Tuesday, November 1, 807
9:00 AM
Instructor York enters the classroom with an agitated demeanor, announcing to the class: "Good morning, cadets. Instructor Ross handed me the file with the test results. Now, let me show them to you."
The room erupts in chaos, with some praying and others already in tears. Nearly 350 cadets are expected to be expelled, and around thirty from this class alone.
The instructor approaches the projector and turns it on.
- TEST RESULTS OCTOBER 31, 807 -
- Yu Yumiko 285 points
- Seiji Koto 275 points
- Shin Soichiro 250 points
- Kakegurui Shiori 225 points
- Azka Leya 220 points
- Asa Seyun 180 points
...
- Masuhiro Toki 135 points
- Hyouka Kairi 125 points
...
- Azka Ban 50 points
Cadets start discussing animatedly. Checking my score... It seems I've lost the bet.
"Hey hey hey... Azka Ban... You only got 50 points? I think you'll be expelled, that's a shame..." I hear mocking voices, but I ignore them.
Maybe I still have a chance. Mary summoned me to her office, right? She'll want to discuss it with me, and when she hears my reasons, she'll understand.
The sound of multiple vibrations indicates several messages have arrived.
One is from Leya.
- Now what will you do? You answered only one question, but I think you expected this to happen... If they expel you, I'm leaving too. -
- Don't worry. -
Another is from Koto.
- I won the bet... 👀 -
Damn gambling addict.
Another vibration, this time from Seyun.
- Ban, will you be expelled now? How will you manage? 😹 -
- Don't worry, but why the laughing cat? -
- I sent it by mistake, sorry 😿 -
"Hey... answer me, clown!"
The instructor changes the slide, noticing the commotion, and decides to intervene: "Quiet now. Here are the updated rankings."
And here's the eagerly awaited ranking.
Even before seeing the names, some cadets are already shouting and crying.
- Seiji Koto 20
- Shin Soichiro 53
- Yu Yumiko 71
...
- Kakegurui Shiori 205
...
- Hyouka Kairi 302
...
- Asa Seyun 411
- Azka Leya 490
...
- Masuhiro Toki 644
...
- Azka Ban 1149
Well, Leya is in a good position, and I've moved up a few spots, although I don't think it matters much.
Some cadets start screaming; apparently, I'm not the only one who performed poorly.
"Hey, they'll finally expel you, and I won't be able to have fun with you anymore... Maybe I should approach your sister, even with that scar, it's a bit of a turn-off—" Before he can finish the sentence, I react by punching him. The desks are close, so I just had to reach out without standing up.
After taking my hit, he starts bleeding profusely from the nose. He looks confused while blood stains his uniform. After a few seconds, he notices it and tries to stop the bleeding with a handkerchief.
Voices start surrounding me:
"That cadet punched someone!"
"Seriously?"
"Yes, I saw it too!"
And now, 30 years of life are wasted because of a kid's provocation. Didn't the instructor see it? It happened quickly, and this idiot is already recovering.
"T-This, I'll make you pay, jerk. As soon as we leave here, I'll destroy you!"
"Yeah, yeah, start going then."
I thought I wouldn't care who among these cadets would die against the Darkness demon, but if this cadet were to die... What's his name again? Anyway, if this cadet were to die, I'd jump for joy.
Another vibration, this time an academy notification:
- CADET AZKA BAN: EXPELLED -
So, straightforwardly. I hope Mary can turn things around.
I receive more messages from the group, but I keep telling them not to worry.
"Um... maybe I should have shown you the results at the end of the lesson." The instructor seems disheartened, seeing the chaos he can't calm down.
Understanding the mix of excitement and suffering, he dismisses us from the class. Some cadets have already left, while others are still crying at their desks. Meanwhile, I head towards Leya and the others.
But someone prevents me from doing so, grabbing my left wrist.
It's that idiot again, I see he managed to stop the bleeding.
"This time you're not escaping."
I curse mentally. My situation is already messed up; I don't think what I'm about to do will make things worse.
"I already told you. I like women."
I load my right and give him another punch. He didn't expect it; he was about to say something else, and my movement surprised him. He falls onto the chair and then faints directly onto the desk.
"Sweet dreams..."
There are some cadets around him; I think they were his friends. Not intending to interfere, they just look at me strangely.
So, I can finally go to the others.
Toki seems the happiest, chatting cheerfully with Kairi, while Seyun is with Koto and Leya.
After joining them, an awkward situation arises. They probably don't know what to say to me, so I decide to reassure them: "Don't worry, okay? Mary wants to meet me; I'll probably come out fine from this."
They continue to look at me with sad eyes.
"We'll talk later, then. I'm going now." The sooner, the better.
"I'll come with you?" Leya grabs my hand.
I gently squeeze it and then let go.
"No need, trust me, okay?" She nods sadly.
Koto seems more impatient than the others, but doesn't seem to have the courage to speak.
"I don't know how it will end, but you won the bet, so I'll do what you ask." He gives a small smile.
I wave to them and climb the stairs, heading to Mary's office.
....
9:55 AM
I knock on Mary's office door.
"Come in."
I enter nonchalantly.
"Good morning, instructor."
"Cadet Azka Ban. Shouldn't you be in class right now?" She says with a confused expression.
"Instructor York regretted giving out the results at the beginning of the lesson; it caused too much chaos, so he dismissed us even before starting the lecture."
She looks at me with a disgusted face, probably ashamed to have such a colleague. Anyway, she composes herself in a few seconds and continues: "So... would you like to sit?"
I take a seat in front of her desk, and we gaze at each other in silence for a few moments.
"Why aren't you agitated? You should know you've been expelled..."
Does she think I'm stupid?
"Does she think I'm stupid?"
Damn, I spoke out loud.
She looks at me with a smile, then takes some papers and starts reading them.
"This is your answer to the sixth question of the test: it's simply phenomenal. Although none of this has ever been proven, it's as close to the truth as it gets."
I look at her perplexed, so I ask: "Do you know the truth?"
She taps on the paper.
"Azka Ban, you're not stupid. What is the truth?"
...
Oh shit... I always hated philosophy.
So, I ironically reply, quoting Parmenides: "Truth is, and cannot not be?"
She responds with a smile, then says: "Are you a philosopher now?"
Damn...
She stands up and approaches the large window behind her, looking outside the academy.
"Man has sought the truth since ancient times. When faced with the unknown, he struggled to define its origins and causes.
And only in the end did he reach the truth.
But what did they find at the end of the journey? What is the truth they found?" She asks with a solemn tone. Where is she going with this?
Do I have to keep guessing? The author never mentioned this.
"... The explanation that allows revealing the secrets of the unknown?" I asked uncertainly. I've never pondered such existential questions.
"And would that be the truth? Or would it be something considered as the truth?"
Maybe I understand where she's going... She's making me realize that truth is not something objective, or rather, it's objective until proven otherwise.
We remain silent for a while until she breaks the ice again, telling me:"You won't be a cadet at this academy anymore."
Right at that moment, as if to make the discussion more theatrical, the loud noise of thunder is heard, a sign that it's about to rain.
I don't know what to say, so I remain silent. For some reason, I feel she wants to offer me something to make me stay.
"You won't be a cadet anymore because you answered only one question. Why didn't you answer the others? Were they too easy, or did they bore you?" She says with an annoyed tone.
"Actually... the last question was the most enjoyable to answer..." I tell her calmly.
She sits down and slowly takes off her glasses.
Maybe Koto was right, saying that there was nothing special about that question... I must have misunderstood.
"I don't understand. You were sent to our orphanage at the age of twelve. You have no relatives who could have educated you during this time, and the teachers at the orphanage are of a shameful level. I don't know if you're hiding some secret... Or the only true explanation is that you, Azka Ban, are a genius."
Better to be considered a genius than a demon.
I give her a smile in response. I feel like a cheater, but I can't just tell her that I come from another dimension and know the story of this world.
"I don't think you want to leave the academy. Given your knowledge, you probably joined here to obtain the Hero certificate. I imagine to later gain the right to use a special weapon."
Bingo!
Seeing that I'm not raising objections, she continues talking:"Since we already have to meet for private discussions, what do you say about becoming my assistant?"
I look at her with my mouth wide open.
"A-Assistant? No, no, I want to be a cadet." Why should I give up my daily naps?
She puts her glasses back on and continues: "This is impossible. The rules are absolute: you failed the test, so if you were to be readmitted, it would be a violation. Fort Academy is known for its impartiality, so it won't be possible to let you back in."
Impartiality? What about Leya then? Our agreement doesn't seem that legal.
...
She trapped me.
"Can I refuse? Isn't there another way?" I don't want to be an assistant; it's boring.
"What's wrong? Do you find this boring too?"
Does this woman read my mind?
"If you want to get the diploma, this is the only way. If you behave properly, I can even get you it a few years early."
Talk about impartiality...
Anyway, this intrigues me, so I reach out my hand to her.
She looks at me puzzled and then decides to shake it.
"Deal, Ma- Instructor!"
"I hope it will be a pleasure... to have you as an assistant instructor."
I stay in the office for another ten minutes to sign some documents.
Then, before leaving, I think of something.
"Instructor, could you place my sister in Group 1, in my place?"
"Alright, I was already planning to do that."
I nod, then walk away from the office.
Even with the future massacre of the Darkness demon, we'll have to redo the groups from scratch. But that's a problem for the future.
It's 10:00. Apparently, by becoming an assistant, I won't participate in written or practical exams anymore. I can still train in the gym and enjoy the advantages I had before.
From this point of view, it's a victory.
I actually planned to go to the gym right now, but with this weather, I don't feel like it.
I start climbing the stairs to go to my room, meanwhile sending a message to the others to tell them the news.
I also check my profile.
- Assistant Instructor Azka Ban -
Rank: XXX (cheater)
Year of enrollment: 807 (first year)
Class: B
Role: Swordsman
Room: W.W. 2694