11 - How to Easily Eat the Academy's Top Three Like Cake
The looping train finally pulls into Clarice Academy after just two stops. The physical training hall is top-notch, no question—separated by grade levels, right next to the dorms for prime convenience. Mana orbs are embedded in every corner of the training grounds. It's a place where cadets can unleash their abilities without holding back, so the orbs must be there to prevent accidents and scout out promising talents early.
Of course, no one's paying me any attention right now. But considering the villains the author will soon unleash, I need to get as strong as possible. And...
Infinite growth exploit??
In response to reader feedback about endless grinding being too easy, training halls now require payment and limit entry attempts.
The obstacle hits faster than expected.
"So the public physical training hall is 25 gems for two hours, and the practical combat room is 50 gems for two hours???"
Gems in Possession: 27
"Fuckin' hell..."
No money. Damn capitalism. Is it fair to discriminate against students with plenty of study motivation like this?!
For the record, that weird feedback wasn't from me. Probably incorporates advice from other readers on Reborn Academy so far. Anyway, I want to curse out this paywall that wasn't in the original, but honestly, the value is worth it.
Stat Growth Bonus: +50%
Proficiency Growth Bonus: +50%
As someone under the game's judgment system, I can grow at least 1.5 times faster than training anywhere else. But to raise my crossbow proficiency, I need the practical room with the shooting range—and with my current funds, that's only two hours in the physical hall. Plus, using it means starving from dinner onward...
That's when I overhear cadets passing behind me.
"Hey, heard one of the newbies cleared Chamber 1?"
"Already? Who?"
"One of the talented ones, probably."
"Let's check the lounge."
"Yeah."
A brilliant idea sparks in my head.
"Trial!"
Reborn Hero has a Trial system. Main events give big growth during adventures, but you can't feed that XP to every character. So for users wanting to try others, clearing a Trial grants equivalent main event XP and awakening effects.
It's implemented in Clarice Academy as the Awakened Chamber.
The academy calls it a ranking system to stoke competition and growth goals. Any enrolled cadet can challenge it freely. I head straight to the lounge at the center of the training hall.
Fancy ballroom vibes with dim lighting. This lounge sells drinks for breaks, and at its heart stands a pillar-shaped electronic billboard.
"1st place, 41 seconds. No way."
"It's the lady. She's always holed up in the library or labs."
"What's Kaeran's deal? Thought he was just slacking."
"You think he's like you? Look at him."
"Nah, at least 3rd is mine."
"You in 3rd? Then I'll be your slave."
Cadets crowd around, marveling at the rankings.
'As expected—top and runner-up are Melissa and Kaeran.'
Clarice Academy's Trials range from difficulty 1 to 10. This is the Year 1 gym, so no other grades show, but early in the story, a senior at difficulty 5 probably holds the top record.
Awakened Chamber
Entry: 1x per week, free, no time limit
Stat Growth Bonus: +100%
Proficiency Growth Bonus: +100%
Only once a week, but no entry fee. Clear it for solid stat boosts, and top 10 get scholarships to boot.
"Jackpot."
For someone who roughly knows the clear methods, it's a chance to grab two birds with one stone.
"Double rewards event, right on time."
Perfect timing for explosive growth to survive the academy.
'But first...'
To maximize gains, I head back to the dorms.
* * *
The administrator of the Trial - Evolution Chamber, Sinatis, is actually a "monster"—common knowledge as the legendary hero Crune Darunhill's companion beast. Now infused with his lingering thoughts, she can communicate with humans. Though she lost all power in the Final Crusade, leaving no combat ability.
She serves as honorary professor at Clarice Academy, managing chambers to nurture juniors. Thinking back to Reborn Hero, where meeting her always spurred growth, it's a quirky novel setting.
......
"Uh... Administrator? Professor?"
I arrive at the chamber, backpack stuffed, and freeze.
When do we see Sinatis's human form?
Per reader request, Sinatis appears in her form from Crune's era.
I figured a monster would look terrifying, but nope. A blonde, ordinary... no, extraordinary beauty.
'Crune, you bastard, your tastes...'
She looks way younger than me—I have to look down to meet her eyes. Why do I feel like I'll get snatched just talking? No beastly vibes at all. Though her expression never changes.
"I'd like to enter the chamber."
-Year?
"One."
Weird. She didn't move her lips, but her voice echoes inside me. Must be real telepathy.
"Year 1 newbie."
-Room, open. Far end, go.
"Got it."
Choppy words, but they drill right into my brain—easy to understand.
......
"Here it is."
Stepping in lifts the mana barrier, revealing the interior. A big boxy space, all purple and pink—sticky yet softly cushioned. Target in the center.
I vaguely recall a side story: some joke it's the monster's stomach. Ridiculous, right? But seeing it...
Yeah, kinda intimidating.
"Alright, let's start."
I unpack everything from my bag. Trial 1 clear condition is simple: deal set damage to the central target in one hit. The threshold is tough for Year 1 levels—author's scheme for power-inflated protagonists like Melissa and Kaeran. Their fast clears make sense.
Even shooting crossbows all day, my clear chance is near zero.
Waste of time? Nah—unlimited time, free entry, double XP? Can't pass that up. It's a free efficiency shooting range for me.
So I brought bedding and cooking gear to max it out today.
"First goal: solid hits."
If I can land shots, my cheat passive does the rest.
Feeling good, I fix the crossbow string to the mount.
......
-Poke. Poke. Poke.
-Poke. Poke. Poke.
-Poke. Poke. Poke.
-......
Crune's aid-beast, Sinatis, fixates on something trivial. The Chamber replicates her monster-era awakening essence 1:1 in the academy gym. Not her real organ, but nerves link, sharing sensations.
Most newbies try Trial 1 a few times and quit, but this guy's hammering it with absurd firepower.
-Poke. Poke. Poke.
More annoying than a buzzing insect.
-Nerves... irritated. Like constant sneezes.
-Time... already much...
Even with Crune's thoughts infused, her body's beastly. Not nocturnal back then, so she rests at dawn for stress relief and mana stabilization.
Chamber closing soon, but he shows no sign of leaving.
Crune said: -Don't overdo it—rest is training too!
-Gotta... clock out.
No choice—Sinatis messages him first.
-Quit... not?
He startles at the sudden voice but replies.
"Yeah, planning to keep going."
-......
Sinatis ponders. Cadets have dorm curfew—must leave. For the first time beyond Crune, she offers kindness.
-Dorm... closing.
Politely warning about curfew penalties per academy rules. Cadets freak over points.
But his response...
"Got kicked from dorms. Stacked mad points already."
-...?
"So gonna eat, sleep, train here all weekend. Thanks."
-......??????
Thanks me then dives back in. Sees the full kit now: pillow, blanket, snacks... Weekends off usually...?
'Three days straight?' Her thoughts chain: curiosity builds.
She asks what she shouldn't: human physiology.
-Bathroom... where?
No facilities in chamber. He pauses, scratches head, grins sheepishly.
"That's... awkward..."
-Out. Out. Out. Out. Out. Out.
The chamber rumbles. He stays cool, centers himself, proposes amid shakes.
-Out. Out. Out. Ou—
"Grant one request, and I'll leave... immediately!"
-...
"..."
Not a normal ask.
-Humans... untrustworthy. Crune warned against favors.
But no options—listen.
-Speak.
"...Let me clear Trial 1."
-...
"..."
For Sinatis, centuries old, this day she truly messed with the wrong human male.