36 Selecting specialties

"What does the last category affect?" Ensen asked.

[The specialties category allows the user to pick three specialties that will aid the institution. These may not be changed after your choices are locked in. The specialties range from student enhancement choices to faculty and even reputation. The system implores the host to carefully analyze all choices before confirming.]

Somewhat in shock by the large benefit that system had given him, Ensen had begun to look at the list of specialties that had popped up in a similar fashion to the species.

The first thing Ensen did was scroll down from top to bottom and attempt to estimate the number of items there were. Noticing that there were around 100, he knew he was in for the long haul.

Going back towards the top, he began to read from the top of the list. Not all specialties were useful to him in the slightest, for example, Aristocratic Reputation.

[Aristocratic Reputation]

[Increases your renown with the local Aristocrats, encouraging them to enroll their offspring into the academy. While they most likely will hold off near the founding of your academy, as it grows in size and influence there will be a noticeable increase of nobles that wish to attend. This brings both benefits and consequences.]

[Effects]

[Noble applicants +50%]

[Peasant applicants -50%]

There was also a specialty that targeted peasants with nearly the opposite effects. Blatantly skipping over some which Ensen knew he wouldn't take, he made it half-way through the list before he had begun developing a small headache from all of the information he had been taking in for the past hour.

Deciding to take a small break, he had a quick shower to soothe his headache. After changing into his pajamas, he returned to the couch and finished reading the other half of the specialties.

Once finished Ensen took a deep breath as he felt his headache slowly returning. But he ignored it for the time being and he sorted the specialties into different categories. Useless, semi-useful, and so on.

After around 20 minutes of sorting he had found that there were six individual items that stood out to him.

Debating in his mind for several minutes, he managed to narrow the items down to only three.

[Otherworldly Faculty]

[This allows the private academy to hire entities from other worlds. Due to a deal between various systems, the otherworld faculty do not require payment of any sort. The host will be presented with various job applications filled out by either beings in other worlds or their system. The application is restricted to the selected student body.]

[Effects]

[Faculty salary -100%]

[The host may not hire beings in the same world]

This did not have many downsides, as he would be getting teachers and other faculty who would work according to the deal between systems.

"What is the deal between systems?" Ensen asked in curiosity, although it didn't directly affect him it would still be nice to know.

[There is a deal that the majority of systems have signed on to. This deal allows for interconnectivity for job opportunities and other similar things. The systems will negotiate a fair deal that benefits both parties. For example, a host may apply to work for your academy and in return, they are given many sorts of missions which will help you further develop and earn them points or items.] The system answered formally.

'So it's basically globalization but for the universe. Universalization?' Ensen thought to himself while seeing how practical it would be.

Ensen then moved on to the next two specialties.

[Natural Reputation]

[This will slowly give the school a reputation of nature which will draw in a large student population that prioritizes nature. This will also enhance the nearby area to a greater height in order to match its reputation. This also benefits the student's concentration level as the surrounding area is both peaceful and void of noise pollution.]

[Effects]

[Surrounding beauty +50%]

[Nature loving student applications +50%]

[Student concentration +50%]

Ensen chose this mainly for its effects on the surrounding environment. It would be a great element throughout the establishment of his school. After all, it was drastically different than all other schools in the area due to its remote location and the surrounding forests and lake.

Moving onto his final choice, Ensen believed this was the most impressive out of all of them.

[Elite institution]

[This will significantly alter the chosen path the system will use to give the host missions. Normal private schools cater to either those with money or those with no decent public education system. This specialty will completely ignore money in favor of more talented individuals, even if they are homeless. This comes with advantages and disadvantages, for example. The earning power of the institution will be severely affected and the intake of students will be dramatically lowered.]

[Effects]

[Tuition cost -50%]

[Student standards +2]

[Talented student applications +50%]

"If the standards right that would put the minimum requirement to B, right?" Ensen asked in confirmation.

[That is false. It would rise to C because of the plus and minus increments. While students at this grade would definitely be harder to find, it would hasten your development after some time due to all of your students being talented.]

Nodding in understanding, Ensen was really tempted with the Elite institution specialty. While it would further limit the pool of students that could be accepted, Ensen thought it was worth it in the long run.

After selecting all three specialties he was met with a blue box.

[Do you confirm these are the specialties you wish to have? They cannot be changed.]

[Yes]

[No]

Slowly double-checking his logic, Ensen slowly pressed on the yes button.

As the blue box faded away, another one appeared with the information fully filled out.

[School Name: Evergreen Academy]

[Emblem: Evergreen tree with a circular background and a golden border]

[Age range: 16-18]

[Student body: Human (M, F)]

[Specialties: Otherworldly Faculty, Natural Reputation, Elite Institution]

Nodding in satisfaction, Ensen closed the blue box and turned his attention elsewhere.

"Is there a way to check the talent of students?" Ensen asked, hoping that the talent discovery would be streamlined.

"That is correct, that is a newly unlocked function. You have 5 free uses, then every time you use it after that will cost one education point.]

Although Ensen felt that this was a fair deal, he still didn't want to spend the points.

'So I'll need to go talent scouting tomorrow, hopefully I find some great talents.' Ensen thought to himself.

"Is there a detailed statistics of my school similar to me?" He asked curiously.

[This is correct. Displaying the box now.]

[School Name: Evergreen Academy]

[Student population: 0 ]

[Faculty population: 1 ]

[Happiness: Null ]

[Diligence: Null ]

[Respect: Null ]

[Spirit: Null ]

[Species Demographic: Human: 100%]

[Rules/Conduct: ]

[...]

Looking at various statistics of the school laid out before me, I looked at it in interest. It seemed like the system had ways to measure each person's satisfaction and other variables directed towards the school.

Deciding he would only take a closer look when he had gotten his first student, Ensen closed the display for now and checked his status.

[Ensen Fuentes]

[Education Points: 8

[Academy Rank: Z- (You don't even have a student yet!)]

[Age: 27]

[Math average: C]

[Science average: F-]

[English average: F-]

[Foreign language average: F-]

[Sports average: F-]

[Teaching average: D+]

[administration average: D-]

[Other]

[Skill Market]

[Product Market]

[Auction House]

Looking at the academy rank, Ensen just casually shrugged it off for now and took a look at his education points. Seeing that he had eight points remaining, he decided that it was time to learn the piano skill from the school book.

Finding the bag that held the box that contained the textbook in the corner, Ensen lifted it up and placed it on the counter. Opening the box and taking the school book out, Ensen had no idea what would happen when he did actually learn it. Because of this, he needed to prepare a little bit.

Making a quite bite to eat and drink of water to make sure he was fully hydrated, Ensen also tidied up a little bit around the house.

After finishing these acts, Ensen made his way towards his bed and got into it comfortably.

Taking the textbook into his hands, Ensen stared at it for a few moments before the familiar message he saw before popped up.

[Would you like to learn: C grade Pianist]

[Yes (5Ep)]

[No]

Unlike last time, Ensen chose yes.

Immediately Ensen could sense something odd was happening. An odd sort of pressure was felt in his head that was hard to describe. It felt enlightening but also left a wave of pain in its wake.

Very quickly Ensen realized that the pain had begun to paralyze him. He could no longer move his body freely, instead it had been locked in place.

Suddenly, a tiny explosion erupted inside Ensen's head that caused him to immediately fall asleep.