'Isn't this too easy?'
The difficulty of the questions was much easier than expected.
Did I see something wrong?
I checked question number 1 again.
'It's clear.'
I suspected there might be a trap hidden in the seemingly easy question, but there wasn't.
It was just honestly easy.
'What is this?'
I subtly checked Ligrin's reaction.
He was sitting with his legs crossed, only looking at his pocket watch.
Then, when our eyes met-
"29 minutes and 13 seconds remain."
He recited coldly.
'...Let's solve it first.'
Time is passing, and I can't just keep doubting.
The answer came quickly.
I picked up the pen and quickly wrote down the answer.
Then, I wrote down the answers to questions 2, 3, 4, and 5 in a row.
There wasn't a single moment of hesitation in the process.
I could feel the tension in my body gradually loosening.
In an instant, I solved up to question number 9.
I looked at Ligrin again, subtly.
This time, it was to know the remaining time.
When our eyes met, he said.
"12 minutes and 53 seconds remain."
I had solved 9 out of 10 questions, and there were still 12 minutes left.
'Plenty of time.'
More than enough, it's almost leisurely.
But I shouldn't let my guard down until the end.
I carefully checked the last question.
Still, because all the previous questions were easy, I was thinking lightly about it.
'Huh?'
The last question was on a completely different level from the previous ones.
'This is, at a level difficult for adults.'
It felt like a question that was deliberately made difficult.
Of course, it's natural for Ligrin, since he doesn't want me to pass the test.
'Why did he suddenly change his attitude in the last question?'
I couldn't figure out what he was thinking, so I looked at him again.
"9 minutes and 35 seconds remain."
He spoke like a doll made to only tell the time.
'...Let's not think about other things.'
I don't know what Ligrin is thinking by composing the test questions like this, but solving them is the priority now.
But...
'It's too difficult.'
"5 minutes remain. From now on, I will check the time at 1-minute intervals."
While I was contemplating the answer to the question, 4 minutes passed in an instant.
A conflict arose in my mind.
'Should I give up?'
The condition was to get at least 8 out of 10 questions correct in the first place.
'Even if I give up on this question, I would have answered at least 8 questions correctly.'
Giving up on question number 10 wouldn't cause a big change.
But...
"4 minutes remain."
Why don't I want to give up so much?
A strange stubbornness arose.
Even if the victory is predetermined, I didn't want to show the appearance of giving up without trying.
"3 minutes remain."
Let's look at it again.
I slowly read the question with my eyes again.
[10. What is the name of the scholar who argued the theory that 'The human body is a vessel and transmits the soul through repeated rebirths'?]
'The theory of soul transmission...'
I know roughly about the theory of soul transmission.
It was a theory that the human body is merely a vessel for containing the soul, and that humans repeat death and birth, transmitting the soul to a new body.
Of course...
'It was quickly buried, claiming it was against theology.'
It was a theory that disappeared without ever seeing the light of day because it contradicted the Temple's 'return to the homeland theory' that humans return to the soul's homeland and the embrace of God when they die.
'It becomes famous due to some incident later, though.'
It was an incident right before I died.
Of course, now it's just a preposterous claim that even experts don't know well.
But to ask that as a test question for a 10-year-old who hasn't even taken proper classes.
"2 minutes remain."
'Let's remember. I already know this answer.'
That incident.
The incident where a high priest of the Temple said in an interview with a newspaper that the 'theory of soul transmission' was real.
He was so highly reputed that he was strongly recommended as the next Pope, so its ripple effect was truly great.
The 'theory of soul transmission' spread throughout the empire, and the Duchy was no exception.
All the servants were talking about it.
It was so noisy that it even reached my ears.
And surely, the name of the scholar who argued the theory was contained in their words.
I only heard it once, but I remember it.
The reason I couldn't forget it is simple.
The name of the person who argued the theory was uniquely intense.
"1 minute remains. I will announce from now on in 10-second increments."
50 seconds.
Let's recall.
40 seconds.
Calmly...
30 seconds.
...I remembered.
The reason why that name was so intense.
20 seconds.
I immediately picked up the pen and wrote the answer to question number 10.
"10..."
"I've solved everything."
I handed the test paper to him.
He seemed a little surprised to see the test paper with all the answers written down, then closed his pocket watch and picked up the test paper.
"I will grade it immediately."
"Yes."
Ligrin, holding a red pen, began grading from question number 1.
I concentrated on the shape of his pen moving.
Circle.
Circle.
Circle.
After that, up to number 9 were all circles.
'As expected.'
The result was already decided.
I won this bet.
But why isn't the tension disappearing?
His hand went to question number 10.
Dugun, dugun...
My heart started pounding.
Then, the conversation I had with Ligrin suddenly came to mind, and I realized why I couldn't relax even though I had answered more than 8 questions correctly.
'...That was the real Ligrin's test.'
Even if I answered all the previous questions correctly and became Ligrin's disciple, I couldn't receive Ligrin's recognition if I didn't answer the last question, number 10.
Because that's what I said to Ligrin.
'Because what I wanted was Ligrin Pedellan, recognition from the head butler.'
...Like that.
What was truly at stake in this test was not becoming his disciple, but his recognition.
That was at stake in just one question, question number 10.
In other words, the previous 9 questions, and his statement that passing meant answering more than 8 questions correctly, were all traps for the last question number 10.
But there's something that bothers me.
If so, did the answer to the question have a different meaning as well?
Because the answer to question number 10-
Ligrin's pen, which seemed like it would never stop, stopped in front of question number 10.
"...You solved the last question."
And...
"The name of the scholar who first proposed the 'theory of soul transmission'..."
Instead of grading, he put down his pen and looked at me.
"Lucia. Correct."
-Because it was Lucia.
'I remembered it because it was similar to my name.'
At the same time, I was very envious of 'Lucia.'
She, whose name resembled mine, left her name for a long time even after death and proved her worth like this.
On the other hand, 'Lucia,' I was a useless fool who couldn't do anything and lived a pathetic life.
'So I covered my ears whenever I heard stories related to her.'
Because I felt so miserable and pathetic every time I heard that name.
Even though I knew it was a meaningless escape from reality, that was the best I could do at the time.
So...
'This life will not be like that.'
I will desperately prove my worth, just like the answer to question number 10 that I finally found.
But apart from that, it's still a question.
Why did Ligrin set the correct answer for that important last question as 'Lucia,' which is similar to my name?
'Is it just a coincidence?'
I tilted my head.
Tak.
Ligrin put down his pen and said.
"Classes will proceed from tomorrow. The class schedule will be coordinated with Commander Aen Ricssus and delivered through the maid."
"Ah, yes."
"Then please leave. I will tidy up this place and leave."
"Yes."
I got up from my seat and bowed towards him.
Ligrin was staring straight ahead with his neck held high.
'He seems upset.'
It's understandable.
He has suddenly become the tutor of an illegitimate child he regarded as a bug.
'Let's not say goodbye.'
It will only make him feel worse.
It was the best consideration I could give.
Tak.
I quietly left the room.
It was only after leaving the room that I felt uneasy.
'He's not going to say something different later, is he?'
Like he never did that, or he doesn't remember...
'I should have written a contract.'
Well, even if it's someone else, Ligrin is not the type of person to do that.
Anyway, with this.
'The preparation for the qualification test is over.'
Now all that's left is to train myself until the test.
As I was thinking about the future schedule, one person suddenly came to mind.
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