Hell Difficulty Tutorial
Chapter 611 – Even more questions

“So, the 1st reset happened on the 11th day. The 2nd reset happened on the 15th day. Does this mean the length of the…”

“Loops!” Dennis shouts, interrupting Tess.

She looks at him and then shrugs, “…length of the loops is either increasing or they’re random, it’s also possible they’re being triggered by an event we don’t know about. The important question is if the Ruler Candidate is in the loops with us. If yes, another question is how they would react to that. Would they try to kill us or contact us? If they’re in here with us, it’s highly possible that they’ve already realized we’re “looping” with them, it’s even possible that they noticed during our 1st loop.”

Sophie joins in, “But we still have to protect the Candidate. Wouldn’t that imply that they’re caught in the loop as well and should have realized what’s going on? Or will we keep getting looped until we protect the candidate? And what do we need to protect them from?”

"Assassins?" Dennis replies, drawing more attention to himself. "Maybe they’re after the candidate? So perhaps that means the candidate is hiding?"

(Food?!)

“No, he wasn’t talking about hiding food,” I inform Biscuit.

“Unfortunately, our shards have been reset as well,” Min-Jae says from the side, “otherwise that would allow Nat to track down all the best materials, sell an item, then in the next loop find the same materials and sell the same item again, but quicker. But with the way our shards keep resetting, it’s not possible”

“Shame, isn’t it?” I complain.

Tess chimes in, “We still can’t be too greedy. We don’t know if there will be a third reset or, if yes, how many there will be, so… just be careful. All of you. I know some of you, Nat, will probably want to do a bunch of risky things, but don’t push things until we find out a bit more.”

"Did you mention my name by mistake, Tess?"

“Did I?”

“Anyway, you already have all the info I collected outside, so I’m going to go get insulted by that douche Elian.”

With that, I leave, and the others follow soon after. It might be me, but some of them seem way too excited for all of this.

After hearing the same words again from Elian and watching servants carry my things to the office, I sit there, putting my legs up on the two boxes.

Looking at them, I wonder if I should try a more thorough method of securing them or simply wait for the thief. Though maybe I should ignore them entirely. Maybe I could sell them for information because it looks like knowledge is the most valuable thing we’ll be able to get here. Of course, with all of this, we cannot forget the Ruler Candidate, whoever it might be.

I grab a piece of paper from the table and start writing down all the important events I know will happen.

day 1 - Professor Elian dissing me

day 2 - free day, meeting Maya, Tess, and the twins, while the others are busy - if we decide to follow the 1st loop´s schedule

day 3 - 1st lesson with Elian - getting “punished”, Meeting Lily and other healers during her picnic, if I walk around again, and if she goes on a picnic again

day 4 - Ari, Kays lesson 1 on basics, thermonuclear warhead stolen, meeting the Vice Director if I follow the schedule

day 5 - 2nd Lesson with Elian - mana releasing stuff, meeting Tyven and Ari if I eat at the same place

day 6 - Min-Jae mentioning meeting Tyven in the library - possibly going as well if I want to check on the guy

day 7 - selari Champion visiting and having a talk, 3rd lesson with Elian - a bunch of students trying to disrupt my orbs

day 8 - Transfer student in Izzy’s class, claiming my salary - 8 obsidian drachen

day 9 - Meeting the primordial energy demon Professor, if I follow the schedule, selari Champion found dead in the Academy

day 10 - sensory deprivation tank - Ari, Keys lesson 2

day 11 - train or airship trip

Of course, that’s not all. I also did some other things for fun, like exploring the facilities around the Academy. But these are the things I feel are the most important. The question is how much I should follow this. What would be the best way to abuse this mechanism this time?

Of course, I already have a pretty good idea.

You have used an active skill combination token. Please pick two or three from the following list to combine.

Warning! Combining three skills will reduce the level of the acquired skill.

Warning! A combination of incompatible skills may result in a worse skill.

Warning! After combining the skills, it will become extremely difficult to acquire the skills used in the combination.

Please select the main skill of the combination and two supportive skills.

List of available skills to combine:

Perception - Lvl 62

Mana Domain (Pride) - Lvl 61

Mana Crown -Lvl 55

Mana Manipulation - Lvl 67

Ley Line - Lvl 54

Knitting - Lvl 37

“[Knitting] as the main one, and [Mana Manipulation] and [Mana Domain] as supportive ones.

Congratulations, you have successfully combined [Knitting], [Mana Domain], and [Mana Manipulation]! A new skill has been created.

You have acquired [Framework]

[Framework - lvl 0 > Framework - lvl 8]

Okay, next step.

I create a mana orb, concentrate on it and-

Congratulations, you have acquired a new skill!

[Mana Manipulation]

[Mana Manipulation - lvl 0 > Mana Manipulation - lvl 61]

Suck it, system. I will never get tired of this shit.

Now I have almost two days before my 1st lesson with Elian on the 3rd day. Out of curiosity, I give [Framework] a once over and to be honest, I like the name a bit more than [Ur Line]. Having a bit of a sense of how the system names stuff and after seeing those lines with my trait, I still think [Ur Line] will probably turn out to be the rarer skill. Buuuut, and just maybe, it will be a worthy sacrifice to get rid of [Knitting], plus I will try more combinations later and will pick the one I like the most.

So far, [Framework] seems to retain the effects of [Knitting], it allows me to knit threads of mana together while maintaining flexibility. It’s something I can still apply to [Ley Line] as well as my javelins, shields, and basically all of my creations. As I’ve come to learn, doing it this way makes them much more durable and resistant to disruption. Currently, I can even do it nearly reflexively without thinking too much.

[Framework] takes that even further. The connections between threads are stronger and denser. At some point, it even seems like they’re being pulled toward each other, and whenever they take damage, a bit of mana seeps into them from the surrounding threads to fix them.

I get the feeling that I can use the skill on my body as well, and not just to create stronger armor, but as something to build on, like some sort of base or frame to tie my creations to, or almost inscribe new pathways into said frame. I suspect at higher levels, it may be possible to maintain such frames indefinitely or at least on a semi-permanent basis. It seems to synchronize exceptionally well with my way of storing arrays, inscriptions, and information in the back of my mind.

It is fascinating and somewhat elusive, but I like it a lot.

Damn, deciding which skill to pick will truly be difficult.

Next, I go to the system store and, spending a total of 900 thousand shards, I buy two mid arcane items. One defensive amulet and a bow. Of course, first, I carefully observe them. I even use them and activate my eyes to learn as much as possible for my future crafting.

Then I head to the head accountant’s office and enter. In this loop, he hasn’t met me yet, but he acts in the same polite manner, likely already knowing who I am.

I put the two mid arcane items on the table in front of him.

“I want to sell these to the Academy.”

He blinks, looks at me, and then back at the weapons.

"May I request the registration documents for these items? As you are undoubtedly aware, all weapons of epic rank and above, particularly those classified as arcane or higher, must be properly registered prior to being brought onto Academy grounds. I will also require a proof of ownership certificate."

“I don’t have it, I just made them today.”

“Assistant Professor Gwyn.”

“Yes, that’s me.”

"If I am correct, it is your first day at the Academy, and you say you’ve already created two mid arcane items?"

“Yes.”

"If I consult the head of the Crafting Zone, will they be able to confirm that you were present there and that you produced these items on-site?"

“No, I made them in my office.”

"So, if I submit an inquiry to the Tower Butler regarding your recorded movements, will the log indicate that you were already present in your office at that time?"

“I meant that I made the items in one of the gardens.”

“I see. Can you wait a minute before I contact Professor Elian so we can continue this conversation?”

Well, fuck.

“I don’t know if you are aware, Assistant Professor Gwyn, but you just said that out loud.”

“What I meant to say was, sure, call him.”

He politely agrees but he’s probably hitting the panic button as we speak, and I sense the powerful signature of a set of guards approaching as defenses rise in response, ready to activate at a moment’s notice. It is all done politely, but I notice.

Five minutes later, I’m sent to wait outside the room, as Professor Elian passes by. His violet eyes staring at me, pupils surrounded by a golden circle as he closes the door behind him.

Meanwhile, I sit on the chair nearby and think of how unaccustomed I am to this kind of formality. Is this normal on the “civilized” floors? I mean, mid arcane items are powerful, likely very, very enticing even to a person sitting somewhere around level 350-380-390? And even though the ones I bought were cheaper, they could easily be considered heirloom grade items that would be passed down in some families.

Well, in the next loop, I will do better.

Barely two minutes after entering, Professor Elian exits holding only a defensive amulet. The bow is gone. Before handing the amulet to me, he looks at me for confirmation that I understand.

It seems the price for overlooking this is a mid-arcane item, which is an absolutely insane cost. Maybe I should hold off a bit longer before I start selling thermonuclear warheads.

I nod, and only then does he hand me the amulet.

"I am very disappointed in your lack of forethought," he says, then leaves without another word.

As he walks downstairs, I knock on the door again and open it, where the head accountant looks at me in a confused manner.

“You don’t want to buy the amulet?” I ask before he can react.

Five minutes later, I leave with a pouch full to the brim with ivory white drachen and even a few gold drachen, all likely worth as much as decades of my salary here.

Before I leave, I ask the head accountant for rules and for a list of items that are allowed and not allowed to be brought to the Academy without registration or proof of ownership. Then I ask him for estimation of prices, sliding a few obsidian drachen to him as a courtesy.

As he talks and explains, I go through the system shop to pick the best options to sell next time.

Lastly, I ask him about Professors willing to hire themselves out for private lessons, and unsurprisingly, it turns out to be fairly common. Powerful families, as it happens, tend to hire tutors or pay professors to give a bit of extra attention to their family members in the Academy.

Some professors offer multiple lessons for a set price, while others only provide small-group sessions. A few demand more drachen than I will likely ever possess. The most expensive professors likely set their rates not only based on lesson quality but also as an informal bribe to foster connections with them. Those charging the highest fees are typically professors at or near level 400, with decades or even centuries of experience. Fewer than five of them are currently living at the Academy.

With Champions likely starting at around 450-500, it might not seem that far off Champion rank, but there is a HUGE difference when it comes to having an extra 50-100 levels once you reach the 400s.

Not because of extra stats, but because of time. Leveling once you hit levels 300-400 slows down a lot; at that point, a person needs to fight exceedingly powerful monsters, not to mention the difficulty in finding them in the first place. Even then, it takes a long time, so by that point, you’re likely to be fairly experienced and powerful, with multiple skills over level 75.

As I walk to my office, I also think about whether or not I should reveal my black mana to the professor I hire, and which professor I should choose for lessons.