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chapter 25
The mention of a surprise test caused groans to erupt from students scattered across the room.
“A surprise test?”
“What? Starting from the second period…?”
“We haven’t even properly learned the material yet.”
Professor Vernua, unfazed by the complaints, handed out the exam papers one by one.
Unlike the other students, I accepted the test paper from the student in front of me with a calm expression.
“How hard could it really be?”
In fact, even if it were difficult, it didn’t matter to me at all.
If the test counted toward grades, a harder one would actually work to my advantage.
“Because it increases differentiation.”
No matter how tough the test, I was confident I could solve everything. Naturally, I preferred problems that only I could get right over problems everyone could easily solve.
While I was running through these thoughts, Professor Vernua continued speaking firmly.
“The total time for the exam is four hours. Those who finish early may submit and leave.”
A few students brightened at this statement.
However, it was clear he had no intention of letting them enjoy that happiness.
“However, any student who leaves early but fails to achieve a perfect score will be given a zero for poor attitude!”
No matter how smart a student is, no one can be absolutely certain they won’t make a mistake. His statement was essentially a warning not to leave.
Sighs and murmurs erupted everywhere.
“Ugh, who suddenly springs something like this?”
“Hah, I was just happy to have a free period today…”
“The tournament is tomorrow! We need time to manage our condition!”
“Typical old-school professor. I wouldn’t have taken this class if advanced magic techniques weren’t mandatory.”
Hearing the students’ complaints, Vernua’s veins bulged on his forehead. He slammed his fist on the lectern.
“Quiet, everyone!”
The nervous shout brought the noise under control.
Vernua frowned as he looked at the now-quiet students.
“Any student who speaks from this point onward will be considered cheating and given a zero.”
Even though the Academy focused heavily on practical skills, written tests were not useless.
For students with moderate skill differences, ranks could shift drastically based on written exams.
Heads drooped across the classroom. Mine was no different.
On the first page of the exam paper was written:
[Advanced Magic Techniques – 1st Surprise Test]
[Name: ]
I flamboyantly wrote “Canis Escliff” in the name field and then focused on the questions.
[1. Solve the following limit problem and describe your process.]
[2. For a real number t > ln3, find the intersection points of the curve y = ln(x³ + x² + 1) and the line y = αx + 3…]
‘From limits to trigonometric functions, definite integrals, and the method of exhaustion… a mix of everything.’
Of course, I had mastered all of this knowledge.
[Archmage’s Brain (S)]
The Archmage’s Brain!
A skill that allows you to fully master any concept you see, and if you already know it, it further expands your thinking.
The most helpful aspect of this skill was computation.
Except for problems solvable instantly using a formula, the rest required tedious calculations as much as difficulty.
‘Honestly, I could just write the answers.’
It wasn’t without reason that I had mentally solved the test Vernua handed out.
I began writing the solution process on the exam paper without hesitation.
I paused when I was about to use the “trivial” notation for repeated steps.
‘That guy would probably nitpick this part.’
It was best to write everything in full, even if tedious.
In less than ten minutes, I had completed a perfect answer sheet with zero errors.
Drreeek.
As I stood up, every student’s gaze turned to me.
Professor Vernua glared at me as if he wanted to pierce me through.
“…Escliff, what did you hear me say just now?”
“I’ve completed everything.”
“You know that leaving early without a perfect score results in zero points, right?”
“Is that a problem?”
I tilted my head slightly and lifted the corner of my mouth.
“The problems weren’t even particularly difficult.”
“…Ha! Such arrogance in attitude.”
Vernua scoffed upon hearing my words.
“Then, goodbye.”
I gave him a small bow and turned away.
The self-shortened class had been highly satisfying.
Vernua twitched his lips as he watched the princess walk away.
‘As expected. She’s given up.’
The exam consisted of six problems and was quite difficult.
Even a student who perfectly understood the entirety of the second semester of fourth year would struggle without creative problem-solving skills.
The only approachable problem for most students was probably the first one. Yet, Canis Escliff would not have solved even that superficially.
‘It would take more than ten minutes to solve the first problem alone!’
Finally, he concluded that the wretched girl had surrendered. Pride whispered “easy” in his mind.
Four hours later, having collected the students’ answer sheets, he sat down in satisfaction.
The first sheet he opened was Canis’s.
“Hehe, let’s see how badly she did.”
However…
“This… this can’t be?!”
It took less than five minutes for his previously smiling expression to harden.
“This is impossible!”
Vernua frantically flipped Canis’s answer sheet back and forth like a madman.
Every answer was correct. Even the solution process was flawless—no errors whatsoever.
Moreover, observing her approach sent chills down his spine.
‘How did she even think of this?’
As the problem’s creator, he hadn’t anticipated such an approach.
It was even faster and more accurate than his own model solution.
“This… this is impossible. How could a lowly student without a shred of magic produce such an answer…?”
“Professor Vernua, are you feeling unwell?”
A fellow professor approached, concerned, seeing Vernua flapping the paper like a compulsive maniac.
Vernua, who valued social propriety, suppressed the rising disbelief and anger within.
“Nothing. It’s just… I graded the exam…”
The school’s bottom-ranked student, Canis Escliff, had submitted an answer sheet more perfect than he had prepared.
Vernua paused. His pride would not allow him to admit it.
Facing the brat he had disliked from the start, he could not endure feeling defeated.
So he changed direction.
“There’s a student suspected of cheating.”
Instead of acknowledging Canis, he clung to criticism.
“Cheating?”
His colleague’s eyes widened.
“Who on earth would commit such ignorance?”
Of course, Canis Escliff had not cheated—she couldn’t have.
He had created the test, and no proper answer sheet existed.
She couldn’t copy anyone else’s paper.
She was the first to finish the exam.
Unless she had mentally entered Vernua’s mind to steal the process—no, even then, such an answer sheet would be impossible.
Yet…
“…It’s the student I mentioned last time.”
Vernua narrowed his eyes, speaking in a feigned awkward tone.
“Canis Escliff?”
Hearing the name, the colleague chuckled dryly, a mix of contempt and disregard in his eyes.
“If it’s that student, that makes sense. She probably wanted to do well on the written exam, since she’s sure to place last in tomorrow’s tournament, right?”
“Ah… yes. The tournament is tomorrow.”
Vernua repeated the words as he realized.
His colleague nodded.
“Yes. Let’s just leave it be today, even if there’s suspicion.”
He wiped his fountain pen with a white handkerchief and grinned. Black ink streaked the cloth.
“In any case, that ridiculous rumor and futile struggles are just meaningless floundering in the face of pure magic.”
“Ah…”
Vernua bowed his head, but the corners of his mouth stretched upward.
“Of course.”
