Chapter 73-1: - Chaos (2)


    The total number of students in first year ss S was 41.


    The total number of students in second year ss S was 23.


    Originally, second year ss S had 26 students, but due to the death of two students duringst year''s practical training and the demotion of one student to ss A, the number became 23.


    Although it was still less than half of the number in first year ss S, it was honestly impressive that ss S had more than 20 students in one grade.


    There was no fixed number for the total enrollment, and only the students who met certain "special conditions" within Ste were assigned to ss S.


    Being special in Ste, where exceptional geniuses gathered, was not easy, so typically, ss S would have around 10 students in one grade at most.


    Many students who couldn''t be part of ss S, especially the students in ss A, held strong envy towards ss S, but in reality, most of the students in ss S didn''t attribute any special meaning to the ss.


    Among those students who maintained top-level grades and rankings in the second year, Ben was one of them.


    "Phew..."


    Ben sat on the corner of the training ground, and wiped off the sweat while gulping down the water.


    It had be a daily routine to train his physical strength after evening sses, but that time, his condition was not good due to poor exam scores, and even though he ran a little, his breath was heavy.


    "Phew! Hey, you brat! Are you tired already?"


    "Ugh... This monstrous guy..."


    In contrast to him, who seemed tock energy, Denmark in ss 2-S was full of vigor, and he was already running around the training ground for dozens ofps with full power.


    Increasing stamina or strength through mana was something that only existed in legends. As such, he had no idea how he trained to be so powerful with pure physical strength.


    Of course, for a magician, as long as they had a sufficient amount of stamina, physical strength was notcking.


    Therefore, the act of pushing the body to its limits, like Denmark, was quite inefficient and foolish.


    *Hmm,e to think of it, there was one peculiar underssmen who fought with strength.*


    Ben still remembered what happened at the Martevis Cemetery.


    Among the dark mages, the individuals with the fewest and most terrible reputation were necromancers, who were even capable of bringing about the greatest disasters.


    From the second year onwards, one could officially receive missions rted to hunting demons, including the eradication of dark mages.


    However, the necromancer was by no means a dark mage that could be dealt with at a student''s level. It was a catastrophe that was thought to never be encountered.


    The memories of facing it were still vivid.


    The reason why Ben and Denmark were able to survive at that time was not because they were exceptional, but thanks to the help of a peculiar underssman.


    The boy with an unusually sharp mind, Baek Yu-Seol.


    The reason why thoughts of him suddenly came to mind... was because of the rumors he had been hearing recently.


    Baek Yu-Seol, a first-year student, confronted Edman Atalek, a third-year student.


    Since the discussion was rted to alchemical engineering, all irrelevant details were omitted, and only that part remained, which led to rumors spreading.


    From a conventional perspective, Baek Yu-Seol was indeed at fault. Challenging someone of higher rank in the magical society goes against the hierarchy.


    However, Edman Atalek had a notorious reputation, and while Baek Yu-Seol exhibited extraordinary and unique behavior, some people who knew that he was not the type to disrespect seniors found it surprisingly intriguing.


    "Did Baek Yu-Seol really do that?"


    The Baek Yu-Seol he knew was a student who fearlessly led everyone with his unique courage and determination on the front lines to save struggling ssmates.


    He also seemed thoughtful and one step ahead of others... Did such a Baek Yu-Seol really confront seniors like a fool? Knowing well the disadvantages it would bring upon himself?


    Doubts kept creeping in.


    "Hey, who''s that guy?"


    "You know that arrogant first-year student, right? That guy. They are just trying to give him some education."


    "Oh yeah? Anyway, these days the first-year students are getting out of control."


    "Huh?"


    Ben, who was resting quietly, turned his head towards the voicesing from the corner. Now he realized that his fellow second-year students had brought a freshman to the corner and were harassing him.


    "Here we go again. Pathetic fools."


    Nairigalgum.


    If someone is bullied by someone above them in the hierarchy, he ends up bullying someone even lower in the hierarchy.


    {TN:- "Nairigalgum" is a Korean term that refers to a phenomenon where individuals who experience oppression or mistreatment from those in higher positions tend to exert their frustrations by mistreating those in lower positions than themselves. The term signifies a cycle of hierarchical abuse or oppression within a social structure.}


    It existed within Ste, although not to a great extent.


    Due to the clear hierarchy, it was intended to correct the attitude of juniors who dared to confront seniors.


    For that reason, it was quitemon for second-year seniors to bring first-year students to the second-year facilities and bully them.


    Why specifically bring them to the second-year facilities?


    It was to deliberately make them more intimidated by attracting the attention of other second-year seniors.


    This absurdity of pushing the victim to the psychological extreme was mainly experienced bymoners or lower-ranking nobles, so the freshman student was probably amoner as well.


    It didn''t happen often, but it urred asionally, so he tried not to pay attention to it.


    But upon closer inspection, he recognized the face.


    "Baek Yu-Seol...?"


    As expected.


    He caught the attention of the seniors, and eventually, he ended up here. Our previous connection was what it was, but unfortunately, there was no justification to intervene in this bullying.


    Educating juniors was an epted matter even within Ste.


    "Hey, why are you looking at me like that?"


    "Are the first-year students worth anything these days? Huh? Your eyes seem quite lively, very lively."


    Baek Yu-Seol, with his transparent yet bright eyes, stared silently at the seniors.


    *What is he thinking...?*


    Ben was about to ignore the situation.


    "Hey, this won''t do. Get down right now."


    In the end, as Ben watched the scene where Baek Yu-Seol lowered his stance to kneel down...",