Ruined.

“The top student in 3rd year for potential divine power is Rukna Golden. Please come forward.”

The Divinity professor wearing a round zucchetto called Rukna to the podium.

Potential divine power was the ‘possibility’ of creating divine power.

Since divine power could only be properly awakened after becoming an official priest, students measured their potential rather than actual divine power.

Rukna, who had been pulling her hair, let out a frustrated sigh as soon as her name was called.

“Rukna Golden?”

The professor called again.

Instead of Rukna, Hans jumped up from his seat, clapping his hands above his head and shouting, “Lady Rukna, I admire you!”, making Rukna’s already heavy bottom from embarrassment even heavier.

Hans tried to force some weak students to do a wave, but quieted down and sat back only after receiving a sharp glare from Rukna.

‘Why did they have to do a potential divine power test for this midterm evaluation!’

This ‘Utilization of Divine Power’ midterm evaluation consisted of potential divine power scores and activities to purify monsters using that power.

‘If I had known this in advance, I would have thrown away that holy sword necklace in the dormitory and come out.’

The potential divine power test involved placing one’s hand on a crystal ball that measures divine power.

Rukna placed her hand on the crystal ball without thinking. Then, what had only glowed faintly when other students touched it…

「The great holy sword, Bisbi, will forget the virtue of humility for a moment.」

‘Wh-What?’

It flashed explosively as soon as it touched Rukna.

The students who watched this opened their mouths wide enough for their jaws to drop in surprise.

“Insane! Did Rukna Golden really just do that?”

“I thought lightning had just struck the classroom.”

If there was anything fortunate, it was that Matian wasn’t here.

Right now, Matian was taking a separate test in another classroom.

They said that when someone from the Wiegratz family places their hand on the potential divine power meter, the crystal ball turns black, so divine power subjects are evaluated with written tests instead.

Apparently, during the past demon war, a fragment of a demon had seeped into the heart of the hero Wiegratz.

‘Could that nonsense about having a demon’s heart actually be true?’

Rukna walked to the front of the podium, recalling the unbelievable legend.

“Truly amazing, Rukna Golden.”

The professor praised Rukna with a kind smile.

“I knew you were a student with high potential divine power, but I never expected it to improve this much! Did you perhaps receive a holy revelation?”

“Ah, well…”

Rukna tried to think of an excuse as quickly as possible.

Since her body had high potential even before, whatever she said probably wouldn’t raise much suspicion.

Oh well, whatever.

“I… received a revelation to strive for world peace and environmental protection.”

Rukna blurted out a typical beauty pageant answer to cover up the situation.

After all, she couldn’t just say that she actually possessed a holy sword full of divine power.

Hearing this, the professor’s eyes welled up with tears, moved by some part of her answer.

“What an incredibly great revelation, Rukna Golden!”

Maybe that was too much. She should have left out the environmental protection part.

“The High Priest will surely want to meet you as well.”

The professor lavished praise, saying this was indeed befitting of someone from the Golden family.

A voice of criticism came from the corner of the classroom, saying “A mere adopted child without a drop of Golden blood!”, but thanks to Hans quickly smacking the back of that person’s head, peace returned to the classroom.

Meanwhile, the professor selected the largest box from those lined up on the podium and dragged it in front of Rukna.

Although it was unclear what was inside, the box shook greatly from side to side once, making a sound of scratching metal.

“Now then, shall we test your purification ability? Since Student Rukna’s potential divine power is outstanding, I think even the highest difficulty should be possible.”

As the professor removed the black cloth covering the box…

“Screech!”

A young griffin inside a box-shaped iron cage appeared.

Griffin. A monster with the lower body of a lion and the upper body of an eagle, which as an adult could easily catch and tear apart even a 3-ton elephant.

It began twisting the iron bars with its beak, seemingly wanting to attack Rukna.

“Th-This is strange. I’m sure we brought it here after feeding it a calming drug… Why is it so agitated?”

Moreover, it was powerful as if someone had temporarily amplified its strength.

Eventually, it started bending the iron bars engraved with high-level barriers.

Creak!

Something felt ominous. The professor hurriedly removed the cloths from the other boxes on the podium as well.

The monsters prepared for the evaluation by being drugged beforehand were now in an excited state, thrashing about inside the iron cages as if under some dark magic.

A small shadow that had been spying on the classroom through the window flickered and disappeared.

A dwarf? Or a gnome? The professor glanced in that direction but had no time to pay attention to it.

“Wait a moment, students. We need to stop the test.”

The professor began using divine power to subdue the excited monsters one by one.

However, since it took some time to put all 20-plus monsters to sleep, some students without field experience trembled in fear.

“A-Are those things going to break through the iron cages?”

“That’s what I’m saying. Even for the professor, that many monsters seem too much.”

“Plus, Matian and Chad aren’t here right now.”

Crack! Screech, squawk!

At that moment, the awake monsters all broke through their iron cages at once.

“Ahhh! Everyone run!”

“Wh-What’s going on? The door is locked! We can’t get out!”

The students trying to escape shook the exit door, but it wouldn’t open.

Some crawled on the floor crying, while others bravely fought with drawn swords.

The activities of the student council members Bolton and Aaron were particularly noticeable.

The biggest guy and the smallest guy from the student council seemed to have similar weapon preferences, as they were beating the monsters with cricket bats they had grabbed from the corner of the classroom.

They didn’t even touch the practice swords at their waists.

The professor used as much divine power as possible to create a barrier to protect the students. Then belatedly remembered Rukna.

She must have been injured since she was near the griffin, the strongest of the monsters brought.

“Rukna, where is Student Rukna?”

The professor turned towards where Rukna had been.

Rukna was standing with one foot on top of the griffin’s body, which was as big as a hunting dog. She had subdued the griffin in one go and succeeded in purifying it.

Seeing Rukna holding a mop handle instead of a practice sword, the professor thought this year’s graduating class had unique weapon preferences.

But regardless of that…

“Truly amazing, Rukna Golden!”

To easily purify the strongest of the monsters brought! The professor’s eyes sparkled.

Meanwhile, the other monsters had all been dealt with by the students’ hands as well.

The professor awarded the highest score to Rukna, who had purified the strongest monster, and then assigned scores to the other students in order of their bravery in battle.

“Wow, what’s going on with the worthless Rukna lately?”

“Indeed. I heard she came back with a renewed spirit after running away from the military academy last time. She’s impressive.”

Even if they didn’t want to acknowledge the results, this was undeniable.

Of course, there were those who envied her. A rough-looking student sitting in the corner trembled with anger.

“Rukna Golden, that bastard… Not doing as told!”

“C-Calm down, Zvai. Eek!”

A student trying to stop Zvai flinched.

Thud! The textbook Zvai threw stuck into the wooden floor.

Rukna glanced towards Zvai at the commotion.

‘What’s with that orc-like guy?’

Compared to Matian’s piercing gaze, this level of killing intent was nothing more than a child’s tantrum.

Whether that guy glared at her or not, Rukna, who had taken the unwanted first place, held her forehead with a not-so-pleased expression.

Right now, her mind was so full of worries about the real threat that there was no room for such a thug.

‘At this rate, I’ll really end up having my name next to Matian’s.’

If that happened, he might challenge her to a duel or something, as he surely wouldn’t look kindly upon her.

‘I want to avoid that at all costs.’

How many times had he mercilessly cut down opponents with a smiling face in the training grounds?

Remembering Matian laughing without a care while his sparring partner lay on the ground bleeding profusely, and the students clapping along, swept up in the atmosphere he created, she shuddered as she imagined herself in that situation.

‘Before I irritate him, I should get the lowest score in the remaining subjects. Then I can finish with an unremarkable ranking.’

Becoming the most ordinary character and graduating quietly!

Rukna strengthened her resolve as she packed the griffin she had defeated into a large sack.

‘Have I already strayed too far from being ordinary?’

Rukna thought this as she looked at her wrist, caught by Matian, just after leaving the classroom.

This was the second time he had grabbed her wrist.

After finishing the Divinity evaluation, as she was walking down the corridor, Matian, who had just finished his alternative assessment in another classroom, caught hold of her.

“I heard the rumors, Rukna. Congratulations on the top score.”

‘How do rumors spread so quickly?’

Rukna awkwardly smiled while hiding the sack containing the griffin behind her back.

It wasn’t a size that could be hidden by concealing it, but she could pass it off as trash from cleaning up the chaotic classroom.

“I-It was just luck.”

“You’ve always had high potential divine power scores, so it’s not luck. I hope we can have good competition from now on.”

Matian extended his right hand to Rukna with a kind face.

Even at that moment, he was busy checking his reflection in the window.

Judging by how he constantly checks his face, he seems to know he’s handsome.

‘He’s subtly narcissistic. Anyway, is this hand for a handshake?’

She shouldn’t suspect people carelessly, but it didn’t seem like he genuinely wanted to shake hands.

It felt more like he was deliberately offering a handshake after seeing her hide the sack in her right hand behind her back.

Rukna simply extended her left hand and high-fived his hand.

“Someone like me competing with you? That’s nonsense, Matian.”

“…”

“You’re the eternal top student. Fighting!”

After cheering him on, Rukna quickly passed through the corridor, holding the sack she had hidden behind her back.