Broken Possessors of Infinite Regression Academy

My memory of taking midterm exams dates back quite a while. Not only did I have no time for exams during my first incarnation, but even after returning to my original world, I had to take a leave of absence due to severe trauma. Although I had tests during private lessons at the mansion and the entrance exam for the academy was technically a test, it had been ages since I’d taken a traditional midterm exam.

When you combine the time I lived in my first world with the time I’ve spent in this world, it adds up to just over 30 years.

“It wasn’t particularly difficult.”

That was my impression after experiencing a midterm exam for the first time in decades. There were no dramatic changes in the exam questions due to the butterfly effect of my actions, and given what I had studied, the problems were fairly easy even without Priscilla’s help.

“Yes. It wasn’t a big deal. Everything we studied came up,” Aria nodded beside me.

“So, you memorized the entire textbook?”

“Yes? If you’re going to take an exam, you have to memorize everything covered in the syllabus, right? How else would you take a test without memorizing the book?”

“……”

She had memorized the entire 200-page syllabus. Such behavior was indeed fitting for the protagonist of a romance fantasy novel. And this wasn’t even the only theoretical exam.

“……I’m trash.”

Although the words were directed at me, the real victim was someone else. Brynhild, who wouldn’t have had any connection to Bellium Academy if not for the Holy Sword’s selection, was slumped at her desk in endless self-loathing after the exam.

“I told you to study. You thought you could score well while sleeping through every lecture?”

Perhaps due to not being able to grow at all because of me, Brynhild hadn’t changed much compared to when we first became friends two months ago. I needed to give her some experience soon, but there weren’t any visible demons to deal with.

“I did start studying a week ago… that’s why it’s more shocking. I didn’t think I wouldn’t be able to solve a single problem.”

Well, she did put in some effort at the very last minute. However, given the level of the problems at the empire’s top academy, a few days of cramming wasn’t enough. Honestly, she had no one but herself to blame.

“Isn’t that understandable? Brynhild didn’t study at all, so it’s natural she couldn’t solve any problems… and, well, uh, you could have gotten zero points, right?”

“Aria, you’re the worst.”

Aria’s attempt at consolation ended up stabbing Brynhild in the heart, doubling her depression. She clung to my side.

“The next exam is… advanced annihilation magic. Mira, you don’t have to take it, right?”

“Yeah. They said I could take it whether my grades were finalized or not, but I’m going to skip it. It’d just be unfair if I took it. Why provoke others for no reason?”

In a situation where everyone was struggling to get better scores, having someone with guaranteed full marks take the test just for fun would be infuriating. Even I wouldn’t look at such a person kindly.

“Then if I get full marks, I’ll be ranked the same as you, Mira?”

“Confident, huh?”

“Of course. Didn’t I say I wouldn’t lose next time?”

Aria stuck out her tongue and smiled. Unlike last time, when she seemed discouraged, she seemed to have regained her confidence, though I wasn’t sure what had happened in the meantime. Perhaps the first test had been easier than she expected.

“By the way, what about lunch? The cafeteria should be open, but it’s a bit early to eat, isn’t it?”

The exam had taken the same 1 hour and 30 minutes as a class, leaving us with half an hour free. At 10:30, it was still too early for lunch.

“I’m going to my room to prepare for the advanced annihilation magic exam. Brynhild, want to study with me?”

“…I’ll just go to the club room and have some sweets.”

“Then I’ll join you! I can help you study, right? With four and a half hours, we can memorize a whole book!”

“Ugh.”

Aria, who casually spoke as if memorizing a book in that time was easy, dragged the protesting Brynhild to the dormitory, waving at me as they left.

After seeing them off, I went to find Priscilla, who had finished her exam in 10 minutes and was already back in her room.

When she turned in her exam paper after just 10 minutes, the professor gave her a meaningful look. But after she explained a couple of problems perfectly, he let her go with a weary expression.

“Did I help?”

“Yeah, a lot.”

“…I’m glad. I’m really glad. Thank you for letting me help, Mira.”

Despite being the one who helped, Priscilla thanked me for giving her the chance to assist. Even as I accepted her gratitude, I felt uneasy. I wondered if Priscilla could ever reduce her dependence on me.

“Mira! I got two questions right!”

“…How?”

“I just held the Holy Sword and drew what felt right. It worked! I was surprised too.”

“Maybe the Holy Sword couldn’t stand it anymore and decided to help you?”

“Do you always have to say things like that?”

Whether Brynhild was really helped by the Holy Sword or just incredibly lucky, she had managed to answer two questions correctly.

The day after the exam, which had gone smoothly in the morning like the first day, I was preparing for the practical combat midterm.

This time, the subject was practical combat, just like the course title.

Until now, it had been half like a non-lethal sparring match, but today, we were really going to fight as if it were a real battle, wearing specially made magic tools created by the Chairman. Another difference was the scale of the match, which was going to be significantly larger than usual.

The midterm and final exams for practical combat were announced to the entire school and conducted in the colosseum, so anyone who wanted tocould watch from the stands.

‘It’s called an exam, but it’s almost like a tournament.’

Of course, this was only for first-year students; from the second year onwards, it would return to being a regular exam. Since this was the time when students were most eager to compete, and because it was a limited-time event, the participation rate of second and third-year students was quite high as well.

‘I think there’s another reason why the participation rate is high…’

While I was thinking about that ‘other reason,’ Brynhild, who was fiddling with the holy sword hanging from her waist, asked a question.

“Aria, does this really help improve our skills? Won’t we just make more mistakes because we’re nervous?”

“They say it does help. Since anyone who got into this academy has a high level of self-awareness, most people actually perform better in these situations. That’s the conclusion the Chairman reached after watching students for decades.”

“Well, after watching for decades, it makes sense to be sure. But what about those who don’t fit into that ‘most’ category?”

“The Chairman said that people who get too nervous to show their true abilities because there are spectators aren’t suited for this path in the first place.”

“…That sounds incredibly irresponsible, but why does it seem convincing?”

Brynhild made a face that showed she was oddly convinced. Aria, having finished her answer, approached me.

“Do you know how the matchups were decided?”

“I’m not sure.”

“They said they considered the types of weapons or magic used and individual grades to match us up so that everyone could perform their best. Oh, and this time, there’s a special exception.”

“An exception? What kind of exception?”

“They made sure you and Brynhild meet at the very end.”

“…Did they get permission for that?”

“The Chairman personally suggested it, saying it would be a waste for either of you to meet in the middle. They asked the first-year students while you were away, and no one objected. Everyone seems to think it’s the right thing to do.”

“….”

I took a seat in the first-year waiting room with the same oddly convinced expression as Brynhild. Far off in the distance, Priscilla, who was sitting in the stands looking quite gloomy, fixed her gaze on me and gave a big smile the moment she saw me.

Rosalia, meanwhile, was standing by near the colosseum to be ready for any healing that might be needed. Normally, a high-ranking priest from the Starlight Order would be invited to oversee this, but given the current tense atmosphere, Rosalia had personally volunteered. The academy, of course, welcomed her with open arms.

“Right, Mira. Did you hear the news? You can bet on who will win among the first-year students in this exam, but you and the Hero are excluded from the odds.”

“There are so many things I want to ask, but let me start with why we’re excluded.”

“Because you two are too overpowered. The odds were so skewed that even if people guessed right, they would lose money. They said they’ll open betting for a one-time event if you both make it to the finals later.”

Remembering the conversation from yesterday, I smirked. Personally, I thought this was the real reason for the high participation rate among second and third-year students. It was the only time in the year they could legally gamble within the academy, an event that the academy subtly allowed, arguing that overly restricting students wasn’t good either.

“Ah, ah! Welcome to the colosseum, everyone! From now on, the midterm exam for practical combat will begin!”

Jake’s voice, amplified by a magical device — essentially a microphone — echoed loudly. Calling them “everyone” in such a formal way, this was still an academy.

Anyway, the students were excited by the situation itself, cheering loudly regardless of what they were called. The second and third-year students, whose money was at stake, were the same.

“Everyone should have received a magical device when they entered, right? This device, specially made by the Chairman, converts the damage you take into numerical values! If you take a certain amount of damage, you lose, so keep that in mind! It also includes top-tier defensive magic, so feel free to fight with all your strength!”

The magic tool sounded like a scam from the description alone, but the reason it was only used for student exams and not in real combat was simple. The entire coliseum was built just to support this one device.

With such overpowered options, it could only function with the support provided in this venue. There was no way to use something like this on a real battlefield where conditions constantly changed.

“Then I’ll be going! See you in the finals, Mira!”

Brynhild, who was in the first group, stepped out energetically. I was in the very last group.

“Mira.”

While I was watching the students find their opponents in the overlapping spaces, Aria spoke to me.

“Do you want to make a bet with me?”

“I’ll listen to what it is first. If it’s unreasonable, I won’t do it.”

“If you both keep winning according to the matchups, Brynhild and I will meet in the semifinals, right?”

“That’s how it should go.”

“I bet I can beat Brynhild”

Surprised by the unexpected statement, I turned to look at Aria.

“I’m betting on myself winning.”

Aria was smiling a different, slightly eerie, smile than usual.

“What about you, Mira?”