Chapter 273
"Simon! Simon! Simon! Simon!"
As the crowd chanted his name with thunderous excitement, Simon received the amplification crystal orb from the host.
"Now then, Simon! Please share a few words with us!"
The host said with a wink.
Simon brought the orb to his mouth.
"Hello. I’m Simon Follentia."
Since he was asked for his thoughts, he gave a standard, yet obligatory response.
He thanked the professors and expressed his gratitude to the team members who had trained with him during spare time. He promised to continue striving harder.
The host, listening up to that point, smoothly cut in at the right moment and asked a follow-up.
"We can’t skip over Deimos, can we? I’m curious how you got your hands on such a rare summon, and also, why didn’t you make it into an Underworld Whale?"
Just as Simon was about to answer, he hesitated. The fact that he went to the fish market, would it be okay if Professor Walter found out?
Simon subtly changed his answer.
"I received help from my senior in the club, Senior Benya Vanilla."
There was a successor of the Vanilla family in the same club, and he had used their connection to obtain it. The reason he didn’t make it into an Underworld Whale was because the base material was in bad condition. In the end, obtaining the Deimos Skeleton, which preserved its Alpha-grade potential, was the best choice.
With answers that flowed naturally while concealing key details, Simon’s smooth talking satisfied even the host, who nodded in approval.
"I’d also like to take this opportunity to offer a separate thank-you. To Senior Benya, and… ah!"
Simon’s eyes widened.
Among the cheering crowd, he spotted some especially enthusiastic older men, it was a very familiar sight.
‘They came to watch!’
Diego and his juniors had come to spectate.
Simon quickly continued speaking.
"I’d also like to thank the master necromancers of the Vanilla group who perfectly crafted my first Deimos, Senior Diego, Senior Marco, and Senior Rodrion! They’re here today!"
When Simon pointed toward them, the audience’s attention turned as well. Applause burst out for them too, and the image of the three men smiling bashfully appeared on the screen.
Since the third BMAT had been made possible thanks to great help from the Vanilla group, Simon figured a little “advertisement” like this wouldn’t hurt.
"Then lastly, please share a final word about your determination going forward!"
At the host’s words, Simon nodded.
"This time, I got lucky and came in first, but in the BMAT, anyone can fall below the top 50 at any time. I’ll stay sharp and work even harder. Thank you!"
With a round of applause, Simon safely wrapped up the interview and stepped down from the stage. The host’s voice called the next interviewee, Elisa, to the stage.
"Good job."
Jane, standing with her arms crossed, spoke.
Simon bowed with a smile.
"Thank you! I’m back on top again, Professor."
"Yes."
Simon scratched his head.
‘She’s calmer than I expected. I thought she’d be happy I got first place.’
Though Jane stood expressionless, in truth, one of her arms—which the students couldn’t see—was trembling slightly in joy.
"Hello! I’m Elisa Selene!"
Having finished his part, Simon listened to the other students' interviews in a relaxed mood.
Elisa’s speech was somewhat long.
She thanked her parents for bringing her into the world, the nanny and maid who cared for her as a child, Professor Umbra of Spiritology and all the professors, all the teaching assistants, the dorm steward for providing a good sleeping environment, and even a friend who lent her class notes.
It felt more like a medal ceremony than an interview.
Unable to bear it anymore, the host finally cut her off and called the next student. At that moment, Elisa was still going on about the name of the carriage driver who had taken her to Keyzen during the entrance ceremony.
And then came Raheim’s turn. He suddenly turned around, pointed at Simon, and shouted,
"Our duel in this exam was a draw! Zamon Villentor!"
Simon gave a hollow laugh.
‘…Still going on about that, huh.’
"We were both knocked out, weren’t we? Let’s postpone the duel over Maelyn to next time!"
Following Raheim was Hector’s turn.
As soon as he received the amplification orb, he took a shot at Raheim.
"Cut the crap. I’ll be the one to defeat Simon Follentia."
Simon forced a smile to appear composed, but the corners of his lips twitched slightly.
This is embarrassing, stop mentioning me already.
"And furthermore."
Hector turned his back completely to the crowd and stared at Simon with a chilling gaze.
"Don’t think that spot will always be yours."
This kind of provocative remark was exactly what the host had hoped for, and he jumped on it, thrilled.
"Wow! A declaration of war! That’s a declaration of war from Hector! Will the two of them settle things in the fourth BMAT? Be sure to tune in next time! And now, the final student to be interviewed is…!"
Just then, a broadcast assistant ran up onto the stage and handed the host a slip of paper.
"Ah, there’s been a slight change!"
The host read the note aloud.
"Student Jule, who was ranked third, is currently being treated in the infirmary due to injury. So instead, we’ll be bringing up the student who placed 6th! The student who ranked 6th in this exam! Please come on up!"
Step, step.
A female student walked onto the stage.
Simon was so surprised, his mouth hung open.
"Here’s the amplification orb, student."
"Thank you."
She accepted the orb, softly tested her voice with a light “Aah”, then spoke with a slightly nervous expression.
"Um, hello. I’m Claudia Menzies."
The 6th place student of the third BMAT was none other than Claudia.
"Welcome, Claudia! One of the biggest talking points of the third BMAT was the struggle of the Toxicology students! They absolutely dominated in the sea trials, and among them, your growth stood out the most! From 710th in the second BMAT, to now—an astonishing 6th overall!! That’s incredible! Do you have any secrets behind your growth here in Keyzen?"
Wearing a stiff smile from nerves, she answered.
"I-I wouldn’t say I grew exceptionally, it’s just that the third exam’s theme was really favorable for Toxicology students. There were lots of venomous monsters, and only Toxicology students could easily launch wide-range attacks in the sea environment."
The host clapped his hands. He wasn’t about to let it end that easily.
"Hahaha! So humble! But still, isn’t ‘6th overall’ a bit too amazing to chalk up to just a favorable theme? Surely there was some personal shift in mindset or a big realization?"
She slowly nodded and continued her answer.
Perhaps from nerves in front of the large audience, Claudia’s voice trembled, and she had trouble finding the right words, even making a few slip-ups.
It was a stark contrast to her earlier assertiveness before Class A, almost as if she’d reverted to a normal girl from before the boycott.
"U-um."
"Yes! Please go ahead!"
"May I also… share a few thoughts?"
"Ah! Of course! By all means!"
She took a deep breath.
Then she glanced back toward Simon briefly before turning her gaze forward again.
"There was a moment when I wanted to turn back time."
Her clear voice rang out.
"My paranoia, sense of crisis, and despair led me to do something foolish. I led the class boycott."
Murmur, murmur, murmur.
The crowd grew noisy.
"My reasons were petty, even to me. I piled on convenient excuses like student rights. Through my actions, I caused wounds that can’t be healed for some. I’ll visit each one and ask for their forgiveness."
She let out a long sigh and continued.
"The truth is, it was all a misunderstanding on my part. Thankfully, the professor approached me first, and I came to realize my foolishness. Thanks to that professor’s teachings, I was able to reach this honorable position."
Claudia smiled softly.
"But back then, the professor said something strange to me."
—Someone asked me to talk to you. Said I should try having a conversation with you all.
—The more I think about it, the funnier it gets. I said I’d do anything, and here I am, creating this opportunity for someone I don’t even know.
Whether it was kindness, pity, meddling, or just a tossed-out comment—
She didn’t know why that person had asked Belya for such a favor.
But one thing was certain.
"I don’t know who you are."
She wiped away a tear hanging at the corner of her eye.
"But if you’re listening, I really want to say this."
She gave a bright smile.
"Thank you. That one sentence of yours changed my life."
* * *
No matter what anyone said, the center of the whirlwind in this third BMAT was Belya.
The unprecedented class boycott had broken out, and even among the elders and parents, criticism toward Belya’s poison-focused lessons was considerable.
But then, the Toxicology students suddenly ended the boycott and showed up to the exam equipped with a new technique called the "Original Darkness-Venom Style", producing dazzling results.
Claudia ranking 6th overall was just the start.
If it had simply been a theme favorable to Toxicology students, it wouldn’t have turned into such a big issue. But the problem lay elsewhere.
There was a stark performance gap between students who had taken Belya’s Toxicology lessons, and those who had taken classes from other professors.
After the exam ended, students from the back classes began clamoring to audit Professor Belya’s Toxicology course.
Naturally, Belya’s stock rose dramatically. Even the Keyzen headquarters began to change their perspective.
—They used to dismiss her as a wildling, but now she’s made a huge breakthrough.
—When Professor Hongpeng was first appointed, there was a lot of criticism about her outdoor classes too! But now she’s ranked top in class satisfaction five years in a row and is considered a flagship professor of Keyzen.
—Sounds good. Got any other necromancers from the grasslands? Try contacting them.
—Don’t even joke. I heard Aland, Sierra, and Moyran have already started moving.
—Hahaha! That’s why they’re always stuck in second place. Always one step behind.
Though a few controversies still lingered, it seemed Belya’s adaptation to Keyzen had more or less succeeded.
"Cheers!"
Clink!
Laughter erupted in the air.
In front of Hongpeng’s cabin, Hongpeng had thrown a party for Belya and the teaching assistants who had worked hard on the Toxicology course.
"Everyone, eat up!"
"Thank you, Professor Hongpeng!"
Belya, her face flushed red with drink, waved her hand enthusiastically.
"Hey, hey! You too, come over here and drink!"
"Let me finish boiling this first."
Hongpeng busily moved back and forth between the cabin and the fire. A male assistant, tipsy from alcohol, laughed heartily.
"Uwaaah! You really never know what life has in store! I thought it was all over, then it all turns around like this."
"I really thought we were getting kicked out."
"They say the number of audit requests has skyrocketed. I can't wait to see Professor Duncan’s face, the one teaching Toxicology to the back classes."
"That’s what I said!"
Belya shouted, raising her glass high.
"I told you to just trust this unnie and follow me!"
"That’s right, that’s right!"
"Another toast~!"
Wahahaha!
Everyone let go of their worries and simply enjoyed themselves for the first time in a long while.
The head assistant, who couldn’t hold her liquor well, smiled as she took care of the professor and juniors. She glanced at the girl sitting beside Belya and spoke.
"Claudia, how long are you going to sit there making everyone uncomfortable?"
Claudia, kneeling beside Belya, fidgeted with her glass with an awkward expression.
"I, I just don’t think I deserve to be at a place like this…"
"Enough, enough! That’s all in the past!"
Belya gently patted her on the head.
"And even if you caused some trouble with the boycott, you placed a glorious 6th in the BMAT and made this unnie proud! Isn’t that right? Huh?"
"That’s right, that’s right!"
"You little rascals!"
Belya looked at the assistants and shouted.
"I’m thinking of taking Claudia in as my direct disciple starting today, what do you all think?"
"Sounds great!"
"Absolutely in favor!"
Cheers and rowdy applause broke out all around.
Claudia’s eyes brimmed with emotion.
"I, I’ve done nothing but trouble everyone, so why…"
"She’s crying again! Hahaha!"
"Damn it! Say it clearly!"
Belya leaned in close and said,
"Are you going to reject me like that one did? Huh?"
"N-no! Becoming your direct disciple, it would be an honor! I really want to!"
"That’s what I like to hear!"
"Then, to welcome our newest family member!"
"Cheers!"
The festive mood deepened as the night went on.
Some of the assistants passed out drunk.
Belya chuckled heartily and stood up. The head assistant asked,
"Professor, where are you going?"
"Bathroom!"
Saying that, she strolled behind Hongpeng’s cabin. There, she found Hongpeng stirring a huge cauldron of soup.
"Hey."
Hongpeng turned around.
"Oh, unnie."
"I told you, just come eat with us already."
The two stood a slight distance apart.
A moment of silence passed.
"Congrats, unnie."
"For what?"
"For pulling off a huge win. I honestly didn’t think you’d adapt to life at Keyzen."
Belya chuckled.
"You only drop that cringey stammering act when you’re with me, huh?"
"Don’t talk nonsense. Just remember this."
Hongpeng’s gaze turned sharp.
"This place is even more brutal in its survival-of-the-fittest than the grasslands we came from. If you show weakness, you’ll get torn apart immediately. How long do you think they’ll cut us slack just because we’re from a different culture?"
"Ay, there you go again, nagging the moment we meet."
Belya giggled. Hongpeng let out a bland laugh in return.
"Hey."
"Hm?"
"I heard from Simon. Said you looked after me."
A faint smile touched Hongpeng’s lips, but it quickly returned to her usual expression.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about."
She replied, stirring the pot with a ladle. Belya asked again,
"Do you want Simon too?"
"Any professor would want him. You too?"
Belya bared her sharp triangular teeth.
"I’m taking him. So give it up."
"Unbelievable."
The twin sisters burst into laughter.
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