Midterms (1)

The anonymous board of Korea Every Day was always filled with stories of other students.

The posts usually targeted figures who were the subject of conversation. For instance, if someone experienced an extraordinary event, posts were made with jealousy or mixed with teasing comments.

─Who do you think will win this tournament? [Comments 21]

─Ah, seriously, I studied so hard… wish I had at least made it to the semi-finals [Comment 1]

─Instead of betting on the tournament, you guys should improve your skills [Comments 7]

Today's hot gossip topic was about the midterm tournament.

And recently, there has been an increasing mention of a certain man.

─So, how much do you think his rank will increase this time? [Hot]

—He was currently 152nd. Didn't he completely dominate in the recent training? Seems like he'd at least be in the top 30, right?

—I thought he was just some crazy guy with a mask gimmick, but he's actually fiercely insane.

-Anonymous: LOL, 152nd ranker

└Poster: So, have you fought against him?

└Anonymous: Don't need to fight to know the obvious LOL. He's been boosted by water rockets a few times.

-Anonymous: Look at this guy, drowning in an inferiority complex. Seems like he got thrashed in face-to-face training, kinda pathetic.

└Anonymous: And you?

└Anonymous: I'm 23rd. Scared?

└Anonymous: If you're 23rd, then I'm Jung Siwoo, kid.

-Anonymous: But looking at recent videos, he does seem to be on par with the top-ranked students?

└Anonymous: All hype, seriously. If he's that strong, why is he only 152nd?

└Anonymous: Dunno, maybe he had some enlightenment.

└Anonymous: Enlightenment LOL. Did he perform a Parting Soul or something?

-Anonymous: He's really weird.

└Anonymous: ?? What are you talking about? He's been known to be handsome for a while.

└Anonymous: Seriously???? But why does he wear that unfitting mask? Wish those deceivers would just die.

└Anonymous: LOL

In terms of skill, rank was absolute.

No matter how much the talk about the masked man had increased, he was no match for the elites like Jung Siwoo and Sansuyu from the Jungjin Class.

It was not just a school thing to guess the winner based on the last ranking.

The students' speculations about the midterm tournament were also converging on one person.

─LOL, how do you beat the academy's top student [Hot!]

—Excluding Jin Dallae, the magician, strong ones like Sansuyu, Lim Jonghyun, and a few others were also there.

—But have any of you fought Siwoo even once? Anyone who has crossed swords with him knows why he's the top. He's a match for current hunters; what do these first-year students know? LOL.

-Anonymous: True, but why are you so angry?

└Anonymous: Got beaten by Siwoo, they say.

-Anonymous: Lim Jonghyun has been preparing. You never know.

└Anonymous: For real, he's been in top form this time. Considering Jung Siwoo got hospitalized once, there's a chance.

-Anonymous: Personally, I hope Sansuyu wins.

└Anonymous: Buffalo kid, LOL

└Anonymous: She's really pretty, LOL. Is there anyone in the academy who can beat Sansuyu?

└Anonymous: Huge chest. Over H-cup?

└Anonymous: You guys see the salutatorian as a harlot? I think Sansuyu has a chance to win.

└Anonymous: You sexual harassers are being tracked.

Various predictions, speculations, and baseless hatred filled the posts.

Yet, not a single person predicted the victory of the masked man.

Well, it made sense. Who would predict the victory of someone ranked 152nd?

The talks about Lee Shiheon were just about how his rank would rise significantly and how his extraordinary experience was enviable.

Then came the day of the midterms.

Students poured into the academy's main gate.

And among them, the Jungjin Class moved together, dominating the center.

"Jung Siwoo."

Lim Jonghyun. He was as combative as ever.

"Huh?"

"Did you study much?"

"Well… I've been focusing on the tournament, so I didn't study much."

Jung Siwoo scratched the back of his head, laughing awkwardly.

But he couldn't shake off the tension in his expression.

In front of those men.

"...."

Sansuyu was walking elegantly at a distance.

No one knew what she was thinking, but the aura she exuded was certainly solemn.

Jin Dallae was walking while flipping through a notebook.

Soon, including Sooyoung, the students of Jungjin Class formed a line behind them.

If there were spotlights, they would have shone on these talents-to-be.

The path they walked was like a cradle of the world's attention.

And below such a stage.

In a corner, unnoticed by anyone, a man was watching them.

"Ah. Left my major textbook behind."

A man with fierce eyes behind his mask.

With heavy dark circles and half-closed eyes, he was making his way through the crowd of students.

"Darn… I memorized it all, so it shouldn't matter."

The exam had begun.

-Tick. Tock.

The examination room was silent.

Only the sound of the secondhand ticking and the friction of pen tips echoed in the stillness, occasionally interrupted by some students' nervous breathing.

[Question 1: Above is a magic circle. Demonstrate the magic it produces and its reaction dimensionally when activated.]

[Answer: ]

Questions impossible to answer without studying.

The logic and theory of the physics I knew were the complete opposite of this world, making learning challenging.

'Was it first in written exams?'

Subjects closely related to the previous world, like mathematics and foreign languages, didn't require much time investment.

They were essentially things I already knew without studying.

The real challenge was learning entirely new content.

'Magic, interpretive mechanics, magic particle studies….'

Things others took over 9 years to learn gradually. I had to cram in a short time.

It was fun and enlightening but not enough to stand out academically.

However, I had my own study techniques learned from childhood.

-Little Brother, how long will you keep this up?

-Sister. Academic exams, including those at the academy, usually involve sitting and enduring as long as possible.

-I get that, but… it's 4 a.m. You need sleep to attend tomorrow's classes, right?

-Go ahead and sleep. Let me finish this.

-You didn't sleep yesterday either.

When concentration peaked, sleep usually didn't cross one's mind.

Minimum sleep could be reduced with the help of potions.

The so-called Potion Study Method.

A method crazy enough to be featured on Neutube. If you did it for about a week, you'd go insane.

Thanks to that, I could study much more.

And that translated into knowledge.

Understanding spatial magic, improving wind magic performance, and finding ways to drastically reduce mana consumption.

-Snicker.

I read through the questions slowly, writing answers.

Mixing my own flair into the memorized standard answers was the best way to earn grades from strict professors.

'Reminds me of my college days….'

Even living reclusively, I never missed being at the top of the class.

And I had no intention of missing it now.

-Scratch scratch.

After finishing the solutions, reverse calculations, and proofs, I saw there was still plenty of time left and submitted my exam paper.

Now, it was time for the practical exam.

The practical exam typically involved implementing swordsmanship or activating high-level magic, and for me, who mimicked other students' swordsmanship, it was a piece of cake.

I looked around the academy and then sat on a suitable bench, checking my phone.

[Preliminary Matchups Announced – 13:00 pm]

The tournament preliminaries were in two days. I planned to catch up on some sleep and rest until then.

But what to do with the remaining time…?

I leaned back on the bench, basking in the sunlight, and started scrolling through my phone contacts, randomly calling someone.

-Trrring… Click.

[Hello?]

A familiar voice answered after just one ring.

It's Lee Seyeong.

"Hello."

[What's up? You calling me is rare. I'm always the one who calls.]

Seyeong's voice sounded sleepy as if she had just woken up.

I remember her mentioning that her night and day were reversed due to an investigation when we talked during my study session.

[You must need a favor from me again, huh?]

"Nah, just thought of you and called. What do you think of me?"

[A pervert and human trash.]

"…Should I hang up?"

[No.]

Ha-ha, I laughed heartily and could hear her chuckling through the phone.

[Still, I thought you'd be sulking and not call me after being turned down last time. You're pretty cute for calling. Isn't it exam time now?]

"Just finished. I'm taking a break, and I decided to call you."

[Hey, what time is it now that you're already done? You didn't just guess, did you?]

"Trust me, I'm gonna top this one."

It was a bit of a gamble, but I could be confident here.

[Really? Oh yeah, hey, what underwear am I wearing today? Pick quickly.]

"Black."

[You really like black… Like when you tore those stockings last time. Is that what men's romance is really about?]

Honestly, everything looked good on her.

Black was indeed the most versatile color.

After chatting a bit, Seyeong, excited, started to share stories about what was difficult for her recently.

Listening to such stories was comforting and enjoyable for me, so I indulged her to pass the time.

"So, when can you come?"

[I'll join you for the MT. I think I can go as a temporary instructor.]

"Aha."

So, she was coming when we would be going on a trip after the exams.

The fact that she's setting aside time for me made me chuckle.

[Anyways, call me after your exams… and don't make me wait, or you'll regret it.]

"Okay, I'll call you."

[And the tournament. Crush them all. Hanging up now?]

"Yes."

-Click.

I put the phone back in my pocket and checked the time again.

It was just about time for the preliminary matchups to be announced.

[ El Academy Tournament Preliminaries Matchup. ]

[ Lee Shiheon, Jung Hoyeon, Shin Junghwan, Lee Seokho, Jung Manwoo, Guseul H ]

Group H. I needed to rank first in this group to qualify for the tournament.

Most names listed were unknown… They seemed like names that I might have briefly crossed paths with in my daily life. But no, there was a name I knew at the end – Guseul.

A girl shrouded in mystery, just thinking about her raises so many questions.

'Not bad.'

I thought it might be a good opportunity to gauge her skills.

So far, I couldn't figure out anything from the training.

I casually checked other students' names I knew.

Sansuyu in Group A., Jin Dallae and Lim Jonghyun in Group C. They were people I wouldn't meet until at least the semi-finals if we both made it to the main competition.

The one I might meet soon in the main competition is…

"Huh."

Wait a minute.

While scrolling down the phone screen and checking names, I suddenly gasped.

[ Jung Siwoo, Lim Hyukjun, Jung Sangsoo, Shin Youngwoo, Hajiman, Choi Young. G ]

"Damn it."

Jung Siwoo in Group G.

Assuming we both made it smoothly to the main competition, he would be my first-round opponent.