NOVEL NEXT Chapter 73
Chapter 73. Mistake
Count Geist was glaring at Hermes’ self-graded perfect score with bloodshot eyes.
But then, he started to laugh.
“…Ha ha ha.”
Noticing a particular part of the answer sheet, he couldn’t help but laugh as if he found it incredibly amusing, and said,
“Well, you’re quite capable for a commoner, but…”
After pausing dramatically, as if he had just seized a demon’s head,
“Too bad, the last question is incorrect!”
“So, you acknowledge that the other answers are correct?”
“That’s irrelevant.”
As expected, this teacher seemed to only focus on the flawed part.
“In the first place, I only gave questions that should have been easily solvable. Saying ‘the others were correct, so forgive me’ is utterly laughable.”
Of course, I never said such a thing.
“No matter how perfect the other answers are, a single mistake ruins everything. That’s how aristocratic society works. You were once a noble, but it seems you’ve forgotten such basic principles.”
“…”
“That’s why you’re no good. The correct answer to this question is ‘2.43’. You answered ‘2.66’. What kind of foolish calculation leads to that? Perhaps a simple calculation error? This is why—”
Count Geist began to gleefully criticize Hermes’ wrong answer by first stating his own correct answer, which was exactly what Hermes had expected.
“…Excuse me, sir.”
Hermes calmly but firmly said.
“You’re the one who is wrong.”
“…What?”
“First of all—”
As Hermes began to explain, he remembered something and decided it might not be wise for a newcomer to talk too much.
He turned to the girl beside him.
“Sara-sama.”
“Yes, um, yes!”
“When the answer sheets were being collected earlier, I happened to see yours. I believe you answered the same as I did, didn’t you?”
“Well, yes, I think so.”
Nodding in confirmation, he continued.
“I believe the difference in answers between us and the teacher is due to the discrepancy in the correction formula applied at the end. Could you please explain your reasoning, if you don’t mind?”
“I, I understand… um.”
Sara began her explanation, aiming to show that she wasn’t the only one who thought this way and also because she felt bad about the harsh words spoken earlier.
“As Hermes said, the issue lies in the correction formula. The data trend suggests that the ‘Arsvart method’ should be applied, which would yield the teacher’s answer of ‘2.43’. However—”
“—Oh.”
“Considering the number and distribution of data points, as well as the precise definition of the applicable formula, this situation calls for the ‘Yosman method’, which gives ‘2.66’. I almost answered the former initially, but upon closer inspection, I realized it was the latter. So, I believe the correct answer is ‘2.66’.”
“That’s how it is. I also believe this to be the case. Do you have any objections?”
Count Geist was silent. He had realized that this was indeed a tricky problem designed to catch people off guard, and once the correct answer was pointed out, it was undoubtedly correct.
“Impressive.”
Ignoring the count, Hermes spoke to Sara.
“To be honest, I almost fell for this problem the first time I saw it. It was only because of that experience that I managed to solve it this time. It seems this was your first time encountering this problem, right? Remarkably, you got it right on your first try.”
“Thank you…”
Sara blushed and looked down, embarrassed by the genuine praise. Though she looked charming, now wasn’t the time to dwell on it.
The important thing was—
Hermes wasn’t seeing this problem for the first time.
In fact, this was a famous trick question in a rather niche field. When he was about 11 or 12, Rose had given him this problem during an arithmetic lesson, and he had been tricked by it, which left a strong impression.
If he remembered correctly, this problem was exactly the same, down to the numbers.
Which meant—
“So, sir, earlier you claimed to have devised these questions yourself…”
“!”
“But at least this one was taken from somewhere, right? The other questions seem familiar too.”
His suspicion was likely correct. These questions were too well-crafted with the intent to embarrass the solvers. He probably pulled these famous bad questions from somewhere without scrutinizing them.
He didn’t verify the answers thoroughly either, believing that he could solve them himself.
That arrogance led to this situation.
“So, sir,”
Hermes asked Count Geist, who was still silent, in a deliberately calm voice.
“Since there is now someone with all the correct answers, will you conduct a proper class as you said? One that is productive? Also, Lady Sara got one answer correct. You will listen to her as well, right?”
“Perhaps there was some cheating—”
“Whose answers were copied? As of now, I’m the only one with all correct answers. You probably don’t have a correct answer sheet prepared either, so I don’t see how cheating could have occurred.”
Hermes confirmed his earlier points, cutting off any attempt at retaliation.
Count Geist, sweating profusely, searched for a counterargument but found none. Just as he thought to brush everything aside—
“Um, I don’t understand everything, but—”
A voice came from another direction.
The voice belonged to a female student sitting on the opposite side of Hermes from Sara.
“To sum it up… the teacher gave out difficult questions he claimed to have created himself. He confidently criticized our mistakes but actually got the answer wrong himself. Is that right?”
Her concise and accurate summary was the final blow.
A few students stifled their laughter.
Hearing it laid out so plainly, the absurdity of the situation was undeniable.
The Count’s own words, ‘a single mistake ruins everything’, came back to bite him.
Naturally, the humiliation was unbearable.
“…!”
Count Geist couldn’t withstand the students’ gazes and their barely contained laughter.
With a tearing sound, he ripped Hermes’ answer sheet.
“…Oops, my bad. I couldn’t stand looking at such an awful paper.”
“…”
“What? Do you have a complaint? Making a fuss over a minor mistake shows your lack of composure.”
It was the same tone as before, but there was a noticeable difference.
He was speaking faster, almost as if he was afraid of being interrupted.
His voice was shaky, his posture slightly hunched, and his words were incoherent.
And most importantly, none of the students feared his words anymore.
“Enough. If you don’t want to study, do self-study or something!”
In the end, he spat out what sounded like a last-ditch effort and stormed out of the classroom, stumbling slightly at the entrance.
—His actions clearly screamed ‘retreat.’
Most of the students probably saw his ears turn bright red with anger and shame.
Thus, the tyrannical teacher was driven away, and peace returned to the classroom.
But—
‘……’
The atmosphere in the classroom was awkward. No, more precisely—uncomfortable.
(…Well, that’s understandable.)
Hermes thought as he observed the situation.
It was only natural. The person who contributed the most to driving out the teacher was Hermes, whom they had despised since the morning assembly.
They had undeniably been helped, but their previous attitude and pride made it hard to express genuine gratitude.
—Of course, Hermes thought.
He wasn’t particularly bothered. He didn’t act to gain gratitude or admiration; he simply found Count Geist infuriating.
If they suddenly showered him with unconditional praise, it would be more bothersome.
Considering the blind loyalty he saw at the party he attended with Katia, the current reaction was healthier.
At least the disdain was no longer one-sided. That was enough for now.
So, he conveyed through his eyes to Sara, who seemed worried, that he was fine.
After she acknowledged with a nod and returned to her seat, he too faced his desk, ignoring the mixed feelings of his classmates.
He began to study—though it was magic theory, not arithmetic, as instructed.
“…Interesting.”
The girl who had earlier voiced her summary and delivered the final blow to the count observed him with curiosity from beside him.