Time flew by.

The first class for the new students was already underway.

Much like a university from Shia's previous life, Seven Shields Academy valued freedom, even offering a laid-back approach to class scheduling.

Theoretical classes in the morning, practical training in the afternoon. No strict requirements—students could skip entirely if they wanted.

At Seven Shields, students could either laze about and muddle through or become overachieving perfectionists grinding themselves to death.

The only catch? You had to meet the mission requirements.

The academy imposed monthly special tasks, mandatory for all students to complete.

Failing three times in a row meant immediate expulsion.

These missions ranged from basic bandit extermination and beast-clearing to advanced dragon-slaying battles, aiding in the defense against beast tides, or even resolving a national crisis.

Essentially, the academy turned its students into elite, unpaid workers, building prestige while raking in profits.

This system was a major reason why Seven Shields enjoyed such high regard. The academy was excellent at business.

But the real challenge lay in the midterm exams three months later—arguably the most critical assessment.

To summarize: everything depended on the student's initiative.

Shia’s initiative, of course, was unquestionable.

At the moment, all the new students were gathered in a large hall for a shared lecture.

Naturally, this was a theoretical class.

The content? Mostly fluff: the evils of the demon race, the glory of Seven Shields’ founding, the righteousness of its cause…

The typical victors-writing-history narrative.

There was also an explanation of the training system, though it was disappointingly generic.

The game’s developers had clearly spent all their creative energy designing the female characters, leaving everything else half-baked.

Both the combat and secondary professions followed a straightforward nine-tier system, without even a "reset with bonuses" mechanic to add complexity.

It seemed like the developers had copy-pasted their favorite RPG

archetypes—mages, swordsmen, clerics, and the like—without much thought.

Such laziness made Shia lose interest entirely, so he skipped the class.

Mental conditioning? Not a chance!

Of course, Shia's absence was fully sanctioned—he had an official leave slip. As the top freshman with Ella, a first-tier lecturer, backing him, skipping classes openly was no big deal.

This freedom reminded Shia of his university days—the carefree thrill of cutting class! Don't tell me you’ve never skipped a lecture before?

As for practical training, however, that was a different matter entirely.

Practical sessions were what truly set Seven Shields Academy apart, attracting talented students from all over the continent.

The academy boasted resources from across the land, with instructors who were far from ordinary. Most were either from Seven Shields itself or among the top experts from around the continent, excelling in a wide variety of professions.

Naturally, they provided the most comprehensive and outstanding training possible.

Unfortunately for Shia, none of this mattered. He didn’t have any profession that suited him, zero combat talent, no knack for wielding a staff to heal the masses, and no skill for tanking with a heavy sword.

His only hope was waiting—for the first layer of the Charm Ring to unlock, allowing him to create his own unique hidden class.

That afternoon, before the practical training began, the new students participated in a collective activity: observing upperclassmen in a combat demonstration.

Shia knew this was part of the main storyline—a minor event in the grand scheme.

In a world where every female character had a distinct role, this event wasn’t important because it was the new students' first practical lesson.

It was significant because it involved his golden-haired, black-stockinged childhood friend’s big debut.

The ultimate protagonist moment!

“You’re all new students. Some of you may have prior experience with training and combat,” came Ella’s clear, commanding voice. “But that doesn’t matter. Here, everything you’ve learned before will seem insignificant.”

Her tone was sharp and carried a hint of arrogance, a deliberate reminder to all the new students of their place.

As her words faded, the group arrived at the upperclassmen training grounds.

Four senior students were already in position for their combat demonstration.

One of them was none other than Lilith.

At first glance, Lilith’s exceptional presence immediately drew the new students' attention.

Among the four, her long legs clad in elegant black stockings stood out the most.

Her refined demeanor and unrestrained aura of power exuded confidence, fully showcasing her magnetic charm.

Just standing there, with her tall posture and perfect proportions, Lilith projected unparalleled strength and grace.

Shia, blending in with the crowd, gazed at the striking golden-haired lady with an expression devoid of emotion.

Though Lilith was undoubtedly a schemer among schemers, her strength was undeniable.

A fifth-tier combatant!

Such power was enough to make her a force to be reckoned with outside the academy. But within Seven Shields, it merely placed her among the second-years.

Seven Shields Academy was, after all, built using the combined resources of the entire continent, gathering the cream of the crop from across the world.

This applied not only to the instructors but also to the students.

Even so, fifth-tier strength was just Lilith’s base capability—she hadn’t even started utilizing her “protagonist powers.”

“Hello, juniors. I’m your senior, Lilith.”

Lilith straightened her back, flashing a perfectly measured smile. With a subtle shift in her stance, she struck a striking pose and waved at the audience.

A simple movement, yet it left the freshmen awestruck.

Throughout the demonstration, Lilith’s performance was outstanding. No matter who her opponent was, she dispatched them effortlessly.

A strong, elegant, and beautiful senior—who wouldn’t admire her?

On the surface, such an exceptional senior seemed to have no connection to Shia.

Her incredible strength was the source of her confidence. Given the significant gap between her and Shia’s current abilities, she felt she could manipulate him without fear.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com