I Was Reincarnated As The Older Brother Of A Villainess Destined to Die, So I Want To Change The Future By Raising My Younger Sister With My Own Hands. I Am The Strongest In The World, But My Little Sister Must Be The Cutest In The World - Volume 4 Chapter 6.1
Intermediate exam ???
For Nina, Caron’s words were undoubtedly an eye-opener. She blinked in astonishment and muttered softly.
“Can I… rely on family?”
“Yes. Please rely on us as much as you want. We all wish for that,” Caron replied with a smile.
“Nn…”
At the immediate response and smile, Nina’s breath caught. Then, tears slowly started streaming down her face.
Surprised by this reaction, Caron hurriedly patted Nina’s back.
“N-Nina, are you alright?”
“…Thank you.”
In response, Nina murmured a single word of gratitude.
Observing the two embracing each other, I quietly moved away from the scene. Staying there would likely only be a hindrance. Nina should be in good hands with Caron.
I really am a bit dense sometimes.
Honestly, I hadn’t thought Nina was carrying so much on her shoulders. I now regret not being closer and more supportive of her on a daily basis.
In hindsight it was a 20/20 decision, as they say. Regretting it now won’t turn back time. So, I should focus on how to support Nina from now on.
Thankfully, I have some leads. If things go well, we might be able to solve the case directly and soon.
Perhaps the conclusion will come on the final day of the midterm exams. I should sharpen my wits and prepare until then, five days from now.
———————————————————————————————
From the beginning of the week, the mid-term exams at the academy have commenced.
These exams aren’t meant to finalize grades but rather to help students recognize their current standing. Thus, the results this time won’t lead to any class changes. It’s more like an interim assessment.
However, it doesn’t mean you can let your guard down. The exam results will still serve as a solid reference for grades. Yet, they won’t be the sole determining factor.
The mid-term exams span three days of written tests covering academic subjects, followed by two days of practical tests.
The former is self-explanatory – a written test reviewing the material covered in class up until now.
The latter involves simulated combat. Students are pitted against each other, and scores are assigned based on their performance. Usually, classmates of similar skill levels are paired up against each other. So, it’s almost like we’re slated to fight within our own circle.
By the way, I’m exempt from the practical exam. The headmaster himself came and begged me, saying “If you were to fight, the academy would crumble.” I can’t believe what they must think of me.
But I digress.
The first written test concluded without a hitch. Regularly focusing on preview and review makes stumbling quite difficult. This holds true for Karon and the others as well.
Marina seemed a bit overwhelmed, but with everyone pitching in to teach her carefully, her academic abilities have improved considerably. Passing the test shouldn’t be a problem.
And so, finally, the day of the practical exam has arrived.
All of us students have made our way to the training grounds. Due to capacity limitations, two classes gather in one training area.
The tension in the air grew as the announcement of the mock battle pairings was imminent. People were glancing over towards us, probably thinking they didn’t want to face us. I can understand their feelings.
“Is Marina going to be okay?” Caron murmured out of the blue.
It seemed like Caron was worried about Marina, who wasn’t present at the moment.
In response, Minerva, who had been most involved in Marina’s training, shrugged her shoulders.
“It will be someone from Class D as her opponent, so I think it’ll be fine. She’s managed to cast magic to a reasonable extent.”
“Hmm. If it’s a level Minerva-chan approves of, then I guess there’s no need to worry.”
“That’s a relief.”
Upon hearing her assessment, Orca and Nina sighed in relief.
Minerva tends to be quite strict when it comes to evaluating magical abilities. So, if she says it’s “reasonable,” we can assume that Marina has reached an average level. Considering that just a month and a half ago she could hardly use magic at all, she has improved quite a bit. Taking into account her general lack of magical talent, it’s reasonable to infer that she put in a considerable amount of effort.
Minerva glanced at me with half an eye and continued speaking.
“Someone around here was saying almost every day that they didn’t want her to feel as a burden, right?”
“…Is that so?”
Don’t bring up difficult topics. It’s not jealousy… It’s more like teasing, judging by her tone and the emotions she’s showing. Quite the mischievous fiancée.
As we exchanged this banter, the pairings for the mock battles were announced. A massive bulletin board with the pairings chart was brought into the room.