NOVEL NEXT Chapter 85: The Birth of A Monster
The Magician Academy was the first mage-dominated Rank 13 civilization in the universe, boasting over 300 universal laws.
In contrast to the Clear Water Sect, the Magician Academy was not governed by a single individual. Instead, a Mage High Council comprising Rank 12 and Rank 13 mages assumed responsibility for governance.
Such a structure is typically very unstable, with many failing; however, the Magician Academy defied this trend. High-ranking mages were deeply committed to the academy, prioritizing its well-being above all else. Prospective mages were required to swear an oath to the academy before obtaining mage status, a commitment guaranteed.
Those rank 12 and 13 mages also had to swear an oath with 'Market' being the witness before being able to join the council.
'Market' has long commercialized its oath witnessing; high-level civilizations can buy it at a reasonable price. It's popular among many.
The Magician Academy presides over five Rank 13 worlds, sixteen Rank 12 worlds, and numerous Rank 11 and 10 worlds.
While the management of Rank 13 and 12 worlds falls under the direct purview of the council, lower-ranking worlds are given more autonomy, provided they follow a general path set by the council.
Diverse species and worlds populated the academy, all dedicated to following the mage path.
One was named NW6827544HD, a typical Rank 11 world with fifteen complete laws. It was given to a mage family—the Booker family.
In contrast to many other worlds, the Booker family actively participated in mortal affairs, appointing nobles, lords, ministers, and the like.
A distinctive feature of the Booker family was their leader, Ellena Booker, one of the two Rank 11 mages in this world. She was not the typical mage committed to following the truth.
She cared a lot about what mortals do and how they live.
It's said that her childhood experience was the reason for her strange behavior.
In some worlds, gender equality exists; in others, women face discrimination, and in some, men are discriminated against.
No rule dictates women always end up as underdogs; men can also be in that position. NW6827544DH is an example of such a world.
Ellena considered herself a pragmatist and deemed allowing 'males' with unfavorable 'genes' to reproduce to be illogical.
Many mages will disagree with this view.
Research by the academy shows the diversity of genes is the best way to get geniuses, so most encourage interspecies and interracial marriages.
However, in matters of mortals, the Magician Academy had no authority. Other mages' words and thoughts didn't matter; only Ellena's ideas mattered.
Consequently, she established yearly contests for 8-year-old 'boys' where winners were 'granted' the 'privilege' to have children.
As for what happens to losers ...
Ellena initially wanted to 'dispose' of them but was presuaded to allow them to continue living. As long as they cannot have children, she thought, everything should be fine.
Unfortunately, women didn't fare much better in this system.
If a country failed to meet its target for the number of children per year, it could issue 'duty papers' to women, essentially forcing them to give birth. However, such occurrences were rare.
Women's longevity was very long, and the mortality rate was low, with rank 0 health pills widely available; most diseases were also completely extinct.
Women remained young and fertile throughout their lives due to a formation set by Ellena's order.
The situation was different for men, who had far shorter lifespans and did get old as they aged.
Ellena specifically and intentionally excluded men from the formation; it wouldn't have cost anything to allow men to be included, but Ellena didn't want it.
Ellena was very radical from any mortal's perspective, but no high-ranking mage bothered to intervene.
High-ranking mages seldom intervene in matters of mortals, no matter how bad the situation is.
There were other disadvantages for men in this world. Certain jobs, promotions, and specialties were off-limits to them.
Discrimination existed from birth to death.
It wasn't always like this; it used to be the opposite.
Before Ellena, women used to be discriminated against, although not nearly to this level.
But after she took over the Booker family, everything changed.
All these restrictions disappear if a boy has mage talent. The Magicians Academy regulates mages, so Ellena cannot interfere with them.
The boys with mage talent who qualify for the academy will be treated equally with girls, live in luxury in the Magician Academy branch in NW6827544HD. Still, they cannot interfere in mortal affairs, as the Booker family is solely responsible for that.
In this context, Jeremy, a boy originally from Earth who was hit by a bus while trying to save a child, found himself transmigrated to this world.
...
Jeremy lay in a crib.
He is one year old today, yet his brain functions better than an adult's.
Lately, he pondered extensively on the day the bus had struck.
"Why does this sound so similar to those novels? I'm starting to believe those novels had roots in reality! Maybe they also transmigrated like me and managed to return to tell their tale? The best way is to write a novel; if you say it seriously, they think you're crazy!" he thought.
What are the chances? He read numerous novels about people hit by buses, trucks, etc., and now, it has happened to him.
"Or maybe everyone gets transmigrated once they die?" he wondered.
Just as he contemplated this, a nurse arrived and began feeding him. In this life, Jeremy was an orphan.
He could still recall the voice of his mother saying, "Take 'it' away from me!"
It was the first sentence he heard; his mother was not happy to have given birth. Jeremy couldn't imagine the pain leading a mother to say such words.
He gave up on his mother and chose to forget her, not wanting to bother her and cause her to recall whatever happened to her.
After all, his body was that of a baby, but his brain was that of an adult. He was very understanding and kind in his past life, and he intended to remain so in this life.
He drank the milk and drifted off to sleep.
...
A year later, Jeremy could walk and talk at two years old.
A while ago, he noticed a strange thing: every orphan child was a boy.
"Do they segregate children by gender? What the hell? What world did I transmigrate into?" he started to get worried. For them to segregate babies by gender, their views must be very messed up.
...
Another year passed.
At three years old, Jeremy understood much more. If he had a choice, he would have changed his gender.
"I'm in trouble. Where are you, system?" he cried secretly.
This world has severe gender discrimination against men, to the point where even orphanages for girls and boys are different.
Girls would be taken to high-grade care facilities and are prioritized in parenting. Essentially, if there is an orphan girl, she has to be taken first before anyone can take any boy.
"To think that they do this to babies!" he exclaimed angrily.
...
Another year passed.
At age four, the people at the orphanage started teaching them.
The subjects ranged from math to science to combat abilities.
"What are these? Why are you teaching these to us?" he wondered.
The subjects taught had nothing to do with children.
If anyone didn't learn, they would beat them; if they cried, they beat them; if they complained, they beat them.
It was worse than slave camps in books, although he really had no idea how slave camps were. Still, he looked at his blood-red hands and nodded; even slave owners don't do this to such young children.
"Or, do they?" he started to think about the books in his past life. Just as he was distracted, the woman in charge of the class hit him on the hand again!
"Ahh," even with the mind of an adult, he started crying. The math and lessons were easy. His habit of getting lost in thought was the reason he was beaten up.
"When I'm teaching, you must listen!" she said.
"What a sadist!" he complained, deciding to pay her back when he got older.
...
Another year passed.
Yesterday, strange people came and tested the children one by one for 'mage' talent.
It basically confirmed Jeremy's guess.
"This world has magic!" Then, tears came to his eyes.
These were not tears of joy; they were from sadness. Today, Jeremy is at a breaking point.
After being born in this 'hell,' becoming a mage was his only hope; however, he had no talent.
Another boy in his class had mage talent. The moment it was revealed he had talent, the 'teacher,' whom Jeremy called the 'butcher,' turned 180. She acted like the boy was her dear child, showing care and concern.
Just a day before, she had struck the same child that he was sent to a doctor, and the day after, she treated him like she cared.
It disgusted Jeremy to no end.
"Even if I can't get revenge, I hope Mike grows into a powerful mage and takes revenge!" he thought with rage.
After five years, he had given up hope on the 'system'.
...
Another year passed.
He gave up too soon! On his 6th birthday, the system finally appeared.
Name: Jeremy Strength: 0.3 Agility: 0.4 Mental strength: 0.9 Free attribute point: 0
It only had these three stats, with nothing like mage talent present. However, with this system, life returned to his eyes. With the system, one day, he would become the strongest!
...
Another year passed.
Name: Jeremy Strength: 0.4 Agility: 0.5 Mental strength: 0.9 Free attribute point: 0
After the initial hype, reality began to hit. He tried all the ways he could think of but failed to get even one attribute point.
He complained about why the system didn't give any starting pack like in novels. He should find out how the attribute system works as soon as possible.
...
Another year passed.
A few days ago, it was announced that the grand test was about to start.
In the 8th year of boys' lives, the grand contests begin.
It is to 'weed out the undesirable' gene.
These mentions about 'genes' gave Jeremy flashbacks to a certain man with a tiny mustache in his previous life. Still, he was helpless, so he went along with it and tried hard to be accepted in one of the categories.
There are categories of art, math, chemistry, literature, sports, intelligence, etc. With his grown brain, he must be able to be accepted in at least one.
For him now, he just wants to stay whole and find out how the system works.
He doesn't want to know what 'weed out' means. It sure doesn't sound good.
...
Another year passed.
Now Jeremy knows what 'Weed out' means!
It's essentially cutting off the balls! He still shudders from the pain of what they did to him that day.
Yes, even with his adult brain, he failed in all categories. The competition was between all boys of the entire world, so those who passed were all geniuses. Jeremy wasn't dumb, but he wasn't a genius.
After that day, he became suicidal. But he thought of the future. It's no guarantee that he will be reborn again if he dies. And this world is magical, so surely there are ways to heal the 'injury.' He convinced himself that he would find a way to fix it.
...
Another year passed.
The 'teachers' stopped teaching anything about math, arts, etc. Instead, they began teaching crafts. It was obvious they were getting ready to abandon the orphans.
Even after all these years, Jeremy still hasn't found how the system works.
Every time he goes to the bathroom, or even when he walks, he 'feels' the lack of 'those' between his legs. The physiological pressure is driving him mad and twisted.
When he first came here, he didn't want to bother his mom because she might have experienced something terrible. If he sees her now, he might rip her to pieces.
He wants to harm something.
"I'm going to take revenge! From everyone! Everyone!" he continued walking and learning, only reminding himself of this every minute!
...
Another year passed! Jeremy was smiling.
"HaHaHaHaHaHa," he laughed loudly. He finally found out!
He had tried killing ants and animals before but never killing humans.
After all that happened, however, he finally found the courage and killed one of his classmates!
To his astonishment, as soon as he killed the boy who always bullied him, his Potential points jumped to one!
"Just wait, I'm going to destroy you all!" Blood was splattered on his face as he shouted.