As the exam continued, Callius diligently worked through the questions, his pen moving swiftly across the paper. The complexity of the questions seemed to be no match for his sharp mind as he tackled each one with ease.
His calm and focused demeanor drew the attention of his fellow students, who couldn't help but steal glances at him from time to time. After all, everyone knew he was the first-ranked student, but no one saw how he did on the entrance exam.
But at the same time, some of them felt pressured. Like the questions were actually easy, and they were the ones that weren't able to solve them. The anxiety-filled their heart as their gaze lost their focus momentarily. Of course, not everyone was like that, but there were quite a lot of students who had problems with focusing.
But Callius remained composed, his eyes never leaving his paper as he continued to write. It was as if he was in his own world, unaffected by the pressure and anxiety that filled the room.
After what seemed like an impossibly short amount of time, Callius leaned back in his chair and finished with the entire exam. He quietly got up from his seat and approached the instructor at the front of the room. As he handed in his paper, the other students couldn't help but stare in disbelief.
"How did he finish so quickly?"
"Is he even human?"
"I don't understand. The questions are so difficult!"
"QUIET!"
There were small murmurs filling the classroom. Though with a short but not weak warning from the supervisor, all attention was once again turned to their papers.
Just like that, the exam went on for those who couldn't finish….
*******
In a way, the better an academy is, the harder their exams. There was such a belief on Earth, even though that may not be necessarily true. But because of that belief, the developers of the game put the setting of hard and tiring exams inside the academy arc.
Considering we had six different theoretical classes where we would take the theoretical exam of, it kind of made sense why all those students were looking dead-eyed.
The gloomy atmosphere lingered in the corridors as students slumped against the walls, flipping through their notes with exhausted expressions.
"I've never studied this much in my life. Why did I think I could handle this academy?" One student sighed, rubbing his temples wearily.
"Maybe we should have chosen an easier academy. This is torture!" Another student moaned, looking like they hadn't slept in days.
"I can't wait for this to be over. I need a break from all these exams," a girl mumbled, her eyes glazed over with fatigue.
"I don't even remember what sleep feels like anymore," a boy grumbled, stifling a yawn.
They were questioning their life choices while waiting for the last exam to come. Yes, the last exam. Since today will be the end of the theoretical exam period for the mid-terms.
"Can you believe there's still one more exam left?"
"I'm so tired. I can't wait to go back to my dorm and crash."
"I hope the last exam is at least a bit easier. I don't know how much more I can take."
The murmurs were tinged with desperation and exhaustion, a testament to the rigorous academic standards of the academy.
In the midst of the collective misery, I walked past students, not bothering to look at them. After all, whenever I saw their faces, my trait was making me want to fix their looks. It was a weird situation.
Just like that, the time for the last exam arrived, and students reluctantly dragged themselves into the classroom. The weight of the previous exams and the impending final test seemed to bear down on them heavily.
*********
"AHHHH! IT IS FINALLY FINISHED!"
"Thank the heavens, I never want to see another exam paper again!"
"I can't believe I actually survived this. It was like a never-ending nightmare!"
"I need a week of straight sleep to recover from this ordeal."
"I think I forgot what the sun looks like. I've been cooped up studying for so long."
"Do you think the professors secretly enjoy watching us suffer during exams?"
"I'm going to treat myself to the biggest meal ever after this. I deserve it!"
"I think my brain is mush now. I hope I can remember my own name."
The students were happily celebrating the finish of the exams as everyone's eyes brightened. Even though they knew the practical exams were going to follow, at least the boring part reached the end.
"PFFT!"
Though there were some remarks that looked like they came out from comics, Aliya sitting before me couldn't contain her laughter.
Her eyes shining bright green, and her crimson red hair fluttering, it was a good sight.
"Happy?" I asked, getting ready to leave the classroom.
"Yes, aren't you?" Aliya answered, turning back to me.
"Not particularly," I replied nonchalantly.
"Why?" Aliya probed, her curiosity undeterred.I think you should take a look at
"Why would I?" I retorted, raising an eyebrow.
Her smile faltered slightly as she considered my response. "Do you need a reason to be happy?" she questioned.
"You don't?" I countered, not giving away a serious expression.
"….." She was speechless for a second as she pondered about what to answer.
And seeing this, I really wanted to laugh. "Right," I smirked as I made my way toward the outside of the classroom.
'I need to check this… I have been getting this weird feeling inside the academy for a while…' I thought, but I was stopped by the question that arose.
"So you are not happy because you don't have a reason?"
"Yes?"
Just as I was about to walk further, I heard her faint whisper behind me. "Then should I give you one?" Her tone was filled with flirt, and inside her eyes, there was a desire. The faint smell of perfume I hinted to her that I liked entered my nose further.
'Ho? Now you want to do it?' I thought. 'But, it is a pity that we can't do it now.'
Even though I was also pent up quite a lot, that was not the time to do it for now. Looking around, I saw none of the students were paying attention to us, so I answered, leaning my head toward her ears.
"You definitely should," I answered with a faint whisper, responding to her flirting.
"Then-"
"But after the exams. I will tell you, okay?"
/FLINCH/
With a small touch on her neck, I tapped on her erogenous zone, making her flinch. After all the time we have spent together, I knew quite a lot of her zones.
With that, I left the classroom and stepped on top of the academy grounds. 'I really want to do it, but this is more important.'
It was a pity, but the small tendrils of dark mana inside the academy were a lot more important than any other thing right now.
After all, in the long run, if you won't be able to be alive, what is the point of having someone you like?
*********
"Bad bastard…." Aliya mumbled to herself after Callius left. The way he smirked at her while he was leaving made her mad to the point she wanted to pull him to her dorm.
"Though, there is no way he would let me." She sighed, realizing that Callius wouldn't appreciate being restrained. Despite their close relationship, he valued his freedom and independence.
As she started picking up her belongings, her thoughts drifted back to their flirtatious exchange. She knew Callius desired her just as much as she longed for him. But something seemed to be occupying his mind at the moment.
'But, I still could see he wanted to do it; he must be busy with something.' Aliya's quick-witted mind pieced together the clues. While Callius was indeed a workaholic, he was far from impotent. She could tell he was also pent up with desire, and that made her smile. Understanding his intentions, she knew it wasn't the right time for their intimate moments.
'Then, I guess I should deal with this girl first.' She turned her attention to a fellow student with a cloak on her head who was also gathering her belongings.
This girl was the one that got close to Callius, but Aliya knew something was fishy, and seeing her keep clinging to Callius whenever she had the chance, she was sure this girl was monitoring him. After learning from Callius that this girl was actually a spy sent by the princess, her doubts were confirmed.
'Let's see; he wanted me to alert the princess….Then I should do it moderately…' With that thought, she moved.????????????????????????????????.????????????
"Hello." Aliya approached the girl, a friendly smile on her face. "Elara, right?"
The girl, Elara, looked surprised for a moment, but then she nodded with a shy smile. "Y-Yes, that's me.
'Wow… Just as he said, she is really good at managing her expressions…' Aliya thought inside her head.
"I heard from Callius that you were a talented wind mage…." Aliya said, looking into the girl's eyes.
"I-I am not that good…" Elara kept her act as she strutted in response.
"No, you must be. Callius never praises others emptily." Aliya answered without any ounce of hesitation in her voice.
"T-thank you then," Elara answered with a blush on her face.
Just like that, slowly, Aliya approached the spy getting closer to her in order to give subtle hints of information Callius wanted.
After all, she did everything for him.
---------------------------A/N-------------------------------
Hope you liked the chapter. Now, it is time for practical exams.
You can check my discord if you want. You will be able to see the illustrations here and engage in a conversation with me if I am available.
https://discord.gg/XJEgBRM3C
Check out my new book if you are interested. This time it will have a modern hunter theme, where MC will be driven by the feeling of vengeance.
The name is; Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest
