I am currently walking by myself toward a classroom that I've never visited. I should, have probably. The thing is, it's for Runic Notation 201. When Elder Lioren signed me up for the Class, I thought I'd actually be able to learn something. I did not expect that the Grimoire would provide me such an easy way to learn things without me having to do any work.

That's the part that keeps poking me in the ribs.

I didn't mean to skip. I just… followed the shortest path. The Grimoire showed me a better way to approach Runic Notation and I simply took it

If there had been anything else, I might not have.

Let's be honest, how many people in my shoes would have done otherwise? I almost feel guilty because I was signed up for the class and so I was meant to attend it, so I imagine that the professor must not be happy about me not attending. I get it. It makes sense.

It's just that I just didn't have the time. All this training I had to take care of, Lancelot's training, I had to follow King Baalrek's instructions lately. And I had to also chase down all these infernal skills. Attending Runic Notation 201 was honestly the last thought on my mind.

But now I'm walking through the stone corridors of the academy, and I do understand why Elder Karl told me I have to at least take an early exam. Elder Karl said that the professor is angry that I've been missing all the lectures despite being signed up to the course.

He said that if this had been any other person but me, maybe I could have just dropped out of the class without consequences and me signing up would have been simply scrubbed off the record. But since I'm a champion, and quite the infamous one, that's not the case and that's not what's going to happen.

And so I'm on my way to take the early exam, which consists of just making some Runic notation for a skill. The Runic notation class is made of two parts. There's one part that focuses on the Runic notation itself, which is probably 30% of the course. And the other part, which is about skill analysis.

And it's about trying to find out the inefficiencies and all the troubles that one usually has when trying to level up a skill. It makes sense because those who become masters in Runic notation are also masters in figuring out skills.

And it's not like I wouldn't love to get better at naturally figuring out a skill, but I have the ultimate skill-figuring tome always on hand. And the thing is, I also managed to learn more about figuring out skills because of the grimoire.

I stopped in front of the door and I wrapped my knuckles against it. Elder Karl said to apologize, take the exam, and just move on. That's what I want to do. I just have the feeling that I'm not sure it's going to be that easy.

When I push the door open, the sound of chalk on slate fills the room. The class is already in full swing. Rows of students sit with their heads down, copying symbols from the board.

I blink, surprised—I thought I'd be meeting the professor alone for the exam, not walking into an actual lecture.

The professor, a tall man with sharp features and gray streaks in his hair, lowers the chalk and just stares. He doesn't say a word—he just waits.

My eyes sweep the room for a moment and I see Zibrek. She's got a frown painted all over her face.

Oh, is she taking—

"Jacob Cloud I assume," the Professor says.

* * *

Zibrek Gearlash, the ninth Champion to be chosen in the Generation of Legends, right before the 'Fake' Champion who has just entered the Class, stares ahead.

It has not been a pleasant time since she met her family.

Zibrek doesn't come from a rich, nor noble background.

Her family is quite poor, in fact.

One could say that since they had such a talented daughter, however, their fortunes have already turned for the better.

But with great talents, it comes great responsibility.

And Zibrek's responsibility isn't limited to trying to make as much money as possible for her family—which she has already done in more than one way thanks to her engineering prowess.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

She also has other responsibilities which have been weighing her down.

Being a Champion, however, has opened doors that she had not imagined before.

Professor Halvern now looks at Jacob with as much fury as she's ever seen from the man. It has been mentioned in Class before that Jacob would be punished for thinking he didn't need to follow the course and that he could just skip classes like that.

But I have a favor to ask him, Zibrek thinks.

* * *

"Jacob Cloud, take a seat."

"Oh, I'm here for the test. I thought Elder Karl—"

"Elder Karl informed me. Now, take a seat. It won't hurt you to learn something about Runic Notation. Or do you think I have nothing to teach you?" the salt-and-pepper-haired man looks at me with a challenging look.

"Sure, Professor," I nod, trying not to let any emotion show on my face.

I don't need this nor do I actually think he's got anything to teach me that the Grimoire hasn't taken care of already, but I see no point in trying to offend him any further.

Zibrek waves at me and I go up to her. She asks someone beside her to swap places and, perhaps because she's a Champion, receives no objection.

"Hey," I say under my breath.

"We need to talk," she whispers back.

I gesture at Professor Halvern and she nods back.

As soon there's a little reprieve, we'll chat. I don't want this man to get even angrier at me.

Maybe he's not so back, who knows.

"As I was saying before we got interrupted, today I'll be helping more people individually. I know that you begged me to and that I wanted to give a more theoretical lesson," the man says, sighing almost dramatically. "But I don't have it in my heart not to help you guys."

The classroom suddenly erupts in such thunderous applause that I jump in my seat, taken by surprise.

Professor Halvern looks at me smugly, almost as if saying, and you wanted to skip my class?

"Professor, Professor, choose me!" I see a girl shouting.

"No, me! Me!"

"Professor, I'm almost level seventy in Mana Pool! Please, I need just one more breakthrough in Advanced Mana Pool!"

Hearing the last student, the Professor nods to himself.

"Worry not, students, today I'll be helping three of you!"

At that, there's another round of cheers that almost leaves me deaf.

Is this a classroom or a damn arena?! What's happening?!

I have heard from Elder Karl that Professor Halvern is extremely popular, but never in my wildest imagination I thought that this was what he meant.

Popular? He's more like a star gladiator! What's happening?! Why do they care so much?!

"We're so lucky to have Professor Halvern teaching us," someone says excitedly. "I've never had a class this productive! He's extremely good!"

"Man, since the last time, I already gained three levels in my Gold Ranked Skill! Can you imagine that?! In four days! It'll soon be over level eighty and I'll upgrade it to Platinum! Professor Halvern said he'll be giving me extra tutoring on it during class!"

"Oh man, I've only been blessed once by Professor Halvern! I really need some luck today!"

"What does Professor Halvern does, exactly?" I ask Zibrek.

"He's renowned for being very picky with his students. He only picks students who've shown considerable progress of their own in a Skill. Then, he elevates them even further. He's a minor legend at the Academy."

"Oh, that sounds actually pretty good," I say, scratching my chin. "But why only take those who showed considerable progress?"

"He says it's because those who've never leveled a Skill properly on their own can't really be taught. He's a bit of an elitist in that regard."

"I mean, wouldn't it be the opposite? I imagine it'd be much easier to teach someone how to level up a Skill from level one to level fifty than from level fifty to level seventy. In fact, it feels like it would benefit for the Academy to teach the weakest as much as possible to raise their average level and then have a separate class altogether for the best of them."

"Professor Halvern actually never helps those with Diamond Skills or with Skills above level eighty."

"Why?" I frown. "If he's this good, why wouldn't he teach the actual best?"

I know what kind of a difference it makes to have a Skill at level eight or level one-hundred. It's not a small difference, and, most importantly, it pays dividends down the road. The higher the level of the Skill when you evolve it into a new Rank with a Skill Crystal, the stronger it will be and the higher the bonuses you'll receive.

"I don't know, actually," Zibrek says. "This is how Professor Halvern always worked."

There's something about this whole thing that sounds very suspicious to me, but then I just decide to, once again, ignore it. There's no reason to get involved with this beyond what the Professor wants me to be involved with regarding the test.

"By the way," I say, as the class is still raging. "What did you want to ask me?"

"I've met my family recently. I've had some… troubles. I need a favor."

Zibrek is a usually very private and prideful person. I wonder what's bothering her.

"Sure," I nod. "Whatever is in my power."

"Well, I need you to be my boyfriend," she says with urgency in her voice.

"Pardon me?"

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