Chapter 66: The saintess of the academy (1)

In Omega Detroit, there were no facilities like public schools for compulsory education.

This was because no provision guaranteeing the right to education existed anywhere in the city’s autonomous laws.

Therefore, the only facilities called educational institutions in this city were a few private academies with special purposes.

A prime example of these was the ‘Academy’ established by corporations.

These were academies founded by various companies to directly train the talent they needed.

Graduating from such an academy offered an advantage in securing employment with the respective corporation, so most city dwellers dreamed of enrolling their children in them.

However, due to high competition rates, expensive tuition fees, and even stringent conditions considering family background, only a few could actually cross that threshold.

Some might wonder.

‘If you can implant a brain-assisting chip and insert a data chip, all the knowledge that would take hundreds of hours to memorize is engraved in your head, so are educational facilities really necessary?’

But knowledge instilled that way is like material for an open-book test.

Anyone can find and obtain it, but using it efficiently is a different matter.

For instance, consider the group presentation assignments in university that everyone dreaded.

A good student filters and consolidates collected data multiple times, organizing only the key points to create a neat presentation.

However, some insincere individuals merely copy and paste information from the internet.

In this way, both individuals possess the ‘information’ itself, but their capacity to understand and utilize it is on a different level.

Naturally, their ability to handle surprise questions during the presentation would also be incomparable.

The academy teaches the knack of applying and utilizing such inorganic data according to the situation.

Of course, that is only a part of the curriculum.

It is a place where numerous values and skills are taught and tested for individuals to become the talent needed by the company, including corporate culture, etiquette, and norms, as well as various social skills, know-how, specialized knowledge in finance, administration, management, leadership, and more.

That was the academy in Omega Detroit.

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“Wait, hold on a moment.”

I interrupted the explanation at that point, my voice tinged with bewilderment.

“I understand what you mean. I get it, but do I really need to attend it myself…?”

Of course, I too felt the necessity.

To lead the gradually expanding church, relying solely on a haphazard management style was reaching its limits.

I needed to acquire systematic knowledge applicable to management, business, and organizational operations, and I acknowledged that the academy was the most effective place to receive such training.

However, isn’t this world technologically very convenient?

I argued, knowing that such classes could be sufficiently taken remotely or through augmented reality, even without physically going there.

Then, a calm reply came from beyond the receiver.

-Of course. As you said, the education itself can be arranged through remote tutoring. But the purpose of attending an academy isn’t solely focused on learning. Don’t you think there’s some meaning in the outstanding students themselves, gathered in one place under the pretext of education?

“……”

Indeed, I was starting to get a grasp of what he was talking about.

In other words, all students attending private academies in this city are elites.

And when it comes to academies established by the top 100 corporations, there were students who enrolled for reasons other than just joining the said company.

Much like alumni from prestigious, historic schools form strong bonds through their alma mater even after graduation and maintain a social intersection.

Even if they chose different career paths, they gathered in one place to build connections with outstanding prodigies who would become the pillars of this city in the future.

Therefore, the academy was, in a way, a social venue for the next generation of elites.

“Are you telling me to build connections there too?”

– I won’t force you. But since you’re getting an education anyway, isn’t it also an opportunity to experience such things? After all, running an organization is about dealing with and managing people, so experience in building relationships with various individuals is as important as mere knowledge.

“……”

Coming from him, of all people… it was advice I couldn’t easily dismiss.

Of course, most academy students were kids without any influence yet.

Also, no matter how many external elites came, most students would be children of Lumina Group employees.

Since the chairman, the Godfather, who is at the apex, is on my side, one might think that building friendships with those below him is meaningless.

However, no matter how outstanding a leader is, one person cannot directly control everything.

What moves a huge corporation are, ultimately, the numerous middle managers and working-level employees beneath.

Having directly experienced the power of a large corporation through the recent incident, I even thought that getting acquainted with them in advance might be a strategic move for the future.

Noticing that I was gradually being persuaded, the Godfather added, as if to soothe me.

– Of course, Eve, you don’t need to diligently attend school every day like a student taking actual academy exams. You must be busy with church affairs too, so I’ll arrange for most classes to be conducted through remote private tutoring. Just picking a day or two when you’re free to attend will be sufficient.

A thought crossed my mind.

‘At this rate, isn’t this more like a social club than a school…?’

Unable to refuse any longer, I eventually decided to accept the offer.

“Yes, then… I’ll give it a try. Thank you for your consideration.”

And that evening.

I regretted it as soon as I opened the package that arrived at the church.

Inside, looking at the neatly packaged female student uniform.

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I stood in front of the mirror, briefly checking my appearance one last time.

“……..”

Beyond the transparent glass stood a pretty girl student.

Different from casual wear, it had a design that was somewhat formal yet exuded a sense of youthfulness.

My face grew hot, feeling as if I were cosplaying.

I let out a sigh.

‘Am I really going back to school at this age, wearing these clothes…?’

Of course, there was no age limit for admission to Lumina Academy. Adults could attend.

However, it took quite a long time to graduate, and there was the burden of enormous tuition fees, so most adults would find it far more beneficial to just get a job anywhere and build a career rather than trying to pass the already competitive academy entrance exams.

Therefore, most of the students were teenagers.

And another sigh escaped me at the fact that the girl in the school uniform reflected in the mirror looked to be of a similar age.

“Haa….”

I steeled my resolve, recalling my purpose.

Acquire specialized knowledge about church management through the academy’s systematic education.

It was definitely something necessary.

So there was nothing to be ashamed of, no matter the attire.

I firmed my determination and boarded the vehicle parked in front of the cathedral.

Unlike last time, ST was sitting in the opposite seat as my bodyguard.

It was said that since many wealthy children attended the academy, it wasn’t uncommon for students to be accompanied by bodyguards, though not frequent.

Furthermore, the Godfather had confirmed that ST’s past had no connection whatsoever with them, so I was finally able to accompany her.

Vrooom-!

Soon, the vehicle began to lift off into the air.

Feeling the gentle pull of gravity on my body, I once again adjusted the hem of the awkward school uniform skirt.

==========

When I got out of the AV parked near the academy, I saw a massive building that looked to be over 100 stories tall.

I was surprised by its height, but in reality, the entire building wasn’t the academy.

It was originally a building belonging to a Lumina Group affiliate, and I heard the educational facilities only rented a few floors.

After admiring the building for a moment, I went inside, and a security checkpoint with guards standing at the entrance appeared.

One of the guards glanced at my uniform and said.

“Are you a new student at the academy? If this is your first visit to our building, please go up to the 14th-floor administrative office to register your academic records first, and then you will be guided by academy officials.”

I nodded and passed through the security checkpoint first.

The guard gestured nonchalantly.

“Yes-, proceed.”

And when ST tried to pass, a sharp warning beep suddenly sounded, ‘Beep-‘.

Seeing this, the guard calmly instructed.

“Yes, bodyguard, we would appreciate it if you could wait in the 1st-floor waiting room until classes are over.”

At those words, we looked at each other for a moment. I spoke first.

“I don’t think anything dangerous will happen inside this building, so I should be fine going up alone for now.”

She also agreed.

“If any problem arises, please call me on the terminal. I will arrive within 10 seconds, no matter where you are.”

Considering the size of this massive building, it might sound like an exaggeration, but with ST’s abilities, it would be possible.

Thanks to her, feeling a bit more reassured, I nodded to her and got on the elevator alone.

‘The 14th floor, he said.’

As soon as I pressed the button, the elevator quickly arrived at the designated floor.

Ding-

The scene that appeared beyond the smoothly opening doors.

It was the academy’s neatly decorated lobby, under bright lights.

Seeing a few students dressed in the same uniform as me wandering around, it seemed I hadn’t come to the wrong place.

‘But, where is the administrative office?’

While I was looking around for a sign, peering down the various branching corridors, someone tapped my shoulder.

“?”

“Excuse me….”

When I turned around, a girl was standing there.

A slightly loose-fitting school uniform.

She had fluffy hair and slightly droopy eyes that gave her a gentle, puppy-like impression.

She hesitated and asked me.

“Are you a new student who came to the academy for the first time today?”

“Yes, I am…?”

“Ah! I was waiting for you! Nice to meet you, I’m Aisha from Class C. The teacher asked me to guide you instead! Here, please come this way.”

Saying so, the girl immediately started walking ahead somewhere.

I glanced around for a moment, then followed her retreating figure.

In the place where the two had left.

Soon, the bell rang, and all the students in the lobby dispersed into the corridors in groups of twos and threes.

A short while later, the elevator doors opened once more in the now deserted space.

The person who appeared from inside was another student.

A boy in a slightly awkward school uniform looked around blankly for a long time, as if searching for someone.

However, the lobby, since classes had already begun, was now completely empty.

“….?”