Professor Emmanuel Lyncoster probably put the question to test the students' ideas and gain some insight about the Theory of Mana Sentience which states that Mana has different signatures just like different emotions that one body could not possess at the same time, although it was somewhat similar with the DNA imprint that identifies a person, it was somehow different because Mana does not identify the person's specific identity unlike the DNA of a human or even animals.
Even though Professor Emmanuel was already a scholar and a researcher, he doesn't view himself as someone superior compared to others when it comes to intelligence, rather he respects others' opinions and ideas that might help him go further in his research. He wasn't consumed by how critically he thought to the point of mocking others because aside from wanting to discover the mysteries behind the occurrence of Emergence, he wanted humanity to strive more and achieve great things for future generations where absolute prosperity wasn't set in stone.
'One can say that he's a true patriot of humanity.'
Russell thought inwardly as the duration of the activity just ended.
The papers in front of the students floated and reached the teacher's table with a fast speed as Professor Emmanuel organized them and skimmed through them.
He quickly read everyone's work as if he was just flipping through everything, but the truth was that he already managed to read every single one of them thoroughly.
It was one of his exclusive skills which allowed him to read and digest information faster: Seeking Eye (S+).
Its main purpose was to seek knowledge laid in front of him. Although with the help of this skill, he could process everything as if the information wanted to be a part of the past, it doesn't mean that he knows everything he read through as new pieces of a puzzle born after new information. It repeats the cycle until a bottleneck was reached.
It was just a few seconds after the activity ended, then glancing at the students, Professor Emmanuel spoke formally.
"I'll send you the result of your activity later.
"But first, I'd like to ask a related question that anyone can answer and this question will be credited to your grades in my subject as long as your answer makes sense.
"If you want to answer, just raise your hand.
"Alright... Students... Do you think it is possible for a human or even animals to have the flu again? If so, why?"
The students seemed confused by Professor Emmanuel's question because ever since the Emergence happened, every disease of the Old World even cancer vanished in the rivers of history which stayed in the illusory World of the Past after the human physique and immune system were greatly strengthened.
There's no record of any Old World disease anymore happening in the Post-Emergence era. The only diseases that existed at this time were related to Mana like Mana Vibration which felt like the Mana inside a person's body was vibrating, causing dizziness, but it was only a side effect of traversing with a space-type skill just like Elizabeth's Macro-Teleportation.
Aside from Mana Vibration, there's also Mana Poisoning which separates Mana's signature entered another's body. One way to contract this was by exposing one's body to a minuscule amount of Chaos Aura that was emitted by Monsters after being killed inside a Strayed Dungeon or Dungeon Tower.
That's pretty much the diseases that exist in this era.
...
Silence has overtaken the atmosphere in the A-1 class as no one opened their mouths to answer because the question seemed rhetorical, but at the same time was not.
'I guess the time for that is near...'
Russell thought as he recalled that the influence of the Constellations would soon be slightly strengthened.
"Yes, Samantha?"
Russell was snapped out of his thoughts as he heard Professor's voice addressing Samantha who raised her hand.
Samantha — who was sitting in the right-middle of the class — stood up and looked at Professor Emmanuel before she casually spoke.
"Sir, I believe it is still possible for us to catch the flu again because even though we advanced so much in 40 years, it still wasn't enough to know and conclude everything. Mana might become more consolidated in the future, causing the bacteria that causes flu before to be further strengthened."
Everyone looked at Samantha with different expressions; mostly of awe, but some were pondering her answer.
'She's half-right, half-wrong. But where did she get that idea?'
Russell pondered a little as he casually pinched his right cheek with his right index finger.
"Thank you for your reasonable answer. That's all for today."
Professor Emmanuel left the classroom as if he was chasing something.
'It seems like he realized something...'
Russell thought as the next professor came in after a few minutes.
...
After a short break, Professor Eric Romer of the A-1 class entered the classroom.
He has a fitted body build meant for exploration. He has brownish short hair, brownish eyes, and a slightly small nose.
He's the famous explorer who was known as the one who first discovered the existence of Strayed Dungeons and Dungeon Towers on the lowest level that was shadowed by gigantic Dungeon Towers — High, and Peak Dungeon Towers.
"Good morning, class.
"By the way, congratulations to the new A-1 students, and the old students who defended their ranks.
"The Obelisk Organization hopes you can continue to grow because life as a Player in the industry is nowhere near as easy as studying here."
Professor Eric said casually, but the point he was making was absorbed by the students.
It just means that one's responsible for himself after graduating, leaving the Obelisk Academy, and getting a Player License.
Although the opportunity to join a guild after being an Obelisk graduate was higher than adventurers who didn't go or finish their Player studies, it doesn't mean that the guild one might join was fair enough.
An Obelisk graduate must be practical and know his value to avoid falling into an unfair contract.
"Anyway, I have some matters to attend to so I'll just leave you an assignment.
"Answer the following in the file that I just sent you. That's all.
"Class dismiss."
After tapping something on a tablet he was holding, Professor Eric Romer left the classroom. At that time, everyone received a file in their Personal Obelisk Account under the section of the subject that Professor Eric handles: Dungeon Geographical System (DGS)
'He's a busy man.'
Russell thought inwardly as he glanced at the entrance of the classroom where Professor Eric just disappears from.
He knew the job of Professor Eric as the author of a certain unpublished novel. Almost every day there's a reported Strayed Dungeons or Ruins discovered by adventurers across the Orion Continent. They were the kind of adventurers who value their lives that instead of exploring something they couldn't understand themselves, they would first report it to the authorities, but sometimes there were bunches who were blinded by money and ventured deep into exploration causing accidents.
After reining in his thoughts, Russell took a glance at the time on his smartwatch and saw that it wasn't even ten minutes had passed since Professor Eric came in and left after giving them an assignment.
"Oppa, I have something to tell you that I forgot last time."
Freya, sitting beside him, on his right side, said in a soft voice while she stretched her arms up as if her sleepiness hasn't subsided yet.
"Alright, let's grab some breakfast first."
He looked at Amelie — who was sitting beside Freya as the first letters of their last names start with the letter 'M' — silently asking her about what her plans were. Amelie just nodded before she suggested with curled-up lips:
"Why don't we go to Russell's new dorm, Freya?"
"Right, right! ... Amery!"
Freya called Amery with slight excitement.
Amery, sitting near the front as her last name starts with the letter 'B', looked behind her when she heard Freya's voice before she cocked her head to the side.
Freya approached her because she felt that Amery won't do so, then after a few seconds of strides, Freya — who reached Amery's seat — asked her if she wanted to come to Russell's new dorm. Amery nodded, maintaining her front aloof atmosphere.
...
'Of course, they'd flock in here.'
Russell inwardly said as he looked at the trio taking their seats inside his new dorm room. They didn't manage to accompany him yesterday when he arrived at his new dorm room because it was already at night and there was a class tomorrow, they said that it's better to visit tomorrow.
"Oppa, the only thing that is different here is the things provided by the academy, but your room still is bland as it is."
Freya looked around the new spacious dorm room where the size became at least 6 times of Russell's former dorm. Aside from new furniture, refrigerator, and kitchenware, nothing changed.
"Well, you know me, I don't need unnecessary designs."
In his previous life, as a shut-in stock trader and writer, his apartment room only had things that he needed, he didn't even have a television before because his two computers were open almost 24/7.
"By the way, I'll make something first."
Russell said, letting the trio do whatever they wanted, as he went to the kitchen to make some bacon sandwich.
'I gotta say, with the help of Mana, livestock became healthy.'
Russell thought after he washed his hands before putting some strips of bacon between two pieces of bread.
Although even animals evolved after the Emergence because of the world's Mana consolidation, not all of them turned into Monster Beasts, rather with diseases gone, there were no more rejected livestock that was meant to just be thrown away.
Of course, unlike humans and other intelligent races, animals don't have the System even though Mana entered their bodies which caused them to be immune to diseases and their physique slightly strengthened, but when it comes to Monster Beasts, their physique and strength changed drastically and caused their instincts to establish their territory that sometimes adventurers crossed over, causing for a fight to ensue.
...
"That looks so good, Oppa!"
The hungry Freya said as her deep blue eyes slightly glistened while her fists clenched, waiting to wolf down the bacon sandwich that Russell placed on the new, long, rectangular table.
"Enjoy yourselves."
The trio each took a bacon sandwich, and after a few minutes had passed, Russell started the conversation as he sat on his bed, and leaned his back on the wall while one of his feet was on the ground.
"Freya, what's your concern?"
Freya looked at Russell after she drank a mouthful of cold water before she said in a curious tone.
"You see, Oppa, I still don't understand everything after reading a few times the Star Quest and the new skills I acquired after a contract.
"Anyway, Oppa, can I filter my Status Window and show it to the Star Quest Party?"
Russell nodded at his younger sister's words.
One of the advantages of a party, especially a Star Quest Party was sharing information without the use of any Status Appraisal Skills.
The players in a party could filter their information to only show what they wanted.
This time, Freya showed everyone the Unique Skill she acquired.
[Death's Call (MAX - Amplified)]
You will gain control over the dead within a specific area.
Rank: Unholy
Cost: 3,000 Chaos Mana, Life Force
Effects:
- Summon a random Nether Creature from the Nether Realm to assist the Death Executioner under the authority of the Ruler of Death.
- This summon creature will permanently accompany the user until it dies.
- You are able to summon 7 (+7) Nether Creatures.
...
Russell and Amelie knew already about Freya's skill because they had the ability to peek at her Status Window, although it was quite rude. But the three of them trust each other.
Amery — who didn't have a Status Appraisal Skill — had her eyes slightly dilated with what she just read.
Her only change was that she was granted a Chaos Trait with the help of the Chaos Buff that Russell has, giving her an additional 150 overall stat, access to the Chaos Training Grounds, and Nihility trait. She also received the same title that Amelie and Freya received after receiving the trait of Chaos:
[Secret Bearer of Chaos]
- You have been chosen to be a 'companion' of the Mediator of Chaos which will be beneficial to your growth.
Rank: EX
Effects:
- Growth Rate increased by two times.
- You are restricted to tell the secrets you have seen or will see without the Mediator of Chaos' permission. Upon betrayal or hostility… do not think about the consequences that will befall.
...
Russell pondered a little before he asked his younger sister.
"Did you receive anything from your Constellation?"
"Ah! Right, here..."
Freya recalled what she forgot because she was occupied with processing the Star Quest and her new skills. Then, she shared the item information of what she acquired.
[Necklace with the Living Eye.]
[Treasure Box with the Living Eye.]
"I think these items are the ones that were held by my Constellation.
"Wait, let's check it."
Freya was just about to grab the items in her Dimensional Inventory when she heard her older brother say in an alert tone, at the same time, Russell grabbed her hand.
"No, No, No! Stop!"
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