Hunters Academy (6)

As Alex listened to the rules and regulations for students and the penalties for breaking them, he realised how much they mostly revolved around the points system.

The point system determined a student's standing in their class and year group. Xex described how the points system for the first year differed from that of the other year groups.

While it was not explicitly stated, points could be earned by the behaviour a student exhibited in class and on assignments.

And points could be lost when the student exhibits behaviours and actions that the academy disapproves of.

However, the most points a student could earn were awarded at the end of the academic year, when there was a competition for all first-year students.

Students would be tested on various categories and earn points based on their performance. The points requirement for students in Class A differed from those of Class B and below.

If a student in Class A fell below the threshold, they would drop to Class B, in that order. Simultaneously, if a student in Class B performed above their required threshold, they would have the opportunity to move up to a higher class.

However, the points required for that ascension were higher than the passing grade for a student in Class A.

"I see… So, the system is built to make it more difficult to climb up than to remain in your current place," Alex muttered, a pondering look on his face.

[Exactly, climbing up would require twice as many points as students in a higher class, and it's also easy for those in a higher class to lose points and fall if they fail to meet the threshold.]

"Then are there advantages those in a higher class have over the others?" Alex wondered if there were specific benefits, as he had not encountered anything that demonstrated those advantages.

[Yes. For one, the room you have is better than those in the lower classes. Those in Class C and below do not have VR pods, and the mana podium you have is superior to those of lower classes.

[Of course, there are other benefits depending on the situation and what the student says they need.] Xex explained, surprising Alex.

As he was assigned this room upon his arrival, and since there were other dormitory buildings on the academy grounds, he assumed they would be similar.

"I see… while we all aspire to be hunters, not everyone is cut out to be one. And to prove the higher-ups wrong, you'd have to rise from a lower level to show your potential.

"Even with this disparity, there is nothing anyone can do since we are not required to pay any fees whatsoever."

Alex was gaining a deeper understanding of how the academy operated, as none of this information had been previously known to him. Yet, he still wondered if his assumptions were correct.

"Is there another reason for the difference in treatment?"

[What you mentioned, and while the academy didn't give an explicit reason, I can make an educated guess on their reasoning.] Xex prompted, waiting for Alex to give the go-ahead.

"Oh… Do tell?"

[Statistics indicate that most hunters abandon their profession after a few years, opting instead for other jobs that utilise their strength and abilities. Furthermore, the data suggests that low-level hunters, particularly those without significant potential, tend to leave the field.]

Indeed, the data presented before him showed how many hunters quit after a couple of years. Moreover, the death rates of most hunters in that class were higher than those with the most potential.

As Alex understood all this, he recognised how it could explain the disparity in treatment. "But shouldn't those with weaker stats after awakening have as many resources as possible to catch up?"

Even he could see the reason behind the disparity; if those students were given more resources, they might perform better, no?

[Not quite. The problem is their low potential since a person's physical stats upon awakening reflect their potential.]

[The higher the stat at the beginning, the more powerful the hunter. Additionally, those with higher potential hardly face any bottlenecks in their growth. There's a reason there is a threshold for accepting students into the academy.]

Once again, the insights illuminated the inner workings of the hunter's profession. The reasoning ultimately settled the questions he had.

His mind then shifted to the other aspect of the points collection system. "Did the file detail the competition activities?" Alex asked after a while of thinking.

There was no rule stating that one could not stay ahead, and with a fire lit under their asses, one could only prepare in advance.

[Negative. Every year, the competition changes, so students can't have an advantage by preparing in advance. The activities involved in the competition are only disclosed once the time draws near.]

Alex nodded in understanding. This, to a certain extent, eliminated the advantages one could have had. However, it did not stop one from learning about the previous activities their senior had taken. 

"Too bad," Alex sighed. "Do well to compile all the activities that came up in the competition the previous first-years took."

Xex asked after confirming the order Alex gave it, [Copy that. Do you want to go over the curriculum as well, or would you prefer to wait until tomorrow?]

Alexander pondered for a moment with his hand on his chin. Then, gazing out of his window at the darkness of the night, Alex made his decision.

"There's nothing else to do besides going over the files." He stated.

With the mana podium and VR pod inactive, there was nothing much to do besides that or sleep.

[Understood. The first-year curriculum is divided into classroom lessons and combat lessons.]

[As the name suggests, classroom lessons involve being in the classroom and receiving lectures, while combat lessons focus on how to fight beasts and navigate void creatures.]

[Though there are also elements of fighting suited for fights between people, the focus stays on beasts and void creatures.]

Alex examined the two categories before him. The combat lessons were largely self-explanatory. Therefore, he chose the classroom lessons and asked Xex,

"What materials are covered in the classroom lessons?"