NoveLight ™
1.
All the villages after the tutorial, including Persville, have job training centers.
As the name suggests, these centers allow users to be promoted to new jobs and provide training for those jobs.
What’s interesting is that these training centers have different tiers.
From basic, intermediate, advanced, top-tier, and finally, special.
In total, there are five different tiers.
So what’s the difference?
It’s simple.
The higher the tier, the more skills and higher-level skills you can learn.
For example, in the basic training center, you might only learn two or three normal skills, but in the intermediate, you learn five normal skills.
The more skills you learn, the more versatile you become, and the opportunities expand infinitely.
Thus, it was essential for all users.
Most users would easily make it to the intermediate level.
In fact, going only to the basic training center was rare.
At the intermediate level, you can learn all the skills from the basic center, so the conditions are easy.
You just need to complete simple quests.
So what about the advanced level?
“Ugh, I failed to get into the advanced center again.”
“Again? How many times now?”
“Fourth time…”
“Wow, that’s a lot.”
There were many people who tried over and over.
Out of those, only a few succeeded.
At the advanced level, you have to pass a test conducted by the training center.
It wasn’t about solving test problems—it was a test to assess your skills based on your job.
What happens if you don’t meet the standard?
You fail.
No matter how many times you try.
So why would someone stress over it and struggle to pass?
It’s simple.
“Why not just give up, since you learned everything up to the intermediate level?”
“No! If you pass the advanced level, they’ll upgrade one of your skills to a rare skill! How can I give up like that!!”
“That’s true~”
From the advanced level onward, one of the basic skills is upgraded to a rare skill.
For those without hidden pieces, the training center was a rare oasis in the middle of a drought.
Moreover, at the top-tier level, they offer two rare skills!
How could you give that up?
Even if it’s impossible, they challenge it every day with perseverance.
It was one of the common routines for users in the first village.
Some held on to it with regret until they left, but once they reached level 20, they would realize the reality and give up in droves.
By the way, Beziron, who attacked Seong, was also from the advanced training center.
Now, if the top-tier level gives two rare skills, what about the special one?
“Wow, has anyone gotten into the special training center recently?”
“I don’t know. Has there been anyone lately?”
“I think I heard there’s one in Persville?”
“Wow, that’s amazing.”
“I’m so jealous. If you enter the special center, they’ll turn all your basic skills into rare ones!”
What? They turn all five basic skills you can learn in the first village into rare ones?
You’ll be way ahead of others from the start.
No one would be happy that the starting point was different, but opportunities are given fairly to all.
If you can’t blame anyone, it’s just your own skill.
And that frustration couldn’t be expressed anywhere.
If you were skilled enough, you would have passed already.
So, while people were chatting loudly and lining up for the different training centers, someone was lingering in front of the special training center.
“Hey, do you think that person is trying to challenge the special center? Oh, will they succeed?”
“Pfft! Look at their arms.”
“Huh? Wow, they don’t even have the training center bracelet?”
“They haven’t even gone to the basic or intermediate center, and they’re going straight for the special one? Pfft, I want to call them a fool. Seriously.”
It was understandable that someone would linger in front of the special training center.
Everyone had done it at least once when they were clueless.
Normally, they wouldn’t even approach after looking up strategies, but occasionally, there would be someone reckless like that.
The other users, curious to see how long they would last, whispered among themselves.
“Hey, want to bet how long they’ll last before getting kicked out?”
“Oh! That sounds fun!”
“I’ll say 10 minutes!”
“Eh, that’s too long! I’ll go with 3 minutes!”
“Alright, I’ll go with 1 minute!”
“Hey, 1 minute is too much! Hahaha!”
The reason they were openly laughing was also because of the appearance of the user lingering in front of the special training center.
They were quite handsome, so it was natural to feel jealous.
Now was the time to gossip.
The guards stationed at the entrance of the special training center also noticed that the user didn’t have the bracelet.
Their thoughts were no different from the other users.
‘Another clueless outsider has come.’
‘Should we at least guide them? They seem to not know yet.’
Unlike the users who laughed, the guards didn’t mock—they just ignored him.
They thought the user didn’t know anything.
“This is the SPECIAL training center. This is not a place anyone can pass.”
“You don’t seem to have the bracelet for basic or intermediate training centers. How about going there first?”
There was clearly a condescending tone in the words.
Normally, you would be upset or enraged when treated like this by an NPC.
But this user didn’t mind. Instead, he took out a piece of paper from his pocket.
“Here.”
“Ha.”
Sometimes, there were outsiders who thought they could bribe their way in.
Let’s see if they really are someone important.
With that thought, the NPC took the paper.
When he looked at the paper and then at the user in front of him, his eyes widened in shock, and he dropped his jaw.
“This, this... what is this!?”
The guard who took the paper jumped back in surprise, and another guard, standing beside him, came closer, confused.
“What? What is it? Huh?!”
They both reacted the same way, looking at the paper.
The users, watching from a distance, tilted their heads in confusion.
“What’s going on? Why are they acting like this??”
“Don’t know? Maybe they bribed them?”
“Don’t think so, they don’t move with bribes.”
“How do you know that so well?”
“… Doesn’t matter.”
“So, what is it?”
The users were confused and could only stand there, stammering.
They just kept wondering.
How great must this person be to be treated like this by the guards in a world where skill matters most?
And on top of that, they were handsome.
“... Please, 3 cm...”
“... Don’t go that far. It’s too embarrassing.”
“Ughhh.”
That day, many male users in front of the job training center shed a tear in jealousy.
2.
Yeon was undoubtedly an exceptional user.
And she thought so too.
Her talents were clear since the beginner village.
While others were sweating, trying to catch rabbits, she elegantly caught them alone, leisurely.
She was distinctly different from those who hunted together.
Catching a rabbit by herself in a single move was a big deal in Eternal World.
Catching a rabbit alone wasn’t a sign of talent, but talented players often catch rabbits in a single strike.
Yeon, too, felt that she had talent.
‘I have talent!’
Her friends, who had started with her, all acknowledged it.
That thought became her pride, and within just a few days, that pride changed many things for her.
What if she didn’t have talent?
She didn’t even entertain such thoughts.
She was overwhelming compared to everyone around her.
After watching videos of rookies in the broadcast, she now had no doubt.
‘Why did I start so late?’
She regretted starting so late.
She didn’t need to see how obsessed she had become with her own talent.
The job she chose was none other than Necromancer.
The reason was simple.
It looked much cooler than solo players or those who form parties to hunt.
She thought that melee jobs, struggling to fight, and ranged jobs that couldn’t do anything without protection from melee jobs, weren’t for her.
She wanted to lead an undead legion alone.
So, she chose Necromancer.
And she realized that her choice was right.
‘It suits me perfectly!’
With undead creation, she could set up front lines and destroy enemies from behind with overwhelming talent and instinct.
Yeon’s talent was evident even in the first village.
Unlike when she was a beginner, there were now users with skills, but no one could even come close to her.
After learning basic skills at the intermediate job training center, she challenged the special job training center and succeeded after two attempts.
She had displayed a remarkable talent.
But the fact that it took two attempts wounded her pride.
She felt guilty for not succeeding on the first try.
‘I need to do better.’
Her pride quickly turned into stubbornness.
And that made her work even harder.
In the end, it was a good turning point for her.
But even with all that, the criteria for the special Necromancer training center instructor were strict and demanding.
There was only one class a day, and it lasted precisely one hour.
Objectively, she learned faster than others who got into the special center.
But the instructor’s reactions were ambiguous.
“Hmmm, you still haven’t learned it?”
“How much should I explain before you get it?”
“Did you not understand this part?”
The reactions were more like a genius trying to teach someone less talented.
As these situations became more frequent, Yeon naturally became more sensitive.
‘This is ridiculous.’
She couldn’t believe she was being ignored, but the NPC instructor’s words were true.
The instructor she saw was a genius.
She had checked online and saw that she was better than the average person who entered the special center, but it didn’t comfort her.
She decided to prove herself by earning the instructor’s recognition.
So, today, she attended the class to learn faster than yesterday.
Just as the class was about to begin, there was a knock at the door.
Who could it be?
As the question arose in Yeon’s mind, the instructor spoke.
“Come in.”
Moments later, the door opened, and a man walked in.
A user other than herself, the only one she had thought was the best in Persville.
3.
The handsome user, Seong, who had become the envy of many, had no idea about this as he held the paper and entered the special training center.
The building, built in medieval style, was quite large and spacious.
Because the building was so large, there were many rooms, each labeled with a specific job class.
Seong naturally headed to one place.
[『Special』 Necromancer Training Center]
Seeing the word "Special" highlighted, Seong lightly knocked on the door.
It was proper etiquette to knock before entering.
Knock knock.
Not long after, a voice came from inside.
"Come in."
It was a rather aged voice.
There was a slight sense of both strictness and coldness in the voice.
A strict professor, perhaps?
With that thought, Seong opened the door and entered.
The interior of the training center was more comfortable than expected.
It was about the size of a university classroom.
It seemed large enough to accommodate around 50 people.
However, there were very few people inside.
Just one professor and one user?
There was an elderly NPC, who seemed to be the professor, and a female user.
The NPC seemed quite stubborn and had an imposing air about him, as if he might be very strict.
He seemed like the type to be exacting and meticulous.
It could be a bit difficult.
The female user, on the other hand, seemed to have a very sharp look to her.
She looked like someone who might have a sensitive personality.
However, there was also a mix of pride and confidence in her demeanor.
She seemed very capable.
Contrarily, when Seong entered, the female user shot him a sharp glare.
‘Why is she glaring at me?’
He hadn’t even done anything yet.
It felt like a mixture of suspicion and shock in her gaze.
It also felt like she might be somewhat offended.
Seong hadn’t expected anyone to be here at the special center.
He never thought there would be someone else, especially not another Necromancer.
As he quickly scanned the classroom, the elderly NPC, who seemed like the professor, addressed him.
“Did you pass the test to get here?”
“Pardon? Ah, well…”
“Considering you don’t have the bracelet, it looks like you’re trying to enter the special center for the first time. You must be quite talented.”
“…”
It seemed like the professor didn’t listen well to others.
The female user, who had been there first, once again glared sharply at Seong after hearing the professor’s words.
Seong ignored her gaze and responded.
“Actually, I brought this with me.”
“Hm?”
The elderly professor took the paper from Seong and looked at it.
His eyes widened, and his pupils began to shake.
‘What’s this?’
Just like the guards, the strict and imposing professor was shocked by the paper.
It was probably the paper from the village chief of Hindel, Pam.
Now that Seong thought about it, was the village chief Pam actually a significant figure?
Thinking about this, Seong began to realize something.
“W-Welcome! I had a feeling there was something unusual about you!!! Hehehehe!”
“Ah… Thank you.”
“...!”
While Seong remained outwardly calm and thanked him, the praise still made him feel embarrassed.
As the professor gave his compliment, the female user’s eyes widened.
Her eyes showed a mix of shock, jealousy, and confusion.
It was clear that she felt slighted.
‘I wanted to learn quietly...’
That seemed to be the case.
As Seong scratched his cheek awkwardly, the elderly professor addressed him.
“Ah, well, then, Yeon, sit next to him.”
“Ah, okay.”
Seong didn’t ask who Yeon was.
There would only be one other person, after all.
As Seong sat down, Yeon coldly ignored his presence and made sure to keep some distance.
He couldn’t understand why she was acting like this, even though he hadn’t done anything wrong.
He decided not to dwell on it and just thought of it as one of those things.
At least there was someone else in the class to keep him company.
Meanwhile, Yeon, the user who had been sitting there, looked at Seong with annoyance.
‘Seriously, I hate this.’
It wasn’t that Seong had done anything wrong.
She just felt irritated that someone else was now encroaching on what had been her space.
‘This was my private class.’
It wasn’t that she hated Seong from the start.
Even though her sense of specialness was shattered, it didn’t mean her talent would fade away.
She also had to admit that Seong was handsome, so she thought about letting go of her irritation.
But when the professor complimented Seong and said he seemed talented, her annoyance flared up again.
‘Ugh, don’t just say that to anyone.’
It felt like he was just saying it casually, and that made her angry.
But then, when Seong handed over the paper and the professor was stunned, Yeon was beyond just irritated—she was angry.
‘He just walked in without even taking the test?!’
That thought couldn’t be avoided.
Just like the professor had said, Seong didn’t have the bracelet from completing the intermediate center, so he hadn’t taken the necessary tests.
It was clear from how he handed over the paper that he had somehow completed a special quest to get in.
It was a situation that felt unfair to Yeon.
She had legitimately completed the course and passed the test, unlike him.
And now, he received praise the moment the professor looked at the paper?
She couldn’t accept that.
‘I’ve never been complimented like that!’
Had the professor ever said something like that to her?
No, never.
‘I’ll learn the skills faster than you, no matter what. Just wait and see.’
As Yeon glared at Seong, she made a resolution.
Seong, on the other hand, focused on what the professor was saying, paying no attention to the glare.
He knew that ignoring her was the best option when someone was staring at him like that.
So, he stayed focused on the professor’s words.
“Cough, cough, Yeon, you already know me, but I’ll introduce myself again. I’m Ulden Python, the professor at the Special Necromancer Training Center.”
The lesson began.
Meanwhile, Yeon looked at Seong with a sense of determination.
‘I’ll definitely show him who’s better.’
She would show everyone that this place wasn’t as easy as it looked.
With that thought in her mind, she glanced at Seong.
But Seong, instead of reacting to her, scratched his cheek as if something were bothering him.
It wasn’t because of Yeon, though.
Suddenly, a voice echoed.
He didn’t need to look to know whose voice it was, but he glanced sideways.
Helena, smiling brightly, was watching him.
Yeon was completely out of Seong’s mind as he became increasingly embarrassed about how to respond.