"Second place again?"

I received the second-place ranking in the individual assessment.

But I wasn't disheartened.

Just moments ago.

Evan had unleashed a massive technique.

The ground around us shook, and a bright light enveloped the area.

After everything settled.

Evan staggered and almost collapsed.

People nearby quickly moved to take Evan to the infirmary.

It seemed like the backlash from using such a large-scale technique had caught up with him.

I was dumbfounded watching this.

Normally, such techniques aren't used in individual assessments.

While it is an assessment, it's essentially a scouting exercise.

One doesn't reveal their full strength.

The individual assessment is merely a stepping stone for the joint assessment.

Since the joint assessment carries more weight in scoring, focus should be there.

Revealing all one's cards during the individual assessment can lead to poor scores in the joint assessment.

It leaves one completely analyzed.

However, Evan's technique this time was an exception.

The intense light that wrapped around the clearing made it difficult to discern how the technique was activated.

Fortunately, it was clear that using that technique resulted in backlash for Evan.

"But how do I counter that...?"

The area behind where the scarecrow stood was completely blown open.

The wall erected to contain the power had been breached.

Seeing this gave a rough idea of the scale of Evan's technique.

Could I break through that wall?

Directly hitting the wall would be easy, but it's impossible to do so with power escaping elsewhere.

Then could I counter that technique?

No certain answer came to mind.

Yet, I smiled.

Right.

This is the level I need to be at.

A competitive spirit ignited within me.

In this joint assessment, I planned to face Evan head-on.

Of course, if Evan showed any signs of contacting the Rebels, I'd immediately suppress him, but otherwise, I'd let him be.

It was the least I could do, a trap laid for capturing the Rebels.

Setting that aside.

"There's nothing I can do about coming in second..."

I hadn't used mana to the point of collapsing.

I thought it more efficient to have enough mana to continue train than use an excessive amount of mana.

With my best effort in the joint assessment, I could easily overturn the ranking.

Of course, my pride was hurt.

I felt envious that Evan could demonstrate such power, considering all the hard work I had put in so far.

But all these feelings fueled my motivation.

I had a reason to become stronger.

To beat Evan.

To completely defeat him.

To the extent that the Rebels wouldn't even come to mind.

It was a short-term, clear goal.

I smiled.

"Let's give it a try."

Evan hadn't planned to use that technique originally.

After all, the individual assessment didn't hold much significance.

But watching Rudy's attempt changed his mind.

He wanted to win.

Desperately so.

That's why he resorted to a secret technique instead of his intended one.

It was the most powerful technique he could muster.

'The conditions weren't ideal, though...'

Evan's ecological magic was stronger when surrounded by plants.

He had reached the level where he could even spontaneously grow grass with mana, but naturally grown plants allowed him to use even bigger spells than artificially created ones.

"Evan!"

Just then, Yeniel burst into the infirmary.

"Evan, are you okay?"

"Uh... I don't think I'm in bad shape."

Evan tried moving his body.

He had been dizzy from overusing mana just before, but he was starting to feel better.

"More importantly... Do you know how I ranked?"

Evan had been brought to the infirmary before the assessment officially ended.

He hadn't been able to check his rank or score.

Yeniel sighed upon seeing him.

"You came first. Scored nearly 90,000 points."

Only then did Evan smile.

"That's a relief..."

"It's just an individual assessment. Why go all out with such a technique?"

Yeniel chided him.

"As long as I'm first, it's fine."

But Evan just smiled, satisfied.

"Being first here could put you at a disadvantage in the joint assessment, you know?"

"If I come first there too, by beating Rudy Astria..."

Upon hearing Rudy Astria's name, Yeniel's expression hardened.

"Evan, there's something I've been wondering."

"Hmm?"

"Why are you so intent on being the top student?"

The reason to be the top student.

Why he needed to be first.

Evan had never questioned this before.

He pondered for a moment before responding.

"...To become stronger. The privileges of being top student and..."

Before Evan could finish, Yeniel interjected.

"What will you do with more power?"

"More power... for what?"

Evan couldn't think of an answer.

What to do with the strength he sought.

'Why am I trying to become stronger?'

It was a fundamental question.

Evan had simply been following the academy's directives, striving to be at the top in its competitive system.

When he first entered the academy, he had the reason of tuition fees, but even that was no longer a concern.

He had saved enough money that tuition wasn't an issue.

Nor was he particularly desperate for the privileges of being the top student.

In fact, those privileges felt overwhelming to him.

There were many benefits that Evan had never used.

Just having a space to train and study was enough for growth.

The large number of benefits didn't contribute much to his development.

As Evan fell into confusion, Yeniel spoke up.

"In my view, you've lost your way. You lack a genuine goal of wanting to be the top student. It seems like you're just obsessed with the competition."

"Obsessed with the competition..."

"Rudy Astria."

At the mention of that name, Evan's eyes widened.

"It looks like you're just feeling inferior to Rudy Astria."

Evan clenched his fist, feeling something boiling inside him.

"Evan, you..."

"Yeniel."

Evan interrupted Yeniel.

"...Yes, I feel inferior to Rudy Astria. You're right, it's not about wanting to be the top student as much as wanting to beat Rudy Astria. Is that wrong? Can't that be my purpose?"

Evan vented his frustration.

He revealed what had been inside him.

Something he had never told anyone before.

But.

"No, that's not okay."

Yeniel denied his words.

"If what you were doing was just child's play, it wouldn't matter. But you're not ready to take responsibility for your power. You don't even know where your sword should be pointed."

"But..."

"Evan."

Yeniel looked him straight in the eye.

"Then what will you do if Rudy Astria suddenly disappears?"

Evan stopped, mouth agape at Yeniel's question.

If Rudy Astria was gone...

"If Rudy Astria gives up everything and vanishes."

Yeniel asked again.

"What will you do then?"

"I'll survive."

After the individual ability assessment ended, Yuni emerged from the bathroom, wiping away the cold sweat.

All the tension had dissipated now that everything was over.

She was satisfied with her score.

Though she hadn't ranked first, it was still an achievement worth smiling about, especially since there were more assessments to come.

"Uh... Yuni?"

"Seniors? You're all here?"

As she walked out of the bathroom, she ran into Rudy's group.

"Yuni, are you okay?"

Rie was the first to show concern for Yuni.

Rie examined Yuni with a worried expression.

"I wasn't feeling great earlier, but I'm okay now."

Yuni smiled at Rie, reassuring her.

She didn't want to cause Rie any worry.

"I was really worried because you looked unwell today."

"It's okay because you worried about me, sister!"

Seeing Yuni's bright face, Rie also smiled.

"Usually, you only get nervous when something's going on. Looks like it was nothing serious this time."

At those words, both Rudy and Yuni felt a pang of guilt.

Normally, Yuni wouldn't have been nervous in such a situation.

She didn't typically get nervous just because many people were watching.

She became tense only when there was a reason, and then, in the presence of many people.

But she couldn't tell Rie the truth just yet.

'Sister... I'll tell you later.'

Yuni apologized silently to Rie and moistened her lips.

"Still, you did really well on the score."

Rudy joined the conversation with a smile, trying to change the subject.

Yuni laughed at Rudy's remark.

"Right? I did score well~. And I even got the same rank as Rudy."

Rudy glared at Yuni playfully.

"Why are you picking on me all of a sudden?"

"Pick on you? Coming second is still a great achievement, right?"

Yuni was right.

Second place was indeed an excellent achievement, but for Rudy, it held a different meaning.

He had always been second, after all.

Yuni knew this, and Rudy realized she was aware.

"Oh... Taking care of you only to hear such words..."

"You took care of me, senior?"

"Weren't you nervous? I came to see you myself."

Yuni tilted her head, puzzled.

"How is that taking care of me? Was that even helpful? The real help came from Luna~."

Yuni smiled and looked back at Luna.

"Ahaha..."

Yuni approached Luna, loosening the clothes tied around her waist.

"Thank you, senior. This was really helpful."

"I'm glad it was useful."

"Huh..."

Rudy watched the scene with an incredulous look.

"Oh, and the candy you gave me! I enjoyed it so much! Ah... Now that I think about it, I should thank Ena too."

"Ah... Right. That candy..."

Luna responded with an awkward smile.

"That candy really worked wonders! When I was about to start my assessment..."

"Yuni... Ena told me... that was just a regular candy. It doesn't have any pain relief effect or anything like that... I was about to tell you earlier."

"What?"

Yuni tilted her head in confusion.

"I was sure... after eating it, I felt better... It even seemed to have a calming effect..."

Yuni spoke, her face a mix of puzzlement and disbelief.

"Ena said it was just an ordinary candy she made. Nothing special in it..."

A question mark popped up in Yuni's mind.

She had intended to thank Ena profusely, believing the candy to have been incredibly effective.

But to hear that it was just a regular candy without any medicinal properties.

"Then why did I feel better...?"

Yuni mused to herself, still tilting her head, lost in thought.

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