'This…'
Hayden's eyes widened slightly as he processed the information.
Professor Althea was actually pregnant. Although it was only four weeks, she shouldn't be tiring herself like this. Although he wasn't an expert on this, he knew that pregnant women shouldn't be overworking.
'Or is it fine if it's only four weeks?' He wasn't sure…
Nonetheless, this diagnosis changed everything. He knew he had to tread carefully—this was sensitive information, and revealing it outright could cause unnecessary distress or embarrassment.
However, this would also prove that he wasn't lying about his skills.
'Wait… Do we even have a method in this world to know if a woman is pregnant?'
Soon, the Lens provided him with information that they might have a lack of modern medical technology and pregnancy tests.
At the very least, in medieval times, it was not possible to reliably know if a woman was pregnant within four weeks of conception. It was simply too early they were only observing physical changes that might only become noticeable later in pregnancy…
However, since this was a world that involved magic, they might have something that could test it. This was not the same world after all.
Hayden took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. "Professor Althea, based on what I've learned from Dr. Elias, your symptoms—fatigue, pallor, and irregular breathing—are consistent with iron deficiency anemia. It's common among blacksmiths due to long hours and poor diet. You might also be experiencing... other changes in your body that could be contributing to your condition."
Professor Althea's eyes narrowed. She was a bit suspicious and curious about the words of this young student.
"Other changes? What do you mean?"
Hayden hesitated, then decided to be tactful.
"Sometimes, fatigue and nausea can be caused by... hormonal changes. It might be a good idea to see a physician to rule out any underlying causes. Dr. Elias always emphasized the importance of a thorough check-up, especially when symptoms persist."
Professor Althea studied him for a long moment, her sharp gaze piercing through his carefully chosen words. Then, to Hayden's surprise, she let out a soft sigh and leaned back in her chair, her shoulders slumping slightly.
"You're more observant than you let on, aren't you?" she said, her tone softer now. "Alright, I'll admit it. I've been feeling... different lately. I didn't think much of it at first, but now... well, I suppose I can't ignore it anymore."
Hayden nodded as he showed a sympathetic expression. "Right… It's important to take care of yourself, Professor. Not just for your sake, but for... well, for anyone who might depend on you."
Professor Althea's eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, she looked almost vulnerable.
Then she shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
Hayden wasn't sure what she thinking, so he remained silent.
After a moment, Professor Althea sighed. "You're a sharp one, Hayden. I'll give you that. Alright, I'll see a physician. But if you breathe a word of this to anyone, I'll turn you into a horseshoe."
Hayden couldn't help but smile hearing this. It seemed that she wasn't as stubborn as he thought.
"Understood, Professor. Your secret's safe with me."
As Hayden left the workshop, he felt relieved as he didn't have to elaborate too much. He didn't want to discuss pregnancy either…
In any case, he had already helped Professor Althea, and in doing so, he had gained her trust. If he ever needed her help, she should at least recognize her.
Of course, he also knew that this was just the beginning. He had nothing to inherit from his father so aside from slowly becoming strong, he had to continue building his connections.
***
The next morning was Sunday and it was a day off for the students.
However, Hayden was summoned to Mistress Hannah's office.
The message had been delivered by an upperclassman, who handed him a note.
"Mistress Hannah wants to see you. Good luck."
Hayden nodded and confirmed that summons from the note. After thanking the upperclassman, he made his way to the cafeteria to have his breakfast as per the notes and headed to the mathematics instructor's office.
When he arrived, Mistress Hannah was waiting for him.
"Hayden," she said, gesturing for him to sit. "I've spoken with Sir Schwarz and Sir Messer. We all agree that your performance in our classes has been... exceptional. To put it simply, you're ahead of your peers, and as I promised a few days ago, we will try to help you."
'Finally…'
Hayden felt satisfied with this. It only took her a week to arrange the examination so he was definitely happy. After all, it means that if he could skip his classes and attend the advanced classes, he wouldn't be too late studying them since they only had a few classes.
Catching up would be very easy for him.
"Thank you, Mistress Hannah."
Hannah smiled faintly.
"Alright, we've prepared a special exam for you. It covers mathematics, Reumish language, and history—the three subjects where you've shown the most promise. If you pass, we'll recommend that you advance to higher-level classes. Are you ready?"
Hayden nodded.
"I'm ready."
***
The exam was held in a quiet room, with the three Professors overseeing the process.
The questions were designed to test Hayden's knowledge, critical thinking, and ability to apply what he had learned.
'I wonder if this is a test for third grade… No, maybe fifth grade?' Hayden mused as he scanned the questions in mathematics subject. Since his study in his previous life was not normal as he was inside a research facility, he wasn't exactly sure.
In any case, it included advanced problems involving geometry, algebra, and strategic calculations. One question even stood out.
"A Knight is leading a battalion of 500 soldiers. They need to cross a river using boats that can carry 10 soldiers each. Each crossing takes 15 minutes, and the boats must return empty. How long will it take to transport the entire battalion?"