NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7.2
“Um then... Jihoon-kun?”
Choi Ji-hoon, who was sitting behind me, raised his hand.
“If we have an attribute, will we also become nobles?”
“Yes, yes. The attribute test is conducted every year on the first week of January for all imperial subjects who become adults, regardless of status.
If an attribute is found in a commoner or slave then and there, the support from the empire begins immediately, and in March, you will be admitted to the National Academy. Upon graduating after 4 years, you will be listed as part of the glorious nobility of the empire.”
“Nice···!”
“But it’s a truly extreme probability. According to today’s research, most of the factors that determine attributes are genetic. So, the vast majority of those who awaken new attributes every year are the sons of nobles. Conversely, even if noble blood flows, attributes may not be exhibited. Those who don’t receive it... Are considered a disgrace to the family.”
Choi Ji-hoon and his friends became agitated with anticipation and excitement.
It seems that he is imagining a rosy future in which attributes are discovered on his person in the upcoming inspection.
And here I thought I was a dreamer.
Through annual examinations, people who are inherently superior to others are selected and incorporated into the upper echelons of society.
In contrast, inferior human beings are also weeded out from these echelons.
Through this process, the empire maintains the legitimacy of the ruling class, and its outstanding abilities develop the nation.
‘It’s a good system.’
If attributes make a significant difference to fighting prowess, the ruled class will take the current system as iron-clad law and will not so easily forge the heart to rebel.
However, there are individuals among us who are repulsed by this system.
“Yes, Minho-kun?”
“Um... Is the presence or absence of an attribute so absolute as to determine a person’s ability?”
“Good question! In addition to what I mentioned earlier, the blessings of the gods have astounding consequences. Research has shown that those with attributes will improve in their overall physical abilities, have an increased lifespan, and also improve in their appearance.”
The teacher took a sip of water to quench his thirst before continuing.
“In fact, even if two people have the same attributes, the degree to which they resonate with them is different... There are cases where those who did not match the attributes became even more inferior to commoners, but this is an extremely rare exception. I wonder if your question has been answered?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“In fact, there are some exceptional cases that deviate from the curriculum of this class. For example, there are those who awaken their attributes not on January 1st, but before, or after... But you just need to remember one thing today. That attributes are the grace of the gods.”
He nodded to himself self-assuredly and crossed his legs over in the other direction.
He seemed to have finished his speech, so I raised my hand.
“Yes, Jihoo.”
“I want to know the different types of attributes.”
“That’s a good question, too. It’s stated in the handouts we’ll be distributing later, but I’d like to tell you in advance... Attributes have ranks. Among attributes, superiority and inferiority exists too.”
To summarize his answer:
The Mythical level: Attributes that only appear in legends and are not recorded in history.
[Heaven] and [Earth].
There are only two of them.
The Epic level: An attribute recorded as one that appeared once in history and has proven its superiority.
[Light], [Shadow], [Life], And [Death].
There are four of these in total.
The Continental Class: An outstanding attribute that exists in at least one person in each era.
There are seven of these in total.
The Normal Grade: These comprise the vast majority of known attributes.
There are 14 in total.
Altogether, there are 27 attributes.
At his answer, several people whose minds were running at breakneck speeds quickly exclaimed.
And so did I.
This is because the number of attributes is very coincidental.
There are 27 attributes.
Our class has 27 students.
Is it really a coincidence?
***
“The reason I called you all to gather today is because I thought we needed an opportunity to get together, talk through our current circumstances, and share our thoughts on this other world. Thank you all for coming!”
The time now was the free time after dinner.
Our class of 22 living in the imperial palace gathered again today in the auditorium where there had been a class on attributes.
Our class president, Park Min-ho, who walked onto the stage, bowed his head toward the audience.
He is a very polite boy.
“I didn’t have anything to do... I guess?”
“I was just bored, but it turned out to be this!”
“No!! Today was supposed to be a legs day at the gym!!!! For ruining my routine, Park Min-ho, you bastard... There will never be a second chance...!”
“Someone shut that damn bastard up.”
Except for a few, most of the class seemed fine with the summons.
His personality was revealed in the way Minho’s request could move the entire class.
I expected this to happen, but to be honest, I was still a bit surprised.
Even the noisy Choi Ji-hoon and his possé are quiet now.
That’s how we started the 1st class meeting in another world with the theme being ‘current status summary & future preparation discussion’.
“First of all, I’ll go through the situation from the time of our summoning.”
At Minho’s words, the vice president, who was waiting behind him, unfolded the large piece of paper leaning against the wall behind the stage so that we could see it.
“It’s a rough floor plan of the imperial palace and the surrounding ecliptic.”
Where did he get his hands on something like that?
“This is the cathedral. The summoning room, where 7 people including me were summoned, is a secret place hidden underground, so the location may be a little out of place, but it’s probably around here, right?”
Minho drew a star at a point farther south from the centre of the imperial palace.
“Here, here, and here is the place where the 10 summoned people were found inside the imperial palace... This is the academy and the forest.”
There are 10 dots on the north, east and west sides of the asterisk.
The forest where I suffered for several days was located all the way south of the star sign.
He drew a circle containing all the points around the asterisk. Looking at the circle, I had the impression that the dots were spread out relatively evenly.
The circle partially overlapped the imperial palace, the ecliptic, and the academy forest.
“The guards said they searched the forest and are still searching. If they were summoned to the imperial palace, they wouldn’t have been able to hide in the first place, so the five people they couldn’t find were probably summoned to the imperial capital.”
With his words, the hall went silent.
Everyone thought of the remaining five and seemed to wonder how they would be living now since they had not been found.
If it was me?
I would have been filming Tarzan until eventually I was discovered...
There was no chance of me dying.
It was because, as it turned out later, there were only goblins in that forest, and those goblins were of the least harmless breed to humans.
It seems that not all goblins in this world are the same.
The academy raises non-violent species of goblins in the attached forest, kills the violent individuals that occasionally appear, and periodically removes their fingernails, claws, teeth, and genitals that could injure people.
They were literally ‘farmed’ in this way.
Goblins are used by the academy students as subjects for target practice.
Students who aspire to be soldiers or want to improve their fighting skills practice killing goblins that look similar to humans and are among the weakest monsters.
This was knowledge I gained from reading 〈 Talent Cradle and the Academy 〉 in the library.
“Since the imperial guards are working hard, they will be found soon and will be able to come join us!”
I brought my eyebrows to the centre and kept the corners of my mouth straight.
My pupils exude a serious atmosphere, and my hands are tightly clenched.
I nodded and assimilated with the class’s atmosphere while agreeing with the class president.
But to be honest, I am not all that interested in what happens to those five people.
Ji-hye, who sits next to me and exudes an air of sincerity, would be the same as me.
The most important thing is always oneself.
I affirm this motto again.
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