Ch.188Second Year (2)

Originally, second-year students take various classes to avoid repeating a year, just like first-years. There’s almost no difference from the first year, except perhaps that some professors change.

However, some professors change while others remain the same. From the third year, students become teaching assistants who support professors or provide significant help in classes. By this point, students have essentially chosen their career paths, so they’re treated almost like graduate students rather than just assistants.

Even if students haven’t decided on a career path, there are still courses to obtain a diploma, so it’s not a problem. In fact, fewer students than expected decide their career paths early, so only about half of the literature students become teaching assistants from their third year.

Anyway, I’ll be following Professor Elena Heavensinger around, helping with various tasks or directly participating in classes. As I mentioned before, history is a liberal arts class that even martial arts students take.

Unlike literature students, martial arts students are much more numerous and divided into separate classes. According to Adelia Cross, when she first enrolled, there were only three classes.

But now there are more than five classes. Moreover, more than half of them are commoners, with surprisingly few nobles.

This means that in less than ten years, the Empire of Minerva’s talent discovery ability has been standardized upward, and the system has been well established. The admission process uses absolute evaluation rather than relative evaluation, so the numbers can only increase.

As a result, they need to hire skilled people in various fields to teach the martial arts students. Incidentally, my father was among those approached, but he politely declined due to being too busy with territory matters.

“This year will probably be very busy. There are about 350 new students. Of those, 150 are literature students.”

“What?”

In Elena’s research office, on the first day of the academy.

I couldn’t help but be surprised by what Elena casually mentioned while organizing materials. Last year, there were 200 new students, with only 50 literature students.

But something happened in the meantime, and the number of literature students tripled. A truly explosive increase.

As I just said, the entrance exam uses absolute evaluation, so an increase in students is natural, but this was excessive.

“Isn’t that too much of a jump?”

“I thought it was strange at first too, but when you think about it, it makes sense.”

“It makes sense?”

“Yes.”

Elena nodded and began to present what seemed to me a rather absurd hypothesis.

“Do you know when the first volume of Biography of Xenon was published?”

“Probably… about a year and a half ago?”

Since the first volume was released when I was 16, that should be about right. Although it really took off from the fifth volume, it was quite popular even before that.

“But why Biography of Xenon? Are you saying that’s the reason?”

“That’s right.”

“…”

I closed my mouth at Elena’s matter-of-fact rebuttal. I was too dumbfounded to speak.

It’s true that Biography of Xenon is an easy read for people of all ages and classes, but I couldn’t quite say it’s good for education.

Does reading genre fiction improve language or reading comprehension skills? It would be better to read another literary book or consult a dictionary.

Many critics praise Biography of Xenon, but some critics point out that its accessibility is a drawback. They say it’s too intuitive, making it difficult for philosophical thinking.

Meanwhile, Elena pushed up her slightly lowered glasses and looked at my face before speaking.

“The notable point here is that while the number of nobles is similar to last year, the number of commoners has increased significantly. And Biography of Xenon is a book that’s easily read regardless of class. Do you see where I’m going?”

“Not at all.”

“You still have a long way to go. Well, I suppose that’s understandable since you were born a noble.”

Despite my stiff answer, Elena shrugged and showed understanding. Feeling somewhat mocked, I narrowed my brow, and she continued, holding up one finger.

“Until Biography of Xenon was released, commoners found it difficult to read books. Do you know why?”

“Because they were full of unfamiliar words and it was hard to grasp the overall flow. Right?”

“Exactly. In contrast, Biography of Xenon has sentence structure and readability that are unparalleled in their simplicity, allowing readers to visualize the story in their minds. Even the content, like the love between Sacran and other species, is quite profound if you dig deeper.”

So far, this sounds like ordinary praise. Just as I was about to put on an indifferent expression, Elena pointed out a very important point.

“Thanks to this, it’s perfect for taking the first step, that’s what I mean.”

“First step?”

“Yes, the first step. The first step is very important in anything. You know that too.”

As Elena said, taking the first step is the beginning of any endeavor. But ironically, taking that first step is the hardest part.

People have curiosity about the unknown, but they also fear it. There’s a saying that beginning is half the battle for a reason.

“Would you tell a knight who just finished his apprenticeship to hunt a dragon? Or would you tell him to hunt an orc?”

“Obviously the latter. Are you planning to get someone killed?”

“It’s similar to that. Before Biography of Xenon came out, there were only extremely difficult books available. They weren’t interesting, let alone fun, and even if someone was interested, they lacked basic reading comprehension, making it very hard to read. Children’s books are only read when children are just learning to read, so they’re essentially meaningless.”

“Hmm… so Biography of Xenon is perfect for approaching the printed word of ‘books’?”

“Exactly right.”

Elena nodded with a satisfied expression at my answer. Only then did I realize what she was trying to say.

Biography of Xenon is simply a book that makes it easy to approach ‘books’ themselves. As Elena analogized, if you tell a knight who just finished his apprenticeship to slay a dragon, he’ll die before long.

Unless he awakens some unknown talent, he’s almost certain to die. Most talents require effort to back them up, unless they’re directly bestowed by a god.

Biography of Xenon is similar. It’s more efficient than any other book for ‘growth’ and suitable for advancing to higher levels.

‘Well, I originally had no interest in books either.’

I can relate very well because my previous life followed a similar path. A friend recommended a fantasy novel to me when I was only reading comics, and I fell in love with the charm of written words.

However, genre fiction has its limits, so I started reading other books, and later became interested in history and read history-related books. If my friend hadn’t recommended that novel then, I probably wouldn’t have read history books and would have just browsed the internet.

It’s the same after reincarnation. It’s fortunate that I developed a reading habit; otherwise, I would have just wasted time.

The current situation is similar. Biography of Xenon has gained unprecedented popularity, increasing interest in books, which naturally led to increased interest in other books as well.

Although Biography of Xenon still dominates the publishing market, I vaguely recall hearing that sales of other books have also increased.

“By the way, it’s not just Halo Academy, but other countries too. The academy in the Kingdom of Teres has seen a fivefold increase in literature students.”

“That’s impressive. Is the increase in martial arts students separate?”

“It is. Well, they might increase in a few years too. Some might enroll wanting to become heroes like Xenon.”

Elena spoke jokingly, but it seemed likely enough to make me smile. From ancient times, heroic tales have been enough to ignite fires in children’s hearts.

Of course, reality is terribly harsh, but if that determination persists to the end, another hero might be born.

“Therefore, we’re going to be very busy from now on. Originally, literature students were all put in one class, but now we need to divide them into three classes. Not just first-years, but second-year literature students and martial arts students too.”

“…I will have free time, right?”

Time to write Biography of Xenon. That’s why I became a recommended student.

Elena, sensing the anxiety in my question, raised one corner of her mouth and answered.

“Of course. I might work an assistant hard, but I don’t treat teaching assistants that harshly. I’ll give you plenty of free time, so don’t worry.”

“That’s a relief. By the way, where’s Cindy? Where did she go?”

“Cindy went to a holy site for a while. She’ll probably be back within a week.”

Cindy seems to have become very busy since getting her doctorate. There are more days when she’s absent than days when I see her face.

Although it’s a bit disappointing not to see her characteristically languid face, everyone has their own life, so I’m not upset. I’ll be busy from now on too, so I won’t have time to worry about others.

“Since literature students have tripled, will the system change too?”

“It will probably change soon. From now on, teaching assistants might only be appointed from recommended students. And right about now, those at the top must have quite a headache. They couldn’t have imagined this would happen.”

“Biography of Xenon is changing a lot of things.”

“It’s providing the foundation for a golden age of human literature. Luminus didn’t praise it for nothing.”

Elena said this, checked the time, and stood up. The entrance ceremony was held yesterday, and orientation is scheduled to begin today.

History classes aren’t usually held at this time, but because the classes have been divided into three, the number of classes has also tripled. Not only that, but she also has to teach second-year classes, so as she said, we’ll be very busy from now on.

“Well, let’s get ready for class now. Do you have your supplies?”

“I’ve got everything.”

“Good. Don’t be nervous, just stay by my side and watch how the class is conducted. Of course, I might occasionally hand things over to you, so don’t space out.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

After that, I followed her to the lecture hall where the class would be held. Although the tripling of literature students will interfere with my writing, it won’t be a major problem if I manage my time well.

I didn’t forget to consider dates with Marie Housen Reckyless and Cecilly Drat Isillia Vin in between. Since all classes end at 5 PM anyway, this won’t change.

While I was methodically revising my plans in my head, a question suddenly occurred to me. Actually, it’s something I’ve been wondering about since before coming to the academy.

Why doesn’t Professor Elena have a teaching assistant? Curious about this, I asked her as she walked ahead.

“Professor Elena.”

“Yes?”

“Why haven’t you taken on a teaching assistant?”

“Oh, that? It’s nothing special. I don’t take assistants unless they’re recommended students.”

“Why?”

While I was puzzled, she pushed up her glasses and answered as if it were nothing.

“Because that’s where the fun is in nurturing someone.”

“…”

“By the way, all the history professors in the history department were once my assistants.”

The hell gate opening before my eyes must be an illusion.

‘Yes. It must be an illusion.’

It has to be.