Chapter 775: Week 12–13 PvP: Lowerclassmen’s Revolt (1)

I had already been thinking of going to the entertainment district soon anyway.

Rather than blindly repeating training and more training nonstop, taking breaks in between would be more efficient in the long run.

As the driver of the Kim Ho Bus, I also needed to strengthen my relationships with the passengers.

However, if we had to secure the [Mystery Book] too, there were a few things to consider.

First it has to be there before we can go get it or whatever.

The game center prize list was updated randomly every week, and the [Mystery Book] appeared relatively rarely.

Only once since the start of this year.

Judging by the trend, it was about time for it to show up again.

I also need to check the types of minigames.

The number of participants would vary depending on the event.

Whether it would be just two people, like <Weapon Master>, or four or five, like <Choice Labyrinth>, or possibly even more.

There are events outside the game center too.

But cases where the reward was the [Mystery Book] were still uncommon.

Therefore, I decided to keep checking the entertainment district’s situation whenever I had time, then set a detailed schedule sometime next week or the week after.

Speaking of items, we still have random boxes left too.

[Rabbit Watchmaker’s Random Box(A+)]*4

[Rabbit War Random Box(A)]*1

Seo Ye-in was still suffering from her penalty, so we had not had a chance to open the boxes.

It did not apply when she used super finishers or Finichips in the inner world, but using them in dungeons alone had made her unlucky for days.

No need to rush.

Even if we got clock parts now, we had nowhere to use them.

After all, we would not meet the crow seamstress until the next raid week anyway.

So I decided we would wait on the random boxes too, until Lucky Charm herself gave us the sign.

I spent the rest of raid week helping my group with their challenge quests while also training myself.

[‘Snow Wall’ increases in rank. (C→B)]

[‘Shift Blink’ increases in rank. (C→A)]

[‘Wind Barrier’ increases in rank. (B+→A+)]

[Snow Wall] had now reached the same rank as [Ice Wall], successfully replacing it completely.

In effect, I had gained one copy slot I could overwrite.

[Shift Blink] had grown at a terrifying pace and already reached A-rank, and its cooldown burden had decreased considerably.

Of course, compared to the basic Blink, it was still 2.5 times and 5 times longer.

Lastly, with [Wind Barrier] reaching A-rank, my wind-type setup was more or less organized.

[Skill - Wind]

▷Wind Force(A+)

▷Wind Barrier(A+)

▷Spiral Explosion(A+)

▷Sylphid(A+)

Of course, that did not mean it was completely finished.

I had a few wind skills and traits in mind to learn later.

But until then, I had a fair amount of breathing room, so I could invest in other types.

*****

Monday.

PvP class.

Lee Sudok looked around the room with an even more dissatisfied gaze than usual.

It seemed he had read the anxiety lingering among the students.

Considering not even a week had passed since the Witch of Decay had run wild in the deep layers, it was only natural in a way.

Of course, Lee Sudok was not a gentle teacher who reassured and encouraged his students.

Instead, he scowled outright and opened his mouth.

“There are still this many fools who don’t understand the situation.”

“……!”

“Do you think one witch appearing is such a great matter? Far worse things can happen at any time going forward.”

Other witches might invade Dungeon Island in succession, or random dragons might come flying in.

Those were already things that happened frequently all over the world.

Lee Sudok struck another blow at the students, whose faces were growing darker.

“The common point is that all of them are beyond your ability. Whether witches or dragons.”

“Then what are we supposed to do?”

When one student stepped forward in frustration, Lee Sudok answered as if he had been waiting for it.

“I’m telling you to do what you can. Don’t get tossed around by every scrap of news.”

“……!”

“The peace of the present is extremely precarious. It would not be strange for war to break out tomorrow.”

Lee Sudok cast his eyes somewhere far beyond the window, then looked around the room once more.

“When that time comes, no one will be able to protect you. The only thing you can trust is the skill you have built up until then.”

“…….”

“Whether you regret it then depends on what you do now. Keep that in mind.”

As a result, the classroom atmosphere became even heavier, but the anxiety seemed to have disappeared to some degree.

It looked like his sharp words had acted as a stimulant in their own way.

Soon, Lee Sudok continued the lesson as if that was all he had to say.

“I expect all of you remember the [Lowerclassmen’s Revolt] PvP.”

The rule where we were matched against other grades.

Last year, our opponents had been second- and third-year seniors, and this year, since we were second-years, we would likely face freshmen as well.

“Usually it is held in the second semester, once the freshmen’s growth has stabilized, but there were opinions asking to move the timing forward.”

At those words, some of the students looked puzzled.

“Who in the world would suggest something that radical and destructive!?”

On the other hand, most seemed to be thinking, So it’s finally here.

Their gazes subtly drifted toward Mo Yongjun and Jeong Jinmyeong, probably because those two were the ringleaders.

Lee Sudok also looked at the two of them briefly before continuing.

“And after review, the conclusion was that there is sufficient basis to move it forward.”

Even in last year’s Lowerclassmen’s Revolt PvP, our grade’s win rate had been far higher than other cohorts.

In the <Craft Haven> midterms as well, the gap between the first-years and second-years had not been all that large.

That was already more than half a year ago.

Now that even more time had passed?

There was a high possibility we had grown even more explosively and narrowed the gap with the upper years.

Therefore, the academic side had judged that the current second-years might be capable of overtaking the third-years.

“We will gather statistics again through this week’s PvP. After that, we will review whether to hold more PvP matches under similar rules.”

This time, every grade would participate, but if a particular grade’s win rate was unusually high, the next round could be adjusted so only first- and second-years, or only second- and third-years, fought each other.

If the results fell short of expectations, they would pretend it had never happened.

“Next is the most important part: the handicap.”

Since the upper years were older and had spent more time learning at Dragonslayer Academy, their specs were naturally higher.

Therefore, the rules needed to create a minimum level of fairness.

In the Lowerclassmen’s Revolt PvP held right before the tournament, [Fixed Zone] had fixed everyone’s ranks, and we had only been allowed to use skills, traits, and equipment registered in [Slots].

Of course, the higher the grade, the fewer slots they had.

In the Lowerclassmen’s Revolt PvP held right before finals, the rules had been 2-on-1 against second-years and 3-on-1 against third-years.

Judging by the atmosphere, a different handicap would be applied this time.

Soon, Lee Sudok displayed the rules and environment.

MAP:[Circular Arena]

RULE:[Deathmatch][Lowerclassmen’s Revolt]

[Rank Down][5-Minute Limit]

“In matches against lowerclassmen, the ranks of many major skills and traits will be adjusted. As little as one stage, and as much as three.”

Apparently, the more frequently used and higher-ranked something was, the greater the restriction it would receive.

The same would likely apply when third-years faced us.

Lee Sudok added one more sentence.

“However, if you wish, you may fight upperclassmen without a handicap.”

Naturally, those results would also be reflected meaningfully in the statistics.

I glanced around to read the atmosphere.

“…….”

Mo Yongjun and Jeong Jinmyeong wore confident smiles.

Hong Yeonhwa and Song Cheonhye, seated on either side of me, also looked more expectant than worried.

Cha Hyeonju, sitting behind us, smiled with her fighting spirit on full display.

They’re pretty much going to fight without the handicap.

If they had not planned to do that, they would not have rebelled against the third-years in the first place.

At least Mo Yongjun, Jeong Jinmyeong, and the others probably had their own confidence.

That even if it came down to pure skill against pure skill, they had a real shot.

On the other hand, some students still seemed confused by this situation.

One of them raised a hand as their representative.

“Teacher, I have a question.”

“Speak.”

“What is the point of Lowerclassmen’s Revolt? Even if, by some chance, we surpass the seniors, what changes is…….”

“Why do you think nothing changes?”

“……!”

Lee Sudok explained in a tone that said the question had come at the perfect time.

“Think of how the groups you belong to treat skilled people. Don’t promising talents receive more support?”

“……!”

“Dragonslayer Academy is also thoroughly meritocratic. If your skill exceeds that of the current third-years, you may be able to take the benefits they have been receiving.”

For example, the current third-years could raise their point multipliers during the weeks they wanted, and they often got first pick of rare items at the student store.

The same applied to clubs, dungeon raids, and even the entertainment district.

At those words, flames lit in most of the eyes that had been filled with confusion, though a few still seemed hesitant.

“But won’t the seniors resent us……?”

“What could they do if they did?”

If things reached the point where they were beaten down by lowerclassmen through skill, then what of it if they felt resentment?

The student who had asked the question blinked, apparently thinking there was a point, then closed their mouth.

Lee Sudok glanced at him before looking out the window.

Unlike before, he continued in an everyday tone.

“To add some useless personal chatter…….”

“……?”

“There was much disagreement among the faculty regarding this Lowerclassmen’s Revolt PvP. They said it was too early. Of course, I was of the opinion that you could pull it off…….”

“……??”

“……which led to a small bet. It’s a modest amount, so there’s no need to worry too much.”

THUNK!

The next moment, Lee Sudok’s greatsword stabbed vertically into the floor and trembled.

It sounded like he did not care about losing money, but would not forgive losing his pride.

“I will have expectations, but do not feel burdened as you participate. That is all.”

And so, while the students shouldered an enormous burden—

a notification message appeared at the edge of my vision.

[Sub Quest: Week 12–13 PvP](In progress….)

[Will you use ‘Challenge Book’?]

[Accept/Decline]

There isn’t much left, but when it’s time to use it, I have to use it.

The instant I selected “Accept” at the speed of light, the quest contents updated.

[Sub Quest: Week 12–13 PvP](In progress….)

▷Objective: Win 3 PvP matches (-/3)

▷Condition 1: No handicap applied against upperclassmen

▷Condition 2: Strengthened handicap applied against lowerclassmen

▷Condition 3: Win with 85% or higher health

▷Skills/Traits disabled: [Amplification], [Distortion], [Retrocovery]

▷Reward: Differential payment according to achievement level

As expected, [Amplification] got locked.

Well, if I could inflate my rank by two stages, there would be no point in applying rank correction.

The disabling of [Distortion] and [Retrocovery] seemed intended to make health management harder.

I was already prepared to go without a handicap.

Even without the challenge, I would have done that.

I somewhat agreed with Mo Yongjun and Jeong Jinmyeong’s thinking.

It was also a chance to check how well my ability worked against the seniors.

Before long, I moved to the arena.

Then I scanned my student ID at the terminal and waited to be matched.

It’ll probably be a captain-level student or someone from the Discipline Committee.

If it was a freshman, then a promising talent.

Even across different grades, the matching tended to align us by score to some extent.

As expected, a familiar name appeared on the scoreboard a short while later.

[Kim Ho vs Kwon Uram]