I Broke Off My Engagement and Got a Job at the Academy

69 – 69. The darkest thing lies beneath the lantern.

“For the midterm evaluation, nothing should go wrong.”

I spoke to the other professors. They also nodded, their faces stern.

The academy’s reputation was already damaged by allowing intruders during the entrance exam and causing multiple casualties. If more problems occurred in this situation, who knows what would happen.

That’s why the academy had taken every precaution for this midterm evaluation. Monitoring magic was placed inside the test area to know what would happen during the evaluation, and golems replaced monsters that could cause problems.

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Not only that, the bracelets were also changed to ensure that they wouldn’t cause any problems, and the golems were designed to protect students instead of attacking them if any issues arise.

In reality, even if there were spies planted within the academy intending to sabotage the academy itself, there was little that could be done about it.

…Of course, that was limited to the exam hall. Still, it didn’t matter. I had prepared enough.

I watched the footage inside the exam hall. Jizel led her team, hunting down other teams from the beginning.

Jizel probably wasn’t unaware of the test’s intentions. So, we should interpret those actions as deliberate.

It was an expression of confidence, the assurance that she could maintain her score until the end.

On the contrary, Vanessa was completely different. She minimized contact with others to an extreme degree, targeting her “prey.”

Countless golems poured out inside the artificial cave. Yet Vanessa deftly evaded their punches, skillfully eliminating the golems one by one by maneuvering atop their arms.

And after quite some time had passed, Vanessa finally obtained the blue crystal at the deepest part of the artificial cave.

As soon as she grasped the crystal, it disappeared, and she was awarded 50 points.

“A safe zone has been established.”

Upon seizing the target, a safe zone would be created for several hours. In essence, it meant it was easier to rest within the safe zone.

In many ways, it was better to take the target if one could, but that was a story for “when it could be taken.”

Honestly, Vanessa was the only one who took the target single-handedly. Her body, soaked in sweat, seemed to prove that fact.

Vanessa took deep breaths, settling within the safe zone. Then, she began to rest.

Other students, unlike Vanessa, struggled against the golems. The golems’ movements were slow, but due to their strength and size, they were not easy opponents.

Simply put, among regular students, only a mage could pierce through the golems and inflict proper damage.

Hence, the level of the mage and the synergy with teammates who could support such a mage were crucial.

Well… once you reach expert levels, such limitations tend to disappear.

I shifted my focus back to the evaluation area.

…

Several days had passed. Students were visibly growing tired. Well, surviving by gathering food and hunting would eventually become familiar when attending the academy anyway. Even this assessment was part of the academy’s education.

Nonetheless, two teams showed their prowess in such a situation. More precisely, one team and one individual, perhaps.

Naturally, it was Vanessa and Jizel’s team. But surprisingly, Jizel’s team seemed to adapt better than expected.

Usually, even with good adaptability, nobles wouldn’t easily adjust to the wilderness. Yet, perhaps due to Jizel’s overall coordination of the team, they seemed relatively problem-free.

Jizel closed her eyes and used tracking magic.

“The closest human’s location from here… over there, in that direction.”

With those words, Jizel’s team packed their belongings and headed toward where other students were, incapacitating them. The whole process seemed so natural, as if it had been their routine for days.

“Damn, why us of all-“

Before the sentence could finish, the student whose shield vanished was teleported away. Jizel checked her bracelet’s score and spoke.

“Scores are gradually reaching around 20 points per person. Now, there are only a few skilled individuals left after capturing about one other team.”

Gizelle’s current score was 270 points. It was lower compared to Vanessa’s 300 points, but considering that the scores given by other teams had increased on average, Gizelle definitely had an advantage compared to Vanessa.

Gizelle closed her eyes and activated the tracking magic once again.

And what appeared before Gizelle’s eyes… was Vanessa, who was searching for other targets.

“…!”

Gizelle and Vanessa’s eyes met. Gizelle’s teammates spoke to her.

“…Even if we win, some of us may get hurt. So, it would be better if we avoid unnecessary conflicts and just go our separate ways.”

Gizelle pondered upon hearing those words. If a collision were to occur here, Vanessa was more likely to be eliminated than Gizelle. Of course, it was possible for other teammates to be eliminated as well.

In that case, Gizelle had a greater chance of becoming the overall first place. While her teammates might not receive high scores, Vanessa would also lose her score in an instant.

… However.

“Alright. It’s probably better to just ignore it and go our separate ways.”

Becoming the overall first place was good, but she would lose popularity. Gizelle quickly made her decision, knowing that her teammates saw each other as people, not tools.

While winning against Vanessa was good, if the talented individuals who had intended to stay close to her for a long time left, it would ultimately be a loss in the long run.

Gizelle was the captain of the team, and she knew that a captain could never reach their desired destination by suppressing the other crew members.

Then, Vanessa asked Gizelle as she was about to leave.

“…What’s your score?”

Upon hearing that, Gizelle sighed.

“I don’t know. Is there a fool who would tell their competitor about that?”

Vanessa made a disappointed sound and said.

“Well… I was curious because your skills improved quickly. But are we competitors?”

Although Gizelle was slightly shaken by Vanessa’s words, which didn’t seem to see her as a competitor, she held back. There was no point in fighting without reason.

However, when Gizelle remembered Edun who had met and laughed with Vanessa, she opened her mouth.

“I asked one of the professors for help and put in some effort. Professor Edun Keynes, you know?”

Upon hearing those words, Vanessa let out a gasp.

At a glance, it seemed that Edun was a very important person to Vanessa. That’s why Gizelle mentioned him, but the other teammates didn’t understand the meaning behind the words and only exchanged glances.

Gizelle turned around without saying anything else. And behind her, Vanessa’s windblade swung.

“…”

There wasn’t really a corner to call it a significant damage, but it was only because Gizelle had put up a defensive barrier in advance. Otherwise, she would have been eliminated immediately.

Gizelle looked back at her assailant and said.

“Shall we give it a try?”

Vanessa looked at Jizel with cold eyes. Jizel raised her staff, making a noise.

“Just so you know, there’s not much good that will come out of fighting now, for either of us. Think about it. If we go all out and one of us gets eliminated, our mid-term evaluation scores will be slashed beyond recognition.”

Hearing those words, Vanessa glared at Jizel with sharp eyes and walked away, turning her back.

As Vanessa disappeared, Jizel breathed a sigh of relief.

“Sigh…”

Her teammates approached her, patting her on the shoulder.

“Thank goodness. It ended without unnecessary harm. If things continue like this, we’ll win.”

Jizel bit her lip and forced a smile.

“I know, but it’s still frustrating.”

After their verbal clash, Vanessa was the first to show an intention to attack. However, Jizel didn’t do anything. If she had chosen to continue the fight, it could have been truly irreversible.

If Jizel had the skill to overpower Vanessa alone, was it necessary to avoid this confrontation? Even though she had become an expert, it seemed that things didn’t always go her way. The profound sense of helplessness still covered her entire being.

Jizel calmed herself and spoke.

“Anyway, I’ll use the tracking spell once again… Get ready for battle.”

Her teammates nodded without saying a word.

…

Clang. Clang. The sound of metal echoed.

Due to the underground location, the sound reverberated with just enough intensity.

The woman smirked. The mission seemed like it would be completed quite easily at this rate.

Then, at that precise moment, the woman turned around.

Behind her, a man was visible. Tilting his head, he asked her.

“…I didn’t expect it to be you.”