"If you think you are good enough, you must have some problems with your brain. Think like that, and you will die without even realizing it."
An old man with a long beard stood on the podium. Despite his wrinkled face, his body was still more muscular than most people's. He exuded an invisible pressure simply by standing, making it difficult for people to look at him.
"There is no major exam whatsoever at this college, but that's not because you are more than qualified. That's because this is a period when you finally learn about combat. You can treat it as mandatory military training if that makes you feel better.
"120 years ago, the world underwent a dramatic change that turned animals into magical beasts with an element inside them, just like humans, who evolved a bit later.
"This school will teach you how to fight those beasts, but I don't like speaking ideals. You can call me a pessimist, but once you go out there, you will find me to be a realist.
"There are only three things I want to tell you on this occasion. The first and most important will be your objective.
"You may have heard this phrase at your school. Everyone has the same starting line, which is the most basic form of an avatar. Whether they are an elf, a goblin, or even a dragon, they will start at the same phase—the baby phase.
"Once you evolve, your avatar will reach the juvenile phase. They will become Elder Elf, Hobgoblin, or Elder Dragon.
"Your objective will be the next one after that, the adult form of an avatar. Using the same example, they will be High Elf, Goblin Lord, or Adult Dragon.
"In the next four years, you can take care of your own schedule. Anyone whose avatar has reached the adult form will gain the qualifications to graduate. You can graduate in two to three years if you are quick. Or you can stay at the college until four years are up. That's up to you.
"The second thing I want to tell you about is the five departments. You may choose any department you want, even multiple ones, if you are capable. You can ask any teachers you meet for advice.
"The Combat Department is a place where you train skills apart from your element, such as hand-to-hand combat, weapon arts, or any related techniques so that you can use these additional techniques to fight someone or a beast who has an elemental advantage against you.
"The Element Department is similar, but for those who want to strengthen their element.
"The Evolution Department is for you, evolution master wannabes. The Support Department is for the students who want to pursue things other than combat.
"Last but not least, the Research Department. If you don't like fighting, you might as well give up on becoming stronger and use your brain for the greater good."
The teachers and the students were dumbfounded while listening to the speech.
Even a teacher couldn't help but ask, "Are you sure it's a good idea to have the principal deliver the speech?"
"For those who are serious about their path, they will take the speech seriously. Even though his word choice can be improved, he's speaking the harsh truth."
"Well…"
No one could deny it, but it was surely not motivating.
Meanwhile, the principal raised three fingers. "So, that comes to the last subject. All of you here can become students of the Grand Magica College because you have earned your qualifications in one way or another.
"Don't break the rules, believe in yourself, and do whatever you need to do if you want to succeed. I wish you luck."
The students applauded, but they did it half-heartedly, since they felt worse than before they came here.
"Hello everyone. I am the vice dean of the Element Department, Maya Relesha. I'm here to talk about the technical part, so I will be brief.
"For the next month, you are free to hop from one department to another to test it out before choosing the departments you want to focus on.
"Even though what the principal said is correct, it definitely sounds depressing. That's why I'm going to tell you the benefits of becoming our student.
"There are four places that you need to take note of. First will be the training center. This place can strengthen your body or help you practice your battle techniques.
"The second will be the library. The library is a place that contains various research and battle techniques that have been collected by the academy.
"The third one is the exchange center. You can exchange a lot of things here, from weapons to materials.
All three places will require points, which are the currency used at the academy. Where can you get points? It's in the fourth place: Achievement Hall.
"Create a record and motivate your classmates. Complete missions for the academy. Or even battle with each other and record the battle. All of them give you points.
"There is no restriction on earning points as long as you obey the school rules. Anyone who is found to disobey will be punished according to the school regulations.
"That's all from me. Do your best."
Auric crossed his arms, contemplating.
"That's it? This school is so weird. We got a principal with a depressing speech and your teacher with a stiff and practical speech." Lindwurm circled Auric. "So, are you interested in the academy? Want to drop out?"
'Well, we can certainly earn more money at school. Since there is no restriction on how we earn points, we can simply help people evolve with points as payment. Depending on the demand, the points can be exchanged for more money than the usual rate for an evolution master.'
"Oh!" Lindwurm's eyes turned into money signs.
Auric glanced at him, wondering how he could even change his eyes like that. It looked real, but Lindwurm might be expressing himself subconsciously.
"Still, we get the library pass from your teacher. Do you need a weapon?"
'I prefer to use elements rather than weapons.' Auric's answer came from the ability his eyes possessed. Since he could see elements more clearly than anyone else in the world, it was better to hone them instead of taking a path with no guarantee.
He already had his hands full with filling all nine elements anyway.
To his surprise, he got a question from the person next to him.
"So, which department are you going to join?"
It was surprising because the person sitting beside him was none other than Eric. For some reason, Eric actually chose to sit next to him, even though he was annoyed with him.
Auric smiled. "Just like you have to introduce yourself first before asking someone to introduce themselves, shouldn't you tell me first?"
Eric pinched his own thighs to stop getting annoyed. "You always have something to say. I can't really say that your face makes everyone want to slap you, but your mouth is definitely something I want to sew shut in the future."
Auric shrugged, indicating that Eric should tell him first.
Eric clicked his tongue. "I'm planning to take the Combat Department and the Element Department."
"I guess we will only meet once in a while. I plan to take the Element Department and the Evolution Department. If you want to evolve, do call me. I can give you a discount."
"Evolution…" Eric harrumphed. "I don't need you. I don't know how you can use an element, but that element won't be able to help me."
"Well, we will see about that later." Auric shrugged.
Eric couldn't help but feel suspicious. Auric might still be hiding something. After competing with him for three years, he knew Auric wasn't someone who did anything meaningless.
Nevertheless, it wasn't something he could discover for the time being.
"Hmph." Eric stood up and walked away.
"This guy talks and leaves as he pleases…" Lindwurm was speechless.
Auric just laughed internally. 'He is amusing. You won't get bored with him around. Well, his behavior aside, he's not really that bad.'
Lindwurm snorted as if he didn't believe him.
'Anyway, we should take our leave as well.'
"Yeah," Lindwurm agreed.
However, the moment they exited the building, Lindwurm's words earlier came into reality.
Simon was already standing in front of the exit as if he had been waiting for Auric to come out.
The people were surrounding them as if they wanted to see something interesting.
'Ah, this…' Auric's eyebrows twitched.
"Stop! You!" Simon pointed at Auric, his glare increasing by the second.
"Do you need some help with evolution?" Auric asked.
"Don't think you're above me. You are just lucky that we have awakened only recently. I will challenge you soon, and you have no right to refuse. I will make sure you can't continue studying here any longer."
"…" Auric was speechless.
"Pfft. So, what do you think about this new guy?" Lindwurm teased him.
'More annoying than him. Eric might be competitive, but he is not destructive.'
After hearing the challenges, the students couldn't help but whisper to each other.
"Is this for real?"
"Is he jealous that he is less handsome than the other guy?"
"Shouldn't it be because they had a small clash at the entrance earlier?"
Charles narrowed his eyes. "Well, another one."
Mila rolled her eyes. "It's a shame. Looks like someone is going to get beaten."
But before Auric could even say anything, the atmosphere changed as a group of people walked toward the venue.
"So, there is a student who interests you, the mayor?"
"It's rather weird that you are not interested in that student."
People were flabbergasted. They could see four people. The first one was the man who gave a speech earlier, the principal. Walking next to him was the man they often saw on the screen, the mayor of this city.
The other two were the mayor's bodyguards. Each of them had an imposing look that could scare any student.
"What's going on?"
"The principal is walking with the mayor?"
"What did the mayor say earlier? There is a student who piques the mayor's interest?"
"Is it Simon? He's the youngest disciple of the Lightning Emperor with a grade S affinity."
"Then, what will happen to the other guy? It's such a shame. He's so attractive, but if the mayor knows that Simon hates this person, the mayor might help him suppress my man."
"What do you mean by my man?"
Simon turned around and saw the principal and the mayor. He politely bowed. "Principal, Mayor."
The principal nodded without saying anything. The mayor had specifically mentioned that he didn't know the student, so the principal didn't introduce him to the mayor.
In fact, the mayor had already spotted the person he was looking for.
"Oh. You must be the one!" The mayor was so happy that he rushed to Auric.
Auric never really hid his identity, so it was normal for people with enough power and influence to find him. In fact, his information had already been registered at the association's headquarters, so they might already know about it.
Still, as one would expect from the mayor. Being the closest, he was the first to arrive.
As Auric mentioned to Lindwurm previously, he planned to make the Night and Day Evolution Store famous by using his own image. Besides, if he wanted to explore his unknown potential, he should be bold and show enough things to make those people interested.
Hence, Auric politely nodded to the mayor. "Greetings, Mayor. How may I help you?"
"Hmm?" The mayor shifted his gaze downward. "You didn't bring your badge?"
"I brought it, but I'm not working right now, so there's no reason for me to wear it, right?"
"You are certainly correct." The mayor laughed. It looked as if he were pleased with the answer. "To think our youngest master would be so polite."
"Eh?"
"What did he say?"
"Master? But that's the title only for…"
"Evolution master."
"Don't tell me…"
The mayor laughed as he patted Auric's shoulder. "Hahaha. Since you are not working, do I have the opportunity to talk with you, 3-Star Bronze Grade Evolution Master, Auric Elfe?"
The people dropped their jaws as their eyes widened.
"Eh?"
"EEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHH?!"