NOVEL NEXT Chapter 47
<47 - The Criteria for Veteran Players Choosing Lectures>
Mahabharata, with a terrible personality, still managed to pass along knowledge that students needed to know.
“From now on, you will be attending [Common Lectures], [Department Lectures], and [Liberal Arts Lectures] at the Academy.”
“Common Lectures are mandatory for all students; there is no choice in the matter.”
“Department Lectures must be selected according to the credits specified within your chosen department.”
“Liberal Arts Lectures allow you to choose any lectures you desire at will. These are purely for enhancing your knowledge. Some students take these classes with the ulterior motive of converting credits to points, but I hope you will partake with sincere enthusiasm for learning.”
Isabel scribbled hastily, showing the page.
Doesn’t the liberal arts class seem appealing? You can earn points.
I looked at Isabel with pity, like a graduate student watching someone make a bad choice.
You might regret it later.
I wouldn’t take more lectures just for points.
Why?
The penalties you might incur during the lecture might outweigh the points earned.
…Really?
You think so?
I offered my advice.
Whether she took it or not was up to her.
“Department Lectures vary by department. First of all…”
The Academy is divided into five departments:
Knight Department. Magic Department. Administration Department. Adventure Department. Production Department.
Knights. Wizards. Administrators. Adventurers. Producers.
Each department aims to nurture different classes.
If you dig deeper, there are war knights roaming the battlefield, territorial knights hired by lords, royal knights employed by the kingdom, and guardian knights protecting specific races.
Depending on the goals, even the same profession might have different titles and required skills.
‘Such classes diverge from what the Gift Academy intends to teach as the world’s best talents.’
The Academy needs support, after all.
That’s how it keeps running.
Most of these minor classes are mere showy jobs created under the watchful eyes of various nations.
…At least, that’s what I knew from the game.
From what the Dragon Principal said, they seem more like low-tier jobs made for inferior students to sell for money.
‘The difference between low-tier and high-tier jobs.’
Regardless of the principal’s comments, I believed that the promising seedlings and the rest would diverge from this registration step.
The types of talents the Academy seeks.
To graduate with high grades, one has to obtain special classes and become a disciple receiving the world’s top-notch knowledge from professors.
The true meaning of a [Knight] who enacts righteousness by setting their own taboo is entirely different from just being a knight who hones mere combat skills.
This holds true for wizards, administrators, producers, and adventurers as well.
In short, if you aim for easy credits and choose only simple lectures during registration, your future will be shaky.
“Now, I’ll give you an hour to think about what lecture to take. Please refer to the syllabus posted on the Magic Watch’s course board.”
Isabel asked.
“What department will Oknodie choose?”
“What about you?”
“That’s obvious! Adventure Department.”
“Aha. You were an adventurer.”
“Let’s do it together. I believe Oknodie can surely become a great adventurer.”
Even I thought so.
Knowing a significant part of the secrets of this world, if I became an adventurer, the treasures and dungeons, mystique and dangers that await are uncountable.
Just imagining it gives me a thrill of wealth and honor, but there’s one problem.
“I’m also torn about the Knight Department.”
“The Knight Department? Ahh. You wielded your sword well in the last duel. Oknodie, you probably want to learn swordsmanship, right?”
“Eh? Not really?”
Think about it.
A lady knight in form-fitting armor vs. an icy adventurer in basic clothing with no exposure whatsoever.
Simply put, the former has a clear edge in balance.
How could one stand the class when their fellow student is a lady knight?
“So are you going to ditch me?”
“…Ugh! Don’t look at me like that. We can meet in another class.”
Seeing that persuasion didn’t work, Isabel changed her strategy.
“The Knight Department is definitely a stretch for your height, Oknodie. You probably won’t even have matching armor.”
“I might grow 30cm by next year!”
“Yeah, that’s not happening.”
“I will grow!”
Provocation, of course, led to counterproductive results.
I’m not taking the same class as Isabel!
*
While munching on the wooden fruit Isabel gave me, we headed to the registration office.
The hallway was turning into chaos due to the other students registering.
“Wahaha! You little mice, clear the way!”
“Waaah!”
“That stupid monkey is ramming into everyone!”
Charging like a human tank, the monkey humanoid Son Ohchun sprinted in the quickest route to the classroom.
“Gyaah! Anyone who wants to get shot, come right in front of me! I’ll shoot anyone faster than me!”
“Uaaah! That’s a crazy girl!”
“Hey, wait! Why are you running towards us when I’m waiting for you to hurry up?”
“No one stands in front of me, so I can’t shoot! Hurry up and come forward! And die!!”
The ridiculous pirate Jigoku chased after fleeing students, running against the flow in the corridor.
“How impressive. Should we hurry up too?”
“This pace is just right. I don’t want to catch any unnecessary penalties from the instructor.”
Though we wouldn’t receive enormous penalties like at the entrance ceremony, causing a ruckus in the corridor could still result in point deductions ranging from 10 to 100 points, depending on the severity.
Run around without care, and you’ll experience what it’s like to get caught by a speed camera and face a hefty fine.
“Is it okay if I register for an adventure lecture?”
“Doesn’t matter. I don’t have much interest in classes with high competition.”
More than that, I was concerned about Jezel trailing behind us.
“Jezel, why are you following us to the adventure lecture? As a merchant, wouldn’t you rather attend the merchant class lecture in the Production Department?”
“Fufufu. Oknodie, you’re still young and don’t seem to understand. If you offer help to adventurers in dire need out at Wilderness, you can effortlessly rake in over 1000% profit. A lecture that teaches you the mindset of adventurers is invaluable for a merchant.”
“…Are you a demon?”
So this guy was the same as those who occasionally appear in games, selling consumables for an outrageous price and stripping loot for cheap!
He runs around as a field merchant during ordinary days and a ticket dealer on the side.
What a hardworking little villain!
“This area must be where the Adventure Department gathers.”
“There’s a sign over there.”
[Adventure Department]
At last, the Adventure Department.
Here’s the list of available courses for registration:
[Adventurer’s Basic Fitness Improvement]
[Adventurer’s Basic Weapon Training]
[Adventurer Supply Studies]
[Adventurer Trap Studies]
[Adventurer Wilderness Cooking]
[Cultivating Insight]
Do you feel the merciless reality devoid of blood or tears?
Indeed.
None of these classes include anything like Dungeon Exploration Studies.
Is it even a problem if there’s one in the first semester’s foundational course?
If you want to learn that so badly, there’s a loophole.
‘By skipping ahead, you can attend second-year courses. If you have enough points and credits, you can apply for advanced placement.’
You’d have classes alongside upperclassmen.
This is sometimes utilized by players aiming for speedruns or unlocking special events for specific characters.
Of course, I’ve done it as a veteran player, but right now, I don’t feel like doing it.
‘The crisis of humanity’s extinction isn’t looming any closer, and this round is just lucky.’
None of the national disaster-level events occurred in the Border 4 Region.
The end-level event [Invasion of the Empire], which happens after a disaster-level event fails, isn’t happening either.
There are no [Heroes of the Nation] events arising from the crumbling Empire or [Heroes of Turmoil] events where people would be active in the torn West.
There won’t be any gloomy Academy life where I’d be like, “Sob, I didn’t get an A in today’s lecture. A few tens of thousands of regional居民 are going to die because of my dumbass abilities.”
‘It’s fortunate that I’m not witnessing that mess during a war generation as I entered the Academy.’
In short, the continent is currently on a peaceful route.
There are threats, but humanity isn’t exactly on the brink of disaster, and there’s no overwhelming threat on the horizon—this is a [Status Quo] world.
In such a world, combat techniques don’t advance much; rather, cultural development prevails.
‘Is the hot topic related to the divine studies that dominate the royal culture?’
Relevant lecture topics began to pop up in my mind.
[Understanding the Monotheistic God of the Holy Central Empire]
[Understanding the 12 Gods]
[Understanding the Eastern Deities]
[Introduction to Non-Mainstream Divine Arts]
[How to Use Divine Arts Without Faith]
There were surprisingly interesting lectures too.
The last one was particularly so.
– If you have outstanding physical abilities, you can safely land from a height of 20m without the power of faith.
– What? You don’t have such physical abilities? But still want credits?
– Then trust in the Holy Mark and descend to the ground using the power of [Iron Rod]. By the way, the introductory priest of the Mark Warriors guarantees you a B rank.
Would I prefer to believe in Mark and get a B rank or take the exam to jump 20m without divine arts through extreme training and skills?
Students who attended the class on extreme hoaxes would either tear up and become believers or firmly swear they wouldn’t believe in any religion, even if it meant breaking their legs.
“Hmm. A lecture on handling divine arts without the power of faith sounds tempting.”
“The Duke Andersen is attending [How to Use Divine Arts Without Faith]!”
“Let’s all attend too!”
Only those new students blindly following the wrong choices of the top-ranked member of the Western Noble Union were pitiful.
“Oknodie. I’ve already chosen.”
“Ah! We’re taking the same one!”
Isabel selected [Cultivating Insight].
Compared to the Duke Andersen, this lecture is a million times better choice.
“Well, I’ve chosen this because I’ll grasp it while adventuring, but did you pick [Cultivating Insight] for a specific reason? I thought you’d take a cooking class.”
“I don’t like cooking just because I enjoy eating.”
Of course, there are correct reasons behind that.
“How strange. Newbies coming to take this lecture. Did you know it’s tough to earn credits in a class attended by both first-year and second-year students?”
The professor leaned against the podium in the classroom, wearing a crooked silk hat and a white suit.
Her undeniable presence was captured by crossing her arms atop her ample bosom, drawing attention.
Though this niche class hands out the least favorable grades and has controlled difficulty, the reason why I came here lies right within that capture.
After all, all lectures I choose know about everything.
The number one criterion for a veteran player selecting a lecture is not about easy credit, balanced schedules, or picking a professor who teaches well.
It doesn’t matter if the grades are hard to acquire.
Time slots can be messy and it’s fine if the professor isn’t that great.
‘A D cup-glamorous professor in a white suit is simply irresistible.’
For veteran players, if the professor is sexy, it excuses everything.