Chapter 36
The academy holds two exams each semester.
Midterms and finals.
It’s nothing unusual. Anyone who has gone through a standard education—elementary, middle, or high school—knows this.
The first midterm of the academy’s first semester, as we already experienced, was a “Coin Scramble.”
Fight against other groups to steal their coins.
The more coins you have by the end of the exam, the better your score.
Within this simple rule, students had to demonstrate their individual abilities and how well they could integrate with their group.
Those who are quick on the uptake might have already realized: the midterm was essentially an evaluation of individual performance.
Three months into the semester—barely enough time to get to know your teammates. How could you expect team chemistry to develop under such conditions?
Impossible. It’s like expecting to serve a meal before the rice has even cooked.
Even if the leader gave instructions, how could they know whether the team had the ability to carry them out? It’s absurd to expect a solid strategy in such circumstances.
The professors understood this well. That’s why the midterm results were only announced as individual rankings.
But the final exam, which I’m about to explain, is the complete opposite of the midterm.
Traditionally, the academy’s finals are conducted the same way, regardless of the semester or year.
The method couldn’t be simpler.
Gate conquest. In other words, a raid.
First and second-year students face a Level 4 Gate.
Third-year students tackle a Level 5 Gate.
The graduating fourth-year students take on a Level 6 Gate.
Each year must clear the gate assigned to them.
What’s crucial here isn’t just “hunting” or “gathering,” but “clearing” the gate. This means the boss must be completely eliminated.
Preparation, supply systems, hunting routes, camp setup, rest periods…
From the start to the final clear, the professors observe every aspect of the raid and grade accordingly.
The professors’ goal is clear: to assess the leader’s command abilities. Because a raid is the most direct situation where a leader’s skills are put to the test.
As a side note, the reason I’ve been obsessively diving into gates is largely due to the upcoming final exam.
Our group only has three members.
With so few people, we have a lot of freedom when it comes to preparation, such as supplies. We could roughly stuff things in, and there would still be plenty left to go around without worrying about rationing.
But that’s where the advantages end.
When it comes to combat fatigue, we’re at an absolute disadvantage.
That’s why I trained Merry and Jun-woo as all-rounders, able to handle multiple positions. If one person can take on multiple roles, it allows us to manage combat fatigue more efficiently.
This was the reasoning behind our “triangular formation.”
But!
However!
Just when we were preparing so thoroughly!
The piece of paper that Jin Yu-ri handed me was overturning all the preparations I had made.
“Our group is teaming up with yours…”
“Yep.”
“And we’re taking on a Level 5 Gate, not Level 4.”
“Wow, not only are you good at magic, but you’re quick to understand too.”
I’m confused.
What the hell is going on?
I calmly asked myself, “Why?” about this situation.
And the answer I came to was:
“…So we’ve been excluded from the regular evaluation?”
“Sharp, aren’t you? Yep. Your group and ours have been deemed beyond the level of first-years and excluded from the regular evaluation.”
“Instead, we’re taking on a third-year level exam together.”
“You figured all that out from just one clue. Anything else you’ve pieced together?”
“Since our groups are combined, if you apply this logic to other groups… it’s about giving a second chance to those who were disbanded, right?”
Clap! Clap! Clap!
“Wow… I’m genuinely impressed. It’s so easy to communicate with you. The more I see you, the more I like you. I’m getting greedy.”
The message this piece of paper conveyed was clear.
They’re giving the Swordmaster and True Dragon a bit of special treatment by excluding them from the competition. They’re still making us take the exam, but it’s just for show—it won’t affect our grades.
If this is a favor, it’s a very well-disguised one. By having us take on a third-year level exam, they can quash any complaints.
And here’s the key part.
They’re subtly extending a hand to the ghosts, the students from disbanded groups. Everyone knows how much pressure Professor Cheon Soo-man has been under from the parents of those ghosts.
Of course, they won’t openly say this. They’ll discreetly suggest it, letting the idea naturally take root.
Let’s give those wandering souls one more chance.
Even if it’s not directly suggested, Cheon Soo-man, that fox, will make sure it happens.
Undoubtedly.
In doing so, Cheon Soo-man managed to achieve the desired outcome without forcing my hand.
Honestly, it’s a case of “six of one, half a dozen of the other,” but from my experience running the Dark Tower, I understand that such subtle manipulations are necessary when leading an organization.
It minimizes risks.
As I mulled over these thoughts, Jun-woo and Merry finished their sparring and came out of the training court. The structure, sealed by reinforced glass walls, had kept them from noticing Jin Yu-ri until now.
I sat the two down and explained the situation.
“…Is this a joke? If they’re going to do this, why not just disregard the midterm results altogether?”
“Reversing already announced grades isn’t something even the headmaster can do.”
“But twisting things like this is okay? And you, why are you speaking so casually to me when we just met?”
“We’re the same age, so what’s wrong with speaking casually? Everyone does it abroad.”
“This is Korea. The land of etiquette. Show some respect.”
“Fine. But hey, you’ve got great skin. What skincare products do you use?”
“Hmph. It’s a secret remedy passed down in our family for generat—wait a second. You’re doing it again! You’re speaking casually!”
“Damn, this is why I don’t like sharp kids.”
“Gi-hyeok! I don’t like her!”
“Gi-hyeok! I don’t like her!”
“Why are you copying me?!”
“Because I like you. Heehee~.”
“Stop smiling!”
With her cold appearance but surprisingly soft heart, Merry, and Jin Yu-ri, with her gentle appearance but a mischievous streak, made for an amusing pair.
It was a one-sided situation with Merry on the losing end, but the problem was that Jin Yu-ri had no ill intentions. She actually liked Merry, which made it hard for the soft-hearted girl to push her away.
“This place is so much fun! I love it here!”
“Gi-hyeok, tell me, are you seriously considering letting this rude girl join the club?”
“Well, I wanted to hear what you guys think first.”
“Opposed! I’m totally against it!!”
“Aww, why~.”
“Jun-woo?”
“Jun-woo is against it too, right?”
“Um…”
At that moment, Jin Yu-ri handed Jun-woo a potion.
“What’s this?”
“A special vitality potion from the True Dragon family. Drink it.”
A bribe? But it’s not even a rare elixir, just a potion. And she expects him to drink it.
We looked at her, puzzled, but Jin Yu-ri simply smiled brightly and walked towards the sparring court.
And what she said next completely won Jun-woo over.
“Drink it and come at me. If I win, I join the club. If you win, I’ll back off. Deal?”
Jun-woo grinned and downed the vitality potion in one go.
“Deal.”
That day, our club gained a new member.
Jin Yu-ri, a girl who was interesting in more ways than one.
…
…
…Wait a minute.
“What does her joining the club have to do with the final exam?”
I’ve been completely roped in.
She really is something else.
With a chuckle, I fell asleep.
Three days later.
It was three days after Jin Yu-ri had shown Park Gi-hyeok the leaked final exam schedule that the official announcement was made.
“It’s a raid, just as we expected. We can stick to our plan.”
“Quiet. ‘Group 1 and Group 20. These groups have shown exceptional performance since enrollment, and the professors have determined that further competition is unnecessary. As such, they will be taking a third-year level exam.’ What does that even mean?”
“Looks like they’re combining Group 1 and Group 20 and sending them into a Level 5 Gate.”
“The True Dragon and the Swordmaster together? Whoa, this is going to be epic.”
But the real kicker of this announcement was buried further down.
“…Given the exceptional circumstances, combining groups for this exam is permitted. However, approval from the supervising professor is required…”
Combining groups? Adding members to our team?
Could it be that we can too?
The “ghosts” who had been wandering the academy, dejected after the shocking midterm results, suddenly saw a glimmer of hope.
They rushed to their respective professors, and the results were clear.
It was no mistake!
Exceptionally, for this exam, even the disbanded ghost groups were allowed to take part. The only condition was that they had to be chosen by a group leader, but that was a minor detail. What mattered was that they went from impossible to possible.
Of course, this unprecedented situation didn’t come without resistance. Some professors, especially those who valued tradition, were outraged and even went to the headmaster to protest.
But just as you can’t put spilled water back into a glass, the announcement had already stirred too much excitement to be retracted.
With all this fuss and chaos, the typically overlooked first-year final exam had become one of the most talked-about and contentious events in the academy’s history.
Meanwhile, to escape the unnecessary noise of the academy following the final exam announcement, we headed to a gate filled with blood, sweat, tears, passion, and madness.
The only difference from our usual gate trips was that we weren’t alone.
“So, that’s Group 1.”
“Hmm, this is a first. Watching others fight. But why do I feel so weird? What’s even stranger is that I can’t figure out why. I just know I don’t like it.”
“This is boring.”
“I know you’re itching to jump in, but try to watch. You might learn something.”
Choosing group members is entirely up to the group leader.
Naturally, the makeup of a group reflects the leader’s preferences. For example, Group 2’s leader, Henry, prefers a traditional tank-focused formation, just like the son of a Titan would.
So what about Group 1’s leader, Jin Yu-ri?
Her vision is clear.
“Fortify.”
A wall rose in front of the trolls riding on rhinoceroses and the horde that followed them, bellowing in rage. The fortress was quickly built, and if that wasn’t enough, golems began to rise as well.
“Scout team, report any unusual activity. Seon-il, just in case, set up some obstacles.”
A mist began to spread—white as snow.
Ice Fog.
A control spell that drops the air temperature to freezing, immobilizing the enemy.
There’s no way trolls, with their famous regenerative abilities and powerful bodies, would be stopped by just an Ice Fog.
But when combined with spirits, the situation changes.
“Spirits, move out.”
Water, ice, and even lightning.
The worst kind of trap had been set.
“We’re ready. Now, let’s prepare the attack squad.”
The sky was quickly filled with magic.
“Bring down the wall.”
The stone wall blocking their path crumbled to sand.
The trolls charged madly, throwing themselves into the Ice Fog and disappearing into the white mist.
“Boom.”
An explosion.
A magical bombardment rained down.
This was the pinnacle of South Korea’s magic society, the bloodline of the True Dragon.
Jin Yu-ri’s vision was singular.
Magic by magic, for magic, and only through magic.
A combat unit that moved purely by magic.
A magical legion.
This is the identity of Group 1.
Enjoying the story? Don't forget to rate 5 stars and review in NovelUpdte!