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Chapter 15- Second day of testing

After completing the written test without any particular difficulty, It was on the morning of the second day of the semester's final exam.

Looking up at the cloudless blue sky, my cheeks relaxed slightly as I thought, "It's a good day for riding”.

I was dressed in the school-issued knight's uniform for the martial arts test and my hair was tied up in a bun, which was unusual for me.

The day has finally arrived. I've made the final adjustments to the magic circle and now I can take the test without any worries. Well, I don't know if Nigel-sense will approve of this test preparation. ......

May it be safe! I wished strongly and with my long hair blowing in the wind, I arrived at the riding stable where the test was to be held.

Many students had already gathered there, lined up around the racetrack.

The population density is high, probably due to the presence of most of the first-year girls.

I had heard that every grade level takes the test at the same time, but this is a huge crowd. I wonder if it's like this every year?

I was appropriately lined up at the back of the line, exclaiming with admiration, "Wow ......."

The school bell rings with a keening kettlebell as the students notice my presence and throw out greetings.

As if on cue, the students hurriedly shut their mouths and turned to face the front. As a bleep and a bird's chirp snatched their ears──── Nigel-sensei appeared on the judges' table.

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that the school is a great place to learn about the world of the arts.

“Good morning to all the students who have chosen the horseback riding course! Nice morning! The sun is shining! Yes! Like me, shining brightly☆"

"".........""

“Ha ha! You mean I’m so fabulous that you can't even speak! I'm really honored.”

Nigel-sensei, who intersperses mere greetings with self-praise, was very energetic today. He was so unfazed in front of his students who were pulling out all the stops.

Not even having the energy to retort, we 'say no more ......' and keep silent.

And Nigel-sensei, who in a way is brighter than the sun, passed this delicate atmosphere with his steel mentality.

“Now, let's cut the chit-chat and get down to business. There are a few things I want to talk to you about before we start the riding test.”

Finally moving on to the test, Nigel-sensei reminded us to listen carefully.

I listened to him as I felt the air tighten.

"First of all, the test itself will be facilitated by another teacher. I have to watch both the swordsmanship course and the horseback riding course, so I can't watch the test all the time. However, the grading criteria are well established, so you don't need to worry about it. I’ll only intervene in matches and races that cannot be judged by the pre-determined scoring criteria."

“Other than that, I basically stay out of it," he said, waving his hand in a flutter.

Most of the students understood that it was safe to do so if the grading criteria were set in advance.

But only I, who was planning to attack the gray line, quickly looked away.

I'll certainly need Nigel-sensei's judgment when it comes to me. I don't know what the pre-determined grading criteria are, but I'm afraid they probably will be.

“Next up is the order of the tests, in order of earliest to latest, regardless of class or gender. No interrupting. You're free to take breaks and spectate as long as you follow the rules and manners. You may rest in the school building. And as for students who have taken the test, they will be allowed to go home early."

“Oh, and by the way, this is where you line up," he said, smiling as he points down to the judges' table.

I secretly liked the testing system, which was more liberal than I had expected.

If the students who have completed the test are allowed to leave, I'll take it as soon as possible. There's a chance that other students will use the same test-taking strategies as me. It would be frustrating if they beat me to it after I had worked so hard on it. I'm definitely going to use it first!

I Clenched my fists tightly as I resolve to do so.

In the midst of burning with a fighting spirit I didn't understand, Nigel-sensei put his hand on the armrest of the judging table.

“That's all the precautions for the test. Everyone, please take care not to get hurt. Now then, let the ──── test begin.”

With those words as a cue, the students started moving in unison──── or so it seemed, but not so ..... only some of them moved.

I was one of them and I made my way through the crowd and leaped in front of the judges' table.

There I could already see Emilia-sama and I hurriedly lined up behind her.

Surprisingly few students actively line up. I don't know what they are capable of, so I guess they are just waiting to see what happens.

The students staring at us from afar were like, 'When do you want to go? Afternoon?" They were discussing with each other.

While the students were impatiently waiting in line, a few students joined the queue.

I thought to myself, 'It would be easier to just get it over with,' and as I looked ahead, I saw a teacher from another grade who had been called in as the facilitator.

“Then let's start with Emilia-sama. Emilia-sama, can you go get ready?"

“I understand. Please wait a moment.”

With a small bow, Emilia-sama smiled softly and headed toward the stable.

She spoke to the stable master, who was waiting near the stable and asked her to bring out her beloved horse, Elizabeth. After attaching the reins and other parts of the horse in a familiar manner, Emilia-sama straddled the horse and returned. She entered the racetrack and lined up at the starting position.

This time, in order to emphasize efficiency, the use of a starting machine was forbidden.

“Emilia-sama, are you ready?”

“Yes, I'm ready to go.”

Emilia-sama looked lively as she confidently asserted this.

Elizabeth, who was breathing hard, was also full of enthusiasm.

As the top batter, expectations were high for one person and one horse of impeccable ability.

“Then we will now conduct the riding test for Emilia Candice Dursley ──── in position, yah ......."

The facilitator, who picked up a wooden hammer, struck the gong on the platform as hard as he could.

With a resounding clang, Emilia-sama and Elizabeth-chan jumped out of the way with great energy.

Kicking up the ground, Elizabeth-chan became the wind in no time. The white horse jumped over the first obstacle without killing its momentum.

Oh! I was honestly impressed by the way Emilia and Elizabeth's running was more polished than at the sports festival.

They must have practiced a lot since the sports festival. I wonder if they can beat Isaac-sama now.

While secretly hoping for a rematch, Elizabeth quickly completed two laps of the racetrack.

As they approached the third lap, everyone's eyes lit up at her speed, which did not diminish at all.

While everyone was glued to the running of one person and one horse, Elizabeth-chan jumped over the last obstacle and made her last spurt.

Elizabeth, who had been speeding up, ran all the way to the finish line.

With a strong wind blowing against her cheeks, Emilia-sama said, "How about that?” and quieted Elizabeth, who was excited.

“I should say that you are indeed the runner-up of the sports festival.... You have great ability."

“This would be a perfect score for anyone.”

The students were very excited by the running, which even the teachers praised as wonderful.

Great! While they were all excited, Emilia-sama talked with the teachers for a while and then left the racetrack. Even though she had left, the excitement of the students remained unabated.

It takes a bit of courage to run after this. ....... Emilia-sama's run was great, but the pressure on the next runner is not so great.

'Should I have been third, at least?' Regretfully, the facilitator looked back at me.

“Well then, let's move on. Charlotte-san, please get ready.”

“Yes...... I understand."

I nodded my head faintly, feeling as if I were about to lose heart at the expectant glances that pierced from all around me.

'It's too much for me ......,' I said, holding my churning stomach as I strode to the stable.

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