The world of Aetherra was divided into seven races and seven professions.
Each race and profession came with its own corresponding skillset and innate talent.
Humans specialized in potion making; demons were immersed in soul summoning; elves excelled at archery and gathering; dwarves focused on mechanical engineering; the undead were masters of stealth and darkness; orcs reveled in bloodlust and berserking; and angels sought the source of divine light.
Each of these seven races granted unique enhancements to the professions of alchemist, summoner, ranger, mechanic, rogue, warrior, and mage, respectively.
Lee Kiwook had once traveled across all seven territories in his previous life, collecting the complete skillsets for each of the seven major professions.
Wonderful. Now he had to do it all over again.
Lee Kiwook smiled.
Yes, just like in the game, he didn't plan to invest too much energy into the mage class, even though his initial choice of talent meant he could easily reach the peak of magical prowess.
Now freed from the chains of illness, this was exactly how rebellious Lee Kiwook wanted to be!
But very soon, Lee Kiwook discovered an unexpected surprise. The moment the entrance ceremony began, the Human racial skill was unlocked.
...
[ Player has completed hidden quest: (Join the Human Guild) Human racial skill obtained. ]
[ Alchemist Skill: Soul Alchemy (LV. Max) unlocked. ]
[ Legendary-quality potion recipes unlocked. All brewed potions receive +500% to their base stats. ]
...
Lee Kiwook recalled that, indeed, there had been such a hidden quest.
Back then, he had tried to join other profession guilds using his mage identity and was rejected countless times before finally managing to sneak into a Mechanic Guild, one that only had two members.
It was then he finally obtained this racial skill.
Without hesitation, Lee Kiwook switched the panel to the synthesis tab.
As expected, several brilliant orange-glowing icons were now lit up in the potion crafting section.
With a full backpack of legendary-quality ingredients and now he have access to legendary-tier potion recipes, if he couldn't graduate from the Magic Academy smoothly, he could always compete for the position of Chairman of the Alchemist Association.
Truth is always that heavy.
Feeling quite satisfied, Lee Kiwook closed the panel and even began to view the long-winded headmaster in a warmer light.
That good mood lasted all the way until the end of the entrance ceremony, when each class's instructor began leading students to their respective classrooms.
Professor Pedro placed the attendance book on the lectern, and beneath the deep folds under his eyes, a sharp gaze swept over the dozen or so teenagers before him.
"For the next three years, you will be training yourselves within the Magic Academy. I hope all of you will level up successfully—and graduate smoothly."
When he said "level up," his gaze lingered meaningfully on Lee Kiwook. Clearly, he wasn't pleased about having to take on the academy's one and only stain in a decade.
A few of the noble boys in the class had already taken note of the black-haired, black-eyed Eastern boy, and one of them deliberately chuckled and asked, "So, what exactly does one have to do to level up?"