Episode 105: Final Exams (1)
Monday morning.
I was walking down the hallway. I could feel someone’s gaze on me from behind. Pretending not to notice, I quickened my pace.
“Haein.”
A voice called from behind me. I had a good idea who it was, so I didn’t bother responding.
“Jung. Hae. In.”
The voice called again, enunciating each syllable. Without turning my head, I let out a quiet sigh.
Last night, a message had arrived.
[1000_y]: Hey~
[belief_]: Huh? What’s up?
A sudden message on a weekend evening. For a moment, my heart dropped. I thought something urgent had happened.
[1000_y]: What’s this? I’m curious~
[1000_y]: (Photo)
But that wasn’t the case.
The photo showed a party scene taken at the association.
In the distance, my figure stood awkwardly beside Kang Arin, dressed in a suit with an uncomfortable smile.
[1000_y]: (Photo)
This time, a close-up.
The screen was filled entirely with my blank, dazed face.
[1000_y]: Wear it in front of me too.
So I didn’t reply.
The notifications kept coming—dozens more times—but since it was late, I just went to sleep.
Acting as if nothing had happened, I quietly made my way to the back corner seat of the lecture hall.
Cheon Yeoul approached and tapped my shoulder with her fingertips.
Tap. Tap.
“Wear the suit in front of me too.”
“Why do you keep asking me to show you?”
“Wear it for me at the Sanctum.”
“Why are you like this?”
“I’ll wear something pretty too. I’m confident.”
Cheon Yeoul seemed determined to pester me all day.
Without another word, I flopped into my chair.
Cheon Yeoul sat right beside me, pressing close.
The hem of her clothes brushed lightly against my arm.
She was practically glued to me.
“Why are you sticking so close?”
“You don’t dislike it, do you?”
“…….”
I was at a loss for words.
This is too much. Way too much.
She neatly crossed her legs and leaned toward me, sitting quietly.
Her scent was stronger than usual.
“And that was borrowed. I don’t even own it.”
Of course, that was a lie.
The suit had been a gift from Kang Arin herself.
“…….”
Cheon Yeoul narrowed her eyes slightly at my words.
She didn’t seem to believe me, but she didn’t press further.
Only the corner of her lips curled up slightly.
Then, a voice came from the other corner of the lecture hall.
“…What are you talking about?”
It was Yoon Chae-ha.
She had already arrived and was sitting in the far corner of the room.
Sensing the mood, she cautiously asked.
“It’s nothing…”
“Wanna see this?”
I tried my best to avoid it, but Cheon Yeoul grinned and unfolded her watch screen.
Yoon Chae-ha peered at the display.
“…Wow…”
She gasped in admiration, embarrassingly so, considering the subject was right in front of her.
Of course, even I was surprised. I hadn’t expected dressing up to make such a difference.
“What do you think?”
Cheon Yeoul posed the question, glancing between her watch and me.
“Wear it.”
“Ah.”
The perfect team had been formed.
“I’ll wear it…”
There was no way I could handle both of them here. Seriously.
In the end, I reluctantly gave in.
Honestly, though, wearing it is such a hassle.
From the shirt to the dress shoes, a suit isn’t something you just throw on.
I sighed inwardly and stared at the blackboard at the front of the lecture hall.
Meanwhile, suspicious giggles rose from either side of me.
“Hehehe.”
“Ehehe.”
“…How did you two get so close?”
I thought they were polar opposites, but it turns out they get along like a house on fire.
I’m not sure if that’s a good thing…
Just then, a familiar low voice cut through the lecture hall.
“Good morning, everyone.”
The door swung open, and Instructor Do Han-seong walked in.
The lively atmosphere instantly quieted, as if pressed down by an unseen force.
“Did you all have a good rest over the weekend?”
It was a perfunctory greeting, but there was something subtly off about his tone.
While the students mumbled vague replies, he turned around.
Something felt unusual.
“I certainly hope you rested well.”
He knocked twice on the blackboard with both hands.
With a sharp clack, the blackboard split open horizontally, revealing a familiar space beyond.
It was the massive cavern we had entered during the entrance ceremony’s weapon selection—a dome-shaped indoor stadium.
The difference this time was the four large screens rising from the center, facing each direction.
Circular seating, enough to accommodate the entire first-year class, was arranged on either side.
One by one, the blackboards in other lecture halls also slid open, revealing the same scene.
Do Han-seong turned back to the students.
“Shall we proceed?”
The students silently rose from their seats.
“Whoa…”
Yoo Chae-ha, seeing it for the first time, let out a small gasp.
Compared to Gaon, Kalos Academy must have seemed smaller in scale.
We took our seats in the section designated for Class B.
The instructors from each class gradually gathered around the central stage.
’This is grandiose.’
It was a bit excessive, but that was just how Gaon operated.
I had no choice but to adapt.
“Students of Gaon, welcome.”
Without any prior announcement, the chairman stepped onto the stage.
His tone was calm as he continued.
“Today, we will be briefing you on the first semester’s final exams.”
A faint smile played on his lips, but no one let their guard down.
Gaon’s finals were infamous for their brutality.
“First, the written exam.”
As he raised his hand, the four screens in the center of the hall lit up simultaneously.
Tiny, densely packed text filled the displays.
“The written exam will follow the same format as before—focused on comprehension rather than rote memorization, with an emphasis on essay-style responses. You will be evaluated on how flexibly you can apply your knowledge in scenarios that simulate real-world situations.”
The chairman added,
“Of course, the difficulty will be significantly higher than last time.”
A ripple of murmurs spread through the students.
“Ah… damn it.”
“This is insane.”
He waited for the reaction to settle before continuing.
After briefly displaying a few sample questions, the screens turned off.
“That concludes the briefing on the written exam.”
He turned on the stage, making eye contact with the students.
“Theory and knowledge… are crucial. But you are heroes—or those who will become heroes.”
“There are things in this world that cannot be solved by theory alone.”
His voice grew quieter.
With a gesture, the screens lit up again.
“The practical exam for this semester’s finals.”
A single phrase appeared clearly on the surrounding screens:
[Practical Exam: Capture the Bubble]
Instantly, every gaze in the hall shot upward.
“This practical exam is the core of your finals.”
The chairman’s voice resonated low and steady.
“It will comprehensively assess your teamwork, combat ability, and situational judgment. These results, combined with your written and midterm exam scores, will determine your final ranking.”
The weight of the word ranking was immense.
Unlike the midterms, which hadn’t felt entirely real, this single evaluation would decide our standings for the entire semester.
Tension spread among the students.
“We will refer to this exam as Capture the Bubble.”
With another gesture, the screens changed.
A map of Gaon Academy’s entire grounds appeared, overlaid with two colors representing opposing teams.
“You will be divided into the Blue and White Teams, battling across the entirety of Gaon. Each round consists of offense and defense—the defending team protects the bubble, while the attacking team attempts to steal it.”
Only quiet breaths could be heard among the students.
Everyone was focused.
“Lose the bubble, and you’re eliminated. Steal it, and you earn points. The rules are simple.”
And they were.
But there was no way that was all.
“However… that’s not the end of it.”
With a light chuckle, the chairman gestured, and the screen changed again.
Red markers lit up across the vast battlefield of Gaon’s grounds, highlighting special zones scattered throughout.
“Each area has its own unique object. And at the center… lies the Great Bubble, guarded by a boss.”
The students’ expressions shifted subtly.
“The bosses could be Gaon’s combat instructors… or renowned heroes specially invited for this exam.”
He smiled faintly as he continued.
“However, there’s a condition for challenging them. You can only face a boss when you’re on the defending team. Succeed, and you’ll secure the Great Bubble along with a massive point bonus.”
He nodded slightly before adding,
“Ah, don’t worry too much. All bosses have restrictions—they can’t use their full strength against defenders.”
But then—
“However… what if the round switches from defense to offense mid-battle?”
The chairman’s smile turned a shade more serious.
“Against attackers, all restrictions on the bosses are lifted.”
A quiet gulp could be heard from somewhere in the hall.
“From that moment on, you’ll face the full, unrestrained might of active heroes and instructors.”
A brief silence swept through the auditorium.
The screen switched once more, displaying a concise breakdown of the rules and scoring system.
“Attack to steal the enemy’s bubble for points, defend while avoiding detection to challenge the boss. Battles will alternate between offense and defense, ending once all rounds are completed or a certain score is reached.”
He grinned slightly.
“And… there are plenty of hidden elements. You’ll have to discover for yourselves what secrets lie where.”
That was welcome news for me.
Hidden mechanics were something I happened to be well-versed in.
Whichever team I ended up on, meeting me would be their lucky day.
With a smile, he lowered his hand.
“Now! Let me introduce the bosses you’ll be facing.”
At that moment, the stage lights flickered on one by one.
The first to appear were Gaon’s instructors.
As their names were called and their faces flashed on screen, cheers erupted from all corners of the hall.
Then, the screen shifted to faces even more dazzling than theirs.
“……Whoa.”
“No way…”
“Isn’t that the leader of the Vanguard?”
The term renowned active heroes wasn’t an exaggeration.
Just the lineup alone sent waves of excitement through the students.
These were people usually only seen on TV or in news articles—now standing on this very stage.
Finally, the last light slowly illuminated the stage.
A sleek, elegant silhouette came into view.
“Huh?”
I couldn’t help but freeze.
It was Yu Serin.
“Yu Serin?”
“The actual Yu Serin?!”
She waved with her signature bright smile.
The students erupted in cheers, and she playfully winked in response.
“Why is she here…?”
Shouldn’t she have left the nest to spread her wings by now?
Shockingly, her first destination was Gaon. A completely unexpected move.
The moment I muttered under my breath, Yu Serin turned her head and looked straight in my direction.
As if she had heard me.
Her eyes locked precisely onto mine.
Then, she gave me a light thumbs-up.
A cute little hang loose gesture.
‘Ah.’
“She’s way cuter than I thought?”
“She made eye contact with me!”
“Who was that even for?”
Instantly, murmurs broke out around me.
I slowly lowered my head without a word.
Originally, Yu Serin had no business being here.
She was the hero of heroes, the core force of Lotus.
Even for Gaon, securing her participation should’ve been nearly impossible—and this time should’ve been no exception.
Yet, here she was, right in front of me.
Somehow…
A creeping feeling wrapped around me, like I’d poked something I shouldn’t have.
I wasn’t the only one who noticed exactly where Yu Serin’s thumbs-up was aimed.
Cheon Yeoul narrowed her eyes beside me and asked,
“You know her?”
“…A little. Well, more than a little.”
Not missing a beat, Yoo Chae-ha chimed in.
“Guess the party was pretty fun, huh?”
I didn’t answer.
But there was nothing I could do about the burning stares digging into both sides of my face.