Chapter 155

Once upon a time, an exam is an act of evaluating a person’s knowledge or abilities based on a certain standard.

This exam is often considered a critical opportunity that everyone might feel nervous about.

For some, it could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance that might completely change their lives, while for others, it might be a grueling path they must regularly undertake to prove their worth.

And for a very small number of talented individuals…

“Haa…”

It is merely a tedious occurrence that returns every year at a regular time. The tedium of having to fit into the standards of ordinary people is, in truth, a proof that rarely delights the mind.

The process of proving innate talent has always existed in their lives, leading them to be amazed at such talent or to aspire for even higher realms.

Though it isn’t their talent, and their life isn’t of the type that can be maneuvered freely, they always yearn for the talented to gaze upwards.

The thrilling process of proof, where nothing is added to that talent, can become suffocating at the slightest misstep, truly mirrors their perspective in a different light.

“Really…”

And this was a perspective that fit perfectly with Laura von Adelheit, who had grown up with the assessment of being a magical prodigy, a genius, and a perfectly qualified archmage since childhood.

Laura had always viewed the exam as an unsatisfactory process of proof. For her, who reigned as the strongest in the first year of the Caldera Imperial Academy’s Department of Magic, the exam was just a tedious occurrence that had been ongoing for a long time.

Yes, it was something… until today.

“An open book exam suddenly? What’s this…”

This beginning stemmed from a few days prior when Professor Antorelli made an official exam announcement.

An unrestricted open book exam which allowed other Theology professors to join if necessary. While she would have taken it lightly had it been said by another professor, the fact that it was Professor Antorelli who said it was the issue.

What kind of exam could he possibly be preparing?

Laura recalled a conversation from the cafeteria where Professor Antorelli had stated that “It would be fair for all students to partake, and even those who have never read the Bible would be able to take the exam, furthermore, it wouldn’t stray outside the boundaries of Theology.”

“…Does that even make sense?”

It doesn’t make sense. Even Laura, who often pondered over Antorelli’s words two or three times, couldn’t understand the hidden intentions behind them this time.

Additionally, when he first mentioned the exam with ten minutes left in class, he had said:

– Simply bringing ‘Theological materials’ won’t be particularly useful for this exam.

This isn’t an exam where calculations of magic circles are required. Nor is it an exam for the combat department focusing on close combat skills or marksmanship, and it’s not an exam requiring an artistic flair from the art department.

This is a Theology exam. A test based on the Bible, by Theology, and for Theology. Yes, it must be…

‘A test where theological materials are useless…?’

What kind of nonsensical paradox is this? Is it not the same as saying bringing a Theology professor is not particularly useful for the Theology exam?

Laura simply couldn’t fathom Professor Antorelli’s true intentions. Thanks to this, for her, who had already finished preparing for the Department of Magic’s exam a long time ago, the only remaining obstacle was the Theology exam, and that was it.

“Haa…”

Laura let out another deep sigh and buried her face into her desk. Her white hair spilled softly over the library desk.

It reminded her of the times she had to study Theology late at night when working on assignments at the beginning of the semester in the Academy’s library. Continuously devouring Theology books there made her naturally think back to her past assignments.

“Just like last assignment and now again…”

She acknowledged that Professor Antorelli’s classes were highly beneficial, and that they were easy to understand and relatable even to students who weren’t from the Department of Theology. However, Professor Antorelli had a particularly terrible flaw since the start of the semester.

Perhaps, he revels in seeing students agonizing and struggling? With a clouded gaze, Laura unknowingly entertained such foolish thoughts and blankly stared at her desk.

“I just don’t know anymore…”

It wouldn’t make sense to just go and outright ask how the exam questions would be formulated. Quite literally, she found herself stuck in a frustrating position where she couldn’t do anything until the day of the exam.

Besides that, when recalling Professor Antorelli’s appearance at the Imperial Graveyard, she felt a little hesitant to face him.

After all, having learned that the coughing up of blood was actually something for his health, she felt a sense of embarrassment now meeting his gaze directly.

“…In the end, I guess I’ll find out on the day of the exam.”

Securing her seat in Class A didn’t truly make her feel uneasy. What mattered was that it was an exam overseen by Professor Antorelli.

If she were to display a pitiful grade in a test he supervised, she’d want to die in different ways. She always wanted to show only perfect appearances in front of him. It was only natural. Because…

“…Heh.”

Unbeknownst to her, Laura cracked a foolish smile, and suddenly jolted upright. The students studying in the library, who had remained behind, glanced at her in surprise.

“…I’m sorry.”

While awkwardly apologizing, Laura, whose face had turned bright red, thought to herself.

It’s all because of Professor Lucio Antorelli. That man.

* * * * *

“……”

“Yawn… Head Priest, what’s wrong?”

“I suddenly felt an itch in my ear.”

“Seems someone is gossiping about you, Head Priest.”

“…Sofia Sub-Priest, have the tasks I assigned you been completed?”

“Cool….”

During the year and a bit that I had spent with Sofia Sub-Priest, she had developed quite a bad habit. She would play dead whenever things turned unfavorable for her.

I fiddled with my ears, scanning the half-finished exam paper before me. In truth, there wasn’t particularly anything to focus on yet, but if even a typo were discovered, it would certainly bring great shame.

I wasn’t worried about my own shame but rather about the position of being the professor responsible for the Theology course in Class A. That weighed on my mind heavily.

“Um…”

My right shoulder began to ache sharply. I gently massaged the painful area and popped a painkiller into my mouth from the drawer of my work desk.

It had been a long while since I had used divine power, so the pain I felt was beyond imagination. No matter how efficiently divine power was utilized, this pain was of a kind that couldn’t be helped.

“Are you okay, Head Priest…?”

Sofia Sub-Priest, who stopped pretending to be asleep, came over to my side with a worried expression. I waved my hand, striving to suppress the pain I felt.

“I’m okay. Yes… I’m fine.”

“…You really don’t look fine.”

“…There’s some pain, but I just took a painkiller, so I’m fine.”

Sofia Sub-Priest, who had been frowning for a moment, soon sighed and pulled up a chair next to me to sit down. Her protruding lips moved slightly.

“See, I told you I could handle it. You didn’t need to do it yourself…”

“This exam has to be shown to the lead professor. I had to take a lot of care.”

“I suppose that’s true…”

To craft a more perfect exam paper, I had to inevitably use divine power. Sofia Sub-Priest was still wearing a subtle frown, but she reluctantly nodded as if she agreed with my statement.

“Is this the exam paper? The one you’ll show to the lead professor?”

Sofia Sub-Priest, who had relaxed her displeased expression, now stared intently at the paper laid on the desk. I hesitated to nod my head eagerly.

“Yes, this is correct. However…”

“…It isn’t complete yet.”

“…Yes. That’s correct.”

Indeed. My exam paper wasn’t yet fully complete. It wasn’t an exam paper I could solely finalize.

While Sofia Sub-Priest was exerting herself to assist me ardently, regrettably the kind of assistance I required wasn’t something she could contribute. It seemed she understood that well, as a slightly gloomy expression crossed her face.

“I’m sorry. I can’t be of much help…”

“It’s okay. It’s not something you can do.”

“But…”

“Really, it’s fine. Besides…”

Thanks to the effectiveness of the painkiller, I began to feel the pain in my shoulder gradually easing, and I looked at the clock hanging on the wall of the professor’s office.

It was about time.

– Knock, knock.

‘…They’re here.’

As soon as I heard the cautious knocking, I walked briskly to open the door.

– Bang!

“Oh… hello…?”

The person who had knocked on the professor’s office door was none other than Professor Esther.

* * * * *

“Hm…”

Alan Madison, the top professor of the first year at Caldera Imperial Academy.

He was currently enjoying one of the few moments of respite during a day that rolled on monotonously like clockwork.

A bitter yet sweet coffee in one hand and a cigarette in the other. It was a combination he could hardly hate.

Though it would only last a few minutes, he was fine with it. Professor Madison had a life much busier and more turbulent than others, so even this fleeting moment of relaxation felt as eternal as it could be.

“Assistant Hill. If someone comes to see me and it’s not urgent, please politely send them away.”

“Understood, Professor.”

After giving that instruction to his reliable assistant Hill, Professor Madison sat down in a plush chair with his coffee and cigarette. Closing his eyes to smoke the cigarette, he reached the pinnacle of comfort.

‘Right now, no one can bother me…’

Professor Madison, who always led a life pursued by work, regarded these fragmented moments of rest as exceedingly valuable. He often became so absorbed in resting with his eyes closed that he wouldn’t hear Hill’s knock.

It was just at that moment when he was about to sip his coffee.

– Knock, knock.

“……”

Professor Madison slowly set down his coffee cup. Carefully placing the still-lit cigarette onto the ashtray, he slowly walked towards the doorway of his office.

– Bang!

“Oh… Professor.”

“If it’s not urgent, I’ve already asked you not to call me… I told you just two minutes ago, Assistant Hill.”

“Th-that’s…”

Normally, he would have apologized immediately, but at that moment, seeing Assistant Hill’s fidgety and flustered manner, Professor Madison began to harbor doubts.

“Good afternoon. Top Professor.”

“…Professor Antorelli.”

Professor Madison relaxed the frown that had slightly creased his brow as he regarded Professor Antorelli. He then understood Assistant Hill’s strange demeanor instantly.

‘If Professor Antorelli is here, it must be regarding the exam.’

Considering the seriousness of the matter, Antorelli’s exam fell under something Professor Madison considered significant. He slowly opened his mouth.

“Fine afternoon, Professor Antorelli.”

“Yes? Ah… Yes. Good afternoon.”

“I believe you are well aware of my temperament. Let’s proceed swiftly.”

Professor Madison subtly glanced over at Professor Antorelli. In that instant, a single sheet of paper held in his hands came into Madison’s sight.

“…You brought the exam paper?”

“Yes. Without lengthy discussion, it would be best if you simply look at the exam paper. Let’s keep it concise.”

“…….”

At Professor Antorelli’s response, the corners of Professor Madison’s mouth lifted slightly. Without the need for complex discussions, simply reviewing the exam would suffice…

It was a satisfactory answer. Professor Madison was subtly impressed by Professor Antorelli’s earnest ‘swiftness’.

“Then I shall promptly review this exam paper. Please come in for a moment…”

“Oh. That won’t be necessary.”

“……?”

Just as the idea of something unexpected flickered over Professor Madison’s face, Professor Antorelli continued.

“I don’t believe it will be finished that quickly.”

“…Interesting.”

While it was just a single sheet of exam paper, the review wouldn’t be swift. Professor Antorelli was implying that.

“Very well. Then, I shall see you later. Have a swift day.”

“Yes. Thank you. Then…”

Not long after, Professor Madison found himself alone again.

With a short sigh, he returned to his work desk, pushed aside his coffee on the table, and placed the exam paper there.

Though Professor Antorelli mentioned it wouldn’t take long, Professor Madison was confident that ‘swiftness’ was something he could manage. His gaze was fixed squarely on the exam paper.

* * * * *

Professor Madison’s assistant, Hill, stared at the clock on the desk.

Professor Madison’s office had a peculiar structure. Due to Professor Madison’s sensitivity to time and his tendency to become overly sensitive while working, he couldn’t work in the same office with an assistant.

Thus, Hill, Professor Madison’s assistant, often handled matters in a small assistant office separately connected outside the professor’s office. The only means of communication he had from that office was the doorbell linked to Madison’s office.

“…This is strange.”

The fact that Professor Madison, who is this sensitive to time, had not reacted despite the designated break time passing seemed very unusual. Normally, he would never want his break to be interrupted, but Hill found Professor Madison’s silence to be oddly unsettling.

Ultimately, Hill decided to leave the assistant office. He resolved to check in on Professor Madison’s office, which was right next door.

– Knock, knock.

“Top Professor Madison. This is Assistant Hill.”

There was no response.

A wave of extreme anxiety engulfed Hill.

‘Has this man finally died…? No, that’s not it.’

Professor Madison not only neglected his perception of time, but his keen hearing also failed to detect Hill’s knock. A scenario where the sky could fall yet he wouldn’t wake was unthinkable.

Despairing, Hill ultimately chose to forcibly open the office door and step inside. Whether he got scolded didn’t matter anymore.

– Bang!

“P-Professor!”

What could have happened to Professor Madison? Had he collapsed on the floor? A sudden brain hemorrhage? Overwork leading to chronic fatigue?

Hill’s wild suspicions turned out to be in vain as Professor Madison remained perfectly fine.

“…Ah, Assistant Hill.”

However, could one even say he was fine?

His eyes looked even more hollow than usual, and within them sparkled with an eerily bright clarity. For some reason, the corners of his mouth twitched as if struggling to contain his emotions.

“…Professor?”

“Right now….”

“Yes, yes?”

Unable to grasp the surreal appearance, disoriented, Professor Madison urgently called out to Hill.

“Immediately summon Professor Antorelli! Swiftly! Quickly!”

With a countenance that intriguingly held a smile laden with distorted joy.