"So you're asking me to form a team with you?"

Right after leaving the training room, I went straight to find Elena.

Now we were sitting across from each other in a small café inside the academy—the kind of place that always smelled like warm pastries and sugar.

"That's right," I replied. "I don't think I can survive alone."

To get her here, I'd promised her sweet desserts.

Judging by the way her eyes sparkled at the cake in front of her, it had worked perfectly.

"But how do you know the exam content, Louis?" she asked, lifting a forkful of cake toward her mouth.

"Everyone who needs to know already does," I said. "The midterm's the same every year. No changes for ages."

The freshmen practical exam.

It had practically become a school tradition at this point—routine, predictable, and easily found in old records if you knew where to look.

"Hmmm…" Elena tapped her fork against her cheek thoughtfully.

Then, as if her hesitation had never existed, she smiled brightly.

"Alright! Let's team up."

Just like that, she agreed.

I let out a small breath of relief.

One major problem solved.

Now all I had left…

was to worry about surviving the exam itself.

"But who's the other team member? Didn't you say teams usually have three people?"

Elena tilted her head, looking genuinely curious.

"Oh, that?" I replied. "Actually… here she comes."

"Hey, you guys!!"

I pointed toward the entrance.

A pink-haired girl was sprinting toward us from outside, waving both arms like she was signaling a rescue helicopter.

Lisa burst into the café with her usual explosive energy, skidding slightly before stopping at our table.

"Sorry I'm late! The wolves wouldn't let me leave until I promised to visit again!"

"…Wolves?" Elena muttered under her breath, but Lisa was already too excited to notice.

"Lisa's also on our team?" she asked.

"That's right," I said. "She's our third member."

Lisa plopped down right next to Elena, leaning in with an unreasonably bright smile.

"Let's do our best together!" she said, practically vibrating with enthusiasm.

Just like that, our three-person team was complete.

And then—finally—the day of the midterm exam arrived.

The academy grounds buzzed with tension. Students shuffled around with pale faces and dark circles under their eyes, clutching weapons and textbooks like they were clinging to life itself.

Some were muttering spells.

Some were drilling sword forms in a panic.

Others looked like they were about to pass out before the exam even started.

Meanwhile, I was yawning.

A long, drawn-out yawn that made my eyes water.

"…Louis, did you even sleep?" Elena asked, staring at me like I was insane.

"Not really," I admitted, rubbing at my eyes. "I stayed up strategizing."

She sighed, somewhere between impressed and worried.

But it was worth it.

I had stayed up all night analyzing the exam patterns, the point distribution, the terrain that might appear, team coordination methods, and possible monster placements.

And thanks to that…

I'd come up with several solid plans.

To score well in the practical midterm, it wasn't enough to simply be strong.

Skill mattered, yes—

but so did timing, positioning, teamwork, and exploiting every possible advantage.

You needed favorable situations, not just favorable talent.

And I planned to create those situations myself.

Because in the end, the midterm wasn't just a test of ability—

It was a test of how well you could manipulate the battlefield to your favor.

For example, struggling to save a teammate in danger.

Moments where cooperation becomes the key to survival.

The more the situation emphasizes that keyword—cooperation—the higher the score.

This should be enough.

That was why I spent all of last night writing multiple scenarios on my own.

If everything followed the chain of events I planned, the practical exam wouldn't be a problem at all.

Of course… there was no guarantee things would go the way I envisioned.

"Everyone, put your books away."

Professor Dominic strode into the classroom, his presence alone quieting the chatter.

"We're starting the exam now. If anyone is caught cheating, you'll receive a zero. Don't even think about trying anything stupid."

"Yes, Professor," the class responded in unison.

"I'll distribute the exam papers. Pass them back."

The front-row students received their sheets first, then passed the stack behind them in a practiced rhythm. Eventually, the papers reached Lisa, who turned around and handed one to me.

She leaned in slightly and whispered, "Good luck…!"

I nodded once, appreciating the small encouragement more than I'd admit.

Then I opened the exam.

The very first line hit me like a punch.

[1. Describe the three factors that affect the operation of magical power.]

"…Seriously?"

The first question wasn't just difficult—it was the kind of question that made you question your entire existence as a student.

Sighs echoed from every corner of the classroom, followed by the frantic scratching of pens against paper.

But unlike everyone else, I wrote my answer down without a moment of hesitation.

[Concentration, Cohesion, Density]

My hand moved smoothly to the next question.

Then the next.

And the next.

I filled in each answer effortlessly while the students around me groaned and clutched their heads.

How was I solving everything so easily?

Especially when I hadn't studied at all?

Simple.

The Sage's Bookmark.

Over the past few days, I had quietly used the bookmark to peek at every question on this exam.

Of course, the Sage's Bookmark can't actually see the future.

It can't show tomorrow's events.

It can't reveal what hasn't been written yet.

But—

'Professors always prepare exam questions in advance.'

They don't wake up on exam day and suddenly decide what to test us on.

Most of them finish preparing their questions days—sometimes even weeks—before the midterm arrives.

Which meant only one thing:

The questions already existed.

And if they existed, then…

"Please tell me the answers to the Basic Magic Theory midterm."

The bookmark responded instantly.

— Answers. Question 1: 3. Question 2: 2…

And just like that, I had everything I needed.

So while the rest of the class struggled, sweating over each question like their lives depended on it…

I simply wrote down the correct answers, one after another, as calmly as if I were filling out my name.

Honestly, it felt almost unfair.

Almost.

Before long, I reached the final page of the test.

I set down my pen, stretched my fingers, and looked around.

The difference was… almost pitiful.

To my left, one student was gripping his head with both hands like he was trying to squeeze answers out of his skull.

To my right, someone was silently crying.

In front of me, a guy was staring at question six with the expression of a man reliving past trauma.

Only two people besides me seemed unfazed.

Elena, whose eyes shone with pure concentration—her handwriting neat and steady.

And Lisa…

Who was doodling a rabbit on the corner of the page.

"…Lisa," I whispered.

"Hm?" She looked up innocently.

"Are you done?"

"Nope! But I already put down everything I know."

She pointed at her nearly empty sheet with pride.

"And this rabbit looked lonely so I drew him a friend."

I exhaled slowly.

This would've been concerning if I didn't already know Lisa's written test scores were hopeless anyway.

The practical exam was where she'd shine.

A loud clap echoed at the front of the room.

"Time's up," Professor Dominic announced as he collected the papers. "Those who didn't finish… tough luck."

Groans rippled through the classroom—frustrated sighs, quiet whining, the sound of students desperately scribbling in their final seconds.

Professor Dominic's eye twitched.

"I already said it—exam over! Submit all answer sheets to the front!"

His sharp voice cut through the room like a whip.

Pens froze.

Chairs scraped.

Someone even muttered, "I wasn't done…" only to get a deadly glare in return.

I quickly wrote my name at the top of the answer sheet and passed it forward to Lisa, who sat just ahead of me.

Naturally, I made sure to get a few answers wrong here and there. If I scored perfectly every time, I'd stand out—and standing out right now was the last thing I wanted.

That wrapped up the written exam.

The rest of the tests this week?

I already knew all of the answers thanks to my items.

Zero difficulty.

It almost felt unfair.

While my classmates slumped over their desks in regret and despair, I leaned back and let a relaxed smile creep across my face.

One hurdle cleared.

Now all that remained… was the practical exam.

Once every written test was finished, all the students gathered at the mountain behind the academy. The air there was clearer, cooler—perfect for the final assessment.

Professor Dominic stood before us, hands behind his back, his cloak fluttering slightly in the breeze.

"Now," he announced, scanning the group, "we'll begin the practical exam."

The students responded with a mix of nerves and excitement:

"Is everyone ready?" he asked.

"Of course," someone said confidently.

"This is going to be fun!" another student shouted, practically bouncing.

"Fun, my ass…" someone muttered under their breath.

We all carried different expressions—some eager, some pale, some already regretting their life choices—as we followed the professor up the mountain path.

The atmosphere shifted with every step.

Quiet.

Tense.

Expectation hanging in the air.

The real exam was about to begin.

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