<967 – Experience Points Doubled (4)>
“Everyone. The second semester is screwed!”
Mandela delivered shocking news.
The third-year students jumped up in surprise.
“What do you mean, Dela Dela…?”
“Lady Mandela, has Sadi Chocolate teamed up with a demon and resurrected from hell again?”
“I believe she resurrected with Professor Sadako, not a demon. But what’s this about, anyway?”
Mandela’s words couldn’t be false.
But how serious could it be that everyone’s mental support, Mandela, was so stern?
The third-years were tense.
What if a fiery storm hits the Middle Realm from tomorrow?
What if, due to a lack of manpower, the third-years have to help block the mana disaster that the fourth-years should be dealing with?
Had the price of black bread skyrocketed 25 times, from 1 point for 5 pieces to 5 points each in this age of high prices?
There were many concerns, but reality surpassed all worries.
“The exam difficulty for the second semester will overwhelmingly rise above the typical second semester. I’ve acquired info that all of the third-years’ educational levels will be standardized upwards.”
Unaware of the secret behind the difficulty spike, the third-years felt conflicted yet a bit proud.
“Looks like we’re a bit better than the other years’ third-years.”
“Ugh. Idiot me. I should’ve done just okay.”
“Did you do it wrong? You built your character so well that you made it hard for everyone to keep up with the professors.”
“Is it the influence from competing against Sadi Chocolate and the previous Four Kings of Class? Honestly, the third-years from other classes probably didn’t get to experience this.”
“Hehe. So are we effectively recognized as the strongest third-years in history? Even after losing all our main force, we’re getting this level of treatment.”
The third-years thought absentmindedly.
If Sadi Chocolate, Shiina Cruel, and Mandela Castera had all joined forces to grow together, how much stronger could the third-years have become?
They could have been hailed as the all-time dream team, getting ahead of the now-golden generation of the 981 Class in the Academy’s history.
Of course, the golden age of the 980 Class lasted only until the first semester of the first year began.
It was an era of fuss when talented figures such as the next head of a noble house, a secret weapon of an organization, and the disciple of a magic tower would enroll before the princess, and it was so embarrassing they couldn’t even mention it.
“How did we finally overcome all this backlash and gain recognition from the professors?!”
The third-years’ hearts swelled with pride.
To meet the professors’ expectations, they decided to forgo rest during vacation and initiate their own group special training.
What burning enthusiasm for study!
This wasn’t something that would happen to any class other than the 980 Class.
Originally, the Gift Academy operates on about 99% individual play.
Each student’s abilities vary wildly, the post-graduation paths are diverse, and their standings within factions are also different.
If they focus on the lectures suitable for them and make up for their shortcomings according to their pace, there’s no time left to socialize.
Unless you’re some high noble riding on the coattails down in the Administration Department, it’s a far-fetched tale.
Even Mandela Castera, one of those high nobles, is leading the entire class by saving everyone during civil strife, forcing those lagging behind to rise up through group tutoring.
Considering Mandela’s dedication, they had no choice but to study hard to meet expectations.
In this atmosphere, failing a class?
A study environment has been created where even if the whole world forgives you, you cannot forgive yourself!
“So, as long as the professors’ drive burns, we can’t just let the second semester beat us. Everyone, let’s train together during summer vacation!”
Mandela Castera’s directive quickly spread throughout the class.
When encountering classmates in the cafeteria, they spread the word over meals; when bumping into each other on the street, they shared the news; names were quickly disappearing from the group list!
The notoriously hard-to-find individuals began to seek out their classmates directly.
“Where is he?”
“He said he went to steal answer sheets.”
“And this one?”
“He’s breaking into a professor’s laboratory as a surprise attack.”
“Why don’t I remember seeing the name on the list?”
“That’s the kid who was stuck in detention for three months.”
“Oh my!”
The lively information network had officially entered the precision strike phase.
A student who infiltrated the principal’s office to swap their exam paper with a perfect answer sheet was shocked to see their classmate hanging upside down from the window.
“What, what are you doing there?!”
“Mandela said we’ll train during vacation! Let’s go after we steal the grades!”
“No, you crazy! Just shut up and go, quickly! We’ll get caught, we’ll get caught! Aah, the patrol statue is coming!!”
Seeing a student caught by Professor Plato’s patrol statue, another classmate jotted it down on the mana board.
– Bixton dragged off to detention, can’t attend!
Except for unavoidable absentees, most students responded to the summons.
Finally, on the day of vacation, Mandela Castera looked over the gathered students and asked.
“What’s the attendance rate?”
“99%. Except for those with unavoidable external schedules or those detained, everyone is here.”
“Ahh hah hah! The passion for learning that doesn’t die even in summer vacation is indeed beautiful. Your will is hotter than the sun, and I, Mandela Castera, will guide it not to be in vain!”
The training ground for the third-years was a fair distance away.
Riding on the Jigoku Pirate Ship, the third-years’ satisfaction with the journey across the vast sea was exceedingly high.
“Wow, this feels like a cruise ship.”
“How is this a pirate ship? It’s bigger than a warship.”
“Did you see the hangar? There’s a massive weapon made of paper in there; what could it possibly be used for?”
As they eagerly explored the various facilities, the mention of “paper-made weapons” reminded one person.
“That sounds like an Oknodie creation, right?”
“Wait a minute. Didn’t the Jigoku Pirate Ship hijack the Wahyhiemhai Foundation’s boat with Oknodie?”
“Last year, the first-years took this ship to the foundation chairman’s resort for a mandatory training course.”
The atmosphere began to chill.
Initially excited students were slowly feeling intimidated.
Looking closely, there were also second-years on the ship.
The working crew had an unusually high number of maids, and the infamy of the Assassin Maid loomed over them.
“Mandela. Why are there maids on the pirate ship?”
“Those people? The ship is big, and they told me we’re short on crew members, so they’ve politely lent us space on their ship. They say they help out with pirate work occasionally.”
“…Is it really safe to be on this ship? Aren’t we being kidnapped into the foundation’s secret facility?”
“Kidnapped? What are you talking about?”
Mandela jumped in surprise, correcting their misconception.
“We’re paying a fair price and going willingly, you know!”
“But doesn’t that mean we are going to the foundation’s secret facility?!”
Sadi Chocolate’s summer training.
With no reason to waste good facilities, Sadi decided to actively utilize the foundation’s legacy as they became Oknodie’s toy.
As a result, the students’ training was set to be at the Tower of Warriors again.
“Hey, you’re a second-year? Is it true that you used the foundation’s secret facility last year?”
Ziang nodded cooperatively.
“Yep.”
“What was it like? It’s not one of those places where one gets killed after going in, right?”
The training tower was made of notably challenging difficulty.
Recalling that difficulty, Ziang frowned.
“Three went in, and all three came out nearly dead.”
Back then, even Jonna, who wasn’t a teacher at the time, couldn’t complete climbing the tower, so it was understandable how harsh the difficulty was.
“Turn the ship around!! I want to go home!!”
Frightened third-years started to throw a tantrum, but the Jigoku Pirates kindly pointed out the disembarkation point for those students.
“Senpai, do you see that plank on the left?”
“Yeah.”
“You can jump off from there.”
“Huh…?”
“In our industry, we do it like this. If you don’t like it, just stay quiet!”
“……”
Once a punching bag back in school, the Jigoku Pirates transformed into ferocious brigands on the sea, justifying their actions with typical thief behavior with a hint of savagery!
Those who couldn’t bring themselves to leap into the sea had no choice but to remain on the ship in tears.
“Calm down. Still, there are experienced people here.”
“Right. The 981 Class was able to handle the facilities last year, so it might be a piece of cake for us now, being higher than the 981 of last year.”
“Wait a minute. Isn’t that Ziange approaching Jigoku with a really serious face?”
With keen ears, Deadcat stealthily hung on the wall, eavesdropping on a conversation inside the captain’s quarters.
– Jigoku. This isn’t the route to Oknodie’s villa, is it?
– Hahaha, didn’t I tell you? This year we’re heading to Oknodie’s ‘Main Building’. It’s said they’re inviting Sadi Chocolate to organize the Foundation Chairman’s legacy as well.
– Why isn’t Oknodie on the ship?
– They went ahead to prepare for the reception and were activating the intruder repellent devices with mana stones.
– …Why would they turn on intruder defense devices when they’re going to the main building?
– Because they can’t train otherwise?
Deadcat thought seriously.
Wouldn’t it be better to jump into the sea and swim back to Gift Academy than to walk into the foundation’s secret base, activated with defenses against intruders?
