"I will now begin explaining the contents of the exam. You will be divided into several groups for the testing. It would be impossible to observe such a large number of people fighting all at once, so we will split you into multiple blocks and have you take turns. As for which group you belong to... please look here."
As Lamy finished speaking, Uno snapped his fingers, causing numbers to flicker into existence before each student.
As the students realized that the digits from one to five represented their assigned groups, Yugo stared at the number five floating in front of him.
"Five, huh? Looks like I'm in the final group. What about you two?"
"Ack! I'm in Group One?! I'm separated from Yugo, and I'm the lead-off batter... This is the absolute worst!"
"I'm in Group Five as well. It seems I've been assigned to the same final block as Yugo."
"Oh, really? You're with me, Ryuga! ...Wait, huh?"
Yugo felt a wave of relief that he was in the same group as Ryuga, even if he had been separated from Melt. However, a natural question suddenly occurred to him.
Ryuga was supposed to be an exchange student just like Sakura and the others, yet here he was, taking the test alongside them.
Normally, one would think he belonged with the evaluators... but even as Yugo pondered this, Lamy’s explanation continued.
"As for the contents of the exam, I will summon the same monsters that the three exchange students just fought. It is a simple test where you will fight those creatures within the practice ground. During this trial, we will be assessing your Three Powers."
Lamy held up her index finger. The students listened intently as she began to detail the criteria they considered vital.
"First is simple Combat Power. We cannot pair these three with any student so weak that they would end up having to be babysat by our guests. Proving that you possess strength at least equal to or greater than theirs is a non-negotiable prerequisite."
The students nodded at this passing grade criterion. Since it was a combat-oriented exam, they felt it was only natural that martial ability would be prioritized. Lamy then held up a second finger and continued.
"Second is the coordination and unity required to fight alongside allies. No matter how strong a student might be, there is nothing to be gained from pairing them with someone who only cares about grandstanding. Please act with the understanding that the students taking the exam with you are both your rivals and your comrades."
The students nodded again, understanding the second point.
They had to stand out more than their peers, but standing out alone was meaningless. Realizing that the difficulty of the exam had spiked because of this requirement, they watched as Lamy held up a third finger and issued a challenge that raised the stakes even higher.
"The final power we emphasize is... Crisis Management Ability. As a fundamental premise, we expect you to value your own life and the lives of your comrades. This isn't just because we are responsible for the safety of our foreign guests; it’s common sense for any human being. Do not take reckless actions. If you deem a situation dangerous, retreat immediately. To ensure this mindset is thoroughly tested, we have prepared a certain monster."
As she finished speaking, Lamy activated her summoning magic once more.
In that instant, accompanied by a heavy thud that shook the earth, a massive magic beast landed in the practice ground and assumed a rigid, stationary posture.
"A Gigantes... It possesses no special abilities, but its massive frame and overwhelming physical strength make it a tremendous threat. At the very least, it possesses a level of power that none of you could hope to match right now. During the exam, this Gigantes will wander the practice ground. If you come within a certain distance, it will enter a combat stance and begin attacking you. To prevent that, you must engage in combat with the other monsters while constantly keeping track of your distance from the Gigantes. In the unlikely event that you are discovered, hide yourself until its aggression subsides. Understood?"
The final ordeal: the addition of the invincible monster, the Gigantes.
Having summoned a threat to serve as a deterrent against the reckless behavior typical of youth, Lamy imparted the necessary mindset to the students.
Summarizing her explanation, the goal of this exam was to annihilate the monsters in cooperation with allies while ensuring they were not discovered by the Gigantes.
While the students considered how to move to attract the attention of the Warrior Shrine Maidens within those parameters, Yugo raised his hand and directed a question to Lamy.
"Yes! Um, I have a question!"
"Hmm? What is it, Hugo Clay? Make it brief."
The moment she looked at him, Yugo didn't miss the flicker of blatant disgust that crossed Lamy’s face for a split second.
However, he paid it no mind and voiced the doubt he had been harboring.
"Why is Ryuga... Lord Renjou, who is an exchange student from Yamato, on the same side as us taking the test? Logically, that seems a bit strange, doesn't it?"
"That was done at our request," Sakura answered. "Everyone gathered here must have noticed that there are more exchange students this time than usual. To verify whether Lord Renjou, who has been granted special status, truly possesses the strength to warrant such treatment, we thought it best to have him fight side-by-side with all of you."
"No, but still..."
"It’s fine, Yugo. Don’t worry about it," Ryuga interrupted. "I’m not very good at judging the strength of others. I’m more at home being the one chosen than the one doing the choosing."
Yugo tried to continue his argument, unsatisfied with Sakura’s answer, but he was stopped by none other than Ryuga himself.
Since the person in question had no objections, Yugo had no choice but to accept it and fall silent. Once Lamy confirmed there were no other questions, she addressed the students.
"It seems everyone is satisfied. Then... let the exam begin!"