"...I can't believe it."
Jeong Hyeon-yeong muttered, looking at the three sheets of paper in his hand.
His gaze then moved from the papers to the front.
There, Namgung Il, along with Jong Seo-eon and Gwangcheon, were staring blankly this way.
"..."
In preparation for the final exams in ten days, the four had gathered at the pavilion to take a practice test.
Jeong Hyeon-yeong had made the questions, and the other three had spent two shichen (four hours) solving the test papers.
It was just a practice test he had roughly made to see their level... but the result was far more disastrous than Jeong Hyeon-yeong had expected.
"You guys, don't joke around."
Jeong Hyeon-yeong said to the three.
However.
"What joke?"
"...Is the score very bad?"
"This humble monk is a person who does not play such pranks."
No playfulness was felt in the returning answers.
That ant these three had really solved the problems seriously... and Jeong Hyeon-yeong was even more dumbfounded by that fact.
"This is really the score you got from solving it seriously?"
Jeong Hyeon-yeong said and showed each of them their test papers.
Like a dense forest, all the test papers were riddled with incorrect answer marks.
Among the three test papers, not a single one had a score that exceeded half.
"Oh, my score is the highest!"
Even in that situation, Gwangcheon was happy that his score was the highest.
Seeing that, his blood pressure rose without him realizing it.
Jeong Hyeon-yeong eventually shouted at the three again.
"Is this the ti to be happy?"
"..."
"The problems I just gave you were the basics of the basics! But if you can't even get half of them right here, what on earth are you going to do in the real exam?"
He could guarantee that their scores would be much lower than now.
How could guys who couldn't even solve the practice problems properly get good scores in the real thing?
If this continued, it was clear that all three would get failing grades.
"I can understand these two, giving them a hundred steps of leeway."
"..."
"But you! Namgung Il, why is your score like this?"
In fact, what Jeong Hyeon-yeong couldn't understand the most was Namgung Il's test paper.
Jong Seo-eon and Gwangcheon. Hadn't these two missed quite a few classes because they were hospitalized in the Cheonuidang?
So it was sowhat understandable that their scores were low, but that didn't apply to Namgung Il.
"You ca to class diligently!"
"There's sothing you're mistaken about. I also skipped quite a few classes."
"...?"
"I didn't co to class for about half a month when I was suspended."
Namgung Il answered confidently.
"Hah..."
Is he saying that as an excuse?
Jeong Hyeon-yeong was at a loss for words for a mont, but he soon spoke to Namgung Il again in an angry voice.
"If you're going to put it that way, it's normal for Jong Seo-eon, who skipped the most classes, to have the lowest score. You still ca to class the most among the three."
"..."
"Your score is like that because you sleep like a log in class all the ti. Am I wrong?"
He had nothing to say.
Because what Jeong Hyeon-yeong had just said was an undeniable truth.
Although Namgung Il usually didn't lose in an argunt, as Jeong Hyeon-yeong pointed out each and every point, he could only keep his mouth shut like a mute.
'...It's a little unfair.'
No, in fact, he did have sothing to say.
The fact that he had slept with his head on his desk during class was beyond his control.
Although a student's duty was to study, hadn't there been so many things happening to him that it was difficult to fulfill it?
To study while enduring that series of events. Even a hero who had saved the world couldn't do that.
'Well... there's also the fact that I wasn't interested in studying.'
In the past, Namgung Il had also neglected his studies because he wasn't very interested in classes where he had to sit down.
Even when he had just entered the Flying Dragon Academy, he had intended to attend all the classes properly this ti... but as expected, people didn't seem to change easily.
"What were you all planning to do?"
"..."
"If this continues, you're all sure to get failing grades. Do you have a plan?"
Like children being scolded by their mother, the three couldn't say anything.
They just kept their heads down with the test papers full of incorrect answer marks in front of them.
Jeong Hyeon-yeong nagged for a while longer, then sighed as if he had exhausted himself.
"...What's going to change if I nag you guys more here?"
"..."
"From today, everyone gather after class. I'll force the class content into your heads."
At that mont, the three raised their heads at the sa ti.
Had Jeong Hyeon-yeong's face ever looked so radiant?
In the eyes of the three, Jeong Hyeon-yeong now looked like a savior who would rescue them from failing grades.
"Thank you!"
"This humble monk has one good friend!"
Jong Seo-eon and Gwangcheon said and rushed at Jeong Hyeon-yeong.
If left alone, it seed they would even kiss him, but Jeong Hyeon-yeong was barely able to block their faces with his hands before that.
"Wh-what are you doing!"
"Don't be shy and co here! I usually only allow won in my arms, but I'll specially give you my arms now."
"I don't need it!"
The one trying to hug and the one trying to stop it.
Namgung Il, feeling that the situation was not unlike his own, quietly watched from a distance.
'That's a relief. Thanks to Jeong Hyeon-yeong, I'll be able to get through this final exam safely.'
He didn't know how good Jeong Hyeon-yeong's study skills were, but he would still be the best among them.
If they studied hard by cramming from now on, wouldn't they be able to avoid a failing grade?
Since he had no intention of getting a high score in the first place, Namgung Il would be satisfied as long as he didn't have to take supplentary classes.
"...?"
It was then.
Namgung Il suddenly felt a gaze directed at him and turned his head that way.
'Dang Wol-yeong?'
Nearby, Dang Wol-yeong was peeking her head out and looking this way.
When her eyes t Namgung Il's, Dang Wol-yeong was startled and tried to get away from the spot, but before that, Namgung Il quickly approached and grabbed her arm.
"What, since when were you here?"
"...!"
"Do you have sothing to say to ? Or is it to the other guys?"
Dang Wol-yeong, with a flushed face, looked at Namgung Il's hand holding her arm.
As if her mind was going blank just from this light physical contact, Dang Wol-yeong's body trembled and she couldn't even speak properly.
"Ah, sorry. You must still be in pain."
Namgung Il completely misinterpreted that reaction.
Still, as Namgung Il let go of her hand, Dang Wol-yeong seed to have returned to normal to so extent.
"Th-that... what were you doing over there, Young Master?"
"A study group."
"...A study group?"
" and the other kids couldn't attend class properly. So Jeong Hyeon-yeong decided to help us study in preparation for the final exams."
"..."
In fact, Dang Wol-yeong hadn't intended to ask this.
'How do I ask naturally?'
What Dang Wol-yeong was really curious about was Namgung Il's vacation schedule.
Whether Namgung Il would go down to his family ho during the break, or if he was planning to spend it at the academy.
Dang Wol-yeong had been secretly peeking at Namgung Il like this to ask him that.
"..."
If Namgung Il stayed at the academy, Dang Wol-yeong was also planning to stay at the academy.
If so, even if it was a break, wouldn't there be a chance to run into Namgung Il?
Before coming here, she had thoroughly planned in her head how to ask Namgung Il about it, but now that Namgung Il was in front of her, Dang Wol-yeong couldn't think of anything.
"Th-that..."
"...?"
"I..."
Even starting the first word seed difficult for Dang Wol-yeong.
Namgung Il looked at her with a puzzled expression, and as ti passed, Dang Wol-yeong's words beca more and more jumbled.
"Ah—."
Just then, Namgung Il let out a light exclamation as if he had understood sothing.
"You want to join the study group too, right?"
"...What?"
"You also missed a lot of classes because you were hospitalized. So you ca here because you were worried about the final exams, right?"
"..."
Dang Wol-yeong didn't seem to understand what Namgung Il was saying.
However, Namgung Il nodded to himself and continued to speak.
"You should have said so earlier."
"..."
"Do you want to join the study group too?"
"...What?"
"Jeong Hyeon-yeong will probably say it's okay. It won't be a problem if one more person joins."
To be honest, Dang Wol-yeong didn't need to join the study group.
No matter how many classes she had missed, she had always attended class diligently, so she would be able to get good grades on her own.
However, at this mont, Dang Wol-yeong was already nodding her head before she could even answer.
"Please let join the study group too!"
She could spend ti with Namgung Il.
That alone was enough reason for Dang Wol-yeong to join the study group.
"Alright. Good."
As Namgung Il answered, Dang Wol-yeong finally smiled brightly.
Wasn't this a situation where a pumpkin rolled in with the vine?
Dang Wol-yeong was very happy about the unexpected good fortune.
However.
"Il-ah."
At the voice coming from sowhere, Dang Wol-yeong couldn't help but tense up imdiately.
A voice that sounded beautiful and soft at first glance, but to Dang Wol-yeong, it sounded cold.
When she turned her head, as expected, Namgung Yeon was looking this way.
"...!"
As soon as she discovered Namgung Yeon, Dang Wol-yeong's eyes widened as if she had committed a cri.
Leaving Dang Wol-yeong behind, Namgung Il looked at Namgung Yeon with a puzzled expression.
"Sister?"
"What were you doing here?"
"Uh... we were having a study group."
"A study group?"
"Yes, a friend said he would help study in preparation for the final exams."
At that mont, Namgung Yeon's gaze flickered to Dang Wol-yeong.
Dang Wol-yeong, noticing that gaze, trembled slightly like a startled rabbit, and Namgung Yeon smiled again and looked at Namgung Il.
"Really? Then shall I help you study?"
"You, sister?"
"Yeah. I may not look like it, but I was in the top ranks of my year last year."
Co to think of it, Namgung Il belatedly realized that Namgung Yeon was good at studying.
If he had known this, should he have asked Namgung Yeon to help him study from the beginning?
He felt that Namgung Yeon would be able to teach him in a way that was easy to understand.
"Study? Shall I teach you that?"
It was then.
Another voice naturally joined the conversation.
As Namgung Il turned his head, Cheon Hong-ryeong was approaching this way.
"It's a bit much for to say this, but I was first in my year every year."
"..."
"Receiving private lessons from the student council president is a once-in-a-lifeti opportunity. What do you think? Aren't you tempted?"
Cheon Hong-ryeong asked with a captivating smile.
Listening to her tone, it seed she had overheard the conversation until now.
At that mont, Namgung Yeon, with a slightly sharpened gaze, approached Namgung Il and pulled one of his arms.
"It's alright, student council president. I'm enough."
"Namgung Yeon, don't you have exams too? I'm the student council president, so I'm exempt from exams."
"Both can be achieved. So please don't pay attention to my brother."
"Hmm—? It looks difficult to ."
A strange tension flowed in the two's conversation.
Although their expressions were smiling, it felt as if both sides were not backing down.
Dang Wol-yeong, seeing that, felt that if this continued, Namgung Il might be taken away by those two.
"Th-that... as for studying, he already promised to do it with ..."
Just then, Dang Wol-yeong cautiously joined the conversation.
At that mont, the gazes of the two turned to Dang Wol-yeong at the sa ti.
Just by looking at them, Dang Wol-yeong couldn't help but be crushed by the two's montum like a rabbit again.
"..."
Gwangcheon and Jeong Hyeon-yeong were watching this situation from a distance.
"Gwangcheon, what do you think of that right now?"
"I don't know about anything else, I'm just very envious."
"Namgung Il, that bastard deserves to get a failing grade on the final exam."
"I agree."
Three beautiful won were fighting over him.
Watching Namgung Il, who was experiencing that dream-like situation in reality, the two dryly lanted their own lives.
(End of Chapter)
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