In the classroom where dozens of students were seated, a serene silence had descended. The only sounds were the rustling of pages being turned and the scratching of pens.
Amidst this peaceful white noise, the students were taking their exam with unusually serious expressions.
How long had it been?
Ding, ding, ding, ding...!
An alarm echoed throughout the academy.
"Time's up. Everyone, put down your pens and raise your hands above your heads. Students in the back, collect the exam papers and submit them to the front."
Following the instructions of the supervising professor, the students put down their pens, and the students at the back of each row collected the exam papers.
Even then, the faint silence was not broken.
The students, still immersed in concentration, wore thoughtful expressions.
"Professor, we've finished collecting."
"Good."
The supervising professor nodded at the teaching assistant's words and left the classroom.
"Everyone, you've worked hard for a week. Please remain quiet until your professor arrives."
Click, thud.
The silence was broken immediately after.
"Yay—!"
Cheers erupted simultaneously from all over the academy.
"It's over! It's really over...!"
Perhaps the five-day exam had been grueling.
The students began to release their sense of liberation in their own ways.
Click, thud!
"It's over! It's over!"
"Phew."
Some students burst out of the classroom, running down the hallway, while others sat in their seats, letting out long sighs of relief.
Though their appearances were different, the emotion on their faces was the same.
Relief.
After all, why wouldn't they feel that way?
For five whole days.
Two days of practical exams and three days of written exams.
And that's not all.
The exam lasted a week, but they had spent nearly a month preparing for it.
Even those who hadn't studied diligently would have found it suffocating.
As the students enjoyed their sense of liberation,
"Hey, what theory did you use for question three?"
"I used the Lamiter Magic Theory. What about question five?"
"With a pen."
"Stop messing around."
The diligent students gathered in small groups to compare their answers.
Though they had already submitted their answer sheets, they gauged their scores using the exam papers they still had.
It was a moment of mixed emotions.
"Ah! Damn it! I misread the conditions! Why didn't I see this?!"
Some students sighed at the parts they had missed.
"Right? That application of the theory was correct, right? Wow, I was really struggling with that...!"
Some students gained confidence in questions they were unsure about and expressed their joy.
However, not all problems were neatly resolved.
"I have no idea about the last question..."
"I solved it using the Puluksen Theory, but it felt a bit forced..."
Usually, when you read a problem, you can estimate how to solve it.
But the last question was completely incomprehensible.
"As expected, Professor Falun's questions are difficult... Is this content not even in the textbook?"
"I don't know. It might be in the textbook, but it's so heavily modified that we couldn't recognize it."
As the M2 class students discussed the difficulty of the questions, they eventually went to one person with their exam papers.
"Evelyn, did you solve the last question?"
It was Evelyn.
Evelyn greeted the students with a kind smile.
"Yes, I did solve it. Why do you ask?"
"Ah! As expected, it's Evelyn. We were discussing it, and we couldn't figure out the solution at all."
"So, is it content from the textbook?"
The students brightened at Evelyn's response.
Evelyn met each of their eyes and answered their question.
It was a beautiful scene, one that could make even passing professors stop and nod approvingly.
How could one not be pleased by the sight of someone unashamed of their ignorance and another who doesn't boast about their excellence?
However,
"Ah! I see. Thank you, Evelyn."
"By the way, can I ask you about the next exam too?"
"Yes, feel free to ask me anytime."
After the students who had resolved their curiosity left,
Evelyn subtly raised her eyebrows.
'Really...'
It was impossible not to feel annoyed.
Just because she had answered a few questions, they came to her acting like they were close friends.
It was always so bothersome.
And as for whether their backgrounds were worth cultivating, that was another matter.
Most of them were from mediocre merchant families or the children of noble families on the verge of decline.
To Evelyn, they were utterly useless.
The only reason she even bothered to answer them was because they were students at Jenion Academy.
Who knew where and in what position they might meet in the future?
"Hmm."
Evelyn sighed lightly, dispelling her annoyance, and tidied her neatly tied hair.
It was then that she overheard a conversation between two male students.
"Hey, what's up? You said you were slacking off. Did you secretly study?"
"Ah, you can learn all of this just by paying attention in class... Hmm?"
The boy, who had been leaning back in his chair with a smug look,
"...Anyway, you should focus properly in class like me."
"You annoying brat."
"Is Deminen smart, or did he secretly study?"
At first glance, it seemed like an unpleasant scene, but Evelyn secretly smiled.
'The first deal was a success.'
Deminen von Harimir.
The eldest son of the Harimir Viscount, who owned vast farmlands, was one of the customers who had bought the exam paper from Evelyn this time.
In this deal, the Harimir Viscount had promised Evelyn the priority right to trade in the Harimir farmlands.
Currently, various small merchant families were competing for the bid on the grain, but Goldrin would now have the priority.
'The first button is well fastened.'
There were currently four such deals.
Two from the M1 class, one from the M2 class, and one from the M3 class.
She had also agreed to receive similar compensation from the remaining three.
What else could this be but a successful deal?
However, this was just the beginning.
'If I can establish connections with the entire academy year...'
Would the mere trade of the Harimir farmlands be significant?
Every year, such connections would sprout up like mushrooms.
As she secretly toasted to her success and dreamed of a bright future,
Click, thud!
The front door opened, and an uninvited guest entered the classroom.
"..."
The sound of the door opening was so loud that all the students' attention was drawn to the front door, where they saw Assistant Professor Yorbi.
The assistant professor of the M3 class, who was rumored to be unlucky among the students.
Evelyn also looked at the front door without thinking.
Soon, her eyes wavered slightly.
"..."
Behind Assistant Professor Yorbi.
A group of students stood with uneasy expressions, and their faces were all familiar.
Leading them was Debay from the M1 class.
Behind him were two more students, all of whom...
'...Customers?'
It was a rather coincidental coincidence.
Right after the exam ended, and only these three people were called by Yorbi?
No, it wasn't just three people.
"Deminen, come with me."
"Me?"
"Yes, Deminen."
Deminen frowned.
Since the customers didn't share information with each other, they didn't recognize each other.
However, he recognized Debay's face, which was why his expression stiffened.
"Um, why...?"
"Hmm."
Yorbi, who seemed displeased with Deminen's question, twitched one eyebrow.
Soon, a heavy and oppressive aura descended on the surroundings.
"!"
Though it wasn't threatening in an academy setting, the aura was enough to make the students tense.
The lively classroom froze instantly.
"Deminen, do you know where you are?"
"Academy... Academy."
"If you know, follow the assistant professor's call silently."
Deminen walked out with a pale face.
The oppressive aura disappeared immediately after.
Evelyn stared blankly at the scene, and then her eyes met Yorbi's.
'...'
She was startled but managed to maintain a poker face.
Her mouth went dry under the intense gaze of Yorbi, who was looking directly at her.
A voice whispered in her ear.
[Evelyn, thank you for the letter. You showed great courage. I know it must have been hard on you, but I'm proud of you.]
What letter? What courage?
What's so praiseworthy?
The cracks in her poker face began to show.
However, Yorbi's words didn't stop.
[Everything will be fine, so don't worry too much. Thanks to you, I've also managed to boost my performance... Ahem. Anyway, everything will be over by tomorrow, so rest well.]
What's over?
She had so many questions, but Yorbi closed the door and headed straight for the M3 class.
"What is this...?"
Evelyn stared blankly at the scene.
Her merchant's cold rationality kept her grounded, but her mind was already in chaos.
However, the next day brought even greater confusion.
...Early morning.
For the first time since the opening ceremony, the academy students gathered in one place.
- "Ah, ah. This is an announcement for the first-year basic class students. Please gather in the auditorium for your first class."
The sudden assembly made the academy students tilt their heads in confusion.
"What is it?"
"Suddenly, what kind of assembly? Did you hear anything?"
Was some incident happening?
Amid the murmurs of the academy students, someone spoke up with a tantalizing piece of information.
"I heard this... from someone..."
"Who?"
"Well, you know, there's a kid who sets up fights between students. He heard it from them."
"Ah, I see."
The friend next to him listened with curiosity, and others perked up their ears to hear.
"There was cheating."
"Cheating?! How?"
"I don't know. He overheard the staff talking."
It was a short piece of information that didn't need much attention.
However, the impact of those words was quite significant.
Cheating?!
Had there ever been cheating in the hundreds of years of the academy's history?
Of course, there had been.
Every year, talented individuals entered the academy, and some used their talents for ill.
Perhaps there were many cases that the academy didn't catch.
However, what was the outcome?
Expulsion was the minimum.
The academy would demand a substantial compensation from the family and refuse to accept their children for the next 50 years.
It was a huge blow to their honor!
"Is it really cheating?"
"Come to think of it, that Deminen kid. He didn't study at all, but he solved the problems well."
Even though the truth hadn't been revealed yet, the students seemed to have concluded that the called students were cheaters.
Whether it was true or not, it was a juicy story.
Amid the chaos in the auditorium, only one person,
Evelyn, looked up at the podium with a stern expression.
'...How?'
The plan was perfect.
There was no way it could have leaked.
Everyone involved was a co-conspirator and had a clear benefit, so there was no reason for a traitor.
'Who...?'
She wasn't worried about getting caught. For the first case, she had chosen children from families that Goldrin could control. The same went for Debay.
She was just curious.
Did the foolish Debay make a mistake?
It was possible.
If we consider the possibilities, it might be with Debay... No, surely not. He might be foolish, but he wasn't completely brainless.
'So, who...?'
"Ah, everyone, please be quiet. Quiet, please."
Evelyn's thoughts continued even after Professor Drauk ascended the podium.
"It seems the rumor has spread a bit. For those who don't know, I'll explain. In this year's first-year basic class midterm evaluation, cheaters were discovered."
While expressing regret over the situation, Professor Drauk announced the list of cheaters and their punishments.
<Mastermind Debay and 4 others - Expelled>
<The academy will request separate compensation>
Additionally, they would apply imperial law to prevent similar incidents in the future.
As the story continued, Evelyn's head began to boil with anger.
'...Who dares?'
It was almost a done deal.
No, it was like a sprout that had just begun to grow.
She was just waiting for it to grow and be harvested...
Whoever it was, she wouldn't let it go.
"Also, the truth is... I'm ashamed to say, but a justice-minded student, not an academy staff member, uncovered this."
A startling statement.
"This gathering is also to commend and publicize the exemplary behavior and justice of that student."
Evelyn finally looked at Professor Drauk.
His gaze was so intense that it made anyone who saw it shiver!
'Who is it? Who? Speak up. I'll use every means at my disposal to... completely...'
bury them.
No matter what family they were from, no matter who they were.
Whether it took ten years or a few years, she would definitely take her revenge today.
As she stared with this resolve,
The name was called.
But the name...
"Evelyn de Flanchet, please come forward."
'...?'
"Everyone, please give this student a round of applause."
It was her.
"Evelyn?!"
"Wow!"
"Of course, Evelyn! Amazing!"
Cheers and praise poured in from all around. Soon, the auditorium was filled with applause.
While everyone called out to Evelyn,
Only Evelyn stared at the podium with a stern expression.
'...What is going on?'
She reported the cheating?
She would have to be insane to do such a thing.
"It wasn't me."
She waved her hands without thinking, but Professor Drauk smiled warmly and took it in.
"Modest, too."
"It's not modesty, I really... didn't..."
Now, Evelyn's face was as white as ash, and she shook her head.
She didn't want to go up. It wasn't something she had uncovered.
Who in their right mind would sabotage their own plan?
But the academy students around her wouldn't let her stay.
"Ah, Evelyn, don't be shy. It's something to be proud of!"
The students who had asked her about the exam papers pushed her onto the stage.
The students and professors watched the scene with satisfaction.
"Then, let's proceed with the commendation ceremony."
Professor Drauk looked at Evelyn with a warm expression and read the words on the certificate.
At that moment, a voice whispered in Evelyn's ear.
[Hmm. Evelyn. As I wrote in the letter, I've created the position. However, there's no need for compensation, so please be aware of that.]
Turning her head, she saw Yorbi winking at her.
'Compensation? What compensation? What letter?'
She was so angry she could tear someone apart, and he was talking about compensation?
Amid the cheers and applause of everyone, she was the only one who was silently going mad.
Evelyn de Flanchet.
Tears were welling up in her eyes...
One student watched her with particular satisfaction.
"Hmm."
Aster, with his arms crossed, nodded.
His expression was filled with the pride of a mother watching her child become independent.
Why wouldn't he feel that way?
'She must be moved.'
To see her shed tears over the event he had orchestrated.
'Now you understand, Evelyn? This is the world's warm concern.'
Don't go astray, and walk the right path with a pure heart.
"Evelyn, guidance, successful."
Another one dealt with... no, guided.
This was the righteous troubleshooter, the benevolent judge who rehabilitates the wicked.