The Elite University Class
Heo Shin-ah swallowed a laugh as she watched Yoo Ji-tae receive five hundred million won. After the recent demon incident, she had nearly razed the entire academy to the ground. Ji-tae had talked her out of it, yet the fury and fear still lingered within her. That was why she had tapped into every available artifact network inside Hyeseong Academy, receiving live footage of every place Ji-tae passed through. This scene was the first thing that appeared.
As a wife witnessing her husband’s excellence, how could she not smile?
“Since Nanggun-nim protects the academy so fiercely, I thought the academy had made some outrageous demand of him. But that wasn’t it.”
Ji-tae’s figure filled her vision. He was scratching his cheek while holding five hundred million won.
“...Ah. How can he be this magnificent?”
Heo Shin-ah trembled.
“He simply chose a seat and extracted five hundred million from a woman. He gathers the funds needed for his training on his own and forges his own path. He does not merely obtain money—he wields and dominates the very humans who create it. As expected of someone who sees the true nature of wealth....”
“...He is so dignified. To think this is my Nanggun-nim. I am truly a blessed woman....”
When a man receives money from a woman, it is regarded as proof of his authority and is highly esteemed. If that man actively seeks out such women, he is usually praised as diligent and outstanding.
“...As his wife, I wish to do everything for him, but if it is Nanggun-nim’s will to accomplish things himself, then this Heo Shin-ah will accept it.”
Han Ji-min appeared in Heo Shin-ah’s sight. After transferring the five hundred million, Han Ji-min was speaking to Ji-tae and openly displaying her favor. Then she casually reached out and gently touched and caressed Ji-tae’s hand.
“Hah. She paid five hundred million, so she thinks she’s become his girlfriend?! She actually believes she can buy a man with money. How vulgar!”
“But what is even more vulgar is everyone in this class!”
Heo Shin-ah bit her nails.
“My Nanggun-nim has graced them with his attention, yet they do not even send a token of gratitude? Do they truly believe they can enjoy this for free?!”
“These academy students have no basic manners.”
Heo Shin-ah immediately opened SNS and commented on Hyeseong Academy’s promotional post.
“Please take care of me from now on, Ji-min-ah.”
“...Yeah. Ji-tae-yaa.”
+ He talked to me... (10 points)
Gratitude points were easy to obtain, as usual. After finishing his conversation with Han Ji-min, Ji-tae listened to Ho-ran’s guidance.
“Originally we were supposed to conduct the ranking test today, but due to the recent incident the schedule has been disrupted. Therefore the test will be postponed and we will proceed directly to class.”
Ho-ran raised a card.
“In the Elite University Class, the academy card serves as identification and is also the basic requirement for using facilities. Re-issuance takes considerable time, so please treat it with care.”
Han Ji-min tapped her desk.
“Ji-tae-ya. Want to take class with me?”
He wanted to look around and see what classes were available, but he could not miss the chance to observe the curriculum taken by the fourth-ranked student of the Elite University Class. Learning from a model was always faster anyway.
“Sure. I’ll be in your care.”
*****
The place Han Ji-min headed to was a massive auditorium. In the center sat a young woman with white hair, dressed in white robes, nodding off.
“That is Baek Eum-seong-gun. She is an instructor and also manages job placements for the Elite University Class.”
“Job placements?”
“Yeah!”
Han Ji-min nodded.
“She knows a ton of companies and brings in all kinds of work. Then she selects the people needed for those jobs, and if you apply you can earn money. She even gives opportunities to lower-ranked students, so she’s quite popular.”
“She doesn’t seem like the type who belongs in an academy.”
“Yeah. Apparently she used to be a department head at a trading company. She got fired after ruining a project and nearly died, but the head of Hyeseong Academy took her in. She acts as a bridge between the Elite University Class and the outside world.”
“Hmm.”
Baek Eum-seong-gun, drooling as she dozed, tumbled off her chair. At that moment, star-like objects floated up from her arms and legs, lifting her into the air. Still half upside-down, she spun half a turn and floated back up.
“...Everyone’s here. Only Han Ji-min from the top ten seems to have come. And... Yoo Ji-tae-nim. I’ve heard quite a bit about you. If you need anything while at the academy, please let me know anytime.”
Baek Eum-seong-gun bowed her head and began the lecture.
“What I teach is the basics of constitution improvement and a few spells. The final destination of a constitution must be decided by each individual, so do not expect to learn everything from me.”
Baek Eum-seong-gun picked up the microphone.
“Now... A person’s body is determined by what they eat, what training they undergo, and what bloodline they possess. However, there is a difference in the endpoint. It is not merely a matter of focusing on strength or speed. Bodies that possess special abilities show enormous differences in direction as well. In modern magic, that endpoint is classified as a constitution.”
Baek Eum-seong-gun raised her hand upward. From her shoulder to her fingertips, her body turned golden. At that moment, Ji-tae’s Hephaestus analyzed it.
Adamantine Thunder Dragon Steel Body (A)
A body possessing the properties of a thunder dragon and adamantine, no different from an artifact. Created through long-term training and dietary methods, it grants transcendent physical durability, stamina recovery, and a 30% power correction to lightning-attribute magic.
Ji-tae was impressed. Rather than simply inserting artifacts into the body, one forges the body itself into a kind of artifact through training and diet. Easy to say, yet it required construction on the level of completely rebuilding the body’s composition.
“My constitution is called the Adamantine Thunder Dragon Steel Body and is considered quite high-grade. A constitution is half body, half artifact, so it possesses performance that does not register under ordinary detection abilities. Therefore, even if you currently insert artifacts into your body, in the end you should strive to create and evolve a constitution.”
Ji-tae checked the recipe for creating the Adamantine Thunder Dragon Steel Body. As expected, it required a considerable magic level and materials. It seemed like a final stage reached after passing through several constitutions.
“Ah. By the way, every mage possesses an attribute in their mana. It is not that they cannot use magic of other attributes, but the activation speed and power differ greatly, so it is better to focus on one’s own attribute. Therefore, each of you should try to develop something suited to your attribute. Though finding the pill-refining method for a matching constitution will be difficult.”
‘...I see.’
It did not seem easy to obtain a constitution recipe. Moreover, since Hephaestus could not recklessly analyze something unless the person themselves revealed it, the path would be even more difficult.
Ji-tae continued listening to Baek Eum-seong-gun’s lecture. The spell she taught was the Protective Steel Qi, said to be quite rare among third-grade common magic.
Protective Steel Qi
A magic that uses mana to increase physical durability.
Acquisition Possible
It was a spell that enhanced defensive power. If he had been able to use this magic during his fight with Baek Seol, he would not have had to waste both arms blocking attacks. It was exactly the kind of magic he needed. Not bad. Not bad, but if Sacred Lotus Realm was teaching this, he would have been a little disappointed.
“Yoo Ji-tae-nim seems rather disappointed.”
Reading his expression, Baek Eum-seong-gun spoke during the lecture.
“Ah. I’m sorry.”
“Not at all. It is natural to be disappointed, as this magic does not even reach the level of secret arts. However, please understand that the magic I possess is not limited to this. Secret arts can only be taught to a select few qualified individuals, so I cannot disclose them freely.”
“Understood.”
The lecture continued afterward, but it was meaningless time for Ji-tae. He had no need for explanations about the meaning or details of Protective Steel Qi.
After class, his mind was filled with thoughts about constitutions. From the recipe for the Adamantine Thunder Dragon Steel Body, he learned that two things were required to create a constitution: materials and magic. After continuously pushing materials into the body, one uses magic to gradually settle those materials into the body. That was how a constitution was formed.
Probably none of the In-Seoul Class students had possessed constitutions. They all had similar physical conditions and abilities. But this place would be different. At the very least, the top and upper ranks of the Elite University Class were highly likely to possess constitutions. And they would have focused on developing constitutions suited to each individual.
He reached a conclusion.
‘First, figure out my attribute, then obtain the recipe for a constitution that matches me.’
He did not know the method, but if he investigated, something would turn up. While still thinking, Ji-tae looked at Han Ji-min sitting beside him.
“Hey, Ji-min-ah.”
“Hm? Why?”
Han Ji-min answered with a bright smile.
“Do you have a constitution too?”
“Yeah.”
Han Ji-min unbuttoned her shirt and showed her chest. Her chest turned transparent blue, and small stars twinkled inside.
Dual Cultivation Physique (B)
A body possessing dual cultivation talent, no different from an artifact. Created through long-term training and dietary methods, it increases training efficiency through dual cultivation by 15%.
His head throbbed. As if determined to tear down even a masterpiece, Hephaestus ground through his brain cells and began calculating and designing something. His Hephaestus sought the maximum within the category of that recipe. He judged that was the case.
Blood flowed from his nose.
“J-Ji-tae-ya?! Are you okay?!”
The recipe before his eyes changed.
Ssangsu Mado Sinche (S)
A divine body possessing dual cultivation talent, no different from an artifact. Created through long-term training and dietary methods, it is a body suited for dual cultivation. When dual cultivation is initiated with a user of another constitution while possessing this body, that constitution can be copied.
‘...Give me a break.’
Ji-tae wondered if his skill Hephaestus held a grudge because it could not pair him with women.