059 Test of Courage

We underclassmen had overcome all sorts of trials.

The Entrance Exam, the Tag Tournament, the Survival Exam, the Sword-Magic Cup, and countless classes. To put it bluntly, even the nameless background characters—the "mobs"—had become elite in both mind and body.

And yet, those same excellent male students were currently wearing expressions of absolute, bone-deep tension.

I, of course, wasn't looking directly at anyone.

If I use Dark Eye and Time Lapse, I can see everything in slow motion... a devilish voice whispered in the back of my mind. I chose to ignore it.

"Phew, that was fun!"

The person who appeared while flapping their clothes to vent the heat was Olynn.

Just for the record, Olynn’s voice was essentially a girl's. If someone covered my eyes and asked "Who am I?" in that voice, I wouldn’t have a clue. Well, I suppose that was the character concept, after all.

"H-Hey... it’s Olynn."

"Don’t look, damn it! He’s a guy!"

"I—I know that, but still!"

The reason everyone was so high-strung was simple—this was the locker room.

"That was a blast, Allen!"

"Yeah, I learned a lot. Teacher Milk is as amazing as they say."

The two idiots didn't seem to have a care in the world, but the other students were a different story. The locker room is, naturally, a place where one removes their clothes. We were all drenched in sweat from playing at the beach. You didn't need to be a genius to figure out what came next.

That was exactly why everyone was agonizing over how to proceed.

"Phew. Now then, bath time, bath time! ♡"

I could’ve sworn I saw a heart floating at the end of that sentence, but it was probably just my imagination. I had a spirit of steel. I had trained myself to remain calm no matter what happened. I quickly stripped and left the area behind.

There were only indoor baths on this floor, but apparently, there was an open-air hot spring on another level. They didn't have showers, of course, but they had installed magic-based equivalents. By utilizing a teleportation spell, warm water would spray from the tip of a wand.

I didn't quite grasp the magical theory behind it, but in Nobless Academy, you just learned to roll with that sort of thing.

I loved baths. I loved them so much that the first thing I did after reincarnating into this world was renovate the House Fanscent bathhouse. To a connoisseur like me, this bath was still "soft."

Once I finally clear this world, I’m going to build the most legendary bathtub in existence...

"I-It’s no use! My nose is bleeding—!"

"H-Hey, stay with me!"

"Don’t die! Don’t you die on meeeeeee!"

Just as I was about to wash up and soak, screams erupted from the locker room. I wasn't entirely sure what was happening, but it sounded like a disaster.

Damn it... quit trying to shake my mental fortitude.

"Wow, it’s huge!"

Olynn entered the bath area, though for some reason, he had a towel wrapped all the way up to his chest. He was a guy, but I suppose he felt shy. Duke and Allen followed behind him.

Ho, those are some decently trained abs.

"Alright! First, let’s just dive in and—"

The bastard Shishitsu tried to hop straight into the tub. I reached out and grabbed his leg with a hand reinforced by mana. After that ball match, my mana control had sharpened, and my physical strength had followed suit.

"You, Shishitsu... do you not even know the concept of kakeyu? If you’re covered in sweat, wash yourself before you get in. Do it, or I’ll kill you."

"......Y-Yes, sir. I’m so sorry."

"Weiss, you're terrifying..."

Realizing I was dead serious, Allen and Shishitsu scurried away with their shoulders hunched. Don't you dare underestimate the Way of the Bath.

"Is it okay if I sit next to you?"

Olynn approached, having presumably finished washing up. I couldn't help but notice... his skin was incredibly smooth.

"......Fine."

"Ehehe, thanks."

Apparently, the squirrel that usually lived on his head hadn't followed him this far.

"......By the way, I managed to get the hang of things thanks to you. We lost the match, but it was a meaningful fight in a lot of ways."

"E-Eh?! Wow, hearing you say that makes me really happy. I don't get praised very often."

Well, that was probably true. For now, at least.

But I was truly grateful. The Dual Sword I’d received as a victory prize was incredibly difficult to handle. Mana Manipulation would likely be the key to mastering it. With this, I could grow even stronger.

However, upon hearing my thanks, Olynn’s expression turned uncharacteristically somber.

"I’m the one who should be saying thank you, Weiss-kun."

"......What do you mean?"

"The match was great, but I’m just really glad I ended up as roommates with you. And Duke-kun and Allen-kun, too. Usually, people just make fun of me for looking like a girl... and I get avoided more often than not."

I’d thought he was too airheaded to notice, but it turns out he knew exactly what was going on. Well, I suppose it was inevitable. He gave off a certain "untouchable" aura in more ways than one.

But that wasn't all. Titles of nobility were supposed to be meaningless within Nobless Academy, but the reality was different. Even someone as nice as Allen was rarely seen talking to anyone outside of Duke or Shari. Discrimination was a stain that wouldn't wash out.

Then there was the other side of the coin: the emotions people felt toward those with special talent.

Envy.

In my case, I gave off such an unapproachable vibe that very few people had the guts to casually strike up a conversation. Because of the Point System, we were all classmates, but we were also rivals.

Well, that was one of the better parts of this school, honestly.

Olynn had a title and a friendly personality, but he also possessed the rare aptitude of a Tamer. Much like Carta’s Flight Magic, natural-born talent tended to breed resentment. It’s hard to like someone who stands at a height you can’t reach no matter how much blood you spit.

"Then just use your strength to shut them up."

"E-Eh?! Do you think I can? I’ll... I’ll try my best!"

It might have sounded like a pep talk, but I was just stating a fact. Eventually, he would do exactly that. Besides, Olynn was a character I’d always liked. I found myself wanting to be a bit more lenient with him than others. I’m only human; I have my favorites.

"I’ve finished washing thoroughly!"

"Uh, me too."

"......Stay right there."

I used Dark Eye to scan them for dirt. Allen was fine, but Shishitsu’s feet were a mess.

"You. Do it over."

"No way! I washed them—!"

"Do you want to die?"

"......No, sir."

In a sense, I didn't hate Shishitsu either, but I would not tolerate any slackers when it came to the Way of the Bath.

"Hey... Allen-kun. Weiss-kun is really strict about baths, isn't he?"

"Actually, there’s a rumor going around behind his back that he’s the 'Bath Baron.' Oh, but you can’t ever tell him I said that."

"U-Understood."

I could hear them whispering, but I had more important things to worry about. These guys... they still had a long way to go.

"Hey! You lot! You're still dirty! Have you no consideration for others? Go back and wash again!"

"""Y-Yes, sir! Sorry!"""

---

After the bath, I ran into Cynthia and Lilith in the hallway. Their hair was still damp; they must have just finished as well.

"Oh, Weiss. How was the bath?"

"It was acceptable. I’d prefer the temperature a bit higher, though."

"Fufufu, you really do love your baths, Weiss-sama!"

Come to think of it, I hadn't ever "done it" in a bath yet.

...Well, maybe once in a while wouldn't hurt?

No. The fun ended here. Up until this moment, we had been enjoying the "Candy" of Nobless Academy. What came next? The "Whip."

I needed to switch gears. This was one of the most brutal events in the entire Academy curriculum.

"Cynthia, Lilith. Once you’re back in your rooms, change into your training gear and focus on mana unification. Equip the weapons you won today and pack a minimum set of medical supplies."

The two of them blinked in surprise at my sudden demands. But I rarely joked, and our bond of trust was deep. They realized instantly that I was dead serious.

Their expressions shifted 180 degrees.

"Understood. Shall I inform Carta-san and Cecil-san as well?"

"I’ll leave that to your discretion."

"Understood, Weiss-sama!"

"Right. See you later."

I returned to my room, finished my preparations, and waited for the moment to strike. The official schedule said we were heading to dinner next, but that was a lie.

An exhausted body, a mind that had completely let its guard down... what awaited us was an extremely "entertaining" event.

"Man, I’m starving! I bet dinner is going to be amazing seafood!"

"I wonder. Though, the assembly time is later than I expected."

"True. Also, Weiss, why are you already in your training clothes?"

"Because it’s starting."

"Huh? What do you mean—"

Right on cue, the Magic Birds released inside the mansion began to shriek.

"Assemble. Assemble in the courtyard. Assemble. Assemble in the courtyard."

We trained every day. We knew that Magic Birds were never used for "fun" announcements. There was only one occasion for this: an exam.

My roommates, Duke and Allen, traded looks of alarm while Olynn hurriedly threw on his clothes. I walked out calmly and was the first to arrive at the courtyard.

This location was perfect for an exam. There were no towns nearby, meaning no one would report us no matter how loud we screamed. And just like in the original game, there was no moon tonight. In a world of darkness, you couldn't even see a face unless it was right in front of you.

I looked up at the sky. Not a single star.

Ah, perfect weather for an exam.

Teacher Milk, Darius, and Chloe were already waiting. As usual, Darius was the only one wearing an apologetic look, but we were at this school by choice. Remain calm at all times—that was a mantra beaten into us at Nobless.

Before long, students came rushing out of the mansion. Everyone was terrified. It was pitch black out, and they had no idea what was coming, but the oppressive atmosphere told them enough. Some tried to talk to settle their nerves, but most were desperately trying to switch their minds into combat mode.

Magic is a world of imagery. It’s hard to chant when your head is in the clouds; if your mental construction is weak, your power is halved.

Once everyone was accounted for, Teacher Milk stepped forward.

"If you're as perceptive and elite as I think you are, then you already know. ——This is an exam."

A sudden compliment followed by a cold, heartless declaration. Everyone had probably been clinging to a sliver of hope that this was just some weirdly intense fun event. Those hopes were crushed instantly. They finally realized this was going to be a nightmare.

"...Good faces. Faces filled with fear and resolve."

There is only one classic night event in a school setting. The answer is a "Test of Courage."

Usually, boys and girls would pair up and pass through checkpoints from start to finish, and maybe some romance would blossom. But Nobless Academy didn't do "pleasant."

"Look to your left."

Everyone followed her command. We saw nothing. Or rather, we could just barely make out the silhouette of a massive mountain.

"I’ve scattered rings all over that mountain. Find them and protect them until the time limit. Sounds simple, doesn't it? But don't be naive. Don't expect the rings to be in safe places. And I’ve got some 'happy' news for you: the more rings you collect, the more points you earn."

The atmosphere among the underclassmen shifted instantly. They were shaken, but these were people with competitive spirits. At the mention of a contest, their blood began to boil. Mine included.

"The time limit is midnight. That gives you about five hours. Dinner will be your reward afterward."

At the mention of food, some of the students' expressions softened slightly. But Teacher Milk didn't give them a second to breathe.

"However, some of you probably won't be getting any dinner. Because anyone who doesn't have at least one ring when time is up... is expelled."

"You're kidding..."

"Is she serious?"

"Expelled...?"

The students, silent until now, began to murmur in horror.

"——Is what I wanted to say, but the Headmaster stopped me. However, if you have zero rings, your points will be drastically slashed. Naturally, depending on your current standing, some of you will still face expulsion. As for exactly how many points you’ll gain or lose... I’m not telling."

The brief moment of relief was immediately replaced by a plunge back into hell. We all had a decent pool of points. Normally, failing one or two exams wouldn't result in expulsion. But Nobless Academy loved to take that sense of security and weaponize it against us.

This wasn't just an exam. It was a warning and a demonstration. No one wanted to fall here. If the point penalty was an unknown variable, the strategy was the same for everyone. Some would spend the night desperately clinging to a single ring.

But then, there were people like me.

I’m going to crush every single one of them.

There was one more factor designed to drive us to despair. In certain situations, we would have no choice but to work together.

And that was because...

"This forest is known as the Forest of Death. Some of you might have noticed already, but at night, this place teems with monsters. Specifically..."

In the original game, Chloe was the one who said it, but I remembered the line perfectly.

This forest was a breeding ground for the Undead.