-516- Not too boring

After the written test, Ohtomo Jin walked out of the classroom with a stack of answer sheets.

"There are no classes today, so feel free to go to the practice field in the dormitory for training. Tomorrow is the practical exam, and all practice fields will be open for the day. Work hard," he said before leaving.

The students were a mix of success and frustration after the written test. Some were chatting happily, while others looked troubled, their heads resting on their desks.

"It's okay, we still have the practical test tomorrow."

"Yeah."

"Even if we didn't do well in the written test, we can make up for it in the practical."

"Exactly."

Throughout the classroom, such discussions could be heard. With the written test behind them, the students shifted their focus entirely to the practical exam the next day.

"Just wondering, do you know what the practical exam will entail?"

Natsume brought up the question to Rozen.

Just like the exam questions for the written test are only revealed when the exam officially begins, the details of the practical test for tomorrow will also be announced by the chief examiner just before the exam. It's not possible to know in advance.

Because the first-year curriculum at the Onmyou Academy mainly focuses on theoretical learning with limited practical skills, even for the advancement exams, they prioritize the qualities of being a practitioner over technical skills. This leads to changes in the exam content every year.

"It's said that last year's practical exam required students to capture Shikigami distributed within an area surrounded by their self-generated barriers. The exam assessed students' control over the techniques and their mastery of jutsuryoku,"

Natsume explained, showing that she had done her homework.

"I wonder what the content of this year's practical exam will be?"

This was something the students were eager to know.

If they could find out the details of the practical exam, they could focus on training and strengthening those specific areas. But without knowing the content, they had to practice everything they had learned, spending the entire day in the practice field, enduring sleepless nights of rigorous training.

That's how it was at the moment.

Amidst lively conversations, the students started leaving in groups of three or four, probably heading to the practice field for their final training and reinforcement.

Even Kyouko, after packing her things, glanced this way and then left the classroom with a preoccupied expression.

It wasn't clear whether she was heading to the academy's practice field or back to the Kurahashi family to use their private practice field for some secretive training.

Rozen and Natsume didn't plan to do any special last-minute training.

With their abilities, they could successfully pass whatever exam Onmyou Academy threw at them.

Of course, each of them had their strengths.

Rozen excelled in generating and manipulating Shikigami.

Natsume excelled in controlling jutsuryoku and techniques, without which she wouldn't have been able to master the famous and challenging jutsu like controlling lightning.

If the practical exam this time was similar to last year's, Rozen would have a significant advantage.

But according to Onmyou Academy's past records, they had never repeated the same practical exam for two consecutive years. Therefore, this time would likely be different.

Rozen thought about this somewhat indifferently.

"Let's hope it's not too boring," Rozen said sincerely, causing Natsume to give him a slight glare.

"Even if it seems easy, it's still an exam. We must approach it with caution and the correct attitude," Natsume advised Rozen like a counselor.

"Yeah, yeah," Rozen responded nonchalantly, showing that he wasn't really paying attention, much to Natsume's displeasure and frustration.

"If the future head of the Tsuchimikado clan and the first seat among the freshmen stumble in tomorrow's practical, that would indeed be big news," Natsume muttered, making Rozen roll his eyes.

If such a thing were possible, Rozen would actually find it interesting.

However, it was impossible.

Rozen wouldn't fail.

Moreover, he would pass in a completely different way, destined not to fail.

This form came to Rozen in the form of a broadcast.

"Akikan Tsuchimikado, first-year student of the Tsuchimikado clan, please report to the director's office immediately."

Such an announcement suddenly echoed, reaching everyone's ears.

"Huh?"

Rozen was slightly taken aback.

"The director's office?"

Natsume was also surprised.

But then, the announcement was repeated a few times, making the students who hadn't left the classroom look at Rozen.

At that moment, Rozen confirmed.

"Is the director looking for you?"

Natsume looked at Rozen with confusion.

"How would I know?"

Rozen answered very straightforwardly.

"Do you want me to go with you?"

Natsume suggested.

"No need. Since they only called me, I'll go alone."

Rozen pondered for a moment and then shook his head.

"Okay then."

Natsume reluctantly agreed.

Since Rozen had taken Dairenji Suzuka as a Shikigami, Natsume had been gradually displaying a tendency to stick around Rozen more, as if emphasizing that she was Rozen's Shikigami. It made for a somewhat amusing situation.

"You go back for now. We'll get in touch later in the evening."

Rozen patted Natsume's head and said this. After that, under Natsume's watchful gaze, he left the classroom and headed to the director's office.

...

Onmyou Academy, director's office.

Rozen was not entirely unfamiliar with this place.

When he first entered the academy, Rozen had been here once. Later, during his nearly year-long student life, he had been called to the director's office by Kurahashi Miyo several times for matters related to the followers of Yakou, and he had become quite accustomed to the route.

Naturally, Rozen had also gradually become familiar with Kurahashi Miyo.

Perhaps the feeling was mutual?

Therefore, when Rozen arrived at the director's office and saw Kurahashi Miyo sitting at the desk, she smiled and greeted him.

"You're a bit late, Akikan."

Kurahashi Miyo said with a playful smile.

"Sorry, just thinking that the director might tell me something important made me move slowly."

Rozen responded casually, his words lacking the politeness he showed during their first meeting.

It wasn't that Rozen didn't respect his elders; it was that after several interactions, Rozen had come to understand what kind of person Kurahashi Miyo truly was.

This elderly woman was straightforward and didn't beat around the bush. Each time, she would abruptly bring up a topic during a conversation, startling the other person. She was someone who liked to play pranks.

Now was no different.

"I received the news that you've taken 'The Prodigy' as your Shikigami. Congratulations."

Kurahashi Miyo said this bluntly.