I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 59

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

Chapter 59

‘Mathematics on the final day!’
It was the subject Uncle Callet had even hinted I should study diligently.
A subject that couldn’t be crammed for at the last minute, and Calips’s weakest area.

The final day of the monthly evaluation.
“Are you alright, Calips? Did you stay up all night?”
“He looks like he’s about to collapse.”
“If you just do well on mathematics, you won’t have a failing score. Get it together, Calips.”
I heard voices of concern for Calips coming from behind me.
Indeed, remembering how dark the shadows under Calips’s eyes had been when he entered the classroom earlier—reaching down to his cheekbones—it was understandable to worry.
Though my summary notes were supposedly perfect, I was genuinely moved by how hard Calips was working.
‘Please let him score at least 60 points. Porchi.’
I clasped my hands in prayer. Porchi from Leaf Village had done his job well back then, but could Calips perform just as well?
Then I was startled to see who entered the classroom. It wasn’t Madam Frea. Crimson hair. A tall figure with a stern expression and handsome features.
“Callet? Where’s Madam Frea?”
Mati asked. Uncle Callet placed the stack of document envelopes he’d brought onto the teacher’s desk and answered.
“I will be proctoring the mathematics exam.”
“Madam Frea has been proctoring all along.”
“It is the Patriarch’s orders.”
Grandfather’s orders? Was it really that difficult…?
I swallowed hard. Of course, I was worried about Calips, not myself.
Uncle Callet checked the time by looking at the desk clock, then took exam papers from each envelope in order of age and distributed them to their respective seats.
“You must absolutely not look at anyone else’s exam paper. Under any circumstances, I have been ordered to report without exception.”
At those words, the eyes that had been glancing toward other desks snapped back to their own exam papers.
Everyone knew that Uncle Callet, the Patriarch’s aide, would show no mercy.
“The exam will now begin.”
At Uncle Callet’s words, the sound of paper turning came sharply from behind me. I slowly turned over the front page with the subject and name written on it.
‘Which problems should I get wrong~’
My exam paper had three pages total. I scanned through the problems on pages one and two.

1. Write the numbers from 1 to 10.
2. There are 3 apples. If you bring 2 more apples, how many will there be?
3. Which number is larger? 6 or 4

The problems were so easy this time that I was on the verge of yawning.
I glanced at Callet and pretended to count on my fingers one by one.
‘Three apples… two apples… Could I get this wrong? Four. Let’s say Jeffrey ate one.’
A groan drifted from the back. Fortunately, it was Hati.
Was Calips solving his problems well?
I perked up my ears and focused on solving the test slowly. It was about time to tackle page three.
And—
‘Huh?’
The moment I checked the next page, I was so startled that my forehead tingled.

16. Solve the Edward Equation using linear algebraic methods.
(1) Express the equation in matrix form.
(2) Find the eigenvalues of the matrix used to solve this equation.
(3) Find the general solution using eigenvectors.
17. Using the Edward Equation, find the following.
(1) Find the solution x(y) that satisfies the given initial conditions x(0)=2 and y'(0)=-1.
(1-1) When y=0, find the value of x.
(1-2) ….

Problems that a seven-year-old could absolutely never solve.
I raised my hand, and Callet approached.
I pointed at the problem with my finger and looked up at Callet standing before my desk.
“This test is strange.”
Without further explanation, not just Callet but everyone would notice something was wrong. The problems were clearly incorrect.
But Callet said nothing after looking at my test.
I whispered quietly.
“I don’t think this is my test.”
My eyes sought agreement.
At my question, Callet pressed his lips together. Then he slowly opened his mouth.
“That’s correct.”
“Huh?”
“It is correct that you received it.”
What nonsense. Callet, who had uttered something ridiculous, moved to the lectern as if to dodge my next question.
“….”
I stared at Callet with a devastated expression, then looked at my test. Problems sixteen through twenty. Math problems applying the Edward Equation.
‘…If I add up the points, that’s 41 points…?’
Cold sweat trickled down my skin.
‘I’ve been exposed…?’

***

But without evidence, it’s merely suspicion!
I boldly submitted page three of the exam blank. Madam Frea said she would announce the final scores when we returned to the Education Hall after lunch.
The result was—
“Miss Berry, your mathematics score is 52 points.”
Below the passing threshold.
I sat in my seat and stared at the report card Madam Frea had given me with a hollow gaze.
In mathematics, Callet received 62 points. For reference, Ciel scored 100, Mati scored 84, and Hati scored 86.
“Young Master Callet performed excellently. An average score of 80 points, no less.”
Even from my seat, I could see Callet’s shoulders rise with pride as he stood before the lectern.
As Callet took his report card and headed back to his seat, he stopped beside me and flicked my forehead.
“Ow. What was that for?”
“Study harder. What’s this 52 points?”
“Wow.”
My jaw dropped as Callet proudly displayed his complete report card.
Who do you think helped you do so well on this month’s evaluation?!
“Next month—”
“That’s right, do well next month. Okay?”
Callet fluttered his report card in front of my eyes all the way back to his seat. It was ridiculous. Truly.
‘There’s no way I’m doing well next month.’
Don’t cry just because the tweezers teacher has disappeared.
In any case, I had achieved my goal of not scoring better than Callet, but since I hadn’t surpassed 60 points, it looked like I’d be scolded by Grandfather.
Honestly, there was something even more frightening than that.
‘Problems 16 through 20 definitely had Grandfather’s fingerprints all over them. The same goes for Uncle Callet coming in, and the unreasonable difficulty level too.’
For the direct line, the monthly evaluation was one of the important tests. It wasn’t directly reflected, but it was an opportunity to leave a positive impression on Grandfather, the family head.
He wouldn’t have jokingly created problems to mess with his youngest granddaughter on such an exam.
‘What was he trying to verify? Did he find out I solved that math problem last time? Ugh.’
Tap, tap.
Someone patted my despairing shoulders. When I looked up, it was Hati and Mati. Ciel was standing behind the Twins as well.
Ciel spoke to me with a worried expression.
“Berry, are you okay? If Grandfather scolds you, just admit you were wrong no matter what.”
“Here, take this.”
“Poor thing.”
The Twins’ sympathy followed. I wanted to cry when I saw the candy Mati handed me. It meant my situation was bad enough for even the Twins to pity me.
“Miss Berry.”
“Yes…”
Even Madam Frea was looking at me with sympathy.
No criticism came with my dispirited response. Madam Frea spoke.
“There is no assignment today. Go see the Count right away.”

***

At that same moment.
The sun blazed brilliantly. Theon stepped outside the Training Hall to hang his equipment in the sunlight. Jeffrey, who had been training alongside him, had returned to Stone House about an hour earlier at Anne’s insistence that he earn his keep.
Theon wiped the sweat from his brow with a towel and turned his gaze toward the direction of the Main Estate.
‘Did Berry receive her report card?’
She had been brimming with confidence even when I brought her to the Education Hall this morning, so she must have certainly scored above sixty points.
“….”
Then I fell into thought for a moment.

A few days ago. It was when we were returning from Leaf Village to the Trabel Estate.
Concerned about the Innkeeper Woman of the Moonflower Inn who would be worried about Jeffrey’s escape, Reytan’s group made a brief stop in Hisport Town.

“Theon, Theon.”

In the backyard of the Moonflower Inn, where the statue of the urinating cherub stood, Berry, who had been fiddling about, called out to me with a bright face.

“Want to go buy some snacks?”
“Snacks?”
“I still have ten thousand Cona left from my allowance!”

Berry unfolded a banknote with crisp creases and smiled broadly.

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