NOVEL NEXT Chapter 56
<56 - Upper Class Common Lecture>
Unlike Oknodie, who was indifferent to temptation, Hestia eventually succumbed to it.
2 AM.
Suddenly waking up from her bed, Hestia stepped into the dormitory hallway.
And she got caught right in front of a female instructor who was patrolling the dormitory.
“If you step out of the dormitory during curfew hours, it’s a 500-point penalty. If you don’t want to pay the points, you could opt for a one-day confinement in the punishment room instead.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“I’ll let you off this time since you haven’t actually left yet. The early morning at the Academy is dangerous for first-year kids, so hurry back and get some sleep.”
Though her outing was thwarted, her curiosity about the Hidden Room remained.
‘How did Oknodie know about that? More importantly, why did she tell me?’
What if Oknodie secretly wanted to communicate something at 2:22 AM outside the dormitory?
If the early morning at the Academy is really that dangerous as the instructor said, wouldn’t Oknodie be out there waiting for her in the Hidden Room every dawn, exposing herself to danger?
‘That’s not good!’
She could bear her own danger, but she couldn’t stand the thought of Oknodie putting herself in such peril.
Opening the window, Hestia secretly climbed out of the dormitory.
Just then, a bright white light flickered on in front of her, illuminating her from the guard post in front of the dormitory.
“I had a feeling you would come out.”
The instructor held out a device and asked.
“Do you want to pay the points, or would you rather spend a day in the punishment room?”
“I’ll pay the points….”
Hestia’s early morning outing ended in failure.
*
Ding dong ding. Ding dong ding. Ding ding…
Clack.
“Ughhh.”
Turning off the notification set on her Magic Watch, sleep instantly vanished.
Tuesdays were relatively lazy compared to Mondays.
Though the timetable looked spacious, if she actually got too lazy, her growth rate would decline, increasing the chances of facing a sudden event during her time at the Academy.
‘The lecture content is basic. The club content is advanced. The Academy’s regular events are the main course.’
In the Gift Academy, a special event targeting both players and NPCs occurs every week.
This week is the first-week orientation for new students, so no special events are in motion yet, but preparation is needed in advance to respond to random events starting next week.
“Oknodie, hello! Out for some early morning training?”
“Just trying to loosen up.”
After completing a light 10 km morning jog with the Dolphin Pants sisters, she felt refreshed and stopped by the cafeteria.
[Tuesday Breakfast Menu]
– Black bean rice
– Beef soup
– Spinach
– Cucumber salad
“Is this a prison diet…?”
This is too much.
There’s no way she could eat that.
“Where’s the meat dish!!”
“This is a point scam!!”
“Oh, if I’d known this, I’d have skipped breakfast!”
The lament of foolish students who blindly made their payments echoed through the cafeteria.
Poor guys.
They should’ve prepared a Plan B for moments like these.
“So you asked for breakfast to be cooked?”
“Isabel, your cooking is the best!”
“…I did gather info on the surrounding forest’s flora in advance. Just wait a bit.”
Isabel had called over Jezel and Son Ohchun from the boys’ dormitory.
Though she had some complaints about the lack of variety, it was soon quelled.
With Jezel’s campfire kit, they easily lit a fire, allowing them to enjoy a comfortable breakfast.
“Hey? Jezel, where did you get that kit?”
“There’s always a way. You don’t need to know, kid.”
Led by the smell of grilled mushrooms, students gathered as Son Ohchun flexed his arms threateningly.
“Wanna take a hit or just head out?”
The boys retreated in fear of his brute strength, while the girls stepped closer instead.
“We also want to eat…”
“Just one bite, please~”
Son Ohchun swung a stick at the girls playfully whining like they were hurt.
“Yikes!”
“Ouch!”
“Haha! You think that kind of shabby charm will work on me? Stop messing around and get lost.”
“Bald freak.”
“Petty.”
Regardless of the personal issues at play, they enjoyed their meal without being disturbed by other students begging for food.
“Today, we have one common lecture for the upper class in the morning and afternoon.”
Tuesday 1st Period (9 AM – 11 AM)
– Professor Plato (Scholar, Ego Item)
– Lecture name: Upper Class Fitness Improvement
– Lecture classification: Common, Upper Class
Tuesday 3rd Period (2 PM – 4 PM)
– Principal (All Classes, Dragon)
– Lecture name: Principal’s Teaching
– Lecture classification: Common, Upper Class
Even kind-hearted Jezel couldn’t smile as usual upon seeing this timetable.
“That class with the principal… I feel sick.”
“Haha, I agree. That monster really had an absurd presence. I finally understand why the Drake, known as a forest monster back in my hometown, is referred to as a dragon.”
It’s not like they are the ones who should be worried.
Having heard all those lectures during their Player days, they thought most were a piece of cake, but still, the first-period essential lecture on Tuesday was something to fear.
A physically demanding lecture awaited them that even their post-10 km jog stamina couldn’t handle.
“The classroom is in front of a mountain? That sounds like a weird class.”
“How about breathing exercises while feeling the mountain’s pure energy?”
“Jezel, no matter how good it sounds, can we really expect something that generous from a fitness class?”
“Haha, it’s just wishful thinking. I’d appreciate an easy lecture since I’ve been neglecting my physical training.”
At the entrance of Mt. Ominesan, muscular statue-like professors gathered in the open space with all the aces from each upper-class group gathered there.
Some students had seen familiar faces in the classroom based on their chosen lectures the day before, while others only knew of who took what lecture through rumors exchanged in the hallways.
Among them, the one looking the most pale was undoubtedly Andersen Pretzel.
“You guys… Never, under any circumstances, attend the Magic Department’s [How to use Holy Arts without Faith].”
“Why?”
“If I say not to, then don’t.”
Making a choice between enduring physical hardship without the power of faith versus joining the Mark Warrior Corps to enjoy the benefits of faith seemed like a devilishly tricky dilemma.
Nodding in agreement, one boy from Group B also chimed in.
“Huh? He’s denigrating the lecture he took. That’s the worst!”
One voice rang out, crisp enough to make that boy flinch.
As the Border female students served as the mental support for Arcadia, the 2nd Princess of the Empire, Masugaki, had established herself as the mental backbone for the Imperial female students.
“Wow, he just dissed Andersen to his face.”
“Even though we took the same class, we’ve never spoken ill of the Prince.”
“Seems like the Imperial-born doesn’t need to care about the Border’s feelings.”
“Isn’t she a bit short though?”
“Isn’t she around Oknodie’s height?”
“Huh? Who’s treating her like a kid! How rude to the Empire’s princess!”
Next up 145cm.
“Pfft. You’re so small yourself.”
This is a little kid who will catch up in a few years.
The character assigned to the production company’s Masugaki character naturally has the personality of a bratty princess.
She acts exactly like a bratty princess would.
“What? Hey, shorty. Mark this clearly in your ear. The second digit of your height is different from mine.”
“I’m still in the growth phase, you know?”
“Well, so is this side!”
Uh, no.
Officially stamped at 145 cm – growth phase over.
“You arrogant little! Don’t act up with someone who’s 130cm!”
“I’m 133cm!”
“Princess Masugaki. Before raising your voice, shouldn’t you apologize first?”
“Huh? What do I need to apologize for?”
“An Imperial Princess shamelessly disregarding the legitimate line from another noble family.”
“You can ignore the professor of the lecture you chose without any problem, right? There’s nothing you can say now. Dummy! Argument complete♡”
I thought the princess was already annoying at 230cm, but at 133cm, she’s even more infuriating.
Acting all high and mighty just because a student shorter than her appeared here…!
“Those Imperial folks. How dare they tarnish my reputation with mere factual statements. I’ll never forget this grudge today…”
“Agreed. To be humiliated by a shortie whose growth has ended in a few years is something I will surely repay…”
“Oknodie. Someday when the time comes, I’ll allow you to take revenge for me.”
“I’ll also have Andersen come in to tease the Princess if there’s an opportunity to make things interesting.”
Now both are seriously bonding over Andersen’s story, but murmurs of “Cute” could be heard from the surrounding crowd.
At first, I thought it was the princess’s followers, but the reactions from over there felt completely different.
“Your Highness. You shouldn’t be fighting a child who just turned ten, it’ll tarnish your reputation…”
“You should show your maturity instead of stooping down to their level!”
“Right. If this continues, you might be treated like a kid too.”
“How dare you treat the Imperial Princess like a child!”
“That could be a possibility though. That’s all we’re saying.”
The sight of the princess’s followers covering their eyes and exclaiming like that definitely didn’t come from the other side.
Focusing hard to differentiate the voices, I started hearing our Group A members chatter, “Did the statue’s eyes just move?”, “I want gimbap.”, “When will the professor come?”, “Cute.”
Found you.
So the culprit who called me cute was you, huh!
Turning around with vigor, I unexpectedly met eye to eye with someone.
“Whoa, why are your eyes so dark underneath?”
“It’s nothing…”
The culprit was Hestia, whose under-eye circles had turned ominously dark.
“Your dark circles are extreme!”
“I just didn’t sleep well.”
How long did this girl talk to the wall?
She must think it was all on me.
What if she suddenly starts to reveal her inner closeness with me despite not really being familiar…?
…So what if?
To avoid a darkening event, I gotta play along like we’re friends!
Seeing Hestia swipe her fingertip across one of her eyes, I knew this was it and I winked back.
“Cute.”
As expected, that was indeed her voice.
With a half-dazed expression, she looked a little scary.
So is a wink enough to acknowledge her?
“Cheating.”
Hearing that, Arcadia groaned.
“Why are you showing a wink to that mercenary girl and not to me, huh?”
“Because dust got in my eyes.”
“Ugh.”
“Ah! Don’t suddenly fan and raise a dust storm!”
“Hey, you’re getting hit too, alright?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Isabel.”
Just as that somewhat chaotic atmosphere continued for a moment.
When class time came, the professor finally revealed himself.
“Whoa! The statue moved!!”
“The statue changed poses!”
“It’s not a statue. It’s Professor Plato, who will teach you fitness improvement to the upper class! You better not think of completing this lecture standing on two legs!”
The students fell into shock.
“Why would you do this?”
Returning a fierce glare to Arcadia’s frightened question, Professor Plato answered.
“Simply because it’s amusing to watch you all crawling back without the strength to walk.”
“Demon! It must be a devil!”
The most physically exhausting class, surely ranking top five in the Academy, began.