Kaiser and Amelia are sitting next to each other in the classroom. Amelia, her lips pressed together lightly, turns her face away as if still upset about Kaiser's earlier joke. Her face flushes slightly, but her eyes sneak glances at him, as if waiting for some gesture of reconciliation
Noticing this, Kaiser sighs softly, a small smile appearing on his lips
"Hey, Amelia, I didn't mean to upset you" he says gently, leaning slightly toward her
"Will you forgive me?"
Amelia keeps up her indifferent expression, but the slight redness of her ears betrays her true feelings
"Hmph, who told you to always tease me like that?" she mutters, her voice quiet but tinged with a hint of vulnerability
Nearby Amelia, a group of girls is sitting together. They are new friends Amelia has quickly made. It's no surprise - being a princess, Amelia not only has a striking appearance but also excellent social skills. Her confidence and friendliness make her effortlessly magnetic to those around her
The girls chat animatedly with Amelia, their faces glowing with excitement. A few of them, after noticing Kaiser sitting next to her, seem eager to strike up a conversation with him. But as soon as their eyes meet Kaiser's cold, distant gaze, they immediately hold back
Amelia, noticing her friends' hesitation, simply smiles softly. She knows well that Kaiser isn't fond of making new friends. She turns to him, her gaze gentler, as if to convey that she understands him without needing an explanation
"You always make people feel so intimidated, Kaiser" she says softly, half-teasing, before returning to the conversation with her group of friends
Kaiser just shrugs, saying nothing. Even though he dislikes socializing, he feels content just being by her side, quietly watching her shine among her new friends
The classroom gradually quiets down as the professor enters. He is an older man, thin and wiry, with slightly disheveled silver hair and sharp eyes behind round glasses. His simple yet tidy attire, along with his serious demeanor, makes it easy to see that he is the kind of person who has devoted his entire life to research
Standing at the front of the class, he clears his throat softly to draw attention, then begins introducing himself in a steady, deep voice
"My name is Thomas Celon, and as you might have guessed, I will be responsible for teaching you the course on Monster Ecology"
His gaze sweeps across the room before he continues
"Before we begin the lecture, I want to clarify some details about the examination policies for this course"
"First, I will conduct random tests at any time I deem appropriate. The average score of these tests will determine whether you pass the course. If your average score is 70 or above, you will be considered to have successfully completed the course"
He pauses briefly, adjusts his glasses, and then continues
"However, the value of each test will vary, depending on its importance. Some will be minor assessments to gauge your basic understanding, while others will be significant, and I advise you to prepare for them seriously"
"During class, you are allowed to ask questions at any time. I encourage active participation from all of you. However, I hope you will refrain from approaching me after class to ask about things that have already been explained during the lecture" His tone carries a hint of weariness, as if interactions outside of class are not something he particularly enjoys.
"Now, let us move on to the main content of today's lesson"
He pauses briefly to ensure he has everyone's attention, then continues
"You've probably heard about how we classify the strength of monsters. But to ensure no one misses the foundational knowledge, I'll go over it once again."
Thomas walks slowly across the lectern, his hand resting lightly on the desk, and proceeds with his usual calm demeanor
"Just as Mana users are divided into five levels, monsters are also classified into five corresponding strength levels. However…"
Thomas emphasizes this point, his eyes reflecting a serious intensity
"Though the number of levels is the same, when it comes to raw strength at any given level, monsters always surpass humans. This is why we must thoroughly understand them if we are to face them"
He raises one hand and begins listing the levels
"Level one: Rogue. These are monsters with just enough strength to cause significant trouble for a group of people"
"Level two: Wrecker. These monsters are not only troublesome but also capable of destroying structures or small areas. If not dealt with promptly, they can cause severe damage"
"Level three: Devastator. With overwhelming power, they can inflict serious harm on a city or even a small territory"
'I'm pretty sure I could kill one of these if I struck first' Kaiser thinks to himself as he listens to Thomas's words
"Level four: Calamity. The name speaks for itself - they possess strength akin to a natural disaster, capable of large - scale destruction. Battles with Calamity-level monsters often leave catastrophic consequences"
"And finally, level five: Abyssal. This is the highest level, comprising monsters with enough power to destroy an entire continent. Their existence is not just a threat but a true nightmare for humanity"
Thomas concludes, his expression still grave. He scans the room, as if ensuring everyone has grasped the gravity of what he has just explained
"Understanding the strength of each monster level is the first step in mentally preparing yourselves for what might come. And remember, overconfidence is our greatest enemy"
"In history, we have recorded two instances of Abyssal-level monsters appearing. These two events have become the most haunting milestones in humanity's collective memory. The first occurred on the continent of Calystria, and the second on the continent of Solareth"
Thomas pauses briefly, letting the weight of his words settle over the class, then continues
"One hundred and fifty years ago, the first Abyssal appeared on the continent of Calystria. It was a monster named Ragnarok. At that time, we were utterly unprepared to face such a horrifying threat. Ragnarok devastated Calystria, nearly obliterating the entire civilization there"
Thomas steps closer to the podium, his gaze heavy as he continues:
"It took the combined strength of five Nova to bring it down. Yet even with their united might, Ragnarok left behind catastrophic destruction. One of the five Nova suffered grievous injuries during the battle and never fully recovered. That was the first time we truly understood the unimaginable danger posed by an Abyssal monster"
He pauses again, giving the students a moment to absorb the story before moving on
"The second appearance was sixty years ago when the monster Armageddon attacked the continent of Solareth. This time, however, we had learned from the tragedy of Calystria. All nations on the continent quickly formed an alliance to confront it. Seven Nova were summoned, and thanks to their combined power, Armageddon was defeated"
Thomas stops, his sharp eyes scanning the class with intensity
"But remember this: at the highest levels, monsters cannot be easily killed with a single strike to the neck or a stab to the heart. To destroy them, we must use specialized and intricate methods to erase their existence completely. And in this course on Monster Ecology, you will learn how to do just that"
"Now, let us discuss the origins of monsters. While monsters can be born from natural Mana, that is not their only source. In fact, most monsters are created from the Mana of the Primordial Ones - ancient entities about which we know almost nothing."
"The Primordial Ones are the greatest mystery of our world. Their existence is evidenced by the massive body fragments scattered across the world. These fragments continuously release large amounts of Mana into the atmosphere. The frightening thing is that, for reasons we still do not understand, this Mana often converges at specific points, resulting in the creation of monsters"
"The Mana released by the body fragments of the Primordial Ones condenses into what we call a Mana Core. This core serves as the primary source of Mana for monsters. Through the Mana Core, monsters absorb Mana from their surroundings and convert it into physical strength, special abilities, or even unique skills"
He pauses briefly, his gaze sweeping across the classroom to emphasize the significance of his next words
"When a monster absorbs enough Mana, it can evolve to the next level. At this stage, their strength does not merely increase exponentially but can also grant them abilities far beyond conventional understanding. Evolution is how monsters adapt, survive, and become more dangerous than ever before"
As Thomas finished speaking, a student sitting in the middle row confidently raised his hand. It was a boy with short brown hair and eyes brimming with curiosity
"Professor, if monsters are born from the body fragments of the Primordial Ones, why don't we eliminate those fragments entirely to stop them from creating monsters?"
The question caused several students to glance toward him, but Thomas appeared to have anticipated this query. He nodded and responded in a steady tone
"A good question. In fact, we have destroyed some of the Primordial Ones' fragments as soon as we discovered them. And yes, eliminating these fragments can prevent the formation of monsters in that area. However…"
He emphasized his next point, tapping his index finger rhythmically on the desk, his sharp gaze sweeping across the class
"We don't want to completely eliminate those fragments. Why? Because the value they hold is immense"
The curiosity in the room intensified. Thomas continued, his tone now sharper and more deliberate
"The bodies of monsters, especially the stronger ones, contain materials of exceptionally high quality. These materials serve as the foundation for various fields, from crafting weapons and armor to creating medicinal cures. But the most important element is the Mana Core. It can be refined into Mana Dust, a vital ingredient in creating Spell Arrays"
He paused briefly, reinforcing his words
"Spell Arrays are the backbone of most modern magical technologies. From maintaining protective city barriers and operating magical devices to curing life-threatening diseases - Mana Dust is indispensable. In other words, the existence of monsters and the resources we extract from them have become an integral part of our society"
Thomas stepped forward, fixing his gaze directly on the student who had asked the question, and spoke with conviction
"Eliminating all fragments of the Primordial Ones may put an end to the existence of monsters, but it would also mean ending countless fields humanity depends on for survival and progress. This is why we choose management over destruction. We control the areas where the Primordial Ones release Mana, minimize the risks, and simultaneously harness the value they provide"
The classroom fell silent, every student absorbed by Thomas's explanation. Kaiser, sitting in the corner, gazed thoughtfully ahead, pondering the fragile balance between protecting humanity and relying on the very source of danger to advance. Beside him, Amelia tilted her head slightly, as though trying to digest the immense amount of information she had just received
Thomas scanned the room once more, his expression serious yet resolute
"And that is precisely why you are here, in this classroom. To understand the complex relationship between humans and monsters, and to prepare for the day when you must make difficult decisions concerning them."