I CHOSE to be a VILLAIN, not a THIRD-RATE EXTRA!!
Chapter 169 - 169: Mind and Will Training (4)

Althea remained silent after her initial answer, unable to offer another suggestion—her training in the Magic Tower had shaped her understanding, leaving her unfamiliar with any other approach.

Flakey scanned the classroom, waiting for another response.

"Any more guesses?"

A large hand suddenly rose, unmistakable in its sheer size and weight.

It was Varnok.

Flakey's eyes widened as he took a dramatic step back, pretending to measure the sheer bulk of the student before him.

Then, with exaggerated disbelief, he blurted—

"This is my first time seeing a student who looks more like my father than a fellow student. You sure you're a student?"

The moment the words left Flakey's mouth, laughter rippled through the class, students chuckling at the absurd remark.

Meanwhile, Varnok only let out a low snort, his expression unchanged, though his raised hand started lowering slightly, as if reconsidering his decision to participate.

Before it could fully drop, Flakey held up a hand, his grin widening.

"Now! Now! Don't hate me—I was just joking! Go on—tell me your answer."

Varnok straightened, his confidence unwavering as he responded—

"To strengthen our will, we must train our bodies to their physical limits."

His fists clenched, his words carrying a sense of pride and certainty, as though the answer was indisputable.

Flakey hummed lightly, rubbing the back of his head as he considered it.

"That method… kind of works."

His tone wasn't dismissive, yet it held a trace of reluctance.

"But you see—I'm a Mage. So I hate doing physical tasks."

His words earned a few smirks from the class, some amused by his unapologetic stance.

Still, he casually waved a hand in reassurance—

"But don't be sad. I'm sure the Physical Instructors of the Academy would love that answer."

His words carried a teasing edge, but the message was clear—Varnok's approach had its merits.

Just not in Flakey's classroom.

"No more guesses."

His voice carried a subtle finality, indicating that the time for speculation had passed.

"You'll get your answer soon enough when I will start—but first, we need to address two of the most important questions."

"These questions define the very foundation of why this course is compulsory in the Academy."

The tone of his voice shifted, no longer carrying his usual playful edge—only expectation.

"What is the difference between Mind and Will?"

"And why do we train them?"

A hand was raised, and a student spoke up without hesitation.

"Teacher, aren't they the same?"

There was uncertainty in their tone, though the question itself was valid.

Another voice soon followed—Elara, her confidence apparent as she answered—

"Mind—or Mental Strength—and Will—or Willpower—are just different words with the same meaning."

Immediately, her followers echoed her response, their voices layering over each other as if reinforcing the claim.

"Elara is right."

"As expected of Elara."

'Bootlickers. I'm sure they'll agree with anything she says.' Thought Ashok.

Flakey, however, showed no sign of approval toward the chorus of voices.

Instead, he waved his hand dismissively, his expression shifting into something mildly irritated.

"Don't go around shouting—or I'll get angry."

The second those words left his lips, the students immediately fell silent, their enthusiasm abruptly cut short.

"I'm sure you're all familiar with the 'Status' screen—the projection granted by the World itself."

The mention of the Status screen wasn't unusual—it was common knowledge.

"Now, I don't know how many of you actually know this, but in most cases, Mage and Priest-related classes possess the stat 'Mind,' while Warrior-related classes possess the stat 'Will.'"

"Pay attention to my wording—I said Mage, Priest, and Warrior—not long-range combat, support, or close-range combat."

His voice carried a careful emphasis, ensuring they understood the distinction.

A few students exchanged glances, realizing the importance of his clarification.

"Archers, for example, are long-range fighters—but they are Warriors. Therefore, they have the 'Will' stat."

His explanation grew sharper, breaking down the unseen segregation that shaped their abilities.

"And when it comes to Hybrid Classes, the division is even stranger. Magic Swordsmen—despite wielding both magic and blades—possess 'Mind' instead of 'Will.'"

Flakey let that statement linger, watching as some students furrowed their brows, processing the implications.

Taking a slow breath, Flakey shifted the discussion forward, his eyes flickering with intrigue.

"Now—why do you think the World structured it this way?"

His voice carried an undeniable curiosity, but the question itself was far from simple.

For some students, this was an entirely new concept—something they had never considered, simply because it wasn't visible to them.

Since no one could view another person's Status screen, they had no idea how the stats were assigned across different Classes.

Now—for the first time—they were forced to think about it.

Leon, seated among them, straightened slightly before speaking up—his voice steady.

"Teacher—is it a separation similar to Mana and Aura? Even though both come from the energy of nature?"

The ears of the students perked up recognizing the similarities.

Flakey's expression shifted slightly, his eyes gleaming with approval as he nodded.

"Good! Your answer is even more closely tied to the question than you realize."

"Those who possess Mana have the stat 'Mind.' Those who possess Aura have the stat 'Will.'"

His words settled over the class, each student mentally dissecting the information.

A subtle smile flickered across Leon's face, small but unmistakable—the kind that naturally follows being praised by an instructor.

"The secrets behind Mind and Will are endless."

His voice took on a lighter, musing quality, his gaze briefly drifting toward the sky as if contemplating something far beyond the lesson itself.

"It's not something that can ever be fully covered in a single class."

"Or even something I can entirely teach, because every day—even now—I learn something new about them."

The way he spoke carried a deep certainty, a quiet acknowledgment that knowledge itself was constantly evolving.

Even as an instructor, Flakey was still a student—always learning, always experimenting.

"Now, let's dive into something I discovered after years of research—through countless discussions with Mages, Warriors, and Monks."

His voice carried a weight of experience, his hands gesturing slightly as he continued.

"In simple terms, Mental Strength encompasses three key traits—resilience, emotional control, and consistent focus."

"Willpower, on the other hand, represents self-control, discipline, and resistance."

He let the words linger for a moment before shifting forward.

Then, his tone grew steadier, clearer, as he presented a scenario—

"Let's say someone experiences a major setback in their life."

His voice didn't waver—he wanted them to truly think about it.

"Now—how do you think someone with strong Mental Strength and someone with strong Willpower would react to that setback?"

He gave them a moment to process before explaining.

"Those with strong Mental Strength will not collapse under the weight of their misfortune."

"Instead of giving up, they will recover—searching for an opportunity within the setback itself, finding a way to continue growing forward."

He let that thought settle before drawing the contrast.

"Those with strong Willpower, however, will react differently."

"They won't necessarily search for an opportunity in the setback. Instead, they will simply ignore the weight of it entirely—continuing forward as if it never affected them in the first place."

As his words sank in, Flakey's expression darkened slightly, his voice carrying a sense of warning.

"And then—there are those who possess neither strong Mental Strength nor strong Willpower."

He exhaled quietly.

"They won't fight through the hardship. They won't endure it."

His gaze became more calculating, scanning the students as he delivered his conclusion.

"They will simply give up—either shifting toward something else entirely or drowning their failures in alcohol, choosing to relinquish everything."

As Flakey's words settled into the air, the class remained focused—but Ashok felt something entirely different.

A faint, prickling sensation spread through his chest as he heard the last part, sharp yet unclear, as if his conscience had been unexpectedly struck by something unspoken.

For a brief moment, his mind felt out of sync with the present, as if it had been pushed toward something just beyond reach.

His fingers instinctively curled slightly, but instead of lingering on the feeling—he shook his head, dispelling the discomfort.

'Why am I feeling such discomfort hearing his words even though I never had any major setbacks in life?Or'

'Did I forget something?'

The question surfaced abruptly—but just as quickly, Ashok dismissed it.

'Nah. I'm sure I remember everything about the game.'

Flakey continued his lecture -

"Now Some of you might have different answers to the example I gave—and you might even be correct."

His words carried no dismissal, only acknowledgment.

"A person's Mind and Will do not function in exactly the same way as another's."

"The example I gave was based on the lives of the people I encountered during my research."

His voice held reflection, layered with the knowledge gathered over years of observation.

"It would be much different depending on circumstances— so even if you forget the first part of what I said it won't be much big of a deal."

"However—never forget the last part. Not for the rest of your life."

A few students shifted in their seats, recognizing the gravity in his voice.

"You all might be great geniuses."

His words held no sarcasm—only truth.

"But mark my words—one day, every single one of you will face a Great Wall."

He exhaled slightly, his gaze unwavering.

"That will be the moment where only your Mind or Will shall be tested."

Flakey's voice softened just slightly—not with leniency, but with understanding.

"Even if you lose, it won't matter much to me."

Some students blinked, confused, not expecting such an admission.

"Because we learn from failures."

His words carried no false comfort, only experience.

"But my job—my responsibility—is to prepare you."

His gaze hardened just slightly, pressing the weight of his lesson onto them.

"To ensure that when that moment arrives—you do not give up after losing."

A quiet breeze swept across the floating island, carrying the weight of his words into the open air.

"Because the moment you give up—that is the moment you truly lose."

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