The Hunted Regressor: My Heretic Saint System

Chapter 189: Something Nearly Impossible

"It’ll be open book, so you can use all you have."

John said it casually, like he wasn’t about to ruin everyone’s week.

The class stared at him, collective dread sinking in. Sure, it was technically an open-book test... but with the headmaster, "open book" meant absolutely nothing. They could be given the entire library, a private tutor, and a Blessing, but they’d still get slapped around by whatever that man put on the paper.

Everyone in the noble society knew this.

Nightmares stamped with the Academy’s insignia and the headmaster’s warmest regards.

"Think he’ll go easy on us?"

A student snorted so hard it nearly echoed.

"This is the headmaster we’re talking about. Easy isn’t in his vocabulary."

"True... but maybe he’ll throw in some free questions? Recycle stuff from last year?"

"No way. You wasted time studying past papers, brother."

"Yep. Fresh nightmares only."

Ignotus smirked at that.

He liked hearing of Dante’s brutality.

It made sense to him, the methodical cruelty.

It meant growth, even if it felt like getting punched in the Soul.

Beside him, Lykos sat leaning back with his arms crossed and his head down.

He and the four around him seemed to be feeling much like the other students.

"Open-book sounds like ’bring an entire damned library and realize how useless it is.’"

Ignotus blinked at him.

"Do you, in all your intelligence, think he wants us to fail?"

Lykos opened his mouth, only for Ulv to cut in unknowingly:

"The headmaster doesn’t want us to fail and be kicked out. I’m sure the Academy needs us with all that’s going on. He probably just wants to take our minds off what’s going on by... suffering. Big difference."

Gaia nodded.

"He pushes hard... that’s what I’ve heard."

Mer sighed dramatically.

"Indeed, he enjoys watching us squirm. He’s probably in his office right now with his feet up, listening in to what we’re saying."

Lykos turned to Aur, trying to include her in this:

"What do you think?"

Aur looked out the window and nodded.

"Let’s do our best."

Though she said that, internally, she was a lot more focused on herself.

She had to get the highest grade, not some random, not Ulv, and especially not Mer.

Their rivalry was still going strong, and as the one who easily studied the most, she couldn’t lose or tie here.

If that happened again, she wouldn’t know what to do with herself.

That was how she grew up all of her life. The smartest and most straight-laced one around.

Failing against others here who haven’t even come close to her level of effort would mean all that she did was for naught. That her method was completely and utterly wrong.

Aurelia couldn’t have her identity be broken.

That was her strengthened resolve.

"This is nice to see..."

John chuckled while looking around the room, his gaze lingering on the paler faces.

"Is everyone ready for this?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

Not a single soul answered.

With a few exceptions, the students weren’t only feeling completely unprepared, but most of them weren’t even brave enough to speak, afraid that the other students might just jump them.

John nodded, expecting as much.

"Alright then."

He turned to his left, flickering a projection to life with a small gesture.

Lines, layers, and chaotic loops, a spiderweb drawn by a drunk philosopher.

The students stared at it in an extremely confused silence.

Ignotus’ eyes, however, squinted with recognition.

"...oh."

Aur narrowed her eyes soon after, catching hints of shapes she’d seen before.

"Wait, that’s—"

"A wall."

Ignotus beat her to it, making her twitch.

She was going to win against him one day. Not today, but one day.

Meanwhile, everyone else began murmuring as the projection clicked in their brains.

John nodded.

"Good eye. Yes, it’s the Rune you all know—or think you know. What you’re looking at is a reimagining of a Wall Rune, though obviously more complex with a few added twists."

Lykos gave him a look.

"That? A few turns? Yeah, right."

John ignored him.

"Your job is simple."

He grinned too happily.

"Replicate this Rune as best you can within your Souls in a single stroke. The closer you get to my version, the better your score. And don’t worry if it feels impossible. That’s the point."

"Of course it is~."

Mer sighed while a few around her chuckled in misery.

"Inquistor, sir."

Gaia, meanwhile, raised her hand politely.

"When’s the deadline?"

"Ten days."

John replied with a nod.

"I’d recommend submitting early if you feel like you’ve hit your limit. There’ll be a few extra marks for anyone who does so."

A reply that had Ignotus frown.

"So that’s it? We mimic it?"

"No, you must understand it. The closer you come to understanding, the closer your work will get to the ruined Rune. Make it your own, not just a trace."

Immediately, the room broke into a storm of whispers.

"Is he serious?"

"He has to be joking."

"No way this is a test for first years, right?"

Ten days. Ten whole days to attempt the impossible.

They could use every book, every tool, every piece of knowledge they’d ever had, and it still wouldn’t be enough.

Of course it wouldn’t.

This was Dante they were dealing with.

There had to be a reason for the ten, and it was obvious for all of them to see.

He had truly given them a challenge that was nearly impossible.

’Nearly.’ And that was all the mercy they were going to get.

***

’Mercy,’ that was more than enough for Ignotus.

He, of course, had known of this test before coming here.

It was the main reason he came to class today, despite not feeling like it.

In his past life, the test was well known amongst the entire populace; even those who tried to avoid it couldn’t help but hear all about it.

It was that well-made.

Everyone who’d tried to solve it before the methods were leaked had even considered it a great privilege.

Naturally, that made Ignotus curious about what this ’privilege’ was.

And honestly, it didn’t disappoint.

’Let’s play.’