“Instructor Kunon, sorry to interrupt your class, but there's something we need to handle together right now. The other party is already waiting for us in the lounge. Could you come with me?”
Collette said with a smile, but upon seeing Kunon's state, her gaze turned puzzled.
“Hmm? Instructor Kunon, what's wrong? Are you alright?”
“Ah... I'm fine.”
Kunon shook his head. “Thank you, Instructor Collette... I mean, for coming all this way to let me know.”
“Haha, don't mention it, Instructor Kunon! After all, we're colleagues. I'll head over first, so please join me once you're finished here.”
“Haha, alright, I'll be right there...” Kunon managed a forced smile.
After Collette left, Kunon turned to face the students.
“Just as Instructor Collette said, today's class ends here. When you go back, make sure to reflect deeply on your performance. Don't be like this when the final assessment comes. Well... as for you—”
Kunon glanced at Shulim, “Let's just... say you pass.”
“That's all. Dismissed!”
After declaring them dismissed, Kunon immediately headed toward the lounge.
The moment he stepped into the building and reached an empty corner out of sight, his legs buckled, and he nearly collapsed. He gasped for air, breathing heavily like someone who had just escaped drowning.
“A m-monster... That girl is a monster!”
...
“...”
Watching Kunon's hurried departure, Shulim tilted her head.
“How strange...”
Shulim had noticed Kunon's abnormality to some extent, but she didn't know the cause.
“Was he poisoned...?”
What Shulim didn't know was that because she had defeated countless types of powerful monsters, she now carried an invisible aura of terrifying ferocity. Over the past year, while sneaking into the Monster Forest to train, this aura had prevented weak monsters from bothering her and deterred strong monsters from actively attacking.
However, Shulim didn't yet have a thorough understanding of the Monster Forest's ecology, so she assumed that the area was simply teeming with powerful monsters.
Usually, when she was at school, since there were no enemies around, Shulim's mindset was quite relaxed. She never actively released any killing intent, so that ferocious aura remained dormant and went unnoticed by everyone.
But today, facing Kunon—a battle-hardened, C-Class veteran—and it being her first time truly facing a strong C-Class human, she had unconsciously turned serious, switching her gaze to her usual combat mode.
Consequently, the ferocious aura she had forged in combat exploded outward...
As a result, Shulim never realized that she was the cause of Kunon's abnormality. She even felt a lingering regret that she hadn't gotten to exchange blows with a C-Class powerhouse.
...
...
In the blink of an eye, the day of the individual combat assessment arrived.
“You all know the rules. In the first round, you will fight according to the numbers you drew. The winner advances, and the loser is eliminated, until the first place is decided! Remember, stop when a blow lands. Anyone who continues to attack after their opponent concedes will be immediately disqualified! Also, stepping out of the bounds of the arena is an automatic loss...”
A simple judges' platform had been set up at the edge of the training ground. Kunon stood in front of it, announcing the rules of the assessment.
“Alright, I declare the assessment officially started!”
Following Kunon's announcement, the numerous students, clutching their training weapons, began their matches.
Having finished speaking, Kunon walked back to his seat and sat down. Crossing his arms, he watched with an expressionless face, ready to dash forward and disqualify anyone the moment he spotted a rule violation.
Meanwhile, the other teachers, who had also been dragged in to act as judges, were in a much more relaxed mood and even began to chat.
“My, I never expected to see a scene like this in a preparatory school. Seeing these kids gripping their swords on the field makes me feel like I'm looking at my own youth.”
“Haha, true. But this is what the times demand. We are growing old, and the future of the world can only be entrusted to them.”
“Hmm. Speaking of which, who among these kids do you think will take first place?”
“It should be Ander. I've overheard many students saying he's the strongest.”
“Oh, is that so? I thought it would be Shulim. Hasn't her magic talent always been outstanding?”
“While Shulim is indeed talented in magic, this is practical combat. Those are two entirely different things.”
“Hmph, I don't agree. Shulim also has Non-Elemental Affinity, and she's already a Second-Tier mage. If she's learned Second-Tier Reinforce, it would be impossible for Ander to win with just his sword!”
“You said yourself it's just a possibility. Ultimately, no one has ever seen her use Reinforce, so she probably hasn't learned it yet... Ah, Instructor Collette, who do you think will win first place in the end?”
“Eh, me? Hmm... For me, I suppose I'm leaning a bit more toward Miss Shulim.”
“Did you hear that? Even the teacher who instructs them in magic says so. It just goes to show how powerful that child's magic really is!”
“That's hard to say. Instructor Collette is, after all, the magic teacher. I feel like we should ask Instructor Kunon from the combat class about this. Instructor Kunon, what do you think?”
Kunon was still watching the field with a cool, focused gaze. Hearing the other teachers' question, his eyes instinctively drifted toward Ander, who had just defeated his opponent, before shifting over to Shulim.
Shulim had also won her match.
As Kunon stared at her back with a thoughtful look, Shulim suddenly turned her head, her gaze locking directly onto his.
Startled, Kunon quickly looked down, a bead of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
She noticed me?!
So, what happened that day really wasn't an illusion after all...
“...Instructor Kunon, Instructor Kunon.”
“Ah—sorry!”
Only after the other teachers called out to Kunon several times did he finally snap out of it.
“Instructor Kunon, are you alright?”
Kunon quickly shook his head. “Thank you, I'm fine. Just... pondering how to grade the students.”
“Ah, I see. You really are dedicated, Instructor Kunon!”
“Haha... It's just my duty.”
Kunon offered a slightly awkward smile. “By the way, what was it you were asking me just now?”
“It's nothing major, we just wanted your opinion as an expert. Who do you think will take first place in the end?”
“First place...”
Kunon's gaze lowered as he spoke softly, “Is there even a need to ask? The result is obvious—”
“Oh! Really? Is the gap in their strength actually that obvious? Then it must be Ander, right?”
“No!”
Kunon shook his head. “—It's Shulim!”
...
The early stage of the assessment progressed rapidly, largely due to the uneven skill levels of the students. Most importantly, the vast majority of them lacked the stamina for prolonged combat.
Soon, the top eight and even the top four were decided.
Just as everyone expected, the top four indeed included Shulim, Ander, and Fran.
These three were, after all, in a league of their own compared to the rest of the class, and were also the only ones to have reached the Second Tier. The others did not even harbor any thoughts of competing against them.
For instance, the fourth student who had managed to enter the top four had already completely checked out. In his mind, making it this far was practically the equivalent of winning first place. He had never even compared himself to the other three.
No matter who his next opponent was, he would just surrender.
As if to rush him out, the first match of the semi-finals was his—and his opponent was Shulim.
Looking at Shulim, who stood expressionless with a sword in one hand, he raised his hand and surrendered without any hesitation.
“I surrender!”
With that, before anyone else could react, he casually turned around and walked off.
Rate on N.U.
