chapter 37
"So who will be team leader?"
Lillian asked in a cheerful voice.
Mathew snorted and looked away. Rebecca didn't comment, while Azek was busy assessing his mana reserve.
A cold breeze blew.
This was the first time she was outright ignored.
Azek was still busy with his self-examination, as this would be the first time he would use internal mana at his limit after getting injured.
For safety, he had completely refrained from showing any spells other than basic ones in class practicals, but his daily mana training had continued nonstop, coupled with physical exercises.
His mana reserve had become much more flexible, and now he could command mana outside his body with relative ease.
So he only practiced without channeling inner mana, as Magnus had warned him sternly that his mana core was like a newborn baby's, and he had to take extra care.
Now this exam held importance, as it would determine their overall rank in the academy as well as in class.
"Are you listening?"
Lillian snapped. Azek slowly looked up.
"Mathew, Rebecca, do you have any opinion?"
Mathew directly waved his hand.
"I think you should take command."
He said and nudged Rebecca's shoulder slightly. She became startled and only nodded her head.
Lilian's expression changed slowly and fury erupted on her beautiful face.
"Can you people at least pretend to take it seriously? I don't want to fail the exam by following someone blindly."
"I have made a rough plan and decided on positions as well. I wonder if you are interested in listening?"
Azek replied nonchalantly and began explaining the details.
He was done soon.
"If you have any problem, ask now."
"I have a huge problem. What is this formation you have made? Isn't this completely giving you the center position so we won't even have the chance to fight monsters?"
Lillian immediately raised her questions.
Azek commented nonchalantly,
"You don't have to worry about not having enough opponents. In fact, your safety should be your priority right now as this is the first time we are engaging in monster combat. Anything can happen anytime. So I made the plan maximizing safety over other things."
He then looked at Rebecca and Mathew questioningly.
Mathew simply nodded and said,
"I have no problem. Rebecca, you can ask now if you have any."
Lilian also looked towards Rebecca anticipating her answer.
Rebecca hesitated a little.
Lillian shot a triumphant glance at Mathew, glee clearly evident in her eyes.
"Alright, it seems like only I am willing to follow this arrangement. You should go talk to Professor Albert and switch the group now. There are plenty of people willing to go with us. I don't want to entrust my back to someone who doesn't put her trust in her fellows."
Mathew curtly said and gestured toward Professor Albert, where a few students were already standing and discussing something.
He then tried to find Edrin in the crowd. As soon as he saw him, he gestured. Edrin nodded slightly and a little later came over.
"What's the problem?"
"Our class fellow isn't willing to follow us, so we are thinking of discussing things with Professor Albert to let us switch teammates."
After listening, Edrin shook his head.
"That is not possible. In the first place, this is an exam. If they wanted us to make our own teams, they wouldn't have bothered with the whole number system. And if you can't even work with someone in your own class, how will you handle it when something happens and that same person is next to you? How will you cooperate then?"
Mathew was left speechless by Edrin's lecture.
"Then tell me what we are supposed to do if the other person isn't willing."
"Well, I didn't say there wasn't a way."
Mathew popped a vein.
Edrin laughed and went to Lillian.
He took out his number plate indicating his group and asked her politely,
"Would you like to exchange with me?"
Lillian snorted, exchanged the number plate, and left in a hurry.
Mathew's jaw dropped to the floor.
"Edrin, you…"
He pointed his finger at him, but Edrin immediately shut him off.
"Slow down. You're going to blow us off. If you simply keep your mouth shut, no one is going to know."
Mathew immediately lowered his voice.
"What a snake. You sure love to hide behind your smile."
He looked disgruntled.
"Well, at least we got out of the predicament. And besides, I don't like her."
He whispered the last sentence so only Mathew and Azek heard.
Rebecca was looking toward where Lillian had retreated and wasn't paying attention.
"Who? Lillian?" Mathew asked in a whisper as well.
Edrin shook his head and pointed in a direction. There was a blonde girl with a high ponytail standing there, looking very happy to welcome Lillian back. She gave them a fleeting glance, and Mathew felt disgusted.
She was clearly looking down on them.
He hooked his arm around Edrin and asked Rebecca,
"Do you want to go as well?"
"As long as you and your friend keep your mouths shut, we are willing to let you go."
Rebecca looked toward a certain direction but shook her head, and her demeanor changed.
"I am fine with Azek's strategy. As long as I get to pass, nothing else matters."
These were the most words she had spoken till now, but Azek liked her answer.
"I guess we are clear to go now. Let's enter."
He said while distributing mana crystals and flares to them. Edrin was briefed on the plan as well, and they moved to the start location.
Professor Serbian was standing there.
He recorded their names and made sure they had everything before giving Azek a badge.
"This is your team leader badge. You have the responsibility to guide your team and ensure their safety. There is a spell contained inside the badge. If you feel life-threatening danger to you or your team members during the raid and no help is near, crush it and wait for assistance."
He put it on Azek.
Azek double-checked his team's supplies and formation.
Serbian shot the signal and recorded their time on the stone slab beside him.
"Start."
They rushed into the forest immediately.