Hak pauses for a moment to think on how to answer that. It's a heavy subject, and Mizuki seems to both appreciate the gravity and be earnestly curious about what he means. He deserves a serious answer.
"...Some people have lives that benefit more from book smarts. Jobs that require that kind of higher learning, and homes that are well removed from war zone horrors.
"That kind of knowledge wouldn't serve me the same way. Growing up with no sense of constancy, and having regular exposure to broken people and places at the hands of broken systems, what was more valuable was having a sense of worldliness. To understand the different political and cultural environments around; to quickly adapt to the unexpected; to be able to analyze a risky situation; and to read a person's intentions well enough to avoid getting outsmarted. And, worse come to worse... to be strong enough to protect yourself and anyone you treasure. Even at a cost."
Which in essence also meant understanding the potential to lose who knew what at any time, being ready for it and not letting the fear of as much cripple you.
no subject
"...Some people have lives that benefit more from book smarts. Jobs that require that kind of higher learning, and homes that are well removed from war zone horrors.
"That kind of knowledge wouldn't serve me the same way. Growing up with no sense of constancy, and having regular exposure to broken people and places at the hands of broken systems, what was more valuable was having a sense of worldliness. To understand the different political and cultural environments around; to quickly adapt to the unexpected; to be able to analyze a risky situation; and to read a person's intentions well enough to avoid getting outsmarted. And, worse come to worse... to be strong enough to protect yourself and anyone you treasure. Even at a cost."
Which in essence also meant understanding the potential to lose who knew what at any time, being ready for it and not letting the fear of as much cripple you.