Unsurprisingly, the seating arrangement for the [FINAL EXAM] was based on ranking.
Students trickled into the test room in a single-file line, ordered from the lowest to highest rank. Each row had ten students. Edris found himself seated by the window, fourth row, counting from the back, with Ives right beside him.
Both Celio and Owein were all the way to the first seat at the opposite corner.
Edris took in the rest of his surroundings.
Even fewer higher-ranked players had made it to the finals than he thought. Notably, many of the higher ranks previously in Alton's alliance were nowhere to be seen.
He also expected test tables to be separate from one another, but instead, students were gathered in a typical lecture hall, where one long table connected each row.
Even in its final moments, the Labyrinth wouldn’t stop with its shenanigans, he thought.
Normally, to prevent cheating, the lower-ranked students were arranged forward under the spotlight. That way, it's easier for proctors to catch any suspicious activity since they actively try to glance back in an attempt to cheat the papers of the higher-ranked students.
Here, however, the Labyrinth dropped baits here and there that encouraged them to cheat. How else would they get caught and sent to [DETENTION]?
A holographic screen floated at the very front of the lecture room. On it were brimming numbers that counted down by the second.
After everyone got seated, the Shadows emerged from the maroon floors and slipped a thick package in front of every student. Bold, black letters were printed on the front pages of each package.
FINAL EXAM TEST PACKAGE
STUDENT #: _______
TEST DURATION: 120 MINUTES
DO NOT FLIP THE PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE INSTRUCTED TO DO SO.
Tension filled the room. Many lives would be lost within these two hours, and it would continue until the survivor threshold was met.
The students looked around uneasily.
It could be the person beside them; it could be them.
This was the moment of truth.
Edris glimpsed the countdown on his screen.
PLAYER [EDRIS] 'S MAIN QUEST:
Confess to your unrequited love during the [FINAL EXAM]!
TIME LIMIT: 00:03:00:09
The exam took up two hours, yet the countdown showed that another hour would be left after they were finished taking the test.
Was it buffer time? Or was there more awaiting them within the last hour?
The holographic countdown hit zero, marking the start of the [FINAL EXAM].
Dozens of students flipped open their packages simultaneously, the clash of pen against paper filling the entire lecture hall.
Edris slowly turned to the second page of the test package. The formatted questions mirrored those on the past exams. There were five hundred of them, all free-response, all about Weisha.
Time was tight, but if you were one of the higher-ranked students who collected the majority of The Story of Weisha and studied as if your life depended on it, it wasn’t impossible.
The more one recalled from the book, the more questions they could answer on the exam package.
The Labyrinth was surprisingly fair in that respect.
Edris flipped through the pages one by one. His pen remained on the table, unmoved.
Strictly speaking, his [ROLE] did not allow him to enter academic buildings. However…
He thought about Owein, who was sitting in the first row.
With his “unrequited love” in sight, Edris could override certain restrictions imposed on him by his [ROLE]. As long as he did not actually engage in academic endeavours, his [AFFINITY] won’t drop with him simply sitting in the test seat.
From the back rows, Edris could capture the great majority of the lecture hall with a slight tilt of the head.
All the students’ faces were buried into the test papers, pens scribbling away. Some scratched their heads anxiously while others flipped through the pages over and over, searching desperately for the questions they knew the answer to.
Unlike their past quizzes, the professors did not circulate around the lecture hall as proctors. Instead, they all sat at the front of the stadium. Dozens of shadows roamed throughout the entire hall. There was no need for their additional surveillance.
Magenta leaned by the wall, while Moss had his arms crossed and leaning over the podium. On the ends of the stage sat Sky and Aureolin. The former was admiring himself in a handheld mirror, while the latter organized a bag of candies by colour and popped them in her mouth one by one.
Ace stood by the entrance door. His posture was less like a professor's and more like a soldier’s, with hands behind his back and gaze forward.
A scream pierced through the silent air.
A student was yanked out of her seat by one of the Shadows. She'd been caught in an attempt to glance at the test paper of the student beside her.
“No. 70, disqualified,” Moss declared through the microphone. “Send her to [DETENTION].”
Ignoring the girl’s pleading, the Shadows dragged her flailing body through the centre lane; it was a demonstration for the rest of the test takers.
No one dared to look up in fear that their act would be classified as an attempt to cheat. Students buried their heads even lower as she passed by, not even batting an eye as the pen in their hands continued its scribbles.
“I’m finished.”
A voice emerged from the front, carrying with it a message so absurd some students couldn’t help but look up.
Standing up from his seat, Celio handed his test package to one of the Shadows, who delivered it to the podium. Magenta raised an eyebrow. After a second, she nodded with a smile.
“Congratulations, No. 1, for your completion of the [FINAL EXAM],” she said with a smile that did not reach her eyes. “For the sake of others, I ask that you remain in the lecture hall until the end of the test duration.”
Consideration, confinement. Same thing.
“I understand.” Celio nodded curtly.
As he sat back down, the countless gazes on him followed. Edris could see the envy practically pouring out of their eyes.
Moss cleared his throat, and all the eyes immediately retracted to their papers.
But before people could fully immerse themselves into the exam package, someone stood up again.
This time, it was Edris himself.
“You need something, No. 111?” Yawning, Sky shot a glance his way.
“I need to use the restroom,” Edris said.
“Is it urgent?”
He nodded.
“Well, that’s unfortunate,” Moss said blandly. You can only use the bathroom after handing in the test package, and only one person is allowed to go at a time.”
So far, only Celio submitted his package.
Stolen story; please report.
“So you’re fine if I just…” Edris looked up and down. “Right here?”
As he said that, Ives lowered her head beside him, concealing the upturned corners of her lips. The student on her left flinched, shifting his chair indiscernibly away from the two.
Moss looked at him with a flat gaze.
“Rules are rules.”
Edris sat back down, saying no more. From the way Moss spoke to him, he knew that he was one of the main targets of attention during this [FINAL EXAM].
Naturally, Edris expected this to happen. After what happened in [DETENTION] and the Principal’s Office, it’d be strange if they didn’t pay extra caution to him.
Moss seemed to be satisfied that the most troublesome variable was finally backing off for once. As if to spite Edris more, he straightened the rims of his sleeves and turned to Celio.
“Please let any of us know if you need to use the restroom.”
“Actually.” Celio rubbed the nape of his neck. “I think I’ll go right now. Would that be okay?”
“Yes.” Moss cleared his throat. Unlike with No. 111, he found the top student much more tolerable. “Professor Sky, would you go ahead and show No. 1 the way?”
“Professor 004 can do it.” Sky waved a hand, his eyes not even leaving the mirror in his grip. “He should cherish all the miscellaneous tasks during his final proctor days while he can.”
Moss eyed the narcissistic man in disappointment before turning to Ace.
“You know where the closest restroom is?”
The white-haired man nodded.
“Aureolin, go with him.” Magenta, who had been quiet up until now, spoke up. Even though she was talking to Aureolin, her eyes were directed towards the back of the room.
“Make sure that neither of them gets lost.”
“Will do!” Brushing the candy wrappers into the trash can, Aureolin hopped onto her feet. She headed to where the white-haired man was standing and gave him a small nudge on the elbow.
“Let’s go, Professor 004. And you too, No. 1.”
Watching the three exit the room, Edris redirected his gaze to the countdown. Thirty minutes had passed since the exam began.
Aureolin’s accompaniment with the two wasn’t part of the original plan, but knowing Ace, he’d figure it out somehow.
Edris lightly tapped the table with the tips of his fingers.
The show was about to begin.
***
Normally, test takers used the designated restroom right towards the end of the hallway, but they arrived to find the entrance blocked by a red sign.
CLOSED FOR DEEP CLEANING
The Shadow at duty explained that a student had thrown up in there earlier in the day.
“Kids these days,” Aureolin shook her head. “Can’t handle pressure at all.”
Celio and Ace exchanged a look.
With the closest restroom out of order, they instead went to the second closest one, which was on the opposite end of the floor.
Ace led the group, with Celio following behind. Aureolin was at the very end, skipping with each step. The fedora on her head bobbed up and down.
One, two, three. One, two, three.
Celio tried to match his strides with each breath he took. To the outsider, he was a little jittery, probably due to the need to go the restroom. Internally, his mind was running through the plan over and over.
Just like Edris said, a show was on its way.
The only acceptable outcome was success.
Inhale.
Exhale.
One, two, three.
Attempting to remain composed, Celio then tried focusing on Ace’s back, matching his steps as he walked. A glint caught his eye, and his gaze travelled to the glint on his left thumb.
Did Ace always wear a ring?
“We’re here!” Aureolin stepped to the side. “Go on. Professor 004 and I will be waiting outside.”
“T-thanks,” Celio said.
He gave Ace a curt nod and stepped into the restroom. Once the door closed behind him, he quickly headed towards the end of the room.
He’d already learnt of the general layout of this area beforehand, thanks to Ace. The majority of the restrooms in his building were windowless, and this was the only restroom which they could use to their advantage.
As expected: on top of the wall across from the door was a square-shaped window.
Celio glimpsed behind him.
The door between the restroom and hallway was only semi-opaque. From where he stood, he could see two vague silhouettes guarding the doorway.
On the other side of the door, Aureolin seemed to be conversing with Ace. The former seemed quite immersed in the conversation as she leaned closer to him. The walls were built quite sturdy, so Celio could only draw conclusions from the dynamicity in her muffled voice.
He’ll be okay, right?
Like himself, Ace also played a role in this plan. But with the current situation, he’ll have to figure out a way to escape from the tiny professor first.
Celio shook his head left and right.
He was in no position to worry about Ace. Lifting his head up, he gauged the height between the window and the ground. Then, he took a few steps back.
One, two, three.
The boy leapt.
***
Time passed little by little, and the number on the holographic decreased one second after another.
After a couple more students got caught for suspicious behaviour, the rest were walking on eggshells more than ever before.
Their gaze laid strictly on the test content, keeping away from any extra, unnecessary movements.
In the silent lecture hall, Magenta surveyed the room one row at a time.
It was this suffocating atmosphere that made the man at the back stand out even more than usual.
With his chin resting on the palm of his hand, Edris stared absentmindedly out the window. The test package lay empty before him. From what the Shadows reported, he didn’t even bother writing his name on the front page.
Magenta took in the sight, intrigued.
Her job as a professor was only to proctor the [FINAL EXAM]. The key was to ensure students remained in the lecture hall for the entire test, with the only exception of bathroom breaks.
Strictly speaking, this did not include other miscellaneous tasks such as answering questions from students or making an inspection tour.
Magenta never did anything above what the Labyrinth required from her.
The role of a professor came with perks and jurisdictions that made it easy for one to grow drunk from this expanded sense of control. Those who did chose to execute this power to the fullest, but that wasn’t Magenta.
Her only goal was to fill the list and get out.
She’d taken ninety-nine steps already. There was only one left to go.
Her gaze grew cold at the thought.
Player 111 was supposed to be the final step.
It was true. The man had great potential to rise to the top of SAA and, from then, move on to being a professor himself. If this truly became the case, Magenta figured the Labyrinth would be quite content with its new moderator.
His rejection of her proposal was quite unfortunate.
However, there were always alternatives. Magenta retracted her gaze from the rows of heads.
Although Edris was an ideal candidate, he was not the only one out there.
She would find someone to fill her spot sooner or later—it was only a matter of time.
Magenta had been here for too long. A little longer wouldn’t make a difference.
As she immersed herself in her thoughts, a hand rose from one of the middle rows.
“I’m finished,” a student said cautiously. A Shadow slid to his side and collected his test package. “M-may I use the restroom please?”
“It’s currently occupied, so you’ll have to wait…” Moss was the one to answer, except his voice had trailed off halfway.
“How long has it been since No. 1 left for the restroom?”
Sky ripped his gaze away from his mirror to cast a glance at the countdown. “Fifteen minutes.”
Longer than expected.
Magenta narrowed her eyes. She turned to Sky. “Go check it out. Something might be wrong.”
Before the latter could respond, the door creaked open. Aureolin strode into the lecture hall. Faced with three pairs of eyes, she retracted her head with a raised eyebrow.
“Do I have something on my face?”
“Where is No. 1?” Magenta asked.
“Still in the bathroom. He’s got a bad stomach. Probably an aftermath from the test nerves.” Aureolin said with a shiver. “Good thing he didn’t throw up in there. You should have seen the one on our floor.”
“So you just came back by yourself?” Sky arched a brow.
“Oh, Professor 004 is watching him. He figured you all needed me here to help with proctoring the rest of the students.” As if recalling back to something, she then blushed out of nowhere. “Don’t worry, he’s got this.”
What awaited her was three seconds worth of silence.
Sky wordlessly turned back to examine himself in the mirror, and Magenta let out an inaudible sigh.
“You fool!” Moss’s face was flushed.
Aureolin looked offended. “What?”
The commotion at the front grabbed some students' attention, but they quickly turned their heads down to avoid being deemed cheating.
Sitting at the end of the lecture hall, Edris was still peering outside the window. If one looked closely, they would see that a bandage was on his thumb. However, that didn't seem to hinder the man as his fingers rapped against the wooden table, each a bit louder than the previous.
There was a discernible curve to his lips.
Prior to entering the academic building, Edris had used the Distributor to reopen the mana channel between him and Ace. Although doing so required him to now continuously pour mana into the channel to sustain the latter’s form, it was necessary for the plan’s overall success.
Just now, Ace’s voice had delivered through in his head with two simple words.
— He’s out.
Edris’s smile deepened.
Time to move on to the next step.
By now, the student sitting in front of Edris had noticed an irregular tapping noise behind him. But before he could figure out where the noise came from, an even louder sound emerged, filling the entire lecture hall.
It felt as if someone had brought a horn into the lecture hall. This time, the students could no longer ignore the irregularity as they lifted their heads.
“I’ve had enough.” Contrary to the audacity of the words, the speaker herself was petit-looking.
Ives stood on top of the table, one foot pressed against its edge. By her feet was a speaker box, delivering her voice across the entire lecture hall. She had smashed the box right on the pen Edris never used, breaking it into tiny pieces.
The jet-black ink spread across the table, tainting the wooden surface around it.
Ives’s dark, round eyes surveyed the rows of students, making direct eye contact with every one of them. As the seven-year-old glanced Edris’s way, a subtle smile appeared on the latter’s face as she retracted her gaze.
“No. 112,” Magenta said coldly. “What are you doing?”
“Like I just said,” her tiny voice boomed through the room. "I’ve had enough.”
It was Ives’s time to shine.