Time passed quickly. Before Lucas even realized it, one month had slipped by, marking the end of his first semester at Kyoto University.
In this world where every citizen had awakened into a "job-changer," the structure of education was slightly different. Each academic year had two semesters, and each semester lasted five months, followed by a one-month break. In short, after five months of non-stop study, every student got a month off to rest, train, or travel.
That, Lucas thought, was not so different from his previous world.
Of course, job-changers weren't restricted during the holidays. They could still fight monsters, level up, or explore the wilds if they wanted. But honestly, most chose to relax and recover. Rest was just as important as grinding levels; balance was key to keeping one's mind sharp and spirit steady.
Besides, who wanted to keep fighting monsters during vacation?
The typical student response was obvious: "I'm going to play!"
A month of relaxation before another five months of hard work—what could be better?
Once you reached the higher stages of power, leveling slowed drastically anyway. Gaining even half a level in a month could be impossible, so most students just went home, met friends, and prepared for the upcoming Huxia New Year.
As the most celebrated holiday in the nation approached, the academy emptied out. Students from all regions teleported back to their hometowns, returning to their families for the holidays. No one was forming dungeon parties or team raids now—half the guilds were on vacation mode.
And honestly, who would keep grinding when your team members are scattered across the country?
Experience points would drop if party levels became unbalanced. Grinding now was just a waste of effort.
Unless, of course, you were someone like Lucas—a lone wolf who could fight and level up entirely on his own.
But even he felt the tug of home.
He had been away for half a year, and though he called his parents often, there was no substitute for seeing them in person. The warmth of home was something no teleportation link could replicate.
---
In the last month of the semester, Kyoto University announced a special reward for all first-year students—two free entries into the Blue Secret Realm.
Yes, that Blue Secret Realm—the same one Lucas had cleared earlier.
It was a Level 20–40 Secret Realm, ideal for the majority of freshmen, whose average level hovered around the mid-20s. The strongest of them had only just reached Level 30, so the monsters within offered rich experience and solid loot.
The news spread through the campus like wildfire.
Students were ecstatic. It was the perfect opportunity to gain a few more levels before the semester ended and boost their final assessment scores.
After all, semester rankings determined scholarships. The higher your level and combat rating, the better your chances at winning major rewards.
However, Lucas—now standing tall at Level 46—had zero interest.
He was six levels above the Blue Secret Realm's strongest boss. Going in there would be pointless; the experience gain would be minimal, and the loot wouldn't even meet his current gear standards. For him, that place was a playground for beginners.
So, while the rest of the students dove into the Secret Realm with excitement, Lucas simply continued his solo grind in the wilderness, sticking to his own rhythm.
He had something far better—a personal Secret Realm that only he could access.
Why waste time in the academy's beginner dungeon when he could farm elite monsters, gather rare loot, and train in a realm entirely under his control?
Even if the school's Secret Realm bosses could occasionally drop valuable gear, he didn't need it. Traveling through that massive map to reach the boss would take more than an hour, and without teleportation access, it was a slog. He preferred leaving those rewards for others. You couldn't hoard every benefit in the world.
Thankfully, the university never forced participation.
Students were free to decide whether to enter or not. Naturally, almost everyone else rushed in to level up before exams—but Lucas stood apart once again.
And still, his first-place position remained untouchable.
---
When the final results came out, the entire campus went silent.
Lucas's character level—46—appeared at the top of the leaderboard in bright golden letters.
It stunned everyone.
Even the old principal himself, Professor Huai, personally came down to check it twice, unable to believe it.
"Level forty-six… in just half a year?" he muttered in disbelief before breaking into a proud grin. He patted Lucas on the shoulder, eyes gleaming. "Remarkable, my boy. Keep pushing forward!"
The other freshmen could only stare. Their jaws practically hit the floor.
The national top-ranked freshman had once again proven why he deserved the title.
He wasn't just ahead—he was on another planet entirely.
Even the top competing team—Alexis Lane and Su Xiaoyu's group—had barely reached Level 30, a full sixteen levels below him.
That gap was astronomical.
At their stage, the experience required to bridge sixteen levels could take months of constant grinding.
How could anyone even compare?
Many students whispered that Lucas must have some kind of hidden "experience halo" skill, because his leveling speed was too unnatural. But there was no proof, and Lucas himself never confirmed or denied it. He just smiled, calm and confident, letting the rumors swirl.
Meanwhile, Alexis Lane sat quietly at her dorm desk, staring at the rankings.
The pride she had once felt as an S-class hidden-profession holder now seemed meaningless.
In just six months, Lucas had left her—and everyone else—completely in the dust.
She clenched her fists lightly. The feeling of defeat burned deep, but there was no resentment—only awe. Lucas was no longer just a peer; he was a phenomenon.
---
When the semester ended, Lucas claimed his scholarship—a handsome ₩500,000 reward.
Since each academic year totaled a million, the first semester payout was half that. On top of that, he earned an additional ₩200,000 bonus for ranking first in the final assessment.
In total, he received ₩700,000.
To most students, that was an enormous amount—something a mid-level job-changer couldn't earn in a year of dungeon farming.
But Lucas only smiled faintly. Money no longer thrilled him.
In the last six months, he had made over three million through dungeon runs and equipment sales. His inventory now held treasures worth more than a small fortune.
Even excluding his most prized possessions—the Secret Realm Core Stone, the Legendary "Ring of the Phoenix," and his two epic-grade items, "Elf Queen's Sigh" and "Cursed Eye"—he was already wealthy beyond most adventurers' imagination.
So, seven hundred thousand?
"Just pocket change," he chuckled.
Small money, not even worth bragging about.
It was the difference between chasing survival and controlling destiny.
True wealth came from strength.
He finally understood the old saying: "It's better to teach a man how to fish than to give him fish."
With his own power, Lucas could now create endless opportunities, endless profit, and endless adventure.
---
When the semester officially ended, he waved goodbye to his classmates with a grin.
"I'm heading home for New Year, brothers! See you next semester!"
He clapped Danny Quinn and the others on the shoulders before stepping into the massive teleportation gate at the center of Kyoto City. Setting his destination to Tianhai, he paid the 50,000-credit teleportation fee and disappeared in a flash of light.
He chuckled to himself.
Not long ago, 100,000 credits had been all he had to his name. That barely covered a round trip.
Now? He was returning home worth over a billion.
A true success story.
He even considered wearing all his rare gear—the Ring of the Phoenix, the Elf Queen's Sigh, and the Cursed Eye—just to dazzle the whole neighborhood.
If not for the level restrictions on equipment, he absolutely would have.
---
Moments later, a thunderous roar echoed through the city streets.
A sleek, black heavy-duty motorcycle blazed past, the rider wearing mirrored windproof sunglasses, his jacket fluttering in the wind. Heads turned. People stopped to stare.
Lucas was home.
He rode straight through the familiar roads of his hometown, the wind carrying the scent of winter. When he reached his apartment complex, he parked the bike neatly at the gate—of course, he couldn't ride it upstairs.
But by then, half the neighborhood had already noticed.
Neighbors peeked from balconies and windows, whispering to one another.
"That's Frank's boy, isn't it? The one who awakened an S-rank talent?"
"Yeah! He's the one everyone talks about—Kyoto University's top student!"
"Look at that bike, must cost a fortune!"
Envy and admiration mixed in their voices. The once-ordinary kid from the Frank Family had now become a legend in their community. Parents even used his story to motivate their children: "Study hard! Be like Lucas!"
Today, seeing him return—confident, successful, and sharp—they couldn't help but smile with pride.
---
As Lucas opened the front door, a familiar warmth filled his chest.
"I'm back!" he called cheerfully.
From inside, his parents' voices echoed.
"Lucas?! You're home already?" his mother, Martha, exclaimed.
His father, Frank, looked up from the living room with a wide grin. "About time, son!"
Lucas grinned. He had called them yesterday to say he was coming, so they weren't exactly surprised—but still, it felt good to be home.
Then he froze.
"Huh? Wait… do we have guests today?"
Sitting in the living room were two strangers—a middle-aged man, calm and refined, and a young woman, roughly Lucas's age, both sipping tea politely.
The man appeared about Frank's age—somewhere in his forties—while the girl's presence immediately drew attention. She was quiet but confident, her posture graceful, her gaze steady.
Lucas blinked in curiosity, setting down his travel bag.
"Well," he murmured under his breath, "this might get interesting…"
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