Editing Failing Witch:Volume3 Episode1 (section)

===Part 7===

“Eh? Eh?”

The confused voice came from Dorothea.

Her feelings had been one-sided, but the A Rank elite she so admired had just accused her out of the blue. It was so unreasonable she felt confused more than angry.

It was a baseless accusation.

Chloe feigned ignorance.

Why didn’t Dorothea react with anger or hatred?

And not immediately arguing back was a definite mistake on her part.

The prep school instructors acting as examiners took swift action.

“Miss Dorothea Rockpool. Please come here.”

Someone’s chair rattled as they stood up.

It was Viocia Modestlucky.

“Wait a second!! D-Dorothea would never do something as dishonest as cheat!”

(You idiot. Making a loud emotional argument with no evidence will only confuse things further!!)

Melehe bristled more than Viocia did.

That was such a dangerous move.

And Examiner Antoi Nosecone did indeed raise her voice.

“Everyone in your seats!! Take your seats immediately! If you stand up without permission, we will assume you are peeking at another student’s exam. If you speak without permission, we will assume you are providing another student with an answer. You have been warned, so take your seats!!”

No one left their seats and no one dared speak a word.

Still, the mood was chaotic. Except for the one girl who was smirking.

Chloe Sharprain.

After this, it was possible Viocia would be thrown out of the exam along with Dorothea. Any Carraway Cs witch knew those two were friends. Viocia was correct, but without any way of backing up her claim, she could be seen as covering for an accomplice.

They needed to remain calm.

Melehe was mildly disgusted with herself for finding it so easy to remain calm here, but still.

(She must have some magic that can instantly detect if someone suspects her.)

For the time being, Melehe could only speculate.

She didn’t know have any evidence and she didn’t know what Three Aspects Chloe’s witchcraft used.

Something only inside the exam room probably wouldn’t be enough.

(And she needs a response when she detects suspicion. It looks like she makes a random cheating accusation to sow confusion. If someone then claims to suspect her, it sounds like another baseless accusation thrown into the mess. That way any accusations against her will be drowned out!!)

If this was allowed to continue, Dorothea would likely be asked to leave the room. Having to abandon one of the exam’s four sections early would be devastating. And if she was not cleared of the cheating accusation, she would end up with a 0.

The summer was a major crossroads.

This kind of trouble could leave her in an unrecoverable position.

(…)

However. For some reason, Myousou Yagoro’s voice replayed in the back of Melehe’s mind.

''“Showing mercy is a bad idea for an exam student. The time you have is how many tickets you have to act. If you waste your limited tickets helping that low-scoring idiot just because you feel sorry for her, you’ll be the one who ends up in tears.”

Yes.

Just as Dorothea had a reason to pass the exam, Melehe Superlative had a reason she needed to overcome the exam and reach Maleficium. Why should she stand up for her friend here?

What did that have to do with the entrance exam competition?

She couldn’t take the Lughnasadh exam lightly.

Her results here could be applied to the later official practice exam, so it would directly affect her results there.

She had to focus on her exam.

She had to.

“Teacher,” she said.

Everyone focused on Melehe Superlative.

(Argh!?)

“I warned you unauthorized talking would be seen as passing answers to another student.”

“I am done. I have completed all the problems, so may I use the rest of the exam time as I see fit?”

She doubted she would find any evidence of cheating in the exam room itself.

Chloe was an A Rank elite. Whatever system supported her strength, it wouldn’t be so easily discovered.

So…

(If I really want to protect Dorothea right away, I need to investigate outside this room!!)

Instructor Antoi glared down at Melehe.

She was usually such a kind prep school instructor, but now she had the icy eyes of an examiner.

“You are not allowed to leave the exam room during the exam period for any reason.”

“You said leaving only mean you weren’t allowed in until the next section, right? I will turn in this answer sheet as is. Then there’s no problem, is there?”

“Are you sure that is wise? Once you make the decision, it cannot be undone.”

“This noisy room is a terrible place to take an exam. Studying outside would be more useful than staying in here.”

“Miss Melehe Superlative’s answer sheet will be immediately collected at her request and she will leave the room.”

Melehe didn’t wait to be shown the way – she immediately walked out into the hallway.

And a moment after crossing the boundary between exam room and hallway, she dramatically held her head in her hands. Along with her big hat.

“What is wrong with me!?”

Of course this wasn’t wise. She really had fully filled in the Admiration answer sheet, but any exam student would want to use any leftover time to review her answers over and over again. Especially with the literary problems that could have multiple answers. The immediately obvious answer wasn’t always the correct one there. But she had just thrown out her chance to check over all that. So she could help someone else.

Her shoulders drooped in a deep sigh and then she slapped her cheeks.

Don’t underestimate a Rank A.

(Whatever the case, the die has been cast!! I decided to do this, so I’m not going to waste this chance!)

She snatched up her broom from all the Formula Brooms lined up in the hallway.

Formula Broom – Mount Parnassus bisMR.

Her partner was so heavily customized its original shape was hard to make out.

“I need your help, Orpheus! Right away!!”

“Your burning righteousness tells me I shouldn’t ask what happened to the exam. So what would you have me do, Melehe?”