Gray had just re-entered the exam room.
Why was everyone looking at him like that?! As if he was a strange animal? But luckily, the exam Proctor quickly ended the awkward silence:
"With this, the 1307th exam to become a member of our Academy has officially ended. The Teachers behind me have graded you all, and I'll now announce the results out of 100."
"Yoseph Stallin 66, Adolf Hitter, 67, Garl Marx 69…"
"Nice!" Gale exclaimed. They went from worse to best, right? Didn't this mean that he was safe?!
As for what came afterward? The best result was a 74, showing how close it all was! But then came Gray's deskmate's turn, the Proctor pausing:
"Now, this one I wouldn't have believed had I not seen it with my own eyes. The current highest record is 79 or was. Aldor Heinrich… 94 points!"
New record?! The whole room instantly erupted in gasps.
"94 Points? Can a Tier 1 Newcomer even do that?!"
"Of course, he just did! Just don't ask me how!"
"That guy can't be human. He's a god!"
Yet, the star of it all wasn't rejoicing. He was trembling. There was still one name that hadn't been called out yet, his gut feeling telling him it was the true dark horse!
Gray Gale had finished the exam before him! Had he completely given up? Or did he finish the exam at a monstrous speed? Since he was here, it had to be the second!
The Proctor finally called…
"Now, Gray Gale, step forward, please. Sigh, I have to say I'm impressed. It usually takes teachers 5 minutes to grade a copy. For yours, it took 3 hours!"
— WHAT?! —
The entire room shook, the applicants turning ashen. This felt like such simple math, but their brains somehow struggled with the calculations.
Six hours, minus three for grading… that meant he had used merely 50% of the time allocated, or even less?! This couldn't be right, and yet?! What the hell was going on?!
"M-Monster!"
"T-Three hours?! I left ten blanks with six!"
"Pinch me someone., is this really happ— OUCH!"
It was even more shocking that it came from this guy looking like a complete nobody! Even now, he didn't seem special at all, still as smelly and destitute. What a great swindler!
But that's when the Proctor spoke again, everyone hanging to his every word. Would this be the start of a new Legend? Were they actually witnessing History?!
"Gray Gale… 33 points!" It felt like the room had suddenly been doused in iced water. The Proctor then added, "You can Grade Appeal later, but for now, just listen."
Gale focused intently, smelling an opportunity…
"Now, as I'm sure you all know, two full-time positions are available, and the rest will be part-time. It goes without saying that the first spot goes to Aldor…."
Many held their breaths. In theory, the second spot would go to the 74-points guy, but who knew with the teachers present? Their personal preferences would also weigh in.
"As for the second…. Gray Gale!"
— WHAT?! —
For the second time, the room shook because of him.
"This makes no damn sense! Isn't 60 usually the passing mark?!"
"Why?! He got the lowest score, a meager 33!"
"He did it fast, but he didn't have to!"
The applicants all clamored at once, feeling unjustly treated. This was especially true for the 74-guy. He had been so close! But that's when one of the Teachers strode forward.
It was an old man, a Cauldron Badge on his chest…
"Let me answer that one. Did you know that the exam has five sections, each totaling 20 points?" He asked the crowd, the latter nodding along.
"Now, what if I told you Gray here ONLY answered the alchemical questions? What would you say?" He gave them a bright smile, chuckling at their confusion.
That's when the #1 student gasped…
"He got 33 points out of 20?! What kind of world-shattering answers did he give?! Doesn't that mean he's a genius Alchemist?! No, more importantly, why didn't he fill out the others?!"
The Teachers suddenly started squirming, unsure how to answer that one. Once again, it was the old guy who replied.
"Oh, he filled them all out. He simply didn't answer them. Technically, he didn't commit any mistake, either. It's just…."
What was that supposed to mean?! But just as the applicants were getting more and more confused, the Proctor sighed and began reading excerpts from Gray's exam.
The more he read, the more their worldview expanded, their legs shaking in unison. T-This, what kind of answers were those?!
"He's neither right nor wrong."
"Is he actually a philosopher?"
"3 hours? That's why!"
Sighing, the Proctor finally addressed them all again. "Still, his official result will remain 33 because of his unconventional ways. Do you all understand?"
They nodded like frightened rabbits, imagining a world where every student gave similar answers. There would be CHAOS!
Seeing this, Gale sheepishly raised his hand:
"Just to confirm, that means I'm officially a student here and can stay in the Academy from now on, right?" He asked, his heart thumping in apprehension.
But that's when the atmosphere turned increasingly strange. No, calling it strange was an understatement. Tongues were hanging out, people turning blue as they forgot to breathe.
That's when the Proctor finally spoke up awkwardly:
"You do know this is the Exam to become an Academy Teacher… right?!"
T-Teacher… TEACHER?! Gray blanked for a couple of seconds… No wonder the exam had been so freaking hard!
As for all those questions about dumb students asking for advice… he wasn't their senior, but their teacher in those scenarios?! Holy fuck!
Should he ask to be a student instead? But what if they required him to pass a different evaluation as a formality? Bob wouldn't be there to save his ass! Teacher, was it?
"Of course, of course! That's totally what I meant! So, as a Teacher, I can live here from now on, right?!"
"…."
"…."
"…."
They weren't blind. They had all seen him pause in shock. At this moment, they felt their reality collapse.
What was worse, that someone had inadvertently taken the Teacher exam… or that he had succeeded?! They remained frozen in place, just like statues.
As for Gray? The friendly Grandpa Teacher from earlier guided him to his new quarters. Unsurprisingly, they were on the Alchemical side of the Academy.
As a Teacher, just saying it felt weird, Gray would even have his own cozy little house, one right by a neat little garden full of spirit plants. With this, he had bought himself a day!
"From now on, you'll live here, caring for this garden. If you need anything, feel free to ask me." The old grandpa graciously added.
But Gray felt a strange feeling of déjà-vue as he saw the garden. Still, he brushed it off, expressing his gratitude.
"Thank you so much! It's like I've been here before and couldn't feel more at home!" Gray enthusiastically remarked.
"I bet you do. You know, I often stroll here when I want to relax. This plant in the back especially is my favorite. Quite pretty isn't it? Don't you agree?"
Gray followed the elder's finger. It was a Fiery Sakura. Oh, and by the side were Silver-Bamboo, Mossvine, and an Everleaf bush. He suddenly had a bad presentiment.
T-This, wasn't this the sickly garden from that one exam question?! That's when he slowly turned toward the Grandpa, the latter giving him a huge smile.
"Right, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm the Gardener who should be fired!" After dropping this bomb, he left whistling.
Gray suddenly felt himself missing his cell phone very much!
#URGENT! Got a new job (by mistake) and proposed to fire my boss! What now?!
Who should he ask if not the Internet?! Wait, maybe his new jiggly friend?
He'd visit him first thing in the morning…