Chapter 34. The Academy’s First Exam

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ㅡWhich of the following values should most students consider to be the true value?

1. What matters most on the battlefield is not the process. It’s about the result. Only victory or defeat matters.

2. The process is more important than the result of victory or defeat. What course the battle took during that process, and one should follow a rational process as much as possible. Victory should be prioritized even if it means taking damage.

3. Both process and result are important. But if forced to choose, the result is more important than the process. Therefore, it’s unavoidable that minor casualties may be disregarded.

4. It’s okay not to achieve a great victory on the battlefield. The strategy that results in the least damage to allies should be given top priority.

5. On the battlefield, defeating many monsters and gaining an advantageous position is most important. Damage incurred in the process is unavoidable and must be fully accepted.
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Suddenly, the next day.

Looking at the exam paper, I realized a new fact.

In the original “Royal High Academy” novel, such detailed question examples or problems didn’t appear.

Of course, because no reader would enjoy seeing such things. The author naturally didn’t write them.

But.

As I was directly experiencing it, the feeling was quite different.

“…Hmm.”
“This seems too difficult.”
“Ugh…”

Groans could be heard from nearby students.

We’re currently taking an ethics exam.

The academy places quite a lot of value and importance on establishing students’ values. After all, there’s no greater loss to the empire than if a carefully educated student goes astray and becomes a criminal or a “lawless” person who causes major problems within the empire.

It was perhaps natural for the academy to prioritize students’ character.

And to me, the answer was clearly visible.

Tick.

Even as I checked the answer, a smile escaped.

In this world, entering the Royal High Academy happens after becoming an adult and receiving a Talent.

But that doesn’t mean there are no academies providing basic education before adulthood. Depending on individual circumstances and means, one may or may not complete academy studies.

And I had an intuition.

The various educations I received in reality.

That they were on a higher dimension compared to the academies in this world. It could be seen that the education established and refined by countless people was indeed more advanced in the modern era.

Rustle, rustle, rustle.

As I solved the problems smoothly and turned the pages of the exam paper, a smile wouldn’t leave my face.

‘Easy.’

To me, the problems were mostly easy.

Originally, I read many novels as a hobby, and though I mainly read revenge stories, when you read many novels like that, you can feel why most protagonists pursue good and why they should do so.

Even without separate study, that was quite helpful for subjects like language, morals, and ethics.

At first, I wondered how this was helpful, but it turned out to have a surprisingly big effect.

Tick.

After solving all the problems like that, I was able to complete all 8 pages of the exam paper.

Gently raising my head to look around.

Everyone seemed to be pondering deeply, sitting a bit further apart than usual.

“Sigh…”

As David, sitting right next to me, let out a big sigh and held his head, I couldn’t help but laugh.

‘This feels better than I thought.’

Although my Talent is the lowest Common in this classroom. In terms of knowledge, I’m ahead of most students right now.

I can say that with certainty.

Considering the future I know will happen, I could even say I’m ahead of Instructor Kali here.

Thinking that, I turned my gaze.

“…”
“…”

By chance, my eyes met Kali’s.

She looked a bit surprised as our eyes met, as if she had been watching me all along, and I momentarily wondered what to do.

Students who finish the exam can submit it early and leave class early.

I could submit the exam paper now and leave the classroom, but I was a bit reluctant to let go of this rare feeling of intellectual superiority.

I wanted to feel this emotion a bit longer.

As I was contemplating this.

Rustle.

With the slow sound of a chair being pushed back, one student rose.

Tap.
Tap.

Footsteps full of dignity and confidence echoed.

I couldn’t help but look, and was dumbfounded.

‘Luna Vermont.’

The pink twintails made it instantly recognizable as her even from a distance.

“Student Luna, have you already finished the exam?”

As Kali asked with slight surprise, even some students taking the exam raised their heads.

And as their gazes focused, Luna smiled confidently.

“Yes. It was too easy.”

At that haughty voice full of confidence. I involuntarily burst out laughing.

“Pfft…”

Was my laughter too loud?

As Kali and even Luna suddenly looked at me, I covered my mouth and quickly erased my smile.

Ahem. Hem. Clearing my throat and composing myself, only then did Kali turn her gaze away from me.

“Student Luna. Then I hope you get good results.”
“Yes. Thank you, Instructor.”

While answering Kali politely, Luna glared at me fiercely as she left the classroom. Seeing that, I had to suppress the laughter trying to burst out again.

No. Well…

How could I not laugh at Luna now?

‘Luna solved this ethics exam paper properly?’

I really couldn’t imagine it at all.

If Luna, that arrogant noble heroine who looks down on others, provided correct answers to an ‘ethics’ exam of all things… it would be more believable to say the sun rises in the west.

And when Milia submitted her exam paper after that, I felt I should get up too.

I wanted to enjoy this atmosphere in the classroom a bit longer. But I felt I had already enjoyed almost everything from Luna’s appearance just now.

Rustle.

I rose and calmly organized the items I had brought.

Light tools. After arranging them nicely to hand over the exam paper, I moved.

Passing by David, I said a word.

“David. Hang in there.”
“What… Han Chunsung. You’ve already finished?”

At David’s surprised voice, I lightly nodded and headed down.

Thud.
Thud.

Even as I walked, the light feeling of having done well on the exam. And the sense of superiority that I was clearly ahead of other students in some aspects. As my smile deepened with various positive emotions.

…Unconsciously, my gaze went to one side.

“…”

Then I saw a student looking at me with a gaze full of hostility.

It was a student I recognized.

With light blonde hair and a confident expression… who had asked Kali a question…
The student who had completely missed the point.

‘His name was Gerard Leadre, I think?’

I remembered that was the student’s name. I didn’t know why that student was looking at me so hostilely.

I clearly didn’t have any particular connection or memory of talking with him.

After briefly meeting eyes with the student showing strangely intense hostility, I soon turned my head.

‘He’s not even a supporting character, probably not worth my attention.’

If someone suddenly expresses malice towards me, I didn’t want to associate with such a student if they weren’t even an important figure I should care about.

From the start, there are surprisingly many people in this world who openly despise those with Common Talents, so maybe he extremely disliked me after hearing about me.

Thud.

Reaching Kali like that, I confidently held out my exam paper.

“Student Han Chunsung. You’ve finished already?”

As Kali suddenly spoke very gently, I was surprised.

‘Is this okay?’

I thought she might have lost affection for me because I stubbornly asked for duels yesterday… but unexpectedly, Kali’s gaze towards me was quite favorable.

Even being this close, I could clearly feel that she viewed me positively.

“Yes. I’ve finished. It was a bit easy for me.”

…The latter part was unnecessary, but I couldn’t hold back those words.

This was the first time I felt so confident in a field. How could I not be excited?

At my words, Kali smiled brightly.

“Really? Then Student Han Chunsung. I hope you get good results.”
“Yes. Thank you.”

As I was about to turn around after receiving her words like that.

“Ah, wait. Student Han Chunsung.”

Suddenly Kali called me in a small voice.

Though it was a small voice, it sounded clear to me, and I had to stop immediately.

“Yes, Instructor Kali.”

As I calmly answered and met her gaze.

“…Ah, it’s nothing. Good job on the exam.”

As Kali awkwardly smiled and fumbled her words. I wondered what it was about, but just nodded for now.

“Yes. Then I’ll be going now. Thank you for today’s lecture as well.”

And as I spoke with even more gratitude, Kali gave me a gentle smile.

Rustle.

Carefully closing the classroom door and coming out. My mood was refreshed more than ever.

“I should do quite well on written exams.”

Of course, I’d have to put in effort accordingly, but I had almost no thought of receiving low scores on written exams.

Turning my head like that, I saw the quiet academy corridor in my view.

And the two women walking there as well.

It was Luna and Milia.

“…Huh? Isn’t the answer to question 13 number 3?”
“Yeah. Luna, I think the answer to that one is number 5.”
“Milia. But to me, 3 clearly looked like the answer. Is it really not 3?”
“Luna… If it’s 3, that’s completely wrong. Any other choice might be understandable, but it’s definitely not 3.”

I saw Luna and Milia chatting casually.

Looking at their backs, I felt a bit tempted.

‘It probably won’t work with Luna, but…’

I could become friends with Milia. I saw quite a possibility there.

People often say birds of a feather flock together, but sometimes people with completely different personalities become friends.

Like the unique relationship of ‘Luna and Milia’.

Compared to Luna’s arrogant personality, Milia was quite kind and understanding, like a good person who understands others.

With such a Milia, I could sufficiently become friends and. Develop into quite a good relationship.

Thud.

…Even as I was thinking, I was approaching them.