On My First Day Undercover, the Organization Collapsed - Chapter 289

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Organization Collapsed on My First Day of Infiltration Episode 289

Misunderstandings Pile Up Again Today

The time to recover from the practical training and exchange tournament was short.

Along with the exchange tournament prize money, scholarships were awarded to outstanding students and other joyful events continued for a while, but the semester went on.

The practical training and exchange tournament were over, and the Second Years now had to face a new challenge.

“Are we really taking final exams?”

“Wow… we’re dead…”

“Weren’t those supposed to start from Third Year? Teacher only gave us final evaluations.”

“That’s what I thought. But I heard that since he’s officially in charge of our grade this year, we’re taking them this time.”

“Where did you hear that?”

“I overheard the professors talking?”

It was indeed ‘final exams.’

The difference from final evaluations was that they would take exams for each subject.

The final evaluations conducted until last year were a comprehensive method of evaluating students all at once.

So they didn’t take long, and though it varied by person, the burden was somewhat lighter.

After all, you only had to be evaluated once and it was over.

However, taking exams for each subject was an entirely different story.

“Surely we won’t have theory exams too?”

“Teacher emphasizes real combat, so maybe it’ll focus on practical skills…?”

“I prefer moving and running without thinking…”

Meanwhile, Ziel entered the auditorium.

Today’s class was 【Unlimited Training】.

Eventually, Celia couldn’t hold back and raised her hand.

“Teacher, I have a question!”

“Speak, Student Celia Rihart.”

“Are we taking final exams!”

“Yes.”

“Ah…!”

“I was just about to explain that. Good timing.”

The Second Years were devastated.

Final exams!

Final exams that usually started from Third Year were beginning from Second Year!

“You will take final exams for each subject.”

“Ugh…”

“We’re dead…”

“Don’t worry. There are no midterm exams.”

“…”

Should they really feel relieved?

“But there are midterm evaluations.”

“Ah!”

The Second Years were devastated once again!

“The midterm evaluation assesses how diligently you’ve studied based on what you’ve learned so far.”

“Wh-when is that?”

“Today.”

“…?”

Most had expressions of complete surprise!

Ziel tilted his head.

“I wrote it all in the syllabus. It would be conducted the week after completing the major first semester events including practical training and the exchange tournament.”

Everyone frantically tried to recall the syllabus content, but nothing came to mind.

With the academic curriculum being reorganized, it became a mandatory class anyway and competition for course registration disappeared.

In such circumstances, not many people would read the syllabus.

‘Why does everyone look like they don’t know?’

‘I knew about it though…’

Of course, some students had read it.

Notably Yurio and Karen.

And Celia and Quantus.

They were all students who either liked Ziel too much or took the obvious for granted.

But they were a tiny minority.

The vast majority were students who came to class regardless of syllabi or anything else.

Why?

Because it would be difficult anyway even if they knew in advance.

They thought it would be more comfortable not to look and just go…

“We’re screwed today.”

“We didn’t prepare anything…”

“What do we do?”

This disaster had struck.

“So today is the midterm evaluation for 【Unlimited Training】 class.”

In the end, most students faced the midterm evaluation without any preparation.

Ziel looked at the flustered students and asked.

“I don’t understand why you’re all so panicked. Even if you didn’t know, it shouldn’t matter if you’ve been attending class diligently, right?”

At those very Ziel-like words, the students could only sigh.

It wasn’t wrong, so they couldn’t argue back…

‘But you’re the teacher, Teacher…’

They couldn’t bring themselves to say this.

On top of that, they were guilty of not reading the syllabus.

“How will this class’s midterm evaluation work, Teacher…?”

“That’s also written in the syllabus. You all really didn’t read it.”

“…”

The midterm evaluation method for 【Unlimited Training】 class was like this:

“Everyone will train without rest during today’s regular class time.”

It was truly a simple method.

He didn’t add anything special that hadn’t existed before just because it was an evaluation.

To evaluate what they’d learned, they had to show what they’d learned!

The few students who already knew quickly grabbed their practice swords, while the others were already getting nervous.

‘What kind of training? What are we doing?’

‘If it’s Teacher Ziel, there must be something more…’

But contrary to their thoughts, the class proceeded no differently from previous lessons!

The only difference was that no breaks were given for the sake of differentiation.

Ziel had to conduct evaluations so he was doing evaluations, but he wasn’t particularly worried about this midterm evaluation.

This was because the results of overcoming the mountain called practical training and the exchange tournament were showing.

“Just as Boss said, the kids’ physical strength has improved.”

Ziel’s prediction was accurate.

Through the practical training, the students’ physical strength had increased significantly.

Though it wasn’t a very long period, they had grown without realizing it while being trained in harsh environments!

“You must be pleased, Boss. None of the kids seem to be struggling.”

“Mm.”

As Gilbert said, the students were feeling it too.

“We should be taking a break around now, but why don’t I feel tired?”

“Is this a case of ‘if you try, you can do it’?”

“No… I think our overall physical strength has improved?”

Physical strength that had improved enough for him to feel it himself!

As proven in the exchange competition, he had now reached a level that was hardly inferior compared to the 5th Year Students.

While their swordsmanship skills were generally lacking on average, it didn’t seem like it would take long to surpass that as well.

So Ziel said something that would have horrified the students if they had heard it.

“Your physical strength has improved more than I expected.”

“Oh.”

“From the next class onwards, I’ll increase the intensity by about 30%.”

“….”

Whether it was the hell on Zephyros’s side or the hell on this side, things were getting increasingly difficult either way!

Incidentally, the hell that Gilbert and Kelvin were experiencing was also becoming more harsh as their skills improved.

‘I’m dead again tonight.’

Still, when it came down to it, both of them participated earnestly.

Both had clear goals after all.

Gilbert was planning to definitely get revenge on the ‘Red Shadow’ someday.

Kelvin’s goal was to become stronger than he was now, though it was still somewhat vague.

On top of that, both had the ultimate goal of reaching Master level.

As Boss said, it seemed people needed to have goals.

‘And Boss’s purpose is to seize control of the Empire.’

Who would have known he was hidden Imperial bloodline?

Gilbert vividly remembered Boss’s eyes that had been dyed golden.

‘Is it revenge against the Empire that abandoned him?’

On one side, they misunderstood that the Imperial Palace had intentionally sent him to infiltrate the Academy, while on this side, they misunderstood that he was determined to get revenge on the Imperial Palace that had abandoned him.

The misunderstandings were quite diverse.

In any case, there was one common point.

Ziel was currently being mistaken for Imperial bloodline.

“Boss. I will devote my loyalty.”

“See that you do.”

Gilbert pledged his loyalty again today without fail!

Meanwhile, the students’ midterm evaluations continued, and Ziel picked out a few notable students.

“Jenesis Dillon, Jon Riversong. Both have gained confidence.”

“They don’t seem particularly outstanding though?”

“Their improvement compared to the previous midterm evaluation is good.”

“Oh.”

What Ziel demanded from the students wasn’t absolute skill.

It was growth.

Because they were students.

It was such an obvious statement.

Anyway, they would have to prove their skills countless times once they joined a Knight Order.

Until then, proving growth was what mattered.

Ziel was faithfully following that obvious but often neglected fact.

Though Ziel and Gilbert didn’t know it well, with such educational philosophy, the Second Years appeared somewhat ‘peculiar’ to other grades.

Specifically, they all mixed well together regardless of factional divisions.

“Hey, hey! Yon fell down. Let’s help him up!”

“Why did you stumble? Are you okay?”

“I’m, I’m fine. Delev, but you’re bleeding.”

“Damn, Celia hit me earlier.”

“Aren’t you going to get revenge?”

“I should. Wait and see. But I haven’t gotten revenge on you either, have I?”

“….”

Delev was a prime example of this.

Especially Yon had nothing to say even if Delev treated him as an enemy.

By noble logic, the Riversong Family would have nothing to say even if they were completely destroyed.

But Delev had forgiven him, and they were getting along well, joking around like this.

In any grade, students usually gathered around those at the center, typically heirs of great families, and when there were two or more great families, factions would split, but the Second Years had none of that.

‘I heard Delev challenged Boss right after enrollment.’

In the end, it could be said to be thanks to Ziel.

Early last year.

There were no longer any arrogant students who would ask if they could just half-heartedly do liberal arts in front of a teacher who came to teach.

“Ann, do something about Quantus! There’s no difference between when he started and now, is there?”

“What do you want me to do?”

“He keeps acting like that and messing up everything around him!”

They were just students in the same situation as each other.

People only looked at swordsmanship skills and results, but there were countless hidden reasons like this.

So Ziel watched quietly and then corrected his statement.

“I’ll increase the class intensity by 40%, not 30%.”

“…Then the kids will die.”

“They won’t die.”

That’s right.

Zephyros hadn’t died yet either.

At that moment.

Zephyros was in the kitchen.

“You hold the knife like this, Zephyros.”

“Why am I here….”

“Wasn’t this arranged with Teacher Ziel?”

“I’m doing it, but….”

It was absurd.

He had gone into hiding to do research, but here he was holding a knife in the kitchen!

It wasn’t that Zephyros usually looked down on the kitchen, but in the Empire’s general perception, directly doing ‘cooking’ was somewhat distant from nobles and mages.

Of course, Zephyros had lived in hiding on Osu Island for 10 years and had cooked something for himself, but making food look good for someone else to eat was a completely different matter.

“Sigh.”

A sigh escaped him.

But what could he do?

To go into hiding, he had to do whatever was necessary.

“The basics of knife work start with how to hold the knife. When cutting hard vegetables like this….”

So Zephyros learned the basics one by one.

“That’s right, good. That’s how you cut. You’re holding it well.”

However, he was strangely becoming interested.

Thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk.

With each cut of the knife, it felt like some kind of frustration was being released!

Moreover, he unexpectedly had talent for knife work.

“You’re really good at this! It’s hard to find rhythm like this from the first day.”

“Re, really?”

“Yes! When I started from the bottom in the kitchen too, I hardly saw anyone who was this good from the beginning.”

“Oh….”

Praise makes even a 6th Circle mage dance!

If he had been praised for magic, he wouldn’t have felt this strangely happy.

‘As expected, praise is the best.’

Actually, Theo didn’t think he was particularly good.

Still, there was one reason he gave praise.

‘Just quit already, huh? Why are you coming out?’

‘What exactly can you even do? You waste ingredients, can’t use a knife, and yet you still want to cook?’

The harsh words from the seniors he heard when he first started cooking!

If he hadn’t been the Head Chef of Leganes at the time, the environment was so harsh he would have quit within days.

So he praised him.

That was all.

“Oh, oh. So this is how I should cut it?”

“Let’s just match the spacing a bit. Just little by little. If the spacing changes, the texture changes. It’s especially important when cutting carrots this thinly.”

“Ooh. It’s similar to how very subtle differences in reagents produce different results. I understand.”

“Is there something like that in magic too?”

“Of course! For example, when you add 12g of octalium versus 13g, the results don’t seem very different, but when you actually use the magical tool, the feeling is subtly different.”

“Aha.”

Zephyros was adapting quite well.

A person who had devoted his entire life to magic was experiencing a different world for the first time!

‘Cooking, maybe it could be interesting?’

“But I find it curious too. Zephyros, you’re a mage, so why did Teacher Ziel have you do something completely different?”

“Hmm.”

The Boss that Zephyros knew was an amazing person!

“There must be a reason for it.”

“I suppose so?”

“Perhaps his intention was to make me realize that cooking and magic have similar essences?”

Zephyros nodded, interpreting it favorably.

“He’s an incredible person. I can’t keep up with his thinking.”

Though that wasn’t his intention at all, once again today Ziel had created another misunderstanding thanks to his usual reputation.

Zephyros’s eyes changed after realizing that magic and cooking shared some fundamental similarity!

Thud!

And then an enormous amount of ingredients was set down.

“This is the amount we need to prepare today.”

“…Are we expecting a large group of guests?”

“No. About 5 people? Today is actually on the lighter side. Last time, with teachers and students, about 10 people came, and that day was truly the all-time record.”

“…”

Zephyros’s eyes began to grow dim and vacant again.

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