#651 The Graduation Test Begins

I would like to continue exploring various ways to use beeswax, but a different matter should be prioritized first—the thing we promised to do when winter comes.

The students who arrived at the farm some time ago have learned and grown through multiple seasons. Now’s their ultimate moment to leave the nest and venture out into the world, fully equipped with the knowledge they have acquired.

The final challenge is prepared as a measure of their growth: the graduation exam.

It was a magnum opus that required several months of preparation after deciding on it.

“The time has come!”

The organizer of this event is none other than Sensei the Lifeless King himself.

He had devoted all his efforts to preparing this graduation exam. He was fully dedicated to the culmination of his students, whom he had nurtured with his own hands.

Sensei announced that he’d hold the graduation exam when winter came and kept his promise, showing his unwavering determination.

“I have prepared a test worthy of their effort to ensure that all of the students I have raised can graduate. All my meticulous preparation has paid off!”

Truly, Sensei is unknowingly putting his all into instructing the students.

Even though the students were initially just teenagers entrusted to the farm’s care, they eventually became his beloved pupils, whom he taught wholeheartedly.

That’s why he can’t let them graduate in a half-hearted manner. 

It seems the final exam will be a mixture of Sensei’s kindness and strictness.

“Now, as preparation for the exam, I have built this.”

“What is this?” I ask, looking up at the towering structure before me.

No, I know what this is.

Even though I just asked, I know what the structure is in front of me.  

...It’s a pyramid!!!

A stone building assembled in the shape of a quadrangular pyramid!

Why would something like this be on the farm grounds?!

“We are planning to use this as the exam venue.”

“Why?!”

If memory serves me right, weren’t pyramids supposed to be royal tombs?!

Other than that, they might be places for tomb robbers to raid or archaeologists to go on grand adventures, but I can’t imagine it as a suitable exam venue!

The sudden out-of-context appearance of this pyramid is leaving me perplexed!

“Allow me to explain. I didn’t just build this pyramid without any thought!”

That’s a relief...?

If Sensei really did build a pyramid without thinking it through, that would be even more of a problem...!

“How did you manage to build a pyramid in the first place, Sensei? Did you use your extraordinary magic?”

“Well, I had Orkubo and his team help me a little.”

Those guys?!

Did my construction junkie orcs really build a world heritage site?!

“Remember when I summoned gods from other worlds and dimensions to help me gain insight on how to conduct the graduation exam, Lord Saint? Do you recall a god named Anubis?”

“Ah... Yes...!”

Anubis... pyramid...?

It can’t be!

“I built the pyramid with his suggestion. It’s perfect as the exam venue.”

“But why?!”

I still can’t understand even after hearing the explanation.

Just what kind of fantastic graduation exam is Sensei trying to conduct?!

“Allow me to continue explaining from where Sensei left off.”

“Wah! Anubis?!”

The person, I mean, god himself, is here?!

That canine face is hard to forget once seen!

“Even we gods are impressed by the warmth and compassion in Sensei’s heart. We have pledged to fully cooperate with everything he does!”

“I-I see... That’s reassuring...!”

“However, even as gods summoned across dimensions to this world, there are limitations to what we can do. We must also adhere to the principles of the original gods of this world! In such a situation where we are subject to various constraints, we cannot provide much divine assistance! As such, we resorted to building the pyramid!”

What did he just call this square-base building?

“Pyramids generate pyramid power! By utilizing the dimensional distortion caused by it, we gods from other realms can also exhibit abilities that are not much different from those of local deities!”

Pyramid power. 

I think that phrase was certainly popular for a while, yeah...

I vaguely remember how it differs from hand power, though.

“If we limit it to the pyramid’s interiors, Lord Enma, Lord Odin, and I can become omnipotent, as if we are in our own realm. With this power, we shall test Sensei’s beloved disciples to the fullest!”

“I’m begging you, please don’t overdo it!”

Seriously?!

I can’t believe the gods summoned from another world that day will cooperate in the exam!

Rather, I’m starting to worry about a potential overrun!

“Hehehe... I take pleasure in selecting exceptional warriors. Being invited here is fulfilling my long-cherished desire, if anything.”

“Judging only evil people can also be stressful... Occasionally, it is good to assess the abilities of such spirited young people. Once in a hundred years, like!”

The great god Odin and Lord Enma have also appeared, further making matters tenser.

The students lining up in front of the pyramid for the exam all have the same nervous expression.

I’m not surprised they’re anxious.

In fact, I want to praise them for not fainting or losing their minds yet, even though it’s not unreasonable for someone to pass out from nervousness here.

“Finally, the day has arrived. It’s time for you all to demonstrate the results of your learning and training,” Sensei declares as the one who has nurtured them this whole time. “If you pass this exam, you’ll be fully qualified to become a fine soldier that can be sent anywhere without shame. Of course, passing the test is not that simple. You cannot pass if you’re half-hearted about this. One must not recklessly jump into danger without sufficient ability, nor cause trouble to others with an immature mind.”

That’s why Sensei did not take cut corners in preparing the exam.

The exam these farm students will be facing from now on will be more complicated than any obstacle or challenge they have experienced thus far.

“However, it’s not an impossible task nobody can solve. We’ve adjusted the difficulty level so you can overcome it if you fully utilize what you’ve learned. I believe you can definitely overcome it and achieve the glory of graduation.”

Sensei’s trust and consideration.

All of those are packed into the graduation exam.

The realization of this fact further strengthens the heart of the farm students.

“Well, I shouldn’t put too much pressure on you. Let me begin explaining the specifics of the exam.”

Rumble, rumble, rumble...!

A heavy sound reverberates.

It’s the sound of the large doors opening on the pyramid base.

“The interior of the pyramid has been turned into a dungeon. To pass the test, you must progress through the interior and reach the top. Inside are several trials prepared by the gods of other worlds who have cooperated with the test.”

Anubis.

Great God Odin.

Lord Enma.

“As you overcome these trials and aim for the top, give it your all and muster all the knowledge you have learned. You can do it. I believe you can do it! I will teleport to the goal ahead and await you there! I trust that you will surely come!”

Encouraged by Sensei’s words, the students erupt in excitement.

“Let’sssssss dooooooooo thissssssssssssss!!!”

“We will live up to Sensei’s faith and definitely pass the trials!”

“The time has come to show the results of our hard wooooooooooork!!!”

“I can do this! I will do this! I am meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!”

The students’ motivation is at an all-time high.

Is it because they’re deeply moved by Sensei’s speech? However, this also signifies the culmination of everything they had learned on the farm.

If they can overcome this challenge, they will be recognized as full-fledged individuals, and that’s what fires them up.

“Now, delve in! Those ready to test you inside the pyramid are already waiting for you in top condition! Don’t waste their efforts and give it your all!!!”

The students on our farm...

This project started as my whimsical idea, but over the years, it became intertwined with various people’s thoughts and gained great significance...

...and now, its true value is being put to the test.

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pyramid power-refers to the belief that the ancient Egyptian pyramids and objects of similar shape can confer a variety of benefits (Wikipedia)

hand power-a pet phrase of mr. maric, a world-renowned psychic and "super" magician. i watched a vid of him bending a spoon till the bowl broke off from its handle just by hovering his hand on it. here's the yt video for anyone interested in watching it