Ch.5353 – A Lecture Even Veterans Would Filter Out

# 53 – A Lecture Even Veterans Avoid

After the 4th period Remote Weapons Mastery lecture that ran from 4 PM to 6 PM, Arcadia and I headed to the cafeteria hand in hand.

“That bow you were shooting made quite a sound, didn’t it? Hehe. It was so satisfying to see those Imperial nobles terrified.”

“Sister Arcadia, you looked cool shooting your gun too.”

“Fufu. I’m even better on a ship, you know? Someday I’ll show you how I turn impudent pirates who target merchant vessels into fish food.”

Arcadia turned out to be surprisingly skilled at marksmanship despite seeming like a jack of all trades.

As we arrived at the cafeteria, complimenting each other, we found students lined up outside with dumbfounded expressions. Among them were Isabelle, Giselle, and Son Ocheon, whom we had arranged to meet in front of the cafeteria.

“Why does everyone look like that?”

“How strange. I thought Oknodie would have visited the cafeteria during lunch and already known about this.”

“I skipped lunch because they were serving the same menu as before!”

“I see.”

“Hahaha! If we want to put that little mouse on a diet, we just need to serve the same food every day.”

Instead of the unhelpful men, Isabelle explained why the students were acting like people who had lost their homeland.

“Starting today, you need points to use the cafeteria. Students with few points are panicking.”

“Ah, I see.”

I thought to myself, “Well, this was inevitable.”

It was a disaster that had been foretold.

Didn’t the Dragon Principal say it?

That points are everything at this academy.

The free meals and provisions for clueless newcomers were just a service during the one-week admission preparation period.

From now on, you either earn points by actively participating in lectures to use the cafeteria, or gather ingredients and cook for yourself.

“Let’s go in.”

“Are you sure? It costs 10 points for a single meal.”

That’s 30 points daily.

In just one month, a staggering 900 points would disappear.

“Tonight’s dinner is Korean fried chicken.”

“Chicken is always right.”

“Korean fried chicken is worth 10 points.”

Isabelle and Giselle nodded in agreement and entered the cafeteria with me.

We can’t resist this luxury reserved for honor students!

* * *

“There’s a large forest near the Knight Department. Have you been there? They say it has tree fruits.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to raid the Production Department’s orchard?”

“That’s managed by senior students who enrolled before us. Touch it and you’re dead.”

Students faced a dilemma: spend all their points on cafeteria meals, or save points for more valuable uses while finding alternative food sources.

Most decided to save their points and look for other food options.

“Tch. At times like this, I envy those rich central folks.”

“I feel you.”

Unlike Imperial nobles who could earn additional points through donations, frontier nobles weren’t as financially comfortable.

For mediocre students like Morb and Zaku—barely admitted to the lower class and from minor noble families rather than prestigious ones—self-help was the only way to survive!

As they wandered around the campus like hungry hyenas, a tantalizing food smell assaulted their senses.

“Meat?”

“That smell is insane.”

Following the scent as if hypnotized, they found a large banner prominently displayed.

<Congratulations on your admission! Hungry?>

<Join the Hunting Club and hunt instead of starving!>

A large bonfire.

A whole pig roasting on a spit, turning slowly.

In front of it, a senior student was fanning the aroma with large leaves to spread the smell further.

These students had been starving since lunch.

No one had the mental fortitude to resist the smell of roasting meat, nor did they want to.

“Oh, freshmen.”

“Can… can we do this too?”

“Senior, I want meat!”

Next to the senior roasting meat, another senior who had prepared outdoor tables and folding chairs beckoned them.

“Come quickly and sign up! Join the club and we’ll let you eat meat!”

Morb and Zaku sat down as if entranced, filled out their personal information on the contract, and signed.

“Senior, there’s a clause saying we have to pay a 1,000-point fine for each unexcused absence from club activities.”

“Don’t you want to eat meat?”

“Of-of course I do.”

“And what about this consent clause saying we might get injured during club activities but can’t hold anyone responsible?”

“Just sign it!”

“Right, of course!”

Students signing contracts as if hypnotized by food!

After the Hunting Club’s cruel contract using roast pig as bait, students searching for food or wandering around training grounds were exposed to numerous temptations.

The Hunting Club wasn’t the only one that had seen through the psychology of hungry first-years.

* * *

“What club are you joining, Oknodie?”

“I’m thinking about it tomorrow.”

Monday was my day for focusing entirely on lectures.

I didn’t have time to spare for clubs.

“My goodness. Oknodie, are you taking 5th period lectures too?”

“I’m going all out on Mondays!”

Isabelle was shocked.

6-7 PM was dinner time.

After that came the 5th period night lectures from 7-9 PM.

For students who considered evenings as time for individual training, rest, and maintenance, this schedule would be tough, even shocking.

But there’s a loophole here.

The fact that I’m a veteran player.

If I already know everything I need to study, there’s no need to spend time on studying or assignments after school.

I have enough points to eat at the cafeteria, and if necessary, I have Isabelle the cook.

Time is what I have plenty of.

I can just pack my schedule with lectures!

‘The problem is choosing a department.’

Monday 1st period: Homeroom.

This isn’t a formal lecture.

Monday 2nd period: Developing an Eye.

This is a liberal arts lecture from the Adventure Department.

Monday 3rd period: Basics and Understanding of Mana Usage.

This is a liberal arts lecture from the Magic Department.

Monday 4th period: Remote Weapons Mastery.

This is a liberal arts lecture from the Knight Department.

That’s right.

So far, I’ve filled all my lectures with liberal arts courses.

I’ve cleared out the liberal arts courses that would work for any department!

Out of the required 2 common courses, 3 department courses, and 2 liberal arts courses, I’ve completed both liberal arts courses.

The remaining one could become a department course if I choose one among Knight, Adventure, or Magic departments.

Now I face the most difficult hurdle of choosing a department.

Knight Department.

Magic Department.

Administration Department.

Adventure Department.

Production Department.

Each department has different supporting characters who attend lectures together and whom I’d encounter frequently.

Knight Department.

Key characters – Hestia, Sing, Zenya, Rockpell

New character – Son Ocheon

Magic Department.

Key characters – Irene, Andersen, Female Warrior, Female Saint, Second Imperial Princess

New character – Unknown?

Adventure Department.

Key characters – Zhang, Zigoku

New characters – Isabelle, Giselle, Dorothy

Among the three departments I’ve narrowed down to, the ones with the most main characters are the Knight and Magic departments.

Initially, I was aiming for one of these two.

Though I haven’t told anyone, the class I’m actually aiming for is… Magic Swordsman!

‘Short-range with sword, mid-range with bow, long-range with magic. Covers elemental attacks and self-healing. An overpowered class!’

If developed well, there’s no class more broken than this.

A job that can overcome any situation alone without relying on teammates.

The versatile class of Magic Swordsman.

It’s the most stable profession I’ve identified as a veteran player.

The problem is that my companions this time around are vastly different from the game.

‘There’s such a huge difference from the companions I usually befriend during the entrance exam.’

Normally, I pick one main character I want to befriend during the entrance exam, work hard to gain their favor, and become close.

Among the existing main characters, the one I worked on gaining favor with was Arcadia.

The problem is that this iteration’s Arcadia is so unpredictable that I have no idea which department she’ll enter.

‘And my other companions are all gathered in the Adventure Department.’

Knight Department or Magic Department to strengthen either the magic or swordsmanship aspects of a Magic Swordsman.

Adventure Department where all my friends are gathered.

After intense deliberation, my heart finally leaned one way.

‘What does efficiency matter to a veteran? I should just do what I want!’

Want to learn swordsmanship and magic?

I can develop my existing knowledge through self-study.

Want to hang out with friends?

That’s difficult if I don’t choose the Adventure Department.

We might see each other often as first-years, but those connection points gradually disappear as we advance in years.

<Adventure Department>

So, 5th period: Adventure Department.

I’ll choose my department course from here too.

<Basic Physical Training for Adventurers>

<Basic Weapon Training for Adventurers>

<Adventurer Supply Studies>

<Adventurer Trap Studies>

<Adventurer Wilderness Cooking>

<Developing an Eye>

While these were the Adventure Department lectures available during the day, the list of available night lectures was different.

<Adventurer Night Activities>

<Sleeping Well Anywhere>

<Dealing with Nocturnal Animals>

The daytime outdoor activities like Basic Physical Training and Basic Weapon Training, as well as indoor courses like Supply Studies, Trap Studies, Wilderness Cooking, and Developing an Eye were all gone.

Instead, new lectures on night activities, sleep, and dealing with nocturnal animals were added.

‘That landmine lecture is still here this time.’

I wasn’t the only student with a Monday-intensive strategy, as other students lingered in front of the Adventure Department lecture hall sign and excitedly said:

“Sleeping Well Anywhere? Is this a lecture where we just need to sleep well?”

“Wow. That’s sweet.”

“How can you resist a class where you just sleep and earn credits?”

Of course, I didn’t even consider it and headed straight to the location for the <Adventurer Night Activities> lecture.

The “anywhere” in “Sleeping Well Anywhere” truly means “anywhere.”

Sleeping well in a makeshift tent set up above a pit of vipers without falling in.

Sleeping well in a portaledge (cliff tent) installed on a cliff face.

‘Even as a veteran, that’s a bit…’

I somewhat admire the freshmen who willingly attend lectures that even veterans avoid. Though I’m sure none of them know what they’re getting into.