SRS 76

“Croak.”

“Croak, Croak.”

“Croak-Croak, Croak-Croak.”

For the first time in a while, the classroom was filled with the croaking of frogs. Ever since the students’ divine power had improved, no one, including Yohan and Mikael had been turned into frogs for a long time. It seemed this evaluation had pushed everyone’s divine power to its limit.

…Everyone except him.

“Hmm.”

Listening to the chorus of croaks, Yohan awkwardly filled the last ring with divine power. Even though he had deliberately slowed down to avoid attention, he still managed to fill all fifty rings before time ran out.

Beep, beep, beep.

The timer went off not long after. The angel professor closed his pocket watch and spoke.

“Stop. The test is over.”

No one moved. It couldn’t be helped, Yohan had already finished, Mikael was dozing off with his head on the desk, and the rest of the students had turned into frogs and couldn’t even use their power anymore.

“Croak-croak. Croak…”

Leaving the pitiful croaking behind, the angel professor walked around the room, checking each desk and marking grades.

“Lina Elisha, B. Lisa Elisha, C+. Hyman, B…”

The angel professor, who counted the number of glowing rings and immediately announced the grade, stopped in front of Yohan’s desk. His narrowed gaze fell on Mikael, who sat next to him.

“Mikael, F. And Yohan Herse.”

Mikael, who hadn’t touched a single ring, had received the lowest score. He knew it was an inevitable outcome, but Yohan, still feeling a little disappointed, regained his senses and raised his head when the professor called him. The professor briefly studied Yohan with a delicate gaze, then, upon confirming the rings he had filled, moved his pen.

“Yohan Herse, A+. Congratulations, young lamb. You are the first perfect scorer since I was assigned to this post. Well done.”

“Croak?”

“Croak-croak!”

“Croak!”

The frogs croaked simultaneously at the angel professor’s praise. Yohan, too, was startled, rubbing his ears and doubting his hearing. This was the first time he’d heard such direct praise in his class.

Why did it feel so unsettling?

Thump, thump. Thump, thump.

Even though it was clearly a compliment, his heart began to pound anxiously. Yohan stroked the back of his hand, lost in thought.

What is this ominous feeling even though he got full marks and escaped the danger of becoming an assistant?

“Hmm. Those who get perfect scores should receive a proper reward. Come to my office after the evaluation.”

“I’ll pass.”

“……?”

Still lost in thought, Yohan answered almost reflexively, rejecting the invitation the instant it left the professor’s mouth. His refusal was faster than light. The professor’s eyebrow twitched.

Coming to his senses, Yohan looked flustered and bowed his head politely.

“Thank you, Professor, but I’m really fine. I still have much to learn. It wouldn’t be right for me to set foot in your office so soon.”

“I permit it.”

“I’ll still pass.”

“…….”

“I’d like to visit after I’ve improved more.”

Yohan lowered his head again in polite refusal. With such a resolute answer, the professor didn’t insist further. He only gave Yohan a strange look, then said, “Then next time,” and walked away.

…So he’s not withdrawing the invitation.

Yohan sighed softly. Even after being rejected, the professor hadn’t taken back his offer.

For some reason, I don’t think I should go…

He couldn’t explain the exact reason, but he had a strong feeling that if he entered the professor’s office, there would be no turning back.

“Everyone passed with better scores than expected. Except for one.”

After grading everyone, the professor looked at Mikael and snapped his fingers.

Pop!

The frogs turned back into humans. Having burned through most of their divine power, they still looked pale and exhausted.

The professor snapped his fingers again, breaking down the rings and returning the divine energy inside them to their original owners. Color slowly returned to the students’ faces.

Avoiding what could’ve been a long disciplinary report, the professor picked up his score sheet.

“Good work, everyone. I’ll see you next class.”

He left without hesitation, even though fifteen minutes still remained in the allotted time.

Only after all trace of his presence was gone did Yohan sigh and stand up. He opened the cabinet at the back of the room.

“Yohan, you…!”

His classmates rushed in and surrounded him.

“Hmm?”

Thud!

Yohan answered with a puzzled expression, taking out the Spirit Studies textbook he’d brought to study and placing it on his desk. The thick textbook made a loud sound as he set it down.

The Divine Studies students glanced at the massive book. Clogged with various notes and scraps of paper, it was one and a half times thicker than its original size, and to anyone who saw it, it looked blunt enough to be a weapon.

“…Can I take a look at that for a second?”

Lisa asked, and Yohan nodded right away.

Lisa’s friends gathered around her. Slowly, Lisa opened Yohan’s textbook, only to freeze when she saw the dense handwriting, leaving no margins.

Inside were Yohan’s own summaries of key concepts, diagrams he’d drawn to memorize formulas, and pages rewritten three separate times—once in pen, once in color, once in marker—along with his own sample problems and solutions.

When one of them pulled out a loose sheet, it was filled with traces of mock tests. The students stared at Yohan as if they were looking at some strange prodigy.

Yohan tilted his head.

“What’s wrong?”

“…What’s our second-period subject today?”

“Spirit Studies.”

“……”

The friends who had become quiet at the innocent answer erased the betrayal, jealousy, and admiration that had been on their faces until the end of the evaluation, leaving only pity.

Lisa waved her hand weakly.

“Forget it, Yohan. What could we even say to you…”

“Go on, Yohan. You deserve to go.”

“Yes, you’d better be the top student. With that kind of effort, you have to be.”

“Just get first place again and keep yourself banned from dropping out.”

“…?”

Yohan became even more puzzled by the encouragement, which was unclear whether it was a compliment or an insult, but his friends left the classroom without further explanation.

“Let’s give up on first place.”

“Yes. I could never work that hard.”

“Me neither.”

“How is he even still alive?”

“It’s Yohan.”

Yohan blinked, listening to the conversation of his friends as they drifted away. He sat down in the quiet lecture room and opened his textbook. He planned to study here until Mikael woke up.

“Yohan.”

“…!”

As he turned the page, he heard the voice of the student he thought was asleep. Yohan was so startled that his hair stood on end, then he put the textbook aside and looked at Mikael’s face.

“Are you awake?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s go.”

“What was the result?”

“Mine? Or yours?”

“Obviously yours. My score isn’t worth hearing.”

That was true.

Yohan felt a bit embarrassed but answered after clearing his throat.

“A perfect score. Thanks to you, Mikael. The professor said I’ve improved a lot in a short time. It’s all because of your lessons.”

It was sincere. As Yohan raised the corners of his mouth and smiled, Mikael, who had been staring at that smile, stretched out his body, which had been hunched over for a long time, and rested his chin on his hand.

“Just in words?”

He asked mischievously. Yohan was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected reaction, then suddenly remembered that this was Mikael, and let out a deflated laugh.

“Is there something you want?”

“Hmm. I can’t think of anything right now.”

“Then tell me when you think of it.”

“You’ll agree to anything?”

In response to the meaningful question, Yohan closed his textbook and looked at Mikael.

“As long as it doesn’t break the rules.”

“As long as it doesn’t break the rules.”

The words came out of Yohan and Mikael’s mouths simultaneously. At the seemingly perfect timing, Yohan’s eyes widened in surprise, and Mikael chuckled.

“I knew you’d say that.”

He stood up, preparing to leave, then paused and looked back at Yohan.

“Oh, come to think of it, there’s something I wish for.”

Yohan gathered his textbook, stood up, and faced Mikael. He demanded an answer with his gaze, and Mikael stared at him intently, smiling.

“It’s still a while away, but… I’d like you to be my partner for the first-term festival.”

“Partner?”

“I’m talking about the partner for the Resurrection Festival held before the end of the semester. Before, I never had a partner. So I didn’t really go to festivals.”

“And this year you want to?”

“Yes. If you’ll come with me.”

Yohan nodded without hesitation.

“Let’s go together.”

Mikael didn’t have many friends. His closest friend, Yohan thought, would be himself, who knew his secret. So, he readily nodded, but for some reason, the student looked a little dissatisfied.

Why does he look like that?