Changes in Grade Names

Drying his hair, Li Qi studied the young man beside him.

Calling him a young man... didn't seem quite right either. Judging by his face, he couldn't be over twenty.

'Youth' would be a more fitting description.

But his build was a bit stocky, which could easily lead to misunderstandings based on appearance alone.

Still... he said his name was Sean Sweet?

Sweet...

That surname sounded familiar.

While drying his hair, Li Qi racked his brain for where he'd heard that name before.

Then Sean suddenly asked:

"Li Qi... sir, is it? Forgive my boldness, but do you know... know Tonalie? Tonalie Sweet."

"Ah..."

At the name, Li Qi instantly remembered where he'd heard it.

The frontline hospital's First Class Medic, Tonalie—her surname was Sweet.

"I do. Are you her..."

"Sort of like a brother. We grew up in the same orphanage."

Sean answered immediately.

He also realized why the name 'Li Qi' had sounded familiar.

It was because Tonalie occasionally sent him letters from the front, mentioning a very special Squad Leader named Li Qi.

But since she didn't mention him often, Sean hadn't recalled it right away.

"I see."

Knowing Sean's connection to Tonalie, Li Qi nodded and stopped caring.

He wasn't particularly close with Tonalie anyway, since Li Qi wasn't a regular at the Medical Department.

That honor belonged to the playboy Rick in his own squad.

If Rick were here, he'd probably chat Sean up easily, but unfortunately, it was Li Qi.

He could only nod at Sean, then change clothes, lie down on the bed, and pull out a book to read on his own.

Li Qi didn't speak, and Sean sat nearby, unsure what to say, looking very awkward.

Finally, he pulled out his pocket watch to check the time and invited Li Qi:

"Li... Warrant Officer Li Qi, you haven't had dinner yet, have you? Want to grab a bite together? My treat."

Sean figured that since Li Qi was his future roommate and a 'superior' with the rank of Warrant Officer, getting along with him couldn't hurt.

But unfortunately, Li Qi turned him down.

"No need. I've already eaten. Go on your own."

"Th-then... alright..."

Hearing Li Qi's indifferent tone, Sean gave an awkward smile.

After another stretch of silence, Sean turned to unpack his luggage, then left the dorm and headed for the mess hall.

Whether Li Qi agreed or not, Sean still had to eat.

From being sent here in the morning until evening, he'd been chased the whole time without a bite, and his stomach was completely empty.

Lowering his book slightly, Li Qi glanced at Sean's retreating back.

Then he dismissed it and refocused on the pages.

What Li Qi hadn't told Sean was that before showering, he'd not only eaten dinner at the mess hall but also visited the academy's library to borrow a few books.

After all, he was the first to pass the assessment, arriving at the academy several hours earlier than the others, giving him plenty of time to do his own things.

The book in Li Qi's hands now was the Military Academy's Modern Magic Power Explained, prepared for Mage Masters. It was this year's publication, containing more detailed techniques for using magical power and the current international unified terminology for magic users.

According to the book, while Falor and the Uno Kingdom were practically beating each other's brains out, other nations had redefined the terms for magic users.

It used to be knights and mages.

Now they were all called Mage Masters.

Because the essence of both knights and mages was guiding magical power to flow through the body, either could be addressed as a Mage Master.

The ranks had also shifted subtly.

The Tactical Rank title remained unchanged, but the first, second, and third levels of Mage Masters were replaced by Primary, Intermediate, and Advanced. The Title Rank was now also called the Strategic Rank.

Those with titles could use their titles; those without could be addressed as 'Strategic Rank.'

Simple and easy to understand.

At the same time, the book also listed the different names various countries had used for these ranks of Mage Masters in the past, which gave Li Qi quite an eye-opener.

Of course, these were more like miscellaneous discussions, and Li Qi didn't pay them much attention.

The knowledge about the flow of magic power on these pages was what Li Qi truly considered important.

It provided a more detailed explanation of the changes magic power undergoes within Mage Masters at different stages, along with some small techniques for using magic power.

It even gave examples of methods for creating magic and knight skills.

These had once been the 'secret arts' of mages and knights, but now they were being publicly released for free.

As long as someone had a bit of talent in magic power, they could try to create their own unique magic or combat techniques.

Thanks to the inspiration from this knowledge, Li Qi slightly optimized his own technique for concentrating magic power in a specific area.

He made its use smoother.

At the same time, he gave it a simple and easy-to-understand name.

[Concentrated Enhancement].

In an instant, gather a large amount of magic power in one part of the body, strengthening that part's strength and defense.

Combined with the [Magic Entanglement] technique, from now on, even without using a Magic Shield on the battlefield, Li Qi should be able to resist some damage from stray bullets and the like.

But that was about it.

At extremely close range, even with Magic Entanglement, it couldn't block a revolver bullet.

"...The end of magic."

Li Qi sighed to himself.

With the emergence of firearms, the development of magic in this world was probably nearing its end.

After all, the magic of this world didn't touch upon 'soul' or 'spirit'; what they mastered were various elements, all straightforward and direct.

Occasionally, there were some suggestive magics, but they were easily broken by certain medical drugs.

Thus, the living space for mages was being further compressed.

And this was just the beginning.

Having experienced three modern societies, Li Qi knew very well what the world would become after the invention of the steam engine.

Trains, cars, airplanes, tanks...

Once electricity appeared, the role of Communication Magic would also be replaced by the telegraph and telephone.

As civilization developed, everything magic could do would be replaced by technology, and in the end... magic would gradually decline.

Li Qi seemed to be able to foresee that future, but he was powerless to change it, and he didn't want to change it either.

There was no helping it; this world was ultimately a Low-Magic World.

Magic gradually fading from people's sight was a necessary part of the changing times. All Li Qi could do was learn as many magical techniques as possible that might be completely lost before magic fully exited the world stage.

Placing the book "Modern Magic Power Explained" on the desk, Li Qi turned off the Magic Lamp.

Although it wasn't too late yet, tomorrow was the day Li Qi would enroll.

Based on Li Qi's experience on the front lines, the academy's instructors might pull some tricks on their group of transfer students.

So he needed to rest early, conserve his energy, and be well-prepared for tomorrow's training.

Well, the reality was a bit different from what Li Qi had imagined.

The next morning, although there was indeed training, it wasn't the kind of 'hazing' training Li Qi had thought they, as 'new recruits,' would receive.

Instead, it was just the routine morning drill.

But then again, maybe this was the normal state of affairs.

After all, this was the Royal Capital's Military Academy, not a frontline barracks.

Li Qi and the others weren't green recruits; they were Non-Commissioned Officers with Military Ranks, and some were even nobles. Only a fool of an instructor would think about pulling tricks to 'mess with' their group of new students.

Li Qi and the other ten transfer students, having joined the school mid-term, were first formed into a separate class.

Only after this Final Assessment would they be reassigned to new classes based on their results.

But...

Why were there still ten people?

Wasn't it said that only three people had passed the assessment?

Standing in the class formation, Li Qi sized up the others besides Sean, pondering to himself.

That meant passing or failing didn't actually affect their enrollment...

So what exactly was Lieutenant Bolent's 'assessment' testing?

Thanks to 'Your Lovely Wild Dad lhh' for the Qidian Coin tip, thank you!