**Chapter 4: The Harsh Truth**
Jie Ming was startled by his own conclusion.
“No, that can’t be right…”
He instinctively wanted to dismiss the thought. After all, Noren Academy recruited thousands of students every five years across the entire plane, even with stringent requirements.
If only a hundred or so survived from each batch, what kind of death rate would that be?!
Yet the idea clung to him like a dark cloud, impossible to shake off.
Glancing at the Combat Division’s area, where the promotion had shifted to a Q&A session, he saw the enthusiastic returned wizards answering apprentices’ questions and sharing battlefield experiences, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement.
“…It’s practically an idol fan meet-and-greet.”
Muttering to himself, Jie Ming decisively turned toward the other side, where a few weary-looking wizards, marked by a hint of world-worn experience, gathered.
They appeared plain, some in robes that even looked worn.
Most were only first-rank official wizards, with two still at third-rank apprentice level.
Their eyes lacked the sharp confidence of the combat wizards, instead carrying a calm born of experience.
In contrast, their peers in the Combat Division exuded a different aura and boasted impressive achievements.
It was clear the academy had brought them back for a comparative promotion.
As Jie Ming approached, several wizards turned their gazes toward him.
He walked forward calmly and asked politely in a low voice, “Excuse me, seniors. I’m a new apprentice considering my major. May I ask a few questions?”
Hearing his request, the wizards exchanged glances, their eyes glinting with amusement.
An alchemy wizard spoke first. “New kid? Interested in Logistics, huh… Not planning to join the Combat Division for glory? Their benefits are genuinely better.”
Being watched by wizards far stronger than him, even without deliberate pressure, was intimidating, but years of cultivation had tempered Jie Ming’s will.
He shook his head sincerely. “I’m not too keen on fighting, and… honestly, I’m a bit afraid of the battlefield.”
“Fearing the battlefield is normal for a newbie,” a potioncraft wizard said. “But Logistics… well, advancement is slower, and resources are harder to come by.”
“I’m curious,” another wizard interrupted, eyeing Jie Ming. “Why do you think we’d answer your questions? Wizards value equivalent exchange, and you don’t seem to have anything to offer.”
Jie Ming didn’t elaborate, merely glancing at the Combat Division stage, where the returned wizards were still engaging with apprentices.
The Logistics wizards followed his gaze, then burst into laughter.
“You’re sharp. We’re indeed tasked with aiding the academy’s promotion,” the alchemy wizard said, looking at Jie Ming with approval.
“Our task includes answering new apprentices’ questions, but per the contract, each apprentice gets one question, limited to facts you already know or will soon learn, and not restricted by the contract. If your question exceeds that, I can refuse to answer.”
“Now… what do you want to know?”
Jie Ming didn’t hesitate. “Why are there only ninety-seven returned wizards in the Combat Division’s promotion?”
The Logistics wizards fell silent, their expressions varied as they stared at Jie Ming, making him slightly uneasy. Finally, a construct engineering wizard chuckled. “Hahaha… this kid’s way smarter than I was back then!”
One even tried to recruit him. “Kid, join Runecrafting! With your brains, you’d be a big shot!”
“Shoo! Recruiting him outright? Not afraid of breaking the contract? And keep your voices down; other students might hear!” The alchemy wizard waved off the others.
The wizards ignored him, and a construct engineering wizard smugly pointed upward. “Relax, Jack. This kid’s already seen through the promotion’s trap. As for the other apprentices… I set up an illusion barrier ages ago. They won’t notice us.”
Jie Ming looked up, startled.
At some point, a frosted-glass-like screen had enveloped them.
This must be the illusion barrier, but despite his heightened alertness, he hadn’t noticed when it was set up.
If the wizard hadn’t pointed it out, he wouldn’t have noticed the change.
“No need to be shocked. You’ll learn these tricks to survive on the battlefield,” Jack said, noticing Jie Ming’s surprise but not dwelling on it.
A commoner like Jie Ming, judging by his attire, would naturally be shocked.
Ignoring his teasing friends, Jack turned to Jie Ming with clear approval. “I didn’t expect you to catch on from that angle. You’re right—or rather, the battlefield is even more dangerous than you think!”
His smile faded, his expression turning serious. “I can tell you plainly: whether Combat or Logistics, what you see here are the only survivors from our batch.”
“What…” Jie Ming’s eyes widened.
He instinctively scanned the area. The Combat Division’s returned wizards were easy to spot, all on the stage.
The Logistics wizards, though scattered, were nearby in small groups. With his perception, Jie Ming quickly calculated:
“One hundred fifty-three…”
“Our batch had over five thousand students, with a fifty-to-one ratio of Combat to Logistics. The 153 you see are all that remain.”