Strongest Noble's Daughter Uses Water Magic Book 2

Mock Exam Result

After a weekend of relaxing, it was back to school for us students of Flammel Royal Academy. On this particular day, though, rather than turning in to class for our lessons, all students was to make their way to the auditorium. The reason was quite simple: to see how much potential each first-year class has. Since this year's mock exam was much different from usual, it was practically a given that changes needed to be announced, especially given what happened during that exam. At least... that was what the noble half of our class deduced, when they informed us of this assembly happening the other day.

And so, here we were in the grand auditorium. While many students from other classes were in seats, however, for those of us in Class F... We were practically forced to stand in the back by a corner. It was not because there weren't enough seats in the room- though it would seem that way at first glance. Similar to the orientation on the very first day, all the seats were assigned to each class. That being said, for us of Class F... as this class was normally looked down upon by many, there was not a single seat for us. As if that was not annoying enough...

"Hey look. It's Class Failure."

"All huddled up in that small space where they belong."

"Like rodents they are."

"Heh. Funny. One of them is a rodent."

"Gotta say, I am amazed they have the guts to show their faces here. After how horribly they lost in that exam?"

"Unless if this generation doesn't have brains. Or even a sense of self."

Yeah... All around us, many of our upperclassmen assumed we horribly lost in the exam. Apparently, none of fellow first-years outside of Class F said anything about what happened at the exam, specifically about us. Because of that, many people- as in, those who did not know what really occurred in the exam- assumed we had already failed the test from the start.

"Okay, this is ridiculous," Dylan muttered, completely unamused by these whispers as he rubbed sleep out of his eyes.

"I agree. Even if this is because of how lowly they thought of us, this is a bit much," Kyle said.

Taurus only scoffed at the other students' words. "Please. We all know what the outcome of the exam was. Those guys'll get what's coming to them."

Leroy perked up when he pointed that out. "True that. I can't wait to see the looks on all those other nobles' faces once they hear about what we did."

"It really will be a surprise for them," Sheera agreed then, chewing on some fruit.

"They have been calling us 'Class Failure' and whatnot. Once they see what we did in the mock exam, they will definitely show us some respect," Felix stated.

"Something tells me it won't be that simple, though..." Tem said.

"Considering how little they think of us, I wouldn't be surprised," Austin pointed out.

"Still, I wonder how the ranking system will be decided for our year," Philia spoke.

"Now that you mentioned it, before our exam started, the headmaster did say our scores will be decided based on the number of flags we obtained by the other class. Though considering the fact that the exam changed during the second half, I'm not so sure if that would be the case," Dora stated.

"If that's true, then how will the ranks be determined?" Hailey asked.

"What are your thoughts, Lady Levi?" Mindy asked me then.

I was practically silent at the question, resting a finger on my chin in thought. "Hmm... That's actually a good question. Like Taurus is insinuating, even if our upperclassmen don't know about our exam, we can't forget that the headmaster and professors saw. While there may be some biased and don't wish to believe in what we achieve, from what I can tell, the headmaster isn't like that. And for all we know, the exam could be recorded, too. On the other hand, as Dora said, since changes were made for the mock exam, we can't say for sure how the score will be circulated."

"Regardless of how the score will be circulated, it does not change one thing," Lilith spoke. "Considering what we accomplished in the mock exam, first place is practically as good as ours."

"Lily's right. Even if changes weren't made to the exam, we practically dominated the other fools. There is no changing that," Ethan added.

"I think the assembly is about to start," came Azalea's voice. "The professors are up there."

We turned to the stage at her words. As the Plant Mage had announced, all the professors were starting to gather there, including Terranium and Edward. Even the headmaster was up there.

Suddenly, some kind of heavy force washed all over us. While we of Class F were forced down to our knees from the force, I could see the many other students finding it hard to just remain in their seats, or at least to sit with their backs straight, and their mouths were shut tight. Thankfully, it did not take long for the pressure to leave us.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for gathering," came the headmaster's voice, as I and the rest of my class silently stood back up to our feet, some of us quite shakily.

'I thought he was someone who shouldn't be messed with... But to this extent?' I couldn't help but wonder, recalling to back when I first met the headmaster, when I sensed the mana he had up-close. I was already shaken when I sensed his mana, but upon feeling it for myself? And from what I can tell, he didn't even use his magic; there was not a single magic circle that formed when the pressure was released.

"I am sure you all know the reason for this assembly," he began. "We are here to observe the strength and placings of our new students this year. Every year, this tradition was held to inform these new promising individuals where their current strengths lie, and how much they need to grow- to improve themselves- in order to be guaranteed a successful future come graduation. This year, though, thanks to the assistance of our new professor, the mock exam was made to be more lifelike, and gave us a clearer visual of where each class stand now. To the new generation, do note, however, that these placings are subject to change depending on your class actions, and every month, we will announce your new placings. As I am sure you all know, depending on where your class is ranked, you will gain your class's monthly income."

Our class income... Now that the headmaster mentioned it, that was also a reason why we trained as hard as we did. Before, our class was practically penniless, to the point where our classroom could've been a haunted or cursed place to be. But now? Now that we avoided last place, we can finally do something to improve that room. If, on the other hand, we can move to a different classroom, that would be even better.

"Without further ado, we will announce this generation's current class placings," Hazelaye spoke up then, standing by the headmaster's side. Almost as soon as he spoke, a hologram of each letter from 'A' to 'F' appeared above the stage, spinning about like a slot machine. "Once I call the class, I want the representative of that class to please come up and claim your class's budget."

I was taken aback by that last part. All this time, I was so focused on getting the class together for training, I completely forgot about the other necessities a class should have, one of them being the class president. That being said, it would make sense that the representative of our class should be our highest-ranking noble.

I was brought back from my thoughts upon hearing Hazelaye's voice once more. "Starting in first place is... Class A!"

... Come again?

"Wait, they're in first place?! How?!" Bruce gasped, voicing out my- and undoubtedly the rest of our class's- disbelief at the announcement.

As if to answer the question, a video was displayed on stage, and the headmaster began to speak. "Not only did Class A manage to prevent their flags from getting removed from their place, they kept their guard up around outside force, and prevented all adversaries from even taking a single step into their base. While points were taken off from some unwillingness to work with others, attacking people who could've been their allies during the second half of the mock exam, as well as losing some of their members during the exam, to name a few, the fact remains that they still managed to do their original task. All while holding off the enemies."

As he gave his explanation and evaluation of the class performance, videos of Class A's actions were shown to the audience. Some showed how the class prevented the disguised squires and other students from even entering their base, some showed how a few infiltrated the other classes' hideouts and took the flags to their base during the second part of the exam, and the rest displayed visual of them combating against the squires elsewhere in the woods.

While the older students accepted the evaluation and evidence shown, while I was not sure what the other first years thought about this evaluation, my class? Upon hearing the reasons the headmaster had listed out?

"Hang on... Is he saying we get points taken off if our flags get removed in any way? And people enter our base?" Shaun questioned.

"I know I heard that," Bruce practically confirmed.

"What the hell...? That's just bullshit!" Leroy shouted. "No offense to you, Taurus."

"None taken. If anything you took the words right out of my mouth," the bull crossbreed said, finding it quite hard to remain calm.

"Yeah. Flags aside, what were we supposed to do about being infiltrated? Our 'base' is nothing but a meadow," Belle pointed out.

Sadly, their words did not go unheard, as older students nearby scoffed at us.

"Not only that, but no one wanted to side with us in the first place, even when we called for the alliance," Flora added.

"Pfft. Did those guys really remove their own flags?"

"Even if it was to avoid getting them taken by the enemy, the point was to keep them safe. Right in the very spot they were placed in."

"Yeah, and given their little 'base', it can't be helped that those guys are so easy to invade. I bet they really fought for their lives, too. The poor things~"

I sensed mana on my side slowly acting up and raised an arm up. "Knock it off, you guys!"

Mindy and several others of our classmates- in other words the people who came close to unleashing their spells on our peers- turned to me in shock when I shouted that.

"But, Lady Levi-"

"'But' nothing, Mindy. Besides, I was the one who came up with those ideas. I should've been more considerate in planning them."

No one else said anything to retort. Whether it was because they were silently agreeing with me or so I- the strategist- could still save face, I didn't know, but it did nothing to cease the distasteful grins on the other students' faces. Taking the headmaster's explanation to consideration, if what he said was true, then not only did we lose massive amount of points because of my defensive strategy, but also because of my and Mindy's argument with Leia and her follower. Adding on to the fact that I, Leroy, and Kyle were beaten by the leader, surely, even more points were lost because of it. Not only that, but there was also a possibility that a good number of these squires went to infiltrate our base. Taking all of this into consideration, the possibility that we will avoid last place... has become low...

"All right, settle down, all of you," the headmaster spoke. "We still have other placings to announce. If the representative of Class A can please come up and collect his class income."

"Sir!" a boy from Leia's class spoke up, heading to the stage with pride.

Once he got his class's income, Hazelaye continued down the list. "Moving on. Placed in second... It's... The class is..."

His pause brought confusion to everyone.

"What's wrong with him?"

"What class is in second place?"

"I imagine Class B. They may be full of crossbreeds, but they have the princess in their class."

"Ah, I can see why Professor Hazelaye would hesitate then. I heard he really despise crossbreeds."

"Makes sense. I guess the princess would be of no exception, then."

While they were all talking about the rankings, I could hear some of my classmates losing interest in the topic.

"Well, our joy sure lasted for a short while," Taurus spoke.

"I really thought we would come up top after everything," Felix said.

Hearing those words made me feel even more guilty. All of that training I put them through, the strategies I came up with... To think that in the end...

"I'm really sorry, guys..." I could only say.

"No, Lady Levi. This is not your-"

Before Mindy could say any more, Hazelaye finally announced the second placed class. In quite a begrudging tone. "The second place class... is Class F!"

Silence filled the room then, as we all picked up our heads and saw the letter 'F' hologram up in full view.

"Huh? ... HUH?!"