The Retired Hero is an Extra

"In the Academy, your Rank determines your everything; from how much YP you get each month to how much of it you can buy for Solaris Marks,"

"For instance, the Rankers get 1000 YP monthly; Rank 11-50 will get 500 YP, 51-100 will get 400 YP, 101-500 will get 300 YP, and the rest will only get 100 YP each month."

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Before the students could fully digest the words with heavy hearts, Aileen added more to their misery,

"You use these Year Points to not only buy food but also for everything—a certain amount of YP is needed to be paid."

Hearing this, more than 90% of the class grew nervous, exchanging anxious glances, because it meant that if they didn't secure a good rank, their lives would be even more difficult.

'Well, they can't be exchanging YP for Solaris Marks, so I guess she didn't even bother explaining?' Jash mused, looking at the silent Aileen.

It seemed that she had nothing more to say, just waiting for the students to digest the weight of her words.

Of course, it was overly unfair to most students, but they couldn't protest even if they wanted to.

The Academy already made it very clear that it was training the children to get ready to face the reality of the world.

And no doubt the world was one heck of an unfair place where the vilest person might thrive and the kindest person might become a criminal.

'Just like reality, there is a hope to survive in the Academy, isn't there?' Jash mused with a bitter smile.

Similar to the hope which pushed people past their limits and live everyday in the world, the Academy's hope might not come to fruition.

It was just as flawed as reality itself, another reason the Academy was even called inhumane for children and some cults were formed around that.

Poor folks just wanted a safer environment for children, holding the hunters and people of power responsible.

After all, it was unremarkable their fault for not being able to give a world where no children had to fight for his life.

Unfortunately, it was a far-fetched dream in this twisted world where life and death were a moment's notice away.

'Not like they have any other choice, though—excluding the suspicious people,' Jash thought, clenching his fist under the table.

'No one wants children to participate in life-and-death battles, especially their own, or so it should be,' he told himself to calm down.

At that time, Aileen was explaining the hope of the student inside the Academy after someone asked about having 0 YP.

"...If any of you ever hit 0 YP, you can ask your friends for a loan, you can easily trade YP at the trading center," she explained.

"There might even be some quests by the seniors for their juniors or peers, rewarding a certain amount of YP," she added.

Hearing these two undeniable simple options made the students' nervous expressions relax a bit.

'The second one is better,' Jash thought, believing only idiots would go for the first option.

Alas, he failed to consider the weaklings who couldn't even complete simple tasks or were too afraid to face their seniors.

Though there were no risks of losing promised YP after completing a quest or mission, some students feared the seniors would forcefully get it traded back.

Being weak did come with their own set of insecurities and fears, something only someone at their level could understand.

If it weren't for the luxurious treatment from his family and his past life memories being melded in, Jash would've understood their plight.

He was the weakest person, once.

Somewhat similar to him, ZIva kept listening carefully, but she was now glad to have given her all to get a good rank.

She was quite sure that earning YP would be extremely tough in the beginning and losing the headstart was a bad choice.

Even if she could buy YP every month, it couldn't compare to the feeling of getting it as a reward for her own hard work.

However, the next method to earn YP that Aileen mentioned piqued her attention.

"One easier way to earn YP is the Duel Arena, where you can challenge others for a stake of a certain amount of YP and similarly betting on its outcome."

As soon as Aileen's words dropped, the students grew excited at the prospect before realizing that the ones they could defeat were probably not even there.

But betting could work all the way.

And Jash was the one to like the latter part about betting only while Ziva seemed to like the first part, wanting to gain experience and grow.

Oblivious to Jash, Helios had long vowed to duel him in front of everyone and show himself as the strongest!

"Now," Aileen said, pacing around the front area of the class, "You all may be wondering why I went into so much detail about YP, right?"

""It's simple really, even reading books at the Library requires YP, let alone taking a mana circulation art or weapon technique,"

"Then, there are restricted sections, depending on the year, but again, if you are a Ranker... you get a free pass to them,"

"Of course, some specific training areas cost a significant sum of YP just for a few hours, but those few yours matter a lot."

As soon as her voice faded, she stopped as well for a few moments, allowing the students to digest all the information.

She was also observing the students, noticing how some of them were using the bracelet to make notes in holograms or record them directly..

But it was something allowed so she didn't care, she seemed to be glaring at the ones staring at nothing but air instead.

There was truly a lot of information to remember in one go, and she had indeed mentioned more information than just the guides sent to them.

However, it wasn't her responsibility to ensure if the students were listening in class or wasting their time.

Simply put, there were many new things being implemented and the students would only get to know of it later, when it was time to regret their past actions.

Even Jash couldn't predict all the darned changes happening so quickly around him, but he would surely catch it if he got the slightest whiff.

"Any other questions?" Aileen asked, thinking that it was enough time for the students to absorb all the information.

"Will we attend lectures with other classes or just our class?" a boy nervously asked, wanting to be his friend sooner.

Aileen's eye's sharpened at the question as she replied, "Yeah, you may attend classes together depending on the subject."

"Then, what is the reason for having different classes?" a girl grumbled under her breath.

But Aileen obviously heard her; she was an SS-Ranker, she could notice the subtlest of cues like Jash clenching his fist under his desk.

"If anyone's wondering what's the point of having five different classes," Aileen began, giving the grumbling girl a glare.

"Then, let me tell you that each class will have a different ranking despite being formed in such a manner that all five classes have similar strengths, being balanced,"

"After the assessment test, it will become more prominent what these benefits are depending on your class ranking," she concluded.

'Wait, what the heck? Why is it being applied this year??' Jash barely masked his inner surprise at Aileen's words.

Unlike others who were excited at the prospect, he was more worried than excited as it was deeply related to him.

The rules that were supposed to be applied post his death were being pulled back, being applied way earlier.

It was strange, way too strange in fact.

Alas, Jash also knew that it would help him change destiny and fate as they were being altered yet fixed in different manners.

'So I can make some things happen earlier based on my decisions?' He theorized, but wasn't too sure about it.

Unlike the contemplative him, Ziva was looking forward to when she heard a whisper of someone in the class.

"Wait, there's no way we will lose if both monsters are in our class," a boy whispered to his deskmate, secretly pointing towards Jash and Ziva.

"Shh... what if they hear you!" his deskmate, a girl hurriedly clasped his mouth, making the two feel embarrassed in the next second.

Only, the two would probably get teased about it forever by their other friends sitting nearby.

Thankfully, Aileen didn't seem to care about such events, happily concluding the class, "That will be all for today, you guys should explore and look around the Academy for today."

Saying so, she had just turned to leave the classroom when she abruptly stopped.

"Remember to read about the available subjects and make a choice, you need to tell me your choice of elected subjects by tomorrow."

However, she didn't leave and instead added, "Jash Ramille and Ziva Arne, both of you follow me to my office."

'It's probably that, right?" Jash thought, remembering the conversation with Zander as he looked at the departing Aileen.

Unlike him, Ziva didn't waste time mulling over hundreds of things and directly got up, following behind Aileen.

'Urgh, these two's glare sure is dangerous,' Jash groaned, feeling like prey to predators, and quickly followed them.

The two had to wait for him because of lazy pace, but the two cared naught after he reached them outside the classroom.

With no other choice, Jash had to match their pace as they passed through the Block 1 exit and walked toward the next block.

'Ugh, I definitely don't want to partake in this dreadful walk until the faculty block,' he groaned inwardly, smart enough to not let his displeasure show.

But it did leak and Aileen noticed it from the corner of her eye...

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