The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 85

85

“The students called, please come forward.”

As everyone’s heart raced, the name of the new star of the Dellaiten freshman class was finally announced.

“Rain Ludwig, Crista Warden, Kayden.”

The audience began to stir.

Did this semester’s final exam produce three top students?

To explain this result, Rain Ludwig’s evaluation scores must be listed.

[10]

[10]

[8]

[8]

[10]

[10]

[10]

[10]

[10]

[9]

He received the most 10s, but since artistic aspects are inevitably subject to personal preference, he also received two 8s, resulting in a total score of 95.

“Rain Ludwig also reached the highest score ever!”

“It’s the same score as Crista Warden!”

“Seven professors gave him 10 points…!”

As the score caused everyone to exclaim in admiration, there was a girl who openly expressed her discomfort.

“That, that, that eyesore… tied with Rain? Rain’s magic was more amazing, though?!”

Casena Page muttered in disbelief, and Madelia placed her hand on her head.

“The world of magic is always cold… I want to say that, but I don’t know if we can really call this a tie.”

“……?”

“Casena, you will become the headmaster someday, so I’ll tell you in advance, but midterms and final exams are graded differently.”

If this had been the exam topic for the midterm in the first or second semester… Rain Ludwig would have taken the top spot. Because.

“Rain received seven 10s, which means that seven out of ten professors gave Rain bonus points.”

“Really?”

“Yes. If it were a midterm, Rain would have been the top student, with an overwhelming difference in bonus points. Oh, and don’t tell anyone about this.”

He’s truly a frightening kid.

To surpass Kayden, famous as the genius of Harimun, in such an unfavorable topic, and to be on par with Warden’s young lady….

And if the scoring method had been different, he would have beaten them both.

“Then what! Even if it’s a joint top score this time, why is that Kayden guy included?”

“There are no joint top students in Dellaiten. The only sun that can exist in each exam is one.”

Since there was a tie in the final exam, it will now be concluded in that cruel way… Elin Ludwig also bit her lip.

“Oh my, is it going to a runoff vote?”

“What is a runoff vote, Aunt?”

“It’s a method used only when there is a tie in the final exam.”

The runoff vote was a method of selecting the top student by having the three students who made it to the top student decision vote for each other.

“In this case, only the students who obtained the joint top score can receive votes….”

The third-place student who failed to compete for the top spot only gets the right to vote.

It was created with the intention of having the students who made it to the finals select the student they are convinced is the top student, but most of them vote for themselves….

“It’s something that happens maybe once every twenty years.”

Nora Redon raised the corners of her mouth as if she was really interested.

“The most important thing right now is Kayden★ He must be sad to be eliminated.”

The reason Madelia said it was a cruel method is right here.

Since most of the top candidates vote for themselves, the top student is determined by the decision of the third-place student who failed to make the top.

The assistant, who briefly and clearly explained this method to the students, placed the three students in a triangular formation.

“When I count to three, please raise your right hand and point to the student you think is suitable for the top student. Of course, you can also vote for yourself.”

White cumulus clouds shone brightly in the sky. It was too leisurely a day to hold such a breathtaking vote.

“Three.”

A strange tension flickered in the eyes of the students glancing at each other, to the point where even the onlookers held their breath.

“Two.”

Professor Caroline stopped breathing and closed her eyes tightly. Professor Elin tapped her feet intermittently in impatience.

“One.”

And the next moment, the three students raised their hands at the same time… making the eyes of the audience, who were holding their breath and waiting for the results, widen.

“Um…?”

“Huh…?”

There were four fingers there.

One was pointing to Kayden.

Another was pointing to Crista Warden.

And the other two were… pointing to Rain Ludwig.

“Kayden chose Rain Ludwig…?”

“Crista Warden too…?”

“And Rain Ludwig… both of them?”

The assistant, receiving the professors’ bewildered gazes, quickly approached Rain Ludwig.

“Student Rain, who are you choosing right now?”

That was the only way to ask.

No, Rain raised both hands, pointing to Kayden with his left hand and Crista Warden with his right hand.

Then Rain Ludwig tilted his head as if wondering why this was strange.

“I thought these two were more suitable to be the top student than me, so I did this… Is it not allowed?”

“In the runoff vote, you can only choose one person. Can we accept that you voted for Crista Warden?”

A rare sight of all the students who made it to the finals voting for each other, and the bizarre behavior of the top student… Vice-Professor Kyle felt his heart swell.

‘I never thought the day would come when I would see such a heartwarming scene in the runoff vote.’

It’s truly a golden generation. Not only their skills but also the character of the members… Excellent, nothing could be better.

“Okay, that’s it. No matter how Student Rain’s vote is counted, there will be no change in the result.”

As Kyle raised the boy’s hand, his figure was magnified the most in the Clairvoyance [a magical viewing device] in front of everyone’s eyes.

“Right here, the top student of the first semester of the 1388th class is decided!”

The boy standing there had black hair and red eyes. He was once despised with the derogatory nickname of Disaster Prodigy.

Once, once, once.

But now, in the midst of the Dragon Blood Arena [a prestigious magical competition], where all the enthusiasm and desire are poured out, at the pinnacle of the Demon Realm.

“Rain Ludwig!”

The silence that flowed among the audience who were watching the voting results with suspicion was broken, and thunderous applause erupted.

“Wow!”

“Ludwig has conquered the golden generation of Dellaiten and won the top spot for the second time in a row!”

“Amazing, 1388th class! Even the last vote! I’ll continue to support you!”

Elin Ludwig and Seri Ludwig, who had doubted their senses for a moment, burst into innocent laughter and hugged each other the next moment.

“Aunt, Aunt! Brother won! Brother won!”

Brim Ludwig, who was smiling and applauding while looking down at her son, overlapped her husband’s figure in her son’s back and had to wipe away tears.

‘Keibon, our son has once again reached the top today… Just like you did.’

In the eyes of Professor Caroline, who closed her eyes with a hollow breath, bitterness and pride were mixed.

‘Okay, Crista. If this is your choice… As a teacher, I have no choice but to support you.’

Rain, who had become the center of all attention and admiration in an instant, looked at Crista with a dazed expression.

“Hey, why did you vote for me? You said you would definitely take the top spot this time.”

Then, Crista turned her head away and crossed her arms proudly.

“Don’t be cocky. I don’t need to say it; I’ll definitely take that dragon bone stone decoration cord [a symbol of achievement]. When I’m convinced that I’ve definitely won against you.”

If she had won this final by even one point, she would have taken the top spot without hesitation.

But this, this was not it.

Wasn’t it Rain Ludwig’s overwhelming victory in the preliminary round? Taking this kind of victory doesn’t suit her personality.

‘But… it’s frustrating.’

She is frustrated that she couldn’t reach the top spot here.

But more than that, the helplessness of thinking that Rain Ludwig is more suitable for the top spot than her, makes her shudder… frustrated.

It was right then, just as she was biting her lip to the point of tasting blood to suppress her tears.

“Crista!”

A voice that was more than welcome, but embarrassing, was heard.

A crowd was waving vigorously at the girl from the audience.

Everyone did not recognize their identities because they were not wearing clothes with the family crest, but Crista already recognized them by their voices alone.

“Dad, Mom… and sisters? What, why are you here?”

That’s why she couldn’t help but approach them in a heart-fluttering confusion.

“Why did we come, you little rascal! Why are you asking when you know!”

“Your older sister came to support her talented younger sister!”

It was a family trait to utter unaristocratic words when excited. Her father, with a round face and a gentle impression, smiled.

“Good job, Crista. You were really cool.”

Cool?

What’s so cool about it?

She couldn’t take the top spot again, and she enrolled making such a big noise… She was about to say that while feeling a tearing pain.

“You have a really wonderful daughter, Count Warden.”

“Looking at the young lady, I feel that the future of the Warden family is brighter than ever.”

“I’m from the Magic Alliance Information Processing Department. If you’re okay with it….”

She was speechless when she saw the direction of the applause, which had been directed at Rain, suddenly turn to her and her family.

Seeing her father and mother surrounded by several dignitaries of the magic world and receiving compliments… It was a sight she had never imagined before.

Eva Warden, the eldest daughter of the Warden family, smiled proudly at such a younger sister.

“Did you see? Straighten your shoulders, you talented younger sister. You were really cool today.”

If her family had come, it would have been better if she could have shown them her being the top student.

She couldn’t straighten her shoulders.

She couldn’t raise her head.

But the girl straightened her shoulders and raised her head, which felt so heavy, because she was already used to such hardships and sorrows.

– If a genius goes ten miles a day and rests, we can go ten miles without resting. What if a genius crosses the sea on a sailboat? We can follow by rowing a raft.

It’s natural to be tired.

It’s natural to be painful.

Nevertheless, she will go this path to the end, because someday she will definitely be able to catch up.

“Yeah…!”

Rain, who was watching Crista’s back as she hid her tears and answered cheerfully, turned to Kayden this time.

“Why did you vote for me? No matter how I look at it, what that guy made was cooler.”

Then Kayden took out a portable notebook and scribbled on it with a pen.

[I was more impressed with Young Master’s magic.]

“Why?”

[Because I could vividly feel your voice in the magic.]

Then, when he slammed the notebook shut, he faintly smiled and turned to where the Harimun School and his father were.

“Tsk….”

Rain scratched his head. He’s definitely getting closer to Lista’s letter, so he feels good, but he also feels uneasy.

It feels like he’s stepping on promising juniors.

If I weren’t here, Crista would have been the top student, and that Kayden guy would have been the second… Ugh, I don’t know.

“Cool, all three of you.”

At that time, Dadan Karain, who was sitting in front, jumped up while Lilian Karain was clapping with a bitter smile.

“How can that kind of word come out of your mouth? Cool? A loser who has tarnished the name of the school!”

And he swung his hand greatly and slapped Lilian’s cheek hard.

“How are you going to reach the top with that kind of weak mindset! You pathetic guy!”

But old Dadan’s hand could not reach Lilian’s face unlike before, because Lilian snatched his wrist in the air. Dadan’s hand trembled, perhaps because his grip was pushed back.

“You don’t have to worry; I’ll reach the top on my own, so just watch.”

“You, you…!”

“But not in your way. I will stand at the top in my own way.”

Lilian gave a cold smile, then let go of Dadan’s hand and stood up from his seat, leaving the audience without looking back.

While Dadan was ranting and pointing his finger, the young students of Rivendell had to try hard to hide the smile that came from the exhilaration.

Meanwhile, Vice President Felix Drake, who was leaning against the railing of the audience and watching the top student decision, smiled and turned to the side.

“The momentum of the freshmen is ridiculous. Are you going to have a student council president who is better than you?”

Then Valencidice, who was watching the game with him, showed an inexplicable smile.

“We’ll have to see about that.”

Of course, I won’t be able to see the end with my own eyes….

Starting from this day, Rain Ludwig’s name will leave a strong mark on the magic world with the alias of a new star, just like his father and his grandfather did.