The Classification Exam

One week passed in the blink of an eye, and today marks the beginning of the classification exam, which will take a week's time from now.

As usual, Ryan ditched Astin and went to his seat. Somehow, coming to class every morning with Astin had become a thing, and they started exchanging casual talk.

Sitting down at his desk, he noticed Jacob was less energetic than usual.

'That kid Jacob came to my office yesterday,' the seer said over the phone. 'He told me he wanted to drop out of the academy.'

'I refused, as per academy regulations, and sent him back. I thought I should tell you as well.'

'He seems anxious.'

Ryan massaged his eyelid.

Normally, this guy was so chatty that he would talk a lot. He was lively, but over the past week, he seemed to have lost most of his energy.

Even Tracy felt concerned.

To be honest, he didn't understand the sudden change, though he could take a guess.

Could it be related to Mia's sudden dismissal? That didn't happen in the novel.

From Ryan's POV, the plot didn't change much even with Mia's death, not yet.

But this guy seemed confused.

Shouldn't he be more anxious than down? 

'Could he finally realize that Hiro and I aren't the same? If so, this guy is pretty dense.' Ryan contemplated.

Many of the mishaps that had happened up till now, except for the outcome, were a part of the original script, it was only his sister that skipped a lot of things and many characters with importance in Hiro's backstory altogether.

Ryan never deliberately tried to overly imitate Hiro, especially in front of this guy. He had made a lot of mistakes in his behavior that didn't match Hiro's personality.

His innocent persona was a facade he used to fool 'The Seer' in the beginning, an excuse to avoid Astin.

No, the fact that both were transmigrators was painfully obvious from Ryan's perspective; the fact that he couldn't tell made him question Jacob's IQ.

The test papers were distributed to the class by Professor Ania. She stared into Ryan's eyes and smiled slightly, mouthing, "Good luck."

The test questions were extremely difficult, challenging the students' minds and mental capacities.

Although he had read the novel and the script, his knowledge could only be described as general and basic.

His knowledge of this world's science and laws of physics, math, and so on was only surface level; it could only be called pathetic.

The written exams took place over the span of three days.

The first exam consisted of easy common knowledge that Ryan was familiar with.

The second and third exams focused on physics, math, history, and so on. The last exam was divided between the two Users, mana and radiation.

For example, the first three questions he got as a radiation user were rather easy.

Question 1: Who invented the ability card?

Answer: Maxwell Werk created a powerful technology with his superpower, Mathematical Manipulation, using it to bend the laws of logic and math. He formed a new equation that made it possible to condense one's ability into a card-like object by using the radiation in the air to direct the flow of energy into a specific formula, containing powerful abilities.

Question 2: What is the limit of ability cards?

Answer: Maxwell devoted his life to this research but only managed to create ability cards ranging from F+ Rank to S Rank cards. No matter how he tried, regardless of the newly created formulas he used, he never succeeded in making a card above the S Rank.

Question 3: What is the limit of power in this world according to Maxwell?

On his deathbed, Maxwell said, "There are too many restrictions on abilities in this world. This is to ensure the laws of nature are kept in balance, and not a single person or group becomes too powerful. Only one Ex ranker can be born in a century, SSS rankers are extremely rare, SS rankers number in the dozens, and S rankers are less than a thousand."

Question 4: Describe the structure of an ability card using mathematical equations.

...

Handing over his final test paper, Ryan avoided Professor Ania's expectant gaze.

He hadn't studied in this world since childhood, and due to his inability to see letters during his stay at the seer's mansion, he had tried to grasp everything in the last week. However, he had been occupied more with raising his power for the practical test of the classification exam.

He probably wouldn't score high on this exam. It would be great if he didn't fail.

Rubbing his nose, Ryan sighed. He should have accepted when the seer asked him if he wanted the exam questions.

Jacob, equally sighing, was the first to hand in his exam paper, his hands down and looking at his feet.

Tracy looked at Lisa on the other side with undisguised hatred. "Why are you following us?"

"We were going to the same destination anyway," Damion answered.

Lisa muttered in a delightful voice, "We're all classmates. Besides, didn't we all spend the last week studying together?"

"Don't be so mean." Amanda jumped in and hooked Tracy's shoulder, slapping Jacob's back in passing. "Why are you so down? We all should get along."

"Why are you... Don't be sulking. You must have done amazingly in the exam. After all, you mages know how to study." Kevin smirked and said in a half-serious tone, "Amanda is the one that needs to worry." 

"Tsk, I should be fine, I studied well this time." Amanda puffed up her chest and held it high.

"When the next exam will start, the practical exam?" Astin asked.

"The exam will be in an hour from now," Jacob answered and uncomfortably shifted toward Ryan. He felt very uncomfortable with Atsin and Damion around the whole week.

Ryan looked at Astin and Damion who were walking side by side. These guys are so close. If no one knows, people might mistake them for best friends.

"What do you think we'll do in the practical exam?"

"I think the mana users and radiation users will have different exams."

"I don't think so."

"It would last for at least three days," Kevin grumbled. 

"We should get going." Jacob was dying to separate from this group. 

"There is still an hour before the exam. Should we go grab some ice cream?" Lisa spoke.

"Ouch." Amanda grabbed Tracy by the arm, who was about to say no, dragging her away from Ryan, and said, tapping her cheek, "Let's go get some ice cream."

In front of the ice cream shop, out of the group of people, Eddie stood silently, staring at his shoes.

Walking up to him, Ryan handed him an ice cream.

Eddie let out a low thanks and stood silently staring at his dripping ice cream.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" Eddie said silently after some time.

"Hmmm?" Ryan turned his head.

He was busy licking the ice cream and didn't hear him.

Everything in this world, even the ice cream, tasted much better than in his previous world. He became addicted to every new type of food. 'Maybe due to the mana.'

"I betrayed you. I pretended to be your friend and ditched you. I even ganged up with my friend and beat you."

Ryan looked at this guy with hidden pity in his eyes.

The amount of betrayal he had to deal with in his past life could have caused Ryan a serious trust issue.

'He can't cause such a thing as betrayal.'

Betrayal never came from strangers.

Ryan shook his head. "Betraying us?"

No. We've only been 'friends' for one day. If you think that would have an impact, then you are truly naive.

"If you wanted to... betray us, you... should have done what... Anna did and just... chose to be a team... mate with us instead... of being with your young... masters." 

Eddie Gasps: "How did you__?"

"It's impractical." Tracy's sudden, suppressed, angered voice sounded.

"To move in such a group, we should split."

When it comes to anything related to Lisa, Tracy's true character will never fail to shine. 

Ryan finished his ice cream in one bite.

His stuttering has improved a lot in the past week, thanks to Astin always chatting with him during their stay together. "We live in... the same circle."

Tracy dragged Ryan, Jacob, and Amanda and said, fuming, "Let's go to the exam hall."