Without a word, her teammates began unloading their spoils onto the collection table. One by one, they placed regular beast cores, the boss beast’s core, and several puzzle cores — small, rune-inscribed stones that shimmered faintly under the terminal’s light.
Professor Yulia, who oversaw their report, looked up from her clipboard. Her normally stern expression softened, a rare note of approval in her voice.
"Excellent work," Yulia said, meeting Cecelia’s gaze. "And Cecelia — your support spells yesterday stabilized at least four other groups. That will be noted in your record."
"Thought there are no marks on such runes but your group had suffered to abstract such, so i will count it", said professor Slyvia from behind.
Her eyes shifted to the pile of puzzle cores, and she gave a brief nod. "And puzzle cores as well. Impressive."
"Thank you," Cecelia replied quietly. Her tone was polite, but there was no boastfulness in it.
(how did the professor know about the healing?)Cecelia thought.
Still, her attention wasn’t truly on Yulia or the pile of loot. Her gaze drifted over the professor’s shoulder, scanning the bustling plaza.
She searched the gathering crowd, eyes moving from face to face, looking for someone.
(...He’s not here yet.)
Her lips pressed into a faint line. She didn’t let it show outwardly, but part of her had been expecting and hoping to see Kael among the next arrivals.
Elysia entered next, her group stepping forward with an air of quiet confidence. Instead of a single type of core, they carried a diverse assortment—gleaming beast cores, the heavier and more lustrous boss beast cores, and several puzzle cores taken from the remains of magical constructs.
Professor Kalden’s brows rose slightly as he examined the pile.
"Beast cores, boss cores, and puzzle cores..." he murmured, his tone carrying genuine approval.
"For a first-year team to collect such a variety in one exam—it’s rare. Very rare."
The other professors exchanged looks, a ripple of impressed murmurs passing among them.
This year’s first-year class had already shown results beyond the usual standard. Almost every group had managed to return with at least some cores, and many had exceeded expectations.
Elysia inclined her head in acknowledgment, her voice calm but steady.
"We worked well together."
Her words were modest, but her gaze shifted ever so slightly—sliding toward Cecelia for the briefest heartbeat before drifting to the forest gate behind them.
Her eyes lingered there, as though silently taking attendance... noting who had already returned, and more importantly, who had yet to emerge from the woods.
"Make way, make way—puzzle masters coming through!"
Jin’s voice carried over the chatter of the waiting students, loud and proud, as he swaggered toward the submission table.
He waved grandly at the professors, wearing a grin that made it hard to tell if he was bragging or just trying to be funny.
A few nearby students snorted, while others chuckled at the nickname.
"Puzzle master? Since when? Buhaha" someone whispered.
"Since he got lucky, probably," another muttered with a smirk.
Unbothered, Jin reached the front with his teammates following close behind. With a dramatic flourish, he began unloading their haul onto the table—
First came the glimmering beast cores, each one pulsing faintly with residual mana. Then the heavier, more luminous boss beast cores, their surface marbled with streaks of power.
He placed the crystalline puzzle cores next, their intricate patterns catching the light in shifting colors. Finally, with both hands, he carefully set down a strange shimmering sphere—an illusion core—its surface rippling like disturbed water, as though it held a shifting dream inside.
Professor Sylvia, who had been reviewing another group’s submission, paused mid-motion. Her eyes narrowed slightly, not in suspicion but in surprise.
"...An illusion core?" she said slowly, stepping forward. "That’s an uncommon find for a first-year group."
Her expression softened into something between approval and mild astonishment.
Jin’s confident grin faltered just enough to reveal a faint blush. He scratched the back of his head, his voice turning sheepish.
"Ah... well, it wasn’t just me. Our group worked together for everything, Madam."
One of his teammates laughed. "Worked together? More like we solved the riddle while you kept guessing wrong answers!"
"Hey!" Jin protested, pretending to be offended. "If I hadn’t triggered that trap on purpose, we wouldn’t have found the hidden core."
The group burst out laughing, the good-natured teasing bouncing between them. With a final exaggerated bow, Jin slid the puzzle core toward the professor as if presenting a priceless artifact, drawing another round of chuckles from nearby students.
Even some of the professors exchanged amused looks—though a few were clearly impressed.
Cores of that variety didn’t appear often in midterm exams, and it was becoming clear that this year’s first-years were anything but ordinary.
Kalden allowed himself a small chuckle, shaking his head in quiet amusement.
"Such futuristic students," he murmured, glancing at the variety of rare and unusual cores being placed on the table.
A short distance away, a few of the professors leaned toward each other, speaking in low but clearly pleased voices.
"This year’s performance... it’s better than any we’ve seen in a long time," one remarked.
"Better than anyone expected," another agreed. "Almost every first-year group has returned with beast cores—some even with bosses and special cores. That’s rare."
Their words carried a note of pride, though also a hint of disbelief.
As the groups gathered near the terminal, the air buzzed with chatter. Some students were swapping stories of their battles—
"I swear, that wolf almost bit my arm off before I got the core!" one boy said, holding out a bandaged wrist for proof.
"We ran into a pair of savage boars," another girl bragged. "Took both of them down without losing a single member."
Laughter and friendly boasting rippled through the crowd as beast cores clinked and glimmered under the light.
Standing a few paces ahead, Professor Kalden was focused on the clipboard in his hand. He began counting aloud, his voice steady at first.
"Ninety-eight... ninety-nine... one hundred..." His brow creased slightly. "One hundred and thirty-nine..."
He stopped, eyes narrowing.
"No. We’re missing one."
Professor Yulia, standing beside him, leaned closer. "Who?"
Kalden’s finger slid down the list of names until it stopped halfway down the page. His voice was low but clear enough for those nearby to hear.