After class, Shulim did not choose to visit a dessert shop to get a sugar boost, but instead walked toward the Great Library.
She silently calculated the credits she had earned.
“I've finally met the requirements...”
Manacos possessed many valuable resources. Because they were so precious, they couldn't be handed out freely to every student, which gave rise to the course credit system.
Students could redeem their credits for things they wanted, such as private tutoring, magic items, and even top-tier knowledge.
There were many ways to earn credits. Every month, the academy allocated a certain number of credits to each student, with the amount varying by class. For instance, the Special Class received significantly more credits each month than other classes. Another method was academic performance, where credits were awarded based on rankings, though those were typically only given at the end of the school year, which Shulim had no way of obtaining yet.
In addition, Manacos would post various missions, such as working as a teaching assistant or cultivating potion ingredients. Any student who met the criteria could take them on, and the reward was naturally credits. Finally, there were teaching rewards. Each professor had a set allocation of teaching rewards they could distribute to outstanding students.
Through her savings over the past few months, which included the basic credits from the Special Class, teaching rewards, and a few missions she had taken on during this time, Shulim had finally amassed the target amount of credits.
Before long, Shulim arrived at the Great Library.
This time, she did not stop in the outer area but headed straight toward the inner section.
The Great Library was divided into two areas: the outer and the inner. All materials in the outer area were open and free for anyone to browse, while the inner section contained highly important resources that required credits to access or study.
“Ding—!”
Placing her student ID against the sensing magic circle, the barrier on the inner section's gate deactivated, and the heavy doors slowly slid open.
Shulim retrieved her student ID and walked inside.
As soon as she entered, the doors closed behind her, and the deactivated magic circle lit up once more.
Looking around, the inner section of the Great Library was sparsely populated. A significant portion of those present were academy faculty and staff, while the remaining students were mostly upperclassmen. At this moment, they were all standing on floating discs, drifting through the air of the library.
Shulim walked to the end of a bridge that looked like it had been broken off.
Whoosh—!
A floating disc flew over, stopping right in front of the broken bridge.
Shulim stepped onto it and entered the command for her destination.
Hum!
The floating disc lifted her up and flew toward the upper levels.
The inner section of the Great Library was entirely three-dimensional. Books and documents were arranged along the towering walls, accessible only by flying up.
Navigating past several pillars made of countless books, the disc beneath her feet came to a stop in front of a wall lined with volumes.
Shulim took out her student ID and tapped it against the sensor in this section.
“Ding—!”
The magic circle enveloping the area glowed with blue light before deactivating. At the same time, her credits were entirely deducted.
Shulim examined the books before her.
“Which spell should I start learning first...”
“Hmm, fire magic is probably best after all.”
Shulim reached out and pulled down a book detailing Fourth-Tier Fire magic.
Having obtained the book she wanted, Shulim did not stay there to read. There were many study rooms in the inner section that were free to use. Furthermore, each door was fitted with a magic circle, ensuring she wouldn't be disturbed, so she could choose one to read at her own pace.
The disc beneath her feet moved once more. As Shulim departed, the magic circle protecting the Fourth-Tier magic book section reactivated.
She didn't have to worry about accessing the books next time. Now that her credits had been deducted once, this area was permanently open to her. She could come back to browse these books whenever she pleased—though this was strictly limited to the Fourth-Tier magic section. To access books in other sections, she would have to spend credits again.
Additionally, taking any books out of the inner section was strictly forbidden...
Hum—!
The disc docked at a skyway four stories above the ground.
Shulim stepped onto the skyway, and the disc, having completed its task, drifted away.
Halfway across the skyway, Shulim came to a stop.
Clack, clack, clack...
At that moment, the skyway beneath her feet began to rotate. Before long, it shifted directions, connecting to another corridor.
Shulim walked across. The nearest study room was just ahead.
“...So, regarding that ruins investigation project, what do you think, Principal?”
“Professor Dez, you're the expert when it comes to ancient ruins. I'll leave the decision to you...”
“Putting that aside, do you have any other suggestions regarding the plan to elevate our younger teachers...?”
“Oh, on that note, I actually have a few suggestions...”
Further down the corridor, two figures were walking slowly, engaged in deep conversation.
“Principal Holstin, Professor Dez, hello!”
As she passed them, Shulim greeted them politely.
“Oh, hello there! Ah, Student Shulim? Are you headed off to study?”
Professor Dez immediately recognized her as a student from his Magic Formations class.
“Yes, I'm on my way now.”
“My, how diligent! Heading straight to the Great Library right after class. Excellent, excellent!”
Professor Dez looked at Shulim with admiration.
Just then, Holstin noticed the book in Shulim's hand.
“Ho... Student Shulim, have you already reached this stage? It seems we truly did not misjudge you when the school year began...”
Hearing Holstin's words, Dez also noticed the book Shulim was holding.
“Oh! I see. Student Shulim, are you already preparing to step into the Fourth-Tier?! As expected of our most talented student...”
“Um...” Shulim was slightly confused by their words. Why were they so certain she was preparing to break through to the Fourth-Tier? Couldn't she just want to study Fourth-Tier magic ahead of time? “Principal Holstin, what do you mean by that?”
Hearing this, Holstin and Dez exchanged a smile.
Then, Holstin smiled and explained, “Student Shulim, in truth, as early as the entrance exam, we already knew your strength had reached the peak of C-Class.”
Shulim was slightly surprised, but she quickly came to her senses.
It wasn't surprising that someone had seen through her true level during her performance back then. After all, both Ilus and Zargin had easily read her true strength. How could Manacos, which boasted multiple A-Class powerhouses and numerous B-Class powerhouses, fail to do the same...?
“It really makes one quite emotional...”
Holstin stroked his long, white beard, looking at Shulim with a touch of gratification in his eyes.
“...To think back then, your ancestor, Orubet Hayeral, was also so phenomenally brilliant. I never expected that today, over three hundred years later, an offspring so strikingly similar to him would emerge.
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