I, a cultivator, have ended up in the wizarding world.

Chapter 3 Propaganda and Concealment

"All apprentices who have completed and passed the talent assessment, proceed immediately to the central square! The selection of your major will begin soon!"

The cold, automated announcements echoed throughout the hall, urging the crowd to move.

Just as Jemin came down from the testing area, before he could even gather his thoughts, he was pushed and shoved by a crowd toward the exit on the other side of the hall.

He could sense the anxiety and confusion emanating from the apprentices around him.

Before the emotions brought on by the assessment results could be fully processed, they were rushed into the next stage that would determine their fate.

The hall's exit leads directly to the huge plaza in the center of the academy. As Jemin surged out of the gate with the crowd, the sight before him made him gasp in amazement.

The square is larger than I imagined, like a miniature city.

The ground, paved with a black, shimmering material, stretched to the horizon, reflecting the light cast from the sky.

What truly captivated everyone's attention were the enormous, adrenaline-pumping images of witchcraft suspended above the square.

Wizards battled on a blood-soaked, otherworldly battlefield, with powerful magic raining down like meteors, each attack accompanied by breathtaking sound and light effects.

Grotesque otherworldly creatures, collapsing ancient ruins, and enormous magical constructs traversing the starry sky... all of this is presented in the most direct and visually striking way.

At the bottom of the screen, rows of huge runes shone with dazzling light:

[Glory ahead!]

[Unlimited Wealth!]

[A Fast Track to Promotion!]

Join the combat system and forge a legend!

Before long, a colossal phantom of a wizard materialized from the light and shadow in mid-air. His expression was solemn and cold, and his voice, as if from a distant starry sky, echoed emotionlessly over the plaza:

"Welcome to Norren Academy. The academy will provide you with the most advanced extraordinary knowledge to help you ignite the flame of your spirit and build the ring of truth."

"But power comes at a price! According to the principle of equivalent exchange, each apprentice needs to sign a contract with the academy. After reaching a certain level of strength or studying for a certain period of time, they will travel to other planes connected by the Star Orbit Network to expand the territory for the Federation and the academy!"

The wizard's phantom gaze swept coldly across the dense crowd below, its voice completely flat:

"Now, you need to choose between two majors—the [Combat] major, representing strength and conquest, and the [Logistics] major, representing creation and support!"

"You will have one day to choose your major. Make the most of this one and only opportunity, because once you choose, you cannot change it!"

After speaking, the wizard's phantom image vanished.

A massive magical light curtain then rose in the center of the plaza, clearly dividing it like a barrier.

Above the light screen were huge signs: [Combat] and [Logistics].

Below, smaller light screens indicate specific sub-items, with combat-related categories such as [Soul], [Energy], and [Summoning].

On the other side are Alchemy, Potions, Enchanting, Construct Studies...

In the areas closest to the apprentices stood some of the academy's instructors or senior apprentices, making their final sales pitches.

"Choose the combat system! The shortest contract period! The most generous resource allocation! The front line is the best whetstone and the fastest springboard to becoming a high-level wizard!" A middle-aged male wizard with an excited face shouted loudly in the combat system area, his voice carrying a stirring power.

"The academy will provide you with the most advanced spell models and the most powerful magical equipment! You will also have the opportunity to inherit the legacy of ancient ruins and seize wealth and glory that belongs to you in countless planes!"

The scene left Jemin somewhat dazed: "What the hell is this job fair? Where the hell am I? Am I back in China again?"

Besides these familiar sights, at the very front of the combat area, a group of powerful wizards stood on a temporary stage built with magic.

They wore uniform robes and badges of at least Level 1 wizards. The proportion of Level 1 wizards was extremely small, with the vast majority being Level 2 wizards, and even a few Level 3 wizards!
According to the academy's propaganda, these wizards are alumni from the previous batch who participated in military service, and are returning wizards who "temporarily withdrew from the front lines to return to the academy in order to guide the new students."

They stood tall and straight, or chatted casually, their eyes gleaming with a sharpness and confidence honed on the battlefield, radiating a powerful aura.

"Look! That's the Level 3 Wizard, Instructor Mars! He just returned from a mission in the Crimson Flame Plane, where he is said to have slain several powerful fire elemental lords!" A nearby apprentice whispered among himself, his eyes filled with longing and awe.

"And that young one over there, a formal wizard who just advanced to level two not long ago! I heard he completed his contract mission in only five years of war, and has been honing his skills on the battlefield ever since."

"...Tsk, aren't we all apprentices who just came for the test today? How do you guys know so much?!" Jemin couldn't help but complain inwardly. Of course, he also knew that genuine country bumpkins like himself were in the minority; many qualified apprentices were nobles, and it seemed that the nobles in this world were all wizards.

It's quite normal for these apprentices to know some things about the wizarding world from a young age, having been exposed to it all along.

Jemin walked to a promotional area for a "Puppet" type combat system. The light screen in front of him clearly displayed the contract conditions for this system:

After joining the Puppetry Department, apprentices have ten years of study time. Once they have completed ten years of study or have reached the level of a first-class formal wizard, they will be sent to the battlefield.

During this period, all basic and advanced knowledge related to the Puppet System will be made available for free, and there will also be a resource supply equivalent to 100 points every month.

Contractors must serve seven years on the battlefield or earn a second-class merit before their military service can end...

Jemin walked through the promotional area for the combat-related majors, and found that the conditions for the other combat-related majors were pretty much the same.

The study time and ability requirements remain unchanged, and all relevant knowledge of the department is also freely available.

The main differences are the value of the monthly resource supply and the length of military service.

They receive 100 to 150 points of resources each month, and the military service period ranges from 5 to 15 years.

After spending quite some time reading it from beginning to end, Jemin turned his head to look at the other side.

In stark contrast to the bustling activity in the combat area, the logistics area was relatively quiet.

The instructors here have virtually no intention of promoting themselves; even when someone asks them questions, they just impatiently point to the light screen.

After glancing at the contract terms they offered, Jemin understood why the logistics department was so deserted.

The longest study time remains unchanged, but almost everything else has changed.

All logistics departments only provide the most basic knowledge. Advanced knowledge can only be obtained by exchanging points, and only basic resources worth a mere 10 points are provided each month.

And... a terrifyingly long military service period—thirty years!

All the conditions proposed by the logistics department were exactly the same, except for some differences in name.

"Are you kidding me? A thirty-year contract?" an apprentice complained in a low voice. "That's way too long! The shortest contract for combat is only five years!"

Such a stark contrast in benefits and the tangible "success stories" spurred many people, their faces gleaming with a thirst for power and glory, to rapidly flock to the combat-oriented areas.

Those apprentices with high talent are the main targets of the combat instructors.

Jemin's level six talent also made him a target of attention for the combat instructors, and several instructors had already been glancing at him with their eyes.

However, in this torrent of fervor, Jay clearly stood out from the crowd.

Having experienced the information explosion in his previous life, he was not misled by those dazzling magical images and glamorous "successful people." The tension of potentially becoming an experimental subject at any moment kept him observing, and he soon discovered some strange things.

“A total of ninety-seven wizards have returned to the combat system… Strange, why is it this number?” Jemin frowned.

These wizards, who have just returned from the battlefield, have a rather unique aura. Moreover, the returning wizards from the combat system are now gathered on the stage, being promoted by their combat instructors like exhibits.

On the other side, although the logistics department didn't have much publicity, the returning wizards were mostly gathered in one place, and their eyes would occasionally flash with a mocking look when they looked at the stage of the returning combat wizards.

Jemin suspected that these returning wizards had been given a mission similar to a propaganda campaign, which was why they had all gathered together.

So here's the question: why are there only ninety-seven people?

If it's for "cooperating with publicity," why not round up the number, like... one hundred?

This is a wizarding academy, known for its rigor and pursuit of knowledge. Theoretically, it shouldn't be possible for such a situation of "not being able to make up a whole number" to occur in such a public setting.

"Two possibilities. In the wizarding world, due to some special wizarding rules or numerical symbolism, ninety-seven is indeed a 'round number.' Two..."

Thinking of a certain possibility, Jemin's expression turned somewhat grim: "...They don't have the ability to gather a hundred."

What does it mean to lack ability?

Of course... everyone else is dead!
These 97 people are very likely the survivors who were sent to the battlefield and went through layers of selection and countless battles!
(End of this chapter)