Repeating a Year and the Pioneers

Time passed quickly. The freshmen had already been enrolled for nearly half a year, and a few months were enough for newcomers to become familiar with the academy's environment.

The campus was especially noisy today, mainly because of one person.

Anyone who lived at the academy could not avoid hearing about him.

Whether they knew him or not, his name often reached their ears.

Borne Ioulaum!

Giles Academy's strongest "chief student."

Yes, even though Borne had not participated in the ranking matches for a long time, he still bore the title of chief student!

As a student, he had directly changed the academy's rules. It was hard not to know such an extraordinary figure.

Especially after Borne single-handedly cleared the Arcane Society, he had become a campus "legend." Every year, quite a few overconfident "rookies" tried to challenge that record.

A year's "chief student" was no longer anything remarkable. Clearing the Arcane Society and repeating a year was the romance of the "strong."

In everyone's eyes, "repeating a year" was not a punishment, but a reward.

As everyone knew, Giles Academy had a five-year program. No matter how well one studied, after graduation they would be assigned to the Military Department or various posts. There was no such thing as "repeating a year."

Being able to "repeat a year" also meant enjoying the academy's benefits and resources for another year. That was why the positions for staying at the academy as teachers were fought over every year.

Thus, "repeating a year" had become an option for many people. Of course, those capable of clearing the Arcane Society did not care whether they could repeat a year. They simply wanted to show themselves!

Extraordinary power belonged to oneself, and everyone longed to become strong. The academy held competitive rankings every year. What had originally been a rather harmonious atmosphere had turned into something else after Borne set a bad example, with private sparring matches increasing severalfold.

For this reason, the academy's medical department had expanded to nearly a hundred people. A priest was even stationed at the school year-round to prevent casualties caused by delayed treatment.

Although the frequency of "fights and brawls" at the academy had risen, the upper ranks seemed intentionally indulgent. As long as one was not caught by the Enforcement Squad, it was fine. If caught, however, the punishment remained the same.

This had caused the Arcane Society's Enforcement Squad to become a firefighting crew.

Not every student could be like Borne, receiving Enlightenment before enrollment, private instruction from all kinds of scholars, and guidance from high-ranking Arcanists.

Even the heirs of great noble houses could not enjoy such treatment. Every generation of a noble family had a dozen or twenty descendants, with several ranked heirs, and those rankings were not fixed. It was not merely competition among peers; several generations fought together for the position. The competition was brutally fierce.

Without displaying absolutely outstanding talent, it was basically impossible to receive the family's full support.

They all enrolled together and studied together. The first two or three years were fine, with everyone roughly at the same level. But by the fourth year, some people could turn their talent into strength and quickly widen the gap.

That was why the president of the Arcane Society had always been the fifth-year chief student. But after Borne single-handedly cleared the Arcane Society, that tradition had also been broken.

"Student Borne Ioulaum!"

A figure blocked Borne, who was sunbathing.

The magical backlash had kept Borne shut away in his underground laboratory for more than half a year. Although the Weave had helped him recover, there were still some lingering aftereffects.

Even torn muscles and broken bones took a hundred days to heal, let alone mental damage caused by magic.

Borne discovered that sunbathing actually aided his recovery. The effect was only a tiny trace, so faint that he would not have sensed it if his mental power had not once been damaged, but it still piqued his curiosity. That was why he came out to bask in the sun every day.

But continuous sunbathing was not always effective. For example, now that the weather was getting warmer, it stopped working after less than forty minutes. He had specifically chosen mornings and evenings, experimenting when the sun was about to rise or set. The required time varied, and in order to let the system collect more data, Borne had "sunbathed" all over the academy.

Could this be like what the experts from my previous life said—that sunlight promotes vitamin D synthesis, helps calcium absorption, and can prevent and treat osteoporosis?

But as Borne gradually "recovered," the effects of sunbathing grew weaker and weaker.

There's too little data. The main problem is the lack of theoretical support!

Though Borne appeared to be lying there, he was actually conducting data simulations with the system Chip the entire time.

With the system Chip, as long as actual experimental operations were not involved, Borne no longer needed to confine himself to the laboratory. His hands were completely freed, and he saved a considerable amount on paper and quills.

"A woman?"

Borne opened one eye and glanced over.

He had known someone was approaching. While collecting data over the past few days, many people had approached him with all sorts of motives, and he had dismissed them all.

Those who came to challenge him were taught a lesson!

Those with other intentions were directly hypnotized into instant public humiliation.

Using mental magic such as hypnosis on students violated academy rules, but the Arcane Society's Enforcement Squad could not beat Borne. As long as no serious consequences resulted, even reporting it to the academy's upper ranks would accomplish nothing. They might even be reprimanded instead.

Borne had thought it was another "tea girl" trying to latch onto him. He sighed softly and slowly rose to his feet.

Hm? Arcane Society clothing, red hair... What an intense fire-element aura!

Eh, this insignia?!

"Lisper... President?"

The Chip quickly provided the information. "What instructions do you have?"

Lisper was somewhat surprised. She had not expected Borne, such a famous figure, to recognize her.

Borne smiled. "The Shamsuddin Legion is our Lehman Trading Company's largest client. One can never know too much about a client like that. Please convey my greetings to Lord Hussein!"

"Since that is the case, this client has a small matter to discuss. Would Mr. Borne be available?"

"Of course, of course. Clients are God!"

"God?"

"Oh, it means the most esteemed guests of our trading company. President, there is no need to worry about such details. Shall we find somewhere else to sit?"

President Lisper swept her gaze over the surroundings. Seeing more and more people gathering to watch, she frowned, then nodded.

The two headed to the rest area. Their powerful "auras" drew frequent looks from many people along the way.

Fortunately, the academy's students still had some manners and did not follow them.

They found a secluded spot and sat facing each other. Borne raised a hand and tapped the table, and a small soundproof barrier instantly unfolded.

Lisper's pupils contracted slightly, though her expression remained unchanged.

"I never expected Giles Academy's strongest chief student to excel not only in the arcane arts, but also to be so skilled with barriers. No wonder the coast has been listed as a forbidden zone by so many students."

"Oh, a forbidden zone? What are you talking about? I, Borne Ioulaum, have always been kind to others and never take the initiative to stir up trouble. Those are all slanders from people who envy and resent me!"

President Lisper: ...

Looking at Borne's righteous expression, if she had not personally seen this fellow massacre his way through everyone three years ago, she might almost have believed him.

"Also, I paid for the coastal cliff area. Let me make this solemn declaration: I have rented that place. Until I leave the academy, it belongs to me. It is private property, sacred and inviolable!"

"The academy has records of it, President. You have to testify for me!"

Lisper secretly frowned. She had not expected Borne to be so difficult to deal with. No wonder he had expanded the Lehman Trading Company to that extent in just a few years.

"Enough, Borne Ioulaum. There is no need to keep beating around the bush. Let us get straight to the point!"

She then took out a stack of papers and placed them before Borne.

Borne glanced over them. They were all records and documents.

"These are records of private matches held in violation of regulations within the academy this year. There have been 135 cases in total, resulting in 73 minor injuries, 31 serious injuries, and three people who nearly died after almost being directly struck by magic. These are the names of the injured and the compensation lists."

President Lisper briefly explained, then took out another sheet. "This is the academy's record of violations over the past ten years. Combined, they do not even equal the past half year!"

Borne raised a brow, leaned back, and crossed his arms. "President Lisper, I think you have the wrong idea. Managing disciplinary violations is not within my line of business!"

"I know. That is why I am formally inviting you to join the Arcane Society!"

"You are not the first person to invite me. Forgive me..."

"Do not rush to refuse. Let me finish explaining the conditions!"

Heh, this is interesting.

Borne gestured for the president to continue. He also wanted to see what bargaining chips this new president had that made her so confident she could persuade him.

"The Arcane Society's research room will be open to you."

The research room was essentially the Arcane Society president's private laboratory. At Giles Academy, aside from upper-ranking officials at the vice-principal level, only teachers and scholars who had made major contributions to the academy could have their own exclusive laboratories.

Borne's situation was different. He had exploited a loophole in the academy's rules, and even had to build his laboratory himself.

The research room had been built by the academy, but that was not the most important thing. The most important thing was the materials inside. Every previous president had been the chief student of their year, and when leaving office, they left copies of the research materials from their academy years for the next president. This had become an Arcane Society tradition.

Members of the Arcane Society could exchange their contributions for varying lengths of access to read inside.

Because the research room was "private" in nature, it did not require points. As long as the owner—that was, the president—agreed, one could enter.

That was why so many people were eager to join the Arcane Society. Not everyone had as many points as Borne to spend at the Wizard Tower library.

The Arcane Society research room was also known as a "small private library."

In truth, Borne had long been interested in that research room. But after his relationship with the Arcane Society had dropped into negative territory, that thought had died.

Open the research room to him?!

Borne immediately sensed that something was wrong.

"Not enough. Still not enough!"

"Authorization to borrow the Nether Scroll!"

Upon hearing about authorization to borrow the Nether Scroll, Borne instantly became much calmer.

If there was still anything in Nether that Borne had always coveted, then the [Nether Scroll] would certainly be his first choice!

"I will give you my authorization to borrow the Nether Scroll this year," Lisper said flatly. "I know you have many points. As for how much you can read, that will depend on whether you have enough points!"

"Why?"

Borne stared unblinkingly at the woman before him, as though reassessing her.

This was no longer an invitation to join the Arcane Society. She was practically giving the Arcane Society to him.

"Starting this year, the academy will begin assigning off-campus missions to upper-year students."

"Off-campus missions?"

"Yes. Leaving the academy and Seventon. They are called missions, but they are actually more of a form of training."

President Lisper said, "The academy will assign missions to the Arcane Society. For the first round, each department head of the Arcane Society will take the lead. Afterward, department heads will lead the members under them, and then..."

"After that, it will become an old-leading-new model, spreading off-campus missions throughout the entire academy!"

Borne smiled and teased, "So you are pioneers. My apologies, my apologies..."

"Crabs" were not so easy to eat. You never knew what kind of mood the first person to eat a "crab" had been in. Sometimes, the "crab" might not actually be a crab; it might be a brightly colored mushroom instead!

"Enough joking."

Borne turned serious. "I still do not understand. Why?"

This was the second time Borne had asked that question.

Lisper stood up, looked directly at Borne, and smiled faintly.

"I am the president of the Arcane Society!"

In an instant, a similar figure overlapped with Lisper's.

Bonds? Or perhaps friendship, responsibility...

Though Borne had always resisted it inwardly, that did not stop him from appreciating it.