[112] End-of-Term Report Card (4)
'His already strong mental resilience has increased dramatically. Now he can even control Immortal Function to some degree.'
Shirone's specialty was an all-around defensive type. Like most defensive mages, the teachers had expected him to develop into a magic-user with a defensive bent.
But Immortal Function overturned that assumption. His durability had become an essential foundation for offensive power.
Around the twentieth second, Shirone gritted his teeth and pushed for one last burst. Sound shattered at a terrifying speed and his score broke through 340 points.
Beep—!
The buzzer sounded as the measurement period ended. Shirone closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Dozens of students had gathered, but the hall was silent; everyone stared intently at the scoreboard.
410 points.
On average, that meant he'd sustained about 13.6 hits per second for thirty seconds. What's more, his final five seconds were rapid enough to exceed fifteen hits per second.
"That's unreal. What's gotten into those kids lately? At this rate, won't he be a senior next term?"
"Even so, promotion's still tough. His theory grades are only mid-tier. Boosting your score that much in so little time isn't easy."
Shirone glanced toward Kanis; her expression was an unspoken challenge. Could she still call herself a senior after that?
"He's really amazing, that kid."
Arin admired him with genuine awe. Infinite mental power via Immortal Function and the endurance to control it — and on top of that, a unique magic tendency that could give mass to light.
There was no other explanation than that the gods were favoring this mage.
"Hmph. This is the kind of thing a true rival should have."
Kanis's fighting spirit flared higher than ever. At first she'd blamed it on an attribute difference, but Shirone's demonstration had shattered that misconception. Right now, in a contest of brute strength, she could very well be the one to fall behind.
After glaring at Shirone for a long time, Kanis roughly turned and said, "Let's go, Arin. I think the tour's over."
The students watched Kanis and Arin walk off and let out breaths of relief. Shirone didn't represent the whole standard of Class Five, but the satisfaction of seeing an Archmage's apprentice put in his place felt the same.
"Shirone, that was incredible. I flunked the exam, but I'm pumped. Being the Archmage's apprentice—does that make you untouchable? How dare anyone look down on Class Five of the Academy?"
"Shirone, and even Iruki and Nade—are you seriously aiming for promotion this time?"
"Well, we'll do our best."
Shirone dodged a direct answer. Nade, who'd placed third, was over the moon at having passed the practical exam.
"Hahaha! Of course! Make sure you're prepared to treat us seniors with respect! Come on—call me senpai!"
The students erupted in jeers.
"You're so full of yourself you'll burst! Get knocked down a peg!"
"If you're a senior, I'd quit school!"
"If you fail theory and end up embarrassed, I'll pray every night that you never get promoted!"
Ignore it or not, Nade straightened his back and laughed proudly. He could take the jeers because he was on good terms with everyone.
Shirone and Iruki slipped away quietly.
'Ugh, how embarrassing.'
The final practical exam was over.
* * *
Summer was drawing to a close.
Cool breezes came in morning and night, and the foliage was preparing for its autumn colors. Days were still hot, and the students burned with the last week of term.
Only the final week remained. Classes had ended the previous week; only finals were left.
Exams were held sequentially, one class per day starting from Class Ten. Finally, on the sixth day, Class Five students walked toward the exam hall with hearts ready to burst.
Shirone's group picked at breakfast and arrived early.
The exam lasted exactly twelve hours with five-minute breaks. Compared to ordinary schools it was almost backbreaking, but for Magic Academy students, sustaining concentration mattered as much as knowledge.
Tests came in types A, B, and C—the questions were the same, but the answer layouts differed. This minimized cheating and the chance of getting answers right by luck.
Shirone had A, Iruki had B, and Nade had C. Assigned to different halls, they stepped into the corridor before the exam to calm themselves. With a semester's worth at stake, even the most unruly kids couldn't help but go rigid.
Nade kept shivering despite the mild weather.
"Ugh. I'm gonna die. Shirone, how about you?"
"I feel sick. One mistake and it's over. Especially the math stuff."
"Stay calm. There's plenty of time. It's not too late to be nervous until you get the paper."
Iruki's words steadied them. Still, when the bell to start the exam rang, anyone's face would pale.
"All right, let's go in. See you with smiles later."
"Yeah. Fight on!"
The three entered their respective halls, promising to meet in twelve hours.
Paranormal Psychic Science Laboratory.
Shirone's group were busy grading. The papers couldn't be leaked, but Iruki had perfectly reconstructed the exam.
A servant's memory knew no forgetting. It was like storing bundles of documents in drawers of the mind and taking them out when needed.
Iruki read the questions aloud, Nade wrote them down, and Shirone found the answers. Only at dawn, after working straight through, had they rebuilt every paper.
Exhausted, they each began filling in answers.
Because Iruki had reconstructed the B version, Shirone's answers had to be matched one-to-one against it.
"Phew, I'm nervous. I think I messed some subjects up."
Nade groaned. Having weak subjects was common.
"Same. Once you actually do it, this is brutal. Even if you ace other subjects, one failing subject ruins everything."
Shirone was more anxious than ever. Even his insight couldn't guarantee promotion.
"That's what the study group is for. Come on—let's finish grading first, evaluate later."
Several more hours passed, and the outlines of their scores began to emerge.
Nade was first to punch the air and stand up. "Yes! Got it! Average eighty-two! I broke eighty in every subject!"
Not spectacular, but he'd raised every subject evenly to reach an 82 average. He used to mock Class Four, but now that promotion seemed possible, he felt elated.
Iruki and Shirone said nothing. The real celebration would come only once all three were promoted.
Iruki, finished grading, leaned back and wiped sweat. "Phew. Done. Eighty-seven. I had an eighty in language. If I'd missed one more question, I'd be toast."
"Wow! So you passed too? Congrats! Class Four!"
"It's nothing special. Still, not bad."
Nade and Iruki both turned to Shirone. If only one more passed, their first wish—simultaneous promotion—would come true.
But Shirone didn't react. Iruki noticed his grading hand had stopped.
"Shirone, what's wrong? Did you bomb the exam?"
Up close, Shirone's face was as pale as a sheet. Something had happened.
Nade, anxious, asked, "What's your score?"
"Eighty-six..."
"Wow, that's great!"
Nade was genuinely surprised. They'd aimed for everyone to be promoted, and hearing that felt almost miraculous. Shirone—son of a commoner who'd lived far from study—had pulled an average of eighty-six with only half a year of effort.
Compared to Iruki's eighty-seven, buoyed by servant ability to ace math, it showed how desperately Shirone had studied.
Iruki tilted her head. "You didn't… fail anything? Are you sure?"
"That's the problem—I'm not sure."
"Not sure? What do you mean? Speak clearly."
Shirone bit his nails anxiously. No matter how he tried, it wouldn't come.
"Iruki."
"Yeah?"
"What was the answer to the last multiple-choice question on the math proof?"
"Oh, that one? The proof that links two equations together, right? The option was insanely long."
Iruki froze and went pale.
"You don't mean…?"
"Yeah, I can't remember. I don't know which proof I settled on. I tried solving it again, but it's the same. Back then I was definitely torn between two choices."
"How many points is that? If you got it wrong, what would your score be?"
"Seventy-eight..."
Iruki and Nade realized the gravity. The last multiple-choice question was worth two points. One answer could decide promotion or repeating the class.
"How could you not remember? What did you mark?"
"Number three. But I'm A-type, so I can't check."
Nade snatched his paper. One option ran on for twenty lines with a brutal proof. Honestly, he'd missed it too. Probably only Iruki could solve it cleanly among Class Five.
Shirone clutched his head in agony. "I thought it was either two or three. With ten seconds left I was torn and suddenly one answer flashed into my head. But… I can't remember which one."
When time is tight, that happens. Iruki and Nade, who'd been at the academy since childhood, knew the feeling well.
But this time promotion hung in the balance. Fail here, and he'd spend another half year in Class Five.
Nade couldn't wait. "Damn it! I can't stand this!"
"What are you going to do?"
"Go ask directly. Ask Teacher Shiina. She's our homeroom teacher."
Shirone felt he couldn't hold on either. The three left the lab and hurried to the exam hall.
They'd spent the whole day grading, so Class Four's exams were in progress. Sneaking into the building during lunch, they anxiously waited for a teacher to pass by. After about thirty minutes, Shiina walked down the corridor. The three ran toward her.
"Teacher! Teacher!"
"Huh? Why are you here? Class Five's exams ended yesterday."
"The last multiple-choice math proof on the A paper—what's the correct answer?"
Shiina tilted her head. Her specialty was chemistry, but every teacher had reviewed the papers multiple times; grading wasn't beyond her. Even outside her major, the math level of students was nothing.
"Why all of a sudden?"
"Please hurry! This is really important."
Seeing the urgency in Nade's eyes, Shiina recalled the last multiple-choice question. It had been difficult enough to stick in her memory.
"Oh, that one? For the A paper it's number two, right?"
"Number two..."
Shirone froze as if struck. He had written three. He'd gotten it wrong. His score would be seventy-eight. Thinking he might miss promotion by just two points took the wind out of him.
"Number two… number two…"
Muttering the words, Shirone suddenly grabbed the back of his neck and collapsed backward. Nade hurriedly caught him before he hit the floor.
"Shirone! Are you okay? Snap out of it! You said you were indestructible!"
"Two? Why… how could it be two…"
"Teacher, we're going to check—excuse us!"
Even as he was dragged away, Shirone kept muttering the same thing. Shiina watched, blinked, and smiled faintly before heading to the staff room.
"They never get tired, do they? Always so full of energy."
The staff room was a bustle of teachers grading. Shiina sat down and began checking. Then, for some reason, she opened a drawer and took out the A-type math proof paper.
"You said the last multiple-choice question, right?"
Shiina examined the final question. After scanning the proof for a moment, she smiled brightly.
"Oh—number three."
Arian Shirone. Promotion confirmed.