Chapter 21 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family
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I finished training with Leo and tidied up.
It was the weekend, so I had the whole day free and decided to squeeze in a quick session.
'It's... 6 o'clock now.'
Skipping dinner, I could just study until midnight. I grabbed the chain of my necklace and pulled out the pendant.
"Lucas."
Leo called out to me as I was about to leave the training grounds.
"You know tomorrow's midterms, right? Do well on the exam, and let's meet back here next week."
"What if I end up beating you? Why are you cheering me on?"
"Beat me then..."
Leo smirked.
There was a reason for his relaxed attitude.
He had never once fallen below second place in our class.
And... even if I aced every subject except one, I couldn't crack the top ranks. Leo knew that too.
In Practical Magic, I could only score the 30 points from basic attendance and my makeup assignment. At least I'd gotten sick leave approved—if not, I might've missed even those attendance points.
Not that I had any burning desire to aim for the top anyway.
All I needed was the bare minimum climb to flip my image.
'Anything more would be a waste.'
A complete waste of time.
I headed back to the dorm, shoved aside the pile of grass Pie had dumped on my desk at some point, and opened my textbook.
I'd already covered the essentials. Now it was time for a final read-through from start to finish to catch any spots I hadn't memorized perfectly—the details that could make or break it.
'Who would've thought I'd be stuck doing this grueling schoolwork at my age...'
Luckily, I only had three subjects left for today. I resisted the urge to face-plant into the book and scanned through the pages. Pie, pushed to the side, chewed on the grass with a squelch and asked,
"Lucas, if you don't wanna study, wanna go rock climbing?"
"No."
What kind of random suggestion was that...?
I ignored Pie and focused on studying.
After a while, I took Pie up to the rooftop for some fresh air.
'Everyone's just talking about midterms.'
All the students I passed on the way were chatting about the exams. With college admissions on the line, they had every reason to be on edge.
Of course, for the students here, class pride was at stake too. Being in the department dorm, I occasionally overheard talk about our grade's class standings.
"Lucas."
Narke lit up with a big smile and patted my back.
He must've come up to the roof first. His friends behind him looked awkward and slowly backed away.
"You come up here too! First time running into you here. How's the studying going?"
"So-so. You?"
"Pretty good. Haha, my friends have such high expectations. They'll be disappointed if I don't make special class."
"No way you won't."
If he was at that level, he wouldn't have transferred here. Only top students from each school got selected.
Narke laughed at my response and asked,
"What about you? It'd be great if you, me, and Leo all went to special class together."
"Who knows. You know my grades? I was 48th last exam."
"You shouldn't dwell on that one. Think you can make it?"
What a sharp guy.
I just smiled and shrugged instead of answering.
"Who knows."
And so, midterm day arrived.
The proctoring professor came in and handed out the exam papers.
"You have 60 minutes. Write your names on the exam and answer sheets, then wait one minute. The moment any magic is detected, the entire exam is voided for everyone."
The same old annoying instructions. Well, the last part was kinda new.
At the bell signaling the start, I lifted my hands from my lap and picked up my pen.
* * *
"Ugh, I'm gonna lose it. What if I bombed this one too?"
"Hey, rankings drop in 2 minutes!"
"Hurry up and check! Tell us in the lounge later."
It was Friday evening, the last exam day.
The dorm was buzzing with ranking announcements. I came down from the roof and went to my room.
'Midnight's almost here.'
Rankings posted on the day the exams ended.
Of course, these were pre-grade adjustments, but changes were rare.
I pulled out the grade report I'd gotten at enrollment.
At midnight, the school's linked magic would inscribe the results here.
I flipped slowly through the front pages and paused at the ranking section on the last one. Past rankings were listed.
[1st Year Fall Midterms] [50/50] [100/100]
[1st Year Fall Finals] [50/50] [99/99]
[1st Year Spring Midterms] [49/49] [100/100]
[1st Year Spring Finals] [48/49] [98/99]
'Pathetic.'
The front numbers were my rankings in Magic Department Class 1-B; the back ones were department-wide.
Except for the last exam, I'd been dead last every time.
The clock tower bells rang in the distance.
2nd Year Fall Midterms.
Fresh blue letters began appearing below the last ranking.
I swallowed and clenched my fist.
The blue ink seeped into the paper at a rapid pace.
[2nd Year Fall Midterms]
It paused at the end of the line, then spread to the next in a flash.
I squinted, staring at the paper.
Tap—
The movement stopped, and the ink dried completely.
[2nd Year Fall Midterms] [6/50] [10/100]
'...Phew.'
Done.
6th in Class 1-B, 10th in the Magic Department.
Perfect. Exactly what I wanted—no more, no less.
I flipped forward to check subject scores.
'As expected.'
Practical Magic: 30 points solo.
Seven out of ten subjects: 100.
The other two: 97 and 95.
'Average 92.2.'
6th in class, 10th overall... that meant only four people in Class 1-A ahead of me.
'Class 1-A got pushed back this time.'
Didn't know about class averages though.
No thrill either way.
That's for the students to care about. I had zero feelings toward Class 1-A.
'Anyway...'
My first exam here was over.
I flopped onto the bed, feeling relieved yet somehow bittersweet.
From now on, a lot would change.
Little things, all the way to my safety.
This news would surely reach my brother's ears, and he'd act on it.
Unlike the comfortable complacency so far—minus the annoying reactions around me—the future was unpredictable.
Then, light flashed from the grass clump on my desk. Pie popped into existence and hopped over to the bed.
"Lucas!"
"It's only been a week. Narke asking for my ranking?"
"Yeah!"
"Tell him no."
I laughed and sent Pie back to Narke.
Less than a minute later, Pie returned.
"Why?!"
"'Cause I bombed."
"He said that'd be a lie~!"
"Sharp insight."
I replied curtly and sent Pie back to Narke's room.
* * *
"What's our class average?!"
"So far 32 people: 57.1."
"Guys, hurry up and write it down! We can't even do this? It's not hard. Don't say names—just jot scores on the paper!"
There are always guys like this.
The Monday after exams, I walked into class and couldn't help a dry chuckle at the booming urging.
They wouldn't ask me anyway. Probably assumed some score for me already.
Out of curiosity, I called out to the guy.
"Hand me the paper."
"..."
I hadn't even spoken harshly—just casually—and the classroom went dead silent.
The kid who'd been yelling turned awkwardly to his friends, bit his upper lip, and handed me the paper.
No need to look long. Clear 0s at the top two lines—who they belonged to was obvious.
One was the chronic absentee who'd barely shown up since first year end. The other...
'Me, obviously.'
Just amusing.
Didn't even factor in my makeup points.
Not that they'd know anyone else's makeup scores.
I smiled softly, offering some comfort to the suddenly frosty room, and handed it back.
"Got me at 0?"
"...Your score?"
"Who else's would I be asking about."
"Yeah, I put that, but... last year you... no, never mind. Tell me and I'll write it down."
"Nah. Leave it."
He gingerly took the paper, side-eyed me, and backed away.
Then someone kicked the door open.
"Hey, I asked the prof—our average's 59.1."
"What?! Class 1-A's?"
"Wanna spy?"
"Yeah, me too."
The frozen vibe thawed. Students started chattering noisily.
"So how many of us for special class?"
"Why care so much if you ain't going."
"Nah, this is life-or-death stuff."
"Yulia and Leo are locks, Narke too, right? Narke! What's your rank?"
"Not telling."
Narke glanced my way with a mischievous grin and parroted me.
Then one kid's eyes sparkled as he yelled,
"Guys, me too...! I think I made it this time!"
'Hm?'
The guy I'd grabbed to ask directions before.
Name was... Melvin.
"What rank?"
"9th overall...!"
"Whoa, barely squeezed in."
"Congrats! That's four for special class already? Who's left? Five more and we're good?"
I rested my chin on my hand, listening.
First exam: us 6, them 4.
Then it flipped: 3:7, 4:6 back and forth—useless trivia.
'...In my opinion, they shouldn't be competing with Class 1-A but with the ones heading to special class.'
I gave up thinking fast.
With classes split into just two... this was inevitable.
Then the guys back from Class 1-B yelled as they burst in.
"Hey! 58.4!"
"What? Next class average?"
"Yeah."
Students cheered over something utterly pointless.
I turned and spotted three or four others thinking the same.
Couldn't beat the other forty though. Grade talk continued.
"Class 1-A already has four for special class? But they still got like ten absentees."
"What? Homeroom in 7 minutes? So irresponsible."
"What if one of them cracks top 10 department?"
"..."
One kid snickered, then realized they had more shots left and froze.
Luckily, our class's top-10-er showed up, keeping spirits up.
"Five of us? Please let Class 1-A flop..."
"Nah, snap out of it. We ain't competing with next class—we're competing with our own going to special class."
"All our class is here now—nope. Give up. Half's not bad."
Students chimed in one by one.
A sensible take popped up midway but got buried fast—didn't suit their taste.
Then the professor opened the door.
Students scrambled to seats, and the room finally quieted.
"Looks like you're all eager for results. My office was swamped all morning. You're second-years—stop acting like freshmen. You know better, no long lectures needed."
"Yes."
"Keep it up, and I'll dock attitude points."
The professor laid down the law, then opened the folder.
"You got your personal grade reports at enrollment. Rankings posted at midnight, so assume you've checked."
He flipped through, pulled a thin envelope from the folder.
"Special class consent forms first. Called names, come up. Yulia, Leonardo."
No need to check the envelopes—the perennial 1st and 2nd placers. Applause stabbed my ears.
Third, he adjusted his glasses to read.
"Narke."
Narke high-fived friends and went up. Class clapped like before.
"Thank you."
"Glad you're keeping up after just a month in the Empire. Next, Hildegart."
After chit-chat, he took the envelope and returned.
"Melvin."
Melvin jumped up clumsily and dashed forward.
"First time for special class? Your effort shows. Congrats."
"Th-thank you...! I'll do my best!"
"Looking forward to it."
The professor's lips curved gently.
So passionate... I chuckled dryly at the kid's overflowing emotion.
Applause, fading, swelled back up.
"Finally..."
As Melvin returned, the professor started to speak, rummaged his desk. He upended the folder for the last envelope. Some kids widened eyes at the sight.
"What? One more?"
"No one left here worth it...?"
Professor raised one brow silently, checked the report, and called.
"Lucas."
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