40: First Day of School

Early morning as the sun rises. Evangeline had left the room at midnight, she was rather embarrassed if she stayed longer so she left early. Jin slept joyously and filled with satisfaction and waking up with a genuine smile on his face.

"I never thought that the real thing was better than I had anticipated it to be. Who would've thought that my first would be from a gorgeous woman that I could only see on the screen? Come to think about it, I never asked for her name."

Jin took a bath and brushed his teeth. He wore the new uniform given to him since the last one had been tattered to rags and he went down the mansion.

The main floor was very peaceful and the only person around was a tall Caucasian man. He walked down the flight of stairs to meet the Caucasian man and when the man saw Jin, he immediately greeted him by bowing in 90 degrees.

"Good morning master Jin, I will be assigned as your guide to the school and assist you with anything you want."

Jin scanned the man and could sense that he had the level of an A-rank Hunter. His badge showed his title of Gold Level Marquise.

"What's your name?"

"My name is Jacob Clyde Jefferson, I am an A-rank Hunter, Level 73, Class: Blade Drifter. I specialize in close-combat and blade-type weapons. I mainly use twin blades which could be a dagger or a sword but I can still perform exceptionally with two-handed blades."

Jacob responded with a blooming smile on his face as he felt obliged to boast of his abilities.

"I'll call you Jacob, let's talk while we walk to the school."

"P-pardon sir? A vehicle has been parked outside for us to ride, it would be better if we ride a vehicle as the school is a mile away. Walking will just drain our energy."

Jacob said in confusion.

"Nah, I prefer traveling on foot than riding a car. If you don't want to, you can ride the car, I'll just walk to school."

"But you'll be late sir if you walk. School starts at 7:30 am and it's already 6:45 am, if you walk, you'll arrive around 8 am. Riding the vehicle is faster and more comfortable."

Jacob insisted as he explained.

"If you don't want to walk, then I'll ask the questions I need and just give me the coordinates to the class I'll be taking."

"O-okay?"

"My first question is: What are the classes I'll be taking?"

"As a first-year student, the classes you'll be taking are mostly academic subjects. This includes General Knowledge, Dungeons and Portals, and Monsters and Panels. There are also practical classes like Combat Practice, Smithing, Alchemy, and Weapon Training but that is only held 4 times a week since freshmen are meant to learn first before going to actual combat."

"Understood, the 2nd question is: What's the purpose of a rank and how do I increase my rank?"

"The purpose of a title is the privilege it is given. Some places on the campus are only exclusive for entitled students to enter and the benefits you can gain from having a rank depend on your rank level. The badge also serves as authority, prestige, and popularity, that's why students aim for a higher rank.

To increase your rank or title, you must participate in division quests which are given weekly by the school's hunter association. These quests can vary from dungeon hunting, gathering of resources, competition, and many more tasks. You earn points from participating in the quests and the higher your contribution rate, the more points you earn. Usually, a Bronze rank Baron would need 100 points to level up to silver but since in your case which you had not been titled with any rank and in my case is quite odd, you have to earn 1000 points so you can earn a title. You can participate in quest since you are the division's benefactor but most of the quest need requirements to be able to participate."

"I see... Since I don't have any rank and I'm in the royal academy. I'd probably be the odd-one-out and students would probably try to bully and discriminate my status."

"I'm afraid that is most likely. But don't worry, the two Big bosses have already assigned hunters to check on you, if they saw students that will interrupt your peace, they will not hesitate and move in accord."

Jacob calmly explained to Jin.

"That's all that I need. Here." Jin brought out an orange marble and threw it to Jacob. Jacob caught it with his hand and when he saw the marble, his eyes grew wide.

"This! Why are you giving me an Elemental stone? These items don't come cheap! This sells in the market for nearly millions of dollars! Even in the dark market, the cheapest ones can be bought for a million dollars. Why are you giving me such expensive stone?" Jacob was in shock and disbelief.

'I didn't know those stones sell for such a high price, I have a stock filled with elemental stones in a spatial ring, and giving one is not a big deal.'

"Since you said you're a blade master, you can use that enchant your weapon with fire aspect to get that bonus burn effect and damage. It's just my way of thanking you." Jin replied with a smile.

"What did I do to deserve this? I only answered your questions and any students you would ask with the same questions would also give the same answers." Jacob was confused and shocked.

"If you think you're not deserving, then give it back."

"N-no, it's fine. Thank you! H-here are trying coordinates to your class. Please call me if you ever need anything, I'll do the best of my abilities to help you." Jacob smiled in Joy as he carefully placed the Firestone in a safe space which is his spatial inventory.

Ring~

The coordinates were then notified into Jin's smartwatch and with the location shown in the watch. Jin left at a thunderous speed.

"So he wasn't kidding when he said he'd travel in foot."

*************

A minute passed and Jin arrive at the royal academy. It was crowded with students, one glance to a student was enough to tell their wealth as they frankly enough displayed it with pride. From blings of gold to crystals of expensive jewelry, from the attitude they walked and accessories they wore, they boast their riches as to what kind of tycoon they are.

Any student had jewelry they were wearing that included Jin who fortunately was wearing the concealment ring. The ring's design was plain and nothing to flaunt on but it had the shine of pure gold despite having the color of silver.

No one was worth noting among the students around so Jin leisurely walk past them. He checked his watch frequently to make sure he had arrived at the correct destination and sure enough, he had arrived without any problems.

"Class 1-C"

Jin read the words written above the door in the classroom. 1 corresponded to the grade of the student, and C was the section. Although the section was not in proper order, there was still an unwritten ranking with the sections. Depending on how many achievers a section has the rankings could change. The current ranking was B, A, D, C, which puts Jin's section in last place.

Jin went inside the classroom and immediately, he could see the eyes of the students shot straight at him.

"Who is he? Is he a new student?"

"Look, he doesn't have any title, why is he even here? Is he lost?"

"He's wearing the academy's uniform so he's probably not lost."

"No way, how can a royal student not have any title? That's such a disgrace."

"Wait, he looks familiar... Oh! It's that newcomer who beat up Kaze from the 2nd division!"

"Now that I think about it, it is him! It's crazy how he is still alive after doing that."

"Maybe he went in hiding."

"He has three buttons on his uniform so that means he is from the 3rd division. Oh my god, how unfortunate is he? Having no title, starting a fight with a senior, and being in the weakest division and opposing team from the 2nd division? His life must be hell."

"Agreed, it'll only be a matter of time before Kaze's girlfriend finds him."

"Nothing good will happen if we are near him or her."

"Gulp, just recalling her gives me the chills. Hey did you hear about that rumor?"

"What rumor?"

"She had burst into the library and almost ripped off the ear of a student because she had pissed off Kaze."

"Word? Did she do that? How bold of her."

"Yeah, a lot of students saw it and they said that it was such a gruesome sight. Luckily though that the librarian stopped her before she could pull her ear off completely and the girl was fortunate enough to be a healer so she could tend her wounds by herself. I think her name was Ji Rah, and she's a senior from the 1st division."

Jin's eyebrows quivered after hearing their words as he sat down on an empty seat. The seats were lined in rising order, Jin chose the further most seat on the upper right corner where he could watch outside in the window view.

'So she was being harassed and bullied by Kaze's girlfriend. No wonder she was in pain. Ugh, damn it. There are a lot of cruel people no matter where you go and even having the thought of someone doing something like that reminded me of those bastards that torture me. I just, can't hold myself..'

Jin gritted his teeth in frustration. He wanted to let off some steam so badly that his feet had cracked down the ground a bit leaving a small burrow of his shoeprint due to Jin's overbearing pressure. Realizing this, he immediately calm down before he could alert the students around.

'If I see Ji Rah, I should treat her with something good. She's probably still in pain right now even with her injuries fully healed, the scars of mental pain can't be healed with powers alone.'

Jin continued to watch the view from outside while having a deep thought in his head. 7:30 passed and everyone had arrived. There were about 30 students in the class, and only three students piqued Jin's interest.

A red-haired girl and simply observing her, Jin could tell she was a mage. Slim figure, delicate hands, and white skin, she would've been considered a princess of a royal family. She had a Mana core with 2 rings on it that implies her rank being B.

The next one was a muscular guy with a very arrogant demeanor. He was blaring with bully energy and considering he was seated with goons that looked like his lackeys, it was certain that he was the classroom's bully, someone that many would not mess with. His arms had a lot of scars and it was the most reinforced from rough training and Mana enhancement especially his fist which had lots of callouses. His rank was certainly of an Elite B-rank nearing the A-rank tier and his class connected to hand-to-hand combat.

The last one was someone no one could miss. In fact among the entire students here, this guy outshines everyone. With such handsome looks, amazing figures and build, he was an object of envy. A western man in his early twenties that leaves an impression of a handsome playboy yet his body movements showed signs of seriousness and being straightforward. Jin could tell he was a swordsman judging from the thickness of his callous around his hands and very stable movement. He was a man of focus and sheer will. Having the Mana of an A-rank and in his intuition, abilities of an S-rank, he was surely a rising star, a super rookie perhaps.