I Will Carry as an Academy Veteran

5

“The first step is the safe passage.”

As soon as I returned to my room, I opened a book first.

Having explored the outside of the academy, it was now time to delve into its inner workings.

While my knowledge of the Salenium Saga is absolute, the concept of ‘Stats’ that characters were aware of in the original game seems to have disappeared here, hinting at differences between this place and the game.

Furthermore, as mentioned before, the looming obstacle of expulsion is right in front of me.

If I don’t resolve this first, not only will my support base be at risk, but it will pose a critical problem in carrying out my academy life.

If I get expelled after receiving a third academic warning without even trying anything, it’s game over, a not-so-welcome bad ending.

······However.

1. Elemental magic is broadly classified as low, intermediate, advanced, and master level. Explain the classification criteria of elemental magic in less than 5 lines based on the following criteria. (5 points)

2. Describe the type of magic based on the formula provided in the following 〈View〉. (6 points)

3. Provide an example and description of the relationship between the consumption rate of magical power based on ‘elemental affinity.’ (4 points)

“······Hmm.”

I stared at the paper, frozen.

The hand holding the fountain pen trembled incessantly. My eyes went back to reread the problem from the beginning.

Still unable to believe it, I held the paper and reread it several times.

“This can’t be happening······.”

It was so astonishing.

This was too, too······.

Easy.

It was so easy that it made me even more bewildered.

Is this difficult? Then I should just gracefully retire my veteran title.

“hahahaha······.”

It was almost enjoyable. With a smile on my face, I started writing the answer straight away.

Firstly, in the game, low-level magic doesn’t require any casting time.

However, from intermediate magic onwards, casting becomes a necessity.

Moving on to advanced magic, the casting time exceeds a minimum of 1 minute, but this is just a general example.

The casting time varies greatly depending on the character.

There are even those who can cast magic with no casting time using a phantom spear.

“The second question is the intermediate fire elemental magic ‘Fire Arrow.'”

To deduce magic based on the formula is just too easy for someone like me who has spent countless hours in the game.

The consumption rate of mana based on elemental affinity could be memorized effortlessly with just a glance.

Water, fire, earth, lightning, wind, ice, light.

In the Salenium Saga, there are a total of seven elemental attributes, and all characters except the protagonist, Er’an, have what is called ‘elemental affinity.’

Simply put, this means that a character is specialized in that attribute.

For instance, a character with fire elemental affinity will consume less mana when using fire-based magic, while increasing its power.

Normally, each character has only one elemental affinity, but occasionally there are those with two, or even ‘elemental incompatibility,’ and some characters have no affinity at all.

Those without affinity… well, they are just wasting their cost while using them properly.

If you think of ‘elemental incompatibility,’ it’s basically the opposite of affinity.

In the case of incompatibility, one cannot use elemental magic of that attribute.

There isn’t much difference in lower-level spells that don’t match the affinity, but from intermediate spells onwards, the difference is quite significant. Really. If a character has one incompatibility, matching elemental synergies becomes more challenging than one would think.

“Well, alright.”

After writing the answer, even I could see it was an excellent response.

This should probably earn full marks.

“For this semester, my goal should be to at least master all the lower-level spells.”

During the first semester, I will learn all the lower-level spells that I can.

If I can learn other skills along the way, that would be even better.

I plan to challenge myself with intermediate spells as far as I can go.

“Route List.”

After a light stretch, I summoned the route list window before me.

[Adrian Endings]

– Build your support base and become a legitimate Repelheight successor.

– Current Progress: 0%

– Expand Ending Conditions 〉〉

– Failure Results: Death

There was no progress at all.

“Perhaps progress increases gradually after the main story begins?”

If that’s the case, it can be considered fortunate.

I recently confirmed that the events involving the protagonist, Er’an, including the interaction with the knight department students, proceeded smoothly.

I replayed that scene in my mind.

“There was definitely Lumen.”

As any Salenium Saga player would acknowledge, Lumen Reibns, the ‘Knight of Light,’ a representative of the knight department and a top-tier character.

A 3rd-year student at Salenium, ‘Knight of Light’ Lumen Reibns.

In the vast Salenium Saga with numerous routes and endings, there is, of course, the ‘Rice Bowl Combination’ regardless of the route.

That is…

‘Knight of Light’ Lumen – Light element. 3rd-year knight department.

‘Frost Witch’ Souffle – Ice element. 1st-year magic department.

‘Elf Descendant’ Relvrian – Wind element. 2nd-year magic department.

‘Assassin’ Grenner – Elemental incompatibility with all elements. Duo. 3rd-year knight department.

‘Fighter’ Meril – Fire element. 3rd-year magic department.

By forming a party with these five characters at the center, one can achieve the best efficiency in terms of elemental combination and position.

And as the story progresses, the character is designed to be evenly placed in the party.

“He’ll figure out how to organize the party on his own.”

I can just watch on the sidelines and occasionally check how things are going.

I just need to focus on securing my support base using the original settings as much as possible.

So, Erhan, you do your part.

I’ll find a way to survive somehow and enjoy the benefits.

“Time is on my side.”

The entire Selenium Saga consists of 10 chapters and 30 acts.

It may seem long, but as you progress, it passes in the blink of an eye.

However, this is just the story at the academy, and in the “post-graduation story” automatically unlocked after graduation, Erhan travels with his comrades through various kingdoms to defeat the “real final boss,” the Demon King.

Of course, the final boss, the “Demon King,” is located underground in the academy.

The academy itself is sealed by a barrier.

If the story progresses to that point, Ebnis is likely to have already become a sequel, so I need to move before that to restrain him.

For now, everything is settled.

I peered through a book filled with dense writing, then glanced at the clock and muttered, “Should we start with a meal?”

This is about surviving to enjoy life, so let’s start with a meal.

After a satisfying meal, I went out to the garden.

Behind the main building of Merin Hall, which houses the dining hall and auditorium, there is a garden.

From this garden, there are dormitory buildings for each grade: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years.

The area connecting the main building and the gate is the front yard, and the garden connecting each grade’s dormitory building is called the courtyard.

Behind the dormitory buildings, there is also a simple training ground for the Knight Department students.

It may sound nice, but the Lubrium Hall for top students and the Adele Hall for nobles have all the modern amenities in a vast area.

Not that I regret not going there now.

I actually think it’s fortunate that I came from Adele Hall.

All the named characters are gathered over there.

If you mix up a word or two, the story will really get messed up.

Thud!

“-287!”

As I peeked out behind the 2nd-year dormitory building, I saw Kalen swinging a wooden sword at the scarecrow, sweating profusely.

I didn’t want to disturb him, so I didn’t say anything.

He’s diligent to an extreme in the game and in real life.

Quietly, I left the training ground and headed towards the 1st-year dormitory.

There was hardly anyone in the dormitory area, as if there were no people, while the welcoming party was still going on at the main building.

“Is this the place?”

In two weeks, the background for Episode 1 of Act 1 will be here.

It’s the so-called “Dormitory Monster Summoning Incident.”

A sudden event where monsters popped out of the room of a 1st-year freshman experimenting with summoning magic.

Naturally, a 1st-year student who has just learned magic wouldn’t have the ability to summon monsters.

In fact, there is a mysterious figure that encompasses the entire Act 1 of this incident.

The mischief of a despairing 4th-year Magic Department student in the world.

Taking advantage of the absence of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th-year students attending a special lecture, this incident unfolded skillfully. By chance, Ern and the 1st-year Knight Department students passing by the dormitory area, along with Lumen who was guiding them, successfully brought an end to the situation as the demon was subdued.

Act 1, Scene 1 served as a tutorial, roughly explaining how life at the academy and battles are conducted.

I turned away while gazing at the dormitory in the darkness.

It was a mix of emotions.

Playing Salenium Saga, Ern was always me, and I was Ern… Well, that’s all in the past.

It’s not good to dwell on memories here.

Let’s go back and study.

* * *

“Where did you go?”

“Just went for a walk outside.”

Coming back to the room, Callen was patting his towel-dried hair.

It seemed like he timed it well.

In a T-shirt and shorts, Callen plopped down on the floor.

Seeing something, he took out a dry cloth and started meticulously wiping his sword.

“A sword.”

“Oh, this is what I brought from the family.”

The Snowhite family is a viscount in the north.

They are nobles, but practically a fallen family.

That’s probably why he came to the regular dormitory.

“You don’t have to worry about it.”

“Of course, that’s the plan.”

I picked up my toiletries from the personal desk shelf and headed to the bathroom.

After washing up and changing into casual clothes, I combed my wet hair and went outside.

“…”

“What?”

Seeing Callen, who was polishing the sword, looking at me with a puzzled expression, I looked in the mirror.

A guy with slightly disheveled wet hair, exuding decadent charm, was standing in the mirror.

“…”

I quickly finished drying my hair and lay down on the bed.

We agreed that I’d use the upper bunk.

Since Callen said he didn’t mind where to sleep, I chose the lower bunk without hesitation.

When I was young, I preferred the top bunk, but now I’d hit my head and hurt my back when getting up due to being a bit taller.

“Are you going to bed early? It’s only eleven.”

“There’s nothing wrong with sleeping early.”

“Is that so…?”

Callen turned off the room light, climbed the ladder, and went up to this bunk.

I can’t see anything, but it seems like they can see everything.

“Then, good night.”

“Yeah.”

Only the sound of rustling was heard, so I responded.

Dark room and silent stillness.

What will happen tomorrow?

I closed my eyes quietly and fell asleep.