novelraw Chapter 42 : Second Amendment to School Regulations (2)
Chapter 42 : Second Amendment to School Regulations (2)
Chapter 42: Second Revision of the School Rules (2)
-Summoning : 4(4)
-Light : 3(3)
-Water : 3(2)
-Earth : 2(2)
-Wind : 2(1)
-Darkness : 1(1)
-Fire : 0(0)
They explained that these were the results of this match.
I honestly doubted my own eyes, wondering if results this messed up could truly appear.
“How did this happen? Fire Element 0 wins?”
This was a subject Hei and Kiena were in.
Getting 0 wins in a subject like that simply didn’t make sense.
“We didn’t get picked, so we didn’t even get a chance to go out. And they were throwing the matches on purpose.”
The one who answered was Banshi.
As expected, this was exactly what I had thought.
“What about Summoning getting 4 consecutive wins?”
“I barely managed to get that by going out third, at the very end!”
Kiena answered with her chin pushed up high as if starving for praise, but we couldn’t create a cheerful atmosphere.
I quickly rose from my seat.
“We’d better go check the ranking board.”
Since we couldn’t check the rankings through the Mob, we had to check the bulletin board next to the auditorium.
With the results of this match, I definitely needed to confirm what changes had occurred in the rankings.
As soon as I took the three with me and stepped out of the infirmary, of all times, the infirmary teacher returned.
“Where are you planning to go, Artel?”
“I’m getting discharged.”
“What?”
She looked baffled, staring at me in disbelief.
“I’m the one who decides your discharge. Who told you that you could leave?”
“I’m getting discharged tomorrow anyway. And today’s match, which was the day’s schedule, is all over, so isn’t the day practically done?”
“What kind of logic is that?”
“So I’m just going to leave. I’ve already recovered anyway.”
She met my gaze and stayed silent for a long moment.
I’d pushed things a little, but since nothing I said was actually wrong, she gave a surprisingly positive answer.
“Well… leaving a day early shouldn’t cause any problems. Go.”
It wasn’t as if any part of my body had been severed—just a simple burn that would heal quickly with time, and even that had fully recovered.
She knew better than anyone that there was no reason for me to stay in the infirmary anymore, so she let me go without much resistance.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t get hurt again.”
“That won’t happen anymore.”
Leaving the infirmary, I went straight to the entrance of the auditorium where the bulletin board was.
[1st Class Point Rankings]
Artel
Hei
Banshi
Kiena
The rankings were completely scrambled.
But how did I become first place when I’d been stuck in the infirmary for a whole month?
On top of that, the Fire Element had gotten 0 wins this time, placing dead last, and even had 5,000 points deducted as punishment. So how did this ranking appear?
“Huh? Why aren’t the point totals showing? They were there earlier.”
Hei said this in the middle of it all.
Just as he said, the ranking board showed no point totals.
‘Which means they intentionally hid them.’
I didn’t know the reason, but the only three people who could touch this ranking board were Professor Nide, Vice Headmaster Former, and Headmaster Etar.
Meaning one or all three were preparing some plan and had briefly hidden the totals.
“More than that, I’m curious why I’m in first place.”
“Oh, that. All the Fire Element students, including Hapert, purposely increased their point usage.”
Banshi, standing beside us, explained.
“Increased their point usage?”
“They went to the arena, the training hall, the library—multiple times a day.”
To escape their penalty, they shamelessly tried every pathetic trick imaginable.
‘They actually exploited the penalty instead? Should I… praise them for this?’
These were the same guys who used to threaten me out of fear that I’d score high in matches, yet now they’d developed enough to use their heads. I couldn’t help thinking that.
According to Banshi, Hapert and the other students had a ton of points saved up, so they intentionally burned through them.
Students who normally never went to the library were going in groups several times a day, and they did the same with the training hall and arena.
But since the school rules had no usage limit on these facilities, the professors and teachers could do nothing but watch.
‘So that’s why they hid the point totals.’
Then that left only one thing.
“There should be a new announcement soon. Let’s go back. I get how things are moving now.”
I’d seen everything I needed to see with my own eyes.
All that remained was what the next announcement would be.
Former and Etar had gathered again.
They were seriously troubled as they looked over the 1st Class match results and the students’ point totals.
“I’m sorry, Headmaster. I was far too careless. I never imagined they’d throw the match on purpose, and intentionally increase their point usage.”
About three weeks ago, Former had reviewed every bit of the Mob-recorded footage he had sent to Nide.
What stood out was that the high-ranking Darkness and Fire Element students were deliberately losing.
Professor Nide had scolded them on the spot as well, but the students had brushed it off with excuses like, “I’m not feeling well today,” leaving even a professor with no way to respond.
“I didn’t think all the students would go to such an extreme…”
Former had expected some degree of it, but the students acted far beyond expectations.
They had already restricted teacher-discretion evaluations and magic duel subjects that awarded points to once per month.
Thus, overconsumption of points was already expected, so they reduced the number of opportunities while keeping the amount awarded the same.
The students deliberately throwing matches was the same. They had thought only a few of the higher-ranking students would do it.
After all, if they stayed at the bottom, they wouldn’t be able to move to the next class.
The rules they had revised this time all required long-term planning to progress to the next class.
A rather difficult task—students had to manage their point usage while also maintaining consistent grades.
But reality was the complete opposite of what Former had expected.
In some ways, they had overestimated the students.
Looking at the situation long-term, it meant there hadn’t been a single student who had thought ahead.
Every student who didn’t want to rank high right now acted as if they had made some kind of pact, overspending points on purpose without thinking of the future, and creating the bizarre spectacle of intentionally losing together.
It looked like they were aiming for a last-minute comeback, but if they ruined their points like this from the start, promotion would be impossible.
“I really can’t… read what these young students are thinking.”
Former spoke gloomily.
“Young students’ thoughts… That reminds me of the person who emphasized that to me a very long time ago.”
Etar, too, gained many realizations this time.
At the same time, memories buried in the corners of his mind resurfaced.
“The person you refer to as ‘that person’, Headmaster, can only mean one person, correct?”
Without realizing it, Former glanced at the wall.
It was where Etar had hung the robe worn in life by his teacher, Archis Eimer—just as Etar calmed his mind daily by admiring master paintings.
“He was someone who emphasized seeing things from their perspective. Anyway, Vice Headmaster, when you brought me this plan, didn’t you say you had a separate idea for ensuring Artel’s expulsion?”
“Ah… that…”
Former immediately made an awkward expression.
“Why? What is it?”
“I was planning to use the Joint Admission System.”
“Joint admission?”
“Yes. Among our branch school students, the only joint admission students are Artel and the two who entered with him, correct?”
Following that, Former placed the admission documents of Kiena and Hei—those who had entered together with Artel—on the desk.
“I don’t see how you intended to use that.”
“Artel is a double caster. His magical talent is exceptional, so even if he slipped through the revised school rules, I planned to bind the other two together with him.”
“How, exactly?”
“Joint admission students form one team. If even one member fails, then all members fail.”
At that moment, Etar’s expression changed as if he had gained new insight.
It was indeed an ingenious method.
A very legitimate way to ensure Artel’s expulsion.
“But… if you look at their grades…”
Former now unfolded the current point ranking chart for 1st Class.
“All the joint admission students are within the top five. I never expected this at all. I’m very sorry for disappointing you…”
“Hm.”
But Etar showed not even the slightest hint of disappointment as he examined the ranking chart and the information on Artel’s joint admission members even more carefully.
As he focused, Etar’s expression slowly grew heavier.
Feeling uneasy, Former began talking more.
“You had high expectations… but I wasn’t able to meet them. This is all my fault.”
“No. How could all the responsibility fall on you? I’m the one who approved the plan. I have responsibility as well.”
“If you say so…”
“But tell me, the reason the 1st Class students are intentionally losing—it’s all because of the penalty, isn’t it? Since it’s directly tied to their grades.”
Etar now focused on the results of the 1st Class matches without Artel.
“Yes, nothing else explains it. Their behavior suddenly changed right after the school rules were revised.”
Etar reviewed the duel footage once, then additionally reviewed the admission documents of Artel, Hei, and Kiena before nodding.
“I’ve thought of one clever solution.”
“What kind…?”
“The students don’t want to stay at the top because of the penalty, right?”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“Then if the penalty disappears, wouldn’t they want to stay at the top again like before?”
“But… if we do that, Artel’s expulsion…”
“I think it’s a clever idea worth trying.”
Etar began explaining his plan to Former.
Once the idea in Etar’s head was conveyed, Former’s expression shifted into one of realization.
“How is it?”
“If it’s that… That’s brilliant, Headmaster.”
“No, no. I was inspired by your suggestion about joint admission, so the credit is yours.”
“Thank you. Then shall we begin immediately?”
“Yes.”
The next day.
Today was the day I finally returned to my normal routine.
Right after waking up, I changed clothes in the dormitory, and while passing the cafeteria to get breakfast—
I didn’t hear the usual ‘beep’ sound for point payment.
‘That’s strange.’
“Mob Manifestation, points.”
Even when I said the exact command to the Mob, it didn’t show me my points.
Yesterday, the points disappeared from the ranking board—now even individual student points?
I was bewildered, not knowing what was going on, when a new announcement popped up.
[School Rule Revision No. 2]
Dear students, this is Ed Etar, Headmaster of the Ed Branch School.
The moment I saw the title, only one thought came to mind.
‘Yeah, here it is.’
It had already seemed obvious that the rules would change.
And today, their true form was revealed.
I carefully read the announcement.
After reviewing the recent 1st Class duel results, I understand how you must have felt. As Headmaster, it pains me to see students intentionally avoid achieving good results because of the penalty.
Uncharacteristically, Etar’s introduction was long.
Skipping the unnecessary parts, I went straight to the main content.
One month remains in the first semester.
And for the sake of all students, I have implemented special measures.
Normally, one duel would remain before summer break, but that duel has been canceled.
Additionally, all 1st Class students may use the facilities free of charge until summer break.
In the second semester, a newly revised duel system will be waiting for you.
I wish all students a wonderful day.
That was the entirety of the revised school rules.
Points were suddenly removed, and the final duel was canceled.
But what bothered me was that the newly revised rules wouldn’t be revealed until the second semester.
“You saw the announcement, right?”
Right on cue, Banshi arrived at the cafeteria and came up to me.
“Yeah.”
“What do you think of this one?”
“Hm. If they’re doing this from 1st Class onward, all I can think is, how are we supposed to climb all the way to 6th Class?”
It didn’t feel impossible—just annoyingly full of obstacles.
I glanced toward the students in the cafeteria.
Learning that points had disappeared, the students were simply piling their plates with whatever food they wanted, looking carefree.
From the outside, it looked just like the peaceful Magic Academy from my previous life… but would the second semester really stay this calm?
The answer I gave myself was inevitably negative.