Chapter 30:
After the written exam, the remaining part of the process would normally involve a direct combat test between those whose survival exam scores were close. The results of that test, combined with the previous exams, would determine the final pass or fail, which would later be announced via notification.
That said, there is no fixed quota for passing; it is purely determined by whether one meets the criteria. Sometimes everyone passes, sometimes everyone fails.
I had also overheard a little rumor that this survival test might be held again at a later date. Honestly, I feel really sorry for the trouble it causes.
“All right… apparently I can go home now, so let’s head back.”
“Okay. Let’s go, Akira.”
Still under the watchful eyes of others, I left the venue with my older sister figure, pretending to be the cool, composed maid. We left the place quickly, feeling the stares of people observing us.
Honestly… the resentful looks from the examinees’ relatives were far more exhausting than those from the examinees themselves.
“Akira, I want the window seat. Swap with me, please.”
“Eh… fine, I guess I have no choice.”
On the return Shinkansen, my sister, who had been struggling with an unusually hard cup of ice cream, wanted the window seat, so we swapped. Strangely, the ice cream was left in front of me.
…This is clearly a message for me to soften it up, not a gift for me.
“Hey… this won’t become a problem later, right? Like, me failing because of this?”
“Hm? That would be a loss for the country. Once you become an explorer, Akira, you’ll undoubtedly rank among the top and bring back tons of rare drops. They’d never let that chance slip by.”
“I see… ah, the surface of the ice is shaved off. The rest is up to you.”
“Yum… yum… hard but tasty. As expected from something labeled ‘ice cream.’”
“Ah, I know that. The fat content goes ‘Ice Milk’ → ‘Lacto Ice,’ right?”
“Exactly. But I also like frozen desserts! The ‘Gaji Gaji-kun’ you eat in summer is the best!”
We chatted about such trivial things, so unlike the person who had just been intimidating a high-ranking government official, as we safely returned to Tokyo from the exam venue.
Some time passed since the explorer exam. It was now the end of October, the day when the scope of the high school’s second-semester midterms and practical tests was announced.
In the exams after summer break, I had ranked top in both written and practical tests.
This school still had the bad custom of posting grade rankings, which I usually ignored completely. But now it was different.
I had set a goal: graduate top of my class and enter the academy as top-ranked, so I made sure to check my current position.
Unfortunately, in the written test after summer break, I came second, and Kasumi had first place.
Yes, my friend Kasumi had consistently outperformed even the scholarship students, always ranking first.
Even with my 10× experience points, I couldn’t quite catch her.
“Ah, Akira. The exam scope is out—think you can handle it this time?”
“Ah… I lost to Kasumi last time, so I want revenge this time.”
“You crushed her in practicals though…”
“Well, yeah. But Kasumi is seriously smart… she always pretended not to care about rankings.”
“Eh? But it doesn’t matter. As long as you study, you can get into the school, right?”
“Still, she’s been at the top since enrollment. That’s impressive.”
“Then you’ve made a huge leap too, Akira. You were middle-of-the-pack before, right?”
Seems so. I only realized my previous rankings when my homeroom teacher mentioned them.
It shows how much I had neglected schoolwork for exploring.
“What kind of study method do you use, Akira?”
“Hm? I just review and repeatedly solve problems from reference books whenever I have time. I don’t know any efficient tricks—total brute-force style.”
Actually, considering my 10× experience points, this is probably the most efficient method.
Every solved problem, every reference book read, every explanation understood—it all goes into my head ten times as fast.
But lately, there’s been a slight downside. Believe it or not… I sometimes almost get low blood sugar from studying.
Perhaps my body hasn’t grown to match the experience I’ve accumulated.
Even though my level surged when I defeated that enormous Tenshou-class monster, my body and mind now feel like they’re struggling to keep up with recent experience gains.
“Okay, let’s head home. Time to hit the books as soon as we get there.”
“Hmm… can I study at your place, Akira? It’s been a while since I visited.”
“Oh? Sure, probably the older sister will be happy too.”
“Yay! It’s probably been since sophomore year. I want to catch up too, but lately, you always disappear during breaks.”
There’s a good reason for that. During summer, I was rampaging through training facilities in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Many people came asking about it, including bets or “my senior friend wants to meet you,” stuff like that.
High school status is temporary—people will fuss over you, tease you, or make a big deal. So I trained alone behind the school building.
“Well, this atmosphere only lasts in high school. Once we become explorers or enter the academy, there’ll be no time to worry about others.”
“Yeah… it’s a bit sad. Feels like someone’s saying ‘you can’t stay a kid forever.’”
“I just turned 18 this month, so I’m officially an adult.”
“Oh, right. Want a gift?”
“Eh? Then make me something today.”
“Eh… it’d be too much to present it when there’s such a skilled maid around.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. I’d just think ‘Yay, I can slack off!’”
Perhaps this period is the last real moratorium of school life.
Even so, time spent chatting and sharing with close friends will remain a cherished memory, even if I walk the path of a “shura” in the future.
“Shall we head home?”
“Bike today?”
“Nope, bus.”
“Okay, then let’s stop at the supermarket on the way.”
We stopped at a supermarket near school. Kasumi needed to shop for dinner, and I went along.
Of course, when I messaged the older sister on my phone, her reply was exactly as expected: “Yay, I can slack off!”
But at that supermarket…
“Please! I beg you, let me become your disciple!”
“I refuse. I only teach and nurture a single student. I have no intention of taking another.”
“Please…! Your skills are top-class… I haven’t seen you in the dungeon recently, and I’ve been waiting for the chance to ask you to take me as your disciple!”
“Give it up. Don’t you have other acquaintances or senior explorers?”
“…I belong to a clan, but I’m captivated by your hand-to-hand combat skills…!”
And so… my older sister, probably just buying energy drinks and alcohol, carried her bulging plastic bag… while this person begged to become her disciple.
“Oh, it’s Senior Souryuji…”
“Misaki-senpai… why are you with the older sister?”
There, standing in the supermarket, was Souryuji Misaki, the student council president of Meiou Exploration Academy.