v-rustl

#657 Exam Complete

Added 2023-03-29 12:00:07 +0000 UTC

It’s me again.

The graduation exam has reached its climax!

A copy of Hercules’ Twelve Labors. As for the pseudo-heroic feats, there are only two trials left.

For the eleventh trial, Hercules defeated the dragon Ladon to obtain the golden apples. Following this trend, the students engaged in a fierce battle with the wicked cobra Apophis summoned by Anubis.

And in the final, twelfth trial, to recreate the episode where Hercules journeyed to Hades’ realm and brought back the three-headed dog Cerberus, Lord Enma prepared a savage dog residing in the lowest level of the Eight Greater Hells—the Avici hell.

It was a dog made entirely of copper, with teeth like swords and a tongue like an iron spike, emitting flames from its entire body.

There must be so many dogs living in Hell that we’re fortunate enough to find such a convenient substitute.

In any case, after a fierce battle, the students emerged victorious and cleared the final obstacle, overcoming all of the trials and successfully conquering the pyramid!

* * *

“Good job, everyone! You’ve done well!”

I greet the students who have finally arrived at the goal, the deepest part of the pyramid.

I am overcome with emotion.

I have watched closely over the screen how they have overcome so many hurdles to come this far, so I feel empathetic and moved!

It feels like witnessing a runner crossing the finish line after a 24-hour-long marathon!

Well done!

I am touched!

“I’m overjoyed to see each one of you come this far,” says Sensei the Lifeless King, the conductor of this exam. “I knew you’d all reach here without a single dropout. My faith in you didn’t betray me. Congratulations, you have all passed the graduation exam.”

“But, Sensei...”

A voice speaks up, seemingly trying to refute Sensei’s words. It’s one of the students who just arrived at the goal.

The voice sounds weak as if lacking strength.

“Do we really deserve to pass? I don’t think I could’ve passed this tough exam by my own strength...!”

“The gods and mythological beasts that guarded the twelve trials were all opponents that couldn’t be defeated in a one-on-one battle.”

“We only won because we stood up to them altogether.”

It seems that not only one person holds doubts in their heart as more and more voices begin to speak up.

“Not to mention, only Ritheseus fought head-on. It didn’t feel like we could carry our own weight...! We were just loitering around the perimeter...!”

“Even the gods who fought with us clearly held back...!”

“Is it really okay for us to pass? Have we really mastered what we’ve learned so far?!”

They find it hard to acknowledge their selves.

Their feelings of being useless lingered, and they couldn’t accept the result of “passing.”

As for Sensei...

“You’re good as you are...” he replies gently. “You’re already strong enough. In terms of the general standard of this world, you have enough power to be considered among the elite. Each one of you, without exception...”

To them, this may be an implausible statement.

They had just fought against divine beasts, gods, and beings beyond gods, and had been tossed around like rags.

“What I fear most is that you, who have become all-powerful through strength, will lose your way. When you think you can do whatever you want with your power and take it for granted, you will lose what you have always had.”

Compassion, self-control, fear of the unknown, and various other things...

“When that happens, all that you have learned here becomes meaningless. Harmful, even. That’s why, in the final exam, I wanted you to acquire the most important thing.”

Even if they become the strongest, there will always be someone stronger in this world.

By knowing this, they won’t be clouded by complacency.

They also learned to cooperate with others when they felt helpless alone.

“All I ask is that you don’t forget today’s hardships. You will always be humbled if you’re conscious that there’s always someone stronger than you. Join forces with your allies and face adversity together; despair will never come your way.”

This is the message Sensei wanted to convey through this graduation exam.

“I bear witness to the fact that you have learned these lessons. You’ve done well coming this far. The graduation exam is officially over! I’m proud of you all!”

“SENSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEI!!!”

All the students gather around Sensei, clinging to him and crying.

It was a touching scene.

Even as they leave the farm and enter the real world, they will surely remember the lessons they learned today without losing sight of themselves or becoming complacent.

The education that Sensei devoted so much time and effort to has finally been completed.

As I watch them with tears in my eyes, Fenrir and Midgardsormr play behind me, Horus and Set continue their barbaric rivalry, and Lord Enma flees from Daiitoku Myoo’s wrath.

Great God Odin has grown tired of petting Pochi and is now chasing after Professor (a cat). Next, he spots Sakamoto (a horse) and runs to him. Then, he sees Yoshamo (a chicken) and chases after it. He’s simply wallowing in his desire to pet these fluffy animals.

Andhrimnir, the chef from Valhalla, cooked the wild boar he brought with him and then became interested in the farm’s ingredients and asked permission to conduct some experiments.

As for the wild boar, it was in the middle of reviving.

Hel, the queen of the underworld, had been forced to take off her undergarments for the trial and is still sobbing uncontrollably in embarrassment.

As Hel continues to weep, Hathor, the goddess of love and beauty from another realm, approaches and tries to convince her how much it arouses men when a woman goes commando, hoping to lead the pure maiden astray.

Next to them, Bato Kannon and the cobra Apophis are having a gloomy evaluation meeting, feeling that they didn’t play much of a role in their trial.

“I wish these people would leave soon...”

They’ve all done their parts already.

But since they had gathered here for our precious students, it would be rude to send them off without any gratitude, so we held a celebratory dinner for all the deities, buddhas, and demons who had contributed to the graduation exam.

Everyone seemed satisfied and went home, but just as the festivities were ending, the immortal boar, Saehrimnir, had revived.

What awkward timing.

* * *

Now then.

The graduation exam for our students has successfully ended by all accounts.

However, the graduation itself is not immediate. There are still preparations to be made. Not to mention, this ceremony is a spring tradition, so it’s still too early for that.

The students will be staying on the farm at least for the winter, each of them working hard at their studies or helping out on the farm as a way of showing their gratitude.

Meanwhile, there’s one thing that’s been weighing heavily on my mind.

“Shouldn’t we tear this down?”

I’m talking about the pyramid we used as the venue for the exam.

Shouldn’t we tear it down and return the site to its original state if it has served its purpose?

It’s suffocating to think that this treasure, something to be proud of for all of humanity, will remain on our property indefinitely.

“That’s out of the question!”

“We worked hard to build it, My Lord! At least let it stay this way until we have guests to show it to!”

The orcs who were directly involved in the construction of the building were among those who passionately pleaded for its extended preservation.

“...Hmm, I get that, but...”

It’s not appropriate to leave an unused building standing indefinitely...!

I bet maintaining a huge building such as this is a hassle too...!

“Worry not.”