Chapter 55-1: - Persona Gate Training (2)


    Ste Cafe Terrace, Ninth Star.


    ording to the academy''s regtions, it was a space which could be used by any Ste student.


    However, due to the expensive dessert prices and the influence of nobles, this ce was mostly frequented by the aristocracy.


    The terrace, in particr, was favored by nobles with their factions for the purpose of gatherings.


    Despite having a club room, the reason for choosing this ce was likely to show off their power.


    Hong Bi-Yeon was no exception. If she didn''t periodically showcase her abilities, she could appear insignificant to the other riffraff, so she must never leave any room for vulnerability.


    "It tastes awful."


    She forced herself to drink the tea that didn''t suit her pte and listened to the girls'' conversation.


    "Oh, really?"


    "That''s right? The Earl of Koden''s grandson gave me a bouquet..."


    "How romantic!"


    "Is that so? I found it burdensome."


    "As a woman, I envy it so much. I wonder if there''s any man like that for me."


    It was a typical conversation among ordinary noble girls. The topics of conversation were also simr every day.


    What clothes are in fashion these days? What jewelry is in fashion? What food is popr?


    So-and-so is dating someone.


    So-and-so got into an ident. So-and-so confessed but got rejected.


    It was a tedious and nutritionally empty exchange of banal conversations. Hong Bi-Yeon didn''t particrly enjoy the atmosphere of this ce, but she maintained herposure.


    Each person gathered here was a child of the powerful figures who excercised authority. There was a reason for bringing them all together in one ce.


    "Princess, you''ve been reading the familiar dictionary since earlier, haven''t you?"


    {TN:- Changed Divine Beast to Familiar for now.}


    "Oh,e to think of it, after the second exam, there was a formal Familiar Contract Ceremony, right?"


    "Ah! You''re already preparing ahead of time. Impressive. I can''t even understand the familiar dictionary."


    "That''s right. The princess is indeed different from others, right?"


    The topic suddenly shifted, turning into ttery towards the princess, but it wasn''t bad. It happened quite often.


    However, it was still boring, so Hong Bi-Yeon gave a vague response.


    Then naturally, the topic among the girls shifted again.


    "Oh, by the way, have you heard about this? My father told me to keep it a secret..."


    "What is it?"


    "This time, there was amotion because Ste''s assistant unraveled the Delta Augmentation Form. But you all know there''s a co-author, right?"


    "Of course."


    "Actually, that co-author... is said to be one of Ste''s students."


    "What? Is that really true?"


    Hong Bi-Yeon, who was idly ying with her tea, abruptly stopped her hand movement. It was the first time an interesting conversation topic hade up in a while.


    "Well, even so, it''s a problem spanning more than 300 years. Could a student be a co-author?"


    "But, Father was certain."


    "Ah... Since Rachel''s father is the head of the Information Bureau, it must be certain."


    "But who could it be? Someone who can solve unresolved mysteries with a student''s status. It''s likely someone from the Alchemy Department, right?"


    Exactly.


    Whether it was the head of the Information Bureau or others, it seemed that those who hadnt delved deep didnt grasp the concept of this ''co-author.''


    However, Hong Bi-Yeon happened to uncover the truth while investigating someone else.


    Baek Yu-Seol.


    He was the co-author of Delta Augmentation Form.


    "But why keep his identity confidential?"


    "That''s true. They only mentioned the name without any acknowledgement of help. Could it be that they did it out of embarrassment and apology?"


    "Oh my, that could be the case. If it were me, I would feel embarrassed and sorry, so I would keep my identity confidential."


    "Hohoho."


    Just like the girls, Hong Bi-Yeon had her own doubts.


    Why? What was the purpose? What could be the reason for doing such a thing?


    "Princess? Why do you look so worried?"


    Suddenly, one of the girls took an interest in Hong Bi-Yeon, allowing her to regain herposure. "Oh, it''s nothing."


    "Oh, is it because of the uing Persona Gate training?"


    "That''s right. Princess, you''ll be participating again this time, won''t you?"


    Upon hearing their words, Hong Bi-Yeo nodded slightly.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">Persona Gate training


    The Persona Gate was a spacepletely detached frommon sense in reality.


    Unlike simple dungeons where clearing was achieved by defeating a boss or destroying a core, the Persona Gate required extensive preparation and study because one could only clear it by understanding and oveing its "patterns" and "mechanisms".


    Starting from analyzing the concentration of the Persona Gate, mathematical knowledge such as spatial deformation, topology, soul istion, and understanding and memorization of thousands of patterns and possibilities in the Persona Gate were immensely necessary.


    However...


    The most important thing was undoubtedlybat prowess.


    Without the ability to fight properly, no matter how smart one might be, they couldnt sessfully clear the Persona Gate.


    In fact, since the purpose of nurturing magical warriors was to hinder the Persona Gates of the Dark Mages, it could be considered the most crucial subject.


    The uing Persona Gate training would be conducted in groups of 4 to 18, and the key was how they cooperate and strategize together.


    Even for Ste''s first-year students, who had an average level of ss 2, it was not easy to tackle a Persona Gate that was expected to be prepared at a difficulty level of 3, especially since it was their first realbat experience.


    Most of them would likely fail.


    However, the scoring was based on whether they understand the mechanics of the Persona Gate; how they cooperate and synchronize with their team members, and how they respond to enemy attacks or simr situations.


    So, it was not necessary to seed in the strategy.


    Of course, in the Persona Gate training, where most would inevitably fail, Hong Bi-Yeon was determined to seed in the strategy.


    That way, she could prove her superiority.


    That way... she could gain recognition from her mother.


    <em ss="chakra-text css-0">I hope I get matched with some worthy opponents