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Chapter 45
The final exams were to be taken with the same team members as the midterms, but this time, two teams had to pair up to form a group of six.
In truth, since Lionel’s team had placed first in the midterms, they had plenty of options. There was absolutely no reason for Lionel’s team to pair up with Jaelin’s. Yet, the events that led to the two teams becoming one went like this.
Unlike the random assignment of teammates for the earlier test, the upcoming finals placed the responsibility of choosing a partner team entirely on the team leader.
Forming an alliance with a team that could benefit one’s own was considered part of a leader’s ability—or so they claimed.
Professor Wallace spouted this nonsense, which made no sense to the students, and declared that this time, he would grant them the freedom of choice.
The problem was, no one wanted to team up with Jaelin’s group.
Adrian tried approaching other team leaders to sound them out, but each of them shook their heads, as if on cue.
The reasons varied, but the first was the rumor circulating in the community.
Right now, there was heated debate online that Jaelin had cheated during the midterm mock exam.
The rumor showed no sign of dying down, and instead snowballed further.
“Come on, so what’s the real reason? Are you all just trying to team up with Lionel?”
“That’s part of it, but don’t you know what’s being said in the community right now?”
“Why the hell would I waste time keeping track of baseless gossip online?”
Adrian folded his arms, leaning sideways with a hostile tone.
“They’re saying Jaelin, the one in your team, cheated on the midterms.”
“What kind of bullshit is that?”
“The community’s in an uproar over it. I hear the disciplinary committee might even convene soon.”
Adrian insisted the rumor was nonsense, but it didn’t matter.
No student wanted to risk teaming up with someone accused of cheating.
If Jaelin’s supposed cheating was later exposed, their entire group might be punished by association.
The second reason was instability. Adrian’s team had taken risks during the midterm. The outcome wasn’t terrible, but the process had been extremely dangerous.
Because of Kellastein and Kerakum, Adrian and Nathan had nearly died before barely making it back. It was always either total failure or a shaky success. And the risks they had to take for a mere “passable success” were far too great.
The third reason was Adrian’s foul personality.
“Hey! Let’s pair up with our teams.”
“Sorry, I don’t think we can.”
“What’s your problem now? What’s the issue?”
“…Sorry.”
That “sorry” wasn’t an answer. It was a flat-out refusal without reason.
“Then who do you even want to team up with? Lionel too? Hah! Everyone I’ve asked so far said they want Lionel. There’s already a line stretching outside the academy gate just to team with him. They’ll wait forever and end up with no one. Eventually they’ll have to settle for whoever’s left. So wouldn’t it make more sense to join us now?”
“…I think I’d rather take whoever’s left.”
The student muttered under his breath.
“What did you just say?”
When Adrian scowled fiercely and pressed in, the student quickly waved his hands and retracted the words.
“N-no, nothing. Anyway, it’s not for the reasons you said.”
“Then what is it? Just give me a reason!”
“…”
The so-called team leader just stood there, fumbling without an answer. Adrian’s forehead creased in growing frustration.
“Damn it, stop driving me crazy! Just give me a reason!”
Finally, the student let out a heavy sigh and blurted out the truth in one breath.
“I don’t like you. That’s it. As long as it’s not your team, I don’t care who else it is.”
“…”
It was an answer Adrian hadn’t even considered. He had thought he could argue against any excuse. But faced with that blunt truth, he could only stand there, dumbfounded.
“Well, I’m leaving now.”
The student hurried away, ending the conversation.
And so, for various reasons, Adrian failed to secure a partner team.
With nothing to show for his efforts, he trudged back to where his teammates were waiting.
Before Adrian even sat down, Nathan asked quickly:
“Who are we teaming with for the finals? Did you find a team that wants us?”
“No idea. No one wants to team with us. Damn cowards, all of them.”
“Really? What about Lionel?”
Adrian’s face hardened instantly.
“Are you insane? Teaming up with that bastard?”
“Then… what about Sasha? Sasha’s team has Stephan, and you’re close with him. And Nathan’s pretty friendly with Sasha. It could work, right?”
At Jaelin’s suggestion, Adrian shook his head.
“Sasha? No way. She’s dead set on winning first place. She’ll definitely team up with Lionel. They took first and second in the last exam. If they join forces again, first place is guaranteed.”
“I doubt it. Sasha doesn’t want to share first place with Lionel. She wants to beat him and take it herself.”
“Pfft. What a weird personality.”
“Still, you should ask. Sasha wouldn’t be the worst option for us right now. It might not be ideal for her, but for us, it could work.”
“Fine, I’ll ask.”
Adrian was about to go find Sasha when he stopped. Tapping his finger on the table, he fell into thought before speaking again.
“Do we really have to team with Sasha?”
“Why?”
At Jaelin’s question, Adrian replied:
“Did you forget the day we visited the Imperial City?”
“…Ah.”
Jaelin realized what Adrian was recalling.
The endless schedule that spilled from Sasha’s notebook. If they teamed up with her, the rest of their semester would be pure hell.
Stephan’s hollow-eyed past would soon become Jaelin’s future.
“So that just leaves Lionel? The only teams you haven’t asked yet are Sasha’s and Lionel’s.”
Nathan spoke casually, but his eyes gleamed mischievously. It was clear he was teasing Adrian.
“I’ll just ask Sasha.”
Adrian snapped back firmly and stood without hesitation.
He left to find Sasha, and much later returned to their table.
Judging by Adrian’s flushed, stormy face, Sasha’s answer hadn’t been favorable.
He slumped into his seat and let out a loud yell.
“Argh!”
“What? What happened?”
“She’s already teamed up with the group that placed third in the midterms!”
“Oh, that’s just like Sasha. So the only one left now is Lionel’s team?”
“Over my dead body!”
Adrian shuddered violently at the thought.
“Why do you hate Lionel so much?”
There were more than enough reasons, but Adrian saw no point in explaining.
Lionel carefully managed his image within the academy. No one had a bad word to say about him.
Meanwhile, Adrian’s reputation was dirt. Even if he explained, no one would believe him.
Besides, Nathan was practically one of Lionel’s closest companions. So Adrian decided to give the simplest answer:
“Do I need a reason to hate someone?”
“Of course you do.”
“Then do you have a reason for liking to hang out with people?”
“No. I just like it. Why?”
“Same thing.”
“Ohhh.”
Nathan nodded with a bright laugh, finally understanding.
“So, what now?”
“Damn it, I don’t know. We’ll just go with whatever team’s left. If no one wants us, too bad. If we’re the only ones left, they’ll have to take us. The number of teams is even, so someone’s bound to be left unmatched if we don’t decide.”
In the end, Adrian gave up on trying to secure a team for the finals.
Usually, the ones left at the very end were the weakest groups, but there was no choice.
The day came when they had to report their chosen partner team to Professor Wallace.
Each team leader stepped forward to announce their decision. Adrian sat anxiously, waiting to see who they would end up with.
“Hmm… It seems there are still some teams who haven’t submitted. If you haven’t chosen your partner, please come forward.”
The moment Professor Wallace spoke, Adrian shot to his feet. And at the same time—so did Lionel.
“What the hell? Why the fuck is he standing up?”
Adrian’s face twisted in utter horror.
Professor Wallace simply paired Adrian’s and Lionel’s teams together, made a note on his papers, and dismissed them.
