SRS 17

The students’ murmuring grew louder. Everyone looked interested and hopeful when they heard the news of early graduation for the first time.

“Early graduation candidates can graduate and earn the right to resurrection after completing third-year classes. Even if you don’t achieve top student status for three consecutive years, if you maintain grades outstanding enough to earn recognition from all professors over the past three years or achieve rare accomplishments, you can also graduate early with unanimous professor approval. I hope you all dedicate yourselves sincerely to your school life.”

“So there’s hope for us too?”

“I’ve been cursing this crazy school, but maybe it has some good points.”

“Early graduation means we can leave this place two years sooner, right?”

Light returned to the students’ eyes. Yohan clenched his hand resting on his thigh.

Yohan had already achieved top student status at the entrance ceremony. If he continued to work diligently for the remaining semesters, he might be able to claim the first-year top spot and aim for early graduation.

Then the vice headmaster continued as if he’d forgotten something.

“Oh, by the way, the number of students who’ve successfully advanced to third year averages 82 per year.”

“…..”

“…..”

“This year’s third years are 63 though.”

It was giving with one hand and taking with the other. The excited students’ shoulders drooped again as they wilted. Yohan looked around at the friends seated in the banquet hall.

About 240 students remained, but only 82? What on earth were they teaching that reduced the student count that much?

He became afraid of the future.

“Well then, once again, welcome to your enrollment. You can take up to five general education classes, so please find lectures that match your tastes and interests and plan an appropriate schedule. Thank you.”

The vice headmaster finished his greeting and disappeared. Loud sighs flowed from the students’ mouths.

“An average of 82 per year. So at least more than half don’t advance.”

“Here’s my prediction, half can’t leave because of the no-withdrawal thing, of the remaining half, 40% get expelled, and 60% die.”

“Thinking about it, aren’t the professors assassinating students one by one every night? Otherwise there’s no way the advancement numbers would be that low.”

The students here had already adapted to Fantasiademia’s absurd eccentric classes, or at least accepted that form of instruction even if they hadn’t adapted. The upperclassmen must have been the same, but hearing the advancement numbers were so low, various conspiracy theories began popping up among friends.

…Even so, assassination seems like going too far.

Understanding the sentiment but thinking their imagination was stretching in excessive directions, Yohan shook his head and checked the lecture list written on the paper. Fortunately, the names felt more professional than the classes they’d taken during the probationary period.

“Yohan, what major are you taking?”

Suhyeok stuck his head out from the side and asked. Yohan, who was still looking at the course list, confirmed just one subject for now.

“I’m planning to take « Divine Studies: What is Divine Power and How to Use It? ». I’m still choosing the rest. What about you, Suhyeok?”

“Me? Well, I’ll take « Basic Hunter Studies ».”

“Just that?”

“I don’t know? I feel like I could handle one more, but thinking about everything so far, three seems too greedy.”

“…Really?”

Yohan, who’d been secretly planning to fill all three majors to maintain his top student position, felt his resolve waver a bit. If Suhyeok was saying that, maybe he should reconsider.

But…

Wouldn’t enduring three somewhat painful years be wiser if he wanted to escape this school even a day sooner?

Experiencing internal conflict, Yohan looked for another friend to organize his thoughts.

“Kylus. Have you decided?”

At Yohan’s question, Kylus showed him his paper. « Understanding Multidimensional Swordsmanship for Beginner Swordsmen » and « What Are War and Politics? Let’s Learn the Basics of Imperial Studies » were marked.

“Hmm… That’s very you.”

Kylus had a glamorous and authoritative impression that screamed “I’m nobility” from his very appearance. Though he’d never said so directly, Yohan and Suhyeok had been speculating for a while that his identity was at least a count or higher, so accepting the imperial studies major, Yohan let out a thoughtful sound.

“Looks like everyone’s taking two.”

Yohan rubbed between his brows, lost in thought. Considering this school’s reality, it seemed wise to hone combat skills to protect himself, but unfortunately Yohan had no talent for swordsmanship. The professor had told him directly, and Kylus, who always sparred with him, would pat Yohan’s shoulder with a troubled face and comfort him saying “You’ll have your own path” enough said about how talentless he was.

Then he’d have to learn other combat skills…

After deliberating for a while, Yohan decided on his other majors.

“I think I can handle « Taming Class for Beginner Tamers » and « Basic Spirit Studies ».”

“It makes sense, you did tame your griffin quickly, so it suits you.”

“Not choosing swordsmanship class was a wise decision, Yohan.”

“…Yes.”

Hearing his two friends’ encouragement, Yohan marked his paper. Suhyeok compared everyone’s papers and let out a sigh.

“I’ll probably add herbology, but then we don’t have a single major in common. Should we at least match some general education classes?”

“Good idea.”

“…Do we really have to?”

Yohan agreed and Kylus was reluctant. Suhyeok dismissed Kylus’s opinion as if it were obvious and aligned their schedules.

Having successfully overlapped three of the five general education classes with his two friends, Yohan turned his head to look for Mikael.

They shared a room, so it felt like excluding him if he didn’t coordinate anything with Mikael. Well, Mikael probably wouldn’t care at all.

“I’ll go check Mikael’s schedule.”

“That’s being nosy, Yohan.”

“I know. But it bothers me a little.”

“I figured. See you, priest.”

Suhyeok, now somewhat accustomed to Yohan’s attitude of worrying about Mikael who constantly stayed on the periphery or acted independently, waved his hand.

Mikael was still sitting in the same spot as before, reading his book. Yohan tapped his shoulder.

“Mikael. What classes are you taking?“

“Feel free to check the form.”

Mikael answered without taking his eyes off the book he was still reading. Yohan checked the form placed beside him. Divine Studies and Spirit Studies classes were marked.

“Oh, we overlap.”

When Yohan showed his own form and mentioned it, Mikael’s gaze slowly moved to Yohan’s paper. The young man put down his book and propped his chin on his hand.

“Hmm. You’re taking three?”

“Since I already got top student status, I’m going to try my best.”

“Is early graduation your goal?”

“If possible.”

“Hmm…”

Silver eyes tinged with blue swept over Yohan. When Mikael, a first-year veteran, showed a meaningful reaction, Yohan tilted his head, wondering if he’d chosen something wrong.

“Why?”

“Nothing, just good luck.”

“Is there a weird class or something?”

“Who knows?”

Mikael shrugged. Since he wasn’t going to give a proper answer, Yohan shrugged back like a copycat, then pushed away his anxiety and looked at the general education courses. Mikael hadn’t chosen any general education classes.

“You’re not taking any general education?”

“Nothing interests me.”

“But it says you have to take at least three.”

“Then will you pick for me?”

“Me?”

“Yes. About three. I’d be happy if you picked them.”

For someone saying that, Mikael was pretty indifferent. His gaze had already returned to his book, so Yohan awkwardly picked up a pen.

“Anything’s fine?”

“Yes.”

“Then we’ve some general education classes planned, so take them with us.”

Yohan checked off the classes he’d agreed to take with Suhyeok and Kylus and showed him.

“Here.”

“Thanks.”

When Yohan handed back the paper, Mikael answered without even checking it. Yohan sighed at his friend’s incomprehensible attitude and placed Mikael’s course registration form on the table.

“See you in the room.”

“See you in the room, Yohan.”

As Yohan was about to turn away, he suddenly became curious about why Mikael had chosen Divine Studies and stopped. He couldn’t sense any divine power from Mikael, yet this mysterious man was friendly with griffins and was even now reading a theology book. Wondering if there was some connection, Yohan’s lips moved, but seeing his friend’s expression focused on the book, he hesitated and returned to his friends.

He felt like Mikael would find it annoying if he spoke any more.

Divine Studies… What will they teach?

Classes would start in three days, but Yohan quickened his steps, feeling anticipation for his first divine power class since entering the school.

It took exactly three days to realize that anticipation was misplaced.

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

“What do you think divine power is?”

The professor who came to teach « Divine Studies: What is Divine Power and How to Use It? » was an angel. How did they know? Because there was a ring floating above his head that clearly said “I’m an angel,” and he had white wings.

The students were flustered when the professor entered the classroom and jumped straight into the main topic without any self-introduction. The professor explained on his own, as if he hadn’t expected an answer anyway.

“No need to think complicated. Divine power is the power of gods, specifically, we call the power of good gods divine power.”

Yohan concentrated and opened his ears so as not to let the first-time lesson content slip by. Then he suddenly noticed Mikael in the seat next to him dozing off and poked him with his elbow.

“Mikael.”

When he quietly called his name, the young man’s eyelashes slowly lifted.

“Don’t sleep.”

Yohan advised, worried that Mikael might get in trouble for showing an insincere attitude from the very first class. Mikael, with drowsy eyes, closed them again without caring. Having already woken him once and thus fulfilled his duty as a friend, Yohan knew Mikael’s stubbornness and just let him sleep.

“I’ll explain again. Divine power is the power of gods. So what do you think you can do with this power?”

“We can bless specific targets.”

“We can remove curses.”

“We can purify evil things.”

“We can heal injuries!”

With answers pouring out from all around, Yohan offered a similar response. Then the angel professor nodded.

“Indeed. This year’s new students are also narrow-minded.”

“…Excuse me?”

The students were flustered by the harsh assessment. That’s when something happened.

Crash!

Suddenly the classroom window shattered into pieces.

“Ahhh!”

Students who’d been sitting by the window jumped up from their seats in shock.

Without changing his expression, the angel professor floated the broken window fragments in the air and looked around at the students.

“Poor lambs. Divine power is the power of gods. It can’t possibly be used only for simple healing or purification. If I wanted, I could kill all of you with this power. That is divine power.”

The students fell silent at the charismatic professor’s explanation. Yohan pondered.

The professor seemed mentally unstable, should he apply for a course change even now?