A female professor, Lorelei, stood on the podium, her hand holding a bizarre herb that radiated in midair, creating quite a pretty scene.
All of the students sat motionlessly in their chairs, no one making even a sound in the classroom, as if all of them were very eager for this course.
Well, actually, they weren't eager—but this course was vital to them. There were two reasons for their attitude.
Firstly, this course carried the greatest number of credit points. If they passed it with high achievement, they could graduate their second year in peace without worrying about any other course.
Secondly, this was also why the course had so many credit points in the first place—because it carried the most practicality.
Plant Scholar… a valuable title that anyone in the academy wanted to obtain. If they possessed that title, they would have a chance to be accepted into a noble clan, or even a great clan.
Because everyone knew what plant scholars could bring.
Just looking at the students' beasts, many were staring at the herb in Lorelei's hand greedily, drool flowing from their mouths.
Of course, that level of herb wasn't enough to catch the eyes of calamity-rank species like Rocky's ape and Scarlet's red dragon. They looked at it as nothing more than mere stuff.
There were four ranks in the plant hierarchy.
Common Plants
Rare Plants
Noble Plants
Holy Plants
Plants had two simplest effects.
Firstly, they improved a beast's mood and kept it in a good state.
Secondly, they acted as food—three meals a day, just like humans.
Some plants had other effects as well that humans had yet to discover.
Beyond that, higher-ranked plants could even improve species ranks, though they were extremely rare. However, noble and holy plants possessed unpredictable traits.
A beast could eat them without even knowing what it was, only realizing it when the holy effects appeared.
Rocky didn't hope too much, since the chance of eating them, by a chance, was like that bastard branch clan surrendering and offering its power back to the his main clan.
Even though he had a significant amount of knowledge about plants thanks to his clan, it still wasn't even on par with the academy.
For sure, the academy possessed massive knowledge of plants and updated it every year—that's why even the great clans still sent their descendants here.
The academy's knowledge was exclusive.
"Good spirit! Now I'll teach the traits of newly discovered plants. Remember what I say and their effects," Lorelei said.
Rocky just yawned and glanced at Bobby, who was peeking at Scarlet's pet.
Rocky shook his head slightly. He had hoped Bobby would've forgotten that dragon, but it seemed Bobby really loved it.
(Hope the professor will teach some type of plant that could erase that useless emotion for Bobby.)
Lorelei cleared her throat.
"The theory lecture is over. Now the practical lesson will begin… we're heading to the forest behind the academy, and your mission is to find a moonlit flower. Remember the traits I mentioned—if you follow them, this mission should be quite easy."
She added, "Two hundred credit points for anyone who completes the mission… and for those who fail to find the plant, you'll lose two hundred credit points."
Then she glanced at Rocky, who was ignoring her lecture. She was confident that even the son of a great clan wouldn't be able to find that plant. After all, it was newly discovered.
"The exam will be over when the sun rises."
***
Rocky stood atop a rock, observing the forest. Meanwhile, the other students began to split up and move into the forest.
Rocky summoned the system screen.
—
Name: Bobby
Race: Ancient ape
Compatibility: 100%
Species Rank: Calamity
Level: 12
Unique Skill: Basic Swordsmanship, Void Forging, Aura of Predator
Current Preferred Mana Core: [None]
Current Mood: Want to follow the red dragon
—
Rocky sighed and rolled his eyes before sprinting toward Scarlet.
"Hey, may I go along with you? My beast still hasn't given up on trying to befriend your beast."
However, his face darkened when he saw Travis standing beside Scarlet.
Travis snorted.
"What the fuck are you doing? Accompanying my fiancée? You should know where trash belongs—both you and your beast."
"Get lost!"
It was a perfect chance to humiliate Rocky in front of Scarlet. On top of that, it would help improve their relationship during this mission.
Travis grinned smugly as he imagined his plan involving Scarlet. But his expression quickly twisted into darkness when Scarlet spoke.
Her voice was full of excitement and happiness, completely different from how she treated him.
"Of course. I really want to go with you."
Scarlet quickly headed over to Rocky and pulled his arm like a real couple. She smiled brightly and went deeper into the forest, completely ignoring Travis, who stood frozen, totally bewildered.
Five minutes later.
Rocky tried to pull his arm out of Scarlet's embrace, but it was useless. Clearly, her strength was greater than his.
"It seems you don't like your fiancée."
Rocky could tell from Scarlet's earlier actions that she had been deliberately provoking Travis, sending him a clear message: I don't like you. Get out of my way.
Scarlet sighed.
''Well, I tried to come to the academy to avoid that bastard, but you saw, he was still clinging to me like a leech.''
Rocky frowned. He hesitated for a moment, then asked,
"So, can you let me go? I can tell that you're clinging to me like a leech too."
Scarlet smirked. She hadn't expected a boy who could even resist this. In truth, she was embarrassed, but she'd done it on instinct. Because of that, she wanted to enjoy it for a little longer.
"No. That's the price if your beast wants to befriend my beast."
Rocky sighed, glancing at her, who was still smiling brightly.
(What a beautiful girl. If she keeps this up, I think…)
"Why do you still stay at the academy, if you know that bastard follows you everywhere?"
Scarlet pouted in a sulk.
(Guess he doesn't remember anything.)
"Who knows?"