novelraw Chapter 59 : Chapter 59
Chapter 59 : Chapter 59
Chapter 59 : Selection
After classes ended, Sal and Divinity put their heads together every evening to devise team strategies.
Tuesday and Wednesday were relatively easy as survival and skill classes mostly covered theory.
Sal sat between Whisper and Nova, which allowed him to pass through another Essence pathway within his body.
He had now reached the eighteenth point.
Passing two more points meant progress, but Essence refining was becoming increasingly difficult.
Still, it was better than being unable to do anything.
And on Thursday, the awaited moment finally arrived.
Since Divinity had already foreseen the team formations, Sal wasn't overly worried about the results.
If any variables different from the future she saw appeared, it would only work to their advantage.
Professor Rust stood in the center of the classroom and called Gerard forward.
Gerard, the lowest ranker in the Silver Cohort, walked out leisurely with an expression as if he owned the world.
A sneering smile filled his face, and he brazenly lifted his chin as he looked around at his peers.
"You must have mulled over various options for team composition for the past few days. What combination are you planning to form a team with?"
Rust asked, gesturing for him to continue.
But Gerard didn't just say student names.
He opened his mouth as if deliberately boasting.
"Since I'm the first in order, I could have formed a complete team if I picked well. But I thought carefully about it. 'What if I just take all the top Attack-type students?' Then our team would have the highest attack power, and I could reduce the number of attackers other teams could take, right?"
He scanned the surroundings as he said that.
It was as if he was choosing prey, not team members.
Rust sighed as if frustrated, and without hiding his disapproving expression, he voiced his honest opinion.
"That kind of team composition won't earn you any points. Moreover, if you meet a Defender-centered team, your weakness might be exploited. Is that strategy really okay?"
Gerard shook his head and pointed into the crowd.
"Volt! You're the first pick."
Sal looked at the student who suddenly appeared next to Gerard.
Dissatisfaction was etched on his face, as if he wasn't pleased with being chosen.
It didn't take long to realize he was the student who handled lightning and was incredibly fast.
Divinity had mentioned him on the first day, and Sal had briefly seen his face at the party.
Some lower-ranking students were upset when Gerard took Volt.
He seemed to be one of the top picks many team leaders had their eyes on.
"Next is Rogue!"
Gerard shouted, pointing to another side of the crowd.
Rust sighed and frowned.
"Call them by their real names."
He turned his head towards the other students.
"This applies to everyone. A hero name is won through effort and perseverance. All of you might get there someday, but not yet."
Gerard rolled his eyes and pointed to the same side again.
"Michael, I choose you."
A student with a slender build walked out to the center with hands in his pockets.
He seemed dissatisfied with Gerard as the team leader, but exchanged a meaningful glance with Volt.
When Sal looked at Divinity with a confused expression, she immediately explained.
"It's Rogue. He has stealth skills and learned martial arts too. He's really good."
Sal nodded and watched the next selection.
"Archer!"
Gerard almost shouted this time, and then added while looking at Rust.
"It really is his name. His last name is Archer."
Rust rotated his hand, urging him to make the last choice quickly.
Gerard pointed to another male student lastly.
"Rodrigo."
He looked at the team he had assembled with a smile.
Two attackers equipped with both mobility and attack power in Volt and Rogue, Archer who excelled in long-range attacks, and Rodrigo who could burn almost anything.
Gerard thought he had formed a perfect team.
Just looking at the expression on his face, one could tell how confident he was.
"Go over there and wait. Next is Harold Gunn. Have you decided who to choose?"
Rust gestured for Harold to come to the center.
His manner of appearance was starkly different from Gerard's.
Harold looked extremely tense under the numerous gazes directed at him.
And the reason soon became clear.
He looked at the team Gerard had formed with a painful expression.
Rust had to lean in to hear the student's whisper, and eventually, an annoyed sigh escaped his lips.
He turned his head and said to the other students.
"Was it so unexpected that someone might take your first pick? Please. Think of several candidates before coming up here. Don't just stand blankly next to me unable to pick anyone!"
Harold wore an expression as if he wanted to disappear right there.
Sal felt pity for him for no reason.
After contemplating for a moment, Harold finally made a decision only after hearing that Gerard had already chosen the 11th, 14th, 18th, and 23rd ranked students in the Silver Cohort.
Without any particular information, Harold picked the 12th, 13th, 15th, and 16th.
Rust looked at him with a dumbfounded face, but Harold welcomed his team members as if nothing was wrong.
His overly simple selection method was oddly endearing, making Sal wish he would do well.
Sal looked at Divinity beside him, and she shook her head firmly.
"Relegation."
The next hour passed quickly.
As all teams were formed one by one, the remaining students gradually decreased.
With each team decided, finding decent choices among the remaining personnel became increasingly difficult, and team leaders agonized over each selection.
And by the time Victoria formed the 14th team, even the remaining decent choices had disappeared.
Seeing a student with Energy Manipulation ability remaining, she chose immediately as if thankful.
This choice caused ripples among other team leaders.
Nova cursed loudly enough to be heard from the other side of the room.
When Victoria chose a Defender type student next, Nova almost screamed this time.
What made all this worse was that Gerard and other lower-ranking team leaders were huddled together laughing at them.
Even though Rust clearly warned them to be polite, they were gleeful seeing the top-ranking students discouraged.
Finally, it was Sal's turn.
Among the remaining students, a few wore apologetic expressions.
Faces as if they knew they would become burdens.
But Sal had already memorized all their faces and profiles.
Smiling brightly, Sal pointed to the first student.
"Blanid."
Rust raised an eyebrow at the fact that Sal knew the student's name.
But the person most surprised was Blanid herself.
She pointed at herself to check if her name was really called, and when Sal nodded, she walked forward awkwardly.
Sal turned back again and pointed to a male student staring blankly at the floor while scratching his bearded chin.
"Anthony."
Anthony opened his eyes wide in surprise and walked out to the center with a smile.
Sal turned his head to the other side of the room and pointed to another person smiling at him.
"Jack."
A short male student with red hair tied up walked slowly to the center.
Sal almost turned a full circle searching for the last student.
Since the remaining students were scattered here and there instead of clustered together, it took time to find him.
Sal noticed the last student's presence only after seeing him almost lying down on a terminal chair as if bored.
"Barry! My last pick. Blanid, Anthony, Jack, and Barry."
Rust watched Sal with an intrigued expression.
"Did you memorize all the students' names?"
Sal wanted to tell the truth but chose a lie immediately.
"Of course. That was the assignment, wasn't it? To figure out all the students in our class."
Rust laughed, shook his head, and turned towards Divinity.
"Now your team is decided too. Team composition method is also reflected in the evaluation, so don't dwell on this process too much."
Rust raised his voice so everyone could hear.
"That's it for today's class. Next time we'll cover basic formations, and if time permits, we'll try weapon selection too! Everyone dismissed!"
Sal looked at Divinity.
She was just exchanging greetings with her team members, and their faces were full of surprise.
Thinking of the hellish training they would undergo, Sal felt a momentary pang of guilt.
***
"Alright, let's hear some excuses!"
Jez laughed and looked around at the gathered students.
"Raise your hand if you haven't earned a single Q-Credit since last time!"
He waited expectantly, and showed no surprise even when more than half the students raised their hands.
Nodding briefly, he opened his palms upwards and said.
"Stand up, keep standing. I know you're still settling in, and this is a chaotic time. So I'll give everyone a benefit. I hope someday someone among you becomes an outstanding student. Prove me wrong."
Jez lifted the corners of his mouth high watching the students stand up.
"Now, let's reorganize the class a bit. Everyone standing, move to the walls on both sides of the classroom. Stand against the wall and listen carefully. You'll be standing throughout today's class, listening to stories of colleagues who actually performed the assignment."
Students exchanged anxious glances with each other.
But Jez laughed with cold eyes and said again.
"Did you all not hear me?"
As students moved quietly, Jez addressed the remaining students.
"Now, I do want to hear the creative excuses from those kids over there... but that wouldn't help you guys. You sitting here are students who earned Q-Credits since last time.... Except Jeremy."
When Jez's gaze turned to Jeremy, the student flinched in surprise.
"I don't know why Jeremy is still sitting. He knows, and I know. You earned nothing, right? What, got confused? Or did you expect I wouldn't check your progress? How about it, Jeremy?"
Jeremy stood up in a startle and moved quietly to an empty space near the wall.
He bowed his head deeply while taking out his tablet, as if believing it would hide him from Jez's gaze.
Jez sighed briefly and pointed to the door.
"Jeremy, I can tolerate failure. Failure follows any worthwhile endeavor. But I can't stand lies. Tell me honestly if your action just now was a misjudgment, or if you tried to deceive me. I have a strong urge to expel you right here and now."
Sal watched this whole situation in shock.
The atmosphere was completely different from the first class.
Jeremy hurriedly began to explain.
He claimed he bought items from the Credit Store and resold them to earn Q-Credits, and that the transaction was only finalized this afternoon.
He took out his Q-Card to show and explained that he had performed the assignment properly.
Then Jez gestured for him to throw the Q-Card, and Jeremy threw the card carefully.
Jez snatched the tossed card with one hand.
Jez looked into the Q-Card and flipped through the ledger on his desk.
Soon a smile spread on his face, and he looked at Jeremy again.
With a flick of his wrist, the Q-Card flew accurately back to Jeremy.
"Go back to your seat, Jeremy. I know how to admit it when I'm wrong."
Sal raised one eyebrow.
Jez turned back to the whole classroom without any apology.
"Now, anyone earned over 100 Q-Credits since last class?"
When a few students raised their hands, Jez pointed to the front row with a pleased look.
"From now on, this class has assigned seating. The front row is for the top performers of this class. Surprise prizes will also be provided based on class participation and outstanding results.... Then next question. Anyone earned over 1,000 Q-Credits?"
Jez said with a laugh.
The entire classroom looked incredulous.
Sal wasn't very pleased with this attention focusing on him, but felt Jez's gaze fixed on him.
"You know I hate liars, Mr. Argento."
Only after Sal reluctantly raised his hand did Jez look around the classroom.
"See? One of you achieved results beyond that. Isn't it amazing?"
Jez's grin widened.
"Then... 2,000 Q-Credits?"
Sal kept his hand raised and didn't look around.
Because giving an impression of showing off would obviously make him a target later.
"3,000 Q-Credits? Wow, Mr. Argento's hand is still up. Okay, let's end the curiosity here. The person who earned a whopping 4,000 Q-Credits alone, the highest record for a freshman in the history of Administration class, is none other than Mr. Salvatore Argento."
Jez laughed broadly and gestured for Sal to look around the classroom.
Sal turned his head expecting jealousy and hostility, but what he met were gazes filled with surprise and wonder.
Jez laughed seeing Sal's surprised expression.
"The purpose of this class is not to call names and humiliate. It's to show what your colleagues can achieve and verify the possibilities! I want to personally praise you for driving the Credit Floor almost to bankruptcy. Rumor has it the appraiser team over there put a bounty on your head?"
When Jez clapped and laughed, students also responded with applause.
Only the students standing on both sides of the classroom stood quietly.
Jez snapped his fingers and raised one hand.
"I didn't know I'd be giving out the tiered prize so quickly.... You deserve it!"