After all the performance assessments for the morning and afternoon teams were finished, everyone in Class A gathered in the Beginner Dark Magic lecture room.
"You did a good job today, everyone."
Said Jane.
"Regardless of the results and scores, I'm satisfied as the professor in charge that all members of Class A carried out an actual battle without any accidents."
"Thank you, Professor!"
Vigorously exclaimed the students while finally freed from the pressure.
"But in Kizen, results are the most important thing."
"..."
Jane naturally poured cold water after creating a warm atmosphere. Now that they were all used to her, they waited for her to continue while slightly chuckling.
"I'll start evaluation with Group 1. Please come forward, Group 1."
Simon sat down on his seat and listened to the other group's evaluations.
As expected from Jane, she analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of each group and made suggestions for improvements that'd almost give you goosebumps. Her comments were logical and analytical, to the point where people who knew nothing about that certain group were nodding their heads without even realizing it.
And…
"Carrel Oxara and Yona Kasumi."
"Yes!"
"Shake hands with each other."
...What was with the sudden handshake?
As the two of them were blinking out of bewilderment, the assistant next to them hinted for the two to do it. The two of them did as they were told.
"You didn't ruin the teamwork like an amateur, but it'd be better to blow off the steam right away if you have problems with each other."
"...!"
"Next group, please come forward."
Jane was also able to see through the relationships and mentality of students. It wasn't enough to say that her skills were out of the world.
Other than that, if there was one thing that Simon thought was unexpected, there were more groups who hunted the Cyclops than he thought.
In the first simulation, the proportion of successful groups was slightly over 40%, but in actual battle, 13 out of the 16 groups succeeded in hunting the Cyclops.
Even considering the difference in practice time, they were exceedingly strong in actual fights. It was a time when he could feel the potential of Kizen students once again.
And in this case, the scores they received were more important than whether or not the Cyclops was hunted.
"The final grade of Group 3 is an A+. Well done."
Group 3, led by Hector, was overwhelming. Cheers, applause, and gazes of envy were directed at them.
"Group 3 was flawless."
Hector's outstanding fighting power and leadership, the clear roles, and the teamwork between each member. They were also the only ones with 3-minute hunting time. They even had stability, as the barrier gauge exceeded 90%.
It was no exaggeration to say that they're the group that truly represented Class A.
"I'm looking forward to the growth of each one of you. Well done."
"Thank you!"
Other than them, Cindy Vivace's Group 5 was considered a strong team.
The hunting time was no worse than Group 3's, but the fact that it was a team all-in on Cindy Vivace backfired. Scores were greatly reduced in teamwork and stability.
And…
"Group 7, please come forward."
Finally, the problematic Group 7 was called out in front of Jane. Group 3 had a high score, but in fact, it was Simon's Group 7 that became a hot issue.
They showed overwhelming performances and thrilled everyone.
"Group 7 was..."
She rustled and held the scoring sheet. The surroundings became as silent as a grave.
"Terrible."
Boom!
Simon felt his heart sinking. Meilyn shut her eyes tight, and Camibarez' lips quivered.
"Time spent: 13 minutes and 58 seconds. The barrier gauge of the participating member is also in the single digits at 7%. There were even haphazard and improvised actions that didn't match the originally planned strategies."
After putting down the documents, she looked at Group 7 with expressionless eyes.
"Do you have anything to say?"
"..."
They had nothing to say since she presented clear, numerical values.
The four were silent, and Jane opened her mouth.
"The grade of Group 7 is a D."
Groups with a grade of less than F were the ones who failed in hunting the Cyclops. It was practically the lowest grade among the groups that hunted the Cyclops.
When everyone was about to solemnly go back to their places…
"Of course,"
The assistant teacher was handing over new documents to Jane. Jane said, putting it on the top of the scoring sheet,
"that's if this information wasn't considered."
"...?"
The members of Group 7 stopped in their tracks with confused looks.
"After an autopsy of the corpse of the Cyclops that Group 7 hunted, we found traces that the curse and drugs used at the time of capture caused unusual side effects."
Of course, there was also seriously suspicious information in the autopsy results, but this was classified as a second-degree secret in Kizen.
That was the only thing she could tell the students.
"The Cyclops exhibited extreme aggression. As soon as the curse was lifted, it became enraged and its physical abilities were temporarily strengthened. It's the upper classes' judgment that the test's difficulty was significantly different from that of the Cyclopes hunted by other groups."
The upper classes of Kizen! You could hear the students whispering throughout the lecture room.
Jane waved the report bearing the seal of Kizen headquarters to the student and said,
"As a result of comprehensively judging the Cyclops' aggression, physical strength, and curse resistance, we'll apply the new scoring rubrics on the premise that Group 7 hunted an upper-rank Cyclops, one with the level of a Red Cyclops. Perhaps that,"
Jane's gaze turned to Hector.
"would make it fair, right?"
"..."
Hector's expression hardened.
If it was the decision of the upper class of Kizen, it wasn't an issue that students could argue with. Of course, it was also true that all the Class A students had the same question about the Cyclops that Simon faced.
Wasn't Group 7's Cyclops… too strong?
"I'll announce the corrected results."
Jane read through the document.
"Meilyn Villenne."
Meilyn answered while startled,
"Yes, Professor!"
"You played the key role in protecting the participating member with the jet-black elemental magic that far exceeded the average of 1st-year students of Kizen. You're given a score of 80."
"Wooaah!"
Cheers broke loose from everywhere.
The current highest score was Hector, with 90 out of 100. Considering that she didn't get the bonus points from being the participating member, scoring 80 was pretty good.
Meilyn trembled with effervescence.
"It's definitely a mistake to get injured due to overtraining and poor-self management. However…"
Jane's eyes turned to Meilyn's leg wrapped in bandages.
"Working hard despite your injury was impressive."
Meilyn couldn't answer right away and her shoulders trembled slightly. She was probably the one who suffered through the most internal struggle.
"Next, Rick Hayward."
"Yes!"
"Utilizing the high-performance jet-black enchantment in the right time and right place, you played a role as a lubricant of Group 7 in hunting the Cyclops. Likewise, You're given a score of 80."
A burst of cheers once again. Rick raised his hands and shouted out in joy.
"Camibarez Ursula."
"Ah, yes!"
"As an aspiring Hemomancy student, you did a good job as the main attacker of Group 7."
Jane smiled.
"Even among the Necromancers working in the field, it's hard to see such a level of excessive bleeding magic. You're given a score of 85."
"Ah...!"
Camibarez's eyes teared up at the emotion that rushed in like a wave.
"Cami!"
"As expected!"
Meilyn and Rick hugged her and repeatedly said, "Good job!"
"Lastly, Simon Polentia."
Silence instantly fell in the lecture room.
Hector, anxiously watching Group 7 performing well, turned pale and he slipped slightly off his chair.
"You did your part as a participating member. You took care of the team members despite the unexpected variables and made time by avoiding the attacks of the Cyclops by yourself. You've accomplished the prerequisite for Hemorrhage by injuring the monster's body with your dramatic operation of the summons, and the use of the Restoration skill was impressive. In the end, you finished the Cyclops off too."
After reading the scoring sheet, she exhaled lightly and opened her mouth.
"...It was perfect. You're given a score of 100 for the personal score."
A score of 100! An explosive cheer shook the lecture room.
The other students in Class A had no choice but to acknowledge Simon's achievement. Group 7's performance was an excellent stimulus for everyone to that extent.
And just like that, the total evaluation grade of the Group 7 was an A+, the highest grade. The score went up a few steps and stood shoulder to shoulder with the score of Group 3, the strongest group in Class A.
And,
"It's a shame that there's no grade higher than A+."
By Jane saying that, she hinted that the best in class A was Group 7, driving the wedge in.
Hector closed his eyes and leaned deep into the backrest.
"Hector—"
"Shut up before I rip your mouth open."
The members of Group 3 had no choice but to keep their mouths shut and tread carefully because of Hector.
* * *
"Cheers for an A+!"
"Cheers!"
Beer glasses clinked, and loud laughter broke loose. With the setting night sky in the background, a bonfire burned in front of a small hut.
Simon, Rick, Meilyn, and Camibarez were sitting in a circle around it, and in front of the bonfire, delicious grilled skewers were dripping oil, cooking well.
"Pwhaaa. The performance assessment this time was carried by me, Rick!!"
Said Rick while red-faced and chuckling.
"If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have even hurt the Cyclops! Right? Don't y'all agree on this one?"
"Oh here we go. You're being cocky again."
Meilyn rolled her eyes and scolded him. Still, with a smile on her lips, she didn't have that usual edge in her voice.
"Simply, we would've lost if even a single person couldn't do their part, you dumbass. And to tell the truth, you were the one with the least to do! All you did was drop some weapons!"
"Wow! I'm so dumbfounded! Is it really okay to condemn the one who carried like this?"
"Ah, get away from me! You smell like liquor!"
"Eh? For real? I've just finished drinking a glass, though."
Rick took a breath in the palm of his hand and sniffed it. Meilyn shook her head, disgusted.
On the other hand, Camibarez was looking down on the glass of beer in her hands with a very serious expression.
"You don't have to drink it if you don't like it."
Said Simon as he laughed.
"N-No! It's not like that...! It's just that I'm a little nervous because this is my first time drinking..."
"It's fine, Cami! It's fine!"
Rick waved his hand.
"As long as you can take responsibility for your actions, anything is okay for students of Kizen! Besides, it's not just us who came to this place, but we also have a 'guardian', right? It's a legal drinking party! A legal drinking party!"
Looking at Rick being upbeat, Camibarez cautiously asked Simon,
"If I drink this, will I become like Rick too?"
Simon couldn't stand it in the end, bursting into laughter.
Meilyn, on the opposite side, was shrieking with laughter. Rick looked like he was about to cry.
"Et tu, Cami..."
Just as Rick was livening up the mood with his odd pronunciation, someone appeared from the hut.
"Come on, eat this one too!"
It was none other than Combat Magic Professor Hong Feng. She placed the pot on a support in front of the bonfire. The steaming pot contained meat soup.
"Wooaaah!"
Everyone was excited by the delicious smell and flocked to the front of the pot. Hong Feng offered each disciple a bowl of soup by herself.
"Thank you for the food!"
It was Hong Feng who invited everyone to the hut. Hearing that Simon had received the highest grade this time, she invited Simon's groupmates to a celebration party. The grilled skewers and meat soup were made from prey she hunted herself.
Simon ate a spoonful of soup.
'...I-It's so delicious!'
He'd never tried something like this. It was just delicious, enough to make your jaw drop. It had a mild and natural taste without any spices, but it was surprising how it could come out with such a deep flavor.
"Awesome!"
"Professor, you're the best!"
"Fufu! Eat as much as you want!"
Hong Feng also sat down.
It was originally hard to dream of having this kind of a drinking party among students in Kizen, but they were able to spend this kind of time thanks to the fact that she provided a place and that she took responsibility as a guardian.
Rick quickly poured a beer out from the oak barrel and handed it to her.
"Thank you, Rick."
"Wahah! I never expected to see myself being invited somewhere by a professor of Kizen! As expected…!"
Rick looked at Simon with sly eyes.
"Professor Hong Feng, don't you show some favoritism toward Simon...?"
Meilyn, who was eating the soup, raised her head in a flash.
"Hey! Rick!"
"You're right."
Said Hong Feng as she smiled softly. Everyone stopped and looked at her.
"We're all people. Wouldn't we likely have students we like and students we don't?"
"...Ahaha! Now that you mention it, you're right! Cheers!"
Rick quickly shouted for a toast.
Simon, feeling somewhat embarrassed, clinked the glass while blushing. Hong Feng laughed.
"I'm just kidding. I'm proud of all my students, and I love them!"
Hong Feng tenderly stroked Simon's head while saying that.
Rick and Meilyn's envious gazes fell on Simon. Camibarez looked at Simon and Hong Feng in turn, then quickly lowered her head.
"It must be tough these days now that the student protection period is over, but the Kizen professors aren't doing things because they hate you. Hang in there just a little bit longer! Okay?"
"Yes! Understood!"
You couldn't find anything like the authority of a Kizen's professor with Hong Feng on a private occasion. The way she treated them with infinite kindness and comfort felt like a neighborly older sister.
Thanks to that, everyone was able to quickly adapt to the atmosphere of the drinking party.
"Next week…"
Said Hong Fend in the heated atmosphere, stretching her legs.
Rick said, while pretending to be listening closely,
"Yes, professor? We're listening!"
"Next week, you'll finally be on a 'mission'."