My System Doesn't Give Power
Chapter 70: The ‘Green Witch’ Matilda II
Matilda looked around the classroom.
"I know what most of you are thinking. ’I’ve fought monsters before and cleared portals, so how different can it be?’"
She shook her head. "Forget that way of thinking. The monsters you’ve fought until now...were nothing more than the weakest of the weak."
"They were little more than stepping stones. But from this point onward...the enemies standing before you will be far more terrifying."
"Ruthless and far more merciless." The classroom grew more and more silent. "And don’t make the mistake of thinking you’ll only be fighting monsters."
"You’ll fight cultists, rogue variants, criminal organizations, and people who have long since abandoned their humanity."
Several students exchanged uneasy looks. "The difference between fighting beasts and fighting people...Well, I think you already know beasts are not intelligent, at least not all of them."
She raised a finger. "Most beasts below A-rank rely almost entirely on instinct. Hunt, kill, survive. That’s all they will think about. Only in very few rare cases that will change."
"Even though some A-rank beasts begin to display noticeable intelligence, only S-rank beasts and above possess true sentience."
She lowered her hand. "But humans are different."
"Every human thinks, plans, lies, and deceives. They’ll exploit your weaknesses and use your kindness against you."
"They’ll even sacrifice their own allies if it benefits them."
"So remember this." She looked every student in the eye. "It doesn’t matter who you’re facing. Never underestimate your opponent."
"The moment you convince yourself you’re superior...is often the moment you die." She smiled faintly. "That single lesson will save your life more times than you can imagine."
After giving the students a moment to absorb her words, she continued.
"Now then, as a variant, your future isn’t limited to one path. There are five major career paths most graduates choose."
She once again held up one finger. "First."
"The Shield: This includes personal security, executive protection, military escorts, and bodyguards for influential individuals, corporations, and major families."
She chuckled. "And for those of you who already belong to those powerful families...Congratulations. You were practically born into this category."
A few students laughed, and the mood became less tense.
She raised a second finger. "Second."
"The Variant Association: You’ll investigate crimes, hunt rogue Variants, suppress dangerous portals, and protect civilian populations."
"It’s one of the most respected professions in the world and kind of like police, only with superpowers."
"Third."
"Ruin Explorer."
Her eyes lit up slightly. "Most of you may have never heard of this profession because only a handful of variants choose this. And for what it is?"
"Not every portal contains only monsters. Some contain the remains of ancient civilizations, forgotten kingdoms, lost laboratories, and ruins left behind by Variants from different worlds."
"Ruin Explorers enter these portals, eliminate any threats inside, map the area, recover artifacts, record everything they discover, and safely return with that information."
"It’s one of the most dangerous careers...and also one of the most rewarding."
"Fourth."
"The Hunter."
"Some variants choose to make a living on their own by clearing portals, hunting powerful beasts, gathering rare materials, and selling them."
"It’s dangerous work, but for talented fighters...it can also be extremely profitable."
Finally, she raised her last finger.
"Fifth."
"The Private Sector."
"This path is especially popular among support-type variants. Blacksmiths, array masters, alchemists, craftsmen, healers, researchers, enchanters, and many others."
She spread her hands. "You may establish your own workshop, start a business, join a corporation, or provide specialized services."
"They may not fight on the front lines, but the contributions they give are as much as anyone else’s."
Matilda looked around the classroom one last time. "These are the five major paths available after graduation. You don’t need to decide today."
"In fact...I hope you don’t." She smiled. "The academy exists so you can discover where you truly belong."
"So give it time and choose the path that suits you when the time comes..."
For many of the recruits. This was the first time they’d truly begun to imagine what life after the academy could look like.
Matilda clapped her hands once. "Now let’s talk about how your first year is structured."
"The first six months will be your training period. During that time, you won’t be taking on any official missions."
"Instead, you’ll learn the fundamentals of becoming a true Variant." She started counting on her fingers.
"Combat, mana control, survival, teamwork, and everything else you’ll need before you’re allowed into the field."
She smiled. "During those six months, the academy will cover all of your basic expenses. Your accommodation, meals, training facilities, everything."
A few relieved expressions appeared around the classroom, but before it could change into a full smile, she added, "Enjoy it while it lasts."
"Because the following six months will be very different."
"Once you’ve completed your initial training, you’ll become eligible to accept academy missions. From that point onward...Your real education begins."
She looked around the room. "At the end of your first year, every mission you’ve completed on the second half of the first year will be evaluated."
"We’ll calculate your overall contribution to the academy, the merit you’ve earned, and your overall performance."
"Based on those results, your first-year rankings will be decided." Several students nodded while mentally taking notes.
Matilda’s expression became slightly more serious. "From your second year onward... The academy will no longer provide anything for free."
"Instead...Merit Points will become your currency."
"If you want food, accommodation, and access to advanced training facilities..."
"You’ll spend merit points."
She paused. "Almost everything inside New Dawn Academy can be obtained with Merit Points. So if you become lazy during your first year..."
She smiled.
"Your second year will be hell on earth." A few students laughed awkwardly.
Matilda folded her arms. "Am I clear?"
"Yes, ma’am!" The classroom answered in unison.
"Good." She picked up a small tablet from the desk and glanced at the class roster. "Now that all the boring explanations are over..."
She looked around the classroom.
"We had 50 students enrolled this year, so they were divided into two classes of 25 each."
A student raised his hand. "But, ma’am... isn’t it over 300 students enrolled this year?"
She nodded. "That’s right. But not all of them were interested in becoming fighters, so only fifty of you were placed in the General Class."
She paused for a moment before continuing. "The remaining students were assigned to different classes based on the type of class they awakened to."
She glanced at the tablet in her hand. "Now, getting back to what I was saying, I don’t have enough time or patience to go through all twenty-five of you. So I’ll just call the top five students in this class."
She looked up at the students with a faint smile. "When I call your name, stand up and introduce yourself."
Her eyes swept across the remaining students. "As for the other twenty, I’ll learn your names if you do something significant enough to get my attention. Understood?"
"Number one. The first student with SS-rank potential in this class, Sabrina Snow."
Sabrina stood up calmly. The moment she did, heads turned across the classroom.
Her icy, expressionless face, pale skin, cherry-red lips, and long silver-white hair framed a pair of piercing blue eyes. Everything about her radiated a cold elegance and beauty.
Just as she was about to introduce herself, her eyes drifted toward Zac, and he let out a huge yawn.
Her eye twitched in anger. "Stupid idiot..." A surge of irritation rose inside her, but she forced it down and kept her composure.
"I am Sabrina Snow, from the Redbeard Union. I possess an SS-rank ice affinity."
That was all. She sat back down without another word, her gaze never once returning to Zac, even though the urge to freeze him solid hadn’t completely disappeared.
Matilda glanced at the tablet again.
"Second, Daniel Martel. First place in the Crown Union country’s entrance exam."
A young man with slightly dark skin and crimson-red hair stood up. His muscular build immediately drew attention, but the aura around him stood out the most. Calm and composed, yet sharp enough to feel like a drawn blade.
"My name is Daniel Martel. I’m from the Martel family of the Crown Union. I am a spearman with a fire affinity, and I also possess SS-rank potential."
He calmly took his seat, but whispers instantly started spreading across the classroom about his family.
But Matilda didn’t give them time to grow. "Third..."
Before she could continue, the blond-haired young man stood up on his own. "I dislike giving beauties extra work. So, teacher, allow me to introduce myself."
He proudly placed a hand on his chest. "Listen well, commoners. Today is your glorious fortune to witness the greatness of Adrian Von Ainsworth."
He spread his arms dramatically.
"For the next four years, I shall be the towering flame that warms this classroom. You may all stand beneath my brilliance and bask in the warmth radiating from my magnificent life."
Matilda smacked her forehead. "Why did I end up with him in my class..."
She let out a sigh and pointed at him. "Can you stop the glamorous act, tell everyone your potential, and sit down?"
Adrian gave a helpless smile. "Since I have already been blessed with unparalleled beauty and irresistible charm, God deemed it unfair to also grant me SS-rank potential."
He sighed dramatically. "So, I was only given S-rank light affinity."
For a long moment, nobody in the classroom knew how to react. Matilda smacked her forehead again. "That’s enough. Sit down."
Adrian gracefully returned to his seat as though he had just finished delivering history’s greatest speech.
"The fourth student is Shobin Shaiji. He possesses the rare shadow affinity and ranked second in the Prime Federation country’s entrance exam."
Both Marty and Zac looked at Shobin in surprise. "I didn’t know he was such a big shot," Marty thought.
Shobin nervously stood up. "My name is Shobin Shaiji. I’m from the Prime Federation. I’m happy to meet everyone, and I look forward to becoming friends with all of you. I also have..."
Matilda looked at him. "You do know you’re not here to make friends, right?"
"Y-Yes, ma’am."
"Good. Keep that in mind."
Shobin quickly sat back down.
"And finally..." Matilda looked directly at Zac. "Zac Delencore. First place in the Eastern Alliance country’s entrance exam."
Zac stood up. "My name is Zac Delencore. I’m from the Eastern Alliance. I’m a swordsman with lightning affinity." He paused for a second and said, "And I have E-rank potential."
"...What?"
"...What?"
"...What?"
The entire classroom turned toward Zac with completely baffled expressions.
[Here we go.]