SRS 72

The only good thing was that, at least for this week, everyone only had to take the test for their own major among the six daily evaluations, except for the early morning gymnastics class with the griffins.

Because of that, some students looked half-dead, while others seemed happy to have a break.

Yohan was one of the former.

“…When’s the Herbology test again?”

“Second period. …But Yohan, are you really fine?”

“I’m fine.”

He looked like he would pass out at any moment. He had spent the whole weekend buried in his Spirit Studies textbook, only to realize that Monday’s test was Herbology, so he stayed up all night reading that one instead. After not sleeping at all, his eyes were bloodshot and swollen with broken veins.

Suhyeok sighed as he watched Yohan act as if nothing was wrong and rode his griffin toward the Sky Garden.

“I told you to drop one of your majors.”

“……”

After hearing that so many times over the past two weeks, Yohan didn’t even react anymore. He just arrived at the Sky Garden, pretending not to hear it.

“Good morning, everyone.”

Since Professor Ariel’s basic ability evaluation was set for Friday, today’s early class was peaceful.

Following the professor’s instructions, they guided their griffins in circles and completed a short end-of-month practice.

After class, Yohan returned to the dormitory, saw Kylus heading out to take his Imperial Studies test, sent him off, and opened his Herbology book.

“You’re studying again already?”

“There’s still a part I haven’t read properly.”

“If you haven’t read it yet, it probably won’t be on the test.”

Suhyeok clicked his tongue at his friend’s persistence, then sat down beside him to study as well.

“…Should we quiz each other once we’ve memorized enough?”

Maybe tired of studying in silence, Suhyeok suddenly suggested it. Yohan hesitated, then nodded.

“Then I’ll start.”

Suhyeok beamed and took Yohan’s book.

“What are the ingredients for Kasa’s Advanced Recovery potion?”

“Purified water, Salier’s feather, Noule’s extract, and one cup of water diluted with Delaim’s essence.”

“Correct. Then what’s the name of the herb that restores stamina but causes partial numbness as a side effect?”

“Amar.”

“Correct. What was the belief of the herbologist Mu Deoksaho when treating patients?”

‘There’s no good or evil in patients. Good and evil are judged after the treatment.’

“Correct. Wait, why are you answering so fast?”

Yohan answered every question immediately, not even pausing for breath. When he said awkwardly that he had just studied hard, Suhyeok gave him a doubtful look, flipped through the pages, and asked another question.

“What’s the fourth paragraph on page eighty-two of the Herbology Studies textbook?”

“Meanwhile, the herbologist Yanda Karzen, who came from another dimension, said this: ‘Herbs are closer to poison than people think. We refine poison so it can be used as medicine, but if we wish, we can create poison at any time. Herbologists must remember that and restrain themselves, handling herbs according to their own sense of justice.’ This belief of Yanda Karzen spread among herbologists and became one of the basic principles of herbology.”

“……”

When Yohan recited the passage word for word, Suhyeok stared at him as if he were looking at something inhuman. He lowered the book with a blank face.

“…Not everyone can be top of the class.”

“I still have a long way to go.”

“Yohan, if you still have a long way to go, then we’re all bugs.”

“…You don’t have to say that.”

Yohan, startled by Suhyeok’s remark, lifted his book to change the mood.

“Then I’ll ask now.”

“Go ahead.”

Suhyeok answered confidently, saying he hadn’t been slacking off either. Yohan quickly skimmed the pages and asked.

“When the following herbs are refined using the methods of Yanda Karzen, Mu Deoksaho, Karsh, and Kasa, what kind of potion could be produced? The ingredients are the fourth leaf of Amar, Noule’s extract, and Moonloon’s pollen.”

“……”

The calm voice made Suhyeok hesitate. He tilted his head, then caught Yohan’s arm.

“Yohan, is that in the textbook?”

Yohan blinked his golden eyes softly and looked at him.

“No.”

“…Then why did you even ask something like that?”

“Because if you understand how herbologists refine things, you should be able to solve it by using that knowledge. I thought the real test would test how well we can use what we understand, not just how honestly we can copy the textbook.”

“……”

“Suhyeok? What’s wrong?”

Yohan explained eagerly, but his friend just stared at him, speechless. When Yohan asked if he was all right, Suhyeok finally sighed and leaned back in his chair.

“…Forget it, just take the top spot yourself.”

“What?”

“You can have first place. …Give me the book. I think I need to start over.”

Suhyeok looked a bit gloomy as he took the textbook. Yohan, not understanding what had just happened, blinked in confusion, then quietly cheered him on before going back to his studies.

He continued reading until his eyes burned. By then, the first period and its break had both ended, and it was time for the Herbology test.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

After three straight hours of studying without a break, the two looked as if they were heading into battle.

“Is everyone already here? Good attitude. Then I’ll explain the Spirit Studies aptitude test. It will be held in two parts. The first hour will be written, the next hour practical. We’ll start with the written test.”

Clap, clap.

When Professor Will entered the classroom, he clapped twice, and several upperclassmen followed him in, handing out thick test papers to each desk. The test booklet was thirty pages long. Yohan stared at it, horrified. Was he really supposed to finish this in an hour? While he was still in disbelief, the professor noticed the same expression spreading across the students’ faces and added calmly,

“The written test is graded comparatively, so you don’t have to solve every problem. Just do your best. Good results will follow effort. Now, I’ll start the timer.”

Click.

As soon as Will pressed the button, time began to tick away. The students forgot all about complaining and bent over their papers at the same time. Yohan’s eyes moved quickly as he marked his answers with his pen.

There were ten questions per page, three hundred in total. To keep up, Yohan gave each question twenty seconds to a minute. If it took longer, he marked it and moved on.

Beep, beep, beep

Before he knew it, an hour had passed, and the timer went off.

“That’s all.”

The moment the alarm sounded, Professor Will had the upperclassmen end the test. The students groaned as they were forced to put down their pens.

“I didn’t even finish two pages…!”

Hearing Melek’s shout, Yohan turned around in surprise.

If it’s only two pages, isn’t that basically nothing?

He watched awkwardly until Suhyeok, who had been sitting a bit farther away because of the test spacing, leaned over and tapped his shoulder.

“Yohan, how far did you get?”

At his quiet whisper, Yohan thought back.

“…I got up to question one hundred and eight. I skipped about six that took too long or looked like they would.”

“What? One hundred and eight?”

Suhyeok raised his voice, and in an instant, everyone nearby turned toward Yohan.

Soon, a small crowd gathered around his desk.

“One hundred and eight? Did I hear that right? You solved up to one hundred and eight?”

“That’s impossible! I stopped at thirty-six!”

“I only got to page five… and I thought that was good…”

“Yohan, seriously? You actually finished one hundred and eight?”

The students surrounded him, grabbing his shoulders and shaking him for answers. Yohan, helplessly shaken back and forth, tried to calm them down.

“This isn’t fair!”

“Let Yohan take the test separately from us!”

“Wait, hold on…”

“This can’t be right. How am I supposed to face that wall of talent…”

“Wait, everyone, calm down.”

“Ugh…”

“……”

Even as Yohan looked troubled and asked them to settle down, the Herbology students wouldn’t stop making noise. Just as he was about to instinctively use divine power to silence them, Professor Will gestured, and the upperclassmen dragged the noisy students out of the room.

Watching their classmates being hauled away, the others reluctantly quieted down.

In the now-silent classroom, the elf professor smiled.

“The test isn’t over yet. Everyone, please head to the mountain. It’s time for the practical evaluation.”

Yes, the Herbology aptitude test wasn’t finished yet.