The Sienia students get heated up about two main things. One is the department score, and the other is grades.

The freshmen who were facing the midterm exam, an important event for the latter, were dying day by day.

Since failing three subjects in a year meant not being able to advance to the second year and having to repeat the first year, the freshmen’s faces before their first exam were filled with a strange tension and anxiety.

Meanwhile, Nigel, who had rote education deeply engraved in his soul, was also dying in a different sense.

Relationships could change overnight, but the groups determined in advance during class could never change.

For example… like Cledian’s debate exam, the first big midterm exam.

“As announced before, today each group will debate about a rebellion that occurred in the empire. This debate will account for 50% of your midterm grade, so I hope everyone will actively participate. Then… the group in charge of Sedrick’s rebellion, please come up first.”

Nigel stood up from his seat holding the tattered documents he had read countless times and sat in the affirmative position.

Charlotte sat next to him, and Noah and Allen sat across from them.

‘…Damn drawing lots.’

Nigel applauded Kirelia, the goddess of fortune who wouldn’t even hold his hand in a mere drawing to decide the affirmative and negative sides.

Because of that, Nigel failed to see it.

Charlotte next to him crossing her arms confidently and giving Allen a victorious smile. And how Allen and Noah were greatly impacted by that smile.

“As you’ve already learned, Sedrick’s rebellion was when Sedrick, a close friend and distant relative of Crown Prince Edwin at the time, attempted a rebellion using their friendship. Now, everyone freely discuss.”

‘Of all things, the test is about advocating for a guy who betrayed his friend.’

Sigh, Nigel tightly grasped the documents and opened the debate.

Public and private matters should be separated properly.

“I take the position of viewing Sedrick’s rebellion positively. Although Sedrick, who had a low status, lacked a support base and failed in the rebellion, he was wise enough to be selected as the crown prince’s childhood playmate and also achieved good grades at Sienia, proving his abilities.”

Charlotte looked straight at Allen and continued after Nigel’s words.

“That’s right. When attending Sienia, Sedrick submitted a graduation thesis on a magic formula more efficient than existing ones, which is still partially used in current formulas. It’s a big difference from the path Crown Prince Edwin, who attended during the same period, showed.”

“But… it doesn’t change the fact that he betrayed his friend Crown Prince Edwin and attempted a rebellion.”

An objection immediately flew out from the opposing side. The owner of that voice was none other than Noah, causing Nigel’s body to flinch for a moment.

Sedrick betraying his friend and failing in the rebellion overlapped with himself, so Nigel took a deep breath to clear his mind and opened his mouth.

“…Unfortunately, the important thing in politics is not friendship gambling. Friendship doesn’t determine the outcome of politics. In politics, only one’s ideology and the supporting forces that will back it up are important.”

“That’s exactly… what I want to say.”

This time, Allen joined in.

…Did he eat something wrong this morning? Why is he suddenly like this?

Allen carefully refuted.

“If the person who will become the empire’s leader betrays his closest aide since childhood and takes the throne, wouldn’t it be difficult to gain the trust of his vassals…?”

‘That’s a pretty good opinion for someone who sleeps or does other things during class. But… it’s within my expectations.’

Nigel instantly recalled the contents he had written on the 5th line of page 3 of the documents.

Allen’s words ignited Nigel’s competitiveness. It was only right to respond with equal sincerity to someone who was participating earnestly.

“No, rather, the vassals would be able to trust the leader. Because he can betray even his closest aide for his cause.”

The guilt toward Allen vanished, and only the desire to somehow defeat Allen in the debate remained in Nigel’s face, which was icy cold.

At this, Allen, who suddenly felt sad, opened his mouth.

“…Then should I understand that the person who spoke can sufficiently betray a friend for a cause like Sedrick?”

“…!”

Hearing those words, Nigel’s face stiffened. Even though he could fully refute it, his lips were tightly sealed and wouldn’t come apart.

Allen, who belatedly realized his mistake, made a sorrowful face and reproached himself for thoughtlessly spitting out words.

Whip.

At that moment, Charlotte quickly raised her hand. Cledian nodded and allowed Charlotte to speak.

“Cledian must have announced beforehand. A debate is just a debate and has nothing to do with personal beliefs.”

Charlotte’s kind yet cold gaze pierced straight into Allen.

“Charlotte is right. It is praiseworthy to passionately engage in the debate, but unfortunately, this is a political science class, not literature. This place is a public forum to evaluate historical facts from affirmative and negative positions, so refrain from sharing personal opinions.”

With Cledian’s mediation, the debate resumed. Nigel gradually regained his energy and actively participated in the debate, but Allen, who had shrunk back, could not do so.

Ding. Ding.

“Well, let’s wrap up the debate here. Everyone worked hard, and I hope you prepare well for the written exam in a few days and achieve good scores.”

As if Oliver’s words were the trigger, before Nigel could even feel relieved that he had overcome one hurdle, another hurdle came to find Nigel the very next day.

“…Is everyone studying hard? As announced, there will be no separate class today to give you time to practice with your partner in preparation for tomorrow’s practical exam. I will let you know your previously determined partners, so let’s diligently solve the magic formulas!”

Heres snapped his fingers with a good-natured smile.

At the same time, blue letters paired in twos floated in the air.

The students were busy moving seats, each checking their name and their partner’s name.

Nigel picked up his belongings without properly examining the floating letters.

Because it was obvious whose name he had written on the partner note he submitted at the beginning of the semester.

‘I never thought I’d miss the tedious multiple-choice problem sheets.’

He felt it would be for the best if the practical exam disappeared altogether and the scores were evaluated 100% through written tests.

Of course, as always, no matter how desperately he imagined it, reality never changed.

…Tap.

Nigel carefully put down his belongings on the desk to the back right. None other than Allen was sitting at that desk.

“…Hey.”

“Oh, oh! Ah, hey.”

The two, meeting for the first time right after the debate class, couldn’t easily open their mouths after an awkward greeting.

‘It’s a chance to be alone with Nigel, but I don’t know what to say….’

‘What do little kids do when they make up? No, in the first place… would Allen even want to make up with me?’

Thus, the two solved the magic formula problems given by Heres without a word, watching each other’s mood as if they weren’t.

Thanks to rote education, Nigel, who quickly and accurately calculated, would analyze the formula and derive the required mana value, and Allen, who had excellent mana control, would mechanically inject mana into the formula based on that result.

Whoosh!

The magic formula, which only had a few ancient characters drawn in black ink on the circle, emitted a warm light upon meeting Allen’s mana.

It was literally a formula factory.

Just then, Heres approached Nigel and Allen.

“Are there any difficult parts in the problems…?”

Heres, who was examining the problem sheet, opened his eyes wide.

“My goodness, I generously gave these so you could practice even after class ends… You already solved all of these?”

Nigel and Allen simultaneously nodded their heads up and down at Heres’ warm voice.

“I wonder why the two chatterboxes diligently solved the problems without chatting for once? It’s nice to see you concentrating.”

Heres gently patted Nigel and Allen’s heads with a smile.

“Hmm… There’s still a lot of time left, so how about this? You two switch roles. Allen solves the magic formula and Nigel injects mana into the magic formula!”

At Heres’ words, Nigel and Allen’s pupils trembled violently.

Because they knew best how terrible Allen’s magic formula solving skills and Nigel’s mana control skills were.

“Haha! Are you two revealing that you’re always together? I can’t believe your reactions are so identical.”

For a moment, Nigel and Allen’s gazes met in the air and quickly twisted away.

“Don’t worry too much. No matter how much mana you pour onto this paper, the paper won’t react unless it’s the exact value matching the formula.”

Reassured by Heres’ words, Nigel and Allen switched roles and started solving the problems.

“Huh… strange? I’m sure it’s correct to substitute this formula, but why isn’t the answer coming out?”

“No…!”

When Allen was analyzing the formula, Nigel groaned in frustration. Unable to watch any longer, Nigel wrote out the formulas applied to each formula in an easy-to-understand way next to the formula.

…Fwoosh.

As if completely denying Heres’ words that the paper would be fine no matter how much mana was poured, Nigel’s mana slightly burned one upper corner of the paper.

Ssss.

Nigel silently tore off the burned part of the paper.

And before he knew it, all four corners of the paper had disappeared with the passage of time.

“Pfft! Ahem….”

When Allen suppressed his laughter at the sight of the terrible-looking paper, Nigel’s face turned slightly red.

Ding. Ding.

Just as the bell rang and Nigel was about to hurriedly leave his seat, someone approached Nigel.