novelraw Chapter 54 : Chapter 54
Chapter 54 : Chapter 54
Chapter 54 : Risk
Professor Lombardi held the students back even after class time.
Thanks to that, a significant portion of lunch time was reduced, but few people cared.
Students poured out of the classroom with excited expressions, comparing each other's experiences.
When class ended, the barrier disappeared, and the students returned to their original groups.
Divinity, thoroughly annoyed, returned to Sal's side.
It was easy to tell why she was annoyed without even having to think hard.
"Did you get the hang of Essence Control with Professor Lombardi's help?"
Sal asked cautiously, preparing to change the subject immediately.
She shook her head quietly.
That alone was answer enough.
Sal couldn't believe someone as capable as Divinity was struggling.
But without the help of Nova and Whisper, he himself would have been the furthest behind in the class when it came to Essence Refining.
Wanting to figure out a method together, Sal asked her if she had found a training method suitable for her from seeing the future.
However, that question unexpectedly drew a sharp look from her.
"Not everything is solved by seeing the future, Sal. If I keep relying on my ability like that, I won't learn anything."
There was an edge to her words.
As soon as she finished speaking, she closed her eyes and continued in a slightly softer tone.
"I'm sorry, Sal. I'm not angry at you. I'm angry at myself."
Sal wasn't offended at all.
"I also got stuck immediately when I first tried Essence Refining. I was only able to pass a few thanks to Whisper and Nova's help. Amplification and Body Manipulation, their chemistry was really no joke. So maybe I also skipped training by borrowing others' abilities?"
Sal shrugged and laughed, but Divinity looked at him with somewhat firm eyes.
"That's different from what I said, Sal. I mean I'm losing the opportunity to be mentally tempered. If I keep seeing the future and avoiding things, at some point, there won't be any grit left inside me. And then if I can't use my ability in a truly critical situation? What can I, as just Divinity, do? You heard Professor Lombardi. Pay the price now with effort, or pay a bigger price later on the battlefield. I don't want to skip during training and endanger someone's life later."
Divinity's tone was firm, and Sal had absolutely no intention of arguing further.
On the way to the cafeteria, Sal wanted to lighten the mood a bit but couldn't think of a way.
Divinity still looked visibly annoyed at her own performance, and Sal knew that whatever he said in this situation would be difficult to convince her.
The two walked in silence, nodded lightly in front of the line to get trays, and parted ways.
Dave was waving from the other side of the cafeteria, so Sal reluctantly raised his hand in response.
A few minutes later, Sal reached about the middle of the serving line.
One weary-looking staff member looked at him, silently put a steak on his plate, and let out a long sigh.
"Please, try something else next time."
Sal burst into laughter at this small ritual repeated every day.
In the next section, he got vegetables, and for his drink, he chose sparkling water.
Coming out of the line, Dave had moved seats and was sitting with a small group.
Sal wondered if that was a signal that he could sit somewhere else.
However, seeing Dave's gesture, he sighed and headed toward the table.
Looking around, Sal saw Divinity sitting with a few people focusing on her meal and thought he would talk to her again later.
"Sal!"
Dave's voice rang out.
They were within visible distance of each other, and even though Sal was already walking over, Dave went out of his way to loudly announce his arrival.
Then he pointed a finger at the person sitting across the table.
"This is Evan!"
Sal frowned, searching his memory, then suddenly remembered who it was.
"Are you the kid who said he could use teleportation?"
Evan nodded and continued eating his vegetables.
His demeanor made it clear he had absolutely no desire for conversation with Dave.
Dave asked Sal with a curious look.
"But what about you? Did you think he was a boy or a girl?"
Sal stared blankly at Dave with a look of disbelief. But unexpectedly, Evan stepped up to defend Dave.
"It's okay. It happens often."
Having said that, Evan smiled, lifted his tray, and nodded.
"Thanks."
With those words, Evan teleported to the other side of the cafeteria in an instant.
Dave shook his head side to side watching Evan leave.
"Hey, I think you startled Evan. You really need to work on your social skills."
***
Professor Rust only opened his mouth after checking that the red light above the door had turned off.
"Looks like everyone learned enough last time. No latecomers today. There will be no extra training!"
Sighs of relief spread among the students.
However, Professor Rust didn't let the atmosphere loosen up.
"You have fought using abilities against each other, and without abilities. I evaluated your combat capabilities, but there is a separate reason why I made you do those two trainings first. It was to let you see each other's strengths and weaknesses directly. The reports you submitted will be very useful for the assignment coming up at the end of this month."
At that moment, virtual screens popped up on both sides of the cube.
The screens were displaying the rankings of the Silver Cohort.
"For fairness, I judged that giving difficult scenarios is the best way to test the top-ranking students. On the other hand, I thought it necessary to give opportunities to lower-ranking students as well. What you see now is the current leaderboard."
1. Divinity Khan
2. Salvatore Argento
3. Dominic Walters
4. Lucia Hernandez
5. Christopher Gage
6. Evan McGregor
7. Victoria Chase
8. Michael Welling
9. Xander Michaels
10. Zachary Lowe
Sal noticed Nova staring intently at him from across the room.
She held up two fingers with an expression asking if he was really 2nd place.
At that reaction of disbelief, Sal felt a subtle sense of smugness.
He smiled slightly and held up four fingers, showing an expression that her ranking was also quite impressive.
Nova seemed satisfied with that, grinned, and turned her head back to Professor Rust.
Professor Rust walked slowly around the cube and continued his explanation about the event at the end of this month.
"...as heroes, that is! But to do that, you must first learn how to cooperate as a member of a team. We don't deploy individuals on monster extermination missions. We move in squad units that can complement each other's abilities. Letting you see each other's abilities for the past week was for you to experience directly and explore what combinations would create synergy or what strategies would be effective. Of course, it's okay even if you found nothing. Team formation is this Thursday."
As murmurs arose among the students, Rust raised his voice.
"Each team will consist of groups of 5. And a team leader will be assigned to each team, and this team leader will take on the role of Controller on the spot. We plan to evaluate not only the team leader's leadership but also the entire team's performance and individual contributions."
Professor Rust continued his explanation slowly.
"The team leaders have already been decided. They are the top 10 and the bottom 10."
At those words, dissatisfaction spread among the middle-ranking students.
From their perspective, they were being deprived of an opportunity for no reason.
"Now, the next announcement might change the atmosphere a bit! Each team leader will directly choose their four team members from within the same Cohort. However, the order starts from the lowest ranker. In other words, the current Cohort 1st place, Divinity Khan... must accept the remaining four people after everyone else has chosen. Salvatore chooses second to last, Dominic third to last... and so on."
91. Trent Gold
92. Whisper Ding
93. Con Lafleur
94. Marta Virgo
95. Borja Diez
96. Sanna Sinervo
97. Jenny Stravos
98. Crypto Daniels
99. Harold Gunn
100. Gerard Kilsey
Professor Rust pointed to the screen.
The changed order was now reflected on it.
"Now, let me make this very clear once again. The Cohort's lowest ranker, Gerard, chooses team members first. After he picks four people he likes, then Harold, then Crypto, then Jenny... the order continues like this. In the end, Divinity Khan has no choice but the remaining four people after everyone capable of being chosen has been selected."
As he expected, the classroom began to buzz.
The lower-ranking students were noticeably excited, while most of the top 10 couldn't hide expressions mixed with dissatisfaction and annoyance.
Professor Rust waved his hand to draw the students' attention again.
"If you want to get good results in this event, you'd better research the candidates you want and talk to them directly within the next few days. This will also be an opportunity to test your scouting abilities together. Because you have to judge for yourselves who will be useful to the team. Gathering only powerful combatants might look good... but what about defense? Mobility? Healing? These are all factors to consider. Make sure to reread the combat reports submitted last week!"
Sal quietly looked toward Divinity.
She was staring at the screen with an emotionless face.
Sal didn't know what emotion he should feel.
Since he intended to drop the combat module immediately after the first semester ended anyway.
He had no intention of receiving outstanding grades in this class, and frankly didn't feel the need to.
But for those like Nova and Divinity aiming for the Savior Class, this was practically a despairing disaster.
Sal cautiously turned his gaze to look at Nova standing on the other side of the classroom.
She wasn't in as worst a situation as Divinity.
Because she had room to choose team members from among 16 people.
Even so, Nova's face had turned red and she was glaring sharply at Professor Rust.
As if he sensed that hostility, Professor Rust threw out another piece of shocking information.
"Performance in combat will be reflected in your ranking within the Cohort. And that means it affects the overall ranking as well. There is scheduled to be a complete readjustment of rankings at the end of this month, so I hope everyone does their best!"
His smile didn't reach them at all.
Everyone except the bottom 10 was inwardly resenting Rust.
Sal turned his gaze to look at the unpleasant male student he had encountered in the restroom on the first day of school.
Since he was 2nd from the bottom in the entire academy, his name must be Gerard.
Only one person, the student who had attacked Sal, was below him.
But such a person now had the authority to choose team members first in the entire class.
Unlike his usual despairing expression, Gerard was wearing a shameless smirk.
If there was one consolation, it was that Whisper could choose 9th, so she was in a not bad position.
Sal looked toward Divinity again.
She was still staring blankly at the screen.
Sal began to wonder if he should have a conversation about a strategy where she picks a desired talent from the last 8 people, and he takes someone she doesn't pick.
At that moment, Professor Rust flinched slightly and continued speaking once more.
"Now, there might be students who don't like this class that much... or people who are here unavoidably simply because it's a required subject for the first semester. I know many Supporter types are included. But this event happening at the end of this month is really important. Everyone will fight each other, and the top 6 teams will compete against other Cohorts. On the other hand, the bottom 6 teams will enter elimination matches against other Cohorts."
Professor Rust looked around the classroom, examining the students' reactions one by one.
"Looking at past records, most students belonging to the bottom teams in this training didn't make it past the first semester. Don't forget why this class is mandatory. You are currently learning the basics of teamwork. If you still don't sync with your team members at all even after going through numerous battles together, it also means you don't fit with this academy. Conversely, if cooperation is possible but the team composition itself was bad? That's a different problem. What you need to focus on now is the combat reports submitted last week. You can exchange reports with each other, or share information if you want. If you have questions, you can ask me, but the real start is Thursday. Selection will begin on that day."
Having said that, Professor Rust finished speaking, giving students time to talk freely.
The top and bottom 20 team leaders were currently experiencing emotions mixed with confusion and excitement.
Some were elated with tremendous anticipation, while others were sunk in deep self-reproach.
And without fail, sarcasm began to fly from the lower ranks toward the upper ranks.
Sal couldn't tell who spoke first, but he heard it clearly.
"You can't buy a good team with Q-Credits!"
Laughter burst out among the students, and another remark was thrown.
"Why didn't you run a bit slower back then?"
Even as this mockery continued, Professor Rust didn't deliberately stop it.
Some mockery targeted their money and background, and some words disparaged their appearance.
Going further, vulgar words came out suggesting they should use their looks to recruit team members.
Nova was furious as if she would lunge at any moment, and someone barely held her back.
Just then, Divinity quietly approached Sal's side.
Sal smiled and said to her.
"Sorry about earlier."
But Divinity shook her head and didn't respond immediately.
Instead, she stared straight at the bottom 10 of the Cohort.
"No need to apologize. You didn't do anything wrong. In the Skill class, I'm going to compete only with my mind and body. But in this class? I'm going to mobilize every means available to crush those guys."
She sent a fierce look toward the mocking students, and the sneering grew louder the more she did so.
Then she looked at Sal again with serious eyes and said.
"To do that, I need your help."
Sal didn't hesitate for even a second.
His gaze was fixed on Gerard's face, who was mocking him.
"Of course. I'll do whatever is needed."