66: It's graduation season again

Two years passed in a flash.

The tall, white Wizard Tower still stood quietly deep within the Mist Forest.

However, the tower itself had gained a sense of wear and tear from the wind and rain, adding to the historical depth of this century-old Wizard Tower...

Since Allie returned from her studies, Green and the others had seen her only a handful of times.

They only heard that Allie, like Westley, was studying and refining potions like a madwoman.

Fortunately, Allie didn't drink low-level satiety potions.

She ordered meal delivery service, and her daily diet still consisted mainly of fruits, vegetables, and fresh milk...

In the blink of an eye, graduation season was approaching again.

This time, it was Green's turn.

In the 20th year of the wizard's path, at the end of December, the Iron Triangle gathered again at the Beef Burger Shack.

This time, a new member joined them—Adler, who had just completed a mission, was severely injured, and was forced to recuperate at the Academy.

Green carefully observed his three companions.

At this graduation celebration, Green only had these good brothers left; Allie hadn't come, which disappointed Green a bit.

Green had sought out Allie a few times over the past two years, advising her to maintain a balanced study schedule.

But Allie always dismissed him, claiming she needed to focus on the wizard's path.

The vast difference in their philosophies gradually led them apart...

According to information gathered by Oakes, out of the 198 apprentices who enrolled together, only 42 successfully obtained their graduation diplomas, becoming registered apprentices of the Academy and gaining permanent residency.

As for the remaining 156 apprentices, they were forced into the ranks of combat Wizards, constantly rushing between battles and missions, hoping to accumulate mission points to exchange for permanent residency at the Academy.

There were rumors that due to the friction between Black Wizard and Radiant Fire Wizard Academy, the danger level of external missions had been increasing in recent years, and the number of apprentice combat mission losses this term had already exceeded half.

At Plant Heart Wizard Academy, Green's close friends were all apprentices who had studied for twenty years, successfully passing four five-year major exams, and were the ones who laughed last.

(Adler was an exception; he was also not fond of studying and went straight down the path of a Bloodline Knight.)

...Name: Oakes

Physiological Age: 30 years old

Wizard Age: 20 years

Wizard Realm: Intermediate Wizard Apprentice (25%)

Awakened Bloodline: None

Title: 2-Star Apprentice Alchemist

Evaluation:

A Wizard Apprentice with 'money power,' a direct descendant of one of the four great Wizard families of the Wizard Academy.

His academic performance during the 20-year Wizard Apprentice training phase was stable and excellent, making him an elite talent.

He served as the head of the student club department, vice president, and president of this term.

He has a social butterfly personality and loves to show off.

Currently developing in both Apothecary and business management, he received a job offer as an assistant team leader at a Grade B Laboratory after graduation...

Name: Bigg

Physiological Age: 29 years old

Wizard Age: 20 years

Wizard Realm: Intermediate Wizard Apprentice (5%)

Awakened Bloodline: None

Title: Intermediate Magical Plant Cultivator

Evaluation:

A diligent and practical Wizard Apprentice with decisive judgment, who chose his path early and gained a first-mover advantage.

His academic performance during the 20-year Wizard Apprentice training phase was stable and excellent, making him an elite talent.

No experience working in student clubs, he spent a long time in the Botanical Garden, working conscientiously and down-to-earth, successfully graduating and obtaining his degree with the tenacity of an old ox, plus a little help from friends.

He has social phobia, doesn't like to talk, but has his own independent thinking and is firm in his choices.

Currently developing towards Advanced Magical Plant Cultivator and education/teaching, he received an offer from Old Moler's large Botanical Garden as a contracted Magical Plant Cultivator after graduation...

Name: Green

Physiological Age: 30 years old

Wizard Age: 20 years

Wizard Realm: Intermediate Wizard Apprentice (55%) + Bloodline Grand Knight Peak

Awakened Bloodline: Rank 4 Star Devouring Beast

Title: 3-Star Apprentice Alchemist

Evaluation:

A good student who relies on strict self-discipline and actively participates in internal competition.

His academic performance during the 20-year Wizard Apprentice training phase was stable and extremely excellent, making him a genius.

No experience working in student clubs, he spent a long time in the laboratory, the free food area on the first floor north, Mentor Jordan's training ground, and the library on the fourth floor, studying diligently.

His talent and aptitude ranked among the top three of this term, successfully graduating and obtaining his degree.

He has social phobia, is a shy otaku, likes but dares not pursue, goes with the flow, has a bit of a masochistic tendency, but also has grand ideals and ambitions, and is working hard for them.

Currently developing towards Apothecary and combat Wizard, he received a talent introduction offer from Teacher Bridger's Grade A Laboratory after graduation...

Name: Adler

Physiological Age: 28 years old

Wizard Age: 20 years

Wizard Realm: Intermediate Wizard Apprentice (15%) + Bloodline Grand Knight Peak

Awakened Bloodline: Rank 3 Earth Bear

Title: Low-level Magical Plant Cultivator, 3-Star Combat Wizard

Evaluation:

A simple and brave young man, a strong and trustworthy Bloodline Knight.

During the 20-year Wizard Apprentice training phase, his cultural academic performance was average and relatively lagging.

He later switched to developing as a Bloodline Knight, embarking on the path of a combat Wizard.

No experience working in student clubs.

Having served in three combat teams, he is a loyal and reliable shield and guardian for his comrades.

He loves to eat, drink, and fight, and his greatest enjoyment is to have a big drink and eat a lot with a few friends after a fierce battle, living freely and unrestrainedly.

Currently developing towards combat Wizard and Bloodline Grand Knight, he has rich combat experience over several years and is a reliable member of a top combat team...

"Come, let's raise our glasses together."

"To our youth that will eventually pass!"

Green raised his large beer mug, inviting everyone.

"Cheers..."

"Cheers..."

"Cheers..."

All four were heavy drinkers and directly chugged 1L of rye ice beer in one go.

"Haha... haha..."

They all couldn't help but laugh joyfully.

At this moment, throughout the entire free dining area on the first floor, there were several other tables where apprentices who had also passed the major graduation exam were celebrating.

The atmosphere was filled with joy and happiness, which made the surrounding younger apprentices envious.

They were still in the midst of intense studies.

"I really envy these graduating seniors; I wish I could graduate as smoothly as them..."

"Green, you're amazing..."

Oakes punched Green hard, as if to vent his dissatisfaction.

"Without a sound, you became a 3-Star Apprentice Alchemist."

"I'm still stuck on that last Intermediate Spiritual Power Awakening Potion."

"Sigh, just that little bit more."

"I feel like if you give me three months, no, two months, I can overcome that hurdle."

"Oakes, I was just lucky."

"If it weren't for the boost from the Academy, I wouldn't have had the chance to become a 3-Star Apprentice Alchemist."

"I still have to thank the Academy for its nurturing," Green sighed.

"Oakes, don't be discouraged.

A true talent will always shine.

Keep at it, and you'll definitely succeed too."

Bigg encouraged Oakes.

"I know, thank you for your encouragement."

"I never really aspired to be a 3-Star Apprentice Alchemist, but being so close, I just felt a bit unwilling, so I complained a bit.

Don't take it to heart."

..."Come, tonight, Green is our biggest star."

"He's the dark horse among us; this truly solidifies his reputation as a genius."

"From now on, Green will be one of the three great geniuses of our term, with limitless prospects."

Oakes praised loudly:

"Green, do you remember Henry and Irene who mocked you before?"

"The Henry who wanted to drag you to a party."

After saying that, Oakes winked at Green.

"Cough, cough..."

Green coughed a few times unnaturally, pretending to be nonchalant, and said:

"I vaguely remember them.

They both tried to trick me out of my Magic Plant stones back then."

"Unfortunately, I was more skilled and didn't let them succeed."

"Their mockery, in my opinion, was nothing but a clown show.

If I ever get a chance to meet them again, I'll definitely give them a good beating."

..."Haha..."

"Green, what a pity, you won't get the chance."

Oakes said playfully:

"Irene, she had bad luck.

She had poor aptitude and tried to take shortcuts, even hoping to find a backer through intimate relations."

"As a result, during a mission in her third year, her team encountered an unbeatable enemy.

In her moment of crisis, her so-called backer heartlessly abandoned her, and she tragically died in the jaws of a beast."

"Ah..."

Green was surprised: "Is it that tragic?"

"Are external combat missions that dangerous?"

"That depends on individual strength.

For a Low-level Wizard Apprentice like Irene, the Intensity of the low-level Wizardry she learned was at most a dozen degrees.

In the dense Mist Coast, her survival ability was the worst.

At the very least, one needs to be an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice to barely protect oneself."

Oakes explained:

"And that's not even the worst of it."

"The most tragic is Henry.

That guy, he cheated, swindled, and was capable of anything.

His reputation was so great that even I admired him three points."

"Relying on the ill-gotten gains from his scams, Henry did manage to pass the second and third five-year major exams, but he ultimately fell to his gambling addiction."

"That guy, in order to win back his money, dared to borrow from loan sharks, and ended up losing everything."

"With interest compounding, Henry accumulated a huge debt that he couldn't repay at all..."

"Just yesterday, the moment his apprentice welfare protection period ended, the loan sharks, citing the Academy rules, sold Henry to a certain mentor at the Academy who studies death and life.

What awaits Henry is an endless life as experimental material."

"Tsk tsk tsk..."

"So, Green, you probably won't see these two again, and they won't know about your outstanding achievements."

"How about it, isn't it frustrating that you couldn't get your revenge?"

...Hearing about their tragic fates, Green's resentment dissipated.

He still remembered how arrogant those two were back then.

Even Green, with his good temper, couldn't help but jot them down in his little notebook, preparing to get his revenge one day.

However, those two had poor fortune; they passed away before Green could even get his revenge.

This made Green feel a little melancholy.

Green pretended to be relieved and glanced at Oakes.

"There's nothing to be happy or unhappy about.

I just feel sorry for these two classmates who went astray in life."

"It's always a regrettable thing when two young buds, at their most beautiful, are crushed by wind and snow and wither."

"People, after all, must hold power in their own hands."

..."Come, let's not talk about these unhappy things."

"Tonight, we drink until we drop, let loose and drink!"

"Good!"

"Let's drink our fill, and drink away all the hardships and fatigue we've endured for the past 20 years.

Whoever doesn't get drunk is a coward..."

"Alright, then I'll risk my life to accompany you gentlemen.

After 20 years of being suppressed, I can finally live freely and happily, without fear.

Come, I'll drink first, you all do as you please..."

"How can drinking be without me, Adler?

I'll take on all three of you.

Who's not convinced?

Come fight!"

"Drinking enemy blood on the battlefield, and drinking heavily and eating meat after the battle—that's the life I want..."

And so, the few drunkards began their drinking battle...

The security office was unusually quiet tonight; no one came to stop the apprentices' revelry.

This was their right.

As long as they didn't go too crazy.

Tonight was the stage for these graduating students!

They were the undisputed protagonists!