#601 Graduation Test Preparations: Part 1

The students studying on the farm have learned most of what they need to know, and the time for them to be on their own is approaching.

...Such a topic came up a few days ago.

As the culmination of their studies, we decided to give them a test to see if they had fully mastered what they had learned.

In other words, a graduation exam!

Sensei and I are currently discussing how to conduct it.

“We cannot go about this crudely,” says Sensei in a determined tone. “It is a matter of their future, so they should not pass it with a half-hearted attempt, insufficient ability, or a little luck. I don’t want them suffering a big disaster later on and then losing their lives because of that.” 

“I can see you’re worried about them, Sensei.”

He’s very considerate of his students.

But if you give them too arduous a task and no one passes, we’re only getting our priorities backward.

“Upon reflection, I don’t think I should be administering their test. Surely I will be so impressed by their efforts that my judgment will be clouded by bias. That won’t do them any good.”

Ah, yeah...

I can see that happening, too, Sensei.

“Then, we should ask someone else to be the proxy.”

It can’t be me, though.

People often get the wrong idea, but I am just your average Joe. There’s no way I can screen military officers and bureaucrats of the Demon and Human Kingdoms.

If that's the case, a seasoned individual like the Demon King...maybe that’d be too much.

The top of the Demon King’s Army now is Belphgamilia of the Heavenly Four, but I can already visualize him refusing to be bothered with this hassle.

“I can handle that aspect, Lord Saint. In fact, I've already scouted out the perfect talent for the job.”

“Ohh, the perfect talent?”

...Hm?

Wait a minute.

I think there was a discrepancy in the nuance between my words and Sensei’s words just now.

“Talent as in...mortal talent, yes?”

“Divine talent.”

See! It is different!

It’s a good thing I clarified that!

“I summoned the goddess Themis to act as our exam proxy.”

“Hello.”

There it isssssssssss!

A deity! A goddess is here!!!

Don’t we always tell you not to summon gods so casually, Sensei?!

“Themis presides over justice and law, making her the perfect goddess to judge. Why don't we let her supervise the students’ exams?”

“I may be a god of this world, but I am not related to the Three Realm Deities. Therefore, I can judge their children without discrimination or bias.”

I-I see...!

Themis is a beautiful goddess of a lineage that dazzles the eye with her freshness.

She seems so pure that it makes it hard to approach her.

...

Now that I remember, gods are supposed to be like her.

“That being said, I am but the protector of justice and law. Assessing an individual’s ability is out of my range. I fear I will not be able to meet your demands.”

“That’s true...”

Before all that, I feel bad troubling a higher being with this...

What do you think, Sensei?

“Hm...To begin with, the deities of this world are pleasure-seeking beings, as Themis said, so things like exams or judgments aren’t their forte. Even if it were, they would be making clouded judgments based on their own preferences.”

“Exactly!” agrees Themis.

I guess we can’t have a god as an exam proxy, after all...

“That’s when another idea came to mind.”

“Huh?”

“If the gods of this world can't do it, why don’t we just ask the gods of another world? My magic has grown through contact with the youth. I have tried something new and succeeded in summoning the gods from another world!”

“How did that happen?!”

He was able to summon a god from another world, just like how an otherworlder like me came to be here?!

Sensei keeps on evolving!

“The first god is Anubis.”

“How’s it goin’?”

A god who is in human form but has an animal head!

Is that...a dog?!

“I am the incarnation of a jackal. All the gods of my world have some kind of animal characteristic in them.”

“Like furries?!”

I don’t think that’s it...

And what’s Themis getting all excited for?

“Anubis is one of the gods who manages the underworld over there and assesses the wickedness of souls,” explains Sensei. “The heart of the deceased is placed on one side of the balance and a sacred feather on the other side. If they balance out, the soul moves on to the afterlife.” 

“And if they don’t?” 

Anubis answers, “The guilty souls will be fed to the crocodiles.”

“Scary!”

That’s too much!

If we make this god the examiner and every single student who fails the exam is going to be eaten by a crocodile, how will we take responsibility for that?!

We already discussed beforehand that life-or-death exams are a no-no!

“Oh...It’s a no? I shall call our next candidate then.”

“There’s more?!” 

How many gods from another world did you even summon, Sensei?!

If we include Themis, whoever’s next will be the third deity today!

“This is Yama.”

“I am also called Enma Daio.”

Wait, I know this godddddddd!!!

He's that man who cuts your tongue off when you lie!

And by man, I meant god! Or Buddha! You know what, I don’t know anymore!

How much of your magical power is so far out of control that you can summon gods from anywhere, Sensei?!

“In my world, I am a judge of hell. I examine and evaluate the sins and deeds of the previous life and determine their reincarnation form.”

“So another judge of the underworld like Anubis.”

Themis is right.

She sure interjects the right stuff at the right time.

“When it comes to presiding over an examination, I can't help but be biased toward such a god. After all, besides the god of the underworld, not many gods like to judge people, only those who test them on a whim.”

“Agreed.”

“Allow me to introduce a non-underworld judge this time.”

Onto the next candidate, I guess.

Enma Daio was left confused because he didn’t even get to showcase himself as much.

“The next candidate is not a god of the underworld, but Odin, the chief deity of a different world from ours.”

“Runic carving?”

A chief god?! 

As in, king of gods?!

Sensei can even summon such a high-profile, otherworldly deity?! 

“Odin, Chief God of Asgard. Thee hast summoned another big shot, huh?”

“Chief god or not, I wonder if the gent can meet the mortals' requirement, which is to test the children of men. Chief gods art usually a bunch of jerks, regardless of the world they come from.” 

"Art thee sure thee art not just referring to thy world’s gods?" replies Themis sarcastically. 

Even the other gods are joining in on the conversation now.

“Do not underestimate me. Unlike other gods, I am a diligent worker and a lover of mortal kind,” proudly says Odin. “I hast created and am managing the netherworld of Valhalla in preparation for the coming final war of Ragnarok! To welcome the souls of the mighty, the brave, and the great!”

“In the end, he’s just another god of the underworld...”

“The Einherjar spirits residing in Valhalla art an important force in defeating the giants' army at Ragnarok! To strengthen my army, I hast repeatedly judged heroes with my discerning eye!”

Ohh.

The more I listen to him talk, the more I’m convinced he meets our requirements the best so far.

Many of our students want to be soldiers, so Odin, the protector of warriors, should make the perfect judge.

“Well then, Odin. We need you to promise us one thing...”

“What is it?”

Sensei says to the motivated Odin, “Even if you fancy any of the students you have judged, you mustn’t take them to Valhalla.”

“Huh? I cannot?”

“You cannot!”

Odin, who likes to gather the souls of the best warriors and take them to Valhalla, had intentions of doing the same thing here!

That was close!

If we assigned him as the examiner, he would definitely take all the students who passed to Valhalla!

“At the end of the day, all chief gods are the same...” mutters Themis to herself in dismay.

The plan for the graduation exam continues without making any solid progress.