A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 88

Before starting the Battle Royale, it must have been mentioned that the midterm exam period lasts about 4 to 5 days.

Unlike the final exam, which encompasses all knowledge for survival, the other exams are closer to written tests or reviews.

And while I can speak the language, I’m still far from mastering writing. Even though I’m in a combat role rather than a non-combat role where writing isn’t as crucial, it still bothers me.

[Explain the Theory of Magic.]

“··· ···”

I know the Theory of Magic well. Thanks to Godin’s perfect explanation back then, I remember everything.

However, the characters of this world, especially the grammar system of the common language, are extremely complex, even if the vocabulary is simple.

I’m working hard on it, even just to use magic, but it’s only been a month. It’s frustrating for me.

‘······Let’s just write as much as I can for now.’

It’s better than writing nothing at all. I picked up my pen and squeezed out every bit of effort I could.

Surely, they’ll overlook grammar that’s a complete mess. Besides, the writing itself isn’t that important.

‘In Soul World, I skipped all this and went straight to the Battle Royale.’

At times like this, I could sense that this wasn’t a game but reality. In Soul World, these parts could be skipped.

Since skipping isn’t an option, unexpected things would pop up. Every time, it left me flustered.

“Alright. Everyone, stop now. Hands off your exam papers.”

“······?”

While I was still writing diligently, the professor announced the end of the exam. I looked down at my exam paper, bewildered.

Getting the grammar right was the least of my concerns—I hadn’t even finished writing everything. Some questions, I hadn’t even touched.

A few students, who had been making a last-minute spurt, reluctantly let go of their exam papers, looking disappointed.

I glanced around cautiously and quietly put down my pen. I didn’t want to get caught doing anything suspicious.

“Did you finish everything?”

“No. I think I bombed this exam.”

“Why do they make it so hard?”

As soon as the exam ended, groans erupted around me. Honestly, the exam itself wasn’t that difficult.

The questions were all things you’d know if you attended class regularly. I failed because I couldn’t write.

“I wish they’d just get this over with quickly. It only counts for about 10%, anyway.”

Kara stretched and grumbled. Like me, she prefers using her body over her brain.

Rather than taking these trivial written exams, she’d probably prefer doing practical training twice. I’m similar to her in that regard.

“Still, it feels good to get a high score, doesn’t it? Did you finish everything, Kara?”

“I scribbled something and then just laid my head down. What about you?”

“I finished everything. It wasn’t hard if you paid attention in class. What about you, Sivar?”

Luna asked me. Naturally, Kara’s gaze also shifted toward me.

I hesitated about whether to say it but decided to be honest. It wasn’t that important, anyway.

“I couldn’t finish.”

“Why not?”

“I can’t write.”

“··· ···”

At my answer, Luna and Kara’s expressions turned peculiar. They looked as if they couldn’t believe what they’d just heard.

Once again, speaking and writing are two entirely different matters. There are plenty of people who can speak well but can’t write.

“Hmm······ I guess that makes sense. It took me a few months to learn the common language, too. Right, Luna?”

“I mastered it in about two weeks, though······”

“······You’re really insufferable sometimes, you know that?”

Though Luna occasionally has a ditzy side, her talent is undeniably exceptional.

From instantly applying what she saw in condensation and engraving to her linguistic talent.

In Soul World, you could choose various professions, so that’s probably why.

You could choose from mages to Eastern professions like the hermit, which shows her linguistic talent is remarkable.

“Anyway, don’t be too disheartened. The most important thing is the practical training. Just do well in that.”

“That practical training feels like discrimination, no matter how you look at it. Sivar is strong, but not giving him attack rights seems too much.”

Kara seemed to think that me not having attack rights was discriminatory. As a Tatar, she must have experienced all kinds of discrimination herself, so she’d feel it more deeply.

Even if it’s for balance, it’s at an extreme level. It’s like cutting off a limb to forcibly reduce the weight class difference.

Still, they must have judged that there’s no other way to maintain balance.

Especially since this exam was a Battle Royale, they would have made such a decision.

“Maybe they’re trying to make everyone give up altogether. Forget balance; just letting things be might be the best option. Don’t you think so, Sivar?”

“··· ···”

“Silence means consent, so I’ll take that as a yes.”

I was just lost in distracted thoughts and didn’t answer. Still, I agreed, so it didn’t matter.

Anyway, the written exam was over, and we moved to the next test. The next one was first aid, which I learned from Yi Yeonhwa.

“Mr. Sivar, I’ll give you full marks, so you can leave early.”

“Oh.”

This kind of discrimination is welcome.

******

Time passed, and the practical training, which could be considered the real midterm exam, arrived.

The location for the test was a place designed similarly to the special sparring arena. True to the academy’s reputation, it boasted a vast area.

What lay before us now was a flat, barren ground, but as soon as the test began, the environment would change. I’d seen this in Soul World as well.

“Everyone’s gathered. We’ll start the test shortly. The rules are the same as what was explained before.”

Before the test began, Marlboro reiterated the various rules.

As in the survival training, we wore specially designed bracelets, and if we were knocked out, a protective barrier would automatically activate.

However, unlike the survival training, this time, the presence of companions made a difference. If a companion was nearby, they could deactivate the protective barrier.

In that case, you wouldn’t be eliminated and could rejoin the test. But if you were knocked out too often, you’d be automatically eliminated.

At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary Battle Royale. However, Marlboro’s next words threw the students into confusion.

“Additionally, team members can agree to start from any location they want. Make sure to come to an agreement before the test begins.”

“What does that mean? We can start from wherever we want?”

“Does that mean we can go straight to the center from the beginning?”

The students murmured, confused by the somewhat chaotic rule of starting from a desired location.

In other words, it meant you could start right at the exact center where the artifact was located. A rule bound to stir up controversy.

But the professors aren’t fools. Marlboro continued as if he had anticipated this reaction.

“The exact center isn’t the center of the exam hall but the center of the mana field. And the mana field shrinks in a way that’s almost random. The exact center is based on the final mana field.”

With the exact center being based on the mana field rather than the exam hall, the murmurs quickly subsided.

This rule was designed to prevent strategies where students would rush to the exact center at the start to grab the artifact.

‘Even if I’m lucky enough to find an artifact, it won’t mean much.’

As I’d felt during the survival training, there were plenty of situations designed to mess with you. It was a bit annoying because of that.

Moreover, the mana field in the Battle Royale was assigned randomly every time, so even I had to search for it each time.

You could ask why they took away my attack rights in the first place. It’s basically saying, “Don’t act like a warlord.”

“Now, make sure to come to an agreement with your team members. Don’t worry too much; you won’t be assigned outside the mana field.”

As soon as I heard that, I headed straight toward Grace and Lee Yeonju.

Grace was contemplating while looking at a piece of paper the professor had given her, and Lee Yeonju was standing next to her, also looking at it.

You might wonder what kind of paper it was, but it wasn’t a map—just a circular diagram. As mentioned before, you had to obtain the map after entering.

“Wouldn’t it be better to just start at the exact center from the beginning?”

That was Lee Yeonju’s opinion. Her suggestion wasn’t bad at all.

Grace nodded, seeming to think it was a fairly decent idea.

“That’s a good idea, but the key is where the mana field will shrink. We can only leave that to luck······ Hmm······”

There are various tactical strategies in a Battle Royale. The most important thing is survival.

You have to survive to decide whether to fight or not. Considering that, avoiding enemies is crucial.

Alternatively, you could adopt a strategy of targeting enemies from the start. You could snatch up the looted items they’d gathered.

“We should avoid fighting as much as possible. Without attack rights, Mr. Sivar is at a disadvantage.”

Grace clicked her tongue in frustration. One of the many strategies was practically meaningless in this situation.

I hadn’t realized it before, but it was definitely discrimination. It might be fair, but it wasn’t equitable.

“Um······ Mr. Sivar?”

“Yeah?”

“You don’t mind not fighting the enemies, do you?”

“Yeah.”

It doesn’t matter. I don’t have Attack Rights anyway, so what’s the point of fighting?

Grace smiled in satisfaction at my response and then turned her head toward Lee Yeonju.

Although she didn’t say anything, Lee Yeonju seemed to understand her intent and nodded.

“Alright. We’ll only know for sure once we enter the Exam Hall, but we’ve decided on what we should aim for.”

“What is it?”

The strategy Grace established was extremely simple.

“Endurance.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s Endurance. While others are busy fighting and clashing, we’ll move along with the Mana Field.”

It was a Camping Strategy.

“We just keep enduring, and when the final Mana Field appears, Mr. Sivar can quickly grab the Artifact—doesn’t that sound doable?”

I don’t know. I’m not sure it’ll be that easy.