Because of Jaiden and the freshmen’s stellar performances, the Northeast Military Academy was left in turmoil.

For the first time in the long history of the academy, they had ushered in the largest number of promotions and demotions. They were even scheduled to release at least 30 people. In addition, there were also a lot of people who successfully achieved a two-step promotion so the confusion had been quite significant. This was the first time that the entire academy, including the professors and the students, were left in a ball of confusion.

However, they slowly began to accept this strange situation over the course of time. There were even professors that advocated and insisted on continuing this system in the Northeast Military Academy saying that their previous system was quite restricting for their students. This was because they had seen vast improvements in the students who participated in these chaotic ranking battles.

It seemed like the Northeast Military Academy graduates, which had already been labeled as war weapons, would become even more of a monster in the near future. 

They had also started to abandon the idea of selecting only the high-leveled elites in each grade. They had seen Jaiden and the rest of the freshmen students grow stronger together. But what was surprising was the fact that there was not that much difference in their strength. Seeing this, the professors decided to ride this momentum and continue this system to foster and nurture stronger students in the future.

Even the training methods that they had limited and restricted because they were children began to change dramatically.

Usually, the children would be given free time that they could spend indoors. This was a time that they had given them in consideration of their human rights. However, the professors decided to take this back in exchange for spending time outdoors. 

The professors had called it camping activities. It was an activity where they would allow the students to experience the unique and refreshing outdoors. But if one looked closely, it was not that much different from gaining hands-on experience. 

“Heok… heok… Did the seniors really do all this?”

“From what I recalled, they rolled three times harder than you last year.”

“I see. Considering those lunatics’ training sessions, they must have really rolled that much.”

The rangers nodded their heads at the student’s question. They were recalling the kids and the training that they had undergone back then. Especially number 13. He was the pioneer of his class. The children followed his example and trained harder, even willingly surrendering themselves to the hellish training. Number 13 was also a person that was capable of hunting monsters on his own. 

“There’s actually a punk that we did not need to teach. He did everything on his own…”

“I know that. He’s a monster. He’s the 4th year’s top ranker now, right?”

“Yeah. There are rumors that the cheeky bastards are under his control too.”

Just like what the rangers were talking about, number 13 had successfully climbed to the 4th year. They were recalling the moments that they had spent rolling number 13, now 4th year's number 1, during his training. 

Then, one of the students that were listening to the rangers chatter asked. 

“Is that senior really like a monster?”

“Number 13?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm… I’m not sure about his talent. But his skills grow and improve quickly by the day…” 

The student tilted his head in confusion. He couldn’t understand what the ranger meant.  

The rangers saw that his skills improved by the day as he continued to train in the basic swordsmanship. However, there was something that they could not pinpoint that made it harder for them to say if he was a genius or not. But one thing was for sure. He was a monster. 

“If we’re talking about pure and raw talent, then number 3’s talents are insane.” 

“That’s right. But number 13’s combat sense, vision, and experiences are over and beyond. They’re both monsters.” 

The rangers continued to explain to the freshmen about the two monsters that they had trained before. The freshmen who were listening to their spectacular descriptions wondered if they were really true. 

The average age of new students that successfully arrived at this place was around 10 years old. Considering the rigid selection, it was quite hard to believe that a nine year old child would be able to arrive intact. But what was interesting was the fact that two of these children were currently standing at the first and second rank of the 4th year. 

“You guys are actually training comfortably. Last year, all of the children were rolling like crazy just to chase those two.” 

“Because of that, most of the kids in their batch had skipped a grade. The rest were also able to skip grades, although a bit later than the others.” 

“Yeah. That’s true.” 

There were many children that failed to break through and win against their seniors during last year's ranking battles. But the students' determination burned brighter and brighter as if they wanted to chase after their two monstrous classmates. In the end, the rest of the children trained harder which allowed them to break through their ranks and climb up on the top of their grade. They were also able to skip a grade, albeit a bit later than their peers.

They knew that numbers 13 and 3 successfully did a two step promotion so they were now both in their 4th year. They also knew that they wouldn't be able to stay with them since the 4th year students needed to undergo some required training. However, the last year's freshmen still worked harder and more frantically. They felt that they would be able to be a bit closer to them if they did something like this. 

“The problem is that he’s making the 4th year's lessons harder.” 

“I know. Ah! Did you hear? I heard that he recently suggested a new way to hunt large monsters so the professors have no choice but to work hard everyday.”

“Ah! I heard that. That’s why the 4th year rangers were in a mess. They said that they were actually going to try it.”

The rangers laughed loudly as they chatted. They couldn't help but laugh at the thought of the 4th year professors and instructors moving frantically and having a hard time thinking about the direction of their lessons every day. They knew that they could laugh comfortably since it wasn't their job. After all, they were only in charge of instructing the freshmen.

But the professors and instructors that were involved were already going crazy. 

At first, the professors thought that it was just an unexpected change. A freshman being able to get the top rank in the ranking battles was quite unusual but in the end, they believed that it was just due to the student's luck. 

However, the problem came afterwards. 

The Northeast Military Academy would begin teaching special subjects starting in the students' 4th year. The subjects that they were going to teach included tactics and combat methods that could be used in a special terrain. They would also teach the 4th year students how to cope and fight against medium to large sized monsters.

Usually, they would teach them the basics and theories in the first half of the year while building their practical experience. Then, the students would be given practical training against medium and large sized monsters that were already weakened by the rangers and the knights. 

But since Jaiden was now the 4th year's top problems started to arise in their lessons.

“Ha… What’s this guy doing?” 

The general beast theory professor and the large monster tactics professor sighed as they looked at each other. Then, they both turned to look at Jaiden’s test paper. 

The test paper that Jaiden submitted to the large monster tactics professor was extremely strange.

The question that he needed to answer was about the methods on dealing with trolls. 

The first part of his answer was quite generic. His answers included the use of magic or fire to burn the injuries dealt on the trolls' body to prevent regeneration. Or they could destroy its heart or slit its throat. He also stated that slitting its throat was quite an arduous task since its neck was surrounded by a thick layer of skin.

That was the perfect answer. It should have ended there. However, the problem was what he had written after. 

※ Methods on how ordinary soldiers can deal with trolls

○ Normal Method

○ Special Method

If you do this, the injury will not be able to recover for a day or two.

If you do this, the troll will not be able to prevent its body from rotting unless it cuts off the poisoned part.

Take note that the attacks listed above can only buy time and cannot kill the trolls.

○ If there is one knight among the soldiers. 

Things will be different if there is even just one knight present among the soldiers. If you use the methods listed above and you delay and restrict the troll’s movement, the knight will be able to easily kill the troll.

The methods listed above will be helpful to the knight and can be used by both the ordinary soldiers and the child soldiers.

The child soldiers can use the bombs to detonate and dig traps. They can also use magic bullets in the distance to stall the time.

If there’s an unavoidable circumstance that would conscript a child soldier, the methods listed above can be used effectively. 

In the event of a huge war against trolls, you can deploy ten child soldiers per one knight. Deploying this combination can effectively create a cordon. 

But this was not the end of it all.

The student even wrote down the advantages and disadvantages of using child soldiers with a knight. He even highlighted the strengths.

The answers that he had written in this test paper already posed a great importance to them.

Their current method of using only knights to fight off the trolls would be efficient if the trolls that they were fighting against were only a select few. However, in the case of a massive war, the methods that he had listed were definitely tactics that they could use and mobilize. 

The Northeast was not able to think about these methods because they only deployed the elites to beat the crap out of the monsters. 

Then, were these methods discussed in the Center? The answer was no. The things that they discussed in the capital of the Empire were wars with other kingdoms. In other words, they only discussed in-depth methods to deal with other humans. 

Simply put, discussion about large-scale wars against monsters was only discussed in the Northeast. Even then, they would only do in-depth research about tactics that would let the elites sweep the monsters away. 

“What should we do about this?” 

“First, he got all the answers that I wanted to see. But… the problem is that I also don’t know the answer to that question.” 

“We should let the rangers try and see if this is real. We can’t stay this carefree forever.”

The old professor sighed deeply when he heard the answer of the general beast theory professor.

“Actually, I asked the student today if he really thinks that these methods are possible.”

“What did he say?”

“He gave me this.”

“Application of Modern Weapons…”

The general beast theory professor sighed when he read the words. 

“Everything in here is his idea, right?”

“That’s right. But his words are not nonsense. It’s actually a description about tactics and methods that use magic bullets and bombs to target the monster’s weaknesses. The rangers said that they also use it sometimes.”

The professor sighed when recalled the conversation that he had with the rangers.

The methods that Jaiden had come up with were too realistic to be dubbed as a child’s wild imagination. The information that detailed the monsters’ weaknesses as well as the methods to target them were so accurate that even the veteran rangers were clamoring to do an experiment with it. 

“What are you going to do now?” 

“I’ll meet with the basic beast theory professor and the tactical professor and discuss this with them first.” 

“I don’t think it’s going to end.” 

“I’ve already sent it to Northeast Command. They said that they’re experimenting on their own.” 

Hearing the words of the large monster tactics professor, the general beast theory professor couldn’t help but let out another sigh. 

“It’s hard work to have a monstrous student too. Huh?” 

“It’s a pleasure though. If what this student has written works, then it will become a great help to the Northeast.” 

“I guess so. Hoo… Perhaps this is the birth of the youngest general ever.” 

After saying that, the general beast theory professor looked at Jaiden’s test papers again. 

Jaiden’s answers were a step ahead of the times. And it brought shock and surprise to the professors. After all, they knew that the recent movements of the monsters in the Northeast had been quite unusual. 

Based on the archeologists finding, the monsters’  unusual movements seemed to be a harbinger of death. They believed that it was the tell-tale signs of an upcoming monster wave.

On the other hand, the beast theorists were saying that it was an indication of something powerful waking up.

If either of those warnings came true, then the Northeast might just have to face a massive all-out war against monsters. 

If that was the case, then Jaiden was like a lucky ball that rolled himself to the Northeast. He was like the warm coal that came during the cold winter. 

However, it did not matter even if there were no massive monster waves that would happen. Just by being able to think about these tactical ideas by himself had made Jaiden’s value reach an all time high. 

They believed that as long as they raised him well during these 10 years, no, 6~7 years, then he would be able to do his part well. After all, he was a talented person that would bloom if they raised him well. 

This idea did not waver in their heads. In fact, all of the professors believed that Jaiden would become a key talent in the Northeast. 

However, some of the professors’ ideas began to change little by little.

It was because it was not the future Jaiden but the present Jaiden who had become a complete and perfect talent in one field…

***

Notes

[Cordon] – a line of soldiers, police or guards that prevents access to or from an area.