I Thought Your Friend's Sibling Wasn't a Girl? - Chapter 33

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 33
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Contrary to Olivia’s worries, four days passed in the blink of an eye.
“Olivia, you’re discharged now?”
“Yeah. Thanks for worrying about me, Laura!”
“Don’t mention it. At least I won’t have to hear Bennett whining anymore. See you later!”
Her classmates waved cheerfully at Olivia as she returned to school after so long.
The academy still felt unsettled. The incident that occurred during the practical examination hadn’t yet been fully resolved.
Because of this, Olivia was dragged to the Dean’s office the moment she arrived at school—to promise that she wouldn’t speak of what she’d seen to anyone outside for the time being.
Seeing the Dean’s face turn ashen as he emphasized the importance of secrecy, it was clearly a gravely serious matter, and Olivia had no choice but to nod obediently.
The Dean repeatedly stressed that what appeared in the practical field wasn’t a Demon Beast. Of course, Olivia heard it in one ear and let it out the other.
‘Does he think I’m an idiot?’
Olivia casually erased the Dean’s voice from her mind and recalled a lesson she’d heard years ago.
“Since our war with the Demon Realm, we have striven ceaselessly to erase its traces. Following the will of the Academy’s founder, Veritas Page, we have continuously cultivated outstanding talents capable of standing against them.”
“So this academy was established as a place for combat against Demon Beasts?”
“Precisely. The Academy has trained combat personnel to produce talents capable of resisting the Demon Race. Thanks to that, one hundred years ago, we succeeded in exterminating the remaining Demon Race who served under the Demon King. The extermination of Demon Beasts was also concluded with the battles ten years prior.”
“Was it a complete success?”
“Yes. Perfectly so. That’s why we call that war the Demon Extermination War.”
But Demon Beasts had appeared in the world again.
For some reason, it felt dizzying. Just thinking of the existence she’d encountered that day was enough to send shivers down her spine, and if such creatures were to appear more widely in the world….
Olivia squeezed her eyes shut. That was the moment.
“Olivia! Is something still bothering you?”
“Ugh.”
“What’s wrong? Is something the matter?”
“Oh, no. Just startled me. I’m fine.”
Bennett had appeared suddenly, his eyes wide with concern as he studied Olivia’s face.
He looked quite well now. His recovery had simply been that good.
Over Bennett’s figure, the memory from the practical field flickered momentarily, but thankfully, he was alive. Olivia was deeply grateful for that fact.
Bennett laughed along without understanding why Olivia was smiling. Seeing that innocent laugh, it finally felt real that he had returned safely.
If even one of them had lost their life, they wouldn’t be able to stand here now, smiling and facing each other.
“Oh, speaking of the practical exam. They’ve decided how to grade it.”
“What? Really?”
“Yeah. Apparently they’re announcing the scores soon?”
It was the first time in the history of Veritas Academy that a final practical examination had been suspended midway.
Because of that, the academy had deliberated quite extensively on how to handle this situation, but it seemed they’d finally reached a conclusion.
“So when will they announce—”
“Olivia, Bennett! They’re announcing the practical exam scores! At the Central Plaza!”
“…Well. That’s perfect timing.”
It truly was perfect timing.
Olivia walked slowly. She hadn’t realized it during the practical exam, but the wounds had apparently been quite severe, as the doctor had said. Her condition hadn’t fully recovered, and her pace was slower than usual.
The two of them arrived at the plaza later than the others. It was already crowded with students.
“Move, move it! I want to see my rank— Ugh! I dropped compared to last time!”
“Sigh… I’m done for now.”
“What’s with those two? Why are only their scores this good? What is this!”
Professor Seton, standing at the highest point of the platform set up in the plaza, quieted the students.
“Everyone, quiet, quiet!”
“Professor! Is there a basis for how you graded us?”
“That’s what I’m about to explain— You there, settle down! Anyway, kids your age really don’t know how to sit still for a moment!”
He looked far older than the last time she’d seen him. Bennett leaned toward Olivia and whispered.
“The professor’s been through quite a bit recently.”
“Please be quiet, Bennett.”
Of course, it was the usual pointless commentary.
As they chattered, Seton deftly soothed the students. He spoke calmly.
“From this point on, I’m imposing penalty points on anyone who interrupts me. If grades don’t matter to you, feel free to keep talking.”
“…”
Olivia and Bennett took the opportunity while the students, cowed by authority, fell silent, and squeezed their way through the crowd.
“Now then, ahem. So… our academy deeply regrets the unfortunate incident that occurred during the practical examination.”
Seton’s speech shifted to formal language. He spoke while massaging his temples as if exhausted.
“The academy intends to issue an official apology regarding this matter, and compensation measures are also under discussion.”
They’d drawn quite close to the platform now. As a result, Seton’s voice came through a bit louder than before.
“Before that, I will announce the results of this practical examination. Considering the progress and accumulated scores up until the suspension—”
“Professor! What was the criterion for first place?”
“I’m explaining it right now! You just earned a penalty. Anyway… sigh. In any case, we determined this practical’s score based on accumulated points up until the problem arose. Anyone dissatisfied?”
A brave student raised their hand. Professor Seton nodded with a sigh.
“Professor, the scores seem a bit odd.”
“Odd? What do you mean?”
At that moment, Olivia and Bennett stopped right in front of the platform. Behind the platform, a score sheet with all the students’ grades was densely posted on the wall.
“Are you saying you’re dissatisfied that our Olivia placed first?”
“…Pardon?”
“You’re upset that Olivia’s first and Bennett’s second?”
“I… well, it’s just that the scores of not just the two of you, but Group B’s members seem—”
“Tsk tsk. How little interest you show in your classmates.”
Seton clicked his tongue and pointed to the posted scores.
[First Place. Olivia Kishear]
[Second Place. Bennett Sanchez]
Their scores were roughly twice as high as everyone else’s, with a special mark next to their names. Below them, the names of Group B’s members were also listed.
Seton turned with his arms crossed.
“The same criteria were applied. Yet the difference is so stark, which simply means those two fought that many more monsters.”
“But…”
“Enough. We plan to make the full tabulation public later, so if you don’t want to believe it, refer to that. And here’s the thing—those two actually received lower scores than they should have originally earned.”
What did he mean by that? Olivia and Bennett tilted their heads in exactly the same direction as if on cue.
“They’re the only group to have successfully completed the final mission. Had we not used the point at which the practical was suspended as the cutoff, their scores would have been several times higher.”
“…”
“The academy finds this outcome deeply regrettable as well.”
Seton’s gaze met that of Group B’s members standing below the platform.
He seemed to know everything that had happened in the field, regarding them with a peculiar intensity. Olivia couldn’t quite read what emotion lay behind those eyes.
Olivia’s group had been officially recorded as having suffered major casualties due to an anomaly in the Barrier. The communication failure with the interior was attributed to the same cause, and the teaching assistants had reportedly stepped away on the Dean’s orders at the time.
Misfortune piled upon misfortune, the Dean had repeatedly emphasized. But was it really only that?
Had the disappearance of the teaching assistants truly been due to a simple miscommunication of orders? Was it mere coincidence that monsters breached the Barrier?
And…
‘What was that red Magic Stone?’
Olivia recalled the Magic Stone that Sirius had stolen.
It was definitely red. And the Magic Stones embedded in the monsters had also been tinted red.
“Given the shortcomings evident in this practical examination, we plan to administer a second test—”
Seton’s announcement continued. Olivia turned her gaze away from him toward another direction.
In that instant, a familiar golden glimmer flickered across her vision.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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