A Villain's Will to Survive

Chapter 38: Exam (3)

The Chairwoman of the Mage Tower of the Imperial University received intriguing news in her private office. It was a directive from Berhert, stating, among other things, that the matter concerning the Scarletborn would be postponed until the next meeting.

If one were to gamble, most would bet millions on suppressing the Scarletborn. Yet, the result was surprising, especially because it was due to Deculein’s vehement opposition.

“What could it be...”

“Indeed, it’s quite curious.”

In the Chairwoman’s office, there were thirteen professors, including Relin and Retlan. Professors usually visited the Chairwoman once a month, but Deculein had never attended these meetings.

“So, why are you all here today? Did you meet someone at the Mage Council?” the Chairwoman asked, addressing the group of professors.

The professors merely smiled. Factions existed in the Magical Realm as well. There were many different sects of thought, and the professors were part of a regular gathering called the Mage Council. However, Deculein did not adhere to any sect, as the Yukline family itself was a dominant force in the Magical Realm.

“Miss Louina attended the Mage Council this time. I had a conversation with her and...” one professor said, mustering the courage to bring up the topic.

The Chairwoman gave a wry smile at the mention. Louina had once been Deculein’s contender for the position of Head Professor.

However, due to an unexpected incident—or perhaps Deculein’s scheming—Louina had voluntarily resigned and was now a Head Professor at a Mage Tower of the Kingdom University. The memory of their rivalry still lingered, adding tension to any mention of her name.

“Did she say she’d be returning to the Empire?”

“Hahaha. Well, if her position is guaranteed, wouldn’t she come back? If that happens, our Mage Tower would benefit greatly. Miss Louina’s achievements in the kingdom have been outstanding, after all.

“On the other hand, Professor Deculein has been somewhat odd lately. Who would have thought he’d defend the Scarletborn? I never expected such behavior from him at Berhert...” said a professor, his disapproval clear.

The Chairwoman chuckled, waving her hand dismissively and said, “I understand. If Louina is indeed returning, we can consider it! But for now, you should all leave. I have work to do today.”

“Yes, Chairwoman! We’ll be going now!” the professors said, pleased with her response, left the office with bright faces. They were satisfied with the Chairwoman's openness to considering Louina's return.

“Hmmmmmmmm...”

The Chairwoman, resting her chin on her hand, pulled out documents from the Mage Tower of the University. The exam period had flooded her with paperwork, particularly exam questions. She usually didn’t enjoy sorting through exam questions...

“How did he come up with all these questions?” the Chairwoman asked, astonished by Deculein’s exam. Solving the final problem left her deeply impressed. “Even if we combined all the other exams, they wouldn’t match this one.”

It wasn’t an exaggeration—the quality of the questions was high enough to be used in the Solda promotion exam. However, the Chairwoman wasn’t na?ve enough to believe that Deculein had crafted these questions himself. She suspected there was more to the story.

“Hmm... he hid it well this time... Who could it be...” the Chairwoman murmured to herself, then smiled. The quality was exceptional this time. “Well, it doesn’t matter. It’s actually quite amusing.”

I wonder if he’d be unable to answer questions about his own exam and end up flustered. If Professor Deculein did that, it would be quite cute, the Chairwoman thought.

“I've got to try it next time! It'll be fun messing with him!”

***

Wednesday marked the day of the crucial five-credit lecture exam. This test was as significant as combining two or three other exams, so Epherene set out for the Mage Tower early in the morning.

30th Floor

The exam was set to take place on the 30th floor of the Mage Tower. The entire floor had been reserved exclusively for this important exam.

Exam Waiting Room

She grasped the doorknob labeled Waiting Room and opened it.

“Oh my,” Epherene exclaimed.

It was only 8 a.m., yet over a hundred people were already gathered, chatting quietly. Their conversations halted as their eyes turned to Epherene. Because of recent events, she had earned the nickname Clueless Commoner, even though she wasn't a commoner. Epherene sat near Julia and the other club members.

“Did you just wake up, Ephie?”

“No. I didn’t sleep at all.”

She had lost count of how many cups of coffee she had consumed. But that was the nature of exams; the combination of caffeine and nerves made sleep impossible. Instead, she felt more alert than ever.

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“Ephie, want to see my notes? I had an enlightenment yesterday and wrote it down,” Julia said with a playful smile.

“Sure. I’ll show you mine too.”

The two exchanged notes and studied together. As time passed, by 11 a.m., Assistant Professor Allen entered the room.

“Good morning. I’m Assistant Professor Allen. We’ll begin the midterm for Understanding Pure Element Magic without taking attendance,” Allen announced, reading from a paper he held.

“Before we begin, let me provide some information about the exam. First, there is no time limit for this exam,” Allen stated. The mages looked momentarily confused. Realizing his mistake, Allen tapped his mouth and corrected himself. “Oh, I mean the exam period lasts until midnight next Sunday, the end of the exam week.”

The mages were even more baffled. It's Wednesday at 11 a.m., and the exam period lasts until midnight next Sunday? Are we really supposed to take one exam over ten days?

As Epherene blinked, trying to process the information, Allen continued, “Of course, you can take other exams during this period, eat outside, sleep at home, wash up, and relieve stress. However, you cannot take the exam papers outside of this room.”

It sounded like a strange, yet fascinating, method of taking an exam.

“Additionally, each of you will have a private exam room. There will be one person per room, and you can sleep inside if you wish, though you must bring your own pillows and blankets. You can also bring food to eat inside, and you can refer to books or theses. This exam is an open book.”

At that point, Epherene's eyebrows twitched in confusion. An open-book exam? And it lasts for ten days? How difficult is this supposed to be? Can they even balance the difficulty? It seems like everyone will either get a zero or a perfect score.

“Given this, the professor has said,” Allen cleared his throat and mimicked Deculein’s voice, “If anyone scores a perfect mark, I will write them a letter of recommendation as the Head Professor of—”

At the mention of a letter of recommendation, all the mages' eyes widened. Deculein’s recommendation was immensely valuable, given his effective rank as third, with Monarch being the fourth rank and Archmage the first out of the eleven ranks in total. To exaggerate slightly, it almost guaranteed passing the Solda promotion exam if one made it to the interview stage.

The mages, forgetting their doubts about the exam method, were filled with determination. While Sylvia was an overwhelming favorite, the letter of recommendation was not limited to one person but to anyone with a perfect score. Thus, there was a real chance for the underdogs to shine.

“Now, I’ll assign exam rooms to each of you. Please stand up and follow me from the front row.”

The first fifteen people in the front row stood up. This process was repeated ten times, assigning Sylvia to Room 23, while Epherene and her club members were assigned to Rooms 73 to 78.

“... Do well, Ephie. Good luck!”

“Thanks, you all too.”

The ample time helped to ease their nerves as they exchanged words of encouragement, calming each other.

Allen called out loudly, “Alright, everyone, please enter your rooms!”

Epherene took a deep breath and stepped inside. The exam room was slightly larger than a single dormitory room, furnished with only a desk, a chair, and a clock. A thick exam paper lay on the desk. She sat down and began to read the first question.

1. Calculate the circuit of the following spell.

It was a purely theoretical question. Epherene took out her pencil and simultaneously released mana from her fingers, calculating with the pencil while forming the circuit with mana—a method that combined intuition with theory.

“... Whew.”

An hour later, she had the answer. She infused the answer sheet with the required mana and turned the page to continue with the next question.

2. Infer the core circuit of the following spell and describe the flow of mana.

The second question was also theoretical and slightly more difficult, but she managed to solve it after three to four hours of intense thought. However, the real challenge began with the next question.

3. The following circuit is part of a specific magic. Use the conditions below to infer the formula and manifest the magic onto the exam paper.

Epherene pondered over the problem. Initially, it seemed manageable. However, no matter how much time she invested, the solution eluded her, always tantalizingly close but just out of reach.

“I'm sleepy,” Epherene said. Finally, she set down her pen and lay on the floor. “... Yawn.”

She closed her eyes for a moment, intending only to rest briefly on the hard floor. When she realized, an entire day had passed.

***

On the fourth day of the Understanding Pure Element Magic exam, the Mage Tower was still bustling with activity. It was Saturday, and the knight cadets who had gone for practical exams had returned, while most regular students were wrapping up their exams.

The Mage Tower was bustling with energy, attracting attention from not only university mages but also those from the external Mage Tower of the Kingdom, media personnel, knight cadets, and students. The reason was Deculein’s marathon exam, which could be taken over nearly two weeks.

Other professors had tried similar concepts before, but they were usually rejected by the Chairwoman. This time, however, the Chairwoman actively supported it, resulting in significant media coverage.

“Yes, the exam is still ongoing on the 30th floor!” the Chairwoman said as she stepped up for an interview.

“How difficult is the exam?”

“It is challenging! Even when I solved it, I found it would be very rewarding for the students. The mages will understand this as they work through it. It’s definitely solvable!”

“Will you release the exam questions afterward?”

“I’d have to ask Professor Deculein about that! But I think even the Floating Island would want to buy them if they could!”

The area around the Mage Tower was bustling with people. Students and knight cadets were relaxing after their exams. With the upcoming festival and Educational Retreat in two weeks, the entire campus was open.

“Excuse me, could we have an interview—”

“Are you a Debutant? Just a moment, please. Can we have a word—”

Journalists approached anyone who looked like a mage for interviews. Most declined, but Epherene agreed in exchange for four cups of coffee and three pieces of bread.

“So, no one has given up on the exam yet?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“What do you think is the reason for that?”

“Well, I’m not sure,” Epherene said, sipping her coffee without answering directly.

In reality, she knew why no one had given up on the exam. It was an extension of the class. Just like Deculein’s seemingly unkind yet deeply instructive lectures, it was designed to help them grow independently. It reviewed everything they had learned, encouraged them to apply it, and discover new methods on their own.

“But isn’t there a risk of mages working together on their answers?”

Epherene nearly spat out her coffee at the naive question. She chuckled, shaking her head and said, “No, that’s not likely. Mages are highly individualistic. Besides, it would be obvious. Magic and mana have characteristics, like fingerprints.”

“Ah, I understand...”

“Well, it’s been ten minutes, hasn’t it? I’ll be going now.”

The agreed interview time was ten minutes. Epherene packed up her remaining three cups of coffee and two pieces of bread, then stood up.

***

Early Monday morning, Sylvia awoke in the exam room and used a heating spell to warm her food.

“Nom nom,” Sylvia mumbled as she ate her breakfast while looking over her exam paper.

7. Given that the magic containing the core circuit meets the following four conditions, deduce the complete spell and implement the magic.

She manipulated her mana according to the conditions of question 7, deep in thought.

“Ugh...”

She had struggled with question 7 all day yesterday, and today it still eluded her. Before she knew it, it was time for her other exam. Sylvia left the exam room and approached the assistant professor by the elevator.

The assistant professor asked, “Are you giving up or just stepping out for a while?”

“I’m going out for another exam.”

“Alright, Miss Sylvia~ See you soon.”

Sylvia then went to Teo Hall, located outside the Mage Tower, to take her liberal arts exam.

***

Sylvia finished her two-hour exam in just twenty minutes and headed back to her exam room. At the entrance of the Mage Tower, servants from her mansion handed her lunch and dinner boxes.

“Good luck, Lady Sylvia! You can solve them all!”

“Future Archmage, you can do it!”

Their encouragement felt oddly burdensome to Sylvia as she returned to the Mage Tower. She hadn’t felt this pressure even during the entrance exam. The possibility of failing to solve the question gnawed at her, becoming an increasingly persistent worry in the back of her mind.

"There's no need to rush," Sylvia reminded herself, recalling a professor's advice.

Sylvia - Room 23

Sylvia’s exam room had turned into a complete living space. She used her magic and magic stones to create a bed and brought in her blankets, pillows, and numerous reference books and theses. She ate, slept, and solved problems in this capsule-like environment. Sitting at her desk, she tackled problem 7 again.

One hour passed. Then two. Three hours. Four hours...

As time passed, Sylvia poured intense effort into solving the questions. This was not solely due to the exam's difficulty. While the problems were indeed challenging, if they had been merely difficult, Sylvia would have complained to her father about the worthless questions from a worthless professor, demanding they be solved over ten days.

But this exam was different. Each question presented new possibilities and directions, leading to unexpected transformations. It emphasized application and utilization, fostering an appreciation for the flexible thinking embedded in the problems.

Especially from question 6 onward, where the difficulty spiked, it felt like an intensive training regime for a mage. Sylvia believed that solving all these problems would elevate her status as a mage. The letter of recommendation was a secondary concern.

Nine hours passed. Then ten. Eleven hours...

After spending eleven hours today and eighteen hours yesterday, for a total of twenty-nine hours of struggle, Sylvia finally solved question seven. The circuit she had embedded manifested as magic. The pure magic took the form of a sphere, floating in the air, radiating light in all directions. It resembled a burning star, utilizing fire, earth, wind, and water.

Sylvia was momentarily mesmerized by its beauty. But then she glanced at the clock and sighed. It was already 8 p.m., time for another exam. She quickly brushed her hair and left the Mage Tower, choosing a back route to avoid the crowd. Along the way, she ran into someone.

“Oh, Sylvia?”

She ran into the arrogant Epherene.

"... Are you heading to another exam?" Epherene asked, who was wearing a robe.

Sylvia didn’t answer and kept walking. Eventually, they both spoke at the same time.

“How many questions have you—”

Their words overlapped. Sylvia fell silent, and Epherene shrugged before speaking, “... I’m working on question 7.”

Sylvia replied honestly, “I’m on question 8.”

“What? You’ve already solved it?!” Epherene exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise.

“Still working on it.”

"... Ah. You’re quick. I’m completely stuck on question 7."

“Okay.”

Epherene scratched the back of her neck with a bitter smile. Sylvia passed by her without another word, but she felt a twist in her gut. If Epherene was already on question 7, she was progressing faster than expected.

She’s only one question behind me. Is Epherene lying, or have I slowed down? Sylvia wondered to herself.

Sylvia felt inexplicably resentful. The issue had been time. The real exam had been Deculein's, and it had been amazing. But she had lost too much time on those fake ones from her other classes.

***

Meanwhile, after separating from Sylvia, Epherene headed to a coffee shop. During the exam period, she had likely spent nearly five hundred elne on coffee alone. She scanned the coffee shop’s interior, looking for journalists. In her mind, the equation was well established—Journalist = Interview = Free Coffee and Food.

"... They aren't here."

Reluctantly, she bought coffee and bread with her own money. As soon as she sat down, Sylvia’s words echoed in her mind.

"She’s already on question 8... and I’ve been stuck on question 7 for two days now."

These past two days felt like she was suffering from an illness. Epherene would get angry and declare she was going to quit, only to be overwhelmed with happiness whenever she found a hint for the problem. That happiness was incomparable to anything else.

“... Sigh.”

Epherene concentrated her mana into her fingertips. Grudgingly chewing on her bread and sipping her coffee, she continued to puzzle over question 7. She wondered what Deculein was doing at that moment. After setting such insanely difficult problems, the professor must be up to something.

"I'll solve it out of pure stubbornness..."

Crunch, crunch, crunch—

Muttering to herself, Epherene left the coffee shop and headed straight for the Mage Tower. As she ran, she glanced up at the sky. The stars were bright and shining. The dark sky, dotted with the moon and stars, looked like it was sprinkled with marshmallows...

Epherene’s eyes widened as the starlight filled her dilated pupils. A realization surged up her spine and into her mind. She sprinted back to her exam room and began to channel her mana.

“It’s working, it’s working, this is it...”

The night sky inspired her. She calculated the circuits under the conditions specified in the exam, identified the circuits, deduced the spells, and implemented the magic circle that would solve the problem...

Hummmmm—

A resonant hum filled the room as her mana synchronized with the exam paper, causing a brilliant blue light to swirl and generate a circular wind.

“Did I... solve it?”

Fire, wind, earth, and water—an Artificial Star created from the four element properties. The pure, radiant concentration of energy brought tears to Epherene’s eyes.

“Wow... this is,” Epherene murmured, basking in the warmth of the light with her face in her hands.

She sat there for a long while, a few tears slipping down her cheeks. After about thirty minutes, Epherene wiped her damp eyelashes and turned to the next page. The moment she saw the final question, number 8, and the circuits and conditions filling half the page, she almost passed out.

“What the heck—”