Chapter 380
Final Practical Evaluation for Haematology.
「Demonstration of Black Magic Related to the Heart」
Simon felt confident about this evaluation as well. After all, what black magic related to the heart could be more impressive than a lich’s Life Vessel?
Though it fell under Summoning Studies, the magic circle for Life Vessel contained a large number of Haematology formulas, so it was more than enough to be considered for evaluation.
That is, of course, assuming Professor Walter graded Simon fairly.
Cough, cough!
"A first-year performing Life Vessel, splendid. A+."
Walter, who had returned to campus after medical leave, straightforwardly gave Simon an A+.
"Thank you."
Simon bowed deeply in gratitude and looked at Walter. He looked even more haggard than before.
‘Professor Sillage was the same back then. Why do Haematology professors all seem to be in poor health?’
He figured it must be due to the inherent risks of a field that dealt directly with blood and life force.
After Simon returned to his seat, it was the next student’s turn.
"I’m Scott Snyder! I’ve prepared my own original pacemaker!"
"Looking forward to it. Go ahead."
Most first-years in Keyzen had received the Haematopoiesis Injection.
While its main purpose was to enhance blood magic, the undeniable reason everyone got the shot was this very practical exam, 「Demonstration of Black Magic Related to the Heart」. Both Walter and the Haematology professors of the other class sections chose this as their evaluation.
Simon's lich creation was an extremely rare exception. Among the heart-related black magic spells that were less risky, less costly, and required less preparation, the easiest one for students was using the pacemaker after getting the Haematopoiesis Injection.
This ‘pacemaker’ was now emerging as a new trend.
Walter had explained the relationship between the Haematopoiesis Injection and haematopoietic cells like this:
—In order to activate the haematopoietic cells from a Blood Slime, you have to match the heart’s rhythm to a specific frequency. You create a heartbeat that mirrors the Blood Slime’s to replicate the same internal conditions.
This technique was exactly what the pacemaker did. Only those who had received the Haematopoiesis Injection could use it.
With this rhythm, they could massively boost blood production, alter the nature of the blood, or even give special properties to the same old Bloodshot spell.
Even students who were initially hesitant about the injection began lining up for it once they felt they were falling behind compared to those who had received it.
Of course, Simon had published his research on the Haematopoiesis Injection in the campus newspaper to warn other students, but it was dismissed as mere speculation.
The renowned Pentamonium had already issued an official statement declaring the injection to be harmless to the human body. At that point, refusing the shot was practically a disadvantage.
Even second- and third-year students had come to see Walter about it.
‘Ugh.’
As Simon watched students power up their blood magic using pacemakers, his concerns only grew deeper.
‘Could Professor Walter really be innocent? Is this all just my paranoia?’
In truth, when handwriting analysis proved that "Keyzen’s Professor Walter" and "Judah of the Blood Heaven Cult" were different people, all of Simon’s assumptions and theories had essentially shattered.
It wasn’t strange that Walter’s acquaintances called him Judah. Judah was a common name. It could be a nickname or an old name from the past.
Even the fact that he carried around a fountain pen engraved with "Judah" didn’t seem that important once Simon cooled his head.
"Simon."
Just then, the Haematology teaching assistant quietly approached him.
"Professor Walter said, if you’re ever considering getting the Haematopoiesis Injection, just let him know anytime."
"......."
Walter did care about Simon.
He had even offered to take Simon on as a direct disciple, and above all, he was interested in Simon’s SM-1 — Cloud. He wanted to continue the research of his former mentor, Professor Sillage.
But still.
"I’m really sorry."
Simon bowed politely.
"I’m not considering it at the moment."
The assistant’s expression stiffened slightly, then she turned and walked away.
* * *
The practical evaluations ended, and at last, the final exam period arrived.
Since this was the only written exam in the integrated second semester, students studied like their lives depended on it.
Keyzen even revised its policies to allow 24-hour activity on campus. The library was now open all day and night, and many students stayed holed up in there, pulling all-nighters.
"Uggggggh……"
Every morning, students shuffled toward their classrooms like zombies, groaning like zombies.
"Keyzen really is a zombie factory……"
Dick muttered with a drained voice as he staggered along.
But they still had to attend classes. The first lecture of the morning was Darkness Dynamics by Professor Eric Aura.
Since professors were busy preparing exam questions, there was a high chance those questions would be drawn from current lecture material. The students, their eyes bloodshot, glared at the board with laser focus.
To stay awake, Maelyn pinched her thigh and even took desperate measures like clipping laundry pins to her arms. Kamibarez, who normally avoided public attention, was now openly slurping down blood packs.
Pop! Pop!
During the lecture, nosebleeds broke out all over the room. Yet no one paused. They simply plugged their noses with tissues and continued scribbling with their quill pens.
Everyone was desperate.
No, they were frantic.
Only about half of them would move on to the second year at Keyzen. The rest would have to return home. After coming this far, no one wanted to give up.
"Alright, that’s all for today’s class."
Eric set down the chalk.
"Good job, everyo—"
His eyes widened in surprise.
The students, who should’ve been racing out to lunch, were instead sitting in place, staring at him with hollow eyes.
Eric let out a small ‘Ah’ and smiled faintly.
"Alright. Want me to point out a few likely topics for the test?"
"THANK YOU!!!"
They looked like lunatics obsessed with studying.
They jotted down every word Eric said, even his throwaway jokes, and only then did they finally leave the lecture hall, satisfied.
"Yaaawn! What should we eat for lunch?"
Dick stretched and spoke.
"I’m skipping. I’m heading to the library."
Maelyn, with dark circles under her eyes, peeled a banana and bit into it.
She had entered full-on study gremlin mode. She wore oversized, horn-rimmed glasses and pushed her bangs up with a headband. The rest of her hair was tied back neatly with a string.
"Even eating feels like a waste of time."
"……Whoa! Maelyn turning down food? The world must be ending tomorrow."
Dick threw in his usual snark, but Maelyn didn’t respond. Offended by her lack of reaction, Dick piped up again.
"Eugh, look at all that grease in your hair. It's so shiny~ At least wash it, would ya?"
"Even showering feels like a waste of time."
Maelyn replied coldly and walked ahead. Now that Dick noticed, she was wearing pajama pants under her uniform skirt.
Dick shook his head in disbelief.
"......So intense, seriously. It’s like she’s possessed by the ghost of someone who died studying too hard."
Kamibarez, walking with quick steps beside Simon, gave an awkward smile.
"She ranked second in the whole school during midterms. She says she’s definitely going to be first this time."
"Still, that’s a bit much."
As if even the time spent walking to the library was too valuable, Maelyn opened her notebook of wrong answers and strode past the group. At one point, she even stumbled a bit while walking, as though feeling dizzy.
It was nerve-racking to watch.
"Maelyn."
Unable to take it anymore, Simon picked up his pace to walk alongside her. She answered while keeping her eyes glued to her notebook.
"What? You three go ahead to the cafeteria."
Simon gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Do you remember our first group assignment in the first semester? The Cyclops Practical Evaluation?"
"......."
"You were the assigned leader, but then you overworked yourself trying to make up for your weakness in Magical Combat and ended up spraining your leg. It was a whole mess."
She whipped her head around, her face suddenly blazing red.
"W-why are you bringing that up now?! That’s ancient history!"
"It’s the same thing now."
Simon continued in a calm, gentle tone.
"If you push too hard, something’s bound to go wrong. You’ve got to manage your condition, eat to recharge your energy, and feed your brain the nutrients it needs. Right?"
Then, pretending to think it over, Simon lightly crossed his arms.
"Oh! And I heard today’s lunch is chicken steak."
Drrrrooool.
Despite surviving on fruit alone, Maelyn couldn’t stop the drool from leaking out the corner of her mouth. Face flushed, she quickly wiped it away with her sleeve and said primly,
"F-fine. If you’re going to insist that much, I guess I have no choice."
"Hey, wait a sec, lady!"
Dick, walking behind with Kamibarez, shouted in protest.
"Why does she ignore me but listen to Simon?! Is my mouth just a snout compared to his or what?! Huh?"
"Shut it."
Maelyn snapped coldly, shooting him a glare.
"The world's ending? My hair’s too greasy? All you did was mock me!"
"Okay, okay."
Simon stepped in, gently pushing the two toward the cafeteria before they could start fighting again.
Kamibarez smiled brightly and followed after them.
* * *
One week later.
"FREEDOOOOOM!!!"
Final exams were over.
The moment Jane announced the end of the test and collected all the answer sheets, Dick jumped on his desk, flailed his test papers like a scarf, then threw them into the air.
Other students joined in the cheers of joy. Regardless of their grades, everyone finally had smiles and laughter back on their faces.
"Dick Hayword."
Just as Dick was gleefully tearing his test paper into shreds with a technique rivaling even Vintra's infamous paper-ripping skills, he turned to see Jane wagging her finger at him with a terrifying expression.
"Follow me to my office."
"Professor, please! Have mercy!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Laughter erupted around the room. Meanwhile, Maelyn, as if breaking a seal, removed her glasses and set her headband down on the desk. When she shook her head, her sky-blue hair fluttered like a scene from a photo shoot.
"Ahhh! I can finally breathe!"
She stretched with a relieved smile. Two male students who had approached to compare their tests with hers blushed slightly.
"Huh?"
Noticing them while mid-stretch, Maelyn furrowed her brows.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that? Wanna die?"
"N-no! It’s nothing!"
The two scurried away in a panic. Maelyn snorted, chased them off with a single glare, then began packing her things.
"Great work, everyone!"
"You too, Kami."
Simon and Kamibarez exchanged greetings and stood up.
"You all know this, right? Just because finals are over doesn’t mean we get to rest."
Maelyn said calmly as she slipped her test paper into her bag.
"The biggest challenge is still waiting for us."
"True that."
"Yeah!"
Just as she said, there was one last major trial awaiting the first-year students of Keyzen.
Simon folded his arms with a serious look.
"The second-year advancement exam. I wonder what it’ll be like?"
* * *
Chzzk.
Chhhk.
Chzzzzk—
"—Are the preparations complete?"
"Yes."
A secret conversation flowed out from the darkness.
"Well done. Then, I’ll see you on the grand stage."
Click.
The transmission cut off, and a long breath was released.
"Everyone, be ready. The promised time has come."
With those words—
A thousand individuals cloaked in tattered robes rose to their feet all at once.
"The birth of the Apostle is near."
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters
Very good story and translation but half the chapter aren't for free and it is wayyyy too expensive will it stat like tjis foreve or will it get free after some time