Chapter 175 - 133: He’s in the Stratosphere

"Let’s go..." Just as Storyteller was about to leave with Wa Zai, a new commotion seemed to break out over by Burton Mage.

The two looked over curiously and saw that Burton Mage had a troubled expression on his face.

"...I’m very sorry, child, but... you really can’t learn this Skill."

"What the hell, why not? I poured all my points into my Spiritual Attribute! There’s no way I don’t meet the requirements!" The rejected player’s face was a mask of disbelief.

"Yeah, Teacher Burton, why can’t he learn it?"

Hearing this, the other players nearby were also confused and asked out of curiosity.

"It’s... because... you don’t meet the minimum learning requirements of Mithros Academy..."

Burton hesitated, then shook his head and added,

"It’s not a requirement related to learning aptitude..."

’Not a requirement for learning aptitude?’

The players were even more puzzled. Storyteller and Wa Zai exchanged a look, then both walked over, curious to see the drama unfold.

"What kind of requirement?" The player looked lost. "Teacher Burton, just tell me. How am I supposed to meet it if you don’t tell me what it is?"

"Well..." Burton sighed and said apologetically, "There’s nothing you can do to fix it."

He seemed reluctant to say it outright.

"Hahaha, don’t tell me it’s because your face is too ugly!"

"That’s totally possible. What the hell did this guy make his character look like? He looks like a plastic Shar-Pei that got scalded with boiling water, hahaha..."

"Why’s your head so pointy?"

"His chin looks like that kid with the butt-chin from One-Punch Man..."

"Nonsense, he clearly looks like Thanos."

"A Shar-Pei goblin, hahaha..."

As the conversation drifted in this direction, the other players caught sight of the player’s custom character and exploded with laughter.

"Hehe, ugly, right? That’s the point! That’s the exact Effect I was going for. This is the only way NPCs will remember me and give me hidden quests, you get it?" The player clearly didn’t mind, happily sharing his strategy instead.

However, some players noticed the look on Burton Mage’s face.

’Could that... really be the reason?’

"Huh?" Wa Zai stared at Burton Mage in shock. "Teacher Burton, is it really because of his appearance?"

Hearing this, an apologetic look appeared on Burton’s gentle, scholarly face.

"I’m very sorry, child."

"It may be difficult to understand, but those are the rules of the Mithros Academy. I took this vow the very first day I entered the Academy Palace... I am bound by that oath and cannot break it..."

Although he didn’t state it outright, everyone present understood. That really was the reason.

If you’re ugly... you can’t learn the Magic of Mithros!

Upon this realization, all the players present fell silent.

The air was suddenly dead silent.

Seeing their reaction, Burton felt he had crushed the young man’s spirits and felt a bit guilty about what he’d said. "How about this..." he said with a sigh. "Although you can’t learn the Magic of Mithros Academy, I..."

But before he could finish...

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

"BWAHAHAHAHAHA... Holy shit, that’s hilarious! I’m dying! Haha..."

"You really can’t learn Magic if you’re ugly!"

"Damn, you actually stumbled into a hidden questline!"

"This reminds me of that message on the character creation screen! So this is what it was foreshadowing. The level of detail is insane!"

"Fuck, I’m screwed. Does this mean the bald guy I made can’t learn it either?"

"I told you guys! When you’re running through the story, you have to at least look human!"

"I can’t take it, haha..."

The group of players was laughing so hard they were doubled over and rolling on the ground, tears streaming from their eyes.

They had never seen anything like this before. It was just too funny.

"Huh?" The player in question was on the verge of tears. He truly hadn’t expected this to be the reason. "So what do I do, Teacher Burton?"

He was really starting to regret it. If he’d known, he wouldn’t have made his character so ugly.

Seeing their reactions, Burton was a little confused.

’These Warriors... they don’t seem worried about their aptitude or appearance. Are they more concerned with practical benefits?’

’Well, since their spirits aren’t crushed, that’s for the best...’

With that thought, Burton continued where he’d left off. "...I truly cannot teach you the Magic of the Mithros Academy. However, I can give you two other Magics for free. Go ahead and choose..."

Burton patted his shoulder comfortingly.

"Teacher, are you serious?" The ugly player’s eyes instantly lit up, his earlier dejection vanishing in a puff of smoke.

"Of course," Burton nodded.

"Awesome!" The ugly player was overjoyed. Without a hint of politeness, he immediately started choosing.

"..."

Seeing this, the other players, who had just been laughing and joking, immediately stopped laughing.

"Damn, he gets them for free? You can do that?"

"Teacher Burton is so nice!"

"So the guy really did trigger a hidden quest?"

"Damn, that guy’s on a whole other level!"

The players were so jealous they could spit. They were the classic case of wanting to see their friends do well, but not *too* well.

"Ahem, Teacher Burton," Storyteller suddenly spoke up, "there’s no purchase limit on this Magic, is there?"

He was a quick thinker.

The other quick-witted players heard him and caught on as well.

Hearing this, Burton gave him a meaningful look. "This is a transaction between myself and the Candlekeeper. Of course, I won’t limit how many you purchase."

"I am not an Oath Officer, nor do I have the right to make you take any vows."

The players’ eyes lit up at his words.

The ugly player currently selecting his Magic was so excited he nearly shouted aloud.

However, Burton’s tone suddenly shifted, and his gaze grew solemn.

"However, I must explain one point to you in advance."

"Although there are many things about the Academy Palace I do not understand..."

At this, his eyelids drooped, and he let out a soft sigh.

"When a rule is established, there is almost always a reason for it. You all must be careful..."

The players were ecstatic to hear this. Most of them only paid attention to the first part of his speech, completely ignoring the final few sentences.

Only Storyteller, who was more focused on the plot, raised an eyebrow and exchanged a glance with Wa Zai.

"...Why do you keep looking at me? Is the face I made ugly too?" Wa Zai asked, his gaze unfriendly.

"..." Storyteller was speechless. "I was just trying to show we’re on the same page. You’re really... a hopeless case..."

He muttered the last part under his breath.

Wa Zai rolled his eyes. "You’ve been reading too many novels, you dumbass."

The incident with the appearance requirement passed quickly. A few attentive players took note of it, but most didn’t give it a second thought.

The ugly player left, delighted with his two free Magics. He even asked a friend to pick up some Magic for him, clearly wanting to have his cake and eat it too...

Of course, Luo Ge was also aware of the series of events that had occurred in the Jinghai Islands.

Unlike the players, he wasn’t so quick to dismiss the Mages’ fixation on appearance.

Burton had a point.

A rule is always established for a reason.

And if the rule is absurd, the reason behind it is likely just as absurd...

Furthermore, Burton’s words suggested some hidden history between him and the Academy Palace.

’Maybe I can find a chance to ask Burton about it...’

With these thoughts in mind, he sought out Noxia. "Do you Witches have any requirements regarding appearance?"

"Huh?" Noxia’s eyes filled with confusion. "Mr. Luo Ge, why do you ask?"

Although she didn’t quite understand, she still tried her best to recall.

After a moment, she nodded thoughtfully, then shook her head.

"Perhaps... In the memories I’ve recovered, there don’t seem to have been any unattractive Witches... but that could also be due to my missing memories..."

Hearing this, Luo Ge couldn’t help but fall into a moment of deep thought.