novelraw Vol. 12 - Chapter 690 - Crunch Time for Exams & Afterparty!
Vol. 12 - Chapter 690 - Crunch Time for Exams & Afterparty!
After dealing with the new member's interview and sorting out the minimum requirement, we spent our next few days amidst the book hard.
Then again, the exams this time were special cases. Unlike the usual exam week, the access to dungeons weren't blocked, so the exams were simply on the students on how to tackle.
Well, regardless of the limitation, it was improbable to spend the time in the dungeons. Instead, everyone united with a single goal—to score a better class, and put their noses to the grindstone.
But to myself, the dungeons did tempt me to visit them for a breather.
The guild rallied together. Just like last time, those of us with the academic smarts paired up to tutor the ones who didn't.
I heard the new recruits were equally invested in the study, and they still were squeezing in study sessions to get into a good class. They'd yet to officially join us, and our existing members were yet to meet them as well, so each side were studying on their own.
Of course, since they'd passed Celestin's sharp evaluation, I was to believe they would pass with flying colors.
Besides, we're talking about Katalina and Orihime-sam. There was no doubting them. And Tomoyo was learning under Rina's direction.
The ones I worried for were Elisa and Fina. Then I heard they're studying alongside their classmates, so that was one worry less.
Given the importance of these exams, it was understandable. While our performance from inter-class competition was going to be a factor, ultimately a student's main job was to study.
And in this Labyrinth Academy, your class ranking was everything that determined the quality of the student's curriculum.
This was especially true for the folks using the job transfer system to redo their academics. They'll be joining a brand-new grade level—a fourth category that doesn't fit into the standard first, second, or third years. Technically, students who change jobs can choose to stay in their current year or move to the New Grade, but it appears like the vast majority are jumping ship to the new one.
Joining the New Grade adds an extra two and a half years to your academic career. Even the upperclassmen get the extra time. Because the New Grade didn't separate by age, former first-years and former third-years will all be rubbing elbows in the exact same classes.
They'd be spending their first six months in academic boot camp, cramming in all the foundational stuff taught in the first year. It was to assure a solid knowledge to begin a new start for them.
Meanwhile, the students who didn't do job transfer were free to act as long as they passed with good marks, like grinding in the dungeons.
After those six months, the New Grade would merge with the incoming second-years at the start of the next academic year.
There was even speculation that the next year, the freshmen grade would be double the original count when advancing to sophomore grade. That would mean a total of 250 classes!
I was certainly glad to have more classmates. I really wanted to pat my back for giving the idea of the «Job Transfer System» to Dean.
As far as it was concerned, the one using the system among «Eden» and «Arc-Arcadia» would be Aegis, Shalon, Katalina, Faumina, Rosetta, Elisa, Fina, and Orihime-san. Hopefully, they would give their best.
"How are you feeling, Aegis?"
"Your teaching is impeccable, Zephyr-san. I think I would manage it fine. You really do know everything as a current first-year."
Since the New Grade exams were essentially a total reset, the test material covers everything taught in the first-year classes from May to September. The second and third-years might have learned it once upon a time, but if they haven't brushed up, they're bound to be rusty. Whether that works for or against them all comes down to their effort.
Back when Aegis was a first-year, she was in Combat Major, Class 1-34. That curriculum wasn't exactly geared toward breaking into Class 1. Luckily, she’s surrounded by current Class 1-1 rankers who've been tutoring her non-stop. Now, she's got the knowledge to comfortably hold her own in the top class.
There might be some variables like New Grade students and their performance, but she should land among the top-rankers. I was personally looking forward to the result.
Speaking of the Job Change system, the number of students who secured high-ranking jobs over the weekend were finally revealed. Our local info broker, Yumiki-senpai, brought us the scoop. Free of charge, too!
"Since you're a VIP client, this one's on me," she said. "The total number of students in the New Grade who claimed their seat is 6,211. Out of those, 4,830 are in the Dungeon Exploration Combat Major."
"Holy crap, that's a massive crowd! Nearly 5,000?!"
"Usually, a first-year class has about 2,000 high-ranking job holders, with roughly 1,500 in the Combat Major. So by my math, next year's second-year class is going to break 6,000."
I was flabbergasted. Forget 250 classes—we might be pushing 300! But actually, when you think about it, it makes sense. As second and third-years deepen their understanding of their jobs, their odds of landing a high-ranking jobs were obviously high.
"The breakdown is 2,349 third-years, 2,119 second-years, and 362 first-years."
"Makes sense that the third-years dominate the numbers."
The first-year count was so low because most of us had already cleared our 'defeat X monsters' conditions and locked in our jobs. Even as the one who pushed for it, I definitely hadn't expected a shocking outcome of this sort. But conversely, next-year will be fun!
On the flip side, breaking into Class 1 was going to be an absolute bloodbath. Better keep my nose in the books.
After a quick info exchange with Yumiki-senpai—for some reason, she was asking all about our new members), she hurried off. Everyone’s running around like headless chickens these days.
Before we knew it, test day was upon us, and everyone brought their best. The results and class placements drop next Monday.
Thursday was the practical exam. Just like last time, we were tasked with gathering specific materials in a dungeon. You can't exactly cram for it since they don't reveal the objective until the last second, but everyone made it through in one piece. Even Karua and Pamela—who barely scraped by last time—seemed to pull it off. I'll have to give them a pat on the back later.
The production job holders, like Hannah, had the same practical as last time too. Apparently, Hannah went completely all-out on hers and actually got called into the teacher's lounge. What on earth did she do? I asked Aruru, but since they're in different departments, she was totally in the dark.
Anyway, the seemingly endless—yet surprisingly short—exam week was finally over. Thursday after school, the whole guild gathered at the guild house for our traditional wrap-up party.
"Great job on the special exams, everyone! No matter what classes we end up in, we left it all on the field! And what's better than a party after an exam, eh?! Have you all gotten your glasses? If not, grab one now! Cheers to a job well done!"
"Cheers!!"
I was surrounded by my guildmasters, ringing in the celebration at our newly relocated C-rank Guild House.
"Ugh, I'm totally beat. Just who'd decided it is a good idea to have a healer fetch materials from the lower levels of a dungeon?"
"I heard you aced with ease."
Strange. Her words weren't what I heard from others.
Her practical took place in a beginner-high dungeon, and since she needed drops from lower-level monsters, it just took a bit of time. But I distinctly heard that she gleefully nuked every single monster she crossed paths with, sending them all "back to the light."
"Well... it was a little fun."
"Of course it was. Having an advanced job down there is total overkill."
I heard she formed a ragtag party with others heading to the lower levels, but she basically just bulldozed her way straight to the front!
"More importantly, where are the new recruits?"
"They won't officially join us until the class reshuffle is done. Right now, they're swamped with handover stuff."
"It wouldn't have hurt to take a breather after exams..."
Unfortunately, almost all the newbies had to take a raincheck on the afterparty. Alas, such were the circumstances. However, despite the hectic schedule, Orihime-san actually made an appearance.
"Thank you all for taking such good care of my husband. I look forward to working with you as a married couple from here on out."
"H-Hey, Orihime! You shouldn't exaggerate. Wait—listen to me!"
Orihime effortlessly brushed off Regram's panicked protests, making the rounds and greeting every single member. Naturally, she was immediately swarmed by a mob of girls with the word "Gossip" virtually glowing on their faces, forming an impenetrable wall that Regram couldn't even breach.
I wonder if she did this to keep the other's advances off. Hmm, she certainly wasn't wrong.
Oh well. All I could say was—Good luck, Reglam.
The exams came to an end, and now all we could do is play the waiting game for Monday’s results.
I just hope we all end up in the same class.