Final Exam (2)
"D, do whatever you want."
She still wouldn't admit she couldn't do it until the end.
It was a bluff, ingrained in her like a habit.
Even this seemed to reveal her personality, and I couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.
I felt pity and admiration at the same time.
"Heh... then I won't refuse."
I slowly reached out my hand.
Perhaps she couldn't bear to stand still any longer, her slender shoulders shook, revealing her nervousness.
Her closed eyelids trembled slightly.
Emilia was fiddling with her innocent sleeves, waiting for the touch that would soon follow.
The presence was getting closer.
'Where could it be?'
The girl thought.
Where could it be?
Where would that greedy fingertip touch?
The chest full of soft cushioning, the waist drawing a slim curve, and the pelvis beautifully finished at the end.
There was a lot of winter to take away in the beautifully formed frost.
The villainess must have been focusing all her senses on her entire body.
"Lady Emilia."
Of course.
None of them were correct.
I moved past all the things I mentioned earlier and gently placed my hand on top of her head.
Then I began to stroke her deep blue hair.
Swoosh-.
"······?"
Perhaps it was because of the unexpected contact.
The girl carefully opened her eyes.
Only my face was fully reflected on the blue surface.
I was looking into her deep eyes, and then I whispered into her heated ear with a gentle smile.
It was a word of encouragement.
"You did a great job."
"Yes...?
Emilia tilted her head with a question mark.
I said.
"I heard you prepared really hard for this exam... I wanted to tell you that you did a great job regardless of the outcome."
Although she didn't show it because she usually bluffed, she always put in twice as much effort as other students.
She must be struggling in many ways.
Recognition from others is the driving force behind life.
In order for vanity to be filled with recognition from others, it must be preceded by enough effort to receive applause.
The girl was living that repetition every day.
"Because you're always working hard."
I wanted to tell her.
That even if she didn't care about mere rankings, there were at least a few people around her who supported her.
And that I was one of them.
I slowly pronounced the words I had been holding back, leaving the gentle warmth behind.
It was a gentle resonance that spread out.
"······You are really."
Would such sincerity reach her?
The villainess murmured.
Perhaps it was the shame of having made a strange mistake on her own.
At the same time, the satisfaction of being recognized by someone close to her, and the fulfillment that came from filling the void that no one had ever recognized.
Her cheeks flushed after a complex appreciation.
The faint breath added snowflakes to the inner season.
"One minute you're like this, the next you're like that, I don't know what you want me to do... It's annoying."
"I apologize if I overstepped."
"That's not what I meant. You're really cunning."
She pouted her lips unnecessarily.
Even that awkwardness was transparent.
The villainess hesitated for a moment on how to answer, then averted her gaze and muttered.
It was faint, but it was a resonance that completely colored the world.
"Thank you."
The reddish lips pronounced.
"······Judas."
Two unfamiliar letters to the ear.
That heterogeneity sometimes makes people laugh.
"Hmm? Isn't this the first time you've called me by my name?"
"Shut up!"
"I'm glad to feel recognized. I would appreciate it if you could call me by my name instead of a stiff title in the future."
"I don't plan to, so don't get your hopes up!"
Emilia flatly refused.
Even so, seeing that she didn't avoid the stroking hand, I could feel that the distance of our relationship that we had narrowed down so far was not so far away.
We walked side by side, bickering and talking.
***
A few days later.
The written exam results were finally announced, and now the practical exam was approaching.
As usual, I was spending time in the library.
"The practical exam is tomorrow."
"That's right."
The kids were having a casual conversation.
The snake, the pilot, and the vanity.
They were now treated as a set.
Originally, the rose and the little prince should have been there as well, but today they went out to spend some time getting used to the academy.
They seemed to be looking around the shopping district located on the outskirts of the academy.
Of course.
We weren't doing anything special either.
As it was the day before the practical, training was also off.
Managing one's condition was a risk.
However, after class, we gathered out of habit and sat in a corner, just having a casual conversation.
Of course, since it was that time of year, there was a lot of talk about the exam.
"About the practical exam... do the chief assistants also take a separate exam?"
Emilia asked the question.
I answered.
"Of course. Even if they are chief assistants, they are still students. However, I know that it is conducted in a different format from the exam that regular students take."
As I said.
The practical exam for chief assistants was a little different.
If the practical exam for regular students was solely for 'evaluation', the practical exam for chief assistants was more like an 'event match'.
In fact, there was no failing grade for the practical exam that only chief assistants took.
Basically, their skills were proven, so they wouldn't do meaningless score divisions.
Instead, they had an exam that they were required to take.
"It's the faculty competition."
Faculty competition.
An exam in which each chief assistant, as well as the professors who employed them, participated.
It was a tradition that had been passed down since Gallimard was first established.
Chief assistants, professors, etc... the people at the top of the academy competed.
The purpose of the competition was for students to gain enlightenment by watching these exams, to accumulate an understanding of the top, and ultimately to strive for improvement.
Among them, there was also a political intention to show off the professors' skills and highlight the academy's reputation.
Of course, there was no need to know this in detail.
"You can just think of it as an event where the faculty members spar with each other. The chief assistants are included as a bonus."
"Will it be okay...? There's no way the teaching assistants can compete with the professors."
"It's more like an event. There's also an intention to show the vast gap between students and professors. The chief assistants, who are considered the most skilled, would be perfect for that role. Those who participate in the competition, regardless of their rank, receive a practical exam score close to perfect, so you don't have to worry about your grades."
I finished the explanation as briefly as possible.
There were also rules and competition structures, but I decided to leave it at that for now.
After all, the event wouldn't start for another week.
On the other hand, the practical exam for regular students was tomorrow, so it would be wiser to focus on that.
The villainess listened with an indifferent face and asked.
"Then... you won't have a practical exam tomorrow?"
"That's right."
"Hmm."
"I'm directly under Professor Selena. I'll probably participate in the competition with her."
"Being a chief assistant isn't something to be envious of."
"With position comes responsibility."
For me, it was a light schedule to enjoy, but for the students, it seemed like there was nothing more daunting.
After all, the professors were those who had transcended stages.
Heroes of the Great Purge, former Imperial Knights Commander, elders of the Magic Tower, cardinals of the Church, etc.
Only high-ranking names were gathered, so on the one hand, it was understandable why Gallimard was called the best educational institution on the continent.
I casually erased such thoughts.
"Well... until then, the practical exams are scheduled, so I'll have to watch the other students' matches."
"For your information, mine is tomorrow."
"Of course, I'll be there to cheer you on."
Thanks to that, I wouldn't be bored.
As the conversation shifted back to the regular practical exam, the girl sitting across from me suddenly spoke.
It was Regia, who had been listening to the story absentmindedly.
"Um, excuse me... Young Master."
"Miss Regia?"
As always, a timid voice.
But for some reason, it seemed worse than usual.
She seemed hesitant as if she wanted to say somethingWhen I told her to speak comfortably, she clenched her fist as if she had made up her mind and parted her lips.
The stammering sentences gradually formed into meaning.
"Regarding the practical exam, I, I have a favor to ask of you."
"A favor?"
I was interested.
Even though we had spent nearly half a year together, she had rarely asked me for anything.
That was how much she was reluctant to rely on others.
For Regia to openly ask for a favor, it had to be something that piqued my interest.
I listened intently to her next words, as if to take them in.
"If it's okay, during the practical exam tomorrow······."
The hesitant girl finally spoke.
With eyes that were almost on the verge of tears.
After hearing Regia's story, I couldn't help but tilt my head in question.
It was because of the unexpected nature of her request.
"Yes...?"
What kind of request was this?
Read ahead by supporting me on Ko-fi. Access 5 advance chapters with the Irene's Blade Tier ($10) or 10 advance chapters with the Regia's Wings Tier ($18)!
Join our discord server for latest release updates and novel discussions.
Rate and review this novel on NU to help people find this novel. Bonus chapters on reaching milestones.
Happy reading!