Chapter 49: Joys and Sorrows Are Not Shared

Volume Two

Title: Chapter 49: Joys and Sorrows Are Not Shared

The following day marked the final Basic Magic Theory class before the highly anticipated Open Day.

Given the teachers’ rapid grading, this particular lesson was, in essence, the moment of truth when the exam results would be announced.

Ewan Campbell arrived in the classroom well ahead of time, settling into his customary seat by the window.

He propped his chin on his hand, gazing out at the drifting clouds, striving to calm his racing thoughts.

While the wait preceding the results was often considered the most agonizing, Ewan found himself surprisingly at peace.

He was utterly convinced that he had given his absolute best. Therefore, regardless of the outcome, he knew he would have no regrets.

All that remained now was to calmly await whatever fate had in store.

Time flowed onward, and students gradually began to filter into the classroom.

They chatted and laughed in small groups, a superficial calm masking the many glances that couldn’t help but drift towards the blonde young man by the window.

Ewan paid them no mind, having long grown accustomed to such attention.

Ariel, arriving just as the bell chimed, glared fiercely at the culprit who had once again claimed her spot. She then pulled Liya to another window-side seat.

“That Ewan Campbell doesn’t seem nervous at all,” Liya observed, blinking curiously as she looked towards Ewan.

“Hmph, what good would being nervous do him? He’s still going to fail,” Ariel scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Don’t be so absolute, what if he actually scores eighty?” Liya challenged.

“That’s impossible,” Ariel declared with absolute certainty.

During yesterday’s exam, her seat hadn’t been too far from Ewan’s. To be safe, she had secretly instructed her master’s soul form to sneak a peek at Ewan’s test paper when Professor Planck wasn’t looking.

As expected, he had only scored seventy-nine! Ha! Seventy-nine, not eighty! This time, I won!

Though the prize money would probably only buy an extra chicken drumstick, a win was a win! She envisioned herself gleefully gnawing on a fragrant drumstick while mercilessly mocking Ewan Campbell.

Ariel chuckled to herself, basking in her delightful thoughts.

Just then, Teacher Fran entered the classroom and announced, “Next, I will be releasing the results of yesterday’s exam.”

As her words settled, the previously bustling classroom instantly fell silent.

Everyone fixated on Teacher Fran, eager for the next moment.

Ordinarily, a monthly assessment, with its minor impact on academic credits, wouldn’t garner such widespread attention. This time, however, was different.

More than their own grades, they were intensely curious to see if a certain duke’s son, who had boasted so wildly a month prior, could actually deliver on his promise.

“Tyke Rhode, fifty-three points…”

“Gucci Slone, sixty-one points…”

“…”

“Ariel Bouchard, one hundred points!”

“Wow!”

“What?!”

“A hundred?!”

As Ariel’s score was announced, the crowd erupted into a clamor.

A perfect hundred! Could one truly score a hundred in a subject like Basic Magic Theory? Had anyone ever achieved such a feat before?

Everyone stared at Ariel in shock, gasping in disbelief and silently acknowledging her terrifying talent.

Under their collective gaze, Ariel’s lips curved into her signature defiant smirk. She strode confidently to the podium, accepting her test paper with her head held high.

Turning, she shot a provocative glance towards Ewan. ‘You’re not the only one who works hard!’

Ewan, however, didn’t notice Ariel’s gaze. His eyes were fixed intently on Teacher Fran, awaiting his own moment of truth.

“Next up.”

“Ewan Campbell.”

The crowd, which had just been buzzing over Ariel’s score, instantly quieted.

Teacher Fran, feeling a touch nervous under so many watchful eyes, paused before continuing, “Eighty!”

“Whoa—!”

A roar far louder than the one for Ariel’s perfect score surged through the room, nearly tearing through the ceiling.

“It’s actually eighty?!”

“No way, he actually did it?!”

“Just barely? Could he have cheated?”

“Impossible, Professor Planck personally invigilated.”

“Which means…”

“It’s over. See you on the rooftop.”

After the stunned uproar came the wails of the gamblers.

Ewan, however, seemed to hear none of the surrounding commotion. Only the two words, ‘Eighty,’ echoed ceaselessly in his ears.

He did it.

He truly did it.

He actually did it!

Though he had constantly told himself to remain calm, to accept any outcome with equanimity, when those two words rang in his ears, he was overcome with uncontrollable excitement.

What should he do in this moment? Cheer? Cry? Dance wildly? Run a lap around the academy? Or should he immediately share this wonderful news with his senior?

Ah, right, his test paper. He needed to get his test paper first.

Ewan walked towards the podium, but Teacher Fran shook her head with a wry smile. “I’m sorry, but Professor Glen accidentally spilled coffee on it, so your test paper… well, it heroically sacrificed itself.”

“Huh?”

“That… um, you don’t need to worry about the score. I graded your paper in front of all the teachers, so there’s absolutely no issue with it,” Teacher Fran quickly added, seeing Ewan’s puzzled expression.

“I see,” Ewan said, shaking his head helplessly, not giving it too much thought.

After all, the paper itself wasn’t important; the score on it was. A month of effort had not been in vain, and that was enough.

“Um… Ewan,” Teacher Fran suddenly called out to him again.

“You are truly amazing. Not just me, but all the teachers think you’re incredible.”

“…Thank you.”

Ewan paused, then offered a small smile and his thanks. He turned, his steps light.

But just then, a heart-wrenching scream ripped through the air, startling him.

“No—!”

Ariel collapsed to her knees, hands braced on the ground. Despite holding the highest score in the class, perhaps even an unprecedented perfect score, she appeared to be the most distraught person in the room.

Even some gamblers who had lost tens of thousands couldn’t help but glance over, wondering if this person was so miserable because they had bet their spouse.

“Why, why is this happening?! How could I lose even this?!” Ariel cried out, pounding the floor, a primal scream erupting from her soul. “My meal money, my chicken drumsticks! I don’t want to eat black bread; my chest will shrink!”

Everyone: “…”

Ewan: “…”

****

“Yay! We won!”

As Ewan’s score quickly spread throughout the school, elsewhere, a very different kind of joyous celebration was unfolding, a stark contrast to Ariel’s despair.

Three adorable young girls cheered excitedly, practically bouncing with glee. After so much pent-up frustration, the moment of triumph had finally arrived.

“Hmph, I told you Ewan could do it!” Emma, the girl with twin pigtails, declared, hands on her hips and chest puffed out. “As his number one fan, my judgment is never wrong!”

“Exactly, exactly!”

“Those who looked down on Ewan must be furious right now!”

The other two girls chimed in, their cheeks flushed as if they’d had a bit too much to drink, echoing Emma’s sentiments.

Meanwhile, Fanny, who stood nearby, paid no attention to the three girls venting their grievances. She was lost in a daze, calculating in her mind.

Having been relentlessly pestered by the three girls earlier, she had reluctantly wagered her five thousand Emiles on Ewan Campbell. And now, twenty times that amount was… one hundred thousand!

One hundred thousand! This was no small sum. With this money, she could afford the new clothes, new paintbrushes, and even the magical study materials she desired.

But more importantly… Fanny secretly glanced at the three young girls, still caught up in their excitement, and couldn’t help but swallow hard. These three came from good families, so their monthly allowance, which they had bet, must have been at least several tens of thousands.

Twenty times several tens of thousands… Oh, my heavens. Thinking about it, these three little girls had all become… rich ladies overnight?