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𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓𝟑
̇ȧ̇ẇ̇𝕖ḃ̇𝕤𝚝𝕠𝘳ɪė̇𝘴.𝔠ᴏ𝙢
Since the exam results were calculated based on a combination of the written and practical sections, my immediate task was to prepare for the upcoming practical exam.
And to be honest, this practical exam was quite complicated.
「 . . . 𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄’𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙄 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩. 」
In the original story, Cheong Juhwa also took the promotion exam at this point, but unfortunately, the story only depicted her joining Yoo Ha-on and the others after passing, without going into details about the exam itself.
That’s why I couldn’t afford to be complacent either.
“Why do you look so pale? Did you write the wrong answer or something?”
” . . . . . . .”
If the practical exam turned out to be a competition and I had the misfortune of facing a formidable opponent like Cheong Juhwa, there was a chance that I could fail the promotion.
「 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙥𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙚𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧. 」
With such concerns in mind, the day of the practical exam finally arrived.
The exam hall was already filled with examiners and numerous students.
However, some of the students looked a bit unusual. Upon closer inspection, I realized that they were third-year graduating students, not examinees.
“That makes 47. We have everyone.”
The instructions for the exam were simple. Starting from a designated starting point, the examinees had to reach the finish line while avoiding the interference of graduating students selected by the examiners.
“In addition, ten of the graduating students have been given tokens with bonus points attached.”
Apparently, there were badges attached somewhere on their bodies, and those who managed to snatch them would receive a significant bonus.
“Examinees are allowed to cooperate with each other and even take tokens from other examinees. However, keep in mind that points will be awarded based on the overall situation, so don’t assume that you’ll get a good score just by cooperating blindly.”
With that, we headed to the starting point to begin the exam.
That place was the inside of a semi-permanent barrier that a special-grade exorcist had painstakingly created on the Academy grounds in the past.
Whooosh.
“Wow, the space. . . . . . . . .”
From a small forest to an open plain and a near-ruined downtown area, the path to the finish line consisted of three distinct courses, almost like they were painted sections.
I suppose we were meant to choose the path that best suited our abilities.
“Any further explanation is unnecessary. Let’s begin the exam shortly.”
Following the examiner’s instructions, the third-year students each moved to their assigned positions.
As I listened to the instructions, I continued to assess their ability scores, and soon, I came across information about a completely unexpected person.
Ding!
【 Arietta Morgan 】
▶ Level 45
▶ Ability Scores
【 Stamina: C+ 】
【 Spiritual power: S- 】
【 Spellcraft: S- 】
【 Mental Strength: B 】
▶ Traits (6/10)
【 ■■■(-) 】
【 Flock of Cranes, One Stork (S) 】
【 Iron Will (B+) 】
【 Berserk (B) 】
【 Accelerated Growth (B) 】
【 Output Amplification (B-) 】
「 . . . 𝘼𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙖? 𝘼𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙖 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣? 𝙎𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩? 」
With her unique name, Arietta Morgan, her extraordinary ability scores, and the three-character unknown trait, there was no mistaking it.
「 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙖 𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬. 」
And she was the boss character in Chapter 4 of Story 1 in Exorcism.
「 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙣𝙜. 」
In the original story, there were very few appearances of third-year graduating students, so I hadn’t expected this at all.
In the first place, Chapter 4 of the story was quite fast-paced, so there was no mention of her personal history.
It seemed that she would graduate from the academy this year and be reborn as the boss of Chapter 4.
“Now, let’s begin the practical section of the exam. The time limit is 3 hours. Anything beyond that will result in a failing grade. Of course, the faster you get in, the better it is for your score.”
While I was still reeling from the shocking revelation, the examiner, who had finished all the preparations, announced the start of the exam.
So, I also put aside my thoughts about her for the time being and shifted my focus.
「 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩, 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣, 𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮. 𝙊𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚, 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚. . . . . . . . . 」
After a brief deliberation, I turned without hesitation and began sprinting.
My chosen path was the plain in the center.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
𝙖𝙬𝐞𝘣s𝐭𝔬𝚛𝕚𝘦𝐬.𝕔𝐨𝔪
Unsurprisingly, the examinees were divided into two general categories: those who rushed ahead alone and those who quickly sought out partners to form teams.
Initially, after hearing the instructions, I considered cooperating with Cheong Juhwa or Seo Ji-an, but I didn’t think it was necessary to go that far, especially since it might negatively affect my score.
They must have thought the same because they had both already disappeared from my sight. If my prediction was correct, Seo Ji-an would have chosen the forest, and Cheong Juhwa would have chosen the city course.
「 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙚. 」