Another day, another round of lessons.

  Today promised his first History lesson, followed by Math and Monster Biology—and unlike most of his cssmates, Ethan was genuinely eager to learn everything.

  Well… maybe Math was an exception. But since he retained the memories of his past life, he wasn’t particurly worried about it. Arithmetic was universal; numbers didn’t change just because he’d been reborn in a new world.

  But History and Monster Biology… that was another story entirely.

  Ethan had been born in a small farming vilge in the countryside. His access to knowledge about the world beyond his vilge was, to put it kindly, limited. What little he knew about monsters came from the drunken ramblings of the old men at the tavern after a few too many pints. And as for history? The most he had ever learned was that his vilge had been founded 25 years ago by a group of pioneering farmers.

  It was ughable how small his world had been.

  Coming from the Information Era, where knowledge was at his fingertips and answers were just a search away, adjusting to this ck of information had been painfully difficult. It wasn’t just a matter of convenience—it was a matter of survival.

  Knowledge was power, right? Or so he had heard...

  That’s why, when he learned that the Adventurer Academy included subjects like History and Monster Biology in its curriculum, he was genuinely excited.

  Finally, he’d be able to learn more about the world he lived in.

  Armed with that motivation, Ethan had made a point to arrive early for this css.

  He was the first student in the room, seating himself in the front row where he’d have a clear view of the bckboard. He leaned back in his chair, folded his arms behind his head, and allowed himself to rex.

  As the minutes passed, other students started trickling in. The cssroom gradually filled with noise as the girls began to chatter among themselves about various topics—clothing, boys, the test gossip. Ethan tuned them out, uninterested.

  Instead, he pulled out his History textbook and flipped to the introduction.

  The cssroom was still mostly empty when he walked in. Rows of wooden desks stretched toward the back of the room, with a rge bckboard at the front and tall windows on the side letting in soft morning light.

  Ethan took a seat in the front row. It was a bold move, but it meant he wouldn’t miss anything important. Plus, fewer distractions.

  He pulled the textbook from his bag and opened it to the introduction page:

  "900 Years of Battle: The History of Halt Kingdom."

  He started reading.

  "The Halt Kingdom was founded in the year 57 after the fall of the Demon King Doran. At the time, all surrounding kingdoms had been weakened or destroyed by the long war against the Demon King, who was said to be the vassal of the Demon God himself."

  "In order to survive, the remnants of the Haldonis and Laten Kingdoms joined together, forming a new nation through the marriage of their only heirs. At first, the popution retreated into Haldonis's three standing fortress towns, intending to recover their strength before reciming lost territory. However, constant monster waves, attacks from the remnants of the Demon King’s army, internal rebellion, and natural disasters deyed these pns for over two centuries, until the reign of King—"

  A tap on his shoulder pulled him out of his reading.

  "Morning, Ethan!"

  Ethan turned to see Daniel grinning down at him, and beside him, Oliver stood looking half-asleep as usual.

  "Morning, Daniel. Oliver."

  "Sorry," Oliver said, yawning. "I told him not to bother you, but…"

  "It’s no problem," Ethan said, closing the book. "I was just reading the intro. It's actually kind of interesting."

  Daniel raised an eyebrow. "You’re reading ahead? Man, you really are a nerd. Is this any interesting?"

  "Yeah." Ethan admited, not feeling a tinge of shame. He leaned back in his chair. "I mean, it’s about the Demon King and the founding of the kingdom. That’s kind of important, right?"

  Daniel shrugged. "Sure, I guess. But personally, I’d rather be learning combat techniques or something useful."

  "Useful, huh…" Ethan smiled faintly. "Well, knowing history can help you survive in battle too. Strategies, political maneuvers, the rise and fall of kingdoms—it’s all connected."

  Oliver scoffed. "Of course! But only if you were born into the nobility."

  Ethan raised an eyebrow.

  Oliver shrugged. "Come on, it’s not like commoners like we will ever command an army! Why would we need to know about political marriages or military campaigns? That’s the kind of stuff only nobles worry about, not us." He turned toward Daniel. "Right, Daniel?"

  Daniel froze.

  His expression stiffened ever so slightly, and for a brief moment, Ethan caught a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.

  Daniel forced a smile. "Yeah… sure."

  Oliver didn’t seem to notice the odd pause, but Ethan did, still if he was trying this hard to hide it, it was better to leave him alone.

  The three of them didn’t have much time for small talk, though, because the cssroom door suddenly creaked open.

  A hush fell over the students as the new professor entered.

  Ethan’s eyes widened as the professor walked in—and he wasn’t the only one.

  The woman who entered the room could not have been more than her te thirties, but she carried herself with the kind of authority that made the room feel colder just by her presence alone.

  She was beautiful. Painfully so.

  Long, silky bck hair cascaded down her back, framing a heart-shaped face with high cheekbones and piercing amber eyes that seemed to glow faintly in the light. Her fitted bck dress hugged a toned, curvaceous figure that most women half her age would envy, and the confident way she walked in heels on the wooden floor only added to the effect.

  Her gaze swept across the room as she approached the desk.

  "Hot damn…" Daniel whispered under his breath.

  Even Oliver—who was usually as expressive as a pnk of wood—looked mildly impressed.

  Then Ethan’s gaze lowered to her left hand.

  A silver ring with a small blue gemstone rested on her ring finger.

  Married.

  Shame.

  "Well," Daniel whispered, leaning closer. "That’s disappointing."

  "Get in line," Oliver muttered.

  Ethan sighed and shook his head. Not that it would have mattered.

  The woman reached the desk and set down a small stack of papers with a deliberate motion before turning toward the css.

  "Good morning, css," she said, her voice low and smooth. A single sentence, and the room fell completely silent.

  Her tone wasn’t loud. It didn’t need to be.

  "My name is Professor Serena Vaughn. I will be your history instructor for the next five years."

  Five years? Ethan frowned. Well, if nothing else, at least it wouldn’t be boring.

  "I have little patience for ziness or incompetence," Professor Vaughn continued, amber eyes narrowing slightly. "History is the foundation upon which all future success is built. If you do not understand the past, you will never master the future."

  Ethan nodded instinctively. Makes sense.

  "I expect all of you to have read the introductory chapters by next week," Professor Vaughn said, her gaze sweeping across the room. "We will begin with the formation of the Halt Kingdom and the war against the Demon King Doran. Fail to keep up, and you will not st long in my css."

  A murmur spread through the students.

  "Are there any questions?"

  A girl sitting at the front raised her hand timidly. "Professor… what happens if we can’t meet expectations?"

  Professor Vaughn smiled faintly—a cold, dangerous smile.

  "You’ll wish you had."

  The girl turned pale.

  Professor Vaughn’s gaze sharpened. "Now—open your books to page fifteen."

  A quiet rustling filled the room as the students flipped through their textbooks.

  Ethan opened his book, but his eyes kept wandered toward certain parts of the professor's clothes.

  Damn, this lesson will be tough to concentrate!

  Luckily his worries were in vain. Once the professor started talking, all random thoughts vanished his mind, focusing only on what she said.

  The lesson began.

  Professor Vaughn’s gaze swept across the cssroom, her amber eyes sharp and assessing.

  "I expect all of you to have at least a basic understanding of the war against the Demon King a thousand years ago," she said, her voice crisp and measured. "If you don’t…"

  Her gaze sharpened.

  "…then you’ll have plenty of time to catch up in your Ancient History css. There you’ll study the war’s origins, key battles, and the eventual defeat of the Demon King until you’re absolutely sick of it."

  Some students chuckled nervously.

  "But that," she continued, "is not the focus of this css."

  She turned toward the bckboard and tapped it lightly with her wand. A thin line of mana spread across the surface, forming glowing letters that read:

  "The Rise of Halt Kingdom."

  "This css will cover the events that followed the Demon King’s fall—how the world rebuilt itself in the aftermath of that devastation, how the surviving kingdoms adapted, and how Halt Kingdom rose to prominence in the centuries that followed."

  Professor Vaughn turned back toward the css, her gaze cutting through the students’ growing unease.

  "Understanding history is more than memorizing names and dates. It’s about understanding why things happened the way they did. Why certain leaders succeeded and others failed. Why alliances formed and colpsed. Why entire kingdoms rose—and why they fell."

  She csped her hands behind her back, her expression hardening.

  "Most importantly, you will learn how those decisions shaped the current state of the world—and what lessons can be learned from them."

  Her eyes narrowed slightly.

  "Because whether you like it or not, history repeats itself."

  A heavy silence settled over the cssroom.

  Ethan leaned back in his chair, absorbing her words.

  The rise and fall of kingdoms… learning from past mistakes…

  It all made sense.

  History wasn’t just about understanding the past—it was about predicting the future.

  "Now then…" Professor Vaughn continued, turning back toward the bckboard. "Let’s start with the founding of Halt Kingdom."

  She tapped the board again, and a detailed map appeared—outlined in faint gold mana. Two rge territories beled Haldonis and Laten were shown merging together into a single kingdom.

  "The Halt Kingdom was founded in the year 57 after the Demon King's fall," she said. "At the time, the world was in ruins. Countless territories had been destroyed, and the surviving human kingdoms were left weakened and vulnerable to constant attacks from the remnants of the Demon King's forces."

  Her wand traced the borders between Haldonis and Laten.

  "In this chaos, the leaders of Haldonis and Laten—King Aldric of Haldonis and Queen Marian of Laten—saw an opportunity. Alone, they would not survive. But together…"

  Her wand drew a circle around the combined territory.

  "…they could create a new political and military alliance strong enough to push back the monsters and rogue factions left in the wake of the Demon King’s defeat."

  Professor Vaughn’s sharp gaze swept over the cssroom. She tapped the map on the bckboard once more, her slender fingers resting on the outline of the Halt Kingdom.

  "The merge between Haldonis and Laten wasn’t as simple as combining two territories and decring a new kingdom," she began, her voice steady and clear. "There were problems due to cultural differences, rules, supplies, and above all, security."

  She pointed toward the western side of the map.

  "The war against the Demon King left both Haldonis and Laten devastated. Their armies were decimated, and much of their infrastructure was reduced to rubble. The newly formed Halt Kingdom simply didn’t have the manpower or resources to protect all of its territory."

  Professor Vaughn’s eyes narrowed slightly as her finger traced the borders of the old kingdom.

  "This led to the first great decision of the new leadership—the retreat to Haldonis territory."

  She tapped the three dots on the map, marking the locations of Alvaris, Velka, and Wyndall.

  "The three fortress cities of Haldonis were naturally defensible due to their positioning in the mountains and along major trade routes. The leaders of the Halt Kingdom decided to consolidate their strength there. The pn was simple—rebuild their popution and military strength within these three fortresses. Once they recovered, they would recim the abandoned territories one piece at a time."

  Ethan nodded to himself. This was the part he had read about earlier.

  "But…" Professor Vaughn’s voice darkened. "Reality isn’t always so simple."

  She moved her finger toward the western side of the map.

  "The first major setback came in the form of monster waves."

  A ripple of unease passed through the cssroom.

  "After the Demon King’s fall, monsters began to multiply at an unprecedented rate. We’re not entirely sure why—some theories suggest that the Demon King’s death left behind a void of power, and monsters surged to fill it. Some people just say it was the Demon King's final curse. While others say that the countless corpses resulted from the war fed the beasts and causing them to multiply and making them used to human blood. Regardless of the cause, waves of monsters poured into the kingdom’s borders year after year."

  Her finger traced the western border.

  "The military was stretched thin, forced to focus on defense rather than expansion. Every year, they were losing more ground than they were reciming. But gradually those waves died down, allowing the people to breath once again."

  She paused, letting the weight of that statement settle over the room.

  "The second setback was the remnants of the Demon King’s army."

  Professor Vaughn’s finger slid toward the northeast section of the map.

  "The Demon King’s generals may have been destroyed, but not all of his followers were wiped out. Rogue warbands and corrupted beasts continued to harass the kingdom’s borders. Supply lines were targeted. Towns and vilges were raided. Entire military convoys were ambushed and destroyed."

  Her tone sharpened.

  "It became a war of attrition. Every inch of ground gained came at the cost of blood and resources the kingdom couldn’t afford to spare. Multiple calls to arms were made, and, for some time, even children were forced to join."

  Professor Vaughn’s gaze hardened as she drew her finger across the center of the kingdom.

  "And then came the rebellion."

  A sharp breath could be heard from one of the students in the back.

  "The working css of Laten, frustrated by the harsh military rule imposed by the Haldonis nobility, rose up in defiance. What began as isoted protests quickly escated into full-scale rebellion."

  Professor Vaughn’s gaze swept across the room.

  "It started in Wyndall, where the workers seized control of the town’s granaries and decred independence. Their success sparked simir uprisings in Alvaris and Velka. For a brief time, the Halt Kingdom was on the verge of fracturing into three independent states."

  Ethan sat up straighter.

  "It took nearly a decade of brutal conflict to put down the rebellion." Professor Vaughn’s expression darkened. "The nobility used every tool at their disposal to crush the uprising. There are still debates among historians as to whether the response was justified."

  She paused for a moment, allowing the room to sit in uncomfortable silence.

  "In the aftermath of the rebellion, resentment between the nobility and the working css festered. Even after peace was restored, trust between the two sides remained fragile."

  Her finger moved toward the central region of the map.

  "For nearly two centuries after the rebellion, progress remained stagnant. The kingdom remained stable—but weak."

  Ethan’s mind was racing now. Monster attacks, internal strife, political weakness…

  Professor Vaughn finally pointed to the westernmost edge of the map.

  "And then, two hundred years after the Demon King’s fall… King Aldric III ascended the throne."

  She stepped back from the map, folding her arms.

  "King Aldric III reorganized the military, improved supply lines, and strengthened trade with neighboring kingdoms. Under his leadership, the Halt Kingdom finally regained enough strength to unch a proper recmation campaign."

  Professor Vaughn’s gaze swept across the cssroom.

  "And that," she said, "is where true expansion finally began."

  Ethan sat back in his seat, absorbing the sheer weight of everything he had just heard.

  Professor Vaughn’s gaze remained steady as her hand lowered from the map.

  "During your first year, we will cover each of these events in detail," she said, her tone crisp and unwavering. "We’ll examine the major political decisions, the military strategies, and the key figures that shaped the early years of the Halt Kingdom."

  She tapped the map once more, her finger resting on the western border of the kingdom.

  "We will study each of these events chronologically—from the immediate aftermath of the Demon King’s fall, through the failed expansions, the rebellion, and finally, the reign of King Aldric III."

  Her sharp green eyes swept over the cssroom, pausing briefly on Ethan before continuing.

  "Understanding these events is essential to grasp the foundation upon which this kingdom was built. The successes and failures of the past shaped the world you live in today—and they will determine the challenges you face in the future."

  Professor Vaughn’s hand withdrew from the map as she stepped back toward her desk.

  "That’s all for today."

  A collective breath of relief spread through the room as the students rexed.

  "Before you leave…" Her voice sharpened again, causing the students to sit up straight.

  "Don't forget to read through page 25 before our next css."

  Several students groaned under their breath.

  Professor Vaughn ignored them.

  "If you want to succeed in this css, you will do the reading. And for those of you who think you can simply ‘catch up ter’…" Her gaze darkened. "…you’ll quickly discover how mistaken you are."

  Her eyes narrowed slightly.

  "Css dismissed."