The First Class
A brief silence fell over the crowd as the chancellor finished his announcement.
Everyone seemed too stunned by the unexpected news to speak.
"Whoa! That's insane! Is that for real?"
Suddenly, a massive cheer erupted from the Department of Weapon Crafting.
"No way! The top student of the entire freshman class is from our department?!"
"Oh my god, I can't believe it! Edward, you're the best!"
The roaring cheers showed no signs of dying down.
"Whoooo! You're amazing, Edward!"
Faced with this unexpected triumph, my classmates' faces beamed with pure joy and pride.
However, the reactions from the other departments were starkly different.
"What's going on? The top student is from the Department of Weapon Crafting?"
"I don't believe it... Of all places, why weapon crafting? It's not even the Department of Swordsmanship..."
Shock and disbelief washed over the faces of the swordsmanship and magic students.
They exchanged glances, desperately trying to make sense of the situation.
"The top overall student coming from weapon crafting... That's completely out of left field."
"Right? Especially since the second exam was a combat evaluation. They should have been at a huge disadvantage..."
A strange, tense atmosphere rippled through the crowd.
The fact that the top student belonged to the Department of Weapon Crafting was clearly a massive shock to everyone.
Historically, the Department of Swordsmanship and the Department of Magic were fierce rivals.
Naturally, all eyes had been on which of the two would claim the top spot this year.
Everyone had expected this result to decide which department would take the lead among the freshmen.
Some students even began to raise suspicions.
"Did they give the weapon crafting department some kind of special extra points?"
"I can't accept this... We lost to weapon crafting?"
The murmurs grew louder and louder.
For a while, the chaotic atmosphere hung in the air, thick with curiosity and tension.
After the entrance ceremony, I finished up the campus tour with Chloe, the runner-up of the Department of Weapon Crafting, and headed toward the dormitories.
As we walked around the academy, I couldn't help but marvel at everything I saw.
The grand buildings, the state-of-the-art facilities, and even the beautifully landscaped gardens.
It was amazing to think that all of this was prepared solely for the students.
"So this is the dormitory we'll be staying in... It's really nice."
I stared at the dormitory building before us, unable to hide my admiration.
Its exterior looked like a luxury hotel.
"Yeah. The academy's facilities are top-notch, so I figured the dorms wouldn't be any different."
Chloe looked up at the building with a satisfied expression.
Then, her face turned serious as she looked at me.
"But Edward, did you see the reactions of the other departments during the ceremony? It was so satisfying. The looks on the faces of the swordsmanship and magic students were priceless!"
A mischievous smile played on Chloe's lips.
"You probably heard them during the second exam, but they were openly looking down on our department. They underestimated us just because we have a lot of commoners."
She chuckled and shook her head.
"But then you went and snatched the top spot right out from under them. It felt like a breath of fresh air. I bet their eyes were about to pop out from shock."
Hearing Chloe's words, a wave of pride washed over me.
"Haha... Actually, I was pretty surprised myself. I didn't think I did that well."
Chloe shrugged at my modesty.
"No, you did amazing. You're incredible, Edward. To think someone from the Department of Weapon Crafting would become the top overall student..."
Pride for our department resonated in her voice.
"If we keep working hard, it won't be long before the other departments start envying us. And you've basically taken the first step for all of us."
I nodded at Chloe's words.
Suddenly, I was reminded of my days playing the game.
Back then, because of the nature of the blacksmith class, being ignored or looked down upon by other players was a daily occurrence.
It was something I had grown all too familiar with on online community boards.
"That brings back memories..."
A specific memory flashed through my mind.
It was a mocking post titled, 'Honestly, I don't get why anyone plays the blacksmith class lol,' and the flood of agreeing comments beneath it.
Of course, I was furious at first.
It was infuriating that trashy posts like that received hundreds of upvotes.
What kind of era were we living in for occupational discrimination to be so rampant?
There was no such thing as a noble or lowly profession.
Blacksmiths had their own unique charm and beauty, even if the process of crafting weapons was grueling and difficult.
Just like giving birth to a new life, the pain of creation always accompanied the birth of a masterpiece.
Armed with craftsmanship in a scorching forge, pouring one's heart and soul into shaping a weapon eventually rewarded you with the beauty and ecstasy radiating from the finished work.
Above all, when facing the result born from that arduous process, a natural affection, like that for one's own child, would well up inside.
And yet, those who knew nothing of this profession's true value hid behind anonymity to belittle and mock it.
What do these bastards even know?!
Trembling with rage, I had gritted my teeth.
But getting triggered and arguing with them online only lasted for a short while.
As time passed, the standing of blacksmiths in the game shrank further, and they were slowly forgotten by the player base.
Consequently, those posts and comments naturally faded away as well.
Recalling those old memories now, a sudden wave of pride washed over me.
Knights and mages? What of them?
Weren't they the so-called 'meta classes' that the people who looked down on blacksmiths praised so highly?
My heart swelled at the realization that I—a blacksmith—had utterly crushed them.
At that very moment, a new ambition began to stir and rise within me.
Alright, I've made up my mind.
I will become a legendary blacksmith.
I will make sure that in this unfamiliar world, blacksmiths are looked up to, standing tall as a true 'meta class' that everyone envies.
From now on, blacksmiths will receive the highest treatment here, and children who dream of becoming blacksmiths will be able to walk proudly with their heads held high.
Because that would be another legacy I leave behind in this world.
Today was the first day of classes for the Department of Weapon Crafting.
My steps were light as I headed to the lecture hall.
I walked alongside Chloe toward the building dedicated to weapon crafting classes.
"You seem to be in a good mood today, Granger."
"Of course. It's a good day."
Excitement was already blooming in my chest.
My heart swelled at the thought of discussing, researching, and innovating weapons alongside classmates who shared the same dream.
The blacksmith class had been lonely, even in the game.
The reason Lost Kingdom had been so popular was its vast world and high degree of freedom, but above all, the core appeal was the interaction between players—the essence of any RPG.
In an RPG, players form parties.
Warriors, mages, priests, and other classes with different roles join forces to overcome hardships.
The tight-knit camaraderie and sense of achievement forged in that process were the true highlights of the game.
But I could only watch from the sidelines with envy.
There was no way anyone would invite a blacksmith, who lacked combat power, into their party.
At least other non-combat classes like merchants or chefs formed small communities through guilds to share information and nurture newcomers. Blacksmiths didn't even have that.
Since it was a rare and dying profession, a structured group had never existed in the first place.
For that very reason, I had been looking forward to this first lecture more than anything.
Just imagining us sharing the deep passion we had harbored and dedicating ourselves to developing new weapons made my heart race.
I should teach them as much as I can. These kids will be the ones to lead the revival of blacksmiths.
Making a firm resolve in my heart, I quickened my pace.
I let out a sigh of relief as we arrived at the lecture hall.
"Whew, made it just in time. Thank goodness."
Stepping inside, the scene that unfolded looked less like a classroom and more like a massive forge.
Desks were piled high with various materials, and furnaces and anvils lined the room.
Tools on the walls gleamed in the sunlight, and the heat and scent of molten metal and charcoal filled the air.
All these elements blended together to create the distinct atmosphere of a blacksmith's workshop.
Ah, this familiar, nostalgic feeling...
Suddenly, I realized all eyes were on me.
Whispers broke out among the students, and several began scanning me with curious eyes.
"That's him. The top student of our department everyone's talking about."
"Whoa, that guy? I heard he got first place out of the entire freshman class."
The murmurs spread.
Feeling a tap on my shoulder, I turned around to see a red-haired, freckled young man smiling brightly.
"Hey, Edward! You're the pride of our department. To be the top student overall as a freshman, that's amazing!"
"We'll be seeing a lot of each other. I'm William, a fellow classmate. Nice to meet you!"
"Ah, hello. Nice to meet you too."
I shook his hand and exchanged a brief greeting.
"But how did you get a perfect score on the practical exam? I still can't believe it."
"Oh, I just got lucky. Haha..."
As I replied, feeling a bit embarrassed by his praise, other students began gathering around one by one.
"Me too, me too! Let's get along, Ed!"
"I saw you working briefly during the first exam, and your skills were incredible. I'm dying to know your secret!"
Everyone greeted me warmly and friendly.
Their welcoming attitude gradually eased my tension, and a sense of comfort washed over me.
The atmosphere is even better than I expected.
It was while I was chatting with my classmates that it happened.
"Ahem!"
With a short cough, the classroom door swung open, and a familiar-looking female professor strode in.
"Alright, everyone, take your seats."
Her clear, resonant voice echoed through the lecture hall.
"I am Elena von Walter, and I will be your academic advisor for this semester."
For a moment, I couldn't believe my eyes.
The sharp eyes, the silver hair, the striking glasses.
And within those blue eyes, passion and charisma burned brightly.
The unexpected appearance of this figure sent a wave of surprise and excitement through the students, and the classroom began to buzz.
Wait, why on earth is she here...?
There was no mistake. She was definitely someone I already knew very well.