"Ugh."
The groans ca from the first group of students. It was impossible to figure out anything just by looking at the shapeless elents from a distance.
"Ma, may I touch it?" the team leader asked.
Professor Karen nodded.
"Then start. I'll start timing now."
"Understood, professor."
The first group of students quickly approached the seven elents to examine them, their movents calculated.
Considering the short ti, it was a smart choice to decide in advance who would examine what.
They used all five senses: they looked, slled, tasted, listened, and reached out to feel. A thorough investigation using all five senses. The students' expressions changed in real-ti.
Their eyes shone with joy when they found a familiar sensation, and their pupils shook with anxiety in front of an unfamiliar one.
After a while, Professor Karen's voice cut off sharply, "Ti's up."
"Oop…."
A sound of regret ca from the first group of students. It seed like they were about to find the answer, but they were cut off.
"Now, you have 30 seconds to discuss and then give your answer."
The students quickly huddled together to discuss.
"I think I know one, but one is ambiguous..."
"I'm sure about one, but the rest..."
"I only know one for sure."
Out of seven, they had figured out three. Considering it was their first ti facing such a problem, it wasn't bad. And for the four they didn't know, if they guessed, statistically, one should be correct. That would an they did more than half right.
Not quite satisfactory, but the first group of students didn't seem too disappointed with their performance. They decided how to guess the answers they didn't know.
Then ti was up.
"Ti's over. Now please tell the answer," Professor Karen said.
The team leader organized his thoughts one last ti and then spoke, "From the left, in order: Earth, Darkness, Wind, Fire, Light, Water, Electricity."
"Good. Now let's check the correct answers with your eyes."
Snap. Professor Karen flicked her finger.
Then, "Huh?" "Whoa, the elents?"
The students widened their eyes and murmured. The shapeless elents began to take form rapidly.
Fire, Water, Wind, Electricity, Earth, Light, Darkness. Soon, the forms of the seven clear elents were revealed.
And then—
"How can this be?"
"That's impossible..."
The first group of students' faces turned to shock. It was inevitable. All the answers they thought were certain were completely wrong.
"One point. Try harder next ti."
Professor Karen delivered the final blow. They had barely managed to get one right.
The first group was utterly devastated. The students began to murmur anxiously. They sensed that this test was as difficult as the first one.
"Next group, co forward."
"Ah... Yes."
The second group ca forward with tense faces. And they too—
"Two points. Keep trying."
"…"
"How can this be…?"
They failed spectacularly.
"Next group."
And so, one group after another was dragged into the hellish test. And most of them failed without an answer.
A gathering of those whose lives were over—if there was such a place, it might be right here. They lay sprawled out with empty eyes, like people who had lost the will to live.
From their appearance, you'd think they were holess on the streets.
Others might wonder why, but for them, the shock was that great. Especially for those like Royals or Nobles who had always lived successful lives, the shock must have been greater. They had never experienced such a failure in an exam before.
"It's all over... over...."
"Life is...."
"..... It was a beautiful life."
They muttered with expressions like old people who had tasted the bitterness and sweetness of life. The fact that these guys, with such expressions, were just over twenty was horrifying.
Just looking at them seed to spread the negative emotions they were emitting. The remaining students desperately fortified their minds.
"Damn it, let's never end up like that."
"...That's not a person, that's trash, trash."
The survivors practiced social distancing, fearing they might catch the bad vibes. But in reality, most of them were destined to end up like that trash.
***
"Hehe... it's over, over...."
...But this tofu-brained guy hasn't even had his turn yet, and he's already losing his mind?
No wonder he lost his position to his younger brother. He's truly an extra for a reason.
Can this guy really be rehabilitated...? I seriously doubted it, but since we were in the sa group, I decided to watch over him until the end.
"Hey."
Slap.
The easiest way to bring soone back to reality: I slapped his cheek with the palm of my hand, giving it so weight. Only then did Sunny's eyes start to return to reality.
"Uh...? Uh... Uh?"
Sunny muttered in a dazed voice.
"Stop dawdling, it's almost our turn."
"...Uh?"
"Ah, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
Even I, who loves peace more than anyone, couldn't help but raise my hand against Sunny.
"No, no, it's not. I-I really didn't."
Sunny flinched and quickly shook his head from side to side. It was annoying, but his expression seed genuine, so I decided to let it slide.
He was lucky to have a humane team leader like .
"Hey, Sunny."
"Uh, yeah."
"What did I say I hate the most?"
"People who cause harm to others."
"Right. You rember well. That's exactly it."
"As a team mber, you shouldn't cause harm to the other mbers, right?"
"That's right. I'll... I'll do better."
Sunny, seemingly stung by the comnt, nodded several tis and said so.
But kid, this isn't sothing you can handle. I'm the one who carries the team. You just need to not hold us back.
"Listen."
I leaned in close and said, "I'll take two, you take two, she takes three."
With only 30 seconds, dividing the tasks was essential.
"Why do I have three?"
Rivera, who had been rolling around doing nothing, suddenly popped her head in. Ah, you startled . She ca in without even signaling.
"If you have any conscience, you should earn your keep."
"Tch."
"Got it?"
She slipped away and rolled back without responding. But at least she seed to accept it for now.
Well, I don't need to worry about her unnecessarily. I turned my attention back to Sunny.
----
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