Interlude : Where are the periodic examinations?
“This time I’m definitely going to win!”
The one expressing such determination in the room opposite to where Raze and Folia live is Marie Winston from Class 2A.
Having been consistently in second place last year, she now boasts that she will take first place this time.
Watching her friend with such determination, Alisa Faber, while verbally cheering her on, secretly thought that this time Norman Roi Virein was likely to take first place again.
“Second place is impressive enough, isn’t it…?”
“At this point, I don’t care about rankings. I want to beat him!”
Alisa judged it dangerous to get any closer to Marie’s fierce competitiveness.
Although she worries about Marie, who stays up studying late every day and has dark circles under her eyes from fatigue, she doesn’t seem to want to stop.
(Although I wanted to study with her… )
Alisa wanted to study for the exam with Marie, but with her determination as it is, it was difficult to approach her this time. Feeling bad about interrupting, Alisa is now boldly asking Dreiss Kilmalion Mouvress, with whom she has had little interaction before, to teach her.
Compared to Marie and Norman, Dreiss is ranked lower, but he is good at studying. Always reading books at his own desk, he teaches carefully, and he turns out to be an interesting and good guy when you talk to him.
Alisa is thinking about inviting Dreiss to go out to eat at the shopping district as a thank-you if the results of tomorrow’s regular examination are good.
“What about the first years?”
Trying to change the subject, Alisa brings up the topic of the new students for the first time.
“I really hope Raze ranks high. I gave her past exam notes and talked about the spirit of overthrowing the aristocracy, so I’m sure she’ll be fine.”
( …Sorry. What? )
Alisa has absolutely no idea what “fine” means.
Before she knew it, it seemed like she had once again instilled some ridiculous idea in her underclassman, and Alisa’s cheeks twitched.
“When did you even… ?”
“I promised that if she got first place, I would treat her to something she likes. I need to get first place before she gets overtaken by an underclassman, too.”
If you thought she was unusually motivated, it seemed like there was a reason for that.
(I hope Raze doesn’t pick up the dislike for the aristocracy…)
Alisa became a little worried.
She sighs as she looks at Marie, who is biting her desk.
Although she was originally not physically strong, it’s not good to overwork herself and get sick.
Thinking it will probably be second place again, Alisa gets into bed.
“I’m going to bed first.”
“Yeah. I’ll go to bed in a little while too. Good night.”
“Good night. Marie, make sure you go to bed early too, okay?”
“I know.”
And so the day of the regular examination arrives.
“… You told me to go to bed early, didn’t you?”
“It’s okay. There’s nothing wrong.”
Alisa pouts at Marie, who clearly looks unwell.
After all, Marie seems to have been studying late again yesterday.
“That’s why you always lose to Norman.”
“It’s not like that! I studied twice as hard this time! There’s no way I’ll lose!”
Annoyed, Alisa turns her face away.
With that condition, even if you study twice as hard, you won’t be able to demonstrate your abilities.
Feeling increasingly dissatisfied, Alisa decides she doesn’t know anymore and heads to the classroom first.
Marie, who came later, still seemed unwell, but without going to the infirmary, she studies until the last minute facing her notes. She usually prepares well, so she’s usually relaxed during test breaks, but it seems that composure has disappeared somewhere.
And so the test begins, and the second half after lunch.
“Marie!!”
After one subject is over, Marie finally collapses from her chair.
During the collection of answer sheets, Alisa instinctively stands up.
However, Marie does not collapse to the floor, but is supported by Norman sitting next to her.
“Teacher. I’ll take her to the infirmary.”
“Understood. You two wait here. We’ll start the test again when Norman returns.”
Norman carries Marie in his arms and leaves the classroom.
“I told you…”
Alisa felt disgusted with herself for not being able to stop Marie until she collapsed.
A few minutes later, Norman returns and the test resumes.
When the day’s subjects are over, Alisa immediately decides to tidy up her belongings and go visit Marie.
///
///
“Wait.”
As she tries to leave the classroom, someone grabs her arm, and when Alisa turns around, it’s Dreiss.
“That, it’s not your fault.”
At first, she didn’t understand what he was saying, but she realized he was talking about Marie and lowered her gaze.
“Th-Thank you.”
“Also, it might be better not to go there now. You’d probably be in the way.””
Dreiss glanced at the empty seat.
It was Norman’s seat, and he must have gone to Marie’s side.
“Haha. You’re right. I’ll leave it to the future husband!”
As usual, Alisa breathed a sigh of relief at her overly caring best friend and chuckled.
Once again, Norman had clinched the top spot.
“Alisa. I’m sorry for worrying you.”
In the end, Marie decided to take the test at a later date as a reference.
Alisa, who had finished all her tests and came to visit Marie in the infirmary where she was hospitalized, saw her usually confident friend bowing her head.
It seems she’s deeply reflecting on her actions.
“If you understand, that’s good. Taking care of your health is important. I’ve told you many times, so there can’t be a next time, okay?”
“Yes…”
Alisa sighed at Marie’s dejected expression.
“Oh, right. The one Marie had high hopes for, Raze, seems to have done well.”
“Huh?”
“Yeah, it turns out the top student among the first years is Raze Granoli. You’ve been surpassed.”
“Really!?”
The scholarship student who scored full marks in all subjects is now famous throughout the academy.
“As a senior, I have to protect my cute junior, right?”
“Yeah. We can’t let promising comrades be eaten by bad bugs! Get well soon!”
Being the top student among commoners garners both positive and negative attention.
The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.
Although Marie had been bullied in the past, she’s now working hard at the aristocrats’ academy with Norman’s help. Alisa decides to recover quickly and take her cute junior out to dinner first.
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◆
Meanwhile, Raze…
Sat at the dining table, Raze felt uncomfortable under the curious gazes.
(This is a bit… uncomfortable…)
They were currently having a meal with the members of the study group under the guise of an appreciation party.
“Raze, isn’t getting full marks in all subjects cheating?”
Raze chuckled awkwardly, unable to say anything definitive.
(Even someone like Lady Carne…)
With a thirty-point difference, Carne ranked third.
As confirmed during the study group, she, raised to be an empress, is exceptionally talented.
While Raze should praise themselves for aiming for first place and getting full marks, it went too well.
The gazes directed their way weren’t all positive. Raze understood that much.
It’s understandable to be suspected of cheating when getting full marks in all subjects.
“Haha. It’s just that I got amazing notes from my senior.”
“Senior?”
Raze nodded.
“Actually, I got past exam notes from Marie, who maintained second place last year.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. But, Marie is the one who aims to defeat the nobles…”
When she hesitated, Carne understood what was going on.
She could have secretly shown her the notes, but she couldn’t show her the ones that had comments like “Points for defeating nobles!” written on them.
The culture of passing down past exams to noble students with high pride was not established, so Raze was lucky to have a cooperative commoner senior. Many of the past exams were almost the same format, so it was quite easy to get points. That was probably the reason for her victory.
“It’s just because of that that I could score well. It’s not good to score poorly…”
Raze’s tone faltered with the difficult topic.
Addis, who came second this time with a ten-point difference, shrugged.
“It’s like solving past exams for entrance exams. It’s part of your ability to do your best and get results. You don’t have to be so modest.”
“You’re serious, huh?”
Addis, who was in second place this time by ten points, shrugs his shoulders.
Addis and Carne, who scored high without using past exams, are really smart. If they also study the past exams next time, it seems like they will easily surpass Raze.
“I guess being a special scholarship student is no joke!”
Ian, who was in a good mood because he managed to get a good score in his weak subject, grinned.
“That’s right. Even so, getting a perfect score is amazing! I’ll do my best too!”
Carne is so motivated. Despite the luxurious members, Raze says to hide his embarrassment that the conversation is focused on her.
“I heard that Senior Marie tried to overtake Senior Norman and couldn’t finish the test this time, so be careful.”
“I-is that so?” Carne is slightly taken aback. It seems that she has noticed Marie’s radicalness.
Raze nods and takes a bite of his hamburger to end the conversation here.
As he munches, Folia glances around the table at the members.
“Ah, um…”
As I watch to see if she has something to say, she opens her mouth.
“It’s almost the long vacation, right?
“Yeah! I’m going home for the first time in a while~”
Ian nodded sentimentally.
“Um. If it’s okay with you… would you like to go to the Star Festival together?”
Despite her hesitation, Folia’s modest proposal was adorable. Raze felt touched by her earnest invitation.
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Thanks for the chapters. BTW, Alissa & Dreiss conversations:
“Quotes”
And also, I think I’ll probably be in the way if I go now.
I’ll leave it to my future husband for now
“Unquote”
Should be
And also, I think you’ll probably in the way if you go now.
I’ll leave it to her future husband for now
fixed, thanks