Episode 7
Episode 7: Midterms Skyrocket!
Cheongsin High School, Class 7, Year 2.
Today, Chemistry I, Physics I, and Technology/Home Economics exams were scheduled to be held here.
Three subjects in one day!
Furthermore, Chemistry I and Physics I were extremely important subjects, comparable to the core subjects of Korean, English, and Math.
Especially for science-track students.
"Alright, you all know today is the last day of midterms, right? I hope you do your best until the very end. Then everyone, pass your OMR cards to the back first. Don't pass the test papers yet."
The students passed their OMR cards to the back and began filling them out according to the teacher's instructions.
Gyeongjun, who sat in the very back, soon received his OMR card and began filling it out.
'The first exam is Technology/Home Economics. Basically just a warm-up.'
If nothing else, at least he didn't have Physics I or Chemistry I right in the first period.
'Come to think of it, I barely studied for Technology/Home Economics... Since it was always the morning class, I was too sleepy to listen properly.'
This wasn't unique to Gyeongjun.
Technology/Home Economics, a subject that wouldn't even appear on the CSAT!
Unless one was a top-tier student aiming for the SKY universities (Seoul National, Yonsei, Korea) or SKP (Seoul National, KAIST, POSTECH), nobody really paid much attention to Technology/Home Economics.
Although it counted toward school records, it was an established truth in academic circles that it was far better to study other, more important subjects instead.
'Let's just do what I can. There must be some I can solve with common sense.'
Ding-dong-dang-dong~.
The bell signaling the start of the exam.
Hearing it, the teacher spoke to the students.
"You may now pass the test papers to the back. If you have any problems, raise your hand. You know what happens if you get caught doing something stupid, right?"
Swish, swish.
Perhaps because everyone thought it wasn't a very important subject, even the sound of passing papers lacked vigor.
Gyeongjun also took the test paper without much fuss and began reading the questions.
But......
'Huh...? H-huh? What is this?'
By an incredible coincidence, the first question was one he knew.
'Lucky me.'
Gyeongjun checked the answer immediately without a moment's hesitation upon seeing the question.
He moved on to question 2.
This time too.
'This one also feels incredibly familiar for some reason...'
It wasn't just the second question.
The third, the fourth, 10, 11...... all the way to the final question 25!
Gyeongjun had solved them all in less than 20 minutes.
Practically less than one minute per question!
'I guessed on a few home economics questions since I didn't know them, but I knew all the technology ones completely. As expected, those carpenter skill books I studied before.......'
The three basic carpenter skill books Gyeongjun had studied at Carpenter's workshop previously!
To Gyeongjun, who had reviewed those books countless times, the 'technology' section of Technology/Home Economics was no different from child's play.
'I thought carpentry had nothing to do with school studies...... but I guess not.'
Gyeongjun felt inexplicably pleased at this unexpected realization.
He had previously thought school studies were merely for sorting students by scores, but he realized he needed to change that mindset.
'The time now is......'
There were still more than 30 minutes left until the exam ended.
He couldn't afford to waste time like this.
Gyeongjun went back to the first page, quickly finished reviewing, and then began writing something on the remaining blank space.
'First, the most important parts from this Chemistry I exam scope...... the history of atomic models, the octet rule, and also......'
Gyeongjun immediately began preparing for the next exam.
* * *
"Wow! This physics and chemistry was insane!"
"No, they said they wouldn't make it that hard, are they kidding?!"
"Hey, hey! My friend was 7th in science in Year 1, but got 50s on both chemistry and physics this time!"
"The rankings are really going to be crazy this time. Is this why they told us to go liberal arts instead of science......"
"Real. If you go to the liberal arts hallway, everyone and their dog got 70s or 80s."
"Their averages must be high too. I bet the physics and chemistry averages will both be around 60 this time."
"Nope. 60? I predict averages in the 50s."
The surroundings had grown noisy after the exam ended.
Everyone was making a fuss about how hard the exam was.
'Hmm......? Was it hard? Since I never studied properly before, I can't tell if this was hard or not.'
Gyeongjun scratched his head and looked at his self-graded test papers.
[Chemistry I: 73 points]
[Physics I: 74 points]
Previously, Gyeongjun had merely scored just above failing marks.
He had started studying upon entering high school, but he couldn't catch up to children who had attended academies and started studying from elementary school, or even kindergarten.
In fact, looking at his Year 1 grades, he had been playing around in the bottom ranks, with scores in the 30s and 40s.
'My scores doubled in an instant. And Technology/Home Economics was truly an unexpected harvest.'
[Technology/Home Economics: 93 points]
Perhaps because his guessed home economics answers happened to be right, Gyeongjun had received a score over 90 for the first time in his life.
Of course, it wasn't an important subject.
Still, the fact that he had achieved results through effort was right before his eyes, so he felt good.
"Gyeongjun! How did you do on the exams?"
"Hey. You know Lee Gyeongjun's grades from Year 1. What's the point of asking?"
"But Gyeongjun studies hard. You never know? Maybe he improved?"
Gyeongjun wondered whether to tell his friends who were asking about his scores.
* * *
After all the midterm grading and checking was finished.
The homeroom teacher was distributing report cards to the students.
"Na Pyeong-gyun!"
"Yes."
Na Pyeong-gyun came to the front of the blackboard at the teacher's call.
The homeroom teacher frowned upon checking his report card.
"Oh my, well done, well done. You're dragging down our class average all by yourself. What is this, huh?"
"No, Teacher. I lived up to my name on the two science subjects this time. I calculated it, and I was barely at the average?"
"Oh dear, if only you couldn't talk. Instead of calculating those things, try to surpass the average."
"Yes."
Na Pyeong-gyun returned to his seat without really arguing.
His score was 42.
Because he really was below average.
"Next, Kim Mun-maeng!"
"Yes."
This time Kim Mun-maeng stood up from his seat.
"You're fine in everything else, but can't you pay more attention to Korean? Then would you have some illness or something?"
"Huh? An illness? I got all normal results on my physical exam this time."
"No, that's not what I mean...... When I talk to you, I seriously doubt whether you're actually Korean."
"I am Korean. My father is from Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk, and my mother is from Yeosu, Jeonnam."
"......Never mind. Go sit down."
"Yes."
Kim Mun-maeng returned to his seat.
And then it was Gyeongjun's turn.
The homeroom teacher looked at Gyeongjun's report card and thought:
'Chemistry 73 and Physics 74. Is this barely average? The rest are similar or slightly higher...... Still, he went up quite a bit compared to before. From bottom rank to lower-middle rank?'
The Year 2 average last year had been in the high 70s, so that was probably the case.
Still, considering this kid's Year 1 grades, this must be a huge improvement.
The teacher nodded approvingly and patted Gyeongjun's shoulder as if to acknowledge his efforts.
"Good. With this, you don't need to worry about failing this time. I heard you've been working hard lately. Work just a little harder and try to surpass the average in everything next time."
"Yes."
After sending Gyeongjun back, he immediately looked at the next student's report card.
This time it was Park Yeong-hui.
A talented student who had competed with Kim Cheol-su for 2nd and 3rd place in the entire school in Year 1.
"Park Yeong-hui!"
"Yes."
The homeroom teacher looked at Park Yeong-hui's report card with anticipation.
"Yes, Yeong-hui. You did well this time too...... Huk! Chemistry is 75?! What, Yeong-hui, why did your grades drop so much this time?! This is barely above average!"
Park Yeong-hui, who had always maintained at least the 90s no matter what.
But to drop to the 70s! What on earth......!
This question was soon resolved.
The students began to correct the facts, as the teacher seemed to be mistaken about something.
"Teach. The science average for our grade this time is super low."
"That's right. When I told a Year 3 senior I know our average, he was super surprised."
"They say our grade is about 30 points lower than last year."
"The chemistry average is 42.4. Physics is 43.9."
"W-what......?"
The stunned homeroom teacher immediately looked at the report card again.
Park Yeong-hui, Chemistry 75, 3rd place school-wide.
'Wait...... If 75 is 3rd place, then Lee Gyeongjun, who just got 73.......'
"G-Gyeongjun. Sorry, but could you bring your report card back for a moment? Let's look at your chemistry and physics again."
"Yes."
The homeroom teacher took the report card from Gyeongjun again and checked his ranks.
Lee Gyeongjun, Chemistry 73, 4th place school-wide.
Lee Gyeongjun, Physics 74, 4th place school-wide.
"K-keok......! H-he's 4th place school-wide?!"
"What, what. Lee Gyeongjun is 4th in chemistry?"
"The teacher checked physics again too."
"Then both?"
"OMG. Wasn't he bad at studying?"
"The top student in another class was crying because they got 69 this time, no way he's higher than them?"
"Wait, then that means you definitely have to score over 70, and he scored over 70? That Lee Gyeongjun?"
"Is this real?"
Gyeongjun nonchalantly pushed his glasses up, intoxicated with self-satisfaction.
* * *
Gyeongjun skyrocketed during the midterms!
He had acted like it was no big deal in front of his friends, but once they parted ways and he was alone, he couldn't help but smile.
'Really...... my efforts weren't in vain.'
He was incredibly proud of himself.
And he was so happy that his results directly reflected his efforts.
'So this is why the kids who study well do it. Am I now someone who studies too?'
Of course, there was still a heaven-and-earth difference between Gyeongjun and the studious kids.
For example, there was a girl named Yu Seol-ha.
The granddaughter of Seolha Group, for some reason she had entered Cheongsin High School, a regular high school, and took 1st place school-wide and single-digit ranks in national mock exams as easily as eating meals.
Her nickname was the "Legendary Mom's Friend's Daughter."
Besides her, there was Kim Cheol-su, the human calculator and 2nd place school-wide, and Park Yeong-hui, the polyglot and 3rd place school-wide, etc.......
Surprisingly, Cheongsin High School was filled with students who studied well.
'They say it's rare for so many high-achievers to gather at a regular equalization high school, but.......'
Perhaps because of that, Gyeongjun's current grade was called the "Legendary Grade," taking after Yu Seol-ha's nickname.
A grade where only intensely fierce, legendary students had gathered!
That was Gyeongjun's grade.
'To me, no matter what happened, this was a story that didn't concern me.'
To the previous Gyeongjun, this was merely interesting gossip.
But now it was different.
He felt that the distance between him and those he had previously viewed as entirely different people, looking up at them from afar, was gradually closing thanks to these midterms.
Those who had been invisible, let alone reachable, were now beginning to come into view.
'I never knew why these guys competed so fiercely until now...... but it's different now. I think I understand now.'
Gyeongjun felt a sensation he couldn't properly describe with words.
He felt he somewhat understood why they had studied so hard.
Yet he couldn't fully relate.
Because there was still a difference of hundreds of kilometers between Gyeongjun and them, so to speak.
'But if I continue to use the ability of the Seeker of Infinite Knowledge.......'
Gyeongjun put on the access gear with an extremely serious expression.
He logged into the game.
To resume his studies.
* * *
It was when Gyeongjun went to the Starting Village library.
"Hello. This is the Starting Village library. Do you have your library card?"
"Huh......?"
The librarian's desk at the library.
The usual librarian wasn't there; instead, there was a man he had never seen before.
Gyeongjun presented his library card and asked.
"Where did the librarian who was always here go?"
"You mean Libra? My younger sibling is currently receiving treatment at a monastery. It's like she's been cursed by a Demon God or something—always muttering to herself, babbling at the empty air, completely out of control."
"Aha."
'Did customer service see my inquiry and resolve it? Nice.'
That librarian had been annoying, muttering constantly even while he was preparing for midterms.
The replacement librarian seemed much quieter.
Gyeongjun finished handing over his library card, satisfied, and went to his usual seat.
[Gyeongjun's Ash Tree Chair with Lumbar Correction]
Gyeongjun took out the chair he had crafted and, as always, moved aside the library's old, worn-out chair.
The study chair he had used extensively even during the midterms!
It could be called the number one contributor to his midterm grades.
Sitting there, he took out Chemistry I, Physics I, and Basic Magic Theory books.
Because the midterms being over didn't mean his studies were finished.
'Oh right. I need to put away the status window too.'
He moved the status window, which would interfere with his concentration, off to the side, and began studying.
How much time had passed?
Something had been continuously appearing on the status window he had put aside.......
[The new librarian, Burari, is showing interest in you.]
[Signs of a sudden quest have been detected.]
[Depending on your actions, the activation, rewards, and contents of the quest may change.]