Once again, the practical examination for the first-year students was left for the last day of the examination week. Only that this time the magic and purely physical parts were swapped compared to how they were for the end-of-term evaluation.
Meaning the physical exams were in the morning.
This time, there were multiple teachers attending, with nurses on standby by the training ground, so in case of emergency, they would react without even a moment of delay.
For a sprint, once again, the first-year students were put in groups of five, and, once again, Rotsard and Justin were placed together.
"Let's see if betraying my trust was the correct choice."
"...eh…?"
As their turn finally arrived and all five were taking their starting spots, Rotsard scoffed offhandedly as he passed Justin, causing the future hero to flinch and let out a rather pitiful whimper of confusion.
"You're not going to take some ridiculous position this time?"
"..."
Unexpectedly, the student standing right by Rotsard snorted mockingly under his breath, causing the bleached-blond-haired boy to pay attention to him…
Only to turn out to be none other than his classmate from the Drooml family.
The very same person whom Rotsard had to teach some common sense early in the first semester.
*ptfu*
Without wasting any words, Rotsard's response was to spit at the rude former peasant's feet, barely missing his shoes.
"!!!"
While Drooml's original intention was to anger Rotsard, the result was him turning bright red, shaking from anger, while most of the onlookers missed what happened, and those who didn't simply weren't going to react anyway.
Not for something that Rotsard did.
Not until he actually put his hands on another person.
"Relax and focus on achieving the best result you can."
"You…!"
After all, Rotsard did speak out, but only to stir Drooml up even more.
"Hey, peasant! Why don't you come and lick it off? Can I at least trust you to do that?"
"Wha...? My family is no longer…! Huh…? O-oohh!"
As Rotsard continued talking, Drooml got even angrier at first, but then he suddenly realized something and leaned back, making way for Rotsard's hateful glare to reach the commoner student who was once again dragged down to being a peasant in Rotsard's eyes.
"...?"
"..."
Justin furrowed his brows and tried to keep up a composed expression, but he did glance over at what Rotsarad was pointing at so casually...
"Oh, forget it. The only thing you can be trusted with is that you will betray any trust put into you. Filth."
"!!!"
It would be a lie to say that those words weren't stepping over the line, but it was at least worth mentioning that all the circumstances put together did place a massive burden on the bleached-blond-haired youth, and the only valve to release it at least slightly was flinging insults at Justin.
It was exactly how Rotsard in the story acted towards the future hero, so it was only natural...
…only that, it seemed that this metaphorical valve could get blown up at any second…
"READY!?"
"..."
Before things could escalate any further, the teacher called out, reminding the students lining up where they were and momentarily breaking up the brewing fight.
"START!"
At the signal, all five ran.
Well, four students started running.
*THUMP* *WHOOSH*
Rotsard launched himself with more than enough momentum to put a racehorse to shame.
He not only took the lead...! He made it look as if the other four stood in place!
*GHRRRRRRR*
"!?!?"
But right before the finish line, Rotsard suddenly dug his heels in and stopped, creating a massive dustcloud.
And then he turned around to look at his competitors.
"Tsk."
No, not all all of them. Just at a single person. Only to click his tongue with complete and utter disgust at Justin, who wasn't really that much ahead of the others.
"S-student Rotsard…! You didn't actually…!"
"I know."
The assistant teacher Hervolst at the finish line, called out nervously, thinking that maybe Rotsard was confused, but the boy shook his head with a sigh.
"I really thought it would be closer. What a PATHETIC sight."
"...!"
Rotsard spat through his teeth, making sure to make eye contact with the oncoming future hero, and only then turned around and took the final step, finishing the run.
"..."
"Th-thank you…"
He then casually walked towards the nurse at the sidelines and put out his hands towards her so she could check whether any traces of active spells remained in him to confirm no magic boosters were used, assuring the fairness of the result.
…and only then the out-of-breath Justin passed the finish line, followed by Drooml and two other first years from different classes…
"E-everything's in order."
"Thank you."
The nurse announced, letting go of Rotsard's hand, and the boy nodded at her before turning away.
"Well, would you look at that!"
"...!"
He then proceeded to snort and call out loudly, causing the future hero to flinch and immediately look away, in attempt to not engage in any arguments.
…but that wasn't enough for Rotsard, he WANTED an argument, he wanted to have the opportunity to vent…
"What's all the talent and predispositions in the world if it's all wasted by laziness?"
"?"
Rotsard turned to the other students, either done with the sprint or still waiting their turn, and spread his arms as he asked with an expression full of disdain, anger, and mockery.
"Let it be known that I, Rotsard Vallhall, acknowledge that this peasant holds the greatest potential of anyone I've seen in my life, including members of my own family."
"!?!?"
As he declared, the bewildered crowd stared at him wide-eyed and with their jaws dropped, although only a small group of students, as well as most of the teachers, already realized where this was going.
"But what of it?"
"...!"
When Rotsard snorted mockingly, the crowd flinched under the intense glare of his beastly yellow eyes.
"Why are you out of breath, peasant?! Why are you not living up to that potential of yours?! If you're not going to put your all into training and improving yourself, then… WHY ARE YOU DISGRACING ALL OF THE NOBLES WITHIN THIS ACADEMY WITH YOUR FOUL SLOTH!?"
Unfortunately, Rotsard discovered that he not only wasn't getting rid of anger but spurring himself even more as his call turned into a furious roar…
"Student Vallhall! That's enough!"
Thankfully, one of the teachers stepped up and interrupted him.
"Understood."
"...oh…?"
Rotsard leaned back for a brief second of consideration and self-reflection before simply nodding his head and walking off to the side, taking the teacher, who expected a completely different outcome, to let out the tiniest voice of pure bafflement.
From that point on, all the other exercises that had their results put together towards a grade were completely and utterly dominated by Rotsard.
The only odd part, besides his outrageous improvement, was that every single time after completing or almost completing an exercise, he would wait a few seconds before approaching the nurse.
He wasn't doing that by accident. The bleached-blond-haired boy WANTED others to start wondering what this was about.
All of the results were his own, but that wasn't how it was in the doefol's story…
Rotsard in the story was cheating, that was a fact.
So Rotsard figured out a simple solution to this predicament.
Wouldn't it be enough if the public opinion came to a consensus that he cheated anyway?
He just had to consistently act suspicious and let the rumors start and spread on their own.
Well, maybe not completely on their own…
"..."
Rotsard controlled himself and did not smirk when he spotted Amelia Edemsworth discussing something with her group of admirers, of which every last person kept glancing over at him.
Cunning and calculative from an early age, Amelia's description from the deofol's story was certainly on point.
Once she made her choice, that girl would hold on to it and do everything in her power to not only see it through but see it succeed, no matter the cost.
Since she already placed her bet on the future hero, the chances of her leaving Rotsard be after he badmouthed Justin in public were not even equal to zero, but actually down low in the negative.
It really was worth it for Rotsard to come up with a plan that accounted for him losing his cool.
As the last exercise finished, the future hero scuttled away somewhere while clenching his stomach.
With his own eyes clouded by tears, he ended up missing the disgusted glare of the beastly yellow eyes that followed him.
While Justin consistently took second place in every exercise, the margin between him and those after him was consistently shrinking…
And that was pissing Rotsard off to no end.
His own results were not just unchallenged but completely unapproachable for any student, regardless of their year, and even most teachers couldn't imagine themselves competing against him.
But that wasn't how it was supposed to be!
This time, the divergence of events wasn't coming from Rotsard, though, but from Justin!
In the story, the future hero was SUPPOSED TO be catching up to Rotsard despite Rotsard's cheating, not getting progressively worse!
"...?"
The actual Rotsard's expression changed after a brief change in the wind's direction as Justin's scent carried over was mixed with a faint smell of blood.
"Young Master, here."
"Sure."
For a moment, Rotsard's train of thought was interrupted when Nan approached him with a small towel. The boy did acknowledge the gesture with a nod, taking the towel and turning back towards the leaving future hero.
"..."
Disgust changed into annoyance, and the bleached-blond-haired boy rolled his eyes in silence before also leaving the training ground, holding onto the rolled towel while discreetly following the future hero.