgNade groaned. However, having weaker subjects was common for everyone.b51zvVw
kQRqrJo“I feel the same. Actually doing it, this is really brutal. Even if you score perfect in other subjects, failing just one means it’s over.”XBI
pASoHShirone was unusually anxious. Even with his insight, he couldn’t guarantee his promotion.hcU
Yz4atThe three separated to apply their answers to the reconstructed test papers, each with a mix of hope and trepidation for what the results might reveal.Vsr3
bhyD“Anyway, that’s what the study group is for. Come on! Let’s finish grading first, then see.”HEFhXFT
rGWlBIAs hours passed, the contours of their scores began to emerge.AAfFQJG
Ss1djNade was the first to jump up, punching the air.6X10qI2
uwKp“Yes! I did it! Average of 82 points! Broke 80 in every subject!”xeV
dx4KLaThough he didn’t score exceptionally high in any subject, his balanced performance across all subjects led to a solid 82-point average. The once-troublesome kid, who had looked down on Class Four, was now overjoyed with the prospect of advancing.UmE5l
2WWYiruki and Shirone, however, remained silent. The real celebration would only come when all three were confirmed for promotion.8AMs
n9eCiRHaving finished grading, Yiruki leaned back in his chair, wiping off sweat.j2HZ
It5“Phew. Done. 87 points. Scored a low 80 in language. If I had got one more question wrong, that would have been it.”DAMi
XIy4“Wow! So you passed too? Congratulations on Class Four!”CBIOi
j0dhp“Well, it’s not bad. Feels pretty good.”d1gl
tD3TMc4Without delay, both Nade and Yiruki turned to Shirone. Their first collective goal, simultaneous promotion, hinged on the last member’s success.wBwbwc
IMVzUBDBut Shirone was unresponsive. Yiruki noticed his still hand, not moving to grade.IRs
7LFjz“Shirone, what’s wrong? Did you mess up the exam?”cox7a
28xAUp close, Shirone’s face was pale as a sheet, a clear sign something was amiss.WFD
4V7wHkNade asked anxiously, “What’s up? How many points did you get?”JUN
BA3vso“86 points”owuE
Yzz9“Wow, that’s great, isn’t it?”iXVq
QRdLV5Nade was genuinely surprised. They had set a goal for everyone to advance, but actually hearing it felt like a miracle. Shirone, a peasant’s son, had lived a life far from academics. Yet, in just six months, he had achieved an average of 86 points.slvFyaP
Dl8Comparing it to Yiruki’s 87-point average, achieved with a Savant’s memory, made it clear how desperately Shirone must have studied.Kemv5Td
FZva2Even Yiruki was puzzled. “Isn’t that… good? Is there a subject you failed?”xOK
Eo5Ey“It’s just that, I can’t remember.”8uYxk
eGi“Can’t remember? What do you mean? Explain.”UZYgvIK
oqf9Shirone chewed his nails anxiously, unable to recall.KvQIH
R1TQIQy“Yiruki.”om6
IXUXt“Yeah?”oLppfp
JHucP9“What was the answer to the last objective question in the math proofs?”B8M9Mtp
xEe“Oh, that one? The one where you had to link two mathematical expressions for the proof? That was a long answer.”HCm
sTkLueRealization struck Yiruki mid-sentence. “Dont tell me”FVw7
mv5R5“I can’t remember. What proof I thought was correct. I tried solving it again, and it’s the same. But I distinctly remember agonizing over two options with just 10 seconds left.”FfYydhx
IQEYt“How many points is it worth? If you got it wrong?”wUqMj
r9O4l“78 points”12y9lqV
WQsYYiruki and Nade grasped the gravity of the situation. The last objective question was worth two points. So, the result of this one question determined promotion or repetition.vr5
EXUoglB“How can you not remember? What option number did you write?”xNy3b
fsw“Number 3. But I had Type A, so I cant verify.”F8zwGe
YhGZxmNade frantically pulled out his exam paper. The cruelly long proofs filled the page. Frankly, Nade had also gotten this question wrong. Probably, only Yiruki in Class Five could solve it easily.ow3iu3S
jw3D7UShirone, clutching his head in agony, said, “It was either 2 or 3. I remember suddenly thinking of the answer with 10 seconds left. But… I can’t remember what it was.”ofI8MJU
Jt9Such a situation could occur under intense time pressure. Nade and Yiruki, long-time magic academy students, understood well enough.Ger
JrCBut this was a matter of promotion. Failing meant another half year in Class Five.WERDW6
0CUVtNade was beside himself with impatience.IBdTs
XCX8“Damn! I can’t wait!”4KszNU
2el6KB“What are you going to do?”WHn
HjwzEWL“We have to check it ourselves. Lets ask Teacher Siena. Shes our class advisor.”u6boTL
dfcuDAPFeeling equally restless, the trio left the research group and headed for the exam hall.VAl
XSVpuYNAs they had spent a full day grading, Class Four exams were currently underway. Sneaking into the building during lunch break, Shirone and the others waited anxiously for the teachers to return. After about 30 minutes, Siena appeared in the hallway. They rushed towards her.CkPVe6Y
MgvSQ8u“Teacher! Teacher!”SzN3
0zHe“Huh? Why are you here? Class Five’s exam ended yesterday, didnt it?”7YJS
Zx7xNhA“The last objective question in the math proofs of Type A! What’s the answer?”xJAch8u
QIQSiena looked puzzled. Although her specialty was chemistry, she participated in grading as all teachers reviewed the papers at least three times. Even if it wasn’t her field, her expertise made student-level math trivial.7qp
a138w6g“Why suddenly ask that?”Z0EY
mvXD“Quickly! This is really important.”He2
0vYmsE7Reading the urgency in Nade’s eyes, Siena recalled the last objective question, a notably challenging one that had stuck in her memory.b5P
MU9iAH7“Oh, that one? For Type A, it’s number 2, right?”OR1Jkem
HVfcP“Number 2…”sccaEq
fDrKShirone froze as if struck by a hammer. The answer he had chosen was number 3. He had gotten it wrong. His score was 78 points. Just 2 points shy of promotion, the thought made him feel suffocated.2shk
XBoJu2“Number 2… Number 2…”7yNv0N
BbGMuttering the same words, Shirone suddenly grabbed the back of his neck and then collapsed. Right before hitting the floor in the corridor, Nade quickly supported him.AZSaL
zNy“Shirone! Are you okay? Snap out of it! Aren’t you supposed to be invincible?”QsbOS5O
ZcrPM“Number 2? Why… how could it be number 2…”YsxAi
22z“Teacher, we have to go now! Thanks for your help!”7gVn2
DesuR2As Shirone was dragged away, he kept mumbling the same thing. Watching silently, Siena chuckled and returned to the teachers’ lounge.hSguGic
Vhyj“Those kids, do they ever get tired? Always so energetic.”VLv
5OsThe teachers’ lounge was bustling with grading activities. Siena, too, settled down to continue her work. Then, on a whim, she opened a drawer and pulled out the Type A math proofs paper.QjTyd1j
m8Fjr“The last objective question, right?”4Izj
91yShe reviewed the problem, mentally solving it, and then smiled brightly.Cq7dq
ERE“Ah, it’s number 3.”fL62w
FaXyKeQShirone Arian. Promotion confirmed.CnnPu
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