Unfortunately, I still had to come to HGA on the last day before summer break to take my result slip.
"It seems like someone had really gone all out huh" Prince Theo commented when we saw the new rankings and marks for the midterms test, especially the physical test.
==========================
-FIRST-YEAR MIDTERM RANKING-
(Physical Test Edition)
1. Cedric Hel (6,500 points)
2. Theodore Geshin (4,815 points)
3. Ares Zanuki (4,798 points)
4. Selina Senjun (4,200 points)
.
.
.
8. Shino Kiba(3,800 points)
.
12. Amanda Manic (3,657 points)
.
18. Gina Tang(3,200 points)
.
.
Passing rate: 300/300
===========================
"Everyone passed" I muttered.
Five students died in the dungeon incident but those unlucky students were either commoners or lesser noble kids. Their deaths didn't cause much splash or impact on the academy.
That was why everything still looked the same despite the fact people had died. No one in this class cares about the five deceased students.
"You just have to survive and no one is stupid enough to die so obviously everyone would pass this test," he said in agreement.
The deceased students were considered to pass the exam since they died due to the unknown dungeon and the test was already ended by the time they died.
'This world is cold but the people around me are really warm. Unlike my previous world where it was warmer but the people around me were so cold.'
After looking through my written tests marks, I went to another page of the academy website to see the overall ranking for the first year.
It was not much different from the previous physical test ranking that I saw except for minor differences among the top 10 ranks. Prince Theo also took a peek at my phone screen.
"Now I can use you better than before," he said when seeing my rank.
=============================
-FIRST-YEAR MIDTERM TEST RANKING-
(Final Overall Edition)
1. Cedric Hel
2. Ares Zanuki
3. Amanda Manic
4. Theodore Geshin
5. Selina Senju
.
.
9. Shino Kiba
.
.
.
12. Gina Tang
.
.
.
Passing rate: 300/300
==============================
"Hey Ares, that Manic girl is glaring at you," he suddenly said while poking my cheek.
"I know" I replied uninterested because it was obvious why she acted like that since she only managed to rank 2nd on the edition of the written test with me being the first rank where I got the highest score for all the subjects tested.
"Hahaha it's fun seeing a Manic got defeated in something that they were so confident about," he muttered amusingly.
The Manic clan was well known for their high IQ and thus got beaten up in written tests, especially by someone who comes from a clan that they thought was stupid, definitely hurt their pride.
Amanda was a prideful person and she always aimed for the best. I knew that she worked hard to compete with every main character despite her lack of physical talent.
That was also why she chose a bow as her weapon since she would be overwhelmed easily in a close-range fight. Her future ability that she will develop later is also a long range ability. Her role was more like support role and a strategist in the original novel.
The class was still bustling with students' voices chatting about their new ranks. There were also a few students in the class that were called to the administration office to change classes and residency due to their decreased in ranks including the group of guys I've beaten up in the dungeon before.
Currently, Miss Zanne gave us 2 hours of her class period for us to check on our results and settled everything before class started. Some new students had also entered class A and sat on the empty spots left by the previous students.
Feeling bored after I finished checking the ranking results, I chose to take a nap while Prince Theo was looking through the list of extra courses that he got. I decided to take a look at the list later since after this we would have a summer break for two months and I had more time to decide during the break.
"Attention. Student Ares Zanuki, please come to the Head Examiners Office right now. I repeat-" the announcement sounded three times in the first year of building.
I groaned slowly while Prince Theo patted my shoulder as if he pitied me for getting my nap disturbed since he knew I've always stayed up late at night doing work for my business.
Lazily, I dragged my body out of the class and head towards the Head Examiner Office which was located in a different building.
Upon my arrival, I saw Miss Zanne Cornwell, Prof Joseph Abraham and Prof Damien Gillan sitting side by side at a round table along with a middle-aged guy that I saw during the physical test day. He must be the Head Examiner. The assistant quickly closed the door after I entered.
"Please sit down student," said the Head Examiner.
I sat down opposite them and felt that this scene was like an interrogation scene that I've seen in movies before. The four of them observed me for a while before the head examiner started to put three sets of tests papers on the table in front of me.
"These are your test papers, correct?"
'Obviously, it's mine when there's my name there and also that horrible handwriting, who wants to imitate that.'
"Yes it's mine" I answered calmly despite feeling confused if there was anything wrong with them.
'Is Amanda accusing me of cheating?' I suddenly thought when I remembered her glares in the class before.
"So you're the one answering all of these, correct?"
"Yes"
"First we'll start with maths," the Head Examiner said before taking out a stack of papers from a metal briefcase.
Those papers seem like the maths exercises Ron gave to me before.
"This is Ares's personal maths exercises given by his personal tutor. Miss Zanne, please compare it to this exam paper to see if there's anything weird about them" he passed the papers to Miss Zanne where she randomly chose one set of them before looking through it.
"Next is Magic Research paper. This is the thesis that he wrote under the guidance of his personal magic tutor, Zenin Zanuki so Prof Damien here you go" he passed an envelope to Professor Damien.
"Last one is on monster research. Also from Ares's previous works on Monster Research Subject," he passed a stack of papers to Professor Joseph.
"I've already checked on other papers sent by your personal tutor and it seems aligned to your current ability so I've got nothing to say to you," he said staring straight at me while the other instructors still focus on the papers.
"Ares did this research you wrote have succeeded?" Prof Damien suddenly asked me with an excited face. I don't know much about Prof Damien since he was not even an extra in the novel so instead of explaining I just answered it through action.
The papers, pens and teacups in the room started floating around and I put four teacups on the table while arranging the stacks of papers neatly before pulling the door open and then closing it again.
"It is possible!" he exclaimed excitedly while holding tightly onto my Psychokinesis Magic Research Paper.
"So are you going to take magic research class?"
"I don't know"
"Huh, why not?"
"Why should I?" I asked confusedly since I already have Kara if I wanted something related to magic being created.
"Why not just take that class unofficially which means you will not have to take tests like other students and just have to attend class while submitting one or two research papers during your study period here," the Head Examiner suggested.
"Ohhh that's also fine. Please please consider it. Can-can I have this copy of the research paper?"
"I will consider it. Sure"
"Hmm, Sir. I'm done and there's nothing wrong with it," Prof Joseph said while putting back the stacks of papers into the metal briefcase.
"So anything to say to this student?"
"No, actually I have nothing to say when I first marked his test paper. All his answer is well written. He even drew some pictures to further explain his points so how can I have any complaints about that. I only came here when you said you will show me his previous monster research work"
"The two of you have already settled so Miss Zanne, do you need more time," the Head Examiner said after glancing at the clock on the wall.
"I hmm, his answer is not wrong but it's just the way he answered it is different from our current mathematical system. How should I explain this? He simplified most of the formulas when he doesn't have to do that to find the answers but his working looks easier and less complicated"
"Are you saying that he's making a new method of mathematical study?"
"Not a new method, just a simpler way of calculation"
"It's the same with his magic research. He tries to make a simplified magic circle by combining multiple low tier magic circles. So he also does the same with maths huh" Prof Damien commented.
"..." I just kept silent since I know some educators and researchers didn't like it when something was oversimplified.
"But overall I have no issue but Ares, can I submit this to the Academic Research Center?" She said while pointing at all of my maths exercises.
"Yeah sure"
"Have you taken a look at the list of extra courses that you can take?" Miss Zanne asked me.
"No, not yet"
"It's better to take a look with your family since your list is the longest list I've ever seen since I started working here," she said advising me.
The list of extra courses was given to first-year students based on what HGA thought the student was best at. Extra courses didn't relate to being a good Guardian but they prepared the students with another set of skills or knowledge if they decided not to be a Guardian in the future.
A lot of the family official heirs like Eris took courses like Economy and Management as her extra courses while Kara took a more in-depth magic class as her extra courses.
"So everything is settled. We're sorry for taking your time since there's a complaint asking us to recheck your test paper and compare it with your previous work. Since everything is fine, you don't have to worry about anything"
"Don't worry Ares, I will show the class your test answer so those who file a complaint about you will see why you got the highest mark"
"But Prof my handwriting-"
"Who cares. I already deciphered it with much difficulty and I will explain it to them so they don't need to care about your handwriting"
'I never heard an insult like this my whole life.'
"You can go back to your class and your instructors will contact you through your student messenger"
"Yes"
During my walk to class, I looked at my phone and realized that I've spent the 2 hours of free period inside the office and currently it was already lunchtime.
-Beep Beep
[Crazy Prince: Hey I'm waiting at the cafe so see you there]
[Me: On my way]
*********************************
(POV: Fredrick Augustus)
"Huh isn't that...."
Currently, I just finished with my class and residency transfer since I ranked up quite a bit on the midterm test. I managed to get transferred into Agate residency and got into C class after my rank went up to 150th.
When I walked out of the administration building and went to get lunch at the academy cafeteria, I saw the person that I'd been looking for since the start of school. The red hair guy currently choosing a few *pau while holding two cartons of milk.
*(Baozi, or bao/pau, is a type of yeast-leavened filled bun in various Chinese cuisines. There are many variations in fillings and preparations, though the buns are most often steamed. They are a variation of mantou from Northern China)
"Oho is that enough for you student Ares?" Asked the cafeteria lady friendly.
"My friend already brought some food for me so this much is enough."
"Sure~ Here take this mini apple pie."
"Yes thank you, here I pay with this card."
"All done. Have a nice lunch."
He just nodded his head slightly and walked away.
Instinctively I followed him and after a few minutes of walking, I saw him suddenly crouched down and took something from his spatial bag.
It was a packet of kibbles for cats. There was also a small bowl on the ground and he put them inside it.
While I was still focused on observing him, suddenly I felt a soft poke on my back. I was startled and turned around before seeing a familiar face looking at me suspiciously.
"Hey why are you following him?" asked Prince Theo.
"I...I don't...err I-"
I didn't manage to finish my word before the person I was following answered in my defence.
"Just let him be. I know him."
"Haa as I thought, you do know he's following you."
"....." I was stupefied and didn't manage to utter any word. I felt like I was a shrimp being trapped between two whales.
"Have you eaten lunch yet?" Ares asked.
"..." No one answered.
I glanced at Prince Theo since I thought that question was directed to him.
"Not me. This bastard knows I don't have lunch yet. He asked you."
"Oh...I'm just on my way to buy lunch" I answered awkwardly while scratching my head.
"Here."
Suddenly Ares shoved the apple pie, a packet of bread and one carton of milk to me. I clumsily accepted it.
"Eat properly."
After that simple sentence that sounded like an order, Ares and Prince Theo walked away without saying anything. I stood there in a daze.
"Do all noble have such eccentric personalities or something?"
There was no noble in my previous class and Onyx residency only has commoners thus I only have experience interacting with a few nobles which were those nobles who like to bully the commoner students.
When I passed by other noble students in the cafeteria or the hallway, most of them just ignore me like I was invisible.
That's why I was reluctant to greet Ares earlier and just followed him around, hoping he will see me and at that time I would collect my courage to greet him properly.
However, he just kept silent, not giving even a glance and just letting me follow him. Why did he give me all these?
Did he think that I was following him because I didn't have money to buy food?
Seeing their figure getting far away, I shouted.
"Young master, thank you for the food and thank you for before!"
He just lightly glanced back and nodded his head slightly before continuing walking.
"Fuh I was so nervous."
Being a poor commoner, it was hard for me to talk to nobles especially those from a powerful families like him. Luckily he doesn't seem like a bad noble.
Meow
Suddenly there were two kittens, a grey and a brown cat suddenly appeared from behind the bushes. They quickly went to the bowl containing cat food as if they already expected that there would be food there.
"Ohh so he was feeding you guys"
I tried to pet them but they avoided getting touched by me. Maybe that was why Ares didn't even wait for the kittens and just left.
Seeing that no one walking around this area, I decided to sit under a tree not far from the kittens and started eating.
I gave the kittens some of the milk while I drank the rest.