Meanwhile, in Team Seven, Simon glanced around before speaking.
"Let's come up with a plan too. Does anyone want to volunteer to face the Cyclops directly?"
Meilyn immediately shot her hand into the air. In the process, her elbow smacked Rick beside her.
"Ack—!"
Rick clutched his cheek, glaring, while Meilyn remained completely oblivious, eyes sparkling.
"Me! I want to do it!"
Simon tilted his head slightly. "Are you confident?"
Meilyn crossed her arms, chin lifting.
"I'm the strongest one here. Obviously, I should be the one."
Rick rubbed his cheek, still irritated.
"Hey, hey. This isn't something you decide that easily. We need to think strategically. If you ask me, this performance evaluation practically favors teams with Magical Combat applicants."
Camibarez nodded hesitantly.
"I agree…"
She fidgeted slightly before continuing.
"Cyclops attacks are extremely heavy. Blocking them with black magic defense consumes too much Darkness. Dodging would be more efficient."
Simon subtly turned his head, observing the other teams.
Most seemed to share the same conclusion. Magical Combat applicants—who had struggled during team formation—were now confidently voicing their opinions. Many teams were likely planning to send them as the direct combatant.
Meilyn shook her head.
"No. I think the opposite."
Her expression cooled as she folded her arms.
"Did you forget? Only the participating member is allowed to directly attack the Cyclops."
Her gaze sharpened.
"What offensive options do Magical Combat students even have right now? Repeated Darkness-enhanced punches? How are they supposed to kill something with hide as thick as a Cyclops's using that?"
"…Ah."
Simon nodded slowly.
"That's… a fair point."
Camibarez looked troubled. "That would definitely be a problem…"
Meilyn smirked faintly, leaning back.
Simon looked at her. "Then, Meilyn… do you have a solution?"
"Of course."
She extended her palm. A magic circle unfolded above it, followed by a surge of black flame.
Camibarez gasped softly.
"Dark Flare," Meilyn said coolly. "Satisfied?"
Rick clicked his tongue. "…Show-off."
But even he couldn't deny it. Dark Flare was an advanced spell for a first-year.
Meilyn extinguished the flame and leaned forward.
"Here's my plan. I'll engage the Cyclops directly and burn it down with Dark Flare."
She tapped the table lightly.
"The three of you focus entirely on curses. Stack Exhaust repeatedly. Slow it down. Cripple its movements. I'll handle the finishing blow."
Rick frowned.
"That plan makes you shine, sure. But what about the rest of us? We just stand there spamming curses like support machines?"
Meilyn raised an eyebrow. "Then propose something better."
Rick opened his mouth—
—and closed it again.
Unable to counter directly, he shifted tactics.
"Your entire strategy assumes you can dodge the Cyclops while casting Dark Flare."
He narrowed his eyes. "Can you?"
Meilyn scoffed. "What's there to dodge?"
Rick leaned closer, voice lowering.
"From what I've seen, your stamina isn't exactly impressive."
Simon blinked. Rick continued mercilessly.
"During Magical Combat drills, you were gasping at the back during running exercises. And when we had to leap that gorge, Professor Hong Feng had to assist you."
Meilyn's face turned red instantly.
"T-that's—!"
She slammed her palm on the table.
"That's exactly why it's your job to keep it restrained with curses!"
Her eyes flashed. "If I get hit, that means your curse support is garbage!"
Rick snapped back. "We're not curse specialists—you are!"
Camibarez's head turned left and right between them like a spectator at a tennis match.
The tension spiked.
Then—
Smack!
Both Rick and Meilyn flinched.
Simon's palm rested flat on the table, his expression unusually serious.
"…Then let's do it this way."
Simon offered his suggestion. "The main issue is that Meilyn can't reliably dodge the Cyclops's attacks, right? Then I can support her with Summonology."
Rick frowned slightly. "…Support how?"
"Skeletons," Simon answered calmly. "I'll summon undead to draw the Cyclops's attention. While it's distracted, Meilyn can safely prepare Dark Flare and deliver the attack."
There was no arguing against that logic.
At this stage, Team Seven's strongest offensive option was undeniably Meilyn's Dark Flare.
And if the critical concern was keeping Meilyn alive long enough to cast it, then Simon's role as a Summonology applicant became the natural solution.
He could divert aggro. He could intercept attacks. He could buy time.
"Oooh…"
Meilyn's lips curved into a pleased smile.
"Well, that actually makes sense. A special entry really is a special entry."
Rick clicked his tongue softly.
"…Tch."
With a workable answer finally presented for the most fatal flaw in their plan—Meilyn's survivability—Rick had little room left to argue.
They had no better alternative. Meilyn turned toward Camibarez.
"How about you, Cami? Do you know any binding techniques from Haematology?"
Camibarez scratched her cheek, looking slightly troubled.
"Haemomagic is… very aggressive and unstable by nature. I think focusing on curses would be more reliable for now."
Meilyn nodded without objection. Then her gaze shifted to Rick.
"…And you?"
Rick leaned back, visibly thinking.
After a long pause, he exhaled.
"…Exhaust. I'll spend the next week refining it."
Meilyn grinned.
"Good. That's the spirit. Team contribution."
Simon smiled faintly.
"We're not locked into this strategy yet, right? There's still time before the strategy evaluation class. Let's keep improving it."
"Y-yeah…"
Rick answered, though his eyes drifted back toward Simon.
Officially, Meilyn was the team leader.
But the one who had calmly analyzed the weakness, proposed the solution, and guided the conversation into something functional—
—was Simon.
He wasn't dominating the discussion. He was steering it.
And at the same time, securing his own position.
As long as Meilyn, their primary damage dealer, remained protected by Simon's undead summons, Team Seven's synergy score would naturally rise.
Rick narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…Troublesome guy."
But there was reluctant respect behind the thought.
Meanwhile, Knox watched Team Seven with eyes full of amusement, like someone enjoying a live drama unfolding.
"…Tch. If only I had some popcorn."
Cindy leaned slightly, trying to peek past him. "Hehe… I was wondering what you were staring at. But yeah, their discussion does look interesting."
Claudia immediately gave Cindy a light chop on the head.
"Alright, that's enough sightseeing. Instead of watching other teams, let's review our own plan."
"Ouch! Alright, alright…" Cindy grumbled, rubbing her head. Then she pointed accusingly at Knox. "But why only me? Why not hit Knox too?"
Claudia looked at her as if she'd just said something profoundly silly.
"…Do you honestly think my chop would land on him?"
Cindy paused. Then sighed.
"…Fair point."
Even Merida, half-asleep, gave a tiny nod of agreement.
And so, Team Eight resumed their strategy discussion in earnest.
They refined positioning.
Spell timing.
Support coordination.
Cyclops behavior assumptions.
By the time they began dissecting finer details—
Riiing—
The bell rang, signaling the end of class.
Jane rose from her seat.
"By the next session, prepare a ten-minute presentation outlining your team's strategy against the Cyclops. Clearly define each member's role and the black magic you intend to use."
She adjusted her glasses slightly.
"That is all."
"Thank you, Professor!"
Chairs shifted. Bags rustled.
Then—
Knox abruptly stood up.
Startling Cindy and Claudia beside him.
Before either of them could ask—
"Run."
"…Huh?"
"We have to move. Now."
At nearly the same time, Rick hurriedly began stuffing books into his bag.
"Today's the limited hamburger steak special at Cafeteria Three!"
Simon's head snapped toward him. "Limited?!"
Knox slung his bag over his shoulder.
"Hurry up! We can't miss a limited item!"
Both Team Seven and Team Eight shot to their feet in synchronized panic.
Except—
Merida. Who remained seated.
"…Bring me back dessert."
And just like that—
Two elite Kizen teams charged out of the classroom with the urgency of soldiers heading into battle.
For survival.
Not against a Cyclops.
But against cafeteria stock limitations.