《Legendary Hero is an Academy Honors Student》 Prologue In a world swallowed by fire, stood a gray-haired man, with a huge black dragon struggling to breathe next to him. - K..y..le. "Don''t speak dammit. I will definitely save you!¡± Kyle gritted his teeth and used healing magic. A huge amount of mana erupted. However, the massive wound that pierced through the dragon''s stomach did not heal. "FU*K! FU*K! I won¡¯t lose you too!¡± -no¡­ the mistake was mine. So, kyle¡­, take my heart and continue to move forward. "Stop it dammit¡­ Don¡¯t say such crazy things. SHUT UP SHUT UP!" Kyle said harshly. ¡°Don¡¯t leave me like Aron, Luna, and Dweno! You are a dragon dammit! You are a great race, don¡¯t make a fuss about a small scar YOU DAMN LIZARD!¡± -Kyle... ¡­ Do you remember when we first met? Kyle held his breath at those words. Black dragon Risinas said the same words when they first met with the same smile. -We will save the world. ¡°Yes..we¡­ ¡­ .¡± -Sorry¡­ ¡­ for leaving you all alone. With those words, the eyelids of the majestic dragon slowly shut. ¡°¡­ ¡­ .¡± Kyle¡¯s gaze lingered on the dead black dragon for a moment before turning to the gray sky. It rained black. The rain of death swept every life away. It was evident that the world was heading toward destruction. "¡­ ¡­ FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K FU*K .¡± Kyle spewed curses without thinking about avoiding the rain. Kyle dug into his comrade''s flesh and took out his heart, then he raised his head. A flaming tower could be seen in the distance. ¡°EREBOS.¡± He spat out his opponent''s name as if he was chewing it. ¡°I will fu*king kill you¡­ even if I am the only one left standing.¡± Drenching in black rain, the last legendary hero the world ever saw, made his way toward the flaming tower for the decisive battle. And¡­ he single-handedly saved the entire world. ? ? ? ? ? ? ¡°Leo~ Mommy will read you a fairy tale.¡± Reina, the mistress of the Flove household said as she approached her one-month-old son. Seeing that, Dade Flove burst into laughter. ¡°Reina. You''ve read that storybook at least a hundred times. If we include prenatal education, it would easily exceed a thousand times. Won¡¯t Leo be already fed up with that story?" "But Dade. This fairy tale is about my favorite legendary heroes.¡± Reina looked at her son, who was sleeping soundly in the cradle with love and affection. "And this fairy tale is also Leo''s favorite. Every time I read it, he smiles." "Really?" "Yes. Would you like to see it?¡± Reina approached the cradle and opened the storybook. ¡°Hey, Leo papi~ Mommy¡¯s gonna read the [Heroes of the Beginning] fairy tale for you. Leo''s eyes widened. "once upon a time. A very very long time ago. Precisely about 5000 years ago... ¡­ .¡± "Abbu! Abb! Ad!" "Look!" ¡°Haha, For real!¡± Dade Flove was taken aback by his son, who was shaking his head and babbling. Reina smiled as she continued reading the fairy tale. Elf Archmage, Luna. Dwarf Mastersmith, Dweno. The beast warrior, Aron. Finally, the Wise Dragon, Risinas. ¡°So the great four Legendary heroes defeated the bad Erebus and brought peace to the world. The End!" "Abu! Auuuuu!" Leo swung his short arms and legs violently. Looking at their enthusiastic son, the couple smiled proudly. Seeing his parents like that, Leo cried out inwardly. ''Please stop reading that damn book!'' If the Flove couple had known their child''s thoughts, they would have been surprised. How could their newborn baby have such a clear mind? But what was even more surprising was¨C his identity. A very very long time ago. Precisely about 5000 years ago... ¡­ .he was one of the Five Legendary heroes who saved the world. Kyle. The man who defeated the primordial evil, Erebos, and saved the world. And he was also an unfortunate man who was forgotten by the world. CH 1 In Delan, the capital of the frontier kingdom Dellard. "Everyone! We live in the age of heroes!¡± ''Here he goes¡­ Is it the same old story again?'' Leo, who turned 15 this year, sighed deeply, seemingly bored. ¡°It¡¯s been 5000 years since [Hero Records] appeared in the world! During the past 5000 years, the world has undergone many changes. At the center of each change, there has always been the presence of people referred to as HEROES!¡± Jaden, a teacher who teaches about Heroes at Delan Royal School continued. ¡°Is there any student who knows the definition of a Hero?¡± Students raised their hands. Professor Jaden pointed at one of the students. ¡°Student Gulliver. Please answer.¡± ¡°A Hero is someone who leaves his or her name on Hero Records. Only those who have accomplished feats recognized by the Gods are allowed to leave their names on Hero Records.¡± "Bravo Bravo! You are indeed correct, student Gulliver.¡± Gulliver sat with a triumphant expression. ¡°Next¡­ Student Leo?¡± Leo stood up when his name was called even though he did not raise his hand. ¡°Do you remember the homework I gave last time? What kind of ritual do you have to perform to be called a Hero 5,000 years ago?" ¡°You just have to spread your name, the people will take care of the rest.¡± "You''re still doing your homework that way!" Professor Jayden frowned. ¡°Our Delan Royal School is the most prestigious school in our country! Didn''t I repeatedly say that you should show dignity that matches this prestige? Furthermore, this year our school is selected as one of the venues for the Lumeln Academy¡¯s entrance exam!¡± Professor Jaden¡¯s eyes rose. ¡°Many talented people will visit our school! At a time like this, as a Delan student, you have to set an example, and what student Leo is showing is not the right attitude!¡± With an expression of disapproval, he spoke to Gulliver again. ¡°Can Student Gulliver answer this question?¡± ¡°People in ancient times had no means to receive God''s Recognition! So they hold a holy ceremony to select the hero! A typical example of such one was the blood ritual!¡± ¡°Yes, exactly! Bravo.¡± Leo had a sullen expression. ''Even though it was so easy to meet Gods back then, why did they have a hard time getting recognized?'' 5000 years ago was the time when Gods freely descended into the Human world. ''Tsk¡­ A sacred ritual? Was there something like that?'' Leo glanced at the textbook and clicked his tongue. ''Hero Records.'' The origin of the record was after the catastrophe that occurred 5000 years ago. Erebos, a primordial devil that drove the world to the brink of destruction. At that time five heroes stood up against Erebos. [Founder of the Nebula Magic] Elven Luna. [God''s Blacksmith] Dwarf Dweno. [Brave Warrior] Aron. [King of Wisdom] Risinas. Lastly, [Hero of the Beginning] Kyle. [Hero Records] was a miracle gifted to the Human world by the Gods to honor the Legendary Heroes forever. ''But why am I the only person who doesn¡¯t have one?'' Records of his close friends exist, proving that they existed and saved the world. However, only Kyle''s records couldn¡¯t be found! He felt the world was unfair for forgetting his existence. As Leo was lamenting his situation. Ding- Ding- The bell rang announcing the end of the class. Professor Jaden said as he closed his textbook. "In the next week, preparations for the Lumeln entrance exam will be finished. Talented students from all over the world will visit our school at that time." He looked at the student''s face and said, "Interact with them and strive for greater heights. That''s all." ? ? ? ? ? ? Class ended, and Leo headed straight home. Flove household holds the title of Marquis of the Dellard Kingdom. ¡°Young master, madam is waiting for you at the arena.¡± ¡°Huh? Again?" Leo frowned. ¡°I won¡¯t be going.¡± "Madam said, if you miss swordsmanship class one more time, she will cut off your allowance by half......" "Huh! Seriously." Leo sighed at the chief chamberlain''s words. He then headed towards the training ground after changing his uniform. Originally, the middle of the day was the time when knights put their sweat and stamina into training. But now at the center of the arena was a beautiful woman. It was Reina Flove, the Mistress of the Flove household. ¡°Mother, I¡¯m back.¡± "Welcome, Papi. By the way, Papi. Why are you always being formal with your mother, calling mother~ mother~?¡± Reina¡¯s eyelids opened revealing her ruby-like eyes similar to her son''s. ¡°I hear children these days call their mother, mom, except for this unfortunate mother. I''m sad because my son is distancing himself from me." Leo, who came up to the arena with a wooden sword, said. "I''m trying to distance myself on purpose.¡± "Oh? Why? Is it puberty?¡± Reina''s face was filled with grief. SWOOSH-! At the same time, her body rushed towards her son with incredible force. BANG-! ¡°Because of this. A mother slashing at her own son with a wooden sword! What son wouldn''t want to distance himself from this kind of mother?¡± Reina smiled as she heard her son''s words. "I guess this mother''s heart has not reached Papi...... Maybe I should push myself a little harder today." Reina''s wooden sword quickly changed. Leo reacted to Reina''s ever-changing swordplay. The knights burst into exclamations. ¡°As expected of the Mistress! That¡¯s the famous swordsmanship of Hero Gerdinger!¡± "However, the young master is also incredible!" Usually, swordsmanship lessons for aristocrats are taught by knights of the family. However, in the Flove household, the Mistress, Reina Flove, was in charge of that. But no one was dissatisfied with it. There was a large country that borders the Dellard Kingdom, called the Rodren Empire. In the Rodren Empire, there was once a famous Hero called Gerdinger, and Reina was one of the descendants of that Gerdinger. Ttak-! Ttadadak-! Ttaak-! Seeing her son block all her attacks, Reina''s eyes shone. ''As expected, My Leo Papi is a genius.'' Reina, having retired, was still one of the Great knights. Despite not using her aura and wearing a weight magic bracelet on her arms and legs, no one could compete on an equal footing with her. This was due to the significant difference in their experience. Leo, on the other hand, was countering Reina''s sword. ''Every time I spar with him, his skills improve.'' As a parent, she couldn''t help but be proud as she watched her son grow up day by day. The spar continued for ten minutes. Reina fell in love with sparring. She instinctively bent her wrist when she saw Leo coping with her by reading her sword path. ''Oops!'' Reina was taken aback by her own action. She unknowingly used an irregular sword move! It was a technique too difficult for Leo to cope with. Reina hastily tried to retrieve the sword. ''It''s late... ¡­ .'' Tak-! ¡°!¡± Reina''s eyes widened. Leo quickly dug into Reina''s arms after tackling the sword and aimed at her neck. The wooden sword''s tip was aimed at Reina''s throat. Reina had a bewildered expression. Leo sighed as he retrieved the sword. "Don''t you think you''re being too hard on your son, MOM?" ¡°You say that after handling it well.¡± Though Reina said with a smile, she still felt goosebumps all over her body. ''This child... ¡­ he''s beyond what I can handle.'' Using an irregular sword move while disguising it as a normal sword move was a life-threatening technique that even skilled knights would struggle to cope with. Talent alone was not enough to overcome it. Still, Leo coped well. Of course, the sword was restrained along the way. But still, what he did was great. ''Maybe, I shouldn¡¯t have defended that sword?'' Leo sighed as he looked at his mother, whose eyes sparkled with expectation. Leo was not a normal fifteen year old child. He was a great hero who saved the world in his previous life. Responding to an irregular sword move was not a difficult task. Looking at Leo scratching his head, Reina inquired. ¡°Hey, Leo Papi. Are you still thinking of going to Lumeln?¡± "Yeah." Lumeln Academy. There are only four hero academies in the world. And they were the places where [Hero Records] were kept. ''I need to find out what happened after I died.'' After defeating Erebos, Kyle died of exhaustion. But Erebos was immortal. Though subjugation was a success, the mission to completely eradicate the Demons failed. In addition, the commander of Erebos¡¯ army, Tartarus, was left alive. Since then, 5000 years have passed. Their stories remained only in legend. And what happened after Kyle''s death was not properly recorded. He thought maybe he could find out what happened after his death by looking through Hero Records. That was the reason why Leo wanted to enter the world''s most prestigious Lumeln Academy. "So that¡¯s how it is." Reina laughed. "Okay, I understand. Mom will do her best. So leave everything to me." "What?" "The Gerdinger family will be visiting Dellan tomorrow. So, they decided to stay at our mansion." ¡°People from mother¡¯s family?¡± The famous Gerdinger family was Leo¡¯s maternal family but they had never been in contact with them. This was because Reina severed her ties with her family when she got married. ''So it must be true when she said they severed ties on good terms.'' Normally, when a mother''s family was mentioned as a Hero''s family, anyone would have been overjoyed. However, Leo was not interested in any Hero family. "yes. Your uncle, Jess Gerdinger, is said to be in charge. So, I''m considering making a request to the family through Jess." Reina said earnestly. "If you can inherit Gerdinger''s aura method. Then you''ll be strong enough to enter Lumeln next year." Reina taught Leo swordsmanship but did not teach him Aura. It was because Reina couldn''t teach her Aura method to anyone without the family''s permission. But with the Hero family''s permission, Leo can learn their aura method! To anyone who aims to become a knight, it was a dream come true! But Leo felt sour. ''Now I can learn an Aura method.'' Reina had put off teaching the Aura method because she wanted her son to learn the High-level Aura method. Of course, Leo would have been able to learn an aura method right away if he had thought about it. But, for the time being, he decided to follow his mother''s teaching. Though it was frustrating, it was still fun to train together like this. Still, as long as Reina made up her mind, the stuffiness was over as of today. It makes no difference to Leo whether he uses Gerdinger''s Aura method or not. To him, learning any Aura method will solve his current predicament. ''Mother seems to be thinking about next year.'' Leo grinned. ''But I''m thinking of entering the academy this year?'' CH 2 "Ah! How nice would it have been if a Hero family comes to my house?" "My house has already finished preparing to throw a party for them!" Delan students showed excitement at the end of the class. Starting today, candidates participating in the Lumeln Academy entrance exam will be visiting Delan school. The Dellard Kingdom''s nobles were determined to bring the members of the Hero family to their homes. Hero family. It was a prestigious title bestowed upon the best families who have produced heroes for generations. Of course, people from these families have a good chance of getting into Lumeln Academy. ¡°Gulliver. Among the famous Hero families visiting, which one do you think has the highest reputation?¡± ¡°Heh, of course, it¡¯s the Gerdinger family.¡± At Gulliver''s words, his friends started a discussion. ¡°Gerdinger will be visiting the Traden family, right?¡± "Of course! After all, Gulliver is the only one in the kingdom who is qualified to take the Lumeln entrance exam?" Gulliver boasted, looking around at his friends who were going out of their way to praise him. "Ahm¡­¡­ I''m already looking forward to discussing with the Gerdinger Hero family geniuses?¡± "Wow! Hey! I''m jealous! I envy you!" ¡°Gulliver! Can I visit your house later?¡± "It''s not impossible." "Oh oh! thanks!" "Gulliver! What about your best pal? Include me as well!" Gulliver Traden. As the heir to the Marquis of Traden, he was called the greatest magic genius in Dellard. He attained 2nd circle at the age of fifteen. In the public eye, he was widely regarded as a gifted individual who would enter the Lumeln academy. It has been 20 years since a Dellard Kingdom student enrolled at Lumeln Academy. So, many people in the kingdom were paying attention to Gulliver. Just as everyone was excited. A student who was looking out the window exclaimed in surprise. "Guys! Isn¡¯t that the Gerdinger family¡¯s flag?¡± "Ugh? where? where?" ¡°They came already?¡± Students rushed towards the window. Meanwhile, Leo walked out of the classroom, as if he didn''t care. As he was about to leave the classroom, his action caught the attention of Gulliver''s gang. ¡°Whoa-oh, slow down, Leo. Did you think you could greet them if you went first? Do you think the Gerdinger family would be interested in you?" Gulliver mocked Leo. Gulliver was rated as the best student in every field, but still, he was envious of Leo. Because there was a class in which he could never defeat Leo. Combat class. Nonetheless, the professors clearly favored Gulliver, so they did not allow Leo and Gulliver to match up in the practical test, despite the fact that the outcome was obvious. Leo replied indifferently. ¡°I¡¯m just going home.¡± ¡°Heh, it seems like you¡¯re getting good at changing topics.¡± "Yeh yeh. So just go and wag your tail at Gerdingers.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t throw words carelessly, Leo. I''m just checking on Celia Gerdinger as a competitor.¡± Gulliver''s eyes flared. A fierce atmosphere was created between the two. [Office notification. All students are asked to assemble in the banquet hall right now. There will be no exceptions.] A magic broadcast echoed throughout the school. The reason for the gathering couldn¡¯t be obvious. It was to participate in welcoming the Gerdinger family. ''This is why I tried to leave early.'' Leo grumbled inwardly. Gulliver snorted his way out of the classroom. The other students also rushed to the banquet hall. Leo mumbled as he scratched his head. ''Uh. Let''s just slide away.'' "Hmm? Leo, are you not coming?¡± "I feel sick. So, I¡¯m going home." "What? This is a rare chance to meet people from the Gerdinger family?¡± "Not interested." Leo''s classmates were puzzled as they watched him wave his hands and walk away. ? ? ? ? ? ? ¡°We are honored by your visit, Sir Jess Gerdinger!¡± Professor Jaden shouted with his face flushed. The students also looked at Jess with envy. "I don''t know what to say in response to such a warm welcome." ¡°This is student Gulliver. He will be the only student taking the Lumeln Academy entrance exam this time!" "Is that so? What a coincidence, this time, my niece is also taking the entrance exam.¡± The student''s gaze naturally shifted to one person. A girl guarded by Gerdinger knights. Celia Gerdinger. Princess of the Gerdinger family. She was a well-known sword princess not only in the empire but also throughout the world. Feeling the students'' gaze, Celia shrugged her shoulders. Gulliver was spellbound at Celia¡¯s beauty. ''Wow, beautiful!'' Long black hair and large red ruby eyes. The straight long nose bridge and red smooth lips. He had seen many aristocratic girls, but none as beautiful as Celia. ¡°Celia, come here.¡± At Jess'' words, Celia strode forward. And Gulliver wore a bright smile. ¡°Are you going to take the entrance exam too? Let''s do our best together.¡± ¡°Ye..ah, yes! yes! Let''s do our best. Ha ha ha!" Gulliver displayed a confident smile as he held out his hand. Celia blankly stared at his hand. When Jess elbowed her from the side, she too held her hand. Gulliver¡¯s smile widened. "I''ll show you around the school. Also, please give a speech to our students.¡± ¡°Such an honor... I don¡¯t know if my words will be of much help.¡± "Anything from Sir Jess Gerdinger will be extremely beneficial to these students!" Jess Gerdinger, alias Flame Blade, was one of the Strongest knights in the Empire. His legend has spread throughout the world beyond the borders of the empire. The value of a single word from a man who was expected to be titled a Hero soon was enormous. "By the way, where do you like to stay¡­¡­.¡± ¡°That¡­ I have already decided where to stay.¡± "Oh, I see." Professor Jaden''s face was clouded. ¡°Excuse me, Professor.¡± "Yes!" ¡°I would like to meet student Leo Flove.¡± "What?" While Jaden looked puzzled, Gulliver''s eyes widened. For a moment, he doubted his own ears. ''How does he know Leo?'' Jess did not notice the shock of Gulliver, who was regarded as the best magic talent in the Kingdom of Dellard. ¡°Le, how did you know about student Leo?¡± "I heard from someone I know that he is an exceptional talent." ¡°Isn¡¯t Sir. Jess Gerdinger misunderstanding something?¡± When the name of Leo, whom he didn''t want to hear, was mentioned, Gulliver got angry. ¡°What did I misunderstand?¡± ¡°I am a classmate of Leo Flove. He''s obviously a brilliant student, but... ¡­ .¡± Gulliver shook his head faking disappointment. ¡°That guy can¡¯t even use basic Aura.¡± "Is that so?" Officials at the Delan Royal School admired Gulliver, who spoke without being intimidated in front of Jess Gerdinger. Gulliver quavered as well at his brazenness. ''Jess Gerdinger listens to my opinion!'' Gulliver appeared proud, believing Jess'' nod as accepting his opinion, while the members of the Gerdinger family silently snickered at Gulliver¡¯s behavior. Jess was responsible for educating the children of Gerdinger''s family members. Even the head of the family respects Jess'' opinions when discussing the qualities of the children. And, it was dumbfounding to see a kid with no blood tie to Gerdinger make comments that disparaged him. ¡°So, where is Leo Flove?¡± Jess did not pay attention to Gulliver and asked again. Gulliver panicked, and Professor Jaden spoke urgently. ¡°Student Leo Flove! Come forward!¡± ¡°¡­ ¡­ .¡± ¡°Student Leo?¡± A student carefully raised his hand. ¡°Professor, Leo went home in the carriage earlier?¡± ¡°What, what?¡± Jaden''s mouth fell open. ¡°I¡¯m sure all the students were told to gather, right?¡± "That¡­ ¡­ He said he was not interested in the Gerdingers... ¡­ .¡± The students groaned. Celia put on a puzzled expression. Jess chuckled. ''As expected of my sister''s son.'' ? ? ? ? ? ? After completing their schedule at Delan Royal School, Jess and Celia got into the carriage. Those who came out to see them off were startled when they saw the carriage with two people riding on it. ''That, Griffon?'' A carriage led by a phantom beast! While people were sticking out their tongues, the carriage started. ¡°Ah, which family will they be staying with?¡± ¡°I envy them, I envy them.¡± The students murmured. Seeing the people of the Gerdinger family leave, Gulliver clenched his fists. ''When I enter Lumeln, I¡¯ll study with girls like that!'' It was also a place that suited a talented person like him. With that certainty, Gulliver''s eyes lit up. ''In the entrance exam next week I will definitely pass!'' Meanwhile, Jess asked from inside the griffon wagon. ¡°How were the students at the Delan Royal School?¡± ¡°It was a mess.¡± Celia put on a disappointed expression. For a short time, she listened to Hero studies taught at the Delan Royal School. In conclusion, it wasn''t even worth listening to. Regardless of country, regardless of race, Hero studies, which deals with past Heroes, was a very important study for those who aim to become a Hero. But the lessons at Delan Royal School were all nonsense. ¡°And that Gulliver? He didn''t know his place and dared to speak against uncle¡¯s words.¡± ¡°The family we are visiting now will be a little different.¡± ¡°Is it the Flove family?¡± Celia remembered what had happened a while ago. Among the students of Delan Royal School, there was one who said he was not interested in the Gerdinger family. ''Huh. A cheeky fellow.'' Celia, who was proud of her family, did not like that attitude. ''Besides, it looks like he wants to study knighthood, yet he can''t handle Aura even at that age?'' Celia wasn''t interested in Leo at all. She had no idea that she was going to her cousin''s house. Meanwhile, Jess pulled out a letter from his pocket. ''If she hadn''t left the family, she would have held an important position.'' The current Patriarch, Sheld Zerdinger, Jess Zerdinger, and Reina Zerdinger¨C the three siblings were regarded as the future of the Gerdinger family once. Although she left the family due to an unfortunate accident, Jess knew Reina''s skills well. Such a sister had evaluated her son as [Genius]. Besides¡­ ¡­ . ''Can''t use Aura?'' A must for children of aristocrats who aspire to become knights. They learn to manifest Aura from an early age. But it was said that Leo couldn''t use Aura. ''I can''t wait to see what kind of child he is.'' ? ? ? ? ? ? Evening time. Left alone in the training ground, Leo closed his eyes and concentrated. His whole body was drenched in sweat because he had just finished training. ¡°Hoo.¡± He took a deep breath. ''The Mana heart is complete.'' The reason he hadn¡¯t learned Aura until now¡­ It was also to keep pace with my mother''s classes. However, the biggest reason was to make Mana heart. If looked only at the qualities of a Knight, the current body was better than the previous life Kyle''s body. However, the qualities of the wizard and summoner, which were other abilities, were close to zero. That was why he did not carelessly learn Aura. In his previous life, Kyle was a Knight who was good at close combat, a wizard who handled powerful magic, and also made contracts with spirits and phantoms. The reason why the subjugation party did not collapse even while his friends were dying, was because there was Kyle, who had mastered all classes. ''I was able to fill the void left by them.'' Before the final battle, Kyle, who was left alone, had the essence of the powers of his friends. The will and hope entrusted by them. ''I couldn''t handle it properly in my previous life, but I''ll handle it perfectly in this life.'' The moment Aura was accepted into the body, the body transforms to make full use of the Aura. If that happens, the opportunity to accumulate Mana and spiritual energy would completely disappear. That was why the foundation has been laid. To inherit the will of his friends. Leo clenched his fists. ''I¡¯ve finished the first step!'' TRIVIA(Papi) WHAT DOES PAPI MEAN? Borrowed by English, Papi is a Spanish colloquialism for ¡°daddy,¡± extended as a general term of endearment like ¡°buddy¡± for a friend or ¡°my man¡± for a romantic partner, or ¡°baby¡± for a child. WHERE DOES PAPI COME FROM? Papi is a colloquial term for ¡°daddy¡± in Spanish, but in many Spanish-speaking cultures, particularly in the Caribbean, it is often used as a general term of affection for any man, whether it¡¯s a relative, friend, lover, or child. The English ¡°baby,¡± used as a term of endearment for spouses and children alike, is similar. The term Papi was probably popularized among English speakers when Latina artist Jennifer Lopez, of Puerto Rican descent, released the song ¡°Papi¡± in 2011. Its lyrics specifically encouraged listeners to ¡°dance for your papi¡± (i.e., your man). Another popular proponent of the term was Major League Baseball player David Ortiz, who was born in the Dominican Republic. When Ortiz first joined the Boston Red Sox in 2002, he brought over his culture¡¯s habit of calling teammates papi, to the point that they started calling him papi back, eventually earning him the nickname Big Papi. Since becoming a star, Ortiz has used his nickname for marketing products such as ¡°Big Papi¡¯s Kitchen.¡± CH 3 CREEK-! The door to the Flove family''s mansion opened. Through which members of Gerdinger family entered. Those who came to meet them at the gate of the Flove family swallowed their dry saliva. They felt an overwhelming sense of intimidation worthy of a Hero family that competed for continental hegemony. FLUTTER- FLUTTER- The Gerdinger family flag embroidered with blazing flames fluttered. The wagon led by Griffon at the front came to a halt. Jess and Celia stepped out as the door opened. ''Why does uncle want everyone to stay here?'' In fact, Celia did not like it when she heard that they would be staying in an aristocratic family. Celia wasn''t satisfied by simply entering the Lumeln academy. The goal was to reach the top. That was why until the entrance exam she wanted to focus only on the training. However, there were many troublesome things when it comes to an aristocratic family. Especially the families in small kingdoms. It was clear that they would be frantic to somehow make a connection with their Gerdinger family. So she wanted to rent an entire luxury hotel. She did not openly express her displeasure because the decision was made by her uncle Jess, but she didn''t like it. SWOOSH- Celia straightened her waist and flipped her black hair behind her ears. Dissatisfied or not, she was the daughter of the family head. It was crucial to maintain her image. As a member of the family, it was necessary to show courtesy to the owner of the mansion. Celia, who thought so, was momentarily stunned at what she saw. "uh?" Not just her. The other members of the Gerdinger family were also muffled. At the entrance of the mansion, there was only a man and a woman standing to welcome them. It was Dade Flove and Reina Flove. To be exact, it was Reina¡¯s appearance that surprised them. ''She resembles my father and uncle.'' And she herself resembles Reina. ¡°Celia, give your greetings. This is the Marquis of Flove.¡± ¡°My name is Celia Gerdinger. I thank you for your hospitality.¡± "Welcome. Consider it your home and make yourself at ease." Dade plainly greeted them. There was no attempt to appear good in front of a Hero family. ¡°And this is my wife, Reina.¡± "Hello, I''ve heard a lot about you." Reina greeted Celia with a gentle smile. Celia looked at Reina with confused eyes. ¡°Uncle, who is this?¡± ¡°Reina Flove. It¡¯s your aunt.¡± Celia''s eyes widened in disbelief. ? ? ? ? ? ? The Gerdinger family unpacked their luggage at the mansion. Meanwhile, Jess was talking to the Floves in the main room. ¡°I am glad to see you in good health.¡± "There''s no reason why I shouldn''t be healthy." CLAK Reina elegantly raised her teacup. ¡°You seem to have matured a lot, sister.¡± "Huhuhu. You, too, have grown a lot? Jess.¡± Jess shook his head as he noticed veins spurting on his sister''s forehead. ''Her personality is still the same.'' His older sister, who was once called the [Flame Witch]. The title of [witch], which was irrelevant to a knight, was attached to her for no apparent reason. It was purely because of her personality. Jess laughed as he recalled the past. ¡°Leo is very bold.¡± ¡°What did my son do?¡± Dade''s question made Jess laugh. "Before coming here, we visited the Delan Royal School. All the students gathered, except Leo who left first saying that he was uninterested in the Gerdingers." ¡°If you feel bad, I apologize on behalf of my son.¡± "C¡¯mon dear, Jess isn''t the kind of person who would be offended by just that." "Yes. It was a very refreshing experience.¡± As Gerdinger family, they always draw attention, so he felt Leo¡¯s attitude was refreshing. ¡°So what kind of child is Leo?¡± "I''m not saying this because he''s my son, but he''s exceptionally gifted." ¡°For even my sister to say that, I''m looking forward to meeting him. However...¡± The calm atmosphere around Jess suddenly changed. ¡°Getting permission to use the family''s Aura method is a different matter.¡± The atmosphere turned cold in contradiction to his title [Flame Blade]. Jess slowly raised his head. ¡°Does sister really believe that Leo Flove is qualified to inherit the flame of Gerdinger?¡± An oppressive pressure leaked from his body. It wasn''t a special power. It was a natural one, forged through numerous battles. ¡°I really think he deserves it.¡± Reina said as her lips curled. ¡°You will naturally know when you meet. The value of my blood.¡± ? ? ? ? ? ? ¡°Sir Whiton. Do you know anything about my aunt?¡± Celia asked Whiton, who had been a devoted knight of the family long before she was born. "Miss Reina was the previous owner of the [Flame Storm], which you currently possess, milady." Flame Storm. It was one of the heirlooms that had the power to maximize Gerdinger''s symbolic ''Flame Aura''. The mere fact of being the owner of this Flame Storm was enough to infer what kind of person she was. ¡°How could someone like that abandon her family name and end up in such a remote kingdom?¡± "Miss Reina lost the flame aura in an accident. After that, she left the family, abandoning Gerdinger''s name, saying she wanted to live a normal life." The moment someone discards the family''s name, regardless of the reason, the records of them will also disappear from the family. "I never expected to see Miss Reina here again." ''She must have been an amazing person for Sir Whiton to be emotional like this. Will she be willing to give some pointers on my swordsmanship later on?'' As she wondered about learning from Reina, she arrived at the Flove family¡¯s training ground. WHOOSH! WHOOSH! "Huh?" She heard the swinging of a wooden sword. Someone was swinging a sword on the training ground. Familiar red eyes with unfamiliar gray hair. ¡°Are you Leo Flove?¡± Leo looked at Celia with curious eyes. "Who are you?¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Celia cleared her throat, straightened her back, and introduced herself. ¡°My name is Celia Gerdinger. Your cousin.¡± Celia thought Leo would be surprised. A beautiful girl who was mentioned as the chief entrant of Lumeln academy, where the world''s best talents gather. Celia was a renowned celebrity. Especially among her peers, she was an object of envy and admiration, literally an idol. "Really? Nice meeting you." WHOOSH! WHOOSH! However, Leo''s reaction was dry. He didn''t even stop swinging his sword. Celia squinted at his apparent lack of interest. When she tried to speak again, Leo''s sword came to a halt. ¡°Whoo.¡± Celia asked Leo, who was catching his breath while wiping away his sweat. "How old are you?" "15." "You are the same age as me. It''s fate that we met this way, so I''ll make an exception and instruct you in swordsmanship. What do you think?" Celia suggested with a kind smile. ''If I am nice to this guy, maybe aunt might give me some special guidance.'' Even though it was a selfish proposal, Leo was not interested. ''What? What¡¯s wrong with this kid?'' Instructing him in swordsmanship? Even though she has great talent, she was looking at the wrong person if she wishes to instruct. Leo ignored Celia¡¯s suggestion and started swinging his sword again. WHOOSH! WHOOSH! This time, Celia carefully observed the movement of his sword. And she exclaimed ''How?'' There was no unnecessary movement in his sword. She could tell that each of his sword slashes was quite powerful. ''I guess the Gerdinger blood in him didn¡¯t go to waste. It seems his skills are better than I thought.'' Squeak. Squeak. Squeak. Squeak. ''But what is that bracelet?'' Every time he swung his sword, his bracelet too made an intrusive sound. After a while, Celia retrieved her sword. ¡°Now, try moving properly. I think you have potential.¡± Celia said with a little bit of anticipation. However, after wiping his sweat, Leo left the training ground. ¡°Hey, where are you going?¡± ¡°I finished my training today.¡± "Didn''t I say I''d instruct you?" ¡°I will decline.¡± "why?" ¡°I don¡¯t want to be guided by someone who¡¯s less skilled than me.¡± "What?" Celia''s face hardened. "Do you mean that you''re stronger than me?" ¡°You must be stronger for now. Since I can¡¯t use Aura.¡± He really can''t beat Celia during a fight to the death. "But, if it were to be a sword fight, the one to win will be me." Seeing Leo brimming with confidence, Celia''s lips twitched. ¡°Are you really that confident?¡± Her red eyes narrowed. ¡°You seem to wield a sword. Are you the strongest one at your school?¡± In Delan Royal School, students who wish to be Great knights should be proficient in using Aura. But Leo was much stronger than them. Aside from Aura, his basic foundation was too strong. ''Is it possible that this guy didn''t learn Aura because of aunt''s intention to make him learn Gerdingers'' high-level Aura method?'' High-level Aura method, the Aura method which can only be learned by those who possed Gerdinger main family''s bloodline. ''So what? I''m stronger for now. Does that mean that he thinks if he learns the aura method, he will be stronger than me? You arrogant basta*d!'' In the Gerdinger family, the competition between children starts at an early age. Even the children of the family head were not exempt from the competition. And Celia was always the victor. The root of her pride was her confidence in herself, not in ''Gerdinger''. "Great. If you''re so sure about your skills, duel me." ¡°Duel?¡± "Yes. If I win, you''ll be my servant while I''m in the Flove household." ¡°What if I win? Will you be my maid then?¡± "Of course. It would be fair to spar under the same conditions. And your fantasies are not going to happen, though.¡± Celia laughed as she shook her head. ¡°Ah, milady.¡± Whiton, who was watching the situation, hurriedly dissuaded her. ¡°Don''t worry, Sir Whiton. I will win anyway.¡± Celia, with a confident expression on her face, turned to Leo and said, "I''ll let you realize you''re nothing but a frog in the well.¡± The two stood in the middle of the training ground. Holding the wooden sword, Leo said to Celia. "Oh, by the way, you are free to use aura." "What?" ''Arrogant till the end!'' "Hmph! Then I''ll give you two attacks. You¡¯re free to attack anywhere.¡± [Armor]. Celia''s skin turned red. A technique for condensing aura around the body in the form of armor. "Really? Then I will not decline.¡± "Whenever you are ready." Celia raised her eyebrows. She was certain that Leo''s attacks, without aura, would not work on her. Holding the sword with both hands, Leo took a deep breath. ¡°Huu-!¡± Veins sprouted in the forearm holding the sword. Leo''s red eyes flashed. BANG-! The wooden sword struck Celia¡¯s temple with precision. Her head bent sharply along with a loud sound from the impact. Stiffness and pain came from her neck. Celia''s face turned white at the power beyond her comprehension. ¡°It¡¯s hard.¡± Leo was impressed. ¡°Heh, heh! Did you think your attack could pierce my armor?¡± ''Arrogant basta*d, he is powerful and ruthless!'' She forced a smile as her thoughts went against her words. It was such a powerful blow that the wooden sword enchanted with strengthening magic would have torn apart. ''Still, this is not enough to bring me down.'' Leo removed the bracelets from both wrists and threw them down when he noticed Celia exaggerating her composure and smiling. THUD-! ¡°¡­¡­ !¡± ¡°I guess I should swing properly then.¡± Leo relaxed his shoulders and smiled, resembling a demon. A heavyweight enchanted bracelet It was an ignorant training method that would have been ridiculed as old-fashioned. But Celia couldn''t laugh like others. It was because the sight in front of her was crazy beyond ignorance, it was to a level of madness. "There is one more free attack, right?" ¡°......¡± ¡°Now, how about going to sleep¡­ ¡­ !¡± BAANG-! A sound that could not be compared to the one before rang out. A distinct shock hit her head. Celia watched Leo throwing away the smashed wooden sword, and as her consciousness faded, she thought. ''Crazy basta*d?'' CH 4 Leo returned to the mansion, leaving the fainted Celia alone. Reina and Jess were conversing in the mansion''s main hall. Gerdinger knights stood lined up around them. Reina smiled when she saw her son. ¡°Papi, is today¡¯s training over?¡± ¡°Yes, Mother.¡± After answering, Leo glanced at Jess. ''Gerdinger... Interesting.'' Even in his previous life, Jess-like warriors were rare. ''As expected, the name Hero family is not in vain.'' ¡°Leo, this is Jess Gerdinger. Our guest who came to visit our family this time.¡± ¡°Hello, My name is Leo Flove.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Jess Gerdinger. As you may already know, I am your uncle. So be more comfortable.¡± ¡°May I ask what it means to be comfortable?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I have Gerdinger''s blood in my veins. But still not Gerdinger.¡± Seeing Leo clearly drawing a line, Jess''s eyes lit up while Reina shook her head helplessly. ''My son doesn''t have the cuteness of his age.'' Jess Gerdinger. The deputy head of the Gerdinger family and the second in command in the power hierarchy. When such a person speaks in a friendly way and asks to call him uncle, children of his age are bound to be excited. But Leo was different. Although they were related by blood, they are strangers in terms of lineage. Moreover, Gerdinger family law is very strict. It was for this reason, Reina did not introduce Jess as his uncle. Leo guessed that too, which was why he asked. ¡°And, I can¡¯t call you my nephew in public.¡± "I understand." Jess burst out laughing when he saw Leo responding right away. "I can''t believe he''s your son, sister." "Hahaha. What does that mean, Jess?¡± Reina, asked laughingly as she stepped on Jess'' feet. "Leo. Did you see a girl named Celia at the training ground?" ¡°Oh, you mean her?¡± Leo glanced at the front door of the mansion. Celia was being carried on a stretcher with foam on her face. "Huh! Oh, Miss!¡± ¡°What is this!¡± Gerdinger knights were astonished. "What!" Even Jess burst into exclamations. ''Did he beat Celia with a body that hasn''t mastered aura?'' ¡°Sir Whiton, what the hell happened?¡± Whiton explained what happened at the training ground in response to Jess'' question. Jess shook his head when he heard everything. The cause of her defeat was obvious. ''Pride.'' Celia underestimated Leo just because he can''t use aura. Of course, according to common sense, what she thought was not wrong. There was indeed an enormous difference in combat power between aura users and non-aura users. Still, the fact that Celia was caught off guard remains unchanged. ''And that''s not the way of Gerdinger.'' Jess stood in front of Leo. "You beat Celia, that''s amazing." ¡°It¡¯s because she looked down on me.¡± "Indeed. But from what I heard there is an agreement between Celia and you.¡± "Yes. I made a wager with Celia Gerdinger. The loser would become the winner''s servant." "What!" ¡°Do you think it makes sense?¡± The Gerdinger knights were angry as if they heard something intolerable. How can a Gerdinger direct descendant be a servant? Gerdinger knights glared at Leo as their eyes burned. But Leo spoke without being intimidated. ¡°From now on, Celia Gerdinger will be my maid for a week.¡± Reina smiled at her son¡¯s words. She knew her son had a strong personality. Still, she did not expect him to say something so calmly while the Gerdinger knights were staring at him in rage. ''Who did he take after to have such a personality.'' Meanwhile, Jess revealed a soft smile. ¡°Celia is a Gerdinger. You can¡¯t take her as a maid.¡± He spoke as if he was commanding. ¡°Your bet, I want you to turn a blind eye to it. Instead, I will give you another reward. Yes, for example... ¡­ .¡± Jess stroked his chin. ¡°How about our family¡¯s high-level Aura method?¡± ¡°I refuse.¡± "What?" ¡°The bet is between me and Celia Gerdinger.¡± Leo spoke as he glanced at Celia. ¡°Just now, Sir Jess called her ''Gerdinger''. As long as she bears the name of a Hero family, she should be able to take responsibility for her words and actions.¡± Leo turned his gaze and met Jess'' eyes again. ¡°Even if there is an agreement, it¡¯s between me and her. And¡­ ¡­ .¡± Leo nailed it. "I don''t think it''s worthwhile to learn an aura method that could be used to avoid shame for your niece." The eyes of Gerdinger knight''s eyes flared as they grind their teeth. ¡°Unacceptable!¡± ¡°How dare you insult the Gerdinger family!¡± Knights screamed in a fit of rage. Seeing this, Whiton became enraged and scolded the knights. ¡°How gusty of you guys to raise your voice at this place!¡± ¡°Ha, but Captain!¡± "Why do you stay still even after hearing that?" ¡°Yes¡­ that brat ¡­ .¡± Reina, who was watching the situation, shook her head with an expressionless face. ¡°Since I left the family, the Gerdinger knights¡¯ level seems to have dropped a lot.¡± ¡°Miss Reina, even if you were once a Gerdinger, your words crossed the line!¡± A knight warned. And at those words, Whiton''s eyes turned lifeless. "How dare you!" When Whiton was about to vent his rage. Reina raised her hand and stopped Whiton. Then she stood in front of the knight who warned her. ¡°I crossed the line? Then what about you guys? What the hell are you doing, recklessly interfering in the conversation of the main bloodlines?¡± Her chilly question made the knights feel embarrassed. "Well, that''s..." ¡°Obviously I left the family. But still, I am a proud Gerdinger. So I guess I have to say something.¡± Bluish energy flowed from Reina''s body. ¡°Which kind of mediocre knight intervenes in the conversation of the main lineage? Are you guys knights? Or beasts that are busy barking regardless of the circumstances?¡± ¡°Heup!¡± The knights held their breath. ¡®This is the majesty of Miss Reina. It¡¯s similar to that of the patriarch.¡¯ Jess, who had been quietly watching the scene, spoke softly. ¡°Sir Whiton.¡± ¡°Yes, Lord Jess.¡± ¡°It seems that they still lack the qualifications to be Gerdinger knights.¡± "Yes." The knights'' faces turned pale. Whiton took the stiffy knights and left the main hall. ¡°Still, isn¡¯t it too much to disqualify their knighthood?¡± Reina scolded slightly, knowing how difficult it was to become a Gerdinger Knight. ¡°There is nothing wrong with what you said. A knight like that is nothing but a beast.¡± Jess laughed softly. He was a man who was gentle with the mistakes of his subordinates, However, he was also a person who cold-heartedly cuts the subordinate if the mistake continues. The knights should have realized their mistake and backed off when Reina warned them. As a storm passed by, Jess looked at Leo again. ¡°Leo Flove. You declared that you would treat a Gerdinger direct descendant as a maid, and said that Gerdinger''s aura method is worthless. Is that right?¡± "Yes." ¡°Don¡¯t you think that statement is frivolous?¡± Jess asked in a gentle voice. Reina looked at him blankly. Jess was in charge of educating the blood relatives of the Gerdinger family. The teacher of all the Gerdinger children. So he was good at seeing through children''s caliber. ''I guess he''s still measuring Leo''s worth.'' Perhaps by Jess'' standard, Leo would have already received a passing grade. ¡®Why do you still push Leo?¡¯ That was because he still hadn''t figured out how vast Leo¡¯s caliber was. Leo also grasped Jess'' intentions. So he laughed on the inside. ¡°If you took it as an insult to Gerdinger, I apologize. But I wasn¡¯t particularly insulting.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it an insult if you said that you would take a direct descendant of our family as a maid and said that our family Aura method has no value?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Celia Gerdinger''s problem. As I said before, it¡¯s my deal with her. I thought that if she was a real Gerdinger, she should be able to take responsibility for her words.¡± ¡°Hoo?¡± Jess nodded. "And saying Aura is worthless does not imply that Gerdinger Aura is lacking." "Then?" ¡°If Sir Jess had bestowed an aura method in return for defeating Celia, I would have gladly accepted it.¡± Jess''s lips slowly began to curl. ¡°But didn¡¯t Sir Jess say that he would give me an aura method in order to cover up Celia¡¯s mistake?¡± "Yes." ¡°It means, Sir Jess thought Celia wouldn¡¯t have lost to me if she didn¡¯t look down on me.¡± He raised his chin in affirmation. ¡°But even if Celia took the fight seriously, I would have won.¡± ''To sum up¡­ ¡­ Did you say no because you didn''t like my attitude? Haha, what a guy?'' Jess burst into laughter. Then he turned his head and looked at Reina, who was also smiling. ''Now, I understand my sister''s words in the letter.'' Jess giggled as he saw Leo looking straight at him in a bold manner. ''He has a great capacity. If only this kid was a Gerdinger! I have to tell brother. Gerdinger would be able to create another hero with its hands. This is a child that must be raised in the family.¡¯ "Send Celia to the maid''s room." ¡°B¡­ But my Lord!¡± The servants who were caring for Celia on a stretcher looked puzzled. ¡°It¡¯s an order.¡± The servants hesitantly took Celia to the maid''s room. ¡°We understand. We will do as you said.¡± "Yes. Sir Jess.¡± "Leo. Earlier I said I would not call you my nephew in public, it also means that I will treat you as a nephew in private.¡± Jess laughed softly. No matter what capacity Leo had, these words were sincere. Knowing that Leo obediently followed. ¡°Yes, Uncle.¡± "Good. You seem to be tired from training, so go and have some rest. Good night.¡± Leo bowed his head. ¡°Good night, mother.¡± "Yes. Go get some rest, Papi." Leo left, leaving only the two of them. "Sister." "What?¡± "I''ll try to persuade brother to give Leo [Phoenix Breath]." ¡°Phoenix Breath?¡± Gerdinger''s symbol was a burning flame. Befitting the symbol, Gerdinger''s aura takes the form of a flame. Among them, Phoenix Breath was special. It was said that the first Gerdinger invented the aura method by drinking the blood of the phoenix. The Phoenix Breath was the base for all the family''s Aura techniques. It was the power that made the first Gerdinger recognized as a hero. That was why only those who are recognized as a genius of the family were allowed to learn it. Reina, who didn''t think Leo would be given the Phoenix Breath, couldn''t help but be surprised. "Yes. Of course, it is unknown whether the head of the household will allow it.¡± Jess said seriously. ¡°But Leo acts more like a Gerdinger child than anyone else.¡± The swordsmanship talent that could defeat Celia. An immeasurably huge caliber. ¡°So I need an excuse to convince brother.¡± ¡°Excuse?¡± "Yes." Jess nodded. ¡°He has to enter Lumeln this year.¡± "It¡¯s Dangerous." Lumeln was a place where anyone who aspires to be a Hero dreams of entering. However, in order to enter Lumeln, it would require a lot of determination. There was a saying that Lumeln''s students were all geniuses. However, the number of people who graduate was very small. Of course, it does not expel students who are left behind. Rather, they spare no support for them to move forward. However, if you still can''t keep up with the class. Students are given two options. Drop out or Death. Life at Lumeln academy is harsh. And the hardest thing was that even the entrance exam is also the same. Every year, children lose their lives during the entrance exam. That was why Reina insisted on Leo taking the entrance exam after he learned the Aura method. "Since Leo can¡¯t use aura, he has limitations in actual combat." "There are numerous possibilities. This is the only way I can persuade brother." Jess clenched his fists. ¡°What kind of person do you want Leo to become?¡± "What do you mean?" ¡°Don¡¯t you want him to be a Hero?¡± "If that''s what the child wants." ¡°Then he can''t just take the safe road. I don''t think it''s a bad idea for him to take the exam.¡± ¡°¡­ ¡­ .¡± ¡°What would you like to do?¡± Reina closed her eyes and sighed deeply. ¡°I will follow Leo¡¯s wishes.¡± ''Of course, he would agree to it.'' Jess was sure. ''He has eyes that don''t hesitate to move forward.'' Remembering Leo''s eyes, Jess smiled. ''Huhu, I am looking forward to it.'' CH 5 The following morning. Knock, knock, knock- Leo was reading a book in his room when he heard someone knock on his door. "Come in." CREEK- Opening the door, Celia, dressed in the maid uniform specially made for the Flove family¡¯s maids entered the room. "My name is Celia, and I''ll be looking after Young Master Leo''s needs for a week. I am looking forward to working for you." When Leo¡¯s gaze moved from the book, it met with Celia¡¯s dead fish eyes. ¡°You''re pretty serious, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Taking responsibility for your words. It¡¯s one of my family¡¯s mottos.¡± Though she was in good shape, her eyes resembled the eyes of a dying fish. She had the ideal image of a maid. Basically, her style was good, and she looked great in the navy blue fabric maid outfit with white frills. The sun''s rays reflected her fluttering black hair. Celia stared blankly at Leo and spoke. "I understand you are admiring my beauty, but if you cast an insidious glance at me, I''ll blow you away." ¡°I apologize if I offended you.¡± Leo smacked his lips. "I had a friend who called himself an artist. That guy tends to praise the beauty of anything he sees, and it seems like I got infected by him without even knowing.¡± - Hey, Kyle. Beauty is always the best. Forever and ever. When peace comes to the world, I intend to spend my life spreading the world about how to appreciate beauty! It was the words of Dweno, the great Dwarven hero who was now known as the [God''s Blacksmith]. He appeared to be much happier when creating art than when creating weapons. Even while on their journey to overthrow Erebos, he never stopped working on his art. ¡°Your friend seems like someone who truly knows how to admire beauty.¡± As long as you were born as a Gerdinger, you need the quality to lead people. Attractiveness is one of those qualities. Seeing Celia sigh with praise, Leo put his chin down. ''The problem was, in need to get inspiration, he asked Risinas and Luna to be his nude models because he was a maniacal pervert who had not a spec of sincerity.'' Naturally, the old days came to his mind. - Risinas, Luna. You have messy personalities, but you look better than everyone else. So, could you please be a naked model for my art? Naturally, Risinas and Luna thrashed him for his request. ''Even such a pervert is revered as a great hero, but what about me?'' ¡°Ha ha ha¡± He looked out the window with a deranged laugh. Meanwhile, Celia took a closer look at Leo. She obviously lost yesterday. ¡®I would have won if I hadn''t been careless...... That bet was such a ridiculous idea.'' The defeat last night was the result of her own immaturity. If the family finds out she worked as a maid for a week, she will certainly be mocked. ''But it''s something I have to endure.'' It would be a much bigger shame if she ran away from it. ''Besides, I am curious about something.'' She wondered how Leo could put that much power into a sword without learning an aura. "I expected you to train early in the morning, but you are reading a book." The truth was Celia wanted to observe Leo¡¯s training method. ¡®Is that a special training manual?'' ¡°You should spend the mornings leisurely.¡± After saying that, he closed the book. Celia looked puzzled when she saw the title of the book. ''It''s a fairy tale about the Legendary heroes.'' Celia then glanced at Leo''s bookshelf. ''All books are related to Legendary heroes.'' Not just fairy tales. There were also history books, research books, etc. A considerable amount of material about Legendary heroes was gathered. ¡°You seem to be interested in Legendary heroes? Well, it¡¯s understandable.¡± Celia was also interested in Legendary heroes. ¡°May I take a look at the bookshelf?¡± "Sure." Celia stood in front of the bookshelf and admired them. "Incredible. It¡¯s comparable to the shelf of the scholars who study Legendary heroes.¡± After all, research on Legendary heroes is still the most active field. ¡°There are a lot of books about Kyle.¡± ¡°For Reference.¡± "Yes. Kyle may or may not have been a real person, and there are many differing views on whether his existence was real." ¡°Do you think so too?¡± "Yes." Kyle is someone who is not known to the later generation and who was said to have had all the Legendary hero''s powers. ''Even though I disappeared from history, I''m not completely forgotten.'' He felt proud. ¡°A fraud who attempted to steal the achievements of the Legendary heroes.¡± Leo''s eyes twitched at those words. ¡°You mean Kyle is a fraud?¡± ¡°The odds are high.¡± Celia shrugged. This was the general view of the academy. "So. That''s how you think.¡± "What?" ¡°Then, shall we eat breakfast and go to training?¡± Celia''s eyes twinkled. ¡°With your permission, can I train with you?¡± Celia was curious about the secret of Leo''s strength. ¡°My training would be hard for you to follow.¡± ¡°Heh, I¡¯m someone who easily overcame Gerdinger¡¯s training.¡± Leo smiled twistedly at Celia, who had a confident expression on her face. "Really?" Later, she would think. She should have run away when she heard those words. ? ? ? ? ? ? Whoo-! TAK-! ¡°Ugh?¡± ¡°Your response time is slow.¡± Leo''s wooden sword slashed Celia''s wooden sword. Celia quickly tried to correct her crumbled posture. But Leo''s movements were faster. Whoo-hoo puck- ¡°Ughhhh-!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you should never show your back like this.¡± Celia rolled on the floor in pain after being struck in the shoulder with a wooden sword from behind. Leo''s training continued uninterrupted after breakfast. When the pain subsided, Celia flared up. "Young Master! Is this really training?¡± To Celia, Leo''s training method looked more like torture than training. It forces you to keep moving, squeezing your strength beyond your limits. It was natural that such a training method doesn¡¯t require Aura. She had never heard of such a training method. Leo murmured at Celia¡¯s protest. ¡°Kids these days are weak.¡± "What!" ¡°I told you already. My training is hard. Well, if it¡¯s hard to keep up, why don''t you just give up?" "Don''t make me laugh! Such training! I can handle as much as you want!" Celia flared up as Leo¡¯s words hurt her pride. "Really? Then, shall we continue?¡± "Of cou..!" ''Uh, what? Isn''t this the end?'' Celia, who reluctantly resumed training, was struck again with a wooden sword and rolled on the floor. Without Aura, the gap between them was too huge. ''Why! Why can''t I win!'' Not just in strength, but also in swordsmanship, it felt impossible to win against Leo. Today and yesterday. Her pride kept trampled on. ''Certainly, compared to 5000 years ago, Aura training method has been greatly improved.'' Leo admired it as he looked down at Celia, who collapsed on the floor and gasped for breath. In the current era, the technique for using Aura has improved significantly compared to 5000 years ago. Thanks to that, even an average knight¡¯s skill is much higher now. However, the standard to attain physical strength has changed. ''5000 years ago, People¡¯s standards were better?'' In this era, physical training is being neglected very much because of people¡¯s dependence on the Aura training method. Aura is a power that maximizes the strength of the physical body. If you train your aura, your body will naturally be strengthened, so people often neglect physical training. ''Along with the development of the Aura method, this kind of problem also arises.'' ¡°It¡¯s great. I didn¡¯t expect you would keep up with me this far.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look down on me.¡± ¡°All right then, we shall finish the training for the afternoon with this. We shall continue later in the evening.¡± Celia, who had reached her limit, gritted her teeth. ''I don''t know about physical strength, but I''ll never lose to him in swordsmanship! I will definitely win!'' ? ? ? ? ? ? ¡°Don''t underestimate me. Bloody gray-haired basta*d.¡± After the evening practice. Celia returned to the mansion with her limbs trembling. Leo went straight back to his room. ''Ugh... ¡­ Is that basta*d a monster?'' Celia shuddered when she thought of Leo, who wielded the sword till the end without getting tired. It felt natural for the body to get this strong after training like this every day. ''Ughhh... ¡­ Even so, during the evening training, I didn''t fall behind on swordsmanship!'' Thanks to mobilizing all her available skills, she didn''t lose out on the evening training. ''If I continue training like this, will I be able to become like him?'' But she didn''t dare. She had vomited five times just today alone. ''Come to think of it, it''s incredibly embarrassing!'' Celia, who was huffing up with a red face, sighed. ''I just want to quickly wash up and go to sleep.'' But before that, she had to prepare Leo''s bed. After all, her status now is Leo''s maid. ''I have to straighten out his blanket, then wash, and go to sleep.'' Celia arrived in front of Leo''s room and took a deep breath. She calmed her trembling limbs and feigned to be calm. She didn''t want to appear weak because of her rebellious personality. Knock. Knock. "Come in." CREEK- ¡°You look much better than I thought.¡± "Heh - To me, that was nothing." Celia faked a confident expression. ¡°Didn¡¯t you vomit five times?¡± ¡°I am here to prepare the bed.¡± Celia ignored Leo''s point and prepared the bed. ¡°Then, Young Master. I''ll see you tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Come here for a second. I have a gift for you.¡± ''Gift?'' Celia approached Leo at his sudden words. ¡°Thank you for working hard today.¡± Leo smiled and handed over a gift box. ''He really seems to be grateful.'' Celia felt the lump in her chest loosened a little. ''Of course, you should be thankful that I, the daughter of Gerdinger patriarch, am serving you.'' Celia exclaimed as she opened the box. There was a simple silver bracelet in the shape of a chain. She had an uneasy feeling about the magic she felt from the bracelet. "It''s a bracelet with weight magic. Starting tomorrow, you''ll wear it when we train." Leo said with a smile. TWITCH- Celia''s face hardened. "I''m fine." ¡°Do you think it¡¯s polite for a maid to refuse an item given to her by her master?¡± "Hey! Tell me honestly, you''re doing this to bother me, right? That''s how it looks to me! If I wear these and have to move like today, that''s not training! That¡¯s torture!" Finally, Celia, who exploded, showed a strong rejection. ¡°You are weak.¡± Celia''s face burned. ¡°Who is weak?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t I training while wearing it? Well, if you are not capable, there''s nothing we can do about it." ¡°Who said I can''t? I''ll wear even more like this!¡± Finally, Celia, who had been provoked yet again, declared her displeasure and exited Leo''s room. When she arrived at Leo''s front door, she shook her head and cursed herself for her stupidity. "It''s not going to be easy." Leo chuckled. ''Who is a fraud?'' In the morning, Celia told Leo that Kyle was a fraud. His actions right now were that of a narrow-minded person nothing like a Legendary hero who saved the world. But, of course, Leo wasn''t ashamed of that. ''If it were the other guys, they would have done something worse than me?'' His friends had more character flaws than he had. ¡®I''ll make it a bloody week.¡¯ Leo burst out laughing at the thought of Celia being in pain for a week. CH 6 ¡°Ugh!¡± Celia groaned while lying on the training ground. Disregarding her, Leo wiped his sweat and hydrated himself by drinking water in the shade. ''How in the world did I end up with this guy?'' Celia looked fed up at the sight of him. When compared to Celia, Leo, who moved more vigorously, appeared completely fine. She dragged her trembling limbs and sat next to Leo. She couldn''t even afford to bluff anymore. During the break, she attempted to regain as much physical strength as possible. ''Otherwise, I won''t be able to keep up with him.'' Her pride would not tolerate being unable to catch up, no matter how difficult it was. ''She''s got grit.'' An outstanding talent, and a mindset of never giving up. Leo looked forward to what kind of Hero Celia would grow into in the future. In the midst of their respective thoughts, Jess entered the training field. Then he looked at Celia, who was calming her trembling legs, and stroked his chin. ''It will make a good experience for Celia.'' Ever since she was born, she never lagged behind her peers. Jess, who had trained Celia since she was young, was always concerned about this. It was true that she didn''t fall behind her peers, but she became overly proud of herself. Pride and arrogance. Celia was standing between the lines. ''Having this kind of experience before entering Lumeln isn''t a bad thing.'' Being the best in Gerdinger does not guarantee that you would also be the best in Lumeln. Aside from Gerdinger, the world was filled with many famous Hero Families. Even now, in the Rodern Empire, there was a Hero family that specialized in Magic and rivals Gerdingers, called Llewellyns. ''We can''t always be the best.'' Jess thought it wouldn''t hurt to stumble upon a wall once or twice before confidence turned into arrogance. Leo and Celia, the areas of excellence of the two differed when compared objectively were different. ''Leo hasn''t mastered the aura method, so he''s no match for Celia when it comes to aura. On the other hand, has far superior physical strength compared to Celia.'' Jess also believed Celia''s weakness lay in her physical strength. Of course, it was not that Celia lacked physical strength. As a swordsman, physical training was basic. From a normal person''s point of view, Celia possessed a tremendous physique and muscle strength. ''She couldn''t push her physical abilities to their limits. Just like her swordsmanship.¡¯ Swordsmanship was also the reason why Celia was pushing herself to defeat Leo. She''d never once encountered anyone of her age who could match her in swordsmanship. According to Jess, Leo was the first wall Celia met. ¡°Uncle, what are you doing here?¡± Celia asked while struggling to stand up. ¡°You look tired, just sit down and take some rest.¡± After saying that, Jess looked at Leo. "Leo." ¡°Yes, Uncle.¡± "I intend to speak with the family head about allowing you to inherit the ''Phoenix Breath.''" Celia was taken aback by her uncle¡¯s sudden statement. ¡°Phoenix Breath?¡± An aura method that can only be mastered by the direct bloodlines recognized by the family. ''Is it official that this guy is going to be my cousin?'' Celia cast a mysterious look at Leo. "I don''t think the Gerdinger patriarch would agree to it easily." ¡°That¡¯s why there are conditions.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°For you to pass the Lumeln Academy entrance exam.¡± "UNCLE. The Lumeln Academy entrance exam isn¡¯t some kind of sparring, it''s a bloody fight. This guy, who hasn''t even learned aura, wouldn''t stand a chance! Uh¡­, oh no. I mean this entrance exam is too dangerous for Young Master Leo to take." ¡°Are you worried about me?¡± Celia replied dryly when Leo asked with a smile. "Huh. I was just stating the facts.¡± Fighting and sparring are not the same thing. "Besides, Young Master doesn''t have any combat experience, isn¡¯t that right?" Most of the applicants for Lumeln Academy would have had practical experience. Celia, like many others, once took part in monster subjugation and gained combat experience by defeating monsters. The presence and absence of real-life combat experience make a huge difference beyond imagination. At Celia''s words, Leo smirked. In reality, he was a person who was more comfortable with the battlefield than with peaceful daily life. "Leo. What do you think?¡± ¡°Did you consult with my father and mother?¡± ¡°They said they would respect your decision.¡± ¡°Then I will participate.¡± In any case, he was also wondering how to convince his parents to let him take the entrance exam this year. Seeing Leo answer without a moment of hesitation, Jess laughed. "Were you planning on taking the entrance exam this year?" In response to Leo''s satisfied expression, Jess turned around and spoke. ¡°Then I will look forward to it.¡± ? ? ? ? ? ? Delan Royal School was closed until the end of the Lumeln Academy entrance exam, so Leo invested his time in training. Celia also tried her hardest to keep up with his schedule. "hahaha! look. I did it, did you see it? Damn gray-haired basta*d! What do you have to say ¡­ ¡­ ughhhh?!¡± It was her last day in the Flove mansion. Celia returned to the mansion with trembling limbs, using a wooden sword as a staff. She felt nauseous along the way back. The girl''s body was in rags due to overwork. Celia stumbled into Leo''s room. Knock Knock- "Come in." When she opened the door, she noticed Leo holding something. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± "Potion." "What? Did you ask me not to use it while you used it in secret?" If only the recovery potion had been used, the training would not have been so difficult. However, when Leo said potions were for losers who cannot handle the training, Celia got triggered again and decided not to use the potion. "Isn''t it obvious to get your body in peak condition the day before the exam?" Celia''s body was already at its limit. This was due to the fact that she overworked her body by controlling her pace so that she wouldn''t pass out for a week. Of course, even if she had adjusted her pace, she would have given up long ago if it weren¡¯t for her strong willpower. Leo intended to tease her at first, but Celia didn''t give up and kept up with him for an entire week. "That''s true." "Roll your arms and legs up and lie face down on the bed. I''ll apply the potion." ¡°I have numerous potions like that.¡± Celia''s proud answer came from the fact that she used potions made by the best alchemists in the world. "This will be far more effective compared to the one you use in your family." "Hmm. That¡¯s impossible, but still, I will accept it because of your sincerity " Celia rolled up the sleeves of her training dress and lay down. Skinny, white limbs were exposed. Leo soaked the cloth in the pot filled with potion and placed it on Celia''s arm. The pain went away as she felt a cold sensation. Celia opened her eyes wide at the gentle scent. "Wait! Is this a potion made by an elf?¡± "I think so." ¡°How did you get your hand on this?¡± Elf Potion! It was a special product classified as the highest grade among potions. It was only the elves who knew the recipe for their potions, and other races could not even duplicate them. She never dreamed that a young marquis from a rural kingdom would have something like this. ¡°I bought it from a store across the street.¡± ¡°Across the street? Where is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s no more. Since I bought everything they had.¡± "Ugh.¡­¡­ By the way, how can you use this priceless item solely to alleviate muscle pain?" "Because it''s mine, how I use it is entirely up to me." In fact, this was a potion made by Leo himself. Luna, the founder of Nebula Magic, was the one who taught Leo how to make these potions. ¡°Young Master, you are such a generous person.¡± Celia obediently entrusted Leo with her recovery, even though she put on an expression of regret. The potion-soaked cloth moved between arms and legs one after another. The terrible muscle pain she felt disappeared like a lie. "Young master." "What." ¡°I won¡¯t lose tomorrow.¡± Celia showed a sense of rivalry. After training with Leo for a week, she realized that Leo was not an opponent to be taken lightly. ''Maybe he might pass the exam.'' "I''m not going to let my guard down like I did last time." Celia chuckled. "So if you meet me and end up losing, don''t blame me." "I don¡¯t want to hear that from someone who was trembling like a grandma until a while ago." Leo, who had just wrapped a cloth around Celia''s thigh, gripped it tightly. TAP TAP-! "Ahhhhh! It hurts! It hurts!¡± "Hey, don¡¯t forget you¡¯re still a maid. So, If you''re a maid then act like a maid.¡± ¡°Youuuu¡­ Just wait and see! I¡¯ll be the one who will have the last laugh. I will avenge you for this disgrace tomorrow! When we meet, I will make sure to completely... ¡­ !¡± TAP TAP! TAP TAP! "Argh! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! Oh, no no no! I won''t mess with you! I won''t mess with you! Argh! Young Masterrrrrrrrrrrrr!" Celia''s screams echoed through the mansion. ? ? ? ? ? ? The next morning. A huge crowd could be seen in the central hall of the Delan Royal School. They were people who came to watch the entrance exam. Among them, even the king of Delan was present. Celia brushed her hair, wearing an outfit that was not a maid uniform for the first time in a week. "huh! Looks like those uncultured Llewellyns haven''t arrived yet.¡± "They are also a famous Hero family from the same country, so don¡¯t run your mouth too much.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because you don¡¯t know them, Young Master. Once you see them, you will know why am I talking like this?¡± "Really? By the way, why are you still calling me Young Master?¡± ¡°Ughh!¡± Celia hurriedly shut her mouth. After talking like that for a week, it seemed to have become a habit. Meanwhile, from afar, other participants glanced at Celia. ¡°Is that Celia Gerdinger?¡± ¡°They say she¡¯s one of the top candidates for the west, and she seems pretty relaxed.¡± ¡°Do you want to bet? The one who comes out top, will it be Llewellyn or Gerdinger?¡± Leo smiled at the other students'' whisper. ¡°You seem to be famous.¡± ¡°Of course, Young Master.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re going to continue talking like that?¡± ¡°Ugh?¡± ''This way of speech has completely become a habit!'' Just when she covered her mouth and blushed in embarrassment. ¡°Miss Celia!¡± Someone called Celia. "Huh? Leo Flove. Why are you here?¡± Gulliver, who was approaching, frowned. "Of course, I''m here because I''m participating in the Lumeln Academy entrance exam." "What? You are participating in the entrance exam? Fuhahahaha!¡± Gulliver bursts into laughter. ¡°I might die from laughter, Leo. You, who can''t even use Aura, will be taking the Lumeln Academy entrance exam? For god¡¯s sake, don''t embarrass yourself along with our country, Leo.¡± Ignoring Leo, he stood in front of Celia. ¡°Miss Celia. Let¡¯s do our best in the exam.¡± At those words, Celia narrowed her brows. "Sorry, who are you?¡± "What?" ¡°I¡¯m not good at remembering people¡¯s faces very well. So, who are you?¡± ¡°Hey, didn''t we meet at Delan Royal School a week ago? I am Gulliver Traden, the school¡¯s representative.¡± "Oh, that happened. Sure, let''s do our best." "What? Oh¡­ Yes." Celia smiled brightly. Gulliver grimaced again in response to the smile. At that time, there was a commotion on one side of the hall. Celia turned to look at the commotion. ¡°Young Ma¡­ ¡­ No, Leo. Follow me." "Why me?" "Oh, come on! Just follow me if I tell you to." Celia grabbed Leo''s wrist and headed towards the commotion. ''Keuk! Pretending to be friends with Miss Celia!'' Sparks flew from Gulliver''s eyes. It was already a well-known fact that the Gerdinger family stayed with the Flove family. However, it was a well-kept secret that Leo was Celia''s cousin. So Gulliver couldn''t figure out the reason for them being close. ''Just wait, I''ll show my extraordinary skills during the exam!'' Meanwhile, Following Celia, Leo met with two people, a boy and a girl, with the same light blue hair and blue eyes. "It''s been a while, Celia Gerdinger." "Hi. Abad Llewellyn.¡± Abad Llewellyn smiled softly. Leo muttered to himself when he saw that smile. ''He laughs a little grudgingly.'' ¡°Celia. Did you prepare well for the exam?¡± "Of course! There is no problem getting the top.¡± "Whoa, really? But what do we do? I think I''ll be the one to come out top." "oh? You¡¯re free to dream, but do it at night. Ho-ho-ho!¡± The battle of nerves was intense for a family that had been fighting for the title of best Hero family in the empire for hundreds of years. ¡°Come on, Chelsi.¡± ¡°Yes, brother.¡± After a brief war of nerves, Abad left with his sister Chelsi. Celia raised her eyes. ¡°They are uncultured, aren¡¯t they?¡± "They are a bit cheeky, but I don''t know if they are uncultured or not". "No. Take a look. Those guys are very mean." Celia clenched her fists. "Hmm¡­ I''ll make you look like butter on a heated frying pan, you greasy butter boy." Celia glared at Abad with a bloody smile and a fierce fighting spirit. ¡°Leo, never lose to those guys! It is unacceptable for a Gerdinger to lose to Llewellyn!¡± "I''m not a Gerdinger though?" ¡°Be prepared, Llewellyn! Leo and I will make you into a bowl of jelly!¡± Leo answered sourly, but his words never reached Celia. CH 7 Everyone went around trying to keep each other in check, building friendships, and so on. A strange atmosphere flowed among the candidates. [It looks like everyone has gathered.] A voice rang out. A man was standing on the podium before anyone knew it. Light blonde hair with golden eyes, and roughly dressed. [I¡¯m Alby.] The students took a breath. ¡°Could it be that Mystic-Eye Mage Alby?¡± Celia was also shocked by his appearance. He was a Wizard Hero whose name has been listed in Hero Records. ''Is this the person referred to as Hero in this era?'' Leo watched Alby carefully. He observed carefully at the left eye. He felt a strange Power stored in his left eye. ''Is that Mana?'' Amidst Leo''s astonishment, Alby took out a piece of paper from his pocket. [This year, a total of 569 students from the western region are participating in the entrance exam] Adjusting his glasses, he continued. [The type of test will be interpersonal combat and monster subjugation. Normally, you''re supposed to take the test one by one. And I''ll be honest with you. I don''t think like that...¡­.] Alby burned the paper in his hand with magic. [It''s annoying] murmur- murmur. People were taken aback by the sudden announcement. [It takes too much time and is inefficient. So I thought¡­ How about we test everyone at the same time.] "What?" Celia was taken aback. The same goes for other students as well. [Seeing everyone is ready. I will start the test right away.] Alby took an old book in his hands. [Hero Records open. Alby''s world. Chapter: Prologue - The Devil''s Forest.] FLASH! A huge pattern appeared on the floor. It was the language of gods that the inhabitants of the human world could not read. Soon, a bright light enveloped the surroundings. When the light faded away, the surroundings of the candidates changed. They were in a dense forest. It was as if they were summoned to another world. ''It''s really a different world.'' [It is Devil¡¯s Forest. The content of the test is survival. You are free to do anything. It makes no difference whether you work together to defeat monsters or competitors. Those who give up on the test halfway should break the bead in their arms.] Devil¡¯s Forest. A forest that existed in the southern part of the continent. But the place they were standing was not someplace that could be visited. This was a place in the Hero''s memory. To be precise, it was a world embodied from the memories of Hero Alby. ''It¡¯s definitely not an illusion.'' It was a virtual world, and everything that happened there was real. This was the miracle bestowed by God to the human world. This was the true power of Hero Records. The power to reproduce the Hero''s ordeal. ''The world of heroes.'' It was 3,000 years ago that this power of the Hero Records was known. They call it the resurrection of disaster. Until then, Hero Records were nothing more than the record of Heroes. However, it was revealed that the [World of Heroes] could be materialized through Hero Records, and this discovery transformed the world. Some say. 3000 years ago was the true beginning of the Heroic age. In [world of heroes], rewards were given to those who conquered the trials of past heroes. That''s right, inheritance of power. It might be a weapon or a skill... ¡­ Or maybe a special ability that only the Hero possessed. If you succeed in the trial, you can inherit the power of the main character of that world. ''It''s a ridiculous ability.'' It was also the reason why God gave Hero Records to the Human World. ''It¡¯s a system that can literally nurture heroes.'' It was the power to prevent the world from destruction like the one 5000 years ago. The four Hero Academies, including Lumeln, were also created for this special reason. Human Hero Academy Lumeln. Elven Hero Academy Seirun. Beast Hero Academy Azonia. Dwarf Hero Academy Demian. These academies keep their own race''s Hero Records. And Leo''s main goal was to see the Hero Records in the Four Hero Academies. A miracle of God that can reproduce the past as it is. ''If there are Hero records, then what happened to the sealed Erebos? Tartarus may know what exactly happened.'' Leo unknowingly clenched his fists. ¡®For now, let¡¯s take care of the exam first.'' He then opened his eyes and looked around. Celia, who was next to him, was nowhere to be seen. It seemed as soon as they entered the world of Heroes, they were scattered. ''Anyway, it''s Devil¡¯s Forest.'' This place was an existential terrain and it was also a famous place. The southern part of the continent was covered by a vast desert. The Devil¡¯s Forest was a huge forest at the center of the desert. If there was a huge forest in the middle of the desert, neighboring countries covet the forest. However, the Devil¡¯s Forest still remains an unexplored territory. Most of the monsters that inhabit the forest are low-level monsters such as Gnolls, Goblins, and Orcs. Trolls were the strongest race in this forest. Their level was also so low that they could be conquered just by sending an army. However, due to the number of monsters that never decreased no matter how many they killed, people gave up on conquering the forest. ''Looks like the curse of this forest still hasn''t been lifted.'' Leo has been to this forest before. This forest was Kyle''s friend Luna''s hometown. 5000 years ago, this was the forest of Elves. However, this forest was corrupted after being cursed by Silatuna, the Demon Queen of Tartarus. 5000 years ago. The punitive force defeated Silatuna, but failed to kill her in the end. Hence, the Queen''s curse persisted even after thousands of years. Leo smiled bitterly as he remembered Luna, who believed that one day, her descendants would kill Silatuna and relieve her hometown from the curse. "The curse of the damn b*tch seems to have weakened a lot." 5000 years ago this forest was one of the most dangerous places on earth. The place where heaps of monsters from the abyss kept appearing endlessly. A monster army that threatened the lives of all living things began to appear in this forest. Compared to then, now it appears to be heaven. ''Let''s think about the test first. Didn''t the examiner say that we are free to use any means?'' Whether to defeat the opponents or monsters. ''Anyone in their right mind wouldn¡¯t fight in this forest unless they have a mental illness.'' Even if you are a beginner, you never knew when and where the monsters would appear. Fighting in that kind of situation may put your life in danger. "Well, I think there are still people who don''t care about their life." A typical example was Celia. The owner of overwhelming skills, and the one who refuses to give up no matter how great her adversary is. Just a week ago, Leo knocked her out in just two shots. But that was because she let her guard down. If she had fought with all her might, she would not be an easy opponent even for the current Leo. ''I can''t beat her in real battle.'' Leo shrugged and drew his sword. ''Anyway, shall we look for Celia now?'' Since it was said they were free to cooperate, Leo decided it was safe to move together for the time being. After making the decision, Leo jumped sideways. SWOOOSH-! An arrow came piercing the wind and stuck where Leo was just a second ago. When he looked around, he saw a familiar girl standing alone with a cane. It was Chelsi Llewellyn, the younger sister of Abad who participated in the war of nerves with Celia earlier. "We''ve met before, haven''t we?" "Yes. So why did you suddenly attack?¡± "We''re competitors, aren''t we? Also, I didn''t expect you to dodge the attack just now.¡± Chelsi shrugged. ¡°You show yourself in front of your competitor. Aren¡¯t you being too relaxed?¡± "It''s fine. I have prepared enough.¡± Chelsi had a relaxed expression. She definitely had prepared, since a wind scythe could be seen flying around her. If Leo approached her carelessly, it would cut him in half. ''It''s a magic that didn''t exist in my time.'' With a hint of interest, Leo stroked his chin. If there was a field that had changed beyond recognition when compared to the past, it was the Magic field. There weren¡¯t many changes when it comes to Aura or Summoning. But Magic was different. Magic was a knowledge that was constantly being explored beyond the realm of power. All spells have been studied and refined through endless effort. As a result, the magic system of that time and the magic system of today were completely different. Most of the spells Leo knew were now treated as ancient magic. ''Still, the basics don''t seem to have changed.'' Chelsi narrowed her eyes when she saw Leo exuding a relaxed atmosphere. ¡°Aren¡¯t you too relaxed with me in front of you?¡± Chelsi had skills that far exceeded the average level of Wizards who were taking the Lumeln Academy entrance exam. She was a participant who possessed enough skills to run amok without paying attention to the situation Leo pointed out earlier. "I have a suggestion." "Suggestion?" ¡°In this test, the one who survives the longest gets a good score, right? So why don''t we cooperate? Since you''re a wizard, wouldn''t it be better to team up with a potential fighter?" Chelsi smiled at those words. ¡°Thanks for the offer, but I¡¯m fine. I''m a ''Battle mage''. So I don''t need a fighter.¡± Battle Mage. It refers to a Wizard who participates in battle rather than memorizing spells and fighting from behind. "Also I have no intention of collaborating with a Gerdinger." "I''m not really a Gerdinger though." ¡°Still, you stood next to Celia Gerdinger as if you were close, right? So there is no reason for me to cooperate. Bleeee-!" Chelsi stuck out her tongue. There seems to be no intention of cooperating with people who were all close to the rival family. ¡°So there is no room for negotiation?¡± "Of course." Chelsi responded firmly and pointed her staff at Leo. At her signal, the wind scythe flew toward Leo at an alarming speed. Leo thrust his sword forward. BAM-! BANG-! The sound of the clash of metal and wind made sparks fly. ''How did he stop it? There was clearly no sign of using an aura?'' Chelsi was on guard. ''It appears to be an Aura that is difficult to detect! I''ll have to be extra cautious.'' Chelsi mistakenly thought that Leo was using an invisible aura. It was inevitable after all it was impossible for a non-aura user to block a 2nd circle magic without using an aura. But Leo didn''t stop the wind scythe. ''It''s powerful and splendid, but it''s one pattern.'' Leo read the trajectory and twisted the direction of the attack with the sword. It was possible to respond this way to magic that causes physical damage as long as it was not an unmanageable power. Of course, it was not possible for everyone. To do that, one must read the trajectory of Mana perfectly. However, it was difficult to do unless one was a Hero. ¡°Wind scythe! Wind Arrow!¡± SWOOSH-! SWOOSH A gust of wind blew around Chelsi. Chelsi said, shaking her hair. ¡°Why don''t you surrender before your blood gets spilled? It won¡¯t be easy to block this attack like the last one?" ¡°I will admit the power of your magic.¡± Leo shrugged. ¡°But¡­ your attacks are too much one patterned for wind magic.¡± Hearing Leo¡¯s words, Chelsi¡¯s face burned with anger. ¡°YOU¡­ How dare you preach about magic to me, a direct descendant of the Llewellyn family?¡± Chelsi snorted looking at Leo. "Goodbye. I won''t see you anymore. I will eliminate you by force!¡± When she swung her staff, the waiting magic was released. A Scythe and an Arrow in the shape of wind rushed toward Leo. Wind magic was the most visually subtle magic. Invisible to the normal human eye. So, along with fire, it was considered a powerful attack-type magic. However, in Leo''s eyes, the magical wind was clearly visible. Leo curled up the corners of his mouth and put strength on his legs. ¡°I told you. It¡¯s simple.¡± WOOSH-! Leo''s body disappeared. The magic that lost its attack target for a moment stopped. ''Fast! where?'' Chelsi urgently used mana detection magic. Like a wizard who prides herself on being a Battle Mage, she responded quickly. However, there was something that Chelsi was not aware of. The point that Leo doesn''t use aura. So, of course, the reverberation of mana that should flow from the aura was also absent from Leo. So, in an instant, Leo got close to Chelsi. "Ugh?" Seeing Leo appear in front of her eyes, Chelsi tried to respond urgently. PUCK-! ¡°Keuh?¡± However, Leo''s fist hit Chelsi¡¯s stomach quickly before she could respond. Leo murmured as he watched Chelsi fall unconscious. ¡°Well then, it¡¯s time to use my Master persuasion skills.¡± Monsters like Orcs don''t matter. However, Leo lacked the firepower to deal with large monsters like trolls. ''Just in time, a wizard with powerful attack power appeared. Wouldn''t it be nice to cooperate?'' Leo cut the vines around him. SLASH-! He tried pulling the vine. "Hmm. Looks good.¡± Satisfied with the firmness of the vine, Leo looked down at the stunned Chelsi and smiled wickedly. CH 8 "It¡¯s been a while. Lord Jess.¡± "How have you been? Royal Wizardess Rozes." Jess too greeted Rozes Llewellyn. Rozes Llewellyn. She was the cousin of the current patriarch of the Llewellyn family and also the one who serves as a Royal wizard. ¡°Abad, Chelsi, and Celia, three great talents will be enrolling at Lumeln at the same time. Hahaha! As a member of the same empire, I can¡¯t help but be proud!¡± Abad, the son of the family head, just turned sixteen. Chelsi was only fourteen. From the Empire''s perspective, the fact that three great talents representing the country entered the same year was considered a good thing. However, for the two families vying for the title of the most prestigious Hero family in the empire, it could be described as the beginning of a bloody battle. ¡°I guess Abad will come first in the Western Entrance Exam.¡± "Is there a reason for you to be so certain?" ¡°Abad and Celia are definitely strong enough to compete for the top spot.¡± Rozes cast a glance over. She observed Examiner Alby on the podium. ¡°This test is different. There are bound to be many variables. However, Abad got Chelsi.¡± In other words, the two siblings may team up to bring Celia down. Chelsi was one of the top five candidates. If she stood by Abad, Celia wouldn''t be able to do anything. ''It''s disadvantageous in many ways...¡­ but.¡¯ There was also an ace on his side. Jess smiled meaningfully when he thought of Leo. Soon, out of nowhere, a massive square magical mirror appeared. ¡°Ooh-¡± The audience exclaimed looking at it. It was a magic device that allowed everyone to see what was going on inside the hero''s world. The test situation would be relayed in sections. Soon, the Magic mirror shone and a scene got reflected on it. The moment they saw the screen. ¡°Pffff-!¡± Jess burst out laughing unknowingly while Rozes¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. There was no sound, but there was the visual of a young woman with light blue hair screaming. Under the girl, whose hands and feet were tied and dangling in the air, a bonfire was burning. And, near her, a gray-haired boy holding the vine was seen smiling wickedly while controlling the rope. ? ? ? ? ? ? When Chelsi regained consciousness, she was suspended in the air, and her hands and feet were tied together. "Wha¡­, what''s this?" ¡°Are you awake? Let''s ask the princess who woke up. You would like to cooperate with me, right?¡± "I''ll make you regret not getting rid of me and tying me up with such a sloppy rope." Chelsi, who spoke angrily, tried to cast a spell. "Uh, what? Why can¡¯t I channel my mana?"¡¯ She had a feeling that something was suppressing the mana around her. ¡°Is it a magic seal?¡± "Bingo. I drew it. How is it?¡± ¡°Are you a magic swordsman?¡± "No. I currently have no mana. That''s why the seal I cast isn''t very powerful." "Ugh! I never thought you could use magic! But, it won¡¯t work on me. This worthless seal that doesn''t contain any mana, I can break it in no time!¡± "I suppose so. But only if you could concentrate perfectly." "what? Hee-ik-!¡± Chelsi was startled by the heat that was felt in her butt. As Leo lowered the rope, she felt the presence of the bonfire. ¡°Wait! Wait! Wait! STOPPPP! Aaaaagh! Don''t!¡± "So? Are you going to cooperate? Or not?¡± "As a member of the Llewellyn family, I would never cooperate with a Gerdinger!" "Really? Then, don¡¯t resent me if your butt gets cooked." ¡°Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa? stop! stop!" Chelsi struggled. As the pain from the heat increased in her butt, she hurriedly tried to break the seal, but it wasn''t easy. To use a magic seal one requires considerable magic knowledge, and to break the seal that did not contain mana, a high level of mental concentration was required. Of course, if Chelsi had been a bit more experienced wizard, this would have been easy. However, she was immature despite her skills in magic. Leo seemed to see right through it. Chelsi''s face turned pale. ''They can see what¡¯s happening here from the outside, right!? If other people see this!'' There was nothing more disgraceful than this! PUCHHH-! The skirt she wore caught fire! ¡°Kyaaaagh! hot! stop! Stop! Stop it please.¡± "Swear on the name of your family that you''ll cooperate." "I''ll do it! I''ll do it! I will cooperate in the name of Llewellyn, so please stop!¡± Chelsi begged, with tears in her eyes. ''It ended easily because she was a kid. Keukkeuk-¡¯ Leo laughed inwardly as he pulled the vine. Chelsi, who got freed, put out the fire on her skirt. ¡®No one would have seen this, right? Yeah, it should be so. They probably didn''t see it. Since the test has just begun, I''m sure they would have shown other participants.¡¯ Unfortunately for her, the first image to be displayed in the Magic mirror was that of Leo and Chelsi. ? ? ? ? ? ? ''Ha...'' Alby sighed, his face expressionless. The [world of heroes] that was now unfolding was special to him. It was the first page of his heroic journey. It was the moment from where he began to rise to the position of a Hero. Looking at the participants struggling in that world, Alby thought. ¡®Low-level.'' Alby grumbled and clicked his tongue. A Hero was someone recognized by God. So people think of Heroes as noble and dignified. Of course, there were people like that. However, Alby, on the other hand, was far from stereotypical. He was a neurotic, efficiency-seeking individual. He doesn''t like wasting time. He doesn''t want to be bothered either. That was why he gave them this test. Survival in an unexplored land of demons. He who survives is strong. It was a simple and effective test for distinguishing between good and bad. And the effect was evident. Get rid of a competitor or fight monsters and survive. In this test, everyone was given two options. The majority of the candidates chose to eliminate their competitors. ¡®So stupid.¡¯ The only thing on their minds was themselves. The fastest way to reach the top of the rankings. And, as for the monsters that existed in the Devil¡¯s forest such as orcs, gnolls, and goblins, they are not much of a threat to such level of the participants. Of course, trolls would be dangerous, but due to their small population, it was difficult to meet one. However, there were two mistakes that the candidates made here. First and foremost. They misunderstood the information given. Alby told them about the test. But, he never mentioned the passing criteria. In other words, they had to proceed cautiously after realizing that eliminating their competitors was not the best course of action. Second. Their misjudgment about the Devil''s forest. It was a forest that many powerful countries tried to conquer, but couldn¡¯t. Even fighting low-level monsters could become exhaustive if fought indefinitely. To fight without cooperating in such a serious situation would be a bad choice. In real life, this would have resulted in complete annihilation. ''Of course, if you have overwhelming skills, subjugating monsters and eliminating competitors¨C You can do both.'' Alby¡¯s lips curled upwards as he looked at the magic mirror. Red eyes and black hair. He noticed a girl with a flame aura around her sword. ''Celia Gerdinger. Just like the rumor.'' Celia was dealing with three trolls. And behind her, a boy with light blue hair could be seen chanting. ¡®The same goes for Abad Llewellyn. The Empire has a bright future.¡¯ The two rivals met as soon as they entered the world of heroes. However, the two chose cooperation over competition despite their overwhelming ability to pass the test on their own. It was because they had a clear understanding of this test. ''If it''s those two, there won¡¯t be any problem. Rather, it would be difficult to distinguish who is above and who is below.'' Alby had a satisfied expression. The 1st and 2nd place were unconditionally between those two. Soon, the mirror changed again. This time it showed candidates who were engaged in a battle with the orcs. ''Was it Leo Flove?'' The first candidate to be displayed on the screen of the magic mirror. And he was the one who did the most bizarre thing throughout this test. Most people saw Leo as an insane person who tied up the Llewellyn family''s daughter and attempted to burn her on the bonfire. However, Alby gave Leo high marks for his action. ¡®Getting Chelsi Llewellyn''s cooperation is something to be evaluated positively.¡¯ So, he looked forward to seeing what he would show him in this test. And what he was showing now already exceeded his expectations. Even he, as a Hero, felt astonished. Leo had neither power nor splendor compared to Celia Gerdinger, but...... Alby could feel the inexhaustible experience when he cut the orc with minimal movement. ''An unexpected dark horse.'' ? ? ? ? ? ? Puhwak-! ¡°Chwiiiii-!¡± Leo turned around, leaving the heart-pierced Orc behind. The sword was drawn naturally. The sword that was swung using the centrifugal force blew off the head of the orc that was sneaking on his back. Leo ran away as soon as he encountered ten orcs. Orcs are highly intelligent monsters, so if you give them a chance, they would form a formation and attack. Before that happens, he has to finish them quickly. Chelsi chanted an incantation while Leo got busy cutting down the orc¡¯s head. ¡°Wind Arrow.¡± She cast the magic after finishing the chant. Pobobobok-! ¡°kkuaaaak!¡± ¡°chwieek!¡± Orcs pierced by wind arrows screamed. Seven orcs were killed by the magic attack. Leo wiped the blood from his sword after slashing the last orc''s throat. And he walked ahead without saying anything. Chelsi, who followed behind him, murmured to herself. "It feels good to fight like this." Though she aspires to become a battle mage, end of the day, a wizard is a wizard. The most effective strategy was to leave the front to an excellent warrior and concentrate on attacking from behind. And Chelsi felt she and Leo fit in very well. She was resentful when she reluctantly formed a party with Leo because she was intimidated, but after three battles, she believed she made the right decision. It was not just about fighting monsters, Leo also skillfully drove the monsters into one place so that the magic attack could have its full effectiveness. Magic was a wide-range attack method. Hence, the more the enemies come together, the greater the effect. "That''s great, you can kill Orcs simply without using Aura.¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t know how to use Aura.¡± "What?" ¡°I haven¡¯t learned yet.¡± ''Is it possible to move like that without using an aura?'' On the other hand, she understood the reason why she was defeated earlier. ''It''s not that I couldn''t detect his Aura; he simply didn''t use it.'' Chelsi placed her thin hands on her waist and smiled triumphantly. ¡°To reveal your secret just like that! How foolish of you!" ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Even if you know that you can¡¯t beat me with your current skills.¡± ¡°Ho-ho-ho! Such bluff doesn¡¯t work on me." "I simply stated the truth." Leo said softly. "To be honest, you do have great skills.¡± "What?" "You have a lot of mana and know various spells." ¡°I won¡¯t be flattered just because you praised me honestly.¡± Despite her sarcastic tone, the unexpected compliment made her feel good. ¡°And that¡¯s where the problem lies.¡± "What?" "Your abilities are so strong that you are unable to properly utilize the essence of wind magic." Chelsi¡¯s fighting style was to overwhelm her opponents with powerful magic. That was not the essence of wind magic. "The pride of our family is wind magic. Discussing wind magic in front of Llewellyn. That''s ridiculous." Chelsi laughed. Leo''s statement just now was unacceptable. So, she chanted a spell and then extended her staff. ¡°Windbreak.¡± ¡°Geuooooo!¡± The blade of the rough wind flew into the bushes and tore up the troll that was holding its breath to shreds. The troll that had fallen to the ground wriggled and drooped. Chelsi demonstrated her strength by casting the top spells she had prepared in advance to intimidate Leo. ''You dare to mess with me despite knowing nothing about magic! You must be surprised by what happened just now, right?'' Chelsi had a smug expression on her face. Seeing this, Leo had a sour expression. "That''s not how you use wind magic." The biggest advantage of wind magic is its ever-changing nature. Simply pressing ¡®wind¡¯ with power is the least effective way to attack using the characteristics of wind magic. Chelsi made a tearful expression at Leo''s words. And he simply turned away, as if he hadn''t noticed. ''Since. I can''t even use magic right now, saying something like this would be seen as absurd.'' Leo remembered what it was like to use magic in his previous life, but he hasn''t mastered it yet in this life. Leo in deep thought suddenly stopped walking. Chelsi''s eyes widened as well. In the place they stopped, the corpse of trolls was scattered around. However, the condition of their bodies was strange. It was dry, as if it had its blood sucked away. ¡°What happened here? Are there monsters that suck blood in the Devil¡¯s forest?¡± Chelsi looked at the corpse with a puzzled expression. Leo, who touched the body, squinted his eyes. ''I can''t believe this.'' "First and foremost, I believe that joining Celia and your brother will be our main priority. I think I know the criteria for passing this test.¡± "Huh? What is it?" Looking at Chelsi who had a surprised expression, Leo smiled and said. ¡°To conquer this world.¡± CH 9 "Conquer the world? Don¡¯t you think that sounds absurd?¡± Chelsi shook her head as she walked past Leo. "Conquering the world of heroes is difficult even for Lumeln students, is it possible for us who are taking the entrance exam to do that?" It was exactly as she had stated. Even the most talented hero candidates in Lumeln academy would find it difficult to conquer the world of heroes. So she couldn''t believe they''d ask the participants to do something so difficult. It was an absurd story. But Leo thought differently. "Right now, we''re being tested for our qualification to be a Hero, right?¡± "Yes." ¡°Then shouldn¡¯t a hero do what they had to do? Moreover, if it''s a test, the ordeal will be given to the extent that a Hero can overcome it.¡± At those words, Chelsi hesitated. ''He is not wrong.'' ¡°Mmm! So what¡¯s the condition to conquer the world? If it were an ordeal that even the participants could clear, it would be Hero Alby''s early life activity. Little is known about Hero Alby''s early life.¡± Leo smirked as he observed Chelsi with her arms crossed. ''She''s an excellent kid.'' She was a girl with excellent skills and strong self-esteem. Usually, such children do not heed to the opinion of their peers. But Chelsi analyzed Leo''s words and thought it was reasonable, so she immediately planned on how to move. ''Her thoughts were flexible. That''s a good quality for being a wizard.'' Although she was immature, Leo thought that she was a girl worthy of being a hero candidate, and spoke. ¡°The probability of subjugation is high.¡± ¡°It certainly is.¡± Chelsi nodded. If a feat would be accomplished when monsters were defeated, there is a good chance to conquer the world. And Leo guessed what they had to defeat. ¡®Since a lot of time has passed, it could be a different...¡¯ Leo, who had been clenching his fist while staring at the monsters'' bodies, suddenly grabbed Chelsi''s wrist. "What are you doing?" Just when Chelsi made a prickly expression at Leo''s sudden action. Hweek-! Hweek-! Leo pulled Chelsi toward him. Chik-! Chik-! Two arrows flew and stuck where Chelsi had been standing. Chelsi¡¯s eyes widened when she saw it. And¡­ ¡­ . "uh? uh?" STAGGER-! THUD! "Kya!" She lost her balance and fell on her butt. Chelsi rubbed her butt as tears began to fall. "If you pull someone, you should hug them to keep them from falling!" ¡°Oh, sorry. I thought you would get angry if I hugged you carelessly.¡± "To end up falling like this makes me super angry. ¡°Still, how about saying a thank you?¡± "Hmph! Even if it wasn''t for you, arrows wouldn''t hurt me at all." ¡°That one had aura though.¡± Chelsi paused at Leo''s comments. "I... I could have blocked it with the shield magic I had memorized beforehand!" After that Chelsi spoke in a sulky voice. ¡°Well, thanks anyway.¡± In response, Leo smiled lightly. ¡°Sh*t!¡± ¡°To think we missed the opportunity to take down Chelsi Llewellyn!¡± A few students appeared from the bushes and glared at Leo and Chelsi. "YOU¡­" As Chelsi stepped forward, the group of five examinees looked nervous. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to fight, cooperate.¡± "What?" They made a bewildered expression at Chelsi''s sudden words. ¡°Your party consists only of knights, right? It wouldn¡¯t be bad if I, a wizard, join the party, right? Then isn''t it right for us to cooperate?¡± Despite being attacked just before, Chelsi offered them a chance to cooperate without any ill intent. Since it was an exam anyway, it was natural if someone gets dropped. ''If it had been a test to eliminate others, I would have attacked them mercilessly, but now I have a task to conquer the world of heroes.'' Chelsi looked back seeking Leo¡¯s opinion and saw him nodding. ¡°Cooperate¡­ ¡­ .¡± ¡°Nah, we¡¯re fine. We are only knights, but we can attack from afar, so the party balance is good, right? Hahahaha.¡± "What?" At that time, an examinee, who appeared to be the leader, laughed. "There are only two of you, right? If we fight now, we possess a greater advantage." "That''s right, even if you were from a famous Hero family, you''re still the same age as us!" "You are scared, so you have no choice but to beg like this. But, we¡¯re different." After witnessing Chelsi¡¯s fall due to fear, they felt confident. ¡°If I could defeat you, one of the potential candidates would disappear! So why should we cooperate with you?¡± "Right! Right!" Watching them prepare for battle, Chelsi tried to say something. ¡°Stop your bullsh*t, there is no use in talking.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Chelsi had a frustrated expression. This genius girl was ridiculed by the other participants who didn''t want to listen to her. And watching this, Leo said, drawing his sword. ¡°If they want a fight, you should give them one.¡± ¡°It can''t be helped.¡± Chelsi sighed as she raised her wand. Looking at Chelsi like that, Leo said. ¡°You support me from behind.¡± "What?" "It''s a waste to use mana against such trashes." "Are you serious? They''re using Aura." ¡°Leave it to me.¡± "Heh. If you were to get caught, I won¡¯t come to help." Despite being cold, Chelsi thought of assisting Leo if he was in danger. ''Because I have to pay off the debt of being saved.'' Chelsi clenched her wand tightly. Meanwhile, the other students looked at Leo and their expressions distorted. "Who are you?" "Are you going to face us alone?" "Yes. Nice meeting you guys.¡± ¡°You fu*ker!¡± Thinking that Leo was insulting them, the student holding the arrow immediately pulled the bowstring. PHEW-! An arrow without aura flew toward Leo. Using Aura arrows seemed like a waste of aura, so he decided to save them in case they were to go up against Chelsi. ''If he avoids, there will be a gap! Then we will end it....'' SNAP-! ¡°¡­ ¡­ !¡± "This is not the time to conserve your strength." Leo grabbed the arrow and spoke breaking the arrow. "Eh, that''s ridiculous! With just bare hands...¡­!¡± whoosh-! Before that student could finish his words, Leo rushed towards him. ¡°No, stop him!¡± "Surround him!" Leo dodged the swords flying in from all directions. Meanwhile, the opponent team¡¯s focus was not completely on Leo. ¡®Even if you don''t take part in the battle, your very existence will keep them in check.'' Unlike Leo who was unknown, Chelsi was a renowned participant, so they were bound to pay more attention to her. ''I''m grateful.'' Chaeeng- Crack! ¡°Cough?¡± Leo, who swung his sword, directly punched his fist into the opponent''s face. ¡°You fu*ker! You don¡¯t seem to use any aura?!¡± "Of course, I fight barehanded." Leo looked at the opponent who mistook him for an aura user and replied calmly, then turned his body. The opponent, who was aiming for his back, was flustered to see Leo dodging his attacks as if there were eyes behind his head. Whoo-! "Kyuak!" Leo, who gave him a kick to his side, aimed for another opponent, leaving only two. ¡°Use aura!¡± "Damn it!" Leo overpowered the five people just by himself. Meanwhile, Chelsi, who was watching everything from behind, widened her eyes. ''Wow, how can he move like that without using aura?'' Although she was a wizard, as someone who aspires to become a Battle Mage, Chelsi also trained in combat. As a result, she could vaguely see how crazy Leo''s movement was. ''Cool!'' Chelsi, who could feel her own heartbeat, was taken aback. ''No! He is someone who hangs out with Celia Gerdinger! Wake up! You¡¯re better than this, Chelsi!'' Even as she shook her head, Chelsi couldn''t take her eyes off Leo. ? ? ? ? ? ? Participants got eliminated one after another. It was because most of them decided to eliminate their competitors. ¡®They must have thought they were doing great since they moved from one opponent to another, but they were wrong.¡¯ Alby thought as he observed some students. He saw students proudly talking about how they eliminated their opponent, though it had nothing to do with the test. Approximately an hour after the beginning of the examination. Out of 569 applicants, only about 50 were remaining. ¡°Mr. Alby. All of those candidates... ¡­ .¡± ¡°Eliminated.¡± Looking at Alby, who spoke coldly, the aide from Lumeln looked bewildered. ¡°Ha¡­, but Mr. Alby. They are also talented children. Besides, selecting an average of hundred students in one test is a must... ¡­ .¡± Alby''s cold gaze turned to the aide. Seeing those eyes, the aide took a deep breath. "When the principal appointed me as an examiner, I said this. If you appoint me as an examiner, all those who don''t meet my standard will be eliminated. Nevertheless, he entrusted me with this position." ¡°Mmm!¡± ¡°As an examiner, it is the examiner''s authority to pass the student or not. So let''s not talk about this anymore.¡± Alby, who spoke clearly, shifted his gaze to the magic mirror. It was none other than Leo who caught his gaze. ''He must have noticed the strange change in the forest.'' Alby fiddled with his left eye. ''Can he really conquer that world?'' ? ? ? ? ? ? "Chelsi, Are you all right?" "Yes. Brother." It has been two hours since the beginning of the exam. Leo too was able to safely join Celia and Abad''s party. "As expected, you were safe. But why are you with Chelsi Llewellyn?¡± ¡°We met at the start of the exam and cooperated.¡± "Really? She is someone with a lot of pride and stubbornness, so how did she cooperate with you?¡± ¡°I did a good job persuading her.¡± Celia muttered inwardly as she saw Leo smiling warmly. ''What did he do?'' After spending a week with Leo, Celia had a good grasp of her cousin''s viciousness. "You said he is uncultured but seems like you¡¯ve been working together pretty well, huh?" ¡°It¡¯s because you can¡¯t fight blindly without knowing the criteria for passing the test.¡± Celia shook her head and replied. ¡°Anyway, there are a lot of people.¡± ¡°I and Abad can move fast. So we went through the forest and gathered many people to cooperate. Well, most of them are from the Lordren Empire.¡± If the two great families of the Lordren Empire, Gerdinger and Llewellyn offered cooperation, would there be anyone in the Empire stupid enough to refuse it? "You guys did a great job." "What? Why?" ¡°Because I know how to pass this exam.¡± "What? Did you figure it out?¡± Celia''s eyes lit up. ¡°It¡¯s to conquer the world.¡± ¡°Conquer the World?¡± Celia tilted her head, puzzled. And Leo nodded. ¡°Well, this test is too different from what I¡¯ve heard. It wouldn''t be strange if they want us to conquer the world.¡± "Right?" ¡°Still there is a problem. What are the conditions to conquer the world?¡± To conquer the world, every world of heroes must meet certain conditions. This was why the study of heroes was so important. This was due to the fact that the act of investigating and studying heroes'' deeds was directly related to the hero''s strategy of conquering the world. However, Just like there are heroes with heroic stories, there were also heroes without them. Hence, the world of living heroes was rarely conquered. Even if one conquers it, there would be no rewards, and the hero himself was the only one who can open the world. The world of heroes that can be opened only by achieving certain conditions all belongs to heroes of the past. ¡°Alby is a hero with a high reputation, but very little about his past has been revealed. So there aren''t any clues on how to conquer this world.¡± "I have a vague idea about that part.¡± "Really?" "Yes." Leo sighed. "An unexpected situation has arisen in the Devil''s Forest." ¡°What situation?¡± "Don¡¯t find it strange that the monsters are not very active in the forest right now?" "Indeed¡­ ¡­ .¡± Originally, it was normal for the monsters to attack more frequently. However, in the current Alby''s world, the frequency of monsters attacking was getting low as they moved forward. ''It¡¯s as if they were frightened by something?'' Thinking of that, Celia''s face turned serious. ¡°Perhaps a high-level monster has appeared and is scaring all the monsters in the forest. Alby accomplished a feat by defeating it, right?" "Indeed." ¡°What kind of high-ranking monster can scare all the monsters in the forest? I haven''t seen any records of such an incident.¡± "That''s¡­ ¡­ .¡± Just when Leo was about to answer Celia''s question. "Quaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah-!" A terrified scream echoed from the distance. ¡°It seems to have appeared.¡± CH 10 Gulliver was confident in passing the exam. It was because he had survived without being eliminated up to this point. Besides, he had a strong party. The reason why he hadn''t been eliminated so far was simple. It was because the first group of participants he met was a group of people who chose to work together to defeat monsters. From then, he officially joined the party and has been sticking to them since then. The skills of the party members were so outstanding. Even the trolls were easily dealt with. During the previous battle, a fireball thrown by Gulliver ended the troll''s life. ''As expected, I have skills.'' He felt so proud of himself. But that was all the luck he had. ¡°Aaaaaaaaaaagh!¡± Gulliver screamed. The student who led the party desperately broke the bead ignoring the terrifying pain of his arms being chewed and escaped from the world of heroes. Kaeeyeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. A gigantic monster let out a deafening roar. It was a monster he had never seen before. A monster in the form of a giant spider. All ten legs were bent in a strange way except for the front legs. Its body was twisted strangely while the head was half torn off. Although it looked like a half-corpse, the hideous creature was still alive. Kieaek! Kieaeaeek! "Fireball!" Gulliver cast a spell quickly. Fwooooosh! Poof! The fireball landed directly on the spider''s face. "ha ha ha! How is it? The taste of my fireball!¡± Gulliver clenched his fist tightly. However, as the smoke from the fireball dissipated, the spider appeared, unharmed by the attack, causing Gulliver''s face to turn pale. Kieeeeeeeeeeee! ¡°Ugh, aaaaagh!¡± Seeing the enraged spider charging towards him, Gulliver screamed and ran away. The knight students unsheathed their swords to fend off the spider. BAM-! BANG! ¡°Kuuk!¡± But they were thrown away by the power of the spider. The spider wasn¡¯t a monster that they could handle. "Howwwwww, how could we beat this!" One student screamed, unable to control his emotions. With trembling hands, Gulliver took the blue bead from his pocket. ''I have to escape! But if someone were to take it down, I might pass the exam!'' Gulliver, who had no desire to take down the spider, stood there lost, hoping someone would defeat the spider instead. And at that moment¡­ [Wind Fang.] BOOM! BANG! The wind''s fang fell from the sky and embedded itself in the spider''s back, and purple blood spattered. Kiiiiieeeeeee! The wound healed in an instant. "...... It''s that monster." Abad, who floated in the air with flight magic, frowned. Whooosh-! BAM This time, flames fell. The flames soon converged into one point. Celia, who had gathered the aura of flames on her rapier, thrust her rapier out with a flash of light in her eyes. Kwak! Kyaakiiiiiiiiiii! The head-pierced spider screamed and swung its front claws. Celia quickly escaped from its attack range and landed on the ground. "Sh*t! Could it even recover from this wound?" As soon as they heard the screams, Celia and Abad immediately attacked the spider. However, even though the magic and aura attacks landed perfectly, the spider recovered instantly. "I''ve never seen this kind of monster." ¡°It might be a monster related to Tartarus.¡± Abad murmured while Celia adjusted her flame storm. "And I think it''s also the task of this test." "Hm? Maybe that¡¯s the key to conquering this world?" Abad''s lips curled. He raised his staff and began to chant rune words. The wind magic began to swirl around him. Seeing this, Celia¡¯s aura started to rise sharply. ''Do you think I would let you take the lead?'' If defeating the giant spider was part of the test, she had to do it before Abad if she wanted to take first place. Up until now, they had been allies, but now their relationship returned back to competitors. Flare! Celia''s red eyes flickered. A ball of flame gathered at the end of her flame storm. Celia took a stance with her rapier, gripping her left arm. Shhhh-! Her feet dug into the ground. ''Prominence!'' This was the greatest attack that Celia could use right now. A thrust with all her aura focused on one point and blast it out! WURRRRRR-! A blade of scarlet flame shot out. Kyaaakiiii? The flame pierced the spider''s half-torn-off head, and then went straight through its body and came out of its rear end. "Great! No matter how good its recovery is, this should be enoug... ¡­ .¡± Kung-! Kung-! Kieaeeeeeeeeeeeeee-! "No way!" The giant spider stood up once again and let out an ear-piercing scream. ¡°Great attack, but¡­ ¡­ .¡± Abad, floating in the air, had a sharp smile. ¡°The destructive power of a knight and a wizard are worlds apart.¡± Abad spread both hands and completed the spell. [Rafale.] It was the secret magic of the Llewellyn family. A whirlwind engulfed the spider. "What the fu*k?" ¡°This, is this a spell that a wizard of our age could cast?¡± Looking at the spider caught in the whirlwind, the participants exclaimed in astonishment. ''It¡¯s the End.'' Abad made a triumphant expression. But¡­ "WHAT?" The magic dissipated revealing the giant spider. Torn by the gust of wind, its whole body was turned into rags. However, the giant spider''s body recovered quickly. It was not an exaggeration to say that Abad had the most powerful attack of any applicant this time, and his attack ended in failure. Celia''s face showed a look of defeat. ''How are we going to defeat something like this?'' ? ? ? ? ? ? ¡°To have such an attack power at this age, surely, Gerdinger and Llewellyn are the strong ones among their peers!¡± An aide exclaimed. ''They chose competition over cooperation.'' Alby¡¯s lips curled as he looked at the two of them. The mindset of wanting to be the best was not a bad thing. Besides, both Celia and Abad possessed that level of ability. ''But will they be able to defeat the monster with their power alone?'' A monster that recovers infinitely cannot be defeated without a decisive blow. Among the participants, only Celia and Abad were able to land an effective blow on that monster. However, their abilities alone were insufficient. ''If you are a real Hero, try to overcome the ordeal.'' ? ? ? ? ? ? "As expected." Leo''s eyes flashed past Celia and Abad. ''It¡¯s the spider princess, Talatunia.'' He expected this when he saw the bodies of the trolls. It was very much like this monster''s way of eating. The monster that ruled the Devil¡¯s forest was none other than the daughter of the monster queen, Silatuna. Originally, she was a terrible disaster that could destroy a country alone. But now she was not in her best condition. Her body was crushed, and she was barely able to retain her original appearance. The head, which once exuded shuddering magic power, was torn off in half. Compared to the past, she had degraded into an insignificant monster. ''As expected, the mana in Alby''s left eye belongs to the Fairy King.'' Fairies. A high-ranking creature that has been with the Elves since the distant past. The Fairies were palm-sized beings with powerful magical powers and transparent wings. Since Elves were the only ones that could have contracts with fairies, it was very rare to see them in the human world. Talatunia ate the Fairy King''s right hand 5000 years ago. Luna couldn¡¯t forgive Talatunia for messing up her hometown and eating the Fairy King''s right hand. Thus the Spider Princess, who was capable of destroying a country by herself, was killed by the [Creator of Nebula Magic]. But now thousands of years have passed. Talatunia was still alive. The reason was simple. ''It''s in her stomach.'' The Ring of Life, a symbol of the fairy king. The ring that grants infinite Life-force was eaten by Talatunia along with the Fairy King''s hand. Leo tightly gripped his sword. He then took a throwing stance and threw his sword. Wee-a-a-a-aek! BANG! Kyaeeeeeaeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Talatunia screamed as Leo''s sword struck its head. Then he came next to Celia and said, "You look tired.¡± ¡°Back off, Leo. You, who can''t even use aura is no match for it.¡± Blades of wind dropped from the sky and struck Talatunia. Talatunia, who was struggling with pain, looked into the air and then jumped with a scream. Thanks to its tremendous leaping power, it reached Abad in an instant. [Wind Break!] Chelsi followed up and threw the magic she had cast. BOOM BAM BAM-! The blades of the raging wind struck Talatunia. Talatunia fell to the ground after failing to attack Abad due to Chelsi''s obstruction. Kiieeeeeeeeeeee-! BOOOOOOM The earth shook as Talatunia¡¯s gigantic body hit the ground. ¡°Brother, are you okay?¡± ¡°Thanks, Chelsi.¡± Abad, who smiled at her sister, came down to the ground. Because he judged that it could be dangerous to be in the air. Other students followed up and surrounded Talatunia. ¡°How could we defeat this monster?¡± Leo asked as Abad muttered in a serious voice. ¡°Did it recover from any kind of wounds?¡± "Yes. Even the best magic I used didn''t work." ¡°The same goes for my attacks.¡± Celia sighed. "Really? Then we shall use the simple solution." "What?" ¡°If you can¡¯t defeat it alone, then we have to work together. It''s a very simple solution, right?" ¡°Leo, this butter boy and I are competing.¡± "Why is my brother Butter boy?" Chelsi, who stood next to her, became furious. "This time, I too agree with Celia''s words. Whoever destroys that monster first shall be victorious." Hearing their words, Leo showed a dejected expression. ¡°What if you can¡¯t defeat it?¡± "What?" "What if that monster could be resurrected indefinitely? So what if your aura and mana get depleted first?" Leo spoke calmly as he saw Talatunia, who revealed her will to live. ¡°If the task is to conquer the world of heroes, all of us will be eliminated when we fail to defeat it.¡± "Nonsense! If my brother and Celia Gerdinger can''t defeat that monster, then there''s no one here who could defeat it. Then the entire test is wrong.¡± Chelsi pursed her lips and retorted angrily. But Celia and Abad couldn''t argue with Leo''s statement. Surely it would be unfair to be eliminated for not being able to defeat that monster. But the world was inherently unfair. "Even if we join forces, it will take time to complete an attack that would instantly kill that monster." Despite being attacked by 30 students, Talatunia remained unharmed. On the contrary, the candidates were being pushed out. It was clear that it would not take long before they collapsed. Seeing this, Celia asked in a serious voice. ¡°How can anyone hold that monster during that time?¡± Abad glanced at his sister Chelsi. ''Chelsi is also not good enough.'' If she were to make a mistake, she would lose her life. The world of heroes was a fictional world. However, death here directly leads to death in reality. Looking at the two of them showing serious expressions, Leo smiled. ¡°I will hold it.¡± "What?" ¡°I can stop it for about five minutes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s suicide! You can¡¯t even use aura!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why¡­, 5 minutes is my limit.¡± Leo turned around. "So, prepare your best attack during that five minutes." ¡°What if the combined attack after 5 minutes fails?¡± Abad asked coldly. Hearing that, Leo giggled. ¡°Then we all fail together. But I don''t think we will fail.¡± "Why?" "Fire and wind have been friends for a long time. It''s because they are interlinked." Leo, who spoke leisurely, walked toward Talatunia. Seeing that, Celia said. "Get ready, Abad." ¡°Um¡­ To think we would be working together in a place like this.¡± Abad began to chant the spell as he laughed. ? ? ? ? ? ? THUD ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Yeh, barely! But how did you get here....¡± "I''m going to block it for 5 minutes." "What?" The knight student who fell looked up at Leo in amazement. ¡°Let me borrow this for a moment.¡± Leo picked up the lance he was using. It felt different from a sword. CLENCH-! Kieeeeeeeeeeeeeeek-! Talatunia, with only hostility remaining, let out a low scream looking at Leo. ¡°It reminds me of those good old days.¡± Leo smiled coldly. "I''m going to rip off that ugly double-head of yours after a long time, you bug." CH 11 Leo approached Talatunia while holding onto the lance. ¡®Can he handle such a weapon while being a swordsman?¡¯ Chelsi, who prepared to assist Leo from afar, looked worried. According to Chelsi, Leo''s swordsmanship was amazing. However, if he were to change his weapon, it would be a different story. ''If you''re going to borrow, why not borrow a sword....'' As Chelsi was worried. Whoo-hoo-hoo- Whoo-hoo- Leo walked towards Talatunia, effortlessly twirling a large lance in his fingers. The lance was quite heavy, and would have been challenging for most people of Leo''s age to wield without aura. However, for Leo, who trained his body beyond its limits from a young age, it was not a problem. Instead, it became a powerful weapon in Leo¡¯s hand. WURRR WURRR WURRRR-! As Leo continued to spin the lance in his hand, it gained momentum, turning at an incredible speed. Meanwhile, Talatunia rushed forward, baring its sharp teeth. With the centrifugal force he had built up, Leo smoothly released the lance from his fingers and firmly grasped the handle. Using just one hand, he swung the lance wildly, with great force. Bang-! Kyaieeeeeeeeeeeee! The powerful swing of the lance sent its blade deep into Talatunia''s head with ease. The combination of the lance''s weight and the force generated by the rotational movement proved to be a destructive force, instantly shattering Talatunia''s head. As the onlookers watched in amazement, Leo pulled the lance out, leapt into the air, and with both hands, plunged the lance deep into the monster''s back. Bang-! Kyaieeeeeeeeeeeeee! With a piercing scream, Talatunia kicked the ground with her long legs. BAM-! Leo leaped and quickly avoided the attack, using light steps. ¡®I can''t use it for long.¡¯ Leo thought as he looked at the condition of the weapon. He managed to land an effective hit, but the weapon was badly damaged after a single hit without using Aura. Since Aura not only enhances a weapon''s attack power but also preserves its durability. "Chelsi!" "Yes?" ¡°Use wind magic to throw other participants'' weapons toward me!¡± Leo shouted out while avoiding Talatunia''s attack. ¡°It''s impossible to catch the weapons in such a fast-paced battle! You could get hurt if something goes wrong!¡± ¡°Just throw it already! I can take care of myself!¡± ¡°Uh, what weapon?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, just through any weapon! Hurry!" At Leo''s urging, Chesi gathered the weapons of the other contestants and sent them flying with wind magic. SWOOOOSH! A sharp sword and a heavy battle sword flew toward Leo. "Use whichever one you''re comfortable with!" CRUCK! The blade of the lance that had been struck in the Talatunia¡¯s head broke. Leo threw the handle behind him and reached out with his hand while stepping back. ''Listening to the sound of the wind, it should be a sharp sword and heavy battle sword?'' He accurately identified the type of weapons from the flying sound. Clang! Talatunia tried to stab Leo with the front paws. Leo dodged the attack by jumping in the air and twisting his body. CLUTCH CLUTCH At the same time, he caught both weapons accurately. The sharp sword in his left hand and the battle sword in his right hand. Leo blocked Talatunia''s front paw, which was aimed at his body, with the heavy battle sword in his right hand. Clang-! A huge shock shook his body. ¡°Kugh!¡± Leo suppressed his groan, jumped once again, and swung using his left hand. Swing-! Clang! In a quick moment, Leo severed one of Talatunia''s front legs and was flung away. He quickly regained his footing and without hesitation, charged forward once more. Talatunia''s defense was not particularly strong, and a weapon without Aura could still inflict damage if it had enough force. However, the other competitors had been unable to inflict damage on Talatunia because her rate of recovery was faster than her rate of injury. ''Was the ring of life always this troublesome?'' After letting out a sigh, Leo moved quickly. He squeezed all his strength and pushed himself to his limit. At this moment, Leo¡¯s whole body responded to his will and continued to exceed its limits. Although he did not use an aura, Leo''s movements were miraculously fast. Seeing that, the other competitors opened their mouths in surprise. Lance. Sharp sword and heavy sword. Claymore. Dagger. Long sword. Spear. Battle Ax. Every time a weapon broke, Leo changed it to the other participants'' weapons one after another. And he handled every weapon with his ghost-like skill. His movements were like a never-ending dance. Regardless of the type of weapon, he showed movement that was close to perfection. As if he could handle all the weapons in the world. He fought with Talatunia without hesitation. His appearance resembled that of someone who does not belong to this world. ''How is it possible for someone of our age to fight like that using such diverse weapons?'' ''What the hell is that guy!'' The eyes of the participants who aimed to become Knights turned wide. Chelsi, who was assisting Leo, also had a look of disbelief. At first, she thought of using magic to help him. But Leo moved too fast for her to support. The situation where she was unable to use magic persisted. As a result, she tensed up. But overshadowing such worries, Leo confronted that dreadful monster all by himself. The figure reminded everyone of the Hero that they all once dreamed of becoming. A Hero who led impossible battles to victory over and over again without backing down. Leo possessed strength that was enough to catch people''s eyes. Even though a small mistake could have led to death in this battle, Leo fought fearlessly. Rather, he made everyone feel at ease. ¡®It has been 15 years, but this feeling still has not disappeared.¡¯ Though he was out of breath, he still laughed. He continued to attack Talatunia without rest. During the battle, an attack grazed him and his flesh was torn, but still, that didn''t stop him. ''Forward! Forward! If I can''t even stop a bug like this, those guys will laugh at me in the other world!'' Bang-! Bang-! CRACK-! ¡°Sheesh!¡± The sound of metal cracking came from the long sword he was holding. The weapon had already reached its limit. In just 5 minutes, dozens of weapons have already been destroyed. Just when Leo was about to ask Chelsi for the next weapon. "Leo! We are ready!¡± Leo grinned at Celia''s cry. "Haa..!" And with all his strength, he leaped away from Talatunia. BAM-! As if switching turns with him, Celia leaped forward, holding her flame storm radiating maddening heat. The tremendous fire was being suppressed by a powerful wind. "DIE YOU BUGGGGGGG!¡± Kyaaaieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! As she swung her sword, a storm filled with raging flames was unleashed. The powerful storm shredded Talatunia¡¯s body. A suffocating heat wave burned Talatunia''s body without mercy. Talatunia struggled. The power of the Ring of Life gave the spider infinite life. However, the power of destruction soon surpassed the power of restoration. WOOOF! When the flames died down, Talatunia was reduced to ashes. Tuk! A golden ring fell to the ground. [Alby''s World: Chapter-Prologue. Devil¡¯s Forest has been conquered.] A phrase popped up in front of Celia¡¯s eyes. Seeing this, Celia slumped in her seat. ¡°YES, it¡¯s finally over.¡± Celia let out a deep sigh, then she tilted her head and looked at Leo. Leo, wounded all over his body, stood gasping for breath. ''He really stopped that monster for 5 minutes.'' It was an amazing feat. Even though he fought the hardest, he still stood tall without falling. Celia, who had difficulty standing, approached Leo with a smile. "Leo! Good job... ¡­ .¡± ¡°Great! Really great! You were like a hero from a hero''s tale!¡± Chelsi, who had been watching Leo''s battle, approached him and jumped up in joy while holding his both hands. "Is that so?" "Yes. Since I want to be a battle mage, I need to practice close combat as well. So, would you like to teach me when I enter Lumeln?¡± After seeing Leo''s battle, Chelsi was so excited that she couldn''t contain herself. Celia approached Chelsi, who was still exuberant, and said, ¡°He doesn''t have any skills to teach the women of Llewellyn. Shuu- Shuuu-¡± ¡°Why is Gerdinger meddling here?¡± Celia and Chelsi began a small argument. Ignoring them, Leo moved his body. His whole body screamed, but he ignored it and picked up the ring that Talatunia had dropped. Suddenly, a small golden light burst out from the ring. Along with it, the form of a fairy appeared. Leo''s eyes shook. The fairy looked familiar. It was Silrod, the successor to the fairy king. He looked up at Leo in silence. "Hey... Silrod. Do¡­ you remember me?" Leo asked in a slightly trembling voice. It was the first time they had met after Luna''s death. However, Silrod laughed once without answering and disappeared. ¡°¡­ ¡­ .¡± Leo laughed bitterly. This was the world of heroes. The Silrod that appeared just now was fake. ''It looks like he has become the next Fairy King.'' Alby must have obtained the Mystic Eye from Silrod in return for defeating Talatunia and recovering the Fairy King''s treasure. Leo looked around. Suddenly, cracks began to appear. The conquered hero''s world started disappearing. ''Anyway, it''s over.'' Leo took a deep breath. The world soon collapsed with a bright light. And at that moment. [Conquerors Reward: Fairy King''s Blessing] "What?" A reward that would never appear in a living hero''s world appeared ? ? ? ? ? ? In the heart of the continent stood Lumeria City, the center of the world, a city steeped in history, having stood for over 3,000 years along with Lumeln Academy. At the summit of the city, an elderly man sat and stroked his chin thoughtfully. ¡°Hohoho. Looks like the western region¡¯s exam is finally over.¡± ¡°As expected of Mr. Alby. Looks like it''s already over." ¡°That guy is quick when it comes to getting things done.¡± The old man laughed out loud. Despite being well over a century old, his presence could not be overlooked by anyone in the world. He was the Sword Saint, Kalrian Baidan, a hero among heroes who had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship. ¡°Let¡¯s see. Ho? He sure picked a lot!¡± ¡°Really? That¡¯s not like Mr. Alby! How many students are there?" ¡°There are forty.¡± ¡°¡­ ¡­ .¡± Kalrian said calmly. At those words, the woman''s eyes trembled. "Is that¡­¡­a lot?¡± "Of course. A lot. I expected only about ten.¡± Elena covered her head in frustration. Forty students from the Western Region. While there would be a hundred students enrolled from other parts, only forty students from the West. It was almost certain that all kinds of protests and curses would come from the great families in the western region. ¡°Don¡¯t be so distressed. Isn''t that better than ten people?¡± "Well. That''s true. It''s indeed better than ten. Hahaha." Elena, secretary of Lumeln Academy¡¯s principal Kalrian, gritted her teeth as she laughed. ¡°Among Celia and Abad, who took first place?¡± ¡°Both.¡± ¡°Both?¡± "Yes. Celia and Abad, both of them won. It says he couldn¡¯t tell the difference.¡± "So that¡¯s how it is." Elena''s eyes lit up. "And one more thing." "Anything else?" ¡°There is a representative recommendation.¡± ¡°From Mr. Alby?¡± It was surprising to Elena that Alby, who always poorly evaluates others, recommended a freshman representative. ¡°Who is it, Celia Gerdinger or Abad Llewellyn?¡± Kalrian replied to Elina, who asked with interest. ¡°His name is Leo Flove.¡± ¡°Someone other than Celia and Abad?¡± Seeing Elena with a puzzled expression, Kalrian smiled and looked down at the report. Name: Leo Flove (15) Class: Knight. Reason: Will become a Great Hero. ¡®That Alby picked up someone and says he will become a great Hero. I wonder what kind of student he is¡­ hohohoho.¡¯ Kalrian stroked his beard and chuckled. CH 12 Lumeria City. This large city in the continent''s center is known not only for its geographical significance but also as the symbolic center of the world. One of the warp gates located in Lumeria City suddenly began to emit light. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived in Lumeria city. Please check that you have not forgotten any belongings, and disembark at the gate." With the announcement broadcast, Leo got off at the gate. The place where the warp gate was installed was the outer end of Lumeria City. The moment he stepped out of the gate, the magnificent view of Lumeria City appeared in front of him. Whooooo! Leo stared as his white hair fluttered. This was the scenery of a developed, huge capital. And in the distance, there was a vast lake that was the size of a sea. Usually, the lake would be surrounded by a thick fog, but it was very clear today. Because of that, a giant castle of Lumeria Academy could be seen barely visible at the end of the lake. "It looks like I¡¯ll be going there in two days.¡± It has already been a month since he took the entrance exam. As always, the entrance exam created a lot of buzz. Among them, the place that stood out the most was the western region exam that Leo took. It was noisy for a while thanks to the record of only 40 successful applicants passing this year. ''It''s none of my business.'' Leo was busy preparing for admission. And today, after a month of preparations, he finally arrived in Lumeria. No one from the Flove family came together with him. The Lumeln¡¯s enrollment ceremony was not open to outsiders, even parents. ''Go and learn many things, Leo.'' ''Papi, don''t be sad just because you can¡¯t see your mommy?'' Leo smiled as he recalled Dade and Reina who came to see him off. Though his parents were nobles, they don''t have a love for luxuries. ''Rather than spending money on a warp gate meaninglessly, they are people who would rather use that money for the welfare of their territory.'' Of course, Leo agreed with his parents'' opinions. Upon exiting the warp gate, Leo found himself on Kuraz Street, a bustling thoroughfare in the city of Lumeria. "Didn¡¯t they say they would be waiting here?" "Leo! Here, here." Celia, who tied her waist-length black hair into a ponytail and was wearing fancy and active outdoor clothing, approached him as she waved her hand. She came in front of Leo and smiled brightly, drawing the attention of those around her. "How have you been?" ¡°I am fine. By the way, congratulations on coming first.¡± "I don''t particularly enjoy sharing the first place with that butter boy, but still, first is first." Saying that, she elegantly flipped her hair to the side. "So, from now on be more respectful." "It becomes challenging to hold you in high regard after witnessing such narcissistic behavior." "Hey!" Celia shouted with a blushing face. ¡°Ugh! Really! Not a single word of praise!¡± Celia glared at Leo and sighed. ¡°What about uncle Jess?¡± ¡°He said he would come tonight. Until then, we shall do some shopping on the streets of Kuraz.¡± Kuraz Street is a one-stop shop for all your needs at Lumeln academy. It offers a wide range of items, including school uniforms, textbooks, and specialized equipment for each department, such as weapons, staff, and summoning catalysts. ¡°You haven¡¯t bought your uniform and textbook yet, have you?¡± "Yes." ¡°You can buy it today. Follow me, I will take you there.¡± ? ? ? ? ? ? Celia first took Leo to a large clothing store on the main street. The store had a large display window made of glass, where Lumeln''s uniforms were on display. The store had a sign that read [Blastriker]. ¡°It looks expensive.¡± "Of course, it''s a store that has been making Lumeln uniforms for 1000 years." There were three types of clothing that were necessary for Lumeln Academy. Uniform worn during an event. Uniform worn in class. Uniform worn during practice. And all clothes have a minimum specification. To meet that specification, it was necessary to have a cloth embedded with mana, which costs a lot of money. According to Celia, the quality of the uniform varies depending on the quality of the mana used. ¡°And [Blastriker] is famous for its luxury goods. I got one right here too.¡± After the detailed explanation, Celia entered the store. Ding- ¡°Welcome to Blastriker League.¡± The employee who was waiting at the door smiled kindly and opened the door. Upon entering, they noticed several other customers. Among them, there were some children who looked like new students of Lumeln. As they were browsing through the shelves, a middle-aged woman appeared from inside. ¡°Hello, Miss Celia. We are honored by your visit to our store.¡± After bowing gracefully, she cautiously opened her mouth. ¡°By the way¡­? Didn¡¯t you like the custom-made school uniform?¡± ¡°Yes, today I came to buy a uniform for this guy.¡± Celia smiled and pointed at Leo. ¡°Because he will be entering the academy with me this year.¡± "Oh, I see. I thought you were the only one enrolling this year from Gerdinger. It seems that there is also another young master.¡± The tailor covered her mouth in exclamation and greeted Leo politely. ¡°My name is Nera. I am a tailor at the Blastriker League.¡± Leo could tell that she was a Wizard. ''Well, to be able to handle the cloth with mana, you must be a wizard. Still, a wizard just being a tailor... ¡­ The world has gotten a lot better.'' ¡°Young Master, I will take your measurements.¡± Nera took a measurement tape from her pocket and measured Leo. "Young Master, you''re planning to enroll in the Knight Department, right?" "Yes." ¡°Then, What is the attribute of your aura?¡± The attribute of Aura was determined by the characteristics of the Aura method one uses. And the usage of mana cloth also varies depending on the attribute of the Aura. For example, increasing defense against the opposing attribute or adding power to the same attribute. Of course, it was impossible to have a drastic effect with a mana cloth, but even a small effect can be helpful in the infinite competitive Lumeln academy ¡°Please make a non-attribute Mana Cloth.¡± "Excuse me?" Nera had a slightly puzzled expression while Celia, who was watching from the side, narrowed her brows. Leo smiled and repeated himself. ¡°Please make it non-attribute.¡± Non-attribute Mana Cloth. It was literally a plain state of cloth that does not possess any attribute. And of course, there were no customers who wanted something like that. "I understand." But if the customer wants it, they will do it. Nera took the measurements and went into the workshop after receiving the information. ¡°Suddenly, why non-attribute? You¡¯re going to learn our family''s aura method. Wouldn''t it be better to make school uniforms with flame-attribute Mana Cloth?¡± ¡°I just have a few thoughts.¡± ''The word non-attribute means that it can be anything.'' Of course, he would be learning Gerdinger''s aura method. But still, he had no intention of making it his main focus. ¡°By the way, I have no money.¡± ¡°Are you going to tell me to look at you in a petty way? My father heard your story and decided that all the necessary expenses for your school life will be supported by the Gerdinger family.¡± Leo remembered what Reina had said. ''It''s okay. Even if they are not your real family, they still have my money. And if you act stingy, you won''t be able to stay there.'' When his father, Dade, was worried about Leo''s enrollment fee and the cost of clothing and textbooks, she made this statement. According to his mother, she left behind all of her personal assets back to the Gerdinger family. Even if she left the family, she could still claim the ownership because it was a property that she accumulated separately from the family. ''With my mother''s personality, she''ll go to Gerdinger and sweep everything.'' The family head must have decided to support me because he was well aware of the fact. After a while, Nera, living up to the name of a top-class tailor, quickly made a customized school uniform. She made a simple size adjustment after trying on the clothes. About an hour later, Nera, who completed Leo¡¯s school uniform, bowed her head. ¡°We will deliver the school uniform to your accommodation, Young Master.¡± After paying the bill under the guidance of the staff, they left the Blastriker League. ¡°Now, shall we go and buy the textbooks next?¡± Celia led Leo to the huge bookstore. Leo bought all the necessary textbooks, including those for the general curriculum as well as specialized ones for the Knight, Magic, and Summoning majors. "Are you already preparing for the duel with other departments, how thorough of you?" Leo murmured to himself as he watched Celia nod in admiration. ''Yes, I''m preparing to learn thoroughly.'' Of course, he didn''t say it out loud. Because it would just make him look crazy. Finally, he bought all the textbooks he needed. After that, he went sightseeing in Lumeria. Lumeria was a big city with so many things to see. It was fun to sightseeing, and it was fun to buy street food. Looking at Celia, who was licking the ice cream while making a happy face, Leo smiled. ¡®You become a kid when you see something like that.¡¯ Celia has always been self-conscious in front of others as a daughter of the Gerdinger family, but after meeting Leo, who was the same age as her, she began to show more of her girlish side. It wasn''t until it was time for dinner did Leo and Celia return to their lodgings. ¡°Welcome, Leo.¡± "Uncle!" They were welcomed by Jess who was waiting at the inn. ¡°How have you been?¡± Jess asked Celia while messing up her hair, then he approached Leo with a worried face, asked. "Leo, have you been well for the past month?" "Yes, I''m fine." ¡°The results of the family meeting have come out.¡± After the entrance exam, Jiss proposed to the family that Leo should be granted permission to learn [Phoenix Breath]. It was a sensitive issue to ask whether an outsider like Leo could learn the family''s Aura method, which could only be learned by acknowledged family members. This meeting lasted for a month and the result came out today. "You have been granted permission to learn [Phoenix Breath]." At those words, Celia smiled broadly and said to Leo, ¡°Congratulations, Leo!¡± Celia, who trained and took the entrance exam with Leo, thought that Leo is compatible with the Gerdinger family. However, the thoughts of the high-ranking members of the family could have been different. As a result, she has always been nervous, and only when permission was granted, she felt relieved. "Despite not being part of the family, it is a fact that you are my sister''s son, and......" Jess grinned. "The fact that you passed the Western examination was highly regarded by the elders." The Western examination, where only 40 people passed, had already become infamous worldwide. Jess pulled out a red key and gave it to Leo. It was a key to the space between dimensions. ¡°Use it.¡± As Leo inserted the key into the space and turned it, the space opened from which a book flew out. The book was opened, but no writing was found. ''There is a seal.'' It was not very difficult to understand the sealing structure. "Put your blood on it." Leo pricked his finger and smeared his blood on the page. As he did, the words appeared. ¡°From now on, that book is a book that only you can see.¡± "I understand." "The classes start only the day after tomorrow, so how about trying it out before that?¡± ¡°Is that okay?¡± "Of course. There is nothing better than awakening your Aura before taking your class at the Academy." Jess laughed meaningfully and added. "And of course, it won''t be easy." ? ? ? ? ? ? After receiving the [Phoenix Breath], Leo entered his room. ¡°Why are you here?¡± "You¡¯re going to start training your Aura now. If you have any trouble, I''ll help you." ¡°Really?¡± "Of course, all you have to say is ''Please help me, Sister Celia''." "Did you already forget that you once called me Young Master?" "Hey!" Celia threw a cushion at her cousin, who mentioned her dark past. Of course, Leo dodged it easily. Leo sat on the bed and opened the book, Celia made a worried face while looking at him. ¡®Hmph! I am not gonna help until he asks politely!¡¯ Leo laughed heartily while looking at Celia, who turned her head away, and began to read the contents of the book. ''indeed.'' The aura method of a Heroic family was complex. It was a very complex yet powerful aura method. Seeing Leo fully concentrating on reading the [Phoenix Breath] Aura method, Celia snorted. ''It won¡¯t be easy.'' With Leo''s current skills, she thought he probably could have been able to easily master the normal Aura method. ¡®Aunt said that Leo had already reached the mana resonance stage.¡¯ If one can reach the mana resonance stage, which is considered the greatest challenge before manifesting Aura, it signifies that you''ve already mastered more than half of the Aura method. However, Phoenix Breath was different. In addition to mana resonance, mana operation also had to be added. It can be said that you have crossed the first barrier only when you create a ''flame'' through that mana operation. Even Celia, who was called a genius, took a week to ignite just a spark. ¡®Soon, he''ll get stuck during the mana operation and feel helpless.¡¯ Celia smirked. ¡®I''ll pay back the debt of calling me a maid. And making me call you Young master for a couple of days~¡¯ She thought about paying back the humiliation from the last time. However, at that moment PACH- PACHIK PABOOOOM Suddenly, flames burst out of Leo''s body, which eventually covered his entire body. The flames took the shape of wings on Leo''s back, and soon dispersed. ¡®As expected, it''s not easy.¡¯ The first step in [Phoenix Breath] was to manifest the Aura and control it to create wings of flames. It took two weeks for Celia to reach this stage. ''This guy... ¡­ This monster... ¡­ .'' "Sister Celia, is there an easy way to get past this step?" Celia glared at Leo, who was pointing to a passage in the book with an unkind tone and asked. "Hey, you insane basta*d! What¡¯s wrong with you!? Why do you always do things that are out of common sense? There isn''t a crazy guy in the world who can do it with just a glance!" ¡­¡­ She had no choice but to yell out loud. CH 13 Two days later, at dawn, Leo and Celia set out for the dock at Lake Lumeria. The sight of their Lumeln uniforms drew the attention of the crowd. "They''re new students of Lumeln Academy," someone said. "They both look charismatic," said another. The onlookers smiled and cheered as the two of them walked by. Suddenly, the owner of a fruit store tossed them two apples. Leo caught them and thanked the man, while Celia took a bite and passed the remaining apple to Leo. "Lumeria is a wonderful city," Leo said. "People here always show kindness to hero candidates like us." Students of Lumeln Academy are trained to become the next generation of heroes, those who protect the world from the threat of Tartarus. The crowd continued to cheer for them as they set off on their journey. "Tartarus has been quiet recently, but we never know when they will become a threat again, and also.." Celia stopped and raised her chin. "We can''t keep losing to Seirun," Celia said determinedly. The relationship between humans and elves has always been strained, and as a result, the Elven hero academy Seirun and Lumeln often hold friendly competitions, known as the "Ruse War," in order to ease tensions between the two races. This event, which started as a simple student quiz showdown, has grown into a historical feast with a hundred years of history. The Ruse War has had a positive effect on relations between the two races, but in recent years, Lumeln has been losing to Seirun. "Wait and see," Celia said, clenching her fists with burning eyes. "I''ll flatten Seirun''s nose!" Leo cheered her on as they approached the dock, where they saw other freshmen like themselves. Some were holding staffs and flying in the sky, others were riding summoned creatures, and some were even carrying various weapons. "They''re fretting because they can''t stand out," Celia said, shaking her head. Suddenly, a boy with pale orange hair blocked their path. "Wait! Hey, good-looking male and female students over there! Can we talk for a moment?" "Who are you?" Celia asked. "My name is Karl Thomas. From the kingdom of Moira!" the boy said. "Is that it?" "No, there¡¯s more," Karl said with a smile. He then took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Leo and Celia. "From weapons to potions! Karl''s shop! If you need anything during your studies, please feel free to visit us at any time!" he said with a wink, before turning around and running off to approach another student with a cheerful laugh. "There are all sorts of people," Celia said, looking dumbfounded as she put the business card in her pocket. "I''ll go meet some of the new admissions from our country," she said, referring to the Rodern Empire, a powerful nation in the western continent. Many students from the empire were among the western students. "Go ahead, I''ll look around for a while," Leo said. "Okay. Let''s meet at the dock later," Celia said, before leaving. Leo walked around leisurely, watching the people at the dock. Besides the freshmen, there were families who had come to congratulate them. Seeing people from various cultures made Leo nostalgic. ¡®It¡¯s like Guardthorn.¡¯ Leo stood there reminiscing his past memories from a city called Guardthorn, which was referred to as the last line of defense during the age of disaster. It was also the city where Kyle launched the counterattack against Erebos, with Risinas taking the lead. BUMP Suddenly, a blond-haired girl who was walking while reading a book bumped into him. "Oh, sorry. I walked without looking ahead," "It¡¯s okay." The girl apologized to Leo and began to walk again, focusing her gaze once again on her book. ''If she keeps going like that, she''ll bump into someone again... Hm?'' Leo noticed that she dropped her student ID card on the floor and picked it up. Her name was written as "Chloe Mueller." He looked around to give it to her but she had already disappeared into the crowd. "I''ll return it if I see her again," he thought. Since they''re freshmen, they''re bound to meet again. "I am from Karl¡¯s shop! Here is my business card!¡± Karl, whom he saw just now, was handing his business card to other freshmen. When his eyes met Leo''s, he approached him with a smile. "We meet again," Karl said. "How''s your promotion going?" Leo asked. "It''s not too bad. The young ladies from aristocratic families with high noses, on the other hand, didn''t even look at me," Karl replied. "There are more aristocrats than commoners in Lumeln, so most of them won¡¯t even spare a glance no matter how you approach them, don¡¯t they?" Leo said. "That''s right. Hehehe," Karl said, shrugging his shoulders and smiling pleasantly. "Let me introduce myself once again. I am Karl Thomas. I''m fifteen!" Karl said. "My name is Leo Flove. I''m from the Delard kingdom, and I''m the same age as you," Leo introduced himself. "You''re a noble, right?" Karl asked. "Yes," Leo confirmed. "Wow, but you don''t seem to really care about me being a commoner, do you?" Karl said, looking surprised. Leo smiled as he looked at Karl, who seemed to be always interested in something. "By the way, isn''t Delard kingdom the location of the western examination? I heard the exam was no laughing matter, but it''s incredible that you passed that difficult exam!" Karl said. "It wasn''t easy," Leo replied. They continued to talk and thanks to Karl''s easygoing personality, they were able to get along well. "What are you going to choose as your major? My family has been alchemists for generations! So, that¡¯s why I choose to major in magic," Karl said. "I''m thinking of taking magic as my major, too,¡± Leo said. "Really? Then let''s be friends, Leo!" Karl exclaimed, delighted. Of course, Leo plans to study not only magic but also Knight and summoning. As they were chatting, a huge ship appeared through the mist of Lake Lumeria. It was a ship that traveled between Lumeln and Lumeria. "Oh! It''s big!" Karl burst out in exclamation. Moments later, a silver-haired man in uniform got off the docked ship. "All Freshmen, gather!" he shouted. The Freshmen bid their families farewell and gathered in front of the man. "Check the students," he said, and people behind him used a magic checker to check every student''s ID. As Leo took out his student ID, he saw a female student searching for something. "Wait a minute," he said and walked towards her. Karl followed behind him. Chloe, who had been searching for something, looked puzzled when she saw Leo approaching her. "Here," Leo said as he handed her the student ID card that she dropped earlier. "Oh, thank you!" Chloe said, smiling brightly. "I owe you my life. My name is Chloe Mueller!" "Chloe Mueller?" Karl said, looking surprised. "Chloe Mueller, the top ranker of the North exam?" "Yes. What about you guys?" she asked. "I''m Leo Flove and this guy¡­¡± ¡°Karl Thomas! From weapons to potions! Handles anything you need in your academic life! Here''s my business card!" Karl quickly handed Chloe his business card and ran quickly. Chloe, who received it, said interestingly. "Store? Then, are you planning on becoming a Supporter rather than a Hero?" "Ha ha, as expected, the top ranker is indeed different. You noticed everything at once," Karl said. "These are something I''ve learned from the Magic Tower seniors," Chloe said. It''s true that Lumeln students are all hero candidates with exceptional talent, but still, there are bound to be differences between each other. Some students might realize their lack of talent during their academy life, and such people turn into supporters who help the heroes, starting with combat support, material supply, and so on. Literally, supporters provide everything necessary for a hero, but most students were not very interested in becoming supporters because their only goal after entering Lumeln academy is to become a hero. However, Karl seemed to have chosen his path of being a supporter early on. "My entrance grade was not good anyway," he said. "If the goods are okay, I''ll buy them from you," Chloe said. "Oh! I already got one of the top students as my customer! Today I am lucky, aren''t I?" Karl laughed. "This is also fate, so let''s get along well in the future! Since we are all in the magic department!" "Magic department?" Chloe tilted her head. "You might be that way, but aren''t you an Aura user?" "Yes," Leo replied. "You''re not joining the Knight department?" Chloe asked, surprised. "I''m a dual major applicant," Leo explained. "What? You were a Knight major too? Amazing!" Karl got overexcited. Although rare, those who possess two kinds of talents are called dual-class students. In fact, there were quite a few dual-class students in Lumeln. At Leo''s words, Chloe put on a face of understanding. Meanwhile, a faculty member approached them and checked the student ID of the three of them. The faculty members stepped back after counting the number of people, and the silver-haired man in uniform stepped forward. "It''s Ain Elandew, professor of Lumeln academy," he introduced himself. "Ain Elandew? Knight of the Ice Sea?" "That Ain Elandew," "Sir, I want your autograph!" a student shouted, excitedly. "Be quiet!" Ain quieted the students. ¡°From now on, we will move on to Lumeln. So, everyone board the ship,¡± he said. "Yes!" the students replied in unison and they all started boarding the ship. ? ? ? ? ? ? The Freshmen were admiring the luxurious deck of the ship operated by Lumeln Academy before the entrance ceremony. The deck had a social atmosphere with traditional dishes from various countries prepared by top chefs delighting their tongues and noses. Even Professor Ain was sitting on the deck, enjoying a glass of wine. The neatly dressed employees were diligently taking care of the students, and the aristocratic students were pleased with the treatment, making friends and laughing. "As expected, the Lumeln Academy is different," one student said. "Any expectations about your future academy life?" another asked. Leo, however, narrowed his eyes at their appearance and said, "Something''s not right." Karl, who had brought a plate full of food, asked with a puzzled face, "What?" Leo replied, "This is a hero academy, but the atmosphere is more like a social party." Karl then said, "Since it''s before the enrollment ceremony, this is not a big deal. More importantly, Leo! I asked around and gathered information." Leo asked, "Information?" Karl excitedly said, "Yes! Look over there!" Karl pointed at a light brown-skinned boy with a large build who was quietly dining on one side of the deck. "Wald Taiden! He''s the top student in the southern exam and his major is summoning magic!" "Elemental Summoner." "Yeah. You already knew about him, didn''t you?" It was more like he recognized him at first glance, but he didn''t bother correcting it. "And over there is the top student in the eastern exam, Chen Xia!" A small-bodied foreign-looking female student with black hair and black pupils was trying different foods from other countries with a curious face. "I heard her major is Knight and she beat all of her competitors in the entrance exam with just her fists?" Then he looked at the blond male student who was speaking while shaking his wine glass. He was surrounded by his friends. "And over there, that''s the top student in the central exams, Prince Duran Moira, also majoring in Knight." The pale blond male student was gently shaking his wine glass. He was completely surrounded by students who were close to him. Karl had an unhappy face as he pointed next to Leo. "As for the Northern top students." Chloe was reading a book while eating a cake. "Those are two top students in the West, and it¡¯s the famous Celia Gerdinger and Abad Llewellyn." "Leo, here you are." Celia came just in time. "Hi, Celia." "Celia? Oh, no! Could it be Celia Gerdinger?¡± "That''s right." ¡°Leo, the girl you were close with was Celia Gerdinger? That¡¯s awesome.¡± Karl grinned and held out his hand to Celia. "As I introduced you earlier, it''s Karl Thomas!" ¡°Huh? You appear to have become friends. Celia Gerdinger." Celia held Karl''s hand, and then looked toward Chloe. "What about you?" "I''m Chloe Mueller." "Chloe Mueller, the Northern topper?" "Yes." Chloe smiled confidently. Celia, who had been looking at Chloe with a moment of interest, asked Leo. "What are you thinking about?" "Just. The image of the academy seems different from what I had imagined." Lumeln was a place where the best talents are selected and trained to become heroes. As a result, academy life was notorious for being extremely difficult, with an extremely high dropout rate. In such a place, to give such a luxurious cruise trip, it was hard for him to understand. "Even if it is Lumeln, would it really start picking up on students prior to the entrance ceremony?" "That''s right. You''re thinking too much.¡± This time Celia agreed with Karl. BOOOM-! Suddenly, the ship shook violently. "But it doesn''t look like that." "What, what is it?" As Leo muttered, something emerged from the lake. SHAKK SHAKKKKKK! "Ahh! What¡¯s that!¡± "Is this, could it be a Kraken?¡± "A Kraken appeared all of a sudden! What the hell is going on!" The party on the deck was covered by the shadow of a giant octopus leg, and the students panicked. "Oh, Professor Ain! Please help us!" One female student rushed to Ain, asking for help. Ain scowled. "Help? Why should I?" CH 14 ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± "What?" ¡°As a student at Lumeln Academy, you are a hero candidate. When faced with a crisis, it is crucial to first consider ways to overcome it independently." The students quivered under Ain''s reprimand, but Ain''s gaze fixated on Leo who acted without delay. ¡°At least one of them has some backbone." As the towering Kraken descended rapidly toward them. Swing-! Leo unsheathed his sword and severed one of the Kraken''s legs. The sound of metal clashing echoed through the air. With a swift kick, Leo sent the wriggling tentacles, severed from the Kraken, back into the lake and shouted, "Do not be intimidated by its size! We can defeat this beast!" He directed his gaze towards Celia and Chloe, who retorted confidently, "Who said we were scared?" Chloe, with her fiery temperament, scoffed and Celia, with a determined expression, also unsheathed her sword. "Where are you looking, Leo?" Whooosh-! The Flame Aura, the symbol of the Gerdinger family, erupted from Celia''s sword. "I cannot believe you thought I would be frightened by a creature like this," she exclaimed. Suddenly, a water cannon shot out from the tip of the Kraken''s tentacles and hit Celia, drenching her despite her aura armor. "It''s a habit of the Kraken, to react to heat and shoot water cannons," Leo explained, trying to hold back his laughter. "Perhaps you still lack experience?" he added with a teasing tone. Celia, her face red with embarrassment and anger, retorted, "We are the same age, so don''t talk about lack of experience!" As the Kraken launched another attack, Celia''s eyes widened in rage. "You damn squid, I will turn you into squid sushi!" Hwaak-! Celia''s sword drew a splendid trajectory. Papababat! The shredded Kraken''s tentacles flew off. Celia looked back with a face as if saying [How was that?], Leo smiled and swung his sword in response. Buwang-! As the wind howled, the Kraken''s tentacles were shredded even finer than before by an unseen force. Celia''s eyes burned with anger as Leo said, "How does it feel to lose?" Meanwhile, Chloe, standing beside them, raised her magic staff and began chanting in a language of runes. "Do you think only your swordsmanship is impressive?" she sneered. Zjejojjeong-! "Icicle." In the sky, a cluster of ice crystals formed into a giant icicle and as Chloe released her spell, the icicle flew down. Pueok-! Zjejojjeong! Kkgeurang! As the magic exploded, the frozen Kraken''s tentacles shattered. "Ho-ho-ho! What''s the point of stepping forward and sweating like the knights? It¡¯s wise to remain behind the scenes like this... ¡­ Ehh??!" Chloe, who had a proud expression on her face, became the target of the Kraken''s unexpected attack. Leo, who was quick to react, grabbed Chloe and pulled her back. "A wizard doesn''t fight from the front," he said as he swung his sword and cut off another tentacle. "Kraken is sensitive towards mana, so use your magic carefully," Leo advised Chloe. "Ah¡­ Okay." The new students, who had panicked as a result of the sudden attack, regained their composure and began to counterattack. Though the Kraken was a high-ranking monster, the Lumeln¡¯s students would not be easily defeated without resistance. Ain, who watched everything from behind, raised an eyebrow. ''Good. The freshmen this year are pretty interesting,'' he thought. Professor Ain, who had just scolded the freshmen, now had a satisfied expression on his face. This lake was famous for being home to all kinds of aquatic monsters, so the attack of aquatic monsters was almost like an annual event that happened periodically. All the students who entered Lumeln were very talented and they had even proved their skills by entering Lumeln, one of the four Hero Academies. ''New students, who have become indifferent to anything, tend to play it safe. With such a state of mind, they can''t properly follow Lumeln''s teachings,'' Ain thought. The fact that they had barely met the minimum standards required to learn in Lumeln was the reason why they needed to be aware, and that was also the reason why Lumeln neglected the attack of underwater monsters. Of course, Ain didn''t let them fight the monsters defenselessly. As proof, when the ship was attacked by the Kraken, the biggest problem would be the destruction of the hull, which was not achieved. Of course, the freshmen were too busy blocking the Kraken in front of them to notice that. ''As expected, the performance of the chief candidates stands out the most.'' Leo''s presence caught the attention of Professor Ain, who was trying to gauge the abilities of the new students. ''He¡¯s impressive.'' Ain thought as he watched Leo''s clean and unadorned swordsmanship In addition, as if he had fully anticipated the Kraken''s movements, he kept dodging Kraken''s attacks with light movements. ''I have to remember his name.'' Looking at how he handled the sword, it was clear that Leo was a strong candidate for the knight department. Thinking he found an outstanding student, Ain smiled contentedly. ? ? ? ? ? ? Despite the defeat of the Kraken, the attack from underwater monsters continued. The once joyful party on board had turned into a nightmare. After an hour of fighting, the freshmen were all in a state of exhaustion. Their uniforms were wet, their bodies covered in sweat, and their faces tired from the constant battle. "I can''t fight anymore! I''ve run out of mana!" Chloe cried out as she collapsed on the floor. "Ugh... Is there anyone who has mana potions?" Karl asked, looking around, but no one responded. Heo-eok-heo-eok- Celia sighed and glanced at Leo, who was still guarding the shoreline without any sign of exhaustion. ¡®Where does he get this endless energy from?¡¯ she thought, standing next to him with a pale expression. Just then, a voice shouted, "The dock is in sight!" ¡°This bloody fight is finally over!¡± "Wowaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" The students disembarked from the ship, looking completely drained. Waiting for them at the dock was a small woman with glasses dressed in formal attire. "Thank god! Looks like nothing big happened!" she said, but the students couldn''t help but think ''Nothing big happened? We were attacked by a swarm of sea monsters!'' But of course, no student dared to voice their objections, as the woman was likely a professor from Lumeln Academy. "Professor Ain. Good job leading the new students! From here on, I will take over," the woman said. Ain nodded and spoke while looking at the freshmen, "I will be teaching the first-year Knight class this year." The students from the Knights Department looked surprised. "Some of you will be taking my class," Ain said with a smile as his gaze passed through promising students, including Leo. "Those who want to reach a higher level, come to my class!" he urged. "Yes Sir!" "Yes! Professor Ain!" The Knights Department students raised their voices in response. Satisfied with their response, Professor Ain had a meaningful expression on his face as he added, "And also, listen well to Professor Nier''s words." With that, he left. "My name is Artian Nier. I will be teaching the 1st year Summoning department class," the woman introduced herself with a friendly smile. "Artian Nier? I''ve never heard of that name before," Celia tilted her head. Someone who takes the position of professor at Lumeln should be well-known in their respective field, but Celia had never heard of the name Artian Nier before. "Artian Nier is quite famous in the central region," Karl suddenly spoke. "What kind of person is she?" Celia asked. "She¡¯s a Heroic spirit Summoner," Karl replied. Celia was surprised. Summoning magic was divided into three major areas: Spirit Summoning, summoning spirits; Resurrection magic, summoning the dead; and Hero Summoning, calling upon heroic spirits. Among them, the spiritual art of summoning fragments of those so-called heroic spirits was a very rare ability. ''It was one of Risinas''s main skills.'' Heroic spirit summoning magic was something only those with innate special ability could practice, even someone like Kyle who had learned many skills could not learn this ability. "Then shall we go to the entrance ceremony?" Artian smiled softly and said. At that moment, students protested. "Professor! Is there anywhere to change clothes?" "That''s right! We can''t attend the entrance ceremony just like this!" The students, who had been reserved in front of Professor Ain, erupted in the presence of Artian. They were all aristocratic students and while they were intimidated by Ain''s title, ''knight of Ice sea'', they immediately expressed dissatisfaction with the weak-looking Artian, whose name they had never heard. "Oh no! We have to stick to the schedule..." "My family will never allow me to appear in an important event with such an appearance!" "That''s right! We proudly entered Lumeln! Such treatment! Unacceptable!" "Right! Right! We will officially handle this issue through our family!" Artian, who was pure-hearted, was at a loss and could not do anything regarding the students'' protests. The students, who had become more confident, raised their voices even more. "It seems like it''s time for a lesson," Leo smiled while Celia frowned, "What?" Artian lowered her head and then, in a sudden change of tone, shouted, "SHUT UP YOU WRETCHED BRATS! Do they think I''m your nanny just because I acted friendly? How dare a freshman act superior and spout nonsense in front of a professor?" Her face twisted in anger as she spoke. The students who had raised their voices were startled by the sudden change in her demeanor. A boy, unable to recover his senses, shouted urgently, "Even though you''re a professor, we can''t tolerate such verbal abuse..." Artian''s eyes narrowed as she replied, "You sh*tty brat? Haven¡¯t you read the atmosphere yet?¡± and with that, she violently grabbed the boy by the collar. The male student was taller and bigger compared to other new students, however, Artian showed no signs of hardship as she held him. Instead, a golden aura emanated from her body. "What? A¡­ Aura?" "Dual-class?" The students were frightened. The male student, grabbed by the collar, turned pale. Artian then threw the male student directly into the lake. "Uaaah!" Splash! Clang! Clang! The male student who fell into the lake struggled as Artian gave a stern warning, "If there are any more kids who dare to rebel, they will not be spared..." Everyone''s impression of Artian changed even before she finished speaking. She then sighed and waved her hand lightly, golden mana burst out and Artian rescued the student who had fallen into the water with magic. The students'' eyes widened at what they saw. She introduced herself as a professor of the summoning class, but to think she also uses Aura and magic! ¡°As expected.¡± ¡°Do you know about her ability?¡± Celia, who had been started, heard Leo''s muttering and asked urgently. ¡°It''s because of the Heroic spirits that she has contracted. The change in her personality is also due to the contracted soul.¡± ¡°Heroic Spirits? It''s an ability that I''ve only heard of!¡± Celia exclaimed at this ability, which was extremely rare even among Summoners. Indeed, Professor Ain didn''t just ask them to listen carefully. Artian, who returned to her original personality, apologized as she felt very embarrassed about her act, but the students only stared at her blankly. This was because they realized at once that though the professor in front of them had no reputation, they were no match for them. Meanwhile, Artian smiled brightly and said, "Anyway, everyone! Let''s go to the entrance ceremony!" ¡°Y..e..s¡± The students responded weakly, looking around at each other. CH 15 In the middle of the vast Lumeln Academy, there was a giant parade ground called ¡®Erekra¡¯. This was where the school''s major events, such as admission and graduation ceremonies, were held. And here in Erekra, all the students of Lumeln were gathered. ¡°Has everyone arrived?¡± ¡°Did they get wet too?¡± "Hahaha! Look, look! Didn¡¯t I tell you that we wouldn''t be short on such kids!" As some of the uncultured upperclassmen booed, the new students with strong self-esteem trembled with embarrassment, but none of them got angry. Meanwhile, Artian, who led the freshmen, spoke up as they stood in the middle of the Erekra Parade. "Please line up by region. And, the top rankers, please come forward as representatives." At her words, the students lined up in five rows, facing each other. Unsurprisingly, there were noticeably fewer students in the western provinces when compared with other regions. The professors who were watching from the podium clicked their tongues. "Is it because of Professor Alby? The number of students from the Western region is too low." Said one of the professors, looking at Alby who was sitting with an expressionless face. However, Alby didn''t bat an eye. Leo stood at the very back. "Oh! Brother Leo! hi!" At that moment, Chelsi Llewellyn, who he had teamed up with during the entrance exam, approached him with a broad smile. ¡°You''ve been so busy that you didn''t see me until now!¡± Leo smiled bitterly as he looked at Chelsi, who was approaching warmly with sparkling eyes. ¡°Get in line quickly,¡± Leo said. ¡°Okay!¡± Chelsi stood next to Leo and chattered excitedly. ¡°I was so moved when I saw brother Leo fight, so I¡¯m thinking about taking a knight class as a minor.¡± ¡°Hmm? You had said your goal was to be a battle mage, right?¡± Leo asked. ¡°Yes!¡± Chelsi replied. In response, Leo looked at Chelsi for a moment and said. ¡°Then, shouldn¡¯t you focus more on magic training first?¡± ¡°What? Don''t I already know enough about magic? Why do I still need to devote more time to magic training?¡± Chelsi asked, a bit confused. Just as Leo was about to say something, the ceremony began and the professor interrupted. "Now, we will begin the entrance ceremony. First, the principal will speak," the professor standing on the podium announced. At the professor''s words, Chelsi fell silent. Soon, an old man appeared in the middle of the podium. The new students had anxious expressions on their faces. There was no one here who didn¡¯t know the old man. One who was praised to be the strongest among all the current Human Heroes, Sword Saint, Kalrian Baidan. "You worked hard to get here, young soldiers," Kalrian said, with a youthful spirit that was uncharacteristic of an elderly man. "I won''t beat around the bush. I''ll tell you the path you must walk!" Bang-! Kalrian hit the platform with his fist. "If you guys dream of being a Hero, always risk yourselves! And go beyond your limits! Anyone who does not... they''re not needed in Lumeln," the Sword Saint said with harsh words. The new students held their breath. Kalrian got down from the stage without hesitation. A moment of silence passed, and then... "Waaaaaaaaaa!" Shouts erupted from the group of freshmen. The short words from the sword saint had the power to ignite the passion of the new students. Kalrian turned and made a dignified gesture toward the professors while drawing a V with his fingers. Some of the professors shook their heads, thinking ''You¡¯re the principal!'' ''If he had always been so dignified, he would have really been cool!!'' ''Uh, the more I live my life as a Professor in Lumeln, the more my fantasy about the Sword Saint crumbles.'' But they had to nod even if they didn''t like it. The fact that the greatest hero, Sword saint, whom everyone admires, is actually a light-hearted old man. The head professor also shook his head and said, "Then, there will be a speech from the freshmen representative." At those words, everyone at the Erekra parade ground focused. Freshmen representative means that that person is the best Hero candidate among all the freshmen of Lumeln, where only geniuses gathered. The best Hero candidate among literally hundreds of hero candidates! Even the top rankers sitting at the front became tense. While everyone was paying attention, the head professor announced, "The freshmen representative, Leo Flove." "Leo Flove?" "Who is that?" "Isn¡¯t the freshman representative supposed to be one of the top rankers?" The freshmen looked around and muttered. The six chief candidates sitting in the front also made puzzled expressions. Professors who had no idea who the freshman representative was were also taken aback. Then the head professor said, "Student Leo Flove. Please come up on the podium." At those words, Leo got up from his seat. Chelsi stared at Leo with wide eyes, and Karl, who was sitting in another row, looked bewildered. It was very abnormal for a normal student, who is not a top ranker, to become a representative. Even the top rankers showed bewildered expressions. Everyone¡¯s eyes were on Leo. ''I''m the freshmen representative?'' Leo was also puzzled. It was clear that he had done an impressive job in the entrance exam, but everyone thought Celia and Abad did even better to be able to get high scores. In fact, the two of them had performed the best in the exam, so they jointly took the chief position. Leo, feeling suspicious, stepped up to the podium and his eyes met with Alby, who supervised the Western Examination. Alby, who had always been expressionless, revealed a smile. ¡®It seems that it was due to the recommendation of the examiner.¡¯ Leo stopped questioning and stood on the podium. On the podium was a prepared speech. "Respected professors and seniors. Thank you for welcoming us as new students. From now on, we freshmen, as proud people of Lumeln... ¡­ ." Leo read the speech without a hint of tension. Looks filled with various emotions were sent toward Leo. Questions and curiosity about the fact that an ordinary student became the freshmen representative instead of the top rankers. They were filled with envy and jealousy towards this honorable position. "¡­ ¡­ Freshmen representative, Leo Flove." Clap clap clap-! After the speech, there was applause. "Thank you, student Leo. Then, as a freshman representative, could you say a few words about your aspirations?" The professor asked with a mischievous smile. Aspiration of the freshman representative. This was a tradition of Lumeln''s entrance ceremony. It was to give everyone in the school a chance to speak up, as they had won the position of freshmen representative through a series of competitions. On the other hand, there was also the intention of motivating other first-years. ''Is this a provocation against the kids who weren¡¯t able to rise to this position?'' Leo chuckled. As it has always been, there must be many students who covet this position. Leo turned around and looked down at all the freshmen. "I am the freshmen representative, Leo Flove." The head professor had a disappointed expression at Leo''s polite greeting. ''This new student representative is a humble student. Well, his aspirations should not be bad.'' In fact, even a hot-tempered student would find it difficult to speak carelessly if they were to be put in this position. ''It looks like this year''s entrance ceremony will be peaceful.....'' "If anyone covets this position, try taking it from me¡­ IF YOU CAN." The head professor¡¯s eyes widened. The other freshmen were also surprised. Leo smiled once and went down the podium. Leo caught exactly what the school intended and followed suit. ''But still, that''s a little too much!'' The head professor screamed inwardly. Laughter broke out even among the seniors. "Isn¡¯t this year''s entrance ceremony the best ever?" "There''s a freshman with a big attitude." All eyes were on Leo. Nevertheless, Leo went down the stairs without batting an eye. As he returned to his seat, his eyes met with Celia''s eyes. Celia, who stared blankly at Leo, gave a small snort and lifted her chin. Abad, who was sitting next to her, smiled at Leo. "Wow! Wow! Brother Leo was the representative?" When he returned to his seat, Chelsi shook his hand and said softly, ¡°Isn¡¯t it a pity that Abad didn¡¯t get it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s indeed a pity that brother didn¡¯t make it, but brother and I saw brother Leo¡¯s fight, right?¡± Chelsi said, with her arms crossed and nodding her head. ¡°Even though my brother didn¡¯t say anything, he must also have recognized brother Leo¡¯s skill.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Leo looked at the back of Abad, who was sitting in the front seat. Just like that, the time passed and the entrance ceremony came to an end. ? ? ? ? ? ? After the entrance ceremony, freshmen were immediately escorted to their respective dormitories. Naturally, the dormitory was divided into two sections: male and female. Each dorm was lined up next to another resembling a grand mansion. In the center, there was a garden while in the surrounding grounds, there was a sports field. One of the dormitory managers spoke to the new students gathered there. ¡°The dormitory assigned a room for every person. And there is a curfew. In certain cases, an overnight stay can be permitted if you have any special reason." The dormitory manager sighed briefly. "Entering the opposite sex''s dormitory without permission is strictly prohibited," The dormitory manager''s face turned serious. "I know that you are all at an age where you are interested in the opposite sex, but please maintain decency." "Yes~" The new students answered cheerfully. The dormitory manager smiled wryly at their response. Even if they said that, the truth was, there were always students who broke this rule at least once a year because they are teenagers. ''Of course, they never do it again after that.'' ¡°Okay, then, everyone, get your luggage and unpack them in your assigned dormitory room, then gather here again in an hour.¡± The dormitory manager pointed at the luggage that was delivered during the entrance ceremony and spoke. Freshmen chatted with each other as they searched for their bags. Then they checked the dormitory room assigned to them. "Oh! Leo! You and I are next to each other?" "Really? That''s good.¡± Leo laughed as Karl spoke in a bright voice. "By the way, I''m really surprised, I didn''t know you were the student representative!" ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t know either.¡± ¡°I guess you did a great job during the test?¡± "The examiner must have liked me." Leo and Karl carried their luggage and went up to the 2nd floor. The eyes of the other freshmen looking at them. ¡°Is he the freshman representative?¡± "Why didn¡¯t they choose the top rankers, and why did he become the representative? Did he enter through back door?" "Can you become a Freshmen representative just because of a back door?" ''I got so much attention on the first day.'' Leo changed clothes in his room and spent some time aimlessly before gathering again. Then he was assigned to a General class. Lumeln Academy mainly offered classes that focused on major subjects. There were also general classes that Leo should take along with other classmates. In the case of the first years, there were ten classes from class 1 to class 10. Among them, Leo was assigned to class 5 along with Chelsi and Karl. After that, Leo was given a tour of the facilities inside the Lumeln Academy. The academy campus was vast, as expected of one of the four Hero Academies in the world. It took half a day to tour the important facilities. When they returned to the dormitory after finishing their field trip, the dormitory supervisor was waiting for them. "Nice to meet you. My name is Obelio, the supervisor of the first-year dormitory. It must have been a hard day today. From tomorrow, a week-long General class begins.¡± During the General class period, you could check any major classes you wanted. Even if you aspire to be a Knight, you could take classes on magic and summoning. Meanwhile, the student may discover a talent that they themselves were unaware of. ¡°Classes start tomorrow, so don''t waste your time and go to bed early tonight." As soon as Professor Obelio ordered them to dismiss, the students headed straight to their respective dorm rooms. "Ugh~, it was really a crazy day!" Karl said while stretching as if he was tired. ¡°I¡¯m really looking forward to tomorrow¡¯s class! Anyway, Leo! Good night!" ¡°Yeah, good night.¡± After greeting each other, they entered their respective rooms. Leo entered the room, changed into pajamas, and went straight to bed. He soon fell asleep feeling the comfort of the bed. CH 16 The next morning. After finishing his breakfast at the dormitory cafeteria, Leo immediately headed to the first-year class building, the Hall of beginning. Today''s first major class was in Knight department. As was to be expected, there were a lot of participants from the Knight Department, but there were also a lot of participants from other Departments. Due to the large number of people, the class was divided into groups. In the group that Leo entered, there were Chelsi and Karl. Karl actively took these elective classes to get acquainted with the Knights Department students. Chelsi said that she was going to take a Knight class as an elective because she aspired to be a battle mage. Students gathered in the Training hall waited. Professor Ain showed up shortly after. "Since I''ve already introduced myself, there is no need for a separate introduction. This is my associate professor, Claria Rebacce." Claria slightly bowed her head. The associate professor can only be someone who has received the professor''s approval among the Lumeln graduates. The associate professor usually assists the professor in class and, in an emergency, will conduct the class on the professor''s behalf. Naturally, as a Lumeln graduate, she was an elite with guaranteed skills. Professor Ain looked around the students. ''Leo Flove, Celia Gerdinger, Duran Moira.'' Looking at them, Professor Ain had a satisfied expression. The student representative and the top rankers had come to attend his class, so there was nothing to be dissatisfied about. "Of these, students from magic and summoner departments, raise your hands." More than half of the students raised their hands. Professor Ain nodded and pointed at Claria. ¡°You all go along with associate professor. She will teach you how to apply magic and spirit power to combat.¡± Ain, gathered students of knight departments separately, and began to talk. ¡°Today is the first class. So, let¡¯s talk about the most basic aura used by Knights.¡± At Ain''s words, the students'' eyes lit up. ¡°There are three powers derived from mana: aura, magic power, and spirit power. Among them, aura is the power that is difficult to handle. Does anyone know why?¡± The first question baffled the first-year students. The characteristics of Aura? There were hardly any students who were interested in knowing that. What most Mages/knights are concerned with is how to feel mana effectively and profess more power. Of course, it wasn''t just students who didn''t know the answer. Celia raised her hand. ¡°I am Celia Gerdinger.¡± ¡°Yes, Student Celia. Give us your answer.¡± "During the transformation process, Aura loses the mana characteristics." ¡°That is correct.¡± Magical power¡¯s characteristics is to amplify mana, whereas spirit power¡¯s characteristics is to align the user''s will with mana. As such, it does not lose the characteristics of natural mana. Aura, on the other hand, is a force created by absorbing mana and processing it according to one¡¯s physique. In the process, it loses its natural fluidity and becomes fixed. As a result, it becomes difficult to handle. "Then, do we have any student who can explain how we are using the accumulated aura in our bodies?" This time, Celia was taken aback as well. How do we use it? ''How do you describe how you use it?'' ''Just... use it when you need power, right?'' They just use it according to the flow of the aura method they were taught. There was no way to describe how to use Aura. Of course, it wasn''t a question Ain expected them to answer. What Ain was talking about was the basic theory of Aurology, which was not taught in Lumeln until last year. This year, Ain was going to introduce the content that was only taught in Beast Hero Academy, Azonia. So it was only natural for the First-graders to not know the answer. Just when Ain was about to explain, someone raised their hand. Professor Ain gave a satisfied expression to the courageous student. There are not many professors who dislike students who confidently step forward to answer even if they are wrong. ¡°I am Leo Flove.¡± "Okay. Please answer Student Leo.¡± ¡°We are using the power of the Aura by burning it.¡± Ain was surprised by the answer. ¡°That is correct. Then, do you know what is the most important thing when you burn aura?¡± ¡°It¡¯s stamina.¡± ¡°Amazing, Student Leo. Have you ever studied Aurology?¡± "No, I didn¡¯t." ¡°Then how did you know this?¡± ¡°Because it is the most basic essence of using aura.¡± People sometimes neglect to understand the nature of the powers they wield. Of course, you can use aura even if you don''t understand the essence or principle. However, there is a big difference between understanding and not understanding the characteristics of the power one uses. Aura, in particular, is a power that is influenced more by the user''s will than magic or spirit power. ¡°Excellent. 5 extra points for Student Celia. And 10 extra points to student Leo.¡± The envious eyes of the classmates turned towards the two. ¡°As Student Leo said, we are using the power generated when mana is burned.¡± Professor Ain said seriously. ¡°Starting this year, I intend to teach you first-years by incorporating Aurology into the class.¡± "Professor! What is Aurology?¡± ¡°It is a study of Aura. It''s one of the mandatory subjects at Azonia Academy.¡± First-year students who are heard about this new subject for the first time, had a glow in their eyes. ¡°Then, since today is our first class, you will learn how to use Auras. The content of today¡¯s lecture is Aura Step.¡± Aura Step is a technique that concentrates the power of Aura on the legs to maximize jumping power. ''Aura step.'' Leo''s eyes lit up. It was a concept that did not exist in the era where Kyle lived. ¡°Aura Steps can be learned by anyone who has Aura. However, the effectiveness varies depending on the level of proficiency." Professor Ain stepped up. A silver aura appeared to ripple on the tips of his feet, which he used to slowly stand in the air. The students burst into admiration. Professor Ain slowly walked in the air and said. ¡°Now, I will tell you about the principle behind this Aura step.¡± Ain''s Aura Step lecture began. ¡°The principle of using Aura step is not much different.¡± If you strengthen your body with aura, your leg strength will naturally increase. The Aura Step could be seen as a concentrated version of the physical strengthening where one focus their Aura on the legs. When professor Ain was guiding the students, someone who appeared to be an errand boy entered the training hall. ¡°Professor Ain. Professor Bethe is looking for Professor Ain and Associate Professor Claria.¡± ¡°Professor Bethe? I get it." Ain nodded and told the students. "Myself and the assistant professor will be away for a while, so practice Aura Step by yourself." Leaving those words behind, Professor Ain left. "Leo. Shall I teach you the Aura step?¡± Celia approached with a smirk. Leo asked with a sullen face. ¡°Are you going to ask me to address you as ¡®Milady¡¯?¡± ¡°How could you be so rude?¡± Celia crossed her arms and smiled. "I''m older than you, so call me ''Sister'' once and I''ll help you." "I won''t learn from someone dirty and rude." "What? You''re the Freshmen representative and still you don''t even know how to use Aura Step? How pitiful." It was then, someone interrupted the conversation between the two. When they turned their heads, there was Duran Moira, the top ranker of the Central Exam, standing there. Duran looked at Leo and clicked his tongue. ¡°For someone like this to be the representative, I can¡¯t understand Lumeln¡¯s standards.¡± ¡°Are you dissatisfied with me being the class representative?¡± When Leo stepped forward and asked, Duran raised an eyebrow. "I''m not unhappy. I''m just annoyed that someone who can''t even use Aura Step became Freshmen representative." Duran said as he looked at the other students. "It''s not just you. There are a few who don''t know how to use Aura Step. I''m worried that it would affect the overall dignity of us, First-years." Some students were mad at that statement. But they couldn''t easily take him down. No matter what he said, it was undeniable that he was the top of the grade. He was clearly among the top ten of 500 first-year students. In response to Duran''s words, Leo said. "If you truly aim to be a hero, wouldn''t it be better to act with dignity?" "Dignity? You''re talking about dignity to me, the one who possess Hero¡¯s bloodline?" Duran is a member of the Knight Principality Moira, which was founded 50 years ago by Dior Moira, a knight hero known as the Golden Sword. Duran, who had wanted to be a hero since he was a child, believed that he had more qualifications than anyone else. "What does bloodline have to do with being a hero?¡± "It matters. Being a hero means being chosen." ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I think a hero is someone who never gives up.¡± "It''s pathetic that a new student representative can say such a dreamlike story lines." "Aren''t you being too childish, trusting too much of your lineage?" "For me, bloodline is just an accessory. I have something else that I believe in." "What is that?" "It¡¯s skill, Leo Flove." Bam-! Duran closed the distance between him and Leo in the blink of an eye. The other students were amazed by his incredible speed. Usually, students couldn''t even think about moving that fast. However, Leo just grinned. "You are not that fast." "I guess I need to show you what I''m really capable of." Duran chuckled darkly. "If you''re so confident, why don''t we have a race to see who''s faster?" "Don''t be ridiculous, Duran. Do you really think it''s fair to compete with someone who hasn''t even learned the Aura Step?" Celia frowned and interrupted, and Duran said as if it was good. ¡°Celia Gerdinger. There was something I wanted to ask you.¡± "What?" ¡°Why did Leo Flove become the representative?¡± ¡°How would I know?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t because of the lousy top rankers of the West, that this guy ended up in the spotlight?¡± Chelsi, who came to see what was going on, stepped forward. ¡°Are you saying that my older brother was lousy?¡± "I''m just stating the truth. Chesi Llewellyn. I expected great things from the heroes of the Lorden Empire, but to give the representative position to someone like that. Honestly, I''m disappointed." Celia gave a cold smile. ¡°You must be quite resentful of not being the representative, right? But have you ever thought that the reason you couldn''t become the representative is simply because you are not good enough?" "If I were to be in the same place as this guy, then he wouldn''t have become the representative." Duran, who had an arrogant expression on his face, spoke confidently. "It''s just sheer luck that this guy became the representative." "Come on, Leo. We don''t need to listen to this nonsense." "Right." Chelsi, who never agreed with Celia, agreed to her words and flicked her under-eye bags with her left hand. "Bah!" She made a noise as she shrugged her shoulders. "Being in a position to be protected by women." The students from Duran''s faction threw out taunts. Seeing all this, Leo laughed. "I Accept that challenge." "Leo!" Celia said scoldingly. "Why would you say something like that? " Leo replied with a smile. ¡°To a guy like this, I have to show what true dignity is.¡± CH 17 The students were split on either side, with Leo and Duran at the center. It was a lively atmosphere as everyone was excited for the match titled "freshman representative vs Top Ranker representative". ¡°Who do you think will win?¡± "I''m rooting for Duran!" "Me too, he was famous even before he entered the school." ¡°Still, the freshman representative should also possess a considerable amount of strength, right?¡± "Yeah, but he''s not the top ranker in the entrance exam. Besides, I heard he''s not well-trained in combat oriented skills." All the first-year students were betting on Duran''s victory. Amidst all this, Celia asked with a hint of concern. "Are you going to be okay?" ¡°Don¡¯t you trust me?¡± "You''ve only learned about the theory of Aura-Steps a moment ago." ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will win.¡± At that moment, Duran said, pointing to a large tree far away that was attached to the training field''s wall. "The matchup is simple. Whoever goes around that tree and returns to this point first wins." "Okay." The two warmed up before the start. As Leo removed the bracelets and anklets from his wrists and ankles, he recalled the aura step theory Professor Ain had taught him. The referee raised his hand as the two approached the starting line after their warm-up. "Get Ready¡­¡­ Set" Leo tensed his muscles. "GO!" They both stomped on the ground and took off simultaneously. At first, it was Leo who took the lead. Looking at Leo''s back, Duran frowned. ''He''s running recklessly.'' "Alright! Go faster!" ¡°Brother Leo, Go go go go!¡± Karl cheered with his fists clenched while Chelsi jumped up and down in ecstasy. However, Celia''s expression remained dark. ''Duran hasn''t used Aura step yet.'' At present, both individuals are solely relying on their physical strength to run. Leo''s physical capabilities are extraordinary, surpassing even Celia''s. Therefore, it was expected that Leo would be faster without using the Aura Step. However, this initial advantage was short-lived. When Duran activated his Aura step, the distance between them quickly diminished. A golden spark surrounded Duran''s legs, indicating his use of the lightning Aura. "I''ll take the lead, slowpoke." Duran sneered and ran forward. Duran, who took the lead, ran much faster than Leo, separating them by a wide margin. Anyone who witnessed it would believe Leo''s defeat was predetermined. But at the same time, Leo accelerated towards the wall of the parade ground with explosive force. ¡°Oh, Aura step? Didn''t you say that the Freshmen representative is someone who couldn''t use Aura step?" ¡°Was it a lie?¡± While the students murmured, Celia''s eyes widened. ''No, he is a monster that learns really fast!'' She screamed inwardly. Even though the walls of the training ground were approaching, Leo did not think of slowing down. "Wait, why is he not stopping?" ¡°He¡¯s going to bump into the wall!¡± The students screamed as they saw Leo about to slam into the wall at lightning speed. BAM-! At that moment, Leo concentrated all his strength on his legs and leaped. Then, with both feet on the wall, he raised his head and looked at Duran who was ahead of him. BANG-! Leo then jumped by stomping on the wall with Aura and rushed towards Duran with all his might. The students who saw it were shocked. At the same time, Duran''s face hardened as he looked back. He saw Leo flying towards him like a bullet. ''You son of a bi*ch!'' He was taken aback by the unexpected pursuit, but he soon regained his composure. ¡®He would lose his acceleration after landing on the ground!¡¯ Duran maintained his speed, so he didn''t have to worry about being overtaken. Leo once again kicked off the ground and ran forward. By using Aura, his speed was incomparable to the previous one. However, it didn¡¯t narrow the distance between Duran and Leo. They are now halfway to the starting line. "Leo, give it your all!" ¡°Duran! Run!" The students split and raised their voices to show their support. Celia¡¯s lips slightly parted. ''No, He can''t catch up.'' Leo knew that too. PLOP PLOP-! It was then, from Leo''s feet, flames erupted. ''Was it like this when Professor Ain used when walking on air earlier.'' He recalled the demonstration that Professor Ain showed. It would be difficult to replicate it at that moment. Leo was just a beginner when it comes to Aura Step. However, he tried to replicate Professor Ain''s method. After activating the phoenix breath, Leo concentrated the aura on his toes. Fwoosh-! And then... ''Kick the ground!'' BOOM! BOOM! The sudden explosion made the students freeze. Celia opened her mouth wide in shock. ''Phoenix step? Leo! How could he have mastered that?'' BOOM! BOOM! A series of small explosions were heard in succession. As a result, Leo accelerated at an incredible speed. With the little Aura inside his body, Leo chased after Duran. ¡°What? This fu*king bastard!¡± "I''ll go ahead, slowpoke." Leo grinned and kicked the ground vigorously. Boom! ¡°LEO FLOVE!¡± Duran, who was close behind Leo, opened his eyes wide and shouted. The gap between them widened, and Duran was unable to keep up with the accelerating Leo. Leo''s fire aura and Duran''s lightning aura left traces along their path. And finally, Leo crossed the starting line first by a small margin. "Woah!" "That was crazy! He was so fast!¡± The students exclaimed in admiration. ¡°Huh-! Huh-!" Duran stared at Leo as he panted heavily. Leo also placed his hands on his knees and exhaled deeply, while sweating profusely. "Hey! That was amazing! How could you be that fast? Duran was the fastest guy in the first year, but you just beat him.¡± While Karl was making a fuss, Celia spoke. "If it had been a long-distance race, you would not have won." "What?" ¡°Celia is right. Because his aura capacity is much higher than mine.¡± Leo nodded at Celia''s words. "However, I still won. See. Didn''t I say I''d win?" "Yeah Yeah, you''re right. You''re amazing." Celia shook her head as she looked at the proud Leo. ¡°Brother Leo! Here, water!" "Thanks." Leo smiled softly as he received the water bottle from Chelsi. "You look cool even to guys. You''ll be popular with the girls. Is that what it feels like to be a gentleman?" As Karl admired, Chelsi shook her head. ¡°He is not a gentleman.¡± "What? Why?" ¡°During the entrance exam, he threatened to burn my ass and forced me to cooperate.¡± Chelsi''s face looked scary as she said this. Upon hearing this, Karl shuddered. ¡°He turned out to be a perverted gentleman.¡± ? ? ? ? ? ? ¡°I felt it yesterday too, Professor Alby indeed didn¡¯t recommend him as the freshman representative for nothing.¡± Professor Ain muttered as he stood on the roof overlooking the training hall. ¡°As professors, shouldn''t it be our duty to prevent fights between students? ¡± When Associate Professor Claria pointed out with a deep sigh, Ain smiled. "Isn''t this an annual event that takes place every year?" Lumeln selected students from different cultural backgrounds around the world. In addition, everyone¡¯s status varies widely. "In the early days of admission, similar situations happened frequently like annual events." "I think the bigger issue is that we didn''t stop it even though we were aware of it." "There are many potential heroes among this year''s first-year students, which is why the academy is paying attention to them. That is also why I believe it is critical to establish standards from the start of the semester." Though professors of Lumeln believe in equality for all students. However, as humans, it is unavoidable for them to favor a talented disciple. Despite his cold exterior, Ain, who is passionate about his students, is highly respected by them even after graduation. Ain too was also proud of his students. But the regretful thing is that there is no one among his disciples yet to attain the position of hero. ¡°To raise a hero, Claria. Don''t you know how badly I want to do that?" "It may be difficult." Claria sighed as she pulled out a notebook, and inquired. ¡°So, what shall we do?¡± Even if it is a regular class, engaging in a brawl without permission from the professor is a violation of school rules. ¡°They didn¡¯t even fight, so just leave it alone.¡± ''Looks like he really likes student Leo.'' Professor Ain, who values school rules, chose to turn a blind eye to this incident. Claria laughed as she observed Leo engaging in conversation with his friends. ? ? ? ? ? ? After class, Leo went straight to the student caf¨¦. Meanwhile, the story of Leo and Duran quickly spread throughout the school. "You have become the center of attention right from the first day?" Said Chelsi, who was drinking fruit juice through a straw while Karl agreed with a thumb up. ¡°There is no doubt that brother Leo¡¯s performance left an everlasting impression on everyone." ¡°Hey, Chelsi Llewellyn. I''ve been feeling it since earlier, why do you call Leo ''Brother Leo'' and me by my name?" "My wish." Chelsi stuck out her tongue. "You!" "If you want, you can also call me ''Brother Karl'', what do you think?" "Nah. Calling you by my name is more comfortable." Celia gave up neatly. "The next one is a summoning class, is there anyone attending it?" Karl took out his timetable from his pocket and asked while checking. "I''ll be attending the class." The three of them looked at Leo with an expression of [why the heck do you attend that class?] In knight class, you can learn techniques, and in magic class, you can raise your magic-response ability. That''s why they are a popular elective class, but in the case of Summoning, except for those who have talent, this class is useless for others. Leo put his mouth on the straw and muttered to himself in response to the three''s reaction. ''I''m curious what kind of expression they''d make if I told them I was taking all three majors.'' After parting ways with the three, Leo headed straight for the lecture hall. Suddenly he remembered the reward he got during the entrance exam. ¡®Even if the world of living heroes is conquered, there should be no reward.¡¯ ''But I was rewarded.'' It was an unusual event. In addition, there was another question regarding the reward he got. ''Why is it had to be the Fairy King¡¯s blessing?'' The rewards that can be obtained in the world of heroes should be related to the power of the Owner of that world. ''Professor Alby is a pure wizard.'' So, he should have originally acquired abilities related to the magic department. However, the reward Leo obtained is related to the summoning department. The last recorded contractor of the Fairy King was none other than Luna. The Fairy King¡¯s blessing, which had disappeared since the Age of Despair, was attained by Leo. ¡®But it¡¯s difficult to sign a contract just with Fairy blessing.¡¯ For a successful summoning, a catalyst associated with the targeted summon is required. And the catalyst required for summoning fairies were the leaves of the World Tree. The World Tree was all wiped out by Erebos during the Age of Despair. Now, in order to make a contract with the fairies, it was necessary to go to Fairy Land, where fairies live. ''However, the Fairy Land should be located in the territory of elves, where humans cannot go. Even if I manage to get there, I won''t be able to meet the Fairy King unconditionally.'' ¡®So, The reward is useless for now.¡¯ ¡°Are you also taking the Summoning class?¡± Someone spoke from behind. When Leo turned his head with a suspicious face, there was a female student standing there. ''Let''s see... ¡­ she should be the East region''s chief, right?'' CH 18 "Chen Xia, right?" "Yes, nice to meet you, Leo Flove. You can call me Xia." "Leo Flove. Use whichever name is comfortable for you." "In that case, I''ll call you Young Master Leo." Chen Xia smiled warmly and spoke in a friendly tone. "I didn''t realize you had an interest in summoning. Which department did you choose, Young Master Leo?" "I aspire to become a summoner for now." "Then I guess I''ll be seeing you more often in the future." Chen Xia smiled and opened her hands. Splash! Multiple tiny droplets of water coalesced, and a low-grade water spirit, Undine, materialized. "What kind of spirit have you signed a contract with?" "I haven''t signed a contract yet." Chen Xia nodded in comprehension. She wasn''t sure if Leo would pursue this major. Many students who chose this elective hadn''t signed a contract yet and were here because of their spirit power and affinity with spirits. Chen Xia believed that Leo was one of them. "If you need any guidance on summoning a spirit, don''t hesitate to ask. I''ll be happy to help you." Chen Xia appeared to be someone who enjoyed assisting others. "Thanks." "Excuse me, Young Master Leo, may I ask how old you are?" "Fifteen." "I''m older, I''m seventeen." Leo gave Chen Xia a puzzled look. The admission age range at Lumeln is from 14 to 17, so it''s not surprising. However, Chen Xia had a petite build and a very youthful appearance. Leo thought to himself, ''It would make sense if she was the same age as Chelsi, but to be two years older?'' "Young Master Leo, did you just have an impolite thought about me?" Chen Xia stared at Leo with raised eyebrows, waiting for his answer. "No," Leo answered briefly. "I think you did?" Chen Xia continued to eye him suspiciously, but soon it was time for the class to start. The summoning class was less populated compared to the previous Knight class. However, even after the appointed time, the professor was still missing. "I wonder why the professor hasn''t arrived yet." Chen Xia said with a puzzled expression. Just then, Leo looked up to the sky. "They''re here." Chen Xia followed Leo''s gaze and also looked up. A massive dragon, with flapping wings, descended from the sky. FLAP FLAP! The dragon landed on the ground, and the students were in awe of the rare monster they might not see in their lifetime. At that moment, someone dismounted from the dragon''s back. It was a female professor, who stood at around 170 cm tall, with wild-looking, shoulder-length black hair tied back loosely. She wore a tight-fitting leather outfit, highlighting her athletic figure, and a leather whip attached to her waist. "Hello, Freshmen! I''m Professor Yura Marten, and I''ll be your Summoning Studies teacher for the next year!" "It''s an honor to meet you, Professor Yura!" The students greeted her in unison. Professor Yura placed her hands on her hips and nodded, causing her chest to jiggle, and some of the male students blushed. "Where are the associate professor and TA''s?" Professor Yura demanded as she was met with a hasty response from the associate professor, Carlo. "I apologize for being late, Professor. The class schedule was changed unexpectedly," Carlo explained. "No excuses! You should always be ready for changes!" Professor Yura scolded. Leo and the other students wondered if they would be able to learn anything from such a teacher. Some of the male students were drawn to Professor Yura''s appearance, but they couldn''t ignore her harsh behavior. "Is everything set up now?" Professor Yura asked with a serious expression. "If there are any students who are here just for an elective and don''t have the talent for summoning, I suggest they leave now." Her eyes gleamed with a warning light, but no student budged. Even at that word, no students moved. There was no way that students who passed the entrance exam would go out of class frightened by this level. "Alright, I see that you''ve all made up your minds. Let''s get started," Professor Yura declared as she led the class forward. Chen Xia raised her hand. ¡°Where are we going, Professor?¡± ¡°Where?¡± Professor Yura smiled as she gestured towards a group of griffons being led by the teaching assistants. "Where the real learning will take place." ? ? ? ? ? ? The students who were paired up and riding the Griffon cheered with delight. The rarity of carrier beasts that can fly made it a dream come true for many students who aspired to become Summoners, as most had never ridden a Griffon before. "It''s great to be at Lumeln!" "I''ll be able to sign a contract with a phantom beast like this soon, right?" The students were overflowing with excitement and hope. "Hey! Let''s switch now! I''ll steer!" "Ah! Just a little bit more!" As the 10-minute mark approached, the first-year students started to argue over who would hold the reins of the Griffon. "It''s really fun." Chen Xia, who was in control of the Griffon, also spoke in an excited voice. "Be careful," Leo warned. "Yes?" "Griffon is a phantom beast that can be difficult for first-time handlers to control." "Ah, Young Master Leo, just look at him. He''s so docile and obedient," Chen Xia said. "That''s because I''m keeping an eye on Professor Yura right now," Leo replied, glancing at the black wyvern that Professor Yura was riding in the lead. "Well, given Professor Yura''s personality, I doubt she would continue to keep the griffons under control," Leo stated. FWUUUUU "What?" Just as Leo finished speaking, the griffon let out a loud roar. The other griffons, who had been obedient until now, also began to act out, as if they no longer wanted to be ridden. Chen Xia panicked and pulled the reins, but there was no sign of control. "Ahh! It doesn''t listen!¡± ¡°Hey, why are you doing this all of a sudden!¡± "professor! Help me!" Other students also panicked. Professor Yura, riding on a Black Wyvern, giggled. "If you can''t handle a griffon, how can you call yourself a student of Lumeln? Take care of yourself!" ¡°That, like that! Kyaaak-!¡± Chen Xia''s hand, which was in shock, was pulled away by the power of the griffon. She also rose halfway out of the saddle. However, as a knight major, she immediately centered herself. Chen Xia, who was frowning, tried to fight in earnest by giving strength to her hands. But at that moment, Leo wrapped his arm around Chen Xia''s waist and pulled her towards him. "What are you doing, Young Master Leo?" Chen Xia exclaimed. "Griffons have strong pride, so if you try to subdue them with force, they will only run wild," Leo explained as he grabbed the reins with his left hand and pulled gently. The griffon, which had been rampaging, hesitated at the familiar touch and gradually regained its composure. ''He''s a well-trained guy, so it''s easy to handle.'' It was a challenge for those unfamiliar with handling a Carrier beast, but for those who were familiar, it was easier to manage. Chen Xia noticed this and expressed her curiosity. "Young Master Leo, have you ever handled a griffon before?" "No, this is the first time in my life." At his response, Chen Xia turned her head and gazed at Leo. Leo did the same, looking back at her. "It seems to be true," Chen Xia said after looking ahead again. She tilted her head and asked, "But how are you handling the griffon so well? Do you have any special tricks?" "I mainly studied from textbooks," Leo replied. Chen Xia let out a laugh and said, "Indeed, you have the skills to provoke everyone at the entrance ceremony." Leo didn''t mind and pulled Chen Xia even closer. "I''m going to speed up a bit more, so stay close and don''t fall behind." "Young Master Leo, is an older girl your type?" Chen Xia asked. Leo answered with a stumble, "With that loli face, I don''t think you can call yourself an older girl... Ahh, sorry. Sorry." ¡°Girls don¡¯t like boys who are rude. Do you understand?¡± Chen Xia slightly opened her eyes and pinched the back of Leo''s hand where he was holding her waist. However, realizing Leo had no harmful intentions, she relaxed and leaned her back against his chest. When the preparations were finished, Leo shouted, ¡°Let''s go!¡± As Leo pulled the reins, the griffon let out a loud roar and took flight. Chen Xia was taken aback by the sudden movement, and Professor Yura''s eyes lit up. ¡°That student is very good at handling the griffon. Who is that guy?¡± Professor Yura asked. ¡°Let me see, it''s student Leo Flove,¡± Carlo replied after checking the student list. ¡°Leo Flove? Is that the Freshman representative? I heard he was going to the Knight department,¡± ¡°Yes, he did. He even beat Duran Moira in a race in the previous class,¡± ¡°A guy like that can handle a griffon? Does he own one?¡± ¡°No, he comes from a noble family in a small kingdom, so I don''t think they''re wealthy enough to own a griffon,¡± Carlo explained. ¡°Then it must be a talent, right?¡± Professor Yura asked, her eyes twinkling. ¡°Yes, but the professors in the Knight department won''t be happy if he switches to the Summoning major,¡± Carlo said, looking uneasy. ¡°Who cares? There are plenty of students with a talent for being a knight. Summoning is not as common. Besides, he hasn''t chosen his major yet,¡± Professor Yura said mischievously. The griffon eventually landed on a large island in Lake Lumeria, which was often used as a training ground because of the several similar islands in the lake, making it appear like a sea. WHOOSH Chen Xia disembarked the griffon gracefully. Leo did the same, with the griffon affectionately nuzzling his cheek. As Leo reached for a tree to give the griffon a treat, he noticed a large gray feather on a branch. ''This¡­ ¡­ ?'' ¡°Young Master Leo, is anything wrong?¡± Leo pocketed the feather and replied, "No¡­ Nothing." Meanwhile, other students also arrived on the island. ¡°Ugh!¡± "Ugh¡­ It''s the worst, I got dirt all over the place." ¡°I feel like throwing up¡­ ¡­ Uggggg!¡± Most of the students were exhausted just riding the griffon. However, there were a few students who handled the griffon well, such as the head of the southern exam, Wald Taiden, and a female student who was doing her nails while eyeing the other students condescendingly. The two students handled the griffon as well as Leo. ''Wald, Eliza. These guys are definitely the ones who will serve as the aces of this year''s Summoning Department!'' thought Professor Yura, with a gleam in her eyes. ¡°Good. How long will you be down? Come on. Everyone gather!¡± Professor Yura, who was smiling with satisfaction, shouted, and the students gathered in a hurry. Looking at the students lined up, Professor Yura smirked and announced. ¡°Today we will have a practical test!¡± CH 19 "Why are we having a practical exam on the first day?" "Other majors are theoretical, but why are we the only ones with a practical test?" Professor Yura stated solemnly as she observed the agitated students. "I''ve mentioned it before, if you''re not fully committed, you can leave. Do you believe this class is comparable to the other two majors?" At that question, all students fell silent. Professor Yura exclaimed, opening her arms wide. "If you''re a student of Summoning Magic, you should already know this: summoning can''t be achieved merely through mana. To establish a bond with spirits, you must possess spirit affinity and control abilities to command your summons," she explained. "That''s why the number of summoners is lower compared to knights and wizards," she went on, "and there are fewer heroes in this field." The students of the Summoning department grimaced at the undeniable truth. "But!" Professor Yura declared, her face beaming with pride, "Summoners who rise to the rank of hero accomplish greater feats than heroes in other departments! Do you still believe you''re on the same level as students from other departments?" "No!" the students shouted in unison. "You are the chosen ones, aren''t you?" she asked, and the students replied, "Yes, that''s right!" "Then give it your all from day one!" the professor urged. "Good! Let''s go!" she exclaimed, raising her fist. The first-year students followed suit, shouting in unison, "Let''s go!" The mood suddenly became charged. Professor Yura, with her ability to uplift the students, had a pleased expression on her face. Then, a silver-haired female student raised her hand. "What kind of test will be on the practical exam?" she asked. "Good question," Yura replied. "Eliza Hergin." At the mention of her name, the students started whispering among themselves. The Hergin family was well-known as a great summoning hero family from the northern continent. "All the phantom beasts managed by Lumeln Academy are gathered here on this island," Yura said, pointing towards the forest. "Today, I''ll test your taming abilities. Tame a phantom beast and bring it to me. Points will be awarded based on the type of phantom beast you tame." Eliza asked another question. "What happens if someone tames and signs a contract?" The students listened, swallowing nervously. Taming and contracting were two different skills. Taming was the first step in forming a bond with a beast, while contracting required the ability to tame and control the beast. Yura grinned at Eliza''s question. "If the contract is successful, the phantom beast is yours," she said. "Wow!" the students exclaimed. "Lumeln Academy is amazing! They even acknowledge contracts made during practice tests!" There were two ways to make a contract with a phantom beast. One was to summon it using a catalyst, and the other was to form a direct bond with the phantom beast. In the latter case, if the beast had not yet been contracted, it could be "sold." This was why phantom beasts were often sold for high prices. Upon hearing that they could potentially form a contract with a phantom beast, the students were all motivated to do their best. "What about students hoping to become Spirit Summoners, Professor?" Chen Xia asked. "Summoners can handle both spirits and phantom beasts, and some specialize in one or the other. Lumeln Academy places equal importance on both abilities, so work hard," Professor Yura replied. Chen Xia nodded. ''Phantom beasts.'' In his previous life, Leo also made contracts with powerful phantom beasts. ''Although they all disappeared in the fight.'' Professor Yura looked at the students and announced, "You have three hours! Let''s begin!" ¡°Ohhh!¡± The first-year students charged into the forest with excitement, while Leo, Xia, Wald, and Eliza remained at the starting line. "Why aren''t you guys going?" Professor Yura asked, tilting her head. "I''m not interested in low-level phantom beasts," Eliza said as she tidied her nails. Poof! ¡°¡­ ¡­ .¡± The reserved Wald did not answer. ¡°Um¡­ ¡­ I only know about taming in theory, so I¡¯m organizing myself.¡± Xia showed a troubled smile. Leo, who kept staring at the forest for a while, finally made his move. ¡°Oh, you are the Freshmen representative?¡± Leo looked back at Eliza. ¡°I heard that you did well during the Knight class. Can we expect the same in the Summoning Class?¡± When Eliza asked with a smile, Leo shrugged his shoulders and answered. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Eliza''s expression turned sour at Leo''s calm response. Professor Yura chuckled as Leo went into the forest. "Being young is great," "Well, the professor is indeed getting older now..." puck-! ¡°Ouch¡­¡± Professor Yura, who had thrust her fist into Carlo''s side, smiled looking at Leo''s back. ''I''m personally looking forward to it, show me what you got.'' Her intuition told her something big was going to happen. ? ? ? ? ? ? ''I never knew that an ecosystem such as this could be created.'' Leo walked through the forest, admiring the variety of phantom beasts around him. He had never seen so many different types of beasts gathered in one place, even in his previous life. For a summoner, this forest was a veritable treasure trove. The students were searching the seemingly endless forest for the phantom beasts. There were often cases where two groups fought over the same beast and ended up missing it. Those familiar with phantom beast summoning knew to act with caution, as the more powerful the beast, the more reluctant it would be to show itself to humans. This was why Wald and Eliza remained at the starting line for so long. In terms of skill, Eliza was on par with Wald. ¡°Isn¡¯t that guy going a little too deep?¡± Some students watched as Leo ventured deeper into the forest and expressed their confusion. Although they were searching the forest frantically, they still refrained from going too deep, as there were many high-level phantom beasts that were hostile to humans. This was not just a class, but a practical exam and they needed to score well. If someone took the risk of taming a high-level beast and failed, they would end up with a zero score. Lumeln was a place of intense competition, where luck played no role. "Let him be, even if he fails, he can just stay in the knight department," some students said, turning their attention away from Leo. "Do you really think so?" a few students replied with a snort. Leo, who had ventured deep into the forest, surveyed his surroundings. After making sure that he was alone, he took out the gray feather he had found earlier upon arriving on the island. ''As I thought, this is...'' Leo¡¯s eyes shone, and his aura began to rise. It was the power of the Phoenix Breath that Leo had learned. As his aura flared, the feather was set ablaze and turned to ashes, scattered by the wind. Whoosh! ''As expected, this was the feather of a phoenix. Is there even a phoenix in this forest?'' The Phoenix was a highly coveted phantom beast known for its immense strength, but also its difficult summoning process. The feathers, which acted as catalysts for summoning, would disintegrate upon contact with Aura. The only way to summon a Phoenix was to find it oneself, but even that was a challenge due to its strong sense of pride. This is why the Phoenix was referred to as the "phantom beast of dreams" among summoners. ¡®As expected of Lumeln. How great?¡¯ Suddenly, Leo''s eyes shone. Whoosh-! ¡°¡­ ¡­ !¡± As Leo stood in awe, a bright crimson flame appeared above his head. He felt overwhelmed by the heat and light, causing him to lower his posture. The flame soon transformed into a massive bird, its wings flapping and causing the fire to surge. Leo instinctively used his aura to protect himself. The legendary beast, Phoenix, then opened its mouth, speaking in surprise. -Isn¡¯t it Gerdinger''s flame? I thought it must be Reina''s flame... I thought it had the same scent as Reina¡¯s flames, but it wasn''t Reina. Have I mistaken? Leo was stunned by the words, asking in disbelief, "Do you know my mother?" -Mother? Phoenix replied, its eyes wide and a cheerful smile spreading across its face. -Indeed! Looks like I was not entirely wrong! Yes! If she were to have a child, he would be the same age as you! The intense flame died down, and Phoenix continued, -Do I know your mother? Of course, I do! I am greatly indebted to your mother, Reina. With its beautiful wings flapping, Phoenix perched in front of Leo. Despite Phoenix''s reputation for being arrogant, it was surprisingly gentle, creating a peaceful atmosphere. Leo couldn''t help but look bewildered at this unexpected turn of events. ''This Phoenix is a world apart from the Phoenix that Risinas had raised. That baby chicken was a ruthless one.'' -What''s your name, Reina''s son? "Leo Flove," Leo answered. -Nice to meet you, Leo. I''m Felia, Felia introduced herself. "What''s your connection to my mother?" Leo asked. "Did you say you''re in her debt?" Felia chuckled. -Reina is my benefactor and saved Ellen Lund''s life. Leo raised his eyebrows in surprise. The Lund family was a renowned hero family among the elves. Moreover, Ellen was the head of the Lund family and a hero who got listed on the Hero Record. -At the time, Ellen was a dungeon raider who was in charge of a mission to raid a dungeon in Seirun. ¡°Dungeons, you mean hero dungeons that appear due to the outburst of lost pages in Hero records?¡± -Indeed. There were five places that hold hero records. But besides that, there were hero records scattered in this world. Specifically, they were the lost pages of the Hero Records. Those scattered pages throughout the world sometimes outburst and creates a Hero¡¯s world. The world created by lost pages like that was called the Heroic Dungeon. - Hero dungeons are something that invades reality. As time passes, the monsters in the Hero¡¯s world cross the dungeon entrance and come over to reality. Finding those dungeons and conquering them is one of the main missions of the Hero Academy. Even if someone were to discover a hero dungeon, many countries try to cover up the fact. Because if they were to conquer the dungeon, they would be able to inherit the hero''s ability. Countless nations have perished due to the result of keeping the Hero''s Dungeon secret. The hero dungeon was extremely dangerous, only those with the best skills could take on the mission to conquer them. - One day, Ellen was deployed on a mission to conquer a certain Hero dungeon. But he failed and all his comrades died. When Ellen too was on the brink of death, it was Reina who saved him. Felia muttered bitterly when she recalled the past. - During the process, Reina lost her Aura. If it wasn''t for that incident, Reina would have also claimed the position of a hero... "Mother, don''t dwell on the past," Leo comforted her. "The present is what''s important to her, and that''s just who she is." - Huhu... her personality hasn''t changed, has it? Leo smiled softly and asked Felia. ¡°By the way, Felia, why are you in Lumeln?¡± - I came here at the request of the headmaster of Lumeln, Kalrian. "At the request of the headmaster?" - Yes, I can''t tell you the exact reason though. Leo felt curious about the secret story. - So why are you on this island? A first-year knight department student shouldn''t be on this island right now. Felia thought that Reina''s son, Leo, naturally belonged to the Knight Department. ¡°I¡¯m also taking a summoning class.¡± - What? Surprised, Felia realized that Leo''s body was faintly imbued with spirit power and was amazed. ''The spirit power he possesses is weak, but¡­ the vessel is excellent.'' Felia, after evaluating Leo''s qualifications, burst into laughter. - Haha. This must be fate. "What?" - Leo, why don''t you make a contract with me? CH 20 "Do you want to make a contract with me?" - Yes, Reina declined when Ellen and I tried to repay her for saving us. She said it was just what friends do. But it still weighed on our minds. Felia smirked. Gerdinger''s power comes from the Fire of Phoenix. So, if you have the qualification of a summoner, you''re eligible to be a Phoenix contractor. ''I never thought a Phoenix would be the first to propose a contract.'' Phoenixes are proud creatures and wouldn''t offer a contract unless prompted. - Of course, I''m not asking to form a contract right now. First, you should improve yourself as a summoner¡­. "Is it possible to do it now?" - What? Even if Phoenix had the intention to sign a contract with Leo, it was impossible due to Leo¡¯s current spirit power. But Leo was confident that he could succeed in forming a contract. No matter what anyone said, he was the one who ended the era of disasters and had formed contracts with many powerful beasts in his past life. ¡®But still, I''ve never made a contract with Phoenix even in my past life.¡¯ Even in the days when he was Kyle, he always wanted to make a contract with Phoenix. The contract with a powerful contractor in itself would have been enough for his vessel to grow as a Summoner. But Phoenix showed a hint of hesitation. - I understand your feelings, but you can''t make a contract with me now. Because during the process, even a little mistake will be the end of your life. Especially a contract with Phoenix is really a dangerous one. There is nothing even Felia, a Phoenix, can do. "I know. But I''m confident." ''The way he challenges the impossible reminds me of Reina. Still, I can''t put her son in danger.¡¯ While thinking, Felia came up with a good idea. - If that''s what you want, then I''ll make a contract with you, but the Phoenix you''ll make a contract with is not me. ¡°What?¡± BOOM-! A crimson flame flickered right before Leo''s eyes. As the flame died down, a golden egg the size of a fist appeared. Seeing the egg, Leo''s eyes widened. ''A Phoenix''s egg?'' - The egg is my child, and it¡¯s soon going to hatch. You can try to tame it. Even by taming the unborn Phoenix''s egg, a contract could be successfully made. Since it¡¯s still in the form of an egg, there will be no danger even if he tries to make a contract. However, the difficulty of taming the phoenix is at the level of top-class beasts. ''A Phoenix''s egg. Let me test it." Leo laughed as he received the golden egg. ¡®It might be difficult for an ordinary person.¡¯ Fwoosh! When Leo raised his spirit power, the phoenix egg in response spewed crimson flames. Leo gritted his teeth at the overwhelming heat. "Even if it''s weak, it''s still Fire of Phoenix, it''s not something a young human boy like you could handle." Felia thought that Leo would soon give up. But Leo did not give up, instead, he closed his eyes and concentrated. His consciousness gradually drifted away. When he opened his eyes again, all he could see was darkness. This was the realm of consciousness where he was being tested by the top-level Phoenix. It was literally a world where the value of the contractor would be determined. In this yet-to-be-born Phoenix¡¯s world, there was nothing. The only thing that existed was the blazing Phoenix flame. Leo reached out towards it without hesitation. In response, the flames wrapped around Leo''s body and began to burn fiercely. The Phoenix burned itself to produce an intense flame. In this process, he would feel endless pain. In return for this pain, he would be acknowledged as a phoenix contractor. The success of a contract between a summoner and the Phantom beasts is based on their bond. And in order to build a strong bond with Phoenix, one must understand its pain of being burned. This was why it was very difficult to form a contract with Phoenix. "Ugh!" Leo''s face twisted in pain as his body was engulfed in flames. To pass the test one had to rely solely on their strong willpower. Felia''s eyes widened in surprise. "Could it be...?" Whoooooooosh! The intensely burning flame was sucked into the golden egg. CRACKLE-! The surface of the egg started to crack. Felia had a look of disbelief. - Did you succeed? Bang-! When the egg completely absorbed all the flames, Leo slowly opened his eyes. For an instant, Leo''s red eyes flashed with crimson rays. BAM- The exhausted Leo slumped in his seat and let out a heavy breath. His body was drenched in sweat. But on his face, there was a clear smile. "The contract has been successfully completed.¡± - Ahahaha! Felia laughed when she heard it. - You''re amazing! Leo Flove! You''re indeed a genius! ¡°Rather than being a genius¡­ It''s all about effort" - What kind of bullshit is that, if a Summoner at your age could succeed in taming a Phoenix egg, it''s not just genius, you''ve got the potential to become the greatest Summoner in history! Leo struggled to get up as he looked at Felia, who was very happy for him. "What does a young Phoenix look like?" Kyle had never seen a young Phoenix before, not even in his past. Zhezhezhjek-! - It''s coming, my child. The egg''s cracks spread all over the surface. Pachik-! Just like glass that breaks to pieces, the golden shell fragments flew everywhere. Leo''s expression changed slightly when he saw the Phoenix emerge from the broken egg. ¡®A chick?¡¯ The Phoenix that was just born looked more like a chick. "Chirp Chirp-!" At that moment, with a burst of flames, Felia, transformed into a human shape and gently picked up her child from Leo''s hand. - This child''s name is Fiora. Leo, even though you''ve successfully made a contract, she''s still a young child. So for now, I''ll be taking care of her. "Sure, but I still need to show the familiar I contracted during the test period for the professor to see." - Then I''ll leave her in your care for a while then. Felia smiled and placed Fiora on top of Leo''s head. Despite the fact that it had only been born for a short time, it was still a Phoenix chick full of life; she even pecked at Leo''s head a few times with her small beak. Then, as if she was pleased by the location, it settled down. ''Is this really a Phoenix? No matter how I look at it, it looks just like a chick.'' However, he couldn''t bear to say that it looks like a chick in front of Felia who was looking at Fiora as if she was the cutest phoenix, so he swallowed back the words that came to his mouth. ¡°Chirp-!¡± ''It''s definitely a chick.'' ? ? ? ? ? ? Professor Yura took out a watch from her pocket. The three hours she gave had come to an end. Most of the students already returned with their tamed beasts and received evaluations from Professor Yura. Among them, there were also students who had successfully completed the contract. "Let''s see...where have they gone? ... Only those four are remaining?" And the remaining students who were yet to arrive were the ones Professor Yura was looking forward to. thud-! thud-! The ground then vibrated. When the students opened their eyes, a huge blue bear emerged from the bushes. "Ah!" ¡°Kyaaak!¡± In fear, the students screamed and scattered in all directions. Some students who recognized the identity of the blue bear had horrified expressions. The blue bear walked towards Professor Yura and lowered its stance. Xia, who was riding on its back, jumped off. "Professor, the time hasn''t ended yet, right?" ¡°Yes.¡± ''From the way the uniforms are ripped here and there, it appears to be a one-sided battle.'' "You said you only know theoretical knowledge about taming, and you ended up taming the Aqua Bear cub, a medium-level beast." ¡°Rather than calling it taming¡­ ¡­ I should say that it followed me on its own will?¡± With an awkward smile, Xia scratched her head. In fact, it wasn''t a perfect way of taming. "By following this much, and with just a bit more study on taming, you''ll completely comprehend it." ''Maybe I should have her focus more on the summoning department.'' "If it''s an Aqua Bear baby, the taming difficulty can''t be considered entirely intermediate, and being able to tame it was a great feast." To think a person of this caliber was in the Knight department, as a summoning professor, she couldn''t help but grieve. While Professor Yura smacked her lips, Xia sent the Aqua Bear back to the forest. And after a while from the bush, Wald appeared. There was a little crow sitting on his shoulder. ¡°What kind of phantom beast is that?¡± "It looks more like a humble beast." The students had puzzled expressions. However, associate professor Carlo and his assistants were surprised. "Wow! Taming a Shadow Crow that specializes in Element magic is truly impressive." Professor Yura exclaimed as she looked at Wald standing before her. Shadow Crow was a medium-level beast like Aqua Bear, but unlike Xia¡¯s, this one was an adult. In addition, Shadow Crow was a tricky phantom beast, just looking at the difficulty of taming, it was comparable to a high-level phantom beast. ''His talent as a Beast summoner is exceptional.'' ¡°The contract was not yet concluded.¡± "This is more than enough." By taming an intermediate-level beast, he surpasses all first-year students in all departments. ''Still, in the beast summoning class, Eliza should be the one to claim the first place.'' As if to live up to those expectations. After a while, Eliza returned. Unlike the other students, Eliza, who appeared in a neat appearance not much different from before class, approached Professor Yura with her hair flowing. ¡°Where is the phantom beast?¡± Eliza laughed at Professor Yura''s question and spread her hand. A summoning circle appeared and with a bright flash a huge snake appeared. Szzzzzz! Szzzz! ¡°Kyaaak!¡± ¡°Ah¡­ it¡¯s a snake!¡± A massive white snake, capable of swallowing a person whole, flicked its tongue and caused the female students to scatter in terror. ¡°Huh¡­ ¡­ To make a contract with the Gorgon Snake.¡± "Because we don''t have this phantom beast in our family. So, I just signed a contract.¡± Gorgon Snake. It was a very valuable beast at the intermediate level. ''As expected, she''s indeed the heir to the Hergin family.'' ¡°Very good! Eliza!¡± "Thank you." Eliza gracefully lifted the skirt and greeted her. ''Ughhhh. This year is a bountiful harvest, a very bountiful harvest for the summoner class.'' Professor Yura laughed inwardly and then tilted her head. ''why is Leo Flove still not coming?'' There wasn''t much time left. When time passes, regardless of which phantom beast he brought, he will fail. Feeling thirsty, Professor Yura asked. ¡°Give me some water.¡± ¡°Yes, Professor. Here you go.¡± Professor Yura checked the time as she opened the water bottle that Associate Professor Carlo handed over. At that time, Leo appeared from the bushes. ¡°Young master Leo. Welcome back." Xia smiled and waved her hand, but then she tilted her head and started laughing. It requires strength to succeed in taming. So, except for Eliza, all the students'' uniforms were torn or stained with dust. However, Leo''s face was a mess to a degree that it cannot be compared to any other student. His school uniform was scorched all over the place. If you only looked at his appearance, it would seem like he had brought a great phantom beast, but what appeared in front of everyone was... ¡°Chirp?¡± A small, red bird was chirping loudly while sitting on Leo''s gray hair. "Wow! Did he just tame the chick?" "Oh my god! The Freshmen representative''s phantom beast is a chick!¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t laugh, He can hear you! Pfft-¡± The students tried their best to hold back their laughter. ¡°After seeing how student Leo dealt with Griffon earlier, I expected him to do well in the exam. But the result was more disappointing than I thought.¡± Carlo turned his head towards Professor Yura with a sigh. "Puwee?! Keong! Kooak! Kooak! Kehek!" Upon seeing the chick, Professor Yura involuntarily spouted the water she had been drinking, causing her to be covered in water. Compared to Professor Carlo¡¯s sigh, Professor Yura looked at Leo¡¯s chick with astonished eyes. ''How the hell did this madman end up taming a Phoenix?!'' CH 21 In the heart of Lumeln Academy stood the grand and magnificent Heroes Tower, a place of prestige reserved for the school''s faculty members, not its students. Its towering height cast a shadow over the campus, a symbol of authority and power. At the pinnacle of the Heroes Tower, amidst the stillness and solitude, was the office of the principal. As the afternoon sun streamed through the window, illuminating the room, Kalrian sat at his desk, his eyes closed in peaceful contemplation. Suddenly, his thoughts were disrupted by a rustling sound, causing him to turn his gaze toward the window. Whoosh-! A woman with blazing red hair suddenly appeared before Principal Kalrian. "Welcome, Felia," Kalrian said, his expression changing to one of warmth as he greeted the fiery visitor with a smile. "Did the intruder make a move?" Kalrian asked, his tone serious as memories of the break-in incident that took place five years prior flooded his mind. Although no casualties were reported, the intruder was never caught and the incident was kept secret to avoid widespread panic. But Lumeln was more than just an academy; it was also home to one of the Hero Records. The thought of someone penetrating its security and causing an incident within its walls was unfathomable. So, Kalrian had requested the assistance of the Lund family, whose phantom beast, Phoenix, was unmatched when it came to monitoring the vast academy. "That''s not the case, but I have good news," Felia said, a hint of excitement in her voice. "Good news?" Kalrian asked in surprise. "A new contract holder of Phoenix has been born among Lumeln''s students," Felia announced, causing Kalrian''s eyebrows to rise in surprise. "Did a student sign a contract with you? Or with another Phoenix?" Kalrian asked, intrigued. "He made a contract with my newborn child," Felia replied, her smile growing. Kalrian was taken aback. "If it were your child, weren''t you planning to make it sign a contract with the successor of the Lund family?" "The original plan was, but things didn''t go as expected," Felia explained with a shrug. "Since the Phoenix was young, the student must have been able to sign a contract. But still, as a student, signing a contract! Were there any other talented individuals in the 5th year besides Ulta?" Kalrian asked, his mind racing. "He''s not a 5th year," Felia said with a shake of her head. Kalrian''s expression changed again. "Is it a 4th-year student? Still, the current 4th-year phantom summoning chief is somewhat talented." "He''s not a 4th-year student either," Felia replied. Kalrian was shocked. "Is he a 3rd-year?" Felia simply laughed, not answering. "Is he a 2nd-year?" Kalrian asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. When Felia continued to laugh without answering, Kalrian burst into laughter. "Are you saying a 1st year has become a contract holder?" Kalrian asked, still chuckling. "Indeed," Felia said with a nod. "Who?" Kalrian asked, his laughter subsiding. "Leo Flove," Felia replied. Kalrian stroked his beard, a look of surprise on his face. "Heh heh heh. Is it Leo Flove?¡± This was the student that Alby, who was renowned for being picky, recommended having a great potential of becoming a Hero. As a result, despite the objections of many other professors, this student, who was chosen as the freshmen representative, unexpectedly became a Phoenix contractor. ¡®Didn''t that student belong to the Knight department?¡¯ Principal Kalrian stroked his beard in surprise. ''It looks like I have to pay him a visit.'' ? ? ? ? ? ? "Thank you for your efforts, everyone!" At the end of the summoning class, the freshmen greeted each other vigorously before leaving the training ground. Before they knew it, it was already late in the evening. The students who took the taming test were crying out loudly for food due to their growling stomachs. The first-year students quickly headed to the student cafeteria with no other options. ¡°Young master Leo. Would you like to have dinner together with me?" "Sure." Just when Leo and Xia were about to leave the classroom. ¡°Student Leo.¡± "Yes." ¡°The professor is looking for you.¡± Carlo came over and said. "It looks like we can¡¯t have dinner together today." "There''s nothing we can do about it. Then I''ll see you in the next class. Young master Leo." Xia left the classroom first. Then, Leo followed Carlo to the professor''s office. Carlo, who arrived at the professor''s office, knocked, and soon a short word "come in" was heard from inside. After greeting Carlo, Leo entered the room. Contrary to her free-spirited personality, Professor Yura''s office was neatly organized. Professor Yura, who was sitting at her desk, offered a seat opposite to her. "Take your seat." As Leo sat, Professor Yura opened her mouth without waiting. ¡°I¡¯ll be straight, student Leo.¡± "Yes." ¡°Is the phantom beast that you made a contract with a Phoenix?¡± ''As I thought, she knew it.'' "Yes." Professor Yura was shaken by Leo''s answer. Although she had suspected it, she was still surprised to hear the confirmation from Leo. ¡°Can you show me?¡± Looking at Professor Yura asking in a trembling voice, Leo put his hand into the inner pocket of his school uniform and took out a chick. Felia said she would be coming to pick Fiora up tonight, so up until then she will be with Leo. Leo slowly placed Fiora on the desk. "I never thought I would be able to see a young phoenix in my life!" It was hard enough to see an adult Phoenix, let alone a baby Phoenix, which was even harder to see. Hence, Professor Yura couldn''t contain her excitement. ¡°Ha~! It¡¯s such a dignified figure!¡± Leo doubted his ears as he heard the words she uttered looking at Fiora, who appeared to be dozing off like a sick chick. ''Are her eyes gone bad?'' ¡°What is the name of the Phoenix?¡± ¡°Fiora.¡± "How did you discover it? Even I didn''t know that there was a Phoenix in the phantom beast forest." Anyone of professor status in Lumeln can never be underestimated. All of them were talented experts in their respective fields and some of them were even with significant authority. Even for such professors, Felia''s existence was a secret. After hearing about this from Felia, Leo had already prepared an excuse. ¡°While wandering through the forest, I found an egg. I couldn''t figure out why it was there, and it turned out to be a phoenix egg.¡± This answer was a bold lie. However, there was no other way to explain the contract with Phoenix other than coincidence. Besides, there was no way to confirm Leo''s words. "Anyway, it wouldn''t have been easy to tell it was a Phoenix egg, would it?" Phoenix is ??a fantasy beast known for being almost unknown despite its fame. Any information related to such phantom beasts was being traded for an expensive price. ¡°My mother¡¯s family is related to the phoenix, so I have read about phoenix in an old book.¡± ¡°Which family is your mother from?¡± ¡°Gerdinger.¡± Professor Yura was surprised. ''Well¡­ ¡­ If he¡¯s from Gerdinger, then it¡¯s understandable. Because the source of their Aura originated from the power of the phoenix.'' If there was such a person with summoning talent, then they would be the most perfect candidate to form a contract with Phoenix. ''But still, for a 15-year-old kid to sign a contract with the Phoenix.'' Professor Yura''s eyes lit up. There are still unanswered questions, but what matters now was Leo''s talent, the one who signed a contract with Phoenix just a day after entering school. "I see. Thank you for your time. You can go now." Professor Yura saw Leo off to the entrance of the professor''s office. And before opening the door, she said seriously. ¡°Student Leo.¡± "Yes." "You''d better keep the fact that you signed a contract with Phoenix a secret for the time being. There''s going to be an uproar if it''s known. "Okay." "Okay. Then enjoy your dinner and I¡¯ll see you in the next class." TAK TAK Professor Yura tapped on Leo¡¯s shoulder, before closing the door. Then she went to her seat and thought about it. ''How on earth am I supposed to teach that gemstone?'' Professor Yura swelled up in her thoughts. He was the most talented student she had ever met in the summoning department. She wanted to raise him into the best summoner no matter what. "Should I have to give him a private lesson? It''s getting hard to even teach a talented student!¡± Yura fell into happy agony, thinking of her disciple who would make a name for himself as a great summoner in the distant future. Yura was willing to give private lessons as long as Leo wanted. Professor Yura had no doubt that Leo would choose summoning as his main major. Isn''t it obvious? Does it make sense to go to another department with that much talent? ''Hahaha, the best major for the next 5 years will be our Summoning Department!'' Professor Yura did not know, the fact that Leo has no such thing as a major. ? ? ? ? ? ? The next morning. Leo headed to the magic department with Karl to attend the magic class. "Oh! Chloe!" Karl waved his hand when he found Chloe walking in front of them with a magic book on her side. ¡°Hi Leo, Karl. Haaah.¡± ¡°Why are you yawning early in the morning?¡± "I read a magic book late last night." "Really? Then how about this?" Karl grinned and pulled out a small bottle from his pocket. "Karl company''s ¡®Fatigue recovery potion¡¯! It''ll be just five shillings." "It''s not something weird, is it?" ¡°The added ingredients and certification mark are all attached to the label here.¡± ¡°Huh.¡± After checking the label, Chloe nodded and bought a fatigue recovery potion. After drinking it, she glanced at Leo. ¡°Are you really going to take the magic classes?¡± ¡°I told you I¡¯d attend.¡± ¡°This guy even took the summoning class yesterday.¡± At Karl''s words, Chloe looked at Leo curiously. ¡°What class did you take yesterday?¡± "I had no class yesterday because I wanted to be a pure mage. So I studied in the library." "Wow, you¡¯re really the textbook definition of a student." The three arrived at the magic department building while chatting. Today''s lecture hall was a large circular lecture hall that could accommodate up to 500 people. Karl grinned when he saw the classroom. "There are still some seats left on the back bench, the best spot, right? What are you guys doing? Let¡¯s go!" ¡°What are you talking about, the best seats are at the front.¡± ¡°It seems like you and I are on different paths. Our journey ends here, Chloe.¡± Karl tried to break free from Chloe without any hesitation. But Chloe was quicker to react and pulled Karl by his ear. ¡°Ouch Ouch?!¡± "You''re trying to fall asleep in the back, aren''t you? If you want to be a mage, you should take classes diligently." "Hey! Let''s talk about this. Hey!" Chloe put Karl in the front seat of the classroom. ¡°If I fall asleep and get caught by the professor, I will be punished!¡± Chloe laughed at the struggling Karl. ¡°On the contrary, if you study hard, the professor will have a good opinion of you.¡± Karl looked at her with resentful eyes, but Chloe didn''t care about it and just opened her book. Leo, who was seated next to him, suppressed a laugh. Just then, a man came up to the podium in the lecture hall. Thud- thud- thud- Wearing a neat suit and a well-groomed hairstyle, he was a man who was suited for the word handsome. He walked to the center of the stage with a charming smile, amidst some female students making excited sounds. "Nice to meet you, 1st years. My name is Ren Horus. I am the professor who is going to teach you magic theory course for a year.¡± Applause poured in at Ren''s self-introduction. ¡°Do any students have any questions before the class begins?¡± A barrage of questions from female students poured in. "Professor! Do you have a girlfriend?¡± "How old are you?" ¡°What is your ideal type?¡± There were a lot of useless questions that had nothing to do with the class. Nevertheless, Professor Ren smiled kindly and answered them all. "Just because he is a handsome professor, it seems like the female students will die of adoration. By the way, Who is Ren Horus? I''ve never heard of that name. Do you happen to know who it is, Chloe?" Chloe shook her head while Karl raised the pen over his upper lip and said, while pinching the back of his head. ¡°Neither have I.¡± After a series of private questions, Professor Ren spoke. ¡°Today, we are going to talk about the introduction of magic theory. Before that!" Bang-! Professor Ren snapped his fingers. Parararara-! Papers started flying all over the classroom. The clump of papers arrived exactly in front of the students. "Before we start the class, I will conduct a simple test on magic theory." "Te¡­ Test?" ¡°A test on the first day~ Professor, you''re too much.¡± Complaints poured in from everywhere. There were also female students whining cutely. ¡°For reference, students who do not meet the criteria won¡¯t be allowed to take magic classes in the future." ¡°¡­ ¡­ !¡± The light atmosphere became chilly in an instant. Meanwhile, a student raised his hand cautiously. "Professor. What if a student in the Magic Department fails the test?" ¡°Of course...¡± Professor Ren replied lightly, as if he were answering an easy question. ¡°Expulsion.¡± CH 22 ¡°Ex.., expulsion¡­ ¡­ Isn''t that a bit harsh?" Seeing Karl breaking out in cold sweat, Chloe asked. ¡°Feeling insecure?¡± "Of course! Since it''s a magic test of Lumeln academy, it''s clear that the difficulty will be no joke!¡± "Do you really think they will give problems that are beyond the level of a freshman?" "That¡¯s why I''m envious of you top rankers." To Karl, who passed the entrance exam with a few point difference, the term ¡®exam¡¯ itself made him feel uneasy. It appeared he wasn¡¯t the only student who felt like that. "Expulsion?" a student gasped. "That''s too harsh," another student chimed in. "As professors, we have the right to expel students if necessary," Professor Ren explained. "But we can only do so with a valid reason." "But you can''t just expel us without a proper cause!" a student protested. Professor Ren tapped his fingers on the test paper. "If you can''t even pass a test of this level, you''re not fit to learn magic at Lumeln." A male student from another department raised his hand. "What about students from other departments who want to take magic classes?" "You can take magic classes, but not in my class," Professor Ren replied. "What about dual-class students?" the student asked. Professor Ren paused and chuckled. "I may discover hidden magic talents in those students during regular classes." The students looked confused by the sudden comment. "Even minors have to take the same test, as there are those who believe in discovering magic talent this way," Professor Ren continued. Some students were visibly trembling. "But¡­ Isn''t it disrespectful for someone who has never learned magic to try to be on the same level as those who have devoted their lives to it?" Professor Ren asked, his smile not reaching his cold eyes. Chloe''s eyes lit up as she eagerly nodded in agreement. "You just need to score over 40 points out of 100 to pass the test," Professor Ren said, causing the students to breathe a sigh of relief. He snapped his fingers and a large hourglass appeared in the air. "The exam is for one hour. If you finish all the questions, you can submit the test and step out of the classroom for a break." The students took out their writing utensils, ready to start the exam. The hourglass began to turn and sand started to flow. The students started to work on the test paper, which consisted of questions, an answer sheet, and additional sheets for technical solutions. Leo''s face tensed as he looked over the test questions, while the sound of writing filled the room. ''Describe the effect that is displayed when the corresponding magic spells are combined.'' Leo rubbed his temples, feeling overwhelmed. ¡®What on earth are these spells?¡¯ Of all the departments, the one that had undergone the most significant changes since Kyle''s time was the magic department. Magic was a constantly evolving field of study. The basic runes remained the same, but the way spells were used changed over time. The current era was particularly advanced due to the presence of Hero records, which left Leo, who had never seen a magic book after his rebirth, at a disadvantage. Looking to the side, Karl, who had been making a tearful face, was also solving the problem. While Chloe already started to write down the answers to the questions. ¡®These kids are smart. They can figure out these complex spell combinations in their heads.¡¯ Leo took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. ¡®I need to get a general understanding of the spells in this era. Even if they change with each era, as long as I know the structure, I can work it out.¡¯ Leo regained his composure. ''I can''t get kicked out of the first class, it would be so embarrassing!'' With renewed determination, Leo set to work on the spell problems at a rapid pace, determined to prove his worth as a legendary hero who had saved the world. ''Thank god! Luckily, only the problems I know came out!¡¯ Meanwhile, Karl, who was solving the problem, let out a sigh of relief. The exam was not as difficult as he had feared. They asked only about the spells he memorized for the entrance exam. The magic spells were quite complex, but as Professor Ren pointed out, if they couldn''t solve this much, they didn''t deserve to learn magic in Lumeln. ''As expected, if it''s at this level, the summation of the spell can be done through mental calculation itself.'' Karl''s jaw dropped as he saw Chloe quickly scribbling down answers without any solving process. When Karl turned his head toward Leo, he could see him moving the pen at a tremendous speed. However, unlike the speed, nothing was written on the answer sheet. ¡®What? Leo, you! You said you wanted to be a dual class, then why are you lacking in technical knowledge?'' At this rate, it was obvious that Leo would not be able to take magic as his major. Karl made a sad face at the fact that he couldn''t take the magic class along with Leo. "Only Half an hour left." ¡®Yikes, this isn''t the time to think about it? Let''s solve the problem first.'' Meanwhile, Leo, who filled up one sheet of paper completely with the solving process, stopped moving his pen. ''What kind of fucker made these spells so complicated?'' If he were given enough time, he could have fully interpreted. The problem was that there was too little time. When he checked the next problem, it was encrypted with a spell he had never seen before. Leo, who was checking the problems with a furrowed brow, stopped at the last problem. The exam consisted of 50 questions, with the first 49 being spell summations and the last question requiring solving and disrupting the spell to find the answer. The spell itself wasn''t too complicated compared to the previous problem. Leo, who got the answer by mental calculation, wrote the answer on the answer sheet and got up from his seat. The students'' gaze was fixed on him. ¡®He must have given up. He hasn''t even solved the first question yet, and anything beyond that would be a waste of time,¡¯ Karl clicked his lips as he watched Leo hand over the answer sheet to the associate professor. ''Let''s give up on magic class.'' Out of 50 questions, he only knew one, how could he take the class? ''I have to learn it through self-study.'' Blaming himself for his complacency, Leo left the classroom. The hourglass continued to flow, but the other students remained seated. Even if they were non-majors, they still had a basic understanding of magic since they had chosen it as a minor. "Time''s up. Everyone, hand in your answers to the associate professors." "Phew~ that was tiring." Karl got up and asked Chloe. "Hey, what was the answer to the last question? I just couldn''t solve it." Chloe frowned as if she was dissatisfied and looked at Karl, then she shook her head as if she was exhausted and replied. "I didn''t have enough time, so I couldn''t solve it." "Really? Well, that question was terribly difficult.¡± ¡°What about Leo?¡± "From what I saw, it looks like he couldn''t solve a single question." ''So, that''s why he left.'' Nodding her head, Chloe got up from her seat and walked towards someone. Karl followed Chloe''s back out of curiosity. "Brother! Is this answer also correct?¡± "That''s right!" "Oh, yea!" The place Chloe headed was where Abad and Chelsi were. ¡°Hello, Chelsi.¡± "What? Aren¡¯t you Karl? Who is this woman?¡± ¡°This is Chloe Muller.¡± ¡°Northern chief?¡± Chelsi opened her eyes wide. ¡°Nice to meet you, Abad Llewellyn. Did you solve the last problem?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t solve it because I didn¡¯t have enough time. How about you?" "So do I." Chloe then pulled out the test paper. "I''m curious to see how much my solution differs from yours. Shall we compare?" "I was actually curious too. Good timing." Chloe¡¯s exam paper was packed with the solution for the last problem. Abad''s exam paper was not inferior to Chloe''s. Karl clenched his teeth. ''As expected, the experts are different. If they were given more time, they could have solved them all.'' ¡°Where is Brother Leo?¡± "Since he left earlier, he seems to have left the department. I don''t think he solved any of the questions." "Well, those aren''t problems a knight could solve." Knowing Leo was an excellent knight, Chelsi nodded. Then Professor Ren climbed back to the podium and the students quickly returned to their seats. "It was a tough test for everyone," he said with a neat smile. "Before the associate professors finish grading, I will give you a preview of the magic class I''ll be teaching," Professor Ren began. The students listened intently, captivated by the content of the lecture. They realized that the professor in front of them was one of the best. "I can''t believe I get to learn from someone like him!" they exclaimed. As Professor Ren concluded his lecture, an associate professor approached him with the test results. "Professor, the results are in," the male associate professor said. "Let''s all take a look at the results," Professor Ren replied. The associate professor brought a bulletin board with the test rankings to the lecture hall. "This test had 49 one-point questions and one 51-point question," Professor Ren explained as the students buzzed with excitement. "It is also a crucial aspect of my class and I use it to select students for the magic major classes. In recent years, magic spells have advanced rapidly, allowing spells to be used without fully understanding them, just by memorizing the activation incantation," Professor Ren continued. He demonstrated this by casting a magic spell and then shutting it down with a boom, causing fragments of magic power to fly out in all directions. "This has led to the degradation of wizards," Professor Ren exclaimed, startling the students. "The trend among recent mages is to memorize the incantation of more spells! It certainly is an easy way to use magic... but! That''s not what a true wizard is! The essence of magic is not memorization, but exploration and understanding! But what are young mages nowadays doing? They are busy with memorization, they neglect to understand the spells! The advancement of such spells has brought the decline of mages!¡± He raised his hands and a vast array of magic spells appeared in the sky. "This is the essence of the magic spell I created. It''s not a spell that anyone can learn by memorizing the incantation, it''s a spell that I created from beginning to end. Are there any wizards these days who study their own magic?¡± That was precisely the essence of a mage''s unique and creative world of magic. The spell cast by Professor Ren looked beautiful and enchanting to the eyes of future mages. "The battle between magic spells is also a battle of who understands and breaks the opponent''s spell faster, even before the power struggle. You cannot reach higher levels just by memorizing incantation. So¡­!" Swoosh-! Professor Ren''s magic spell disappeared. "I will teach you to understand magic spells so that you can become true wizards," he said, full of enthusiasm. The students were moved by his passion and started clapping their hands. The word "True wizard" was enough to touch the hearts of these young students. Professor Ren nodded at the enthusiastic response of the students and pointed at the bulletin board. "Check your scores and rankings. And the unfortunate students who were all below 40 points, please leave the classroom, that¡¯s all." Students gathered in front of the bulletin board. A male associate professor approached Professor Ren who was looking at the students with deep eyes. "Professor." "Yes, Associate Professor. What is it?" "There''s a student who got the 51-point question right." ¡°Did he get 100 points?¡± Professor Ren was genuinely surprised. ¡®I can''t believe such a talented student came in! Abad? Chloe? Ah! Am I finally getting a lifelong disciple?!¡¯ ¡°Not 100 points.¡± ¡°Not 100 points?¡± Professor Ren''s face changed bizarrely. If a student was good enough to solve the last problem, it was obvious that the first 49 problems wouldn''t be too difficult. But he didn''t get 100 points? "Ah. So the student who solved the last problem probably missed a question or few.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that either. Except for the last question, everything is blank. Look here.¡± The associate professor handed over the answer sheet to Professor Ren. Professor Ren, who was checking the pure white answer sheet, asked with a serious face. ¡°¡­ ¡­ Who is this student?¡± While checking the bulletin board, Chloe naturally looked at the top ranking. And she was surprised at what she saw. 2nd place. Chloe Muller and Abad Llewellyn. (49 points) 3rd place. Chelsi Llewellyn (48 points) No matter how she looked at it, she and Abad were tied for second place. And the name at the top was. 1st place. Leo Flove. (51 points) Chloe looked at the front row where Leo was sitting, with a stiff face. There was an answer sheet that Leo had been solving. She ran over there anxiously and checked the problem. ''Eh, what the hell is this?'' Chloe couldn''t help but make a horrified expression when she saw the solution to the first problem that Leo had given up trying to solve. ''Leo Flove¡­. What the hell were you doing!'' CH 23 "Ahahahahaha!" Laughter echoed throughout the terrace of the caf¨¦ in the heart of the city. Celia, who had been laughing while holding her stomach, stopped shaking and wiped her tears away. "So? You just solved one problem and left the magic class?¡± ¡°Have you finished laughing?¡± Leo, who wore a sullen expression, drank a fruit juice. "So, what exactly did I say? Didn''t I say that taking magic major classes is useless?" Celia, who settled down her laughter, lifted her teacup and said. ¡°If you are a Gerdinger, you should focus more on your swordsmanship.¡± ¡°I am not Gerdinger.¡± "If the person who is learning Phoenix Breath isn''t a Gerdinger, then, who is it?" Celia looked at Leo with an absurd expression and continued sipping her tea. "Anyway, until the afternoon class, you will be free, right? Do you want to train with me?" ¡°Then, should we do some physical training?¡± ¡°¡­ ¡­ !¡± Celia''s face darkened. Although others may not know, she knows that Leo''s physical training was nothing but self-torture. Celia smiled awkwardly as she remembered her hellish week on Flove Family. ¡°I will train in swordsmanship¡­ ¡­ .¡± ¡°You won''t back out, right?¡± Leo smiled brightly. ¡°How disappointed would Uncle Jess be if he were to hear that his niece ran away because she was afraid of physical training?¡± "Hey! Are you getting even with me for teasing you for running away from magic class, you lowly bastard!¡± Celia shuddered at the wicked smile of her cousin. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s train hard.¡± "I don¡¯t want to. Let go of me.¡± Celia was terrified and struggled to free herself from Leo, who was dragging her towards the training ground by locking her from behind. "Hey! Leo!" Karl came running. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? What about the class?¡± ¡°Professor Ren is looking for you.¡± Celia''s face turned bright. ¡°The professor is looking for you, Leo. Go quickly.¡± ¡°Why is the professor looking for me?¡± ¡°You are ranked first in the magic theory test.¡± "What?" Leo and Celia both looked surprised. "Whoa..." Karl gasped. "The whole class is in an uproar! The professor is angry because the person who got first place in the test wasn''t even in class." ? ? ? ? ? ? When Karl returned to the main lecture hall with Leo, the atmosphere in the lecture hall was heavy. The gaze of the students who had passed the test was fixed on Leo as he entered the lecture hall. Leo''s expression became tense at their gaze. ¡®What¡¯s wrong with the atmosphere?¡¯ "Student Leo, where have you been, not attending the class?" When Ren''s associate professor Anna asked quietly, Leo replied with an awkward smile. ¡°I was at the cafe.¡± "You were told that the class will start right after the test is over, right? Then why did you go to the cafe....¡± Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap- Then, all of a sudden, there was a round of applause. Professor Ren approached with a smile. ¡°Student Leo! I admire your talent, but it¡¯s impressive that you left the class after answering only the toughest question, without even attempting the easy ones. Haha! It must have been boring for a genius like you. After all, you are a knight major!¡± The face was smiling, but the eyes were fierce. The knights and mages have formed a competitive relationship over time. Consider the Rodren Empire, one of the strongest nations in the human kingdoms, where the Knights faction and the Mage faction, led by Gerdinger and Llewellyn, are divided in politics. Even among Lumeln students, there were extremists who regarded their field as the best. As a result, when the representative of the freshmen from the Knight department entered the magic class and submitted a blank sheet except for answering one of the most difficult problems, it was enough to create a possibility of misunderstanding. Furthermore, Leo did not return after leaving. Leo spoke hurriedly. "Professor, I think there''s a misunderstanding.¡± "Misunderstanding?" "I thought I failed the test. I didn''t even think I would pass the test in the first place." At that, Professor Ren narrowed his eyes and looked closely at Leo''s face. Professor Ren, who was undoubtedly one of the younger professors among the Lumeln professors, was not an easygoing individual who could be fooled by a newly admitted freshman. ''I don''t think he is lying. Then why didn''t he solve the other problems?¡¯ ¡°I need to have a brief conversation with student Leo. Associate Professor Anna. Take over the class for me.¡± ¡°Yes, Professor.¡± Associate Professor Anna bowed her head and went towards the podium. Meanwhile, Professor Ren took Leo to the room at the back of the classroom. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you solve the other exam questions?¡± "That''s¡­" Leo hesitated. "Did you think the questions were too easy and there was no point in solving them?" "No, it''s not that... it''s..." Leo, who was rolling his eyes around, murmured to himself. ''Uh, I''m caught. Do I have to admit that I, who was a great wizard in my past life, couldn''t solve the questions that even students can solve?'' But lying was not an option. If he stayed like this, his Academy life could be ruined. In the end, Leo answered in a low voice. "The problem was too difficult for me to solve?" "What?" ¡®He solved the hardest problem but couldn''t solve the other ones because they were too difficult? What kind of nonsense is this?¡¯ "I studied magic spells on my own at home, but all I had were very old spell books. So I only studied the old spells. I didn''t know that magic spells are so complex these days. I felt embarrassed because I took magic as a major with a very casual attitude, and hence I didn''t attend the class." After saying that, he asked with a puzzled face. "So what does it mean that I am the first place? I barely solved one problem?" ''So, he didn''t know the structure of the activation incantation, and hence couldn''t touch the summation problem... ¡­ Does that mean he gave up and only solved the last problem?'' After hearing the explanation, Professor Ren understood the situation to some extent. Certainly, if he had taught himself from an old magic book, he might not know about the activation incantation. The activation formula was only a recent trend and not a deep-rooted thing. ''It''s not an impossible story if he had studied spells through analysis.'' Professor Ren took a piece of chalk and wrote a spell on the blackboard in the preparation room. ¡°Try solving this. Then I''ll believe in what student Leo says. And I will also tell you why Student Leo got first place.¡± As his anger subsided, his interest in Leo grew. The younger generation was completely immersed in today¡¯s trend. It is no exaggeration to say that the activation formula has already taken root deeply in young mages and has become a mainstream trend, not just a trend. In that sense, Leo can be said to be outdated in a way. "However, that is a strength that cannot be found in today''s generation of mages. ''That is a strong foundation. After all, the essence of magic is ultimately the ability to interpret spells. A tree with a strong root may grow slower, but will eventually grow large. Professor Ren expected that Leo was already building his own ''world of magic''. In formula interpretation, there was only one correct answer, but there were many paths to attain that correct answer. He was very interested in what kind of thoughts a student who was rare in today''s generation was thinking while interpreting the spells. Just by looking at the process of interpreting the spell, one can also learn about the magician''s philosophy towards magic. ''Let''s see how he interprets the spell.'' With shining eyes, Professor Ren looked at Leo''s back who stood in front of the blackboard. Leo looked at the problem presented by Professor Ren and reached out to the blackboard without saying a word. Tak-! Tap! Tap! With each sound of the chalk, Professor Ren couldn¡¯t help but shudder. After writing the correct answer, Leo turned his head. Professor Ren couldn''t see what method Leo used to solve. ¡°Are you done?¡± It was because Leo solved the complicated magic formula through mental calculation. ? ? ? ? ? ? "Why isn''t the professor coming out?" Associate Professor Anna looked in the direction of the room with a puzzled expression. She had anticipated a quick resolution, regardless of the outcome, but it was taking longer than she had expected. Professor Ren was the most passionate about magic among all the professors in the magic department at Lumeln. Despite not being well-known outside, he was highly regarded as a genius in the field of magic. Anna became a fan after reading his magic thesis and applied for the associate professor position. ¡®Although his image inside me has been ruined since becoming his associate professor.¡¯ He was a normal person under ordinary circumstances but became sort of eccentric when magic was involved. BANG-! As if in response to Anna''s worries, the door of the lecture preparation room opened roughly. The students were startled. Associate professor Anna examined Professor Ren''s face, turned towards the ceiling, and sighed. ''He had another seizure. Please don''t embarrass yourself in front of freshmen.'' Fortunately, Professor Ren immediately left the classroom. Leo slowly walked out of the preparation room. ¡°What did the professor say, student Leo?¡± ¡°I was told to take the classes.¡± "Yes, please sit down. We will proceed with the class again." Anna, the associate professor, picked up the chalk without paying any attention to Leo. The faces of the students became strange. A professor who suddenly left the classroom in the first class, and an associate professor who doesn''t care about anything. Something was strange. Unlike those students, Leo reacted calmly. Of course, Leo also didn''t understand why Professor Ren acted like that. ''Wizards are creatures that are bound to act erratically at times. Who knows how long this one will last,'' Leo, who understood creatures called wizards better than anyone else, thought to himself. ? ? ? ? ? ? BANG-! The door to the faculty room of the Magic Department was slammed open. The professors who were in the middle of work looked up. After confirming that it was Professor Ren, they returned to their work again with a sigh. "Senior!" Professor Alby turned his head with a blank expression. "Thank you! Senior! You gave me such a great gift!¡± Professor Alby, who was about to be crushed by his junior, pushed him aside like dust that stuck to him. And without hesitation, he stood to leave the faculty room, knowing that spending time with Professor Ren was always a draining experience. Professor Ren, who had fallen to the floor, got up and followed Professor Alby, who had gotten up from his seat. ¡°Why is he like that today?¡± ¡°Leave him alone, for a day or two.¡± Fellow professors also reacted calmly. "Senior! Sooner or later, I will give you a great gift too.¡± "I''d like to hear why you''re making a fuss." When Professor Alby asked his junior, who was thanking him for no reason, in return Professor Ren chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s senior who recommended Leo Flove as the Freshmen representative, right?¡± ¡°So what?¡± ¡°Student Leo is a rare magic prodigy.¡± "......? Doesn''t he belong to the knight department?" "Nope. Student Leo should be transferred to the Magic Department.¡± Professor Ren crossed his arms. "A magic prodigy in the knight department? Oh, come on. Don¡¯t say such things even as a joke. That kid is not meant to wield a sword or swing a whip. Sending such a student to the knight department is an insult to magic, senior." Soon, Professor Ren explained what happened during the first class while gritting his teeth. After hearing the whole story, Professor Alby also had a surprised expression. "Senior! Student Leo has attained the ability to interpret advanced-level magic which can be done by 5th-year students, through self-study! If this is not genius, what is it?¡± ¡°What do you want from me?¡± Professor Ren, who was faced with a direct question, smiled meaningfully. ¡°Senior, Please do your best to make sure Leo chooses our magic department." ¡°The choice of the department is the student''s freedom, and if he is really that talented, then he will choose magic even without us telling him.¡± "Well, that''s true." Professor Ren showed a look of agreement. "If a person doesn''t choose magic with that kind of talent, then he is eccentric." "If you don''t have anything more to say, leave." ? ? ? ? ? ? Time passed since the freshmen entered the Academy. It was already the last day of the General class. At the end of the class. The students were sitting in their respective classrooms. Now, the students will choose their major and begin their classes in earnest. They didn''t know yet, but their homeroom teachers have already been assigned. During the General class period, the Associate professors who were in charge of student affairs started the explanation. "You''ll start with choosing your department and start registering for courses. As I mentioned earlier, there are no elective courses in the first semester of the first year. The timetable is filled with all mandatory subjects.¡± The subjects they learned in their class included everything a hero needs to know, from combat and hero studies, to language, math, history, manners, and ethics. The schedule for the seven subjects was already set. In the meantime, they had to apply for a major class. Class 5 students quickly filled out their department application forms and course registration schedules. The associate professor carefully checked the documents brought by the students. Then, when receiving the last document, he paused for a moment. ¡°Student Leo?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± "I think you made a mistake while choosing your major. You wrote all three majors." He smiled kindly and returned the documents. Leo pushed the document back to the associate professor and said. "No, There are no mistakes." "What?" ¡°I will be taking all three majors.¡± In an instant, all the eyes in the class turned toward Leo. Leo said calmly. "I''m taking all the classes this semester." CH 24 The professors in charge of this year''s freshmen classes have gathered in the professor''s lounge, a place for them to socialize before the start of the semester. "The incoming freshman class seems to be exceptional overall," "Oh, come to think of it, there were three chiefs in the Knight department, right?¡± Professor Ren chuckled at Professor Ain''s words. ¡°I¡¯m envious, there are only two Chief students in the magic department.¡± ¡°Are you making fun of our Summoning Department? Ren?" Professor Yura asked with a frown. "Hahaha, of course not!" "Which department will come out on top is something that can only be determined once the semester begins. There''s no guarantee that the top students will always be the best, right? And there''s also a freshmen representative among the top students this year," Ain added as he swirled his wine glass. The professors nodded in agreement to Ain''s words. Ain took a sip of his wine and continued, "Even the freshmen representative has aspirations of becoming a Knight." ''This student is unconditionally the best in the Knight''s Department.'' Professor Ain looked at the two teachers with a hint of humility. "Well, well, you sound confident despite acknowledging the uncertainty of the outcome, Senior." ''You are free to dream. Senior Ain. Student Leo will be coming to our magic department.'' On the outside, Professor Ren burst out laughing, while on the inside, he smiled meaningfully. ¡°Indeed, As they say. You''re becoming a little bit uncool." ''You''re kidding, Leo Flove belongs to our Summoning Department. I want to see what kind of expression they would make after seeing the application form.` Professor Yura smiled on the outside while sneering on the inside. Just then, the associate professors arrived with the department selection application form. "Professors, we have the application form. We''ll sort them out over the weekend," they informed. "You''ve done well. Take some rest." The professors offered food and drinks to the associate professors. In the meantime, Professor Ain, Professor Yura, and Professor Ren went straight to the class 5 application form. ¡®Why are they going straight to the class 5 application?¡¯ ''Is there any students they are interested in?'' ''Why are they doing this?'' When they arrived, they found Leo''s picture on top of the class 5 application form and they couldn''t believe their eyes. The form read: Name: Leo Flove. Class: Class 5. Applied Majors: Knight, Magic, Summoning. The three professors thought in unison, "What the hell is going on?" ? ? ? ? ? ? "You¡¯re crazy! You¡¯re crazy! You¡¯re crazy!" Slap-slap-slap-slap-slap- ¡°Why are you hitting me?¡± At the park in front of the dormitory, Celia grabbed Leo by the arm and struck him on the back. ¡°There are rumors about you in the girls'' dorm! Tri-Major? What? Does that even make sense?" ¡°Why doesn¡¯t it make sense? I bought all the books for my major, and even during the general classes, I attended all major classes.¡± "Did you buy them to use as a major book, not as a reference book?" "Of course." ¡°Ah-! You planned it out, you nutcase!¡± Celia grabbed her head and bounced around. ¡°Does it make sense to say that you are a Tri-Major? If you joke around like that when applying for the majors, no professor will take you seriously," In Lumeln, the professors held a lot of power and influence. If you caught the attention of a professor from another major, your life in the academy would become a living nightmare. And the professors of each major had a strong sense of pride in their own areas of expertise. So, choosing all the sacred departments would be seen as a joke by everyone. There was nothing to say even if he got caught by all the major professors. Celia was heartbroken at the thought of Leo, who had only just entered Lumeln, causing a major accident within a week of being there. But despite her frustration, Leo was nonchalant about the whole thing. "Quick, go apologize to the professors!" Celia demanded. "No, I''m taking all the majors," Leo said firmly. "Why is he really like this? Does it make sense to be an All-Major?" Celia asked in disbelief. Leo opened his left hand and showed her his palm, and with a thought, mana flowed out of it and magic burst forth, catching Celia''s attention. But that wasn''t the end of it. Spirit power then wrapped around Leo''s hand. "You, you, you?" Celia stammered in shock. "Even my parents don''t know yet," Leo said, shrugging his shoulders. Celia gasped and looked at him in disbelief. "My abilities have been confirmed by all the professors. You''ll see that it''s not a joke," Leo said with a smirk. "What the hell are you?" Celia asked. "What do you mean, ''who am I''?" Leo grinned. "I''m your cousin," he said with a smile. ? ? ? ? ? ? ¡°It is unprecedented. Since the beginning of Lumeln, No. Since the beginning of all hero academies, this is the first time to encounter this kind of situation.¡± All-Major. It was not that there was no such hero in the long history of the world. However, that hero was treated as nothing but a fictional character in today''s world, a world where there was a miracle called Hero records which records the history of all heroes. ''The fifth Legendary hero, Kyle.'' However, an All-Class hero like that which can only be seen in fiction appeared now. Professor Ain, Professor Yura, and Professor Ren had already met with Dean Kalrian. The content of the meeting was to make clear which department Leo should belong to. The three professors passionately explained how great Leo''s talent was. "What should we do, Principal?" Secretary Elena asked. "In this situation, it''s only fair to let the student choose his own path," Kalrian replied with a smile. "It''s the duty of the school to provide education that aligns with the student''s goals and aspirations." ? ? ? ? ? ? Weekends at Lumeln were quite relaxed. Despite the packed class schedules during the week, the weekends were set aside for much-needed rest. Students could either visit Lumeria or request an overnight stay. ¡°Does it make sense to come to the training ground on such a sunny weekend?¡± Karl complained. ¡°I decided to receive instruction on swordsmanship from brother Leo today,¡± Chelsi said, dressed in comfortable athletic wear. Battle Mage. Literally, it means a wizard who can fight even at the forefront. It was different from the dual-class Magic Swordsman. In the case of a magic swordsman, both aura and mana were used, but a battle mage uses only mana. A battle mage enhances physical abilities through auxiliary magic and focuses on high-speed casting and multiple casts as their main magic. While general mages took care of firepower from the rear, the battle mage''s role was to penetrate into the middle of the enemy formation and disrupt their formations in case of emergency. A skilled battle mage used to create numerous variables by jumping into melee without hesitation. Chelsi was fascinated by Leo''s ability to stop Talatunia without using Aura during the entrance exam, and was eager for his teachings. ''Brother Leo was also a mage.'' As the battle mage and magic swordsman have many similarities, Chelsi thought that being guided by a magic swordsman would be more helpful than being guided by a pure knight. Celia, who came out after hearing that Leo would be training with Chelsi, spoke with a serious expression. ¡°If you came here with a light attitude, I recommend you to quit.¡± ¡°I am very serious¡± "Oh? Sure, Leo''s training has never been easy.¡± Just thinking of Chelsi, with whom she had been in a bitter relationship since childhood, would end up suffering, made her happy. ¡°By the way Celia. What''s your relationship with Leo, why are you two so close?" Karl asked with a puzzled expression. Chelsi, who did not yet know about their relationship, pricked up her ears. ¡°Don¡¯t go and spread rumors. Leo and I are cousins.¡± "What?" ¡°Eh? Brother Leo, was he from Gerdinger?¡± ¡°Not exactly Gerdinger. It''s a complicated family matter, so don''t ask me for the details." Celia said with a smile. Knowing that the relationship between aristocratic families is complicated, Chelsi and Karl decided not to ask further questions. "Karl," Leo said. "Would you like to join us?" "I''d love to, but I''ve got to head over to Lumeria soon," Karl replied. ¡°For fun?¡± "No! I''m going to buy ingredients for potions! Since the recovery potions are selling better than I expected! Hahaha!" At those words, Celia tilted her head. ¡°The people from an alchemist family are good at business." ¡°Alchemy requires a lot of money!¡± Karl made a circle with his finger and laughed. "How about this? I can make you a cool magic sword or magic staff." ¡°Can you make something better than my family heirlooms?¡± ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t know.¡± Discussing swords and staffs in front of the famous Hero families. If you can''t find the correct address, it would take a long time before you realize you''re lost. Celia giggled. ¡°Brother Leo, what should we do first?¡± "You''re familiar with physical training, right?" "Of course. I have good stamina! My body is also very flexible!¡± Chelsi proudly replied, demonstrating her skills by raising her legs in a ballerina pose and showing off her light movements. In addition, Chelsi jumped around and showed off her light body movements to Leo. If her basics were solid, she would become a great Battle Mage with her talent, it was clear that even a regular Knight department student would not be a match for her in close combat. ''She definitely has a reason for wanting to become a battle mage.'' ¡°Among the people I know, there is a battle mage.¡± "Really?" Chelsi''s eyes sparkled. ¡®Well, strictly speaking, she''s not a battle mage, and back then there was no such concept.¡¯ During the battle, Luna, who moved at high speed while using multiple casting, could be considered to be the beginning of a battle mage. ''Well, it could be said that she is not only the origin of battle mages but also the origin of all kinds of modern wizards.'' Leo shrugged. ¡°Chelsi, what do you think is the most important thing for a battle mage?¡± "Hmm... Let me see... High-speed casting, multiple casting, and martial arts?¡± Looking at Chelsi, who listed the things that differentiated her from other ordinary mages, Leo said. "No. The most important thing to a battle mage is¡­¡± "What''s the most important thing?" ¡°It¡¯s stamina.¡± Celia, who was watching everything from the bench, sneaked up from her seat. ¡°Karl, let¡¯s go.¡± "Huh? Where?" ¡°You said you are going to Lumeria.¡± ¡°There is still time. Didn¡¯t you say you weren''t going?" "I have to go because something urgent came up¡­." ¡°Celia. You will also train with me every weekend from now on.¡± "I don''t want to!" ¡°I already wrote a letter to Uncle Jess. And he told me to train you.¡± ¡°Why did you do such a useless thing!¡± Celia rushed to Leo, grabbed him by the collar, and shook him wildly. ¡°Listen. Chelsi." Leo said, ignoring Celia''s outburst. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°A battle mage should be able to move indefinitely. To do so, you must have steel-like stamina that never wears out. You can''t use buff magic because it has a limit." ''He is saying the same thing as the battle mages in our family.'' The Battle Mages of the Llewellyn family practice stamina on a daily basis. "Anyway, Celia and I are destined to train together." ¡°I hate this kind of destiny!¡± Celia yelled, but Leo paid her no mind. ¡°From the moment you said you would train with me, it¡¯s my responsibility to turn you into a hero at all costs.¡± "Yes! Brother Leo! Let¡¯s do our best to become a hero together!¡± Chelsi, who simply took Leo''s words as a motivation for each other, tightened her fists and replied. "So, from now on, you''ll start training with me?" "Yes!" Later, Chelsi would think. She should have ran away at the beginning. CH 25 After witnessing Leo''s special physical training, Karl fled. Chelsi realized on the first day of training that when something went wrong, it was terribly wrong, but it was already too late to turn back. Despite her initial reluctance, Celia eventually caved and began training with Leo. Fortunately, she had already gone through it, so it was more bearable than the first time. "Hey, does this really work?" asked Chelsi. "Of course. Leo''s training is needlessly systematic and filled with foolish exercises," replied Celia with a distressed expression. Then, Celia gave Chelsi a malevolent grin. "Welcome to Hell, Ms. Chelsi Llewellyn." The smile gave Chelsi chills. "You two seem to be getting along," Leo remarked. "Don''t be ridiculous! You devil!" Celia exclaimed as she shook Leo by the collar with her weak arms. For some, the weekend was a pleasant experience, while for others, it was simply hell. This marked their second week at Lumeln. ? ? ? ? ? ? Chelsi was slumped on her desk, her limbs shaking. "Chelsi, are you alive?" Karl asked. "No... I think I''m going to die." "Here. I went to Lumeria yesterday to get the best quality potions for you." "For me?" "Yes, after all, we are classmates." Karl gave Chelsi a potion for muscle recovery. Chelsi received it with a slightly moved expression. Karl held out his hand to Chelsi''s face. "What does this hand mean?" "I will sell it to you at a special 30% discount since we are friends." "Go to hell," Chelsi said coldly, throwing the potion in Karl''s face. Karl giggled and placed the potion on Chelsi''s desk. "Still, do your best. To those who aspire to be a battle mage, this kind of pain is nothing, right?" "Do you want to join me? I''ll ask Brother Leo, so we can be together." "Oh, no. I''m good," Karl replied with an awkward smile, shaking his head before whispering to Leo. ¡°Did you see how I comforted her?¡± ¡°I did see you trying to run away from my training.¡± ¡°Is that how you saw?¡± Karl vowed never to train with Leo in the future and tried to change the topic of the conversation. ¡°By the way, what kind of person is our homeroom professor?¡± Karl sitting on the chair tapped his head and whispered. ¡°It would be nice if it was a beautiful female professor.¡± Drrrr¡ª As he finished, the door slowly opened, revealing a tired-looking middle-aged man carrying an attendance list. Seeing him with thick dark circles under his eyes, the confused students quickly returned to their seats. The man came to the desk, put down the roll book, and wrote his name on the blackboard with a piece of chalk. Tak - Tak Tak. The faces of the class 5 students who recognized the name on the blackboard turned pale. "Nice to meet you. I am Hallind Edmon, your homeroom professor.¡± It was the name of the most famous professor in Lumeln, a professor who was mainly in charge of upper-year classes such as 4th or 5th years! Nicknamed ¡°The Wailing Wall!¡±, he was a professor who expels the most students in Lumeln! At the unusual reaction of his classmates, Leo asked Karl, who was sitting in the front seat. ¡°Is he a famous professor?¡± "He''s not just famous, he has been a professor in Lumeln for nearly 20 years." Karl answered in a whisper and swallowed dry saliva. ¡°Among his students, there are many people who became heroes, but at the same time, there are also many seniors who were expelled. Originally, he was a homeroom teacher mainly for the upper years, so why has such a person become in charge of the first-year homeroom?¡± Hallind opened the attendance book. ¡°I¡¯ll take the attendance from now on. Karl Thomas.¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± ¡°Illyana Laden.¡± "Yes." Even though the homeroom professor was just calling for attendance, the class 5 students reacted nervously. Of the 45 students, Leo''s name was called last. ¡°Leo Flove.¡± "Yes." Tup-! Hallind, who closed the attendance book, spoke with a tired face. ¡°There will be students wondering why I took over as the first-year homeroom teacher.¡± With his hand lazily stuffed in his pocket, he spoke with a lack of enthusiasm. "This year''s freshmen outperformed their seniors in terms of average entrance exam scores. That''s why the Lumeln''s higher-ups have high expectations for this year''s freshmen." The students were shocked when they found out something they had no idea about. And the fact that the higher-ups have higher expectations for them quickly heated up the atmosphere in the classroom. At this, one of the female students raised her hand. "What? Illyana Laden.¡± "Aren''t the other professors in charge of the first-years?" "Yes." ¡°Is homeroom professor assignment at random?¡± "No, we each chose the class we wanted, and I chose you guys." Hallind, known not only for expelling students but also for raising many excellent students, was a very capable professor. When they heard such a professor had chosen them, the class 5 students couldn''t help but feel excited. ¡°Do you have any special reason for choosing our class?¡± ¡°Because you guys have the lowest average score on the entrance exam out of ten classes.¡± The excited atmosphere quickly extinguished. ¡°Do you know why I expelled the most students, Illyana Laden?¡± ¡°Ah, no.¡± ¡°Because of efficiency.¡± Professor Hallind looked at Illyana with dry eyes. ¡°It¡¯s better to weed out students with no potential early and concentrate on teaching those who have potential. Don''t you think so too?" Illyana''s eyes filled with tears as she faced Professor Hallind''s intimidating gaze, which even made the fifth-year students of Lumeln, who were known for flying high, tremble. This time all the students in class 5, except for Leo, held their breath and looked at Hallind. The one who saved Illyana was a woman in her mid-twenties wearing glasses who opened the classroom door and entered. ¡°Ah! Professor Hallind. What if you scare the students on their first day!¡± She sighed and stood next to Professor Hallind. ¡°Hello, Class 5! My name is Sena Tilia, your assistant homeroom teacher." With light brown hair and a bright personality, Sena, the assistant homeroom teacher, was the polar opposite of Professor Hallind. "Everyone! You don''t have to be too afraid of Professor Hallind! Even if he says this, in fact, he cares very much for his students. ¡­ .¡± ¡°Sena Tilia. Follow me outside.¡± Professor Sena, who had been reassuring the students, was called out. ¡°You haven¡¯t changed since you were a student. How many times have I told you to fix that personality?¡± "Sorry! I''ll correct it! I won''t do that again!¡± Through the slightly open classroom door, they could see Sena, who was pale and frantically lowering her head. ¡°I like the assistant professor in charge of.¡± ¡°Me too. Even if it¡¯s a burden, you have to have a good personality to breathe and live.¡± Chelsi laughed and Karl nodded. Soon, the atmosphere in the classroom relaxed a little. After a while, the two professors returned to the classroom and stood in front of the blackboard again. ¡°Didn¡¯t I just say that the reason I took over as your homeroom teacher was because you had the lowest average score on the entrance exam?¡± "yes¡­ ¡­ .¡± When the students answered in low voices, Professor Hallind made a sad face. ¡°In Lumeln, entrance exam scores become meaningless in three months.¡± The students widened their eyes. ¡°No matter what education you received before coming to Lumeln, Lumeln teaches more. That''s why the grades of first-year students in Lumeln fluctuate a lot. It is not uncommon for students at the top to hit bottom, and vice versa.¡± Professor Hallind knocked the lectern! BAM ¡°During the midterm exams, even you guys could be ranked first in your grade.¡± The entire atmosphere turned tumultuous. ¡°But you guys, keep this in mind. Attacking the world of heroes is not only the privilege of hero cadets, but also their duty. Does anyone know why it is dangerous?¡± Chelsi raised her hand. ¡°Chelsi Llewellyn, yes.¡± ¡°Because you could lose your life.¡± "That''s right." Professor Hallind said coldly. ¡°I have gone to the funerals of many of my students during my 20 years of teaching in Lumeln.¡± The sound of swallowing dry saliva could be heard here and there. ¡°As long as you are Lumeln students, you cannot refuse to attack the world of heroes. It''s a life-and-death thing. I only want to send students who have the ability to survive there. A student who cannot do that.¡± Professor Hallind said sternly. ¡°I will expel you before you die. This was why I took charge of you guys with the lowest average score.¡± Finishing his words, Professor Hallind handed over the attendance sheet to Sena. ¡°This is all I have to say. We will start combat science class from now on, so change into gym clothes and come out to the parade ground.¡± Professor Hallind quickly left the classroom. ¡°Then everyone! See you at the parade ground! Sena too soon left the classroom after smiling at the students. ? ? ? ? ? ? Grabbing the gym clothes from the locker at the back of the classroom, the students headed to the changing room. ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯s just a scary person.¡± Karl entered the boy''s locker room and spoke. "That''s right. Come to think of it, Professor Hallind is also one of the most respected professors in Lumeln.¡± A classmate who was walking next to him said, ''His name is Tade, right?'' Tade continued as Leo recalled the classmate¡¯s name. ¡°He has the lowest student mortality rate.¡± The number of students who die each year in Lumeln was not small. It was not because the academy drives them to the edge. Rather, Lumeln puts the safety of its students first. However, the reason why deaths still occur was because the path students pursue was¨C becoming a hero. A hero is someone who jumps into trials to save people. World of Heroes and Heroic Dungeons. In addition to solving incidents happening all over the world, life at Lumeln Academy was always full of dangers. ¡°Professor Hallind scared the students from the start, probably to remind us of that fact. So, let¡¯s work hard from now on.¡± When everyone nodded seriously at Tade''s words. "Oh? Are you the type that looks skinny when you wear them?¡± A voice in a soprano tone came through the open window. It was the voices of the girls talking. Suddenly, the boys realized that there was a girl''s locker room right next to the boy''s locker room. The male students made solemn expressions at the voices coming from outside the window. Then they gathered in the middle of the locker room and lowered their voices. ¡°Who do you think the gym clothes make look skinny?¡± ¡°Illyana?¡± ¡°No, that was Illyana¡¯s voice.¡± The discussion was held in a serious atmosphere that was incomparable to the previous one. ¡°Maybe Nella.¡± At that time, when Karl mentioned Nella Caven, a slender beautiful girl, the boys exclaimed. ¡°It makes sense!¡± "I think Nella¡¯s slender figure also has a charm.¡± Leo shook his head at the completely unnecessarily serious conversation between the adolescent boys. ''I guess they''re hero cadets.'' Some might say, what kind of hero candidate is this? But Leo knew someone who was seriously debating on a similar topic in the middle of a crisis. That person was not just a hero, he was a legendary hero. [God''s Blacksmith] Dweno. ''A guy like that is respected and still remembered, but why am I forgotten?'' It was Leo who felt unfair once again. CH 26 The male students changed into gym clothes and headed to the parade ground. There were other classes besides Class 5 in the vast parade ground. The classes where combat science classes overlap were also held on the parade ground. Of course, thanks to the enormous parade ground, there was no overlapping activity radius. It was Professor Sena who stepped in front of the students huddled on the dirt floor. Hallind observed Sena''s class from behind. ¡°In combat science classes, you train to apply your abilities. Any questions?¡± Illyana raised her hand. ¡°Yes, Student Illyana.¡± ¡°What does combat science class mean specifically? Is it different from the training we do in our major?¡± ¡°It is different. Let''s take magic as an example. Student Illyana, make a fireball.¡± Illyana, who wanted to be a dual-class Magic swordsman, easily created a fireball the size of her fist. "Um! How will Student Illyana maximize the efficiency of the Fireball?¡± "hmm! First, I will inject a lot of mana into the formula. And if I add a damage-boosting spell and a copy spell!¡± WURRR! WURRR! The size of the fireball increased drastically. ¡°This way, I can maximize the efficiency of the Fireball!¡± ¡°Is that the end?¡± "Yes? ¡­ ¡­ Some more spells here... ¡­ .¡± Seeing Illyana bewildered, Professor Sena smiled kindly. "It''s okay. Student Chelsi next?¡± ¡°Yes, Professor.¡± ¡°What can you do to maximize the efficiency of the fireball here?¡± "Sorry, Professor. I can''t think of any other way other than what Illyana said." "I see. Then, next... ¡­ .¡± The students majoring in magic averted their eyes. How could they know something that even the best wizard student in their class couldn''t answer? ¡°Student Leo?¡± "Yes." ¡°How to maximize the efficiency of the fireball here?¡± ¡°Control. Even if you increase the power, you have to be able to properly hit the target to bring out the maximum efficiency.¡± ¡°That''s correct! Student Leo 5 points.¡± The students made dejected expressions at the very simple answer. ¡°You tend to focus more on power than control when training skills. That¡¯s why most students are not good at controlling their abilities.¡± When she said that they had poor control of their skills, the students made an expression of incomprehension. Are they not good at controlling themselves, who use their abilities every day? ¡°Here is the thing.¡± Professor Sena summoned a wind spirit, Sylph. ¡°If there is a student among you who can capture this sylph, I will give you extra points. It doesn''t matter if you use all your skills.¡± The students burned their enthusiasm and challenged themselves to catch Sylph. However, there were no students who could catch the Sylph that was neither fast nor using strong winds. It was because Sylph was avoiding the hands of the students by showing off its slick movements. A little later, several students attacked at the same time, but they still failed to catch. ¡°Huh-! Huh! That might not be a sylph!¡± Karl lay sprawled on the floor, gasping for breath. ¡°Haa¡­! Then what is it!¡± Chelsi sat down and asked. ¡°How do I know?!¡± The sylph floating in the air placed its hand on the waist and made a mocking face. BOOM-! The aura of fire raged. Leo, who had been standing still, rushed at Sylph. Sylph tried to run away with a relaxed expression. Leo sped up and stretched out his hand, closing the distance with the sylph. Sylph was shocked and avoided his hand. A flame aura soared from the back of Leo''s hand and blocked the sylph''s movement. As if expecting that, the sylph circled in the air. However, the wall-shaped aura quickly turned into a rope and pursued the sylph. Sylph, who hadn''t expected it until then, was taken aback. Then it suddenly sped up and fled high into the sky before the ropes could wrap around it. ¡°Oh, Sylph! That''s against the rules!¡± At Sena''s words, Sylph put on an apologetic expression. Apparently, Sylph was surprised and used more power than what was permitted. ¡°Anyway, great, student Leo.¡± Sena clapped her hands. ¡°As you can see, Leo didn''t exert much effort. Combat science is training that applies this kind of application to combat.¡± The students in class 5 could understand Sena''s words that their control was poor. Professor Hallind, who was watching the class from behind, smiled. ''Certainly, Professors drool over him.'' In terms of Aura Control ability alone, Leo was expected to be one of the best in the first year. ¡°Oh my, that can¡¯t be elegant.¡± Pajijik-! Along with the sound of sparks, a flash of golden aura swept over the sylph. GRAB-! Before Sylph could react, it was grabbed by one hand. THUD-! Duran, a male student who landed on the floor, glared at Leo. CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! ¡°As expected, Student Duran! You have excellent skills, skills comparable to the seniors!¡± ¡°It¡¯s an overstatement, Professor,¡± Duran said, bowing to a middle-aged Professor. ¡°What a weird thing! Hallind, the most respected professor in Lumeln, none of the students in his class caught a Sylph, but all of my Class 1 students caught it easily, Oh my my.¡± Hallind looked at the middle-aged professor in fancy clothes with a tired face. "Aha! Come to think of it, was Class 5 the class with the lowest average score? Oh, dear. I guess I forgot that and said something rude.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you teaching your class? Sedzen?¡± Hallind sighed as he saw Professor Sedzen apologizing for his exaggerated gestures. ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Hallind! I''m here to teach!¡± Professor Sedzen spread his arms. ¡°Teach by requesting a class competition between Class 1 and Class 5!! You are free to reject it. Of course, I won''t blame you! After all, in our elegant Class 1, there are as many as three top rankers! hahahahahahahaha!" Professor Sedzen smiled pleasantly, pointing to the three students in Class 1, including Duran. Leo said to two of the three top-rankers. "Hi, Class 1 students who are elegant and beautiful.¡± Celia and Chloe, who had been lowering their heads, raised their heads and glared at Leo with terrifying eyes. Of course, Leo wasn''t the kind of person who would bat an eye at something like that. ¡°Professor Sena. Why is that professor doing that?¡± Chelsi asked with a puzzled face. ¡°That is Professor Sedzen. He is a professor who has the same years of teaching experience as professor Hallind.¡± ¡°Professor Sedzen is as famous as Professor Hallind, right?¡± ¡°He is one of the best professors in Lumeln and has a high reputation.¡± Unlike Hallind, who was notorious in reality, Sedzen was also a teacher many students wanted to learn from. However, the professor most respected by the graduates was Hallind, and Sedzen was second. Sena explained that Sedzen had a strong rivalry with Hallind because of that. After hearing the explanation, the class 5 students saw Sedzen provoking Hallind with all sorts of words. ''Professor Hallind is not even listening.'' ''Professor Sedzen, he looks kind of pathetic.'' Sena spoke, unable to see Sedzen clinging to Hallind, who consistently ignored all provocations. "Professor Sedzen, today is the first class, so a sudden class competition might not be appropriate." "Oh oh! Student Sena Tilia... ¡­ no! Associate Professor Sena!¡± Professor Sedzen approached Sena, spreading his arms. "Associate Professor Sena! It''s been so long, and seeing you as such an amazing professor makes my heart swell with pride!" ¡°Thank you, Professor.¡± Sena smiled awkwardly and greeted him. ¡°Anyway, Associate Professor Sena! As Lumeln students, they must be prepared for unexpected situations, regardless of whether it''s their first class or not! Our class 1 students are always ready for a class competition, aren''t you, Students?" "Yes, Professor!" said Class 1 students in chorus. ¡°As expected, they are elegant!¡± At Sedzen''s words with a satisfied look on his face, Karl chuckled and moved toward Class 1. And with his characteristic affinity, he snarled at class 1 students he had become friendly with. ¡°How elegant! Class 1 students!¡± "You wanna die?" ¡°Don¡¯t make fun of us?¡± Several of the Class 1 students, including Celia and Chloe, growled at Karl. But Karl''s chatter continued. ¡°What contest are we going to compete in?¡± Hallind asked ¡°Oh my. Oh my! After all, you are not running away! Are you really okay? The class 5 students are sure to lose, right?¡± ¡°I am not interested in winning or losing.¡± Hallind said in a dry voice. ¡°The important thing is that no matter the outcome, students have something to learn.¡± ¡°Then your students will learn a sense of defeat!¡± ¡°Even if they learn a sense of defeat, I just have to teach them how to overcome and rise up. And¡­.¡± Hallind curled up the corners of his mouth. ¡°On the other hand, your students can learn the leeway of being a winner.¡± The class 5 students were impressed as they saw Hallind striking back. "Professor Sena''s words were true!" ¡°Even though he may sound scary, it is clear that the homeroom professor cares for us tremendously!¡± ¡°I respect you! professor!" Sedzen smiled cruelly. "Great. Then, let¡¯s make a bet. As a penalty, the losing class must clean the toilets in the first-year building for one month. And the professor on the losing side will buy drinks for the winning class!¡± "Does not matter." At that answer, a scream erupted from Class 5. ¡°Ehhhhhhh!¡± ¡°How can you accept that right away, Professor!¡± ¡°Hey, pretty girls?¡± Karl, who had been bouncing hard, broke out in a cold sweat. ¡°Anyway, since we¡¯re friends, you will go easy on us, right?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll make sure to beat the crap out of you guys.¡± ¡°Right, elegantly.¡± Celia smiled coldly, running her fingers through her hair, and Chloe untied her knuckles, giving a spiteful grin. "Leo! Chelsi! I believe in you guys! Save our class!¡± Karl immediately broke down in tears and clung to Leo and Chelsi. In Class 5, the only students who could stand up to the top rankers were Leo, the Freshmen representative, and Chelsi, second in the Western Examination. ¡°I have no intention of losing.¡± "Right. There''s no way a wizard of the Llewellyn family can learn defeat.¡± Leo spoke softly, and Chelsi hooted, folding her arms. "So? How are we going to decide the match?¡± ¡°My my! Isn''t there a traditional activity in the Lumeln Combat Studies class for that?¡± Sedzen smiled meaningfully at Hallind''s question. ¡°As expected.¡± Hallind let out a small sigh. Tension began to flow between the Class 5 and Class 1 students as well. "No way¡­ ¡­ that?" ¡°I never thought I would participate in it myself.¡± ¡°I have never done it before.¡± The students swallowed dry saliva. Only Leo made a puzzled expression. ¡°Is it something pretty dangerous?¡± "It¡¯s no joke. It¡¯s an official activity that is also conducted during competition with other hero academies.¡± Chelsi said in a tense voice. If it was an official activity for the school¡¯s pride in competitions with other Academies, it was bound to be fairly intense. CLAP-! As Professor Sedzen clapped his hands, a class 1 student held out something to Sedzen. It was a transparent ball the size of a fist. ¡°One of the traditions of Lumeln combat science class! We¡¯ll decide the winner and loser with Bastella!!¡± ''Seriously? You set the mood like that, and the best you can do is play ball?'' Leo put on a puzzled expression. CH 27 Cass 5 and Class 1, which were divided into two factions, sat in a circular formation around their respective professors. ¡°Are there any students who wish to compete?¡± ¡°I recommend Leo and Chelsi!¡± As Karl raised his hand and said, the students nodded. Leo was not only a freshmen representative, but he also impressed the students during the temporary class period and firmly established himself as a talented individual in their minds. As for Chelsi, she was a member of a prestigious hero family, and her entrance exam score was the best in class 5. ¡°Leo Flove, Chelsi Llewellyn. Any complaints?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have one.¡± ¡°Neither do I.¡± ¡°Okay, The one who recommended Karl Thomas. You go out too.¡± "Huh? Well, it''s better for other friends to go out than me...... .¡± "You have no right to refuse." "Yep!" Karl was reluctantly pushed out. "Who''s next?" "I''ll go!" "I''ll do it too!" Illyana and Tade raised their hands eagerly. ¡°Illyana Laden, Tade Marcoa. There are four more left." ¡°I¡¯ll do it too.¡± ¡°Nella Caven.¡± When Nella announced her intention to participate in a languid voice, the male students scrambled to raise their hands. Nella, one of the most beautiful girls in the class, ignited their enthusiasm for participating. Eight contestants stepped forward. "It seems like Class 5 has chosen its members. Let''s begin then!" Sedzen spread both of his hands. Wooooo! Light shone on the field, and a rectangular line appeared. Along with that, a goalpost made of mana lines appeared at the corners of the rectangle. Players from both teams gathered in the center. ¡°The match is 20 minutes. Winning is important, but the spirit of fair play is more important. I''ll give you a little time for the strategy meeting." Professor Sedzen, who gave time for the strategy meeting, went to the referee''s seat. ¡°Did you come out without fear?¡± "We''ll crush you." Celia and Chloe glared at Karl and smiled wickedly. Karl, who was frightened, hid behind Chelsi. After greeting each other, both team players gathered in the center of each camp. Leo was named captain on Chelsi''s recommendation. ¡°Look at the class 1 guys, they act like they are seniors.¡± ¡°After all, they are all descendants of prestigious families.¡± "They''re acting like they already won the game." ¡°The class with the highest average score in the entrance exam is class 1, right?¡± The students had tense expressions as they discussed strategy. Meanwhile, wearing a blue vest that glowed, Leo asked a question. ¡°But isn¡¯t moving the body an unconditional advantage to the Knights Department?¡± ¡°What are you talking about, Leo? Bastella is not a game necessarily advantageous just because one is from the knight department. The activities of the Magic Department and Summoning Department are also very important!¡± Tade answered. "why?" "Why? Well..." Tade, who trailed off, asked as if something struck him. "Leo, have you ever played Bastella?" "No, I haven''t." ¡°You¡¯re from the Delard Kingdom, right?¡± "Yes." ¡°I see. The Delard Kingdom is on the outskirts, so you didn''t know...." Tade covered his face with his hands. "In Bastella, you win by putting the ball in the opponent''s goal as many times as possible within a limited time. However¡­" "However?" "The strategy meeting time is over. Let the captains of each team come forward! We will decide the team that will attack first.¡± Leo went out as a representative. The representative of Class 1 was Duran. Sedzen, who held the coin, asked Leo. ¡°Which are you going to choose, heads or tails?" "Heads." When Sedzen glanced at Duran, he nodded as if he didn''t care. Ting-! The coin bounced up and landed on the back of Sedzen''s hand. "Tail. Class 1 attacks first." A bloodshot smile spread across Duran''s face as he received the transparent ball. "This time, I''ll definitely crush you." Leo shrugged off Duran''s provocation. Watching this, Duran, who was gnashing his teeth, went back to his team and handed the ball to Celia. ¡°Give me the rest of the explanation.¡± At Leo''s words, Tade shouted with a tense face. ¡°No time to explain! Experience it yourself! Here they come!" "huh?" Swish-! The transparent ball turned red and burst into flames. "Here it goes!" Celia threw the ball hard. SWOOSH-! The ball flew towards Leo at great speed, drawing a straight trajectory. Leo hurriedly dodged. Boom-! ¡°Queuck?¡± The male student behind Leo screamed and bounced away after being hit in the side. - THUD! ROLL ROLL! Celia swept back her disheveled hair and high-fived her teammates. Watching the classmate who fell to the ground, Leo asked with a serious face. ".... He''s not going to die, is he?" ¡°He¡¯s protected by protective clothing, but¡­ ¡­ it hurts like crazy if you get hit." Karl answered in a tired voice. ¡°This is Bastella! If you hit the opponent with the ball, the attack is over! Instead, if you get hit by a ball and can''t move, you''re out! It''s a dangerous sport that could cost you your life if thrown by a really strong person!¡± said Tade, swallowing dry saliva. Now Leo could understand why the students were so nervous. Scoring many points is one way to win, but before that, if you make all the opponents unable to fight, it''s still a victory. ? ? ? ? ? ? "Awesome! Powerful! Elegant! As expected from a direct descendant of Gerdinger!" Sedzen clapped in joy. ¡°Hallind! Your class will never beat our class!¡± "But the game has just started, hasn''t it?" ¡°Oh my my! yes! But just having Student Celia on our side gives us an absolute advantage! You know best that the Gerdinger family is highly specialized in Bastella!" ¡°¡­ ¡­ .¡± At Sedzen''s words, a class 1 student raised his hand and asked. ¡°Why is the Gerdinger family advantageous in Bastella?" ¡°Good question! The most efficient thing in Ballista is the fire attribute with high destructive power! And the fire of the Gerdinger family is evaluated as the most powerful among humans!¡± He pointed to Hallind with a triumphant expression. ¡°There is a senior who was known as a legend at Lumeln Academy! The Empress of Bastella, one of my friend''s first disciples, was also a Gerdinger!" Sena, who was listening to the explanation, laughed. ¡°We also have a student who possesses a fire aura on our side.¡± Hallind saw Leo catch the ball. Flames erupted from Leo''s ball. ? ? ? ? ? ? ''Does it contain non-attribute mana?'' Leo, who grasped the nature of the ball, rolled the ball lightly wrapped in the fire on his palm. Class 1 students looked at Leo with nervous faces. "Karl." "huh?" ¡°Is it possible to attack or capture people with our skills?¡± "No. You are allowed to intercept to prevent the pass, but the attack can only be made with the ball.¡± ¡®So the ball is the only means of attack. Whoever has the ball has an absolute advantage.¡¯ ¡°Really?¡± While Leo was grasping the rules, Nella approached the male student in her class who had fallen and used her aura. At the same time as the light of the white aura burst out, the boy''s face became more at ease. ''Hoo? Healing Aura? That''s a rare attribute.'' Auras have various properties. In general, there were many attributes that enhance attack power, but there were also attributes that heal wounds like Nella¡¯s. ¡°Brother Leo. you can''t hold the ball for too long, it will be considered as a foul and the ball possession will be turned over to the other side." "I got it. But I have one more question. Is it okay to kick the ball with your feet instead of your hands?" "It¡¯s okay. But wouldn¡¯t that be less accurate?¡± "It¡¯s okay." Leo threw the ball into the air and kicked it with his foot. BOOM-! The aura on Leo''s feet exploded, and the repulsive force was added to the ball. The momentary firepower generated by the aura combined with Leo''s immense physical abilities, caused the ball to fly towards Class 1''s goal faster than when Celia threw the ball. ¡°Stop it!¡± Celia exclaimed urgently. Zzzzzz-! Mana radiated from Chloe''s body, and a thick wall of ice was created in front of the goalpost. Quang-! Jjok-! The ball was deeply embedded in the thick ice wall. "As long as I''m here, you can''t score a goa..." "Is that so?" Leo, who rushed into Class 1''s side, smiled wickedly at Chloe and charged towards the goalpost. The Class 1 students were surprised by his action. "W-What...!" In the meantime, Leo leaped toward the ice wall. ¡°Here goes!¡± Crack-! He kicked the ball embedded in the ice wall. Zzzzz-! Pach-! The ice wall broke and the ball went into Class 1¡¯s goalpost. WHISTLE-! "Class 5... scored the first point." Professor Sendzen blew the whistle with an angry voice. ¡°As expected of the freshmen representative!¡± "His agility is amazing!" Cheers poured out from class 5. ''As expected, it''s not easy.'' ''Ugh! I was careless.'' ''That son of a bitch!'' Celia, Chloe, and Duran looked at Leo with a frown. "Nice! Scoring the first point is crucial!" Karl gave a thumbs up. "Alright, everyone! Let''s defend against Class 1''s attack and take back the ball!" Illyana, the mood maker, raised her hand and shouted. "Owww!" The atmosphere in class 5 became lively. ¡°It seemed like a reckless attack, but still he used his wits to score!¡± As Sena exclaimed, Hallind shook his head. "No, that''s a strategy." ¡°What do you mean, Professor?¡± ¡®According to Ain, on the day of the entrance ceremony, Student Leo took on the role of a leader on the ship. So, he must have grasped Chloe M¨¹ller''s abilities in advance.'' Chloe was good at ice magic, and her high-speed chanting ability was one of the best among first-year students. In other words, she was the most suitable player to protect the goalpost among the Class 1 students. Leo had figured out that in advance and was aiming for an opening. ''He''s an excellent strategist for his age.'' Hallind stroked his chin as his eyes shone. Meanwhile, class 1 began their counterattack. Duran ran toward class 5 with the ball. PACHIK-! Golden sparks of aura burst from his body. DASH-! As he sprinted, Chelsi caught up with him in an instant. Lightning and Wind. Both are properties specialized for speed. ¡°Where are you going!¡± "Cheh!" As Chelsi tenaciously kept up with him, Duran passed the ball towards Celia, who was following from behind. "Ah!" Chelsi was taken aback. ''He may be an arrogant punk, but his passes are accurate.'' Celia, who received Duran''s pass, relentlessly charged toward class 5''s goalpost. Despite the students blocking her path, she easily passed them. Leo appeared before Celia. "Hello, Milady." ¡°I knew you would come.¡± Celia smiled brightly. "Even if he''s the worst in character..." PAJIK-! "He¡¯s the best, at least when it comes to speed." "I don''t think someone who''s just brute force and destruction has the right to say that, Celia Gerdinger." Duran, who had overtaken Chelsi before she knew it, jumped over Celia''s head. No matter how specialized Chelsi was in speed, she could not beat Duran in a running match. Celia and Duran looked at each other and frowned. Naturally, the two had an extremely bad relationship. But they didn''t compromise their victory for personal feelings. Whoosh! Celia passed the ball to Duran. Leo didn''t even try to intercept. ¡®What, did he give up?¡¯ When there was no pass stopper, Celia looked at Leo, puzzled. Then she checked Leo''s face and felt something was wrong. ¡°Duran wait¡­ ¡­ .¡± However, by the time Celia''s words reached Duran, he had already thrown the ball. SWOOSH! ¡°With this, it¡¯s a tie!¡± CH 28 Durand''s ball wrapped in lightning aura flew towards the goal. "Wind Shield!" At that moment, Chelsi hastily cast a defensive spell. A strong wind blew from the goalpost on class 5¡¯s side. Then the ball, which had been flying at great speed, slowed down for an instant. But the momentum didn''t disappear. It was just delayed from reaching the goalpost for a few moments. As the ball was wrapped in a lightning aura, it couldn''t be caught rashly. Even if Chelsi did slow it, it was clear that it would break through Chelsi''s defensive magic and fly into the goal before it reached the hands of other students. "Useless!" When Duran sneered, Leo shouted. "Karl! Get ready for what I told you!" "Oh! If it wasn''t for cleaning the bathroom!" Karl activated magic. Karl was an earth-element mage, and the earth element''s specialization was defense and weight! Faint brown magic emanated from Karl''s body. Leo, who protected himself with defensive magic, grabbed Karl who had reduced his weight using gravity magic, and him Karl at the goalpost. He was thinking of defending using Karl. Bang! Hwaak-! Karl''s body flew into the goalpost. Swish! Squeak! At the same time, the ball also succeeded in breaking through Chelsi''s defensive magic. Karl, who became lighter than the ball, reached the goalpost faster than the ball because of Leo''s strength. ¡°It''s no use! He will go into the goal with the ball!¡± Duran sneered. However, just before being hit by the ball, Karl used magic to increase his body weight to its maximum. In addition, Chelsi hurriedly cast a shield spell on Karl. BANG! "Ggweok!" Clang! Karl, hit by the ball, went into the goalpost, while the ball bounced back. If you catch the ball before it hits the ground, the right to attack is maintained, but if they miss it, the right to attack disappears. BUMP! Dugururur. The ball rolled across the floor. Whistle-! "The attacking right goes to Class 5!" ¡°Kyaaaa! Awesome! Karl" "Your sacrifice for the class! We won''t forget!" When Leo, Chelsi, and Karl managed to defend, cheers erupted from class 5. Karl smiled sadly at his classmates who only remembered his sacrifice and didn''t care about him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Karl.¡± "Are you okay?" ¡°Leo, Chelsi, never use me like this.¡± Karl spoke as he saw Leo and Chelsi approaching with an apologetic smile. ¡°It was great. What kind of strategy is that?¡± Chelsi smiled broadly when Nella, who had come for treatment, asked languidly. ¡°It¡¯s [Operation Friend Shield!]. It''s a defensive strategy that Brother Leo predicted and came up with..." ¡°To use a friend as a tool to win. That''s a good strategy.¡± Karl wanted to cry. In the meantime, Illyana, who was holding the ball, crossed her arms! BAM-! ¡°Thanks for the ball, girl... ¡­ !¡± Whizz-! Something like a whip suddenly stretched out from the Class 1 side and took the ball away from Illyana''s hand. "Wow! Howl!" ¡°Sexy!¡± "Indeed, the heir of Snake Spear!" The morale of Class 1, which quickly regained the right to attack, soared. Illyana, who had been staring at her own hand and the snatched ball on Class 1¡¯s side alternately, held both hands to her forehead and bowed her head to Karl. ¡°Sorry, I lost it.¡± ¡°Give me back my sacrifice!¡± ? ? ? ? ? ? "Oh! What brings you to the training ground at this hour, Senior Ain!" "What do you mean? I came to observe the combat science class." Ain and Ren met in front of the training ground. "Huhu! I see. Celia, Duran, and Chen Xia are in the class! As a professor of their major, did you come to see how skilled the knights are in combat!?" "I came to check out all the Knights Department students, Ren. I didn''t come to see someone specifically like you.¡± "I came to check on all the magic students as well, Senior." Professor Ren also shrugged. The two people¡¯s relationship was not simply senior and junior or fellow Professors. Both are graduates of Lumeln and have known each other since their Academy days. Of course, it was not a good relationship, they had a bad relationship as students of different departments. If the Summoning department Professor Yura was added to the mix, it was widely known among professors and students that it was a perfect combination for a bomb. ¡°Anyway, I was surprised when I heard the professors in charge of the first year.¡± "It''s not the first time those two are in charge of the lower grades." "Come to think of it, Senior Ain was Professor Sedzen''s first batch student, right? How was he back then?" ¡°He was the same as now. He really cared about his class. Professor Hallind has changed a lot since then.¡± ¡°By the time I was in the fifth year, he was already known as the ¡®Wailing Wall¡¯.¡± Recalling their Academy days, the two professors entered the training ground. And they were surprised. ¡°Bastella? From the first class?¡± "That''s shocking." The two professors'' eyes lit up when they realized that they were conducting Bastella between Class 1 and Class 5. "The score is 1-0, and Class 5 is ahead." It was an unexpected result. All the aces in the first year were present. Although it wasn''t intentional, Class 1 was an elite class where high-scoring students in the entrance exam were gathered. A battle between the first and last class. No matter how meaningless the entrance exam results would become in a few months, right now there was definitely a clear difference. ¡°Leo and Chelsi. Illyana and Tade. And Nella... ¡­ they could be considered as the aces of Class 5, but still¡­" Ain made a stunned expression. ¡°Amazing.¡± Ren, who was watching the match, admired it. ¡°Student Leo is obviously a natural leader.¡± ¡°I definitely felt it from the entrance ceremony.¡± Class 1 overwhelmed Class 5 by showing outstanding skills through individual plays. Conversely, class 5 overwhelmed Class 1 through cooperative play. The key was Leo. He predicted the opponent''s movements at every moment and sometimes displayed instant wit to respond to Class 1¡¯s attacks. Ren made a sad expression. ¡®He''s only using aura!¡¯ Of course, it couldn''t be helped. Leo''s ability to interpret spells was very good, but the amount of mana he possesses was small. As a result, the main ability in battle had no choice but to be Aura. Ren glanced at Ain with a nervous face. As expected, Ain was also watching Leo. However, unlike Ren who was nervous, he was watching the game with a very satisfied face. Feeling resentful, Ren shouted inwardly. ''Student Leo! Please use magic too!'' Ren looked at Leo anxiously. Meanwhile, the game moved into the second half. Bastella consumed a lot of physical strength as it used all of one¡¯s ability. Originally, the match lasted for an hour, but with the stamina of a freshman now, the limit was about twenty minutes. At that moment, Celia''s terrifying attack shook Class 5''s goalpost. "Celia! You''re great! I''m going to worship you!" "Sister Celia! Please make me your little brother!¡± Class 1 students cheered. Celia had scored by breaking through three Class 5 students who were defending the goal. "Is she a monster...?" Karl, who had been hit directly by the ball, muttered with a tired face, and then he dropped his head and passed out. ¡°Huh-! Huh-!" And even Celia, who had given her all, was in a state of exhaustion and had to retire. "I took down three people and there''s not much time left! We can definitely turn this game around if we block their next attack and counterattack! So let''s make a comeback and win!" Celia shouted with all her might. The atmosphere of Class 5, which had barely maintained its superiority, became grim in an instant and was at its worst. Conversely, Class 1''s morale was at its peak. Chloe glared at Class 5 from behind. It was definitely Chloe who performed most brilliantly in this match. Although she allowed a surprise goal in the early stages, she then perfectly blocked Leo and Chelsi, the core attackers of class 5, who used all kinds of methods to pierce through her, but they couldn''t get past Chloe. Looking at Leo preparing to attack, Chloe made a vow. ''I will never lose.'' After her first magic class, Chloe felt conscious of Leo even though she tried not to care. She had never thought of being left behind by someone with magic. She believed that her magic interpretation skills were superior to Abad, who was considered the strongest wizard in her class. In fact, it was true. She was a genius in magic interpretation, even evaluated as one of the best at the Northern Magic Tower. That was Chloe Muller. However, during the first class, she fell behind in magic interpretation. ''I will never lose to Leo Flove.'' Chloe clenched her fists. Due to Celia''s vacancy, there was a hole in the defense of Class 1. ¡°Attack! If we can¡¯t make it this time, we will definitely lose!¡± Illyana shouted. Chelsi blocked Duran, who was running to mark Leo. The other players also tried their best to put Leo and Chloe in a one-on-one situation. Leo ran through the half line with quick movements and ran toward the goalpost. With Celia out of the game, and Duran''s feet tied up by Chelsi, there was no one to stop Leo. But Class 1 still had some faith. Chloe stood in front of Leo. "You can''t go through." ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but if it¡¯s one-on-one, I think I can break through, don''t you think so too?" Chloe laughed at Leo''s words. Sizzle! Leo''s eyes flickered. In an instant, ice gathered in the air, forming ice statues that looked just like Chloe. Four ice statues that looked just like Chloe appeared in front of Leo, blocking his path like living dolls. "This is ridiculous! Ice clones? Using such a high-level magic spell? Even my brother can''t do that!" Chelsi was shocked. "This is not just a simple clone!" Magic circles unfolded around the ice clones, and each clone acted like a wizard. ¡°At that age, to use this level of magic. Genius.¡± Leo was amazed, while Chloe''s eyes twitched. ¡°Are you kidding me now?¡± ''He took first place in the magic theory test!'' Chloe glared at Leo with scary eyes and snorted. "Anyway, you can''t break through me! So give up!" "Indeed, I can''t break through this with my aura alone." Leo grinned. "On the other hand, maybe with my magic..." Crackle! ''Magic?'' Chloe was taken aback. She never expected Leo to use magic at this moment, and soon, Leo''s body multiplied into many. "Illusion magic?!'' Although she was caught off guard at the beginning, she could easily devise a way to respond to the illusion magic. Attacking a player with magic was against the rules, but illusions created by magic can be attacked. ''Which is real?'' Differentiating between the real and the fake created using illusion magic was a very simple task for Chloe. She focused her mana and looked at the illusion, but things didn¡¯t go the way she wanted Soon, Chloe''s face stiffened. ''I can''t tell which ones¡¯ fake!'' Without knowing which is real and which is fake, she couldn''t attack rashly. But there was something more surprising than that. "This...this magic is...!" While Chloe was stunned, Leo passed her, and effortlessly scored a goal. Chloe, who was so shocked and even forgot to respond, stumbled to the ground. Perfect illusion magic that couldn''t be identified as real or fake. Chloe also knew the magic Leo used just now, but she couldn''t use it¨C because it wasn''t human magic. Clove stared blankly behind her. As the illusion disappeared, leaves scattered. A fundamentally different magic system. "Elf''s¡­ ¡­ Nebula magic?¡± [Mirage]. What Leo used now was the magic created by Legendary Hero Luna, the founder of Nebula Magic. CH 29 "It seems like a simple illusion magic, but Chloe Muller couldn''t respond?" "Simple? Did you just say simple? Senior Ain?¡± Ren asked in a trembling voice. "Is it not?" ¡°It has to be simple! The magic spell cast by student Leo is not difficult! But that is elven magic, not human magic!¡± Ren cried out as he wrapped himself in his arms. ¡°The other races'' magical systems are fundamentally different from ours! Understanding the structure of spells doesn''t mean you can use them! It''s an area of talent and sense that can''t be achieved through effort alone! Student Leo has that talent! It''s clear that God has sent Student Leo to the Magic department!" ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean, Ren Horus. Leo Flove will come to the Knights Department?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you understood properly with your little brain, so I¡¯ll explain again.¡± "Ho-ho-ho. I understand it well, Ren. You want to die, don''t you?" Ain smiled coldly and grabbed Ren by the collar, but Ren didn''t mind and started giving a long speech about Leo''s magical talents. ? ? ? ? ? ? The Class 5 students clasped hands, elated by their victory. Despite Class 1''s clear advantage, the game ended in class 5''s triumph. Celia and Duran scowled with frustration, while Chloe remained seated, lost in thought. "Chloe, you should stand up," their professor, Sedzen, said gently. "After a match, it''s proper to greet each other regardless of the result." He patted her shoulder before gathering the two teams in the center. "Good job, everyone. Class 5, return to Hallind and discuss today''s match," Sedzen instructed. The Class 1 students bowed their heads, anticipating their professor''s anger. Sedzen was notorious for his elitism, and his students were expected to excel in all academy events. However, today he lost to class 5, the lowest class of the year. ¡°Elegant! Well done to all the students who gave their all today! I am so happy to have shown so many outstanding performances!¡± Contrary to their expectations, Sedzen praised the students. ¡°Student Celia is well aware of her strengths! Overwhelming destructive power! That is the strength of those who handle the flame aura! But she needs to build up some more stamina!¡± Starting with Celia, Professor Sedzen explained the student¡¯s good points and where they should improve. ¡°Student Duran¡¯s quick movements were impressive! There were no unnecessary movements! But I thought it would be better if you came up with a way to increase the momentary destructive power! Lightning is also an attribute with powerful destructive power!¡± Sedzen''s gaze, which had been giving sincere advice to each student, finally turned to Chloe. Chloe''s throat tightened. Today''s defeat was because she couldn''t stop Leo regardless of what anyone said. ¡°Student Chloe was perfect! She was flawless!¡± ¡°W¡­We lost the game because of me?¡± "That wasn''t because of Student Chloe''s fault. And it wasn''t a complete loss either. Obviously, the result of the match was lost, but I never thought that our Class 1 lost to Class 5.¡± Professor Sedzen smiled softly. Professor Sedzen patted Chloe on the shoulder. "Our Class 1 dominated the game. And it was only a twenty-minute match. Class 5 had impressive teamwork, but if we had more time, we would have definitely turned the game around!" Saying that, Professor Sedzen pointed to the sky with his finger. ¡°Students! Raise your head! And look up! The fact that our class 1 is the most elegant remains unchanged!¡± "Professor!" ¡°Wow! I respect you, Professor!¡± The students were thrilled, showering their professor with praise. They had misunderstood Sedzen''s reputation and achievements. He wasn''t a Professor who was interested only in excellent students; he valued the bond between himself and the students he mentored. The reason he always chose class 1 wasn''t because of their high average scores, but simply because he liked the number 1. As a warm atmosphere enveloped Class 1, Leo approached Professor Sedzen. ¡°Professor Sedzen.¡± ¡°Student Leo. I must say, the strategy you employed in today''s match was incredible. By the way, what happened?¡± ¡°Professor Hallind told you to buy the drinks right away. And he told everyone to clean the toilets from today onwards." As soon as the words left Leo''s mouth, the mood of the students in Class 1 began to shift, and Sedzen''s lips began to quiver with apprehension. Suddenly, a panicked voice cut through the air. ¡°Oh my god, Professor Sedzen! Professor Ain and Professor Ren are fighting each other!¡± Howl of Class 1 was stunned as he watched the two professors engage in a fierce clash of cold aura and magic in the middle of the training ground. ¡°Student Howl.¡± ¡°Yes, Professor?¡± ¡°Would you take the Class 5 friends and buy them drinks at the cafe? Professor Ain and Professor Ren will be taken care of by Hallind.¡± As if on cue, Professor Hallind approached the two battling professors with a confident stride. Without hesitation, Howl nodded and led the Class 5 students toward the school cafe. ¡°The most expensive one,¡± Leo spitefully requested. ¡°Kheup! Sedzen couldn''t help but shiver with unease as he vowed to lead Class 1 to victory against Class 5. ? ? ? ? ? ? A month had passed since the first-year students had set foot in Lumeln, and it was enough time for them to adjust to their new surroundings. Karl sat down in the school cafeteria, yawning and scratching his head as he joined his friend Chelsi, who was already enjoying her spaghetti. "Good morning," he greeted her sleepily. Chelsi looked up from her meal and asked, "Did you work late again last night?" Karl nodded wearily. "Yeah. The demand for fatigue recovery potions is increasing day by day." Although Karl was not particularly skilled in combat-related abilities, he was in the middle to upper rank in alchemy and auxiliary magic. His homeroom professor, Hallind, had given him a positive evaluation, recognizing his talent and passion for becoming a professional supporter. Karl''s business had also flourished since the entrance ceremony, where he had advertised his fatigue recovery potions. Many top students had become regular customers, and his product sold like hotcakes. One of the reasons for its success was that making the potions was a lot of work, and many students preferred to buy them instead. "It would be nice if they could buy other items as well," Karl mused, looking at his other business items with a hint of sadness. Despite his longing to diversify his business, Karl couldn''t deny the fact that his potions were selling faster than he had anticipated, leaving him with little to complain about. Leo spoke with his mouth full of steak. "By the way, have you heard the rumor?" "What rumor?" asked Chelsi, twirling spaghetti onto her fork. ¡°I heard that the seniors dispatched to raid the dungeon are returning?¡± Karl''s eyes lit up. "I heard it too! According to the rumor, three teams are coming back!" The dungeon raiders were the school''s strongest students who were dispatched to clear the Hero Dungeon and retrieve Hero''s Pages. Their occasional absences from school left the first-year students feeling regretful, especially since they had not yet met the famous named students of Lumeln. Chelsi swallowed her spaghetti and added, "I heard that the pages of the hero records recovered this time will be used as teaching materials for the next heroics class." "Wow, are we already entering the world of heroes?" Karl exclaimed. "I thought it was supposed to be in the midterm before we take the practical test." "No, that''s not it," Chelsi corrected. "I heard that among the pages retrieved this time, there was also a damaged page that got mixed in. We''re going to have a class to infer the hero of those pages." ¡°Ah, that¡¯s it?¡± ¡°What¡¯s with that reaction? It''s such a great thing to come into contact with a lost Hero Record, you know?" Chelsi said with her eyes shining. She was very fond of storytelling and had a hobby of studying stories of heroes. Karl changed the subject. "Come to think of it, isn''t the club promotion period starting soon?" He stroked his chin, lost in thought. It was time for first-year students who have become accustomed to school life to plan on joining a club. "Do you have any clubs in mind? I''m thinking of joining a business club," said Karl "I''m thinking of joining the music club. I learned it as a part of my upbringing in my family since I was young,¡± said Chelsi "Ah~ That''s a hobby befitting a noble lady. How about you, Leo?" "I''m thinking of starting a club." "What?" "You''re starting a club?" "Yeah." When Leo, the freshmen representative, said he was going to start a club, Chelsi and Karl became interested. ¡°What kind of club are you going to create?¡± ¡°Hero Research Society.¡± ¡°Hero Research Society? It seems like a club related to academics.¡± Karl showed his refusal. "Usually, people join clubs to relieve stress from school life. Do you think people will want to join a club related to academics?" Chelsi also shook her head negatively. "It has nothing to do with academics. We''re going to research forgotten heroes." Karl asked as Leo smiled softly. "Forgotten heroes? Like who?" ¡°Kyle, the hero of the beginning.¡± It was a dark intention to promote his achievements in Lumeln. "Kyle? But he''s not forgotten, he is a fictional character. The more unrealistic it is, the less popular it will be," Karl said. "Still, it would be interesting! Kyle is not registered in the Hero Records, so he is treated as a fictional character. But he''s such a famous hero. He''s not even a hero in history, so how is it possible to have that level of recognition? Maybe Kyle''s Hero Records just haven''t been discovered yet!" Chelsi said, getting excited about the idea. "Chelsi." "huh?" "Good girl." Leo smiled softly and pat Chelsi on the head, happy to hear someone talk positively about him for the first time. Chelsi was taken aback by Leo''s sudden action, but soon she smiled and surrendered to Leo''s touch. Seeing this, Karl laughed. "Your dreams are too big. Anyway, Kyle is a fake hero, isn''t he? How about Dweno instead? He''s a great blacksmith and advisor to the great hero party! He¡¯s definitely a real hero compared to someone like Kyle... huh? Huh?! Cough?" "Karl, if you feed only on bread, you might get too thirsty." ¡°Oooh ooh ooh! Kuhuh! (Then why are you stuffing bread into my mouth?)" "Huh? You want more?" "Moohhh! (Nooo!)" Leo kindly stuffed the bread on the table into his friend''s mouth. Morning classes had ended and students began pouring out of the classroom. Leo, having organized his textbooks, was about to get up from his seat when Celia walked into class 5 and stood in front of him. "Leo." "huh?" "What''s up, Celia? Why did you come to our class?" Chelsi asked, narrowing her eyebrows. ¡°I just came to see Leo. Leo, do you have any appointments for lunch today?¡± Celia calmly replied. ¡°No,¡± Leo answered. "Then let''s eat together," Celia suggested. "Why?" Leo asked. ¡°The student council president wants to see you.¡± CH 30 ¡°This is my first time coming to Lumeria after entering school.¡± Celia nodded her head as Leo spoke, as they got off the regular train that took between Lumeln and Lumeria. "Me too. There was nothing to come out for because I was busier than I thought.¡± Many Lumeln students come to Lumeria every weekend, but there weren''t many students who came to Lumeria regularly during the first year yet. The reason was that they still haven''t gotten used to the class schedule yet. Leo grabbed the collar of his school uniform. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a pretty rigid school rule that you have to wear a school uniform even when you go to Lumeria?¡± "I don¡¯t care. Our academy uniforms are well-designed, and being a Lumeln student is a great honor,¡± said Celia, shrugging. "And the reason for that rule is to prevent us from doing anything stupid in Lumeria. If you wear a uniform, the school will know who did something foolish right away. And I heard that there are many students who break the rules. Of course, the moment it gets caught by the professor.¡± Celia said with a gesture of cutting her throat. "Heh- I know, but still." As he said, there are quite a few students who come to Lumeria and walk around in plain clothes, and there are quite a few students who get caught by the professor due to that. "By the way, why did the student council president want to see you and me?" It was a strange thing for the student council president, who was on an assignment, to ask to see them outside. However, at that question, Celia put on a puzzled expression. ¡°Are you asking because you really don¡¯t know?¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking because I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know who the student council president is?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Upon hearing Leo''s answer, Celia let out a deep sigh. Celia said as she entered Kuraj Street, a downtown area. "The student council president, Brother Riss, is the heir of our family! So he''s your cousin brother!" "Really? My cousin was the student council president?" Celia raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Yeah? Really? How could you not know brother Riss? He''s the best student in Lumeln, and he''s also the heir to our family!" Leo simply shrugged in response, causing Celia to groan in exasperation. Eventually, they arrived at their lodging, a familiar place they had stayed at before the entrance ceremony. As they opened the door, a bell rang, signaling their entrance. "Welcome! Ah, you are the students of Lumeln! Are you planning to stay over the weekend?¡± a waitress greeted them with a smile. Celia cut straight to the point. ¡°Is Riss Gerdinger staying here?¡± ¡°Are you talking about Riss Gerdinger? Yes. He is staying here. Are you with him? Or do you have any other appointments?¡± As the successor of Gerdinger and the student council president of Lumeln, Riss Gerdinger was a well-known figure, and many people sought to meet him without any prior notice. The hotel staff was understandably cautious, but they remained professional in their interactions. "I am¡­ ¡­ .¡± Suddenly, a man with black hair and eyes approached them with a bright smile. ¡°Oh? Who is this? Isn''t it Celia?" Celia recognized him immediately. "Senior Lee Jamois. It¡¯s been a while." Celia greeted with a proper posture. Lee Jamois was a fifth-year student at Lumeln, and he and Celia seemed acquainted. "Haha! Why are you being too formal with me?" said Jamois, laughing heartily. ¡°Employee lady. This is our guest," Jamois informed the waitress, who apologized for the mix-up. "No problem. Let''s go inside," he said, waving his hand to invite Celia and Leo to follow him. "By the way, who''s this?" asked Jamois as they ascended the stairs. Celia smiled and introduced him, "This is Leo Flove. He is my cousin." Jamois'' eyes lit up with recognition. "Oh? Is it that famous freshmen representative?" he exclaimed, impressed. Leo, a triple-major student, had quickly become a sensation throughout the school. His all-class talent was unheard of in the history of Lumeln, where only the most talented students were admitted. Despite this, there were still those who regarded him with skepticism. ''Even in my previous life, they used to look at all-class with curious eyes.'' Leo, aware of the reason behind the skepticism, simply accepted it. ¡°Anyway, you seem like an excellent knight,¡± Jamois said with a grin, looking at Leo.¡°Riss is waiting. Let''s go up.¡± Jamois led the way, walking ahead of the group with his shoulders broadened. "Magic is good, summoning is good too! But the best of them all is this body!" he exclaimed, hitting his chest with his fist. "If you sharpen your swordsmanship while assisting with magic and summoning, you will probably become a great knight!" "That''s right. Leo, you seem to have neglected swordsmanship lately.¡± Celia commented, nodding to Jamois¡¯ remark ¡°Ho ho! No! You can''t become a great knight if you neglect training.¡± "Is that so, Celia? Then, how about increasing the intensity of our training by a bit?" Celia, who had spoken out for no reason and received it back, avoided Leo''s gaze. Unaware of the situation, Jamois smiled contentedly, thinking that Leo was passionate. ¡°Good attitude!¡± he praised "Noisy. Jamois.¡± But their conversation was interrupted by a sharp voice from the second-floor hallway. A Southerner woman with hazel eyes and light brown skin leaned against the wall, confronting them. "Didn''t the professors tell the Dual Class students not to talk about their departments carelessly? How can you even force a freshman to join your department from the first meeting?" Judging by the badge with the number 5 written on her left chest along with her Lumeln school uniform, she also seemed to be a senior. With a book and wand pattern embroidered on her right shoulder, she seemed to be from the Magic Department. Lifting her back from the wall, she pushed Jamois away and stood in front of Leo and Celia. ¡°Hello, my name is Toura Yan. Are you Celia? I heard a lot about you from Riss,¡± she said, addressing Celia. Celia replied, ¡°Hello, Senior Toura.¡± Though they had never met, Celia had heard of Toura from Riss, who had spoken highly of her as an honor student and the top scorer in the fifth-year magic department written test. Toura turned to Leo and eyed him skeptically. ¡°And... you''re Leo Flove, right?¡± Toura looked at Leo without saying a word and snorted. ¡°I was looking forward to meeting you after all the praise Professor Ren gave you¡­ but what is this? Your mana is so weak? I feel foolish for having expected more.¡± Celia was outraged. ¡°Did you just say Leo''s mana is weak?¡± ¡°I was only speaking the truth,¡± replied Toura. ¡°So, Leo, skip the Knights and Summoning classes right now and focus on magic.¡± She then wrapped her arms around Leo''s shoulders and gestured toward the ceiling. ¡°Leo, look up. Can you see your potential shining like a star in the night sky?¡± ¡°All I can see is the magic lamp from the chandelier hanging from the ceiling,¡± Leo replied. Toura sighed. ¡°You don¡¯t understand what I''m saying. Close your eyes and see.¡± ¡°Then I will only see darkness,¡± said Leo. ¡°You have the ability to intuitively evaluate things,¡± Toura continued. ¡°It''s a necessary skill for a wizard. You must be a wizard by nature.¡± Toura was a typical wizard who only said what she had to say, and Celia tried to interject with a comment of her own. ¡°Senior Toura, a little while ago, you said we shouldn''t force him to choose his major¡­¡± But Toura interrupted. ¡°Celia. I''m sorry, but this is a talk between magic department senior and junior, so please don''t interfere.¡± Celia turned to Jamois, a hint of frustration in her voice. ¡°Is that okay?¡± Jamois replied, ¡°Of course not. But she''s a wizard, so she won''t listen no matter what you say.¡± ? ? ? ? ? ? ¡°Brother!¡± Celia exclaimed, hugging Riss. ¡°Celia, how are you?¡± Riss replied with a warm smile. Leo watched in surprise as the usually composed and proper Celia clung to her brother with childlike excitement. ''Looking at her like this, she¡¯s definitely a 15-year-old kid.'' Riss turned to Leo and extended a hand in greeting. ¡°You must be Leo. I¡¯ve heard a lot about you. How is Aunt Reina?¡± Leo shook Riss¡¯ hand firmly. ¡°She¡¯s doing well. Have you met my mother before?¡± ¡°I have, when I was younger. And I¡¯ve sent her a few letters since coming to Lumeln.¡± ¡°To aunt?¡± Celia asked with a surprised face. ¡°Our aunt was quite famous when she was at the academy. You¡¯ll hear all about her legendary exploits as you go through your own academy life.¡± Riss answered with a chuckle ¡°For example?¡± Celia prompted. Riss grinned. ¡°Well, there was the time she led a student protest and stormed the principal¡¯s office because the desserts in the dormitory cafeteria were lousy.¡± ¡°That was our aunt?¡± Celia¡¯s mouth hung open in disbelief. ¡°That sounds like my mother.¡± Leo put on an expression of believing that. Riss nodded and continued, "Indeed. Thanks to her, the students could have delicious desserts even in the dormitory dining room. I had a chance to try it back then ... I supported the opinion of her as the student council president." ¡°I¡¯m sorry for inviting you on the weekend,¡± Riss continued. ¡°I thought we wouldn¡¯t be able to see each other for a while with your busy academy schedule, so I wanted to catch up.¡± Celia reassured him. ¡°It¡¯s okay! I¡¯m so happy to see you after so long!¡± While taking care of his younger sister, Riss also took care of Leo. ''I can see why Celia admires him.'' As Gerdinger''s successor, and as Lumeln Academy¡¯s student council president, Riss was an impeccable person, a person with both skills and character. ''He''s like a person close to becoming a hero.'' Leo felt it was only a matter of time before Riss rose to the rank of a hero. ¡°So, brother,¡± Celia exclaimed, interrupting Leo¡¯s thoughts. ¡°What hero dungeon did you clear this time? Who was the hero?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s classified information,¡± Riss replied with a grin. ¡°But I can tell you that we retrieved two pages this time. Unfortunately, one is so badly damaged that even the world of heroes couldn¡¯t be recreated.¡± Riss, who seemed to feel pity, suddenly checked his watch. It was already dinner time. ¡°It is already time for dinner. You guys don¡¯t know about Lumeria''s hidden restaurant, right?¡± Leo and Celia shook their heads in unison, both curious. "Is there such a thing?" Celia asked. Riss chuckled. "Of course there is. Do you think I''ve been going to Lumeria for no reason for the past five years? I''ll take you to a really delicious place today." Celia couldn''t contain her excitement, her smile brightening as she jumped up from her seat. "Wow!" ¡°Leo, is there any food that you can¡¯t eat?¡± Riss asked, turning to Leo. ¡°I can eat everything.¡± "Really? Okay, then go down first. I''ll organize my luggage and join you." Celia hummed a tune as she pushed Leo''s back and went outside. Riss reached into his luggage and pulled out a small sealed box, containing the page of Hero Records that he had retrieved this time. It was something that should never be shown to normal students, so he always had to carry it with him even when he went out. Holding the box, slightly smaller than the palm of his hand, Riss paused as he felt a surge of unusual power emanating from it. "What is this? Is the hero dungeon I conquered this time about to run out of control?" he muttered, his expression growing nervous. The torn pages would always be in an unstable state. Even if they conquered it, there were often cases where the hero dungeon went wild again, creating a new dungeon. Riss, who opened the box to check, narrowed his eyes. To his surprise, the record had no response. "Wait a minute. Could it be?" Riss hurriedly opened the sealed box of the badly damaged page. A small fragment of page, the size of an index finger, was emitting a faint gray light. Riss couldn''t help but be surprised when he saw the page, which had not responded until now, suddenly revealing its strength. ''What the hell... Which Hero¡¯s page is this¡­ ?'' CH 31 As Leo entered the classroom, he was greeted by the familiar voices of his classmates. It was a bright and sunny morning, and the weekend had just passed. "Good morning, Leo!" called out one of his classmates, a cheerful greeting that was echoed by the others in the room. Leo smiled in response, pleased to be back in the company of his friends. "Did you have a good weekend?" he asked, making his way to his seat. Tade, one of Leo''s closest friends, was the first to approach him. "Leo, I heard you met the student council president over the weekend!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. Illyana, who had come up to Leo with her arms crossed, looked surprised. "Everyone was saying that you were close with Celia Gerdinger of Class 1, and now you''ve even met with the student council president?" she asked, her tone incredulous. It was true that Leo and Celia were cousins, but only Karl and Chelsi knew the truth. To the rest of the class, it was a mystery why Leo seemed to be so well-connected. "Are you interested in becoming the next student council president?" Illyana asked curiously. Tade was quick to chime in. "Of course! He''s the strongest among Lumeln''s ranks!" he exclaimed. "Good family background, good skills, good grades, and he''s handsome too. Leo, have you been recommended to join the student council?" Leo was a highly-regarded talent of Lumeln academy. At first, many people questioned why Leo, who was not a top student, was chosen as the freshmen representative, but now it was different. He was an unprecedented All-Class, and the professors from all majors covet him. Leo shook his head, dismissing the suggestion. "I didn''t receive any recommendation like that. Even if I did, I''m not interested in the student council." At his words, Tade and Illyana''s eyes lit up with excitement. "Leo, do you want to join the Summoning Material Research Club with me?" Tade asked eagerly. "You''re still weak in summoning skills, aren''t you? So, it will definitely help you!" But Illyana was equally enthusiastic about recruiting Leo to her own club. "Move! Did you forget that Leo is an All-Class major? Leo! Join the magic swordsman club with me! You are absolutely welcome!" The two classmates were practically beside themselves with excitement, and Leo couldn''t help but smile at their enthusiasm. Despite their different opinions on which club Leo should join, Tade and Illyana had already made their own choices and were eager to get started. As the two bickered about club activities, Karl sauntered in with a disapproving click of his tongue. "You both are late," he chastised. "Leo has already decided about his club activities." "What? Where?" Tade and Illyana asked in unison. "He''s going to create a club himself," Karl revealed, eliciting gasps of surprise from the group. "Creating a club?" Tade exclaimed. "As a freshman?" "What kind of club are you going to create?" Nella inquired languidly from her seat across the room. "A Hero Research Club," Leo announced proudly. "We''re already doing enough research in Hero Studies, aren''t we?" Illyana grumbled. "He said he was studying forgotten heroes. For example, Kyle," Karl added, causing Tade and Illyana to look at Leo in confusion. "Why would you do that?" they asked. Nella, on the other hand, nodded in understanding. "Even if he''s a fictional hero, Kyle was the only All-Class hero, so that''s why you are so interested in him." ''I''ll have to quickly find the pages of my Hero Record.'' There was no way to prove his existence unless he found his Hero Record. Suddenly, a male student from Class 8, Elleg Tuna, walked in and approached Tade. "Hey, who''s the class rep of Class 5?" he asked urgently. "We don''t have a class representative, but I''m currently filling in that role," Tade replied. Elleg shook his head. "You haven¡¯t decided yet," ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Tade and Illyana, as well as Chelsi, who was reading a magic book, raised their heads and responded. "A notice¡­ ¡­ So, who should I give it to?¡± Elleg looked at the three in turn and asked. The three people''s gazes were entangled in the air. The three started to bicker about who should be the class representative, with Tade insisting, "Of course it¡¯s me. Until now, it has been me who was assisting Professor Hallind." Illyana retorted, "What are you talking about? I''ve assisted Professor Hallind a lot too. And as someone from the prestigious Laden family, shouldn''t I be the one to do it?" ¡°Are you discussing family background in front of Llewellyn? Pathetic," Chelsi chimed in. "A class representative should be the most outstanding person in the class, right? Who''s the most outstanding in our class?" While the three continued to argue, Elleg approached Leo and handed him a paper. "Leo Flove. I''ll give this to you." "What is this?" Leo asked. "It''s about today''s Hero studies class schedule. After the morning assembly, everyone will gather at the auditorium. Professor Artian decided to conduct a joint class with ten classes this time." Among the required subjects, Combat Studies, for example, was handled by each homeroom teacher. The reason was that they had to guide the students in a way that could understand and utilize their own traits. However, in the case of heroics classes, there are professors who are specialized in it. The Heroics professor for the first-year students was Professor Artian, who was also the homeroom teacher for Class 8, and was someone who left a strong impression on the first day of school. "You can give it to the homeroom teacher at the morning assembly today. I''m going." Elleg left the classroom. ¡°Where, Let me see.¡± Karl took the paper from Leo and exclaimed, "Oh! That''s it! This class is to study the Hero Record pages recovered this time." Nella, who had been sitting quietly, finally spoke up. "What kind of hero is it? Leo, did you hear anything from the student council president yesterday?" Leo thought for a moment before responding, "I heard that there was a page that was so damaged that it was impossible to open the world of heroes, maybe it''s that one." Karl groaned, "Ugh! The deduction class is the most challenging!" "I''m the class rep!" "No, it''s me!" "I can''t communicate with you guys! Let''s settle it with our skills! Both of you, come at me!" "Do you think we''ll be scared?" ¡°I will show you the results for a month!¡± The three people who were still arguing about who the class representative was, were flapping their arms. "If Professor Hallind comes and sees this..." Nella trailed off, looking concerned. "They''re dead," Karl finished with a shake of his head. ? ? ? ? ? ? It was morning assembly time, and Hallind nodded his head as Leo informed him about the joint class. "Not only Professor Artian, but also the 1st year homeroom professors are all observing this joint class," Without any particular expression, Hallind tossed the papers on the table and said, "Since this is the first joint class, make sure to look good." "Yes, professor." "If you show foolish behavior like these kids in front of other classes, you too would end up like this." The eyes of the students in the class were directed to the three people who were kneeling at their desks and holding up their chairs. Chelsi, Tade, and Illyana hung their heads in shame. As the conversation moved on, Karl raised his hand and asked, "Professor! Why haven¡¯t we decided on a class representative yet?¡± Even after a month since the start of the department schedule, Class 5 was the only class that had yet to elect a class representative. Hallind responded, "I expected you guys to pick a class representative yourselves without me intervening. It''s inefficient for me to waste time by getting involved." Other classes had taken the entire combat science class time to elect a class representative. In the case of Class 1, it took twice as long as other classes because there were three students with top grades. Hallind considered it a waste of time and left it to the students'' discretion. However, the class 5 students were waiting for Hallind to bring up the story. "If you want me to decide, I choose one as I please. Leo, Nella," Hallind declared, calling Leo, who was seated in the far back of the class, and Nella, who was in the front. ¡°Leo is the class rep and Nella is the vice rep," Hallind announced. "Understood," the students responded. But Illyana interrupted, "Wait a minute! Professor! What about a vote? There''s a method like that, isn''t there? It''s unfair to pick someone like this!" Tade supported her, "I agree!" At those words, Hallind reacted indifferently. Hallind responded with indifference, "Is there anyone in the class more suitable than Leo Flove who also showed great leadership skills in the class?" The room fell silent. No student in Class 5 could compare to Leo''s leadership skills in combat class. "And Nella is the calmest person in our class. So, I think she''s suitable as a vice representative who assists the class representative," Hallind continued. No one could refute his logic. Both Leo and Nella were not greedy for the position of class representative or vice representative. Since it was Professor Hallind who pointed out the two, others had nothing more to say. "Does anyone have any objections?" "No," the students responded. "All right. Then everyone get ready for class and move to the auditorium," Hallind instructed. ? ? ? ? ? ? Excitement filled the air as the first-year students made their way to the auditorium. It was a rare occasion for everyone to gather together, aside from department classes. Amidst the chatter, Leo was approached by several female students. ¡°Hello, Leo?¡± "Leo! Would you like to have lunch together after the class?¡± As someone who took all major courses, Leo was acquainted with many of his fellow students. Karl, who stood beside him, couldn''t help but tease him about his popularity. "Wow, Leo! You''re quite popular. But I guess that''s because you have a good-looking face." As a school celebrity and a pretty boy, Leo was certainly popular in the academy. ¡°Do you have any friends that you can introduce to me?¡± "Why are you asking me that when you have a lot of female friends yourself?" ¡°In my case, everyone is merely acquaintances.¡± Karl put his clenched hands on the back of his head and grunted. "Karl." "Huh?" Karl turned his head to see Chloe, who appeared to be exhausted. ¡°Chloe, you look very tired.¡± At his question, Chloe glanced at Leo before shaking her head. "Not really. If you have any leftover fatigue recovery potions, would you sell them all to me?¡± Karl retrieved a few potions from his subspace and handed them over to Chloe. She opened several bottles and gulped them down, much to the surprise of those around her. ¡°It¡¯s the beginning of the semester, aren¡¯t you pushing yourself too hard?" Leo voiced his concern, but Chloe simply shook her head and walked away. "I am fine." Karl commented on her dedication, "Wow, that''s tough. Poisonous. It''s amazing that she can still get first place on the theory exam with that." Chloe was currently the top student in the theoretical exam in the magic department, followed by Abad in second place, Chelsi in third, and Leo in fourth. Suddenly, Chelsi interrupted the conversation, drawing attention. "As Chloe, she can''t help but be anxious," Chelsi remarked. "Huh? Why." "Karl. I sometimes wonder if you are in the magic department.¡± ¡°I¡¯m studying hard enough not to get expelled!¡± Karl raised his thumb and replied confidently. " Brother Leo might catch up with the theoretical score as soon as he gets used to the latest magic trend," Chelsi explained, concern evident in her voice. It was true that Leo was less knowledgeable about the latest magical trends than his peers. However, Lumeln professors believed that no other student possessed Leo''s ability when it came to interpreting magic. "Is the first place in theory really that important?" Karl asked. "As a wizard of the Tower, she can''t help it because it''s her pride," Chelsi shrugged, referring to Chloe''s status as a member of the Magic Tower. If the wizards of the prestigious family, who are inherited by blood, tend to focus on "fighting"-oriented magic, the wizards of the tower focus on "exploration and research." Heroic family wizards, like Chelsi, may be strong in battle, but they don''t lead the latest trend in magic. Conversely, all new discoveries and spells were created in the Magic Tower. She felt a sense of crisis from Leo in a field that Chloe thought she would never lose. Leo scratched his cheek and looked at Chloe, who was ahead of him. He understood her drive to excel, but he also sensed her vulnerability. ¡®If you overdo it, you''ll get burned,¡¯ A great hero who saved the world and the bud that is now growing. It can''t be helped as the starting line is different. ''After I catch up, let¡¯s talk.'' ? ? ? ? ? ? ¡°Yes, Riss.¡± Riss stood before Kalrian, the principal of the academy, reporting on the results of his recent dispatch. ¡°Is it true that this hero page responded?¡± Kalrian asked, carefully examining a small piece of the damaged hero record page. Riss confirmed, ¡°Yes.¡± Kalrian was intrigued. This fragment was so damaged that it was embarrassing to call it a page, and it should not have contained any power. ¡°Interesting. This kind of page shouldn''t contain any power, but for it to react..." ¡°Has there been any reaction after that?¡± Kalrian asked. ¡°None,¡± Riss replied. "Hmm... Was it a reaction that happened as you got closer to the hero record?¡± Kalrian mused aloud. Putting down the page fragment, he thanked Riss for his work, "Anyway, Student Riss. Good job." Riss gave a respectful bow, ¡°Yes.¡± As he left, Kalrian instructed his secretary, Elena, "Take this to the Great Hall of Beginning." Elena hesitated for a moment as she looked at the piece of the hero record he had given her, before nodding and saying, "Yes, principal." Alone in his office, Kalrian stroked his chin, lost in thought. Having conquered the world of countless heroes, he knew more about Hero Records than anyone else. ¡°If you think about it, there are times when a piece like that reacts,¡± he muttered to himself, shaking his head in disbelief. ¡°If the Hero recorded in the hero record comes near them, they will react." CH 32 The entire first-year class gathered in the auditorium. The chatter of teenage students filled the entire space. Meanwhile, assistant professors and teaching assistants emerged and prepared for class. Once they finished their preparation, one of the assistant professors said, "Everyone, please be quiet. The class will start soon!" "Yes," the students replied to the teaching assistants. The chatter quieted a bit, but didn''t completely dissipate. Teenagers weren''t easily quieted by words, especially when they were socializing with friends. The assistant professors were aware of this and didn''t push the issue further. The professor leading today¡¯s class was Professor Artian Nier. "Hello everyone! I''m sorry I''m late!" Professor Artian entered the auditorium and apologized as she climbed onto the stage. Clang! "Ouch!" She stumbled and fell. All the students straightened up and became quiet. Professor Artian, with an embarrassed expression, rubbed her knees and made her way to the middle of the stage. Artian Nier. The professor that the first-year students feared the most. The reason was simple. If you made noise in her class, you would be subjected to physical punishment. Of course, it wasn''t Professor Artian''s intention, but rather the work of impulsive spirits contracted with her. Thanks to that, the students were nervous just by her appearance. Artian, who controlled the students just by showing up, clapped her hands and smiled brightly. "As expected, our students are wonderful! Being so quiet in front of a professor!" Optimistic Artian thought highly of the students. "In our last class, we discussed the hero''s family, right? Shall we review what we learned before today''s lesson?" Artian began the class. "Can anyone explain why the Hero Record led to the creation of the Hero Family?" Several hands went up in response to the question. Besides being intimidating, she was a good professor. She taught the class in an easy-to-understand manner and was generous in giving grades. Considering that some strict professors give low grades or deduct points, it wouldn''t hurt to participate actively in Artian''s class here. Even Karl actively raised his hand. "Karl from class 5?" "Yes!" Karl excitedly jumped up from his seat and answered. "To access the world of heroes through the Hero Record, an item that is closely related or has a deep connection to the hero is required. Since the descendants of heroes inherit heirlooms from their ancestors, they can easily access the world of heroes!" ¡°Right. I¡¯ll give student Karl 5 points.¡± Karl smiled and sat down. ¡°Although it is a political story, it is also for this reason that the connection between Lumeln Academy, which stores hero records, and the famous Heroes Family is deep.¡± Even if you have the key to open the world of heroes, the records of heroes are stored in the Hero Record at Lumeln. ¡°In the case of heroes who do not have relics left before the appearance of the world of heroes, items related to the heroes can be obtained through the investigation and excavation of ruins.¡± Since hero records have been in existence since the age of disaster before the world of heroes was revealed, there were countless pages of heroes that only exist and cannot open the world of heroes. ¡°Since it is not possible to open all the pages with the memento of one person, so excavation is the second most important act after conquering a hero dungeon in the current era. Moreover, hero dungeons created by rampage often result in an unstable transfer of power, although rewards are given. Now, one question here.¡± Artian looked at the students again. "Can anyone talk about the importance of hero studies other than what I explained?" ¡°Student Duran from class 1.¡± "Because it can be a clue to conquering the world of heroes." "That''s right. 5 points for Student Duran.¡± Duran calmly sat down. ¡°The world of heroes is the ordeal of previous heroes. Even if you know the hero''s story, the trials are so difficult that they cannot be easily conquered. Many people die there. So even a small clue or anecdote becomes a key keyword for strategy.¡± This is why students are so focused on the study of heroes. ¡°When you reach your final year, you will choose a hero to inherit their power and attack the page of that hero. Until then, you should figure out which hero suits your personality.¡± Illyana clapped lightly. "Well then, are you ready to start presenting your homework now?" Last week, Artian gave homework to all the first-year students. It wasn''t a difficult task, but it was important for those who aspired to become heroes. They had to think about what kind of hero they wanted to be and present it in the next Heroic class. Over the weekend, the first-year students seriously pondered over this homework, as they entered Lumeln with a serious mindset. "Okay, let''s start with Class 1." The students of Class 1 looked at each other hesitantly. They were embarrassed to talk about their hero goals in front of hundreds of people. "Class 1, there''s nothing to be ashamed of. Your goal is your guide. Saying it in front of people with confidence is something to be proud of... Ugh!" "Now it''s Artian''s class. It''s not your turn to speak out," ¡°Professor Sedzen! Please! Professor Artian is already timid enough!" Professor Sedzen, who had been enthusiastically cheering for the hesitant Class 1, was restrained by other homeroom teachers. Then, Celia got up from her seat. Standing tall, she brushed her hair back and spoke confidently. "I want to become a knight who surpasses the ancestral knights of my family." A knight who surpasses Gerdinger''s predecessors. There was no weightier goal for a person from a hero family. "Wow! That''s a really cool goal!" Next was Chloe. ¡°I want to make a magic book that only consists of my original spells.¡± "As a wizard, that''s a great ambition." Starting with Celia, the students spoke about their goals one by one. Initially hesitant, they found it easier once they started talking. The homeroom teachers listened carefully to their students'' presentations, knowing that this was a glimpse into the path their students wanted to take. Eventually, it was Class 5''s turn. "I want to support the heroes," Karl revealed. Artian was surprised at first but soon understood the meaning behind Karl''s words and smiled. "Student Karl seems to want to be the one who supports the hero from behind." "Yes." While many students didn''t understand Karl''s decision to pursue the path of a supporter, the professors often evaluated Karl''s chosen path positively. After Karl took his seat, it was Leo''s turn to present. Leo stood up from his chair and spoke calmly. "My goal is to completely eradicate Erebos." For a moment, the auditorium fell silent. Artian was surprised, while the other students looked at Leo with confused expressions. The complete destruction of Erebos was not just a personal desire; it was a hope that the world had held since the age of disaster. Even the legendary heroes of that time had failed, so it was a foolish aspiration that would be mocked if expressed openly. It was no wonder that they were taken aback when Leo boldly declared his goal. "Oh, um...! That''s quite an admirable goal!" Artian managed to regain her composure and laughed. "Doesn''t that sound more like a dream?" "Once upon a time, there was a foolish friend who spoke those dream-like words," Leo rubbed his chin and smiled. "At some point, I was also influenced by that foolish statement. That''s why I decided to carry on that dream in her place." Karl looked at Leo, who was speaking with enthusiasm, with an incredulous expression. Then he grinned. "A person who aims for such a great goal needs a great supporter, right?" "I''ll be counting on you, Karl." ? ? ? ? ? ? "The freshmen representative has extraordinary ambitions," one of the homeroom teachers murmured as he watched the presentations of the first-year students. "Wasn''t the response a bit too playful?" "But the teacher in charge is Professor Hallind. Would he joke around in a situation like this?" "But isn''t that too much ambition?" Professors expressed different opinions among themselves. It was then that Sedzen asked Hallind next to him, "Does it look like a joke to you?" "No. He is not a student who talks nonsense," Hallind replied with a frown. "Then it''s a bit scary." Thousands of years have passed since Erebos was subjugated by the Legendary heroes and divided into several pieces, then sealed. There have been several respawns over the past years. However, with the resurrection of just one piece, the world would be swept away by a huge disaster. However, a student was dreaming of the complete annihilation of Erebos. "Is he just a simple fool? Or is his ambition as great as that?" It had been a month, but Hallind still couldn''t fully gauge Leo. It was when Hallind was staring intently in the direction where Leo was sitting. "Professors." Elena, the principal''s secretary, approached the professors with a box. "This is a page from Hero Records that will be used as a textbook this time." "Thank you, Secretary Elena." Professor Sedzen received it and stood up. Other homeroom professors also stood up. In this joint class, professors also participate. To be precise, it was to prepare for an emergency. There have been several incidents where pages recovered from the hero dungeon during class caused havoc. It doesn''t happen often, but it''s not uncommon either, so the professors were always there to observe when Hero Records were used as textbooks to protect students. By the time the professors headed to the podium, the rest of the class had also finished their presentations. "Everyone. From now on, we are going to use the hero records recovered by the dungeon raiders this time to conduct a hero studies class.¡± Professor Artian said as she received the sealed box containing the Hero Record page from Sedzen. "Finally!" "This is my first time touching a Hero Record page!" "I''m nervous!" The students showed an excited reaction. "Today''s class will involve reading the Hero Record pages, guessing which major the hero belongs to, and planning strategies for conquering the hero''s world." This class didn''t necessarily need to use Hero Records. However, it was something that they will encounter in real life someday. So, to add pressure to the class, students were allowed to use the hero records of an unknown hero. "Each class representative, please come up." ¡°I envy you, Leo. To be able to touch a Hero Record page by yourself!¡± Nella laughed at Illyana''s words. "You can touch it later during the class, so what?" "But it''s a privilege to be able to touch it early!" Illyana was envious of this kind of privilege as a class representative. Just like that, ten class representatives went up on stage. "Ohh. The class representative of Class 5 was Young master Leo?¡± Chen Xia, the class representative of Class 10, greeted him warmly. "It was decided by drawing lots today." "Drawing lots?" Chen Xia tilted her head. A strange airflow was formed when the outstanding students among the freshmen were gathered in one place. Artian opened the sealed box. ¡°There are two hero records recovered this time. Of course, only one hero record will be used as teaching material. The other is a page fragment... It was brought in to show that there''s something like this too." Artian lifted the page fragment. And handed it to the nearest Leo. Leo reached out without thinking. In an instant, the fragment of the page began to emit a faint light. And the moment the page touched Leo''s hand... [Hero Records open. The world of ¡ö¡ö. Chapter: ¡ö¡ö-¡ö¡ö¡ö] A message that Leo had seen before appeared before his eyes. This surprised not just Artian, but also the other class representatives. And the professors who were preparing for the worst looked shocked. FLASH-! The stage floor lit up with a bright light. Incomprehensible language of the gods was visible. "A rampage?" Professor Sedzen''s bewildered voice could be heard as the stage was engulfed in the intense light. As the light dissipated, the professors and class representatives, including Leo, found themselves in a different space. They were now in the middle of a battlefield, surrounded by the corpses of bizarre monsters. "Everyone, stay alert! It''s a hero dungeon!" shouted Hallind, causing the class representatives to turn pale with fear. "Hallind! Look at that wall over there!" Sedzen pointed towards the wall that Leo was also staring at with a blank expression. It was a familiar castle to Leo, one that had disappeared in this era. It was the last line of defense and the final city of the Age of Disaster - the castle walls of Godstone. Monsters, demons, and devils burned and their stench filled the air. Leo could never forget this sight. ¡®If this is the right time... if my memory serves me correctly,¡¯ -That''s right, Kyle. My wish is too foolish. ¡°That''s Right, ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö. My wish is too foolish.¡± The professors and class representatives were shocked by the voice they heard from behind. And then, without realizing it, they took a deep breath. The person there was someone well-known. Leo turned his head in the direction of the voice. A woman spoke with the same confident tone. ¡°But ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö. We will save the world.¡± A black dragon, who was referred to as the King of Wisdom in this era. A Legendary and noble hero who radiated the light of hope during the age of despair when the world headed toward destruction. At the time, she was a close friend of Kyle, who he laughed at for having a foolish dream. Feeling emotional, Leo called her name. ¡°Risinas.¡± At his call, Risinas smiled. WOOSH-! At the same time, the world collapsed. In the blink of an eye, they were back in the auditorium. "What...!" "Professors, what just happened?" The students asked with trembling voices, confused and alarmed. Hallind made a calm judgment. ¡°For now, the class is suspended. Everyone, calm down and leave the auditorium." After that, the associate professors led the students out. Leo stood blankly and looked down at the page fragment of the Hero Record in his hand. He could tell whose Hero record this page belonged to. ''Kyle''s Page. This is my record.'' CH 33 ¡°Whaaat? You saw the King of Wisdom!¡± "Wow! That''s a big deal! So, is that Risinas''s hero record?" The entire first year was chaotic because of the Hero Studies class incident. All the professors of the academy were called in, and classes were replaced with self-study. That''s how important the incident was. There weren''t many records left of the first heroes, the Legendary Heroes, that are recorded in the Hero Record. In such circumstances, a fragment of a new page of the Hero Record featuring Risinas was found. It was no wonder there was an uproar in Lumeln. While other students were making a commotion, Leo was in serious trouble. ''Why is my hero record the only one in such a mess?'' They entered the world of heroes because Leo, the owner of the world, touched the hero record. But it was clearly different from the entrance exam. ''When entering the world of heroes, a message appears to the conquerors about whose world it is. But in this case....'' [Hero Records open. The world of ¡ö¡ö. Chapter: ¡ö¡ö-¡ö¡ö¡ö] It was unclear whose world it was. ¡®I couldn''t even hear my name when Risinas called it.¡¯ It was as if someone had intentionally erased Kyle''s name. ¡®There must be a definite reason why my Hero Record was not left behind.¡¯ Leo narrowed his eyes. ¡®The Hero Records were originally one, right?¡¯ Hero Records, which were now divided into five, were originally one complete record. However, a long time ago, due to an incident, it was divided into five. In the process, several pages were lost and scattered all over the world. ''What if someone deliberately destroyed the Hero Record?¡¯ The Hero Record was an item that inherited the power of heroes. It was the very source of power that sustains heroes. ''If someone doesn''t want a new hero to emerge...,'' The thought sent a shiver down his spine as he considered the possibility of someone intentionally hindering the emergence of new heroes. ''Erebos.'' ¡°Brother Leo, are you alright?" Chelsi''s voice brought him back to reality. Leo snapped out of his thoughts and turned to Chelsi. "Yeah, I''m fine," he replied, trying to shake off the unease he felt. ''I need to investigate the reason why Hero Record split.'' ? ? ? ? ? ? A month has passed since the incident at the Hero Academy. Firstly, the noisy atmosphere settled down. A hero record involving Risinas was definitely a big issue. However, there was nothing that the first-year students could do about it. Many students asked the professors questions about Risinas, but they did not answer them. In addition, as the midterm exam schedule overlapped, the incident at the Hero Academy naturally drifted away from the interests of the first-year students. Professor Ren''s magic theory class. "As you all know, midterms are coming up soon," said Professor Ren. The students'' expressions tensed up as Professor Ren mentioned the midterm exam for the first time. Leo could tell intuitively. ''He''s talking about the practical exam.'' At Lumeln, exams consisted of a written and practical component, and the latter held a high weightage for major courses. Naturally, the students were eagerly waiting for the practical exam to be mentioned. Professor Ren stood in front of the blackboard, chalk in hand, and the sound of it echoed throughout the lecture hall, causing the students to buzz. "For your midterm practical exam assignment, you will be working on Original Magic, also known as Unique Magic." Throwing the chalk into the chalk box, Professor Ren walked to the middle of the podium. "Original Magic is all about expressing your individuality as a wizard. In this day and age where activation spells are the norm, many wizards tend to neglect their own unique magic.¡± Looking at the students, Professor Ren grinned. ¡°But I believe that Original Magic is crucial for a wizard. Your own spells, which deviate from standardized spells, can be hard to destroy and can serve as a trump card in emergencies.¡± At those words, the student''s eyes lit up. A trump card. This one word was enough to stimulate the young wizards. "Shall we discuss famous unique magic in history? Any student who knows unique magic can speak up." The students raised their hands in response to the question. ¡°Student Chelsi.¡± "The magic of Robert Llewellyn." "Absolutely. The founder of the Llewellyn family was indeed a powerful and unique wizard." Chelsi beamed with pride as the other students began to make their own presentations. Usually, Professor Ren would have only received a few answers and finished it, but today he continued receiving answers. It was as if Ren seemed to be waiting for something specific, prompting the students to answer more actively. Then Leo raised his hand. ¡°Student Leo! Go ahead and answer!¡± Ren''s tone of voice rose slightly. Ren showed a keen interest in Leo, but unlike Ren, Leo rarely answered the professor''s questions. Leo stood up and said. "Nebula magic." The students looked puzzled at his words. Nebula magic. It meant the elf''s exclusive magic system. Of course, it was powerful magic. However, all elves could use the Nebula magic. It was inappropriate to call such magic unique magic. Ren breathed heavily through his nose. ¡°Exactly! That was the answer I was hoping for!¡± He clapped enthusiastically and explained. "The Nebula magic has become established as a magic system that all elves learn! But that''s a magic that elf wizards have modified so that any one of them can learn it!" Ren raised his voice. ¡°You all know the power of Nebula magic!¡± Nebula magic. It was a magic unique to the elven race, as it was created to fit their mana nature. It was also the reason why it was difficult for other races to use the Nebula magic. It was literally the realm of sense and talent. That was why when Leo used elven magic, the entire magic department was turned upside down. "But!" Ren clenched his fists and said seriously. "The Nebula magic used by elves today is just a minor copy of Hero Luna''s original magic. Only one person in history has ever used real Nebula magic!" ''It''s actually two people.'' Leo rubbed his chin and smiled. "That would be Luna, the founder of Nebula magic." The magic department students clenched their fists. ¡°Now, do you understand why you should pursue original magic?¡± For wizards who dreamt of becoming heroes, Luna was an object of their respect. The fact that Luna''s magical foundation was original magic was enough to emphasize the need for original magic to the students. Ding-dong-dang-dong- The bell rang announcing the end of the class. ¡°Let''s end the class here for today." Students packed their bags and rose from their seats. And they got busy discussing original magic with their friends. "Original magic. It''s such a pain, " Karl said, scratching his head. Despite being a type of creation magic, original magic was often challenging, but not always. "You''ve got three practical exams in all departments, Leo. You must be working hard to prepare," Karl said, looking concerned. Leo laughed in response, "I''ll do my best." ''Because I know a lot about unique magic.'' Leo had created numerous unique magics in his previous life, so he was excited about the practical test. "Leo." As Leo and Karl were leaving the classroom, Chloe called out to Leo, holding a magic book in her hand. Chloe used to attend magic classes with Leo and Karl, but recently she had been sitting separately from them. It wasn''t because they fought or had a bad relationship. When the class was over, they often talked and hung out. But they sat separately during class. "Wanna grab lunch together?" When Leo smiled and asked, Chloe took a deep breath and came closer to Leo. At that moment, Leo''s attention was drawn to the black magic book in Chloe''s arms. ¡®That''s not a textbook. Did she personally read that magic book?¡¯ "Leo, I''m gonna beat you in this practical exam." Karl was taken aback and interjected, "Hey, what''s winning or losing between friends? And you¡¯re better than Leo as a wizard. You''re the top student in terms of wizarding abilities, so..." Chloe tightened her grip on the magic book and replied, "No. Leo is better than me in practical magic. That''s an undeniable fact." Chloe''s eyes became cloudy as she continued, "I always have to be the best when it comes to magic. I can''t afford to lose." Grinning, Chloe looked directly at Leo and said, "So I will beat Leo in this test. Promise me. You, too, will do your best as a wizard. I can''t tolerate you neglecting magic just because you care about other majors." Leo agreed, "Okay, I will." ¡°Hey, Leo¡­¡± Karl tried to intervene, but Leo assured him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Karl. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re fighting.¡± Leo put on a serious expression and explained, "She said it like that, and if I avoid it, it''ll be disrespectful to Chloe." "Thanks, Leo. Then I''ll go first." Chloe smiled and left. Seeing that, Karl smacked his lips and said, " Tsk tsk¡­ That''s youth, the power of youth." ? ? ? ? ? ? As the midterm exams drew near, the practical exam contents for each department were gradually revealed. For the Knight department, it was a duel. During the midterm exam period, they held sparring sessions within the Knight department, and the rankings were based on the number of points earned. Consequently, it was the subject with the earliest practical exam. On the day of the midterm, it was announced that the top eight students would be selected to participate in a tournament duel. For the summoning class, there were two practical exams: a race where they rode flying creatures, and a test on how well they could handle spirits. For the magic department, they invited external judges from outside Lumeln to hold a presentation on original magic, which did not allow cramming. This exam evaluated the hard work of the students throughout. Finally, for the long-awaited combat science and hero studies class exams, it was a joint exam. "As expected," Karl said with a knowing expression. "The practical exam goals for hero studies and combat science class are to conquer the world of Heroes," he said, pointing to the bulletin board in front of the classroom. "It seems that the test is to randomly form a team on the day of the test and conquer the world of heroes. It''s very tough!" Teamwork was crucial in conquering the world of heroes. If the team members were already decided and the attack strategy was planned, efficiency would inevitably increase. However, if one did not know who their teammates were, one would need to prepare a strategy for all kinds of situations. It was a test to evaluate the overall ability of a hero cadet. "I won''t let anyone copy my tactics," Karl said. "Hey! Who said anything about copying tactics?" Illyana said with a laugh. "Yeah. Even copying wouldn''t help Karl!" Chelsi added, giggling. ¡°Chelsi you!¡± When Karl was trying to catch Illyana and Chelsi, who was running away while laughing. "Karl, isn''t this exam actually good for you?" Leo asked. "What do you mean?" Karl asked, curious. "You''re aiming to be a supporter, right? No matter which team you''re in, your role is clearly defined, right?" Karl''s eyes widened. "Right! I''ll prepare myself thoroughly so that I can support any team!" The difference between having a supporter in battle was significant. Rather than foolishly impersonating a wizard, thoroughly preparing oneself as a supporter could create greater synergy. "Thanks, Leo! Because of you, I feel confident!" Karl said. "I don''t want to receive much support from Karl," Tade said. "I am a little worried too about receiving support from Karl," Nella added. "YOU GUYS! I¡¯ll show it. I''ll make you regret that I wasn¡¯t on your team!" Karl said, grabbing his head and screaming, much to the disbelief of his friends. CH 34 Leo headed to the Heroes Tower, located at the center of the Academy, where the student council was housed after his classes were over. As he arrived in front of the tall building, he looked up at it in awe. "It''s really high." "It¡¯s a freshman." ¡°What is he doing here?¡± ¡°Oh my, he¡¯s cute.¡± Passing senior students noticed him and murmured in surprise, as the Heroes Tower was a frequent destination for them. Meanwhile the First year students had an innate fear of their seniors, who had gone through a lot during their time in the Academy. This often kept them from going to areas where senior students frequently appeared. "Oh? Leo?¡± As Leo was lost in thought, someone called his name. It was Toura, a fifth-year Wizard student. "What brings you here?" "I have something to discuss with the student council president." ¡°To Riss?¡± Toura, who was tilting her head, nodded. "Would you like to come with me?" Toura took Leo into the Heroes tower. ¡°So, Leo. When are you going to quit other majors?¡± "I have no intention of dropping my other majors." ¡°Leo Leo. As I said before, time is limited. I know you excel in other majors, but your true calling lies in magic,¡± Toura grumbled, dissatisfied, but said nothing more. It was because the professors had called her the other day and spoken about this. Leo was amazed as he looked inside the tower. There were countless portraits of heroes hanging at the entrance of the building, all of whom were graduates of Lumeln. The facilities were also far superior to those of the first-year buildings. It wasn''t that the first-year buildings lacked facilities, but the Heroes Tower was simply overwhelming. Leo and Toura stepped into a floating elevator and quickly ascended to the floor where the student council was located. "Hello, Vice President. Who is this first-year student?" ¡°This is Leo.¡± "Leo? The famous freshman representative?" said the 3rd year student council executive with his eyes lit up. "Yes, he came to meet with the student council president about something." "Has he been interested in the student council since his first year? That''s unusual." he smiled and continued with the paperwork. The student council was generally a very busy place. "Come to think of it, didn''t the first-year midterm exam require students to create their own original magic?" "Yes." ¡°Do you have any ideas in mind?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a magic spell based on non-attribute magic.¡± "Non-attribute magic? That''s a concept I''ve never heard of. Can you explain?" "Wizards typically have a main magic attribute, right?" "Right. So there are opposing attributes. Even if you can handle all attributes, you can''t use them simultaneously." "Yes. I want to use my non-attribute magic to freely manipulate all magical attributes and increase their effectiveness." "That''s an interesting idea, but it sounds absurd," said Torua, laughing. "There''s a reason why people don''t attempt these things." "I know," Leo smiled and nodded. ¡°But isn''t it better to try something new?¡± Toura crossed her arms and smiled, sensing that the student in front of her was not just skilled in magic techniques. ¡®New attempts are always important to wizards. It''s such a waste.'' A junior who was more like a wizard than anyone else in this department. ¡®Those with many skills need to get on the right track from the start. I should have a serious discussion about it with Professor Ren.¡¯ Determined to somehow persuade Leo to choose the magic department, Toura stood in front of the student council president''s office. Knock knock. "Come on in." Creek- ¡°Hi Riss, Leo said he wanted to speak with you, so I brought him.¡± ¡°Leo?¡± Riss, who was sitting in the office and writing with a quill pen, stood up with a welcoming expression on his face. ¡°Yes, Leo. What''s the matter?¡± ¡°Student president.¡± "When it''s just the two of us, you can call me Brother." Riss smiled and said, and Leo nodded. "Okay, Brother Riss. I have a favor to ask." "What is it?" ¡°I want to enter the Forbidden Library.¡± "I''m not sure why you want to enter the Forbidden Library, but students are not permitted to enter without permission," Toura said, reaching for the sweets on one side of the student council president''s room. "Can''t even the student council president enter without permission?" "Unfortunately, it''s beyond my control." Riss laughed, resting his chin on his hand. "Of course, it''s not like there''s no way for students to enter." ¡°What is it?¡± Leo prompted. "It''s by conquering the hero dungeon." "Hero dungeon?" "Yes. The raiders are required to return any pages they retrieve from the dungeon directly to the Hero Record.¡± ¡°Even then, you can''t read the books in the Forbidden Library carelessly. So I suggest you give up on this idea." Toura grumbled. In summary, it was difficult to enter the Forbidden Library in the first year, and even if one did, it was challenging to obtain the desired information. ''Then maybe I should sneak in.'' It''s human nature to want to do something that you''re told not to do. Unaware that Leo had already reached this conclusion, Riss and Toura smiled significantly at him. "By the way, how are you preparing for the exam? Aren''t you nervous since it''s your first exam?" Riss asked. "I''m doing just fine," Leo replied calmly. "Would that work? Did you know that in Lumeln, the grade representative changes every time the exam is held?" Riss continued. "Yes, I know." "There must be many students aiming for your position, right?" Toura chimed in while munching on a crispy cookie. Although it was not yet emphasized because it was the beginning of the semester, being Lumeln''s grade representative was a position with many benefits. The grade representative represented the best in Lumeln, where only the best were gathered. In addition to participating in various internal and external events, the benefits were significant. They were essentially the face of the grade. Ultimately, being the grade representative was also the closest position to the next student council president. "Will you be able to defend your position as the first-year representative against such outstanding students?" "I''m not particularly interested in being a representative, but..." Leo paused and grinned. "I have no intention of giving up the top spot." "Look at that confidence. I''ll be looking forward to it," Riss smiled contentedly. ? ? ? ? ? ? The freshman midterm exams were nerve-wracking for the students, but they were also eagerly anticipated. Sitting in the audience of the first-year parade ground, Chelsi tapped her legs. ¡°As Professor Hallind said, we''ve changed beyond recognition in just a few months," she murmured softly, twirling her cane in the air. Magical runes imbued with magic spread out into the air, and in an instant, a spell was complete. Seeing the sight, Tade, who was in the same class, said with awe. ¡°You¡¯re fast.¡± "High-speed casting is my specialty. Of course, it''s gotten incredibly fast." As Hallind predicted, the first year''s skills improved in an instant. Even Chelsi, who had received an excellent education as a member of a hero family, had noticeably grown in skill. The freshmen were feeling a strange sense of confidence and excitement. "Anyway, I''m worried about Brother Leo," Chelsi said, looking at the parade ground. Tade let out a sigh. "Well, there are quite a few guys who are after Leo." Since it was in the early stages of admission, most of the major classes were based on theory rather than practice. Leo, recognized as an honor student by all professors, particularly shone in the class. However, even such a Leo had a weakness that could be evaluated. ¡°The Lumeln test has a large proportion of actual battles, so is he going to be okay?¡± Leo¡¯s foundational abilities in aura, mana, and spirit power were weak, especially since he was taking all three major subjects at the same time. Typically, students who focused on only one major had deeper skills in a particular subject, and now the difference was even more pronounced. Consequently, quite a few students viewed Leo as merely theoretical and weak in practice. "Of course, upper-middle-level kids won''t be able to compete with Brother Leo, but I think the high-ranking students will be difficult to handle," Chelsi replied. "At this point, I think it would be better for him to choose a single major," Tade muttered. Meanwhile, Professor Ain, who was in the middle of the parade ground, announced, "From now on, we will begin the first-year knight practical exam." The voice carried by the aura resonated across the vast ground, followed by a chorus of whistles and applause from the students gathered there. The practical exam for the knight department had begun two weeks before the official exam period, and the parade ground at the 1st-year building was filled with spectators, including not only freshmen but also senior students. "Is Karl really thinking about selling snacks?" "His philosophy is, ''Where people gather, money gathers.''" Tade smirked as Chelsi looked dumbfounded. As she said, Karl had gone out to sell snacks. ¡°Professor Sedzen.¡± Karl, with snack racks floating around him, approached Sedzen, the homeroom teacher for Class 1. ¡°What is it? Student Karl.¡± Professor Sedzen looked at Karl with a sullen face. His response was not good since a student of Hallind, who he considered a rival, talked to him. "How about some popcorn and a drink?" "Hmph, do you think I''ll buy that? Sell it to your homeroom teacher Hallind and your classmates." As Sedzen sneered, Karl made a sullen expression. "I thought Professor Sedzen, as a person with leadership skills who knows how to raise the morale of the class, would buy it. But I guess I was mistaken." "Hmph, if you think I''ll fall for such a cheap trick, you''re mistaken, Karl." It was when Sedzen made an expression that was absolutely unacceptable. "Professor! Are you buying us popcorn?¡± "Wow! That sounds delicious!" Students from Class 1 cheered. Sedzen''s ears perked up at that response. ¡°As expected, the professor has leadership skills and knows how to raise the morale of the class!¡± Currently, Class 1 was in a situation where all the students were cheering under Sedzen''s leadership. Sedzen''s mouth twitched at the cheers of the students. "Well, I can''t help it if the students want it. Go ahead." "Yes, sir!" ¡°With a sprinkle of caramel.¡± "Thank you!" After finishing his calculations, Karl handed out popcorn and drinks to Class 1 students with a friendly smile. To the few students who responded positively earlier, he also gave a sly wink. "Okay, everyone! Let''s cheer elegantly! Class 1, GO GO!" "Class 1, GO GO!" Anyway, the atmosphere had heated up, and the students in Class 1 cheered loudly. In the meantime, Karl sighed as he saw Chloe sitting alone in the corner looking at the black magic book. ¡°Chloe.¡± ¡°¡­ ¡­ .¡± ¡°Hey, Chloe!¡± "huh?" Chloe raised her head. Looking at his friend with a tired face, Karl sighed. "Take a break and relax a little. You''ll collapse if you keep going at this pace. You should know how to enjoy yourself during times like this." ¡°I don¡¯t have time for that.¡± Chloe frowned and said. Looking at Chloe like that, Karl scratched his head and handed over a recovery potion from his pocket. "I didn''t bring any money". "Don''t worry about it. I''ll give it to you as a friend who''s concerned." "Hey! Popcorn and drinks!" "Yep! Coming right up! Hey, take a break! Got it?" After Karl waved his hand, he quickly ran to the senior who ordered. Looking back at him, Chloe smiled slightly and took a sip of the potion. It was then. "The first duel. Class 1''s Howl Nape versus Class 5''s Leo Flove. Let''s get it started!" ''Leo.'' Chloe looked at Leo and clenched her fists. "I won''t lose." CH 35 "Hey Lucky, I''m up first," Leo said with a grin as he stepped forward. The Knight department''s practical exam was straightforward - win five duels to pass. However, victory wasn''t the only factor in scoring as the opponent and the content of the duel could also affect the score. Winning quickly was crucial, but Leo aimed to win all matches without losing. "How lucky are you to be up against me first? I bet you don''t even care," Leo''s first opponent, Howl, said with a smirk. Howl Nape came from a high family of heroes in the southern kingdom of Tul. Although their reputation was lower than Gerdinger''s, they were still considered a famous hero family, known for their ever-changing spearman-ship, Nape Spear. Among the knight students in Class 1, Howl was the third most evaluated after Celia and Duran. Howl flicked his tongue and pulled out a spear, a spear 1.5 times longer than the normal spear, from his subspace bracelet, while Leo drew his sword from his waist. ¡°As I said before, the side that renders the opponent unable to fight wins. Think of it as a real battle and engage in sparring.¡± Ain briefly explained the rules before stepping back. The entire parade ground was a place for sparring, with no predetermined judgments. As they faced each other, Howl sneered, "I look forward to this. I''ve been thinking of getting revenge since your Class 5 beat us in combat science class at the start of the semester." ¡°Did you still have that in mind?¡± When Leo asked with a smile, Howl laughed coldly. ¡°Napes never forget the humiliation.¡± Leo laughed, "Did cleaning the bathroom really bother you that much?" Howl clenched his fists, "You have no idea how much the others teased me. I''ll pay for that humiliation today, Leo Flove!" Swoosh-! Howl adjusted his grip on the spear and lowered his stance, assuming a posture that resembled that of a snake preparing to strike. Observing his opponent''s stance, Leo extended his sword, ready to face whatever attack might come his way. "Leo, I know you did great in the entrance exam," said Howl, raising his eyebrows. "But you started behind the other students. I heard you couldn''t awaken your Aura during the entrance exam. Will you be able to stop this attack?" Kwaak-! Whoop! The tip of Howl''s spear was aimed at Leo''s chest, a typical straight-line thrust. SWOOSH! If it was a normal spear technique, it was easy to avoid if you predict the trajectory. ''But that''s when Nape Spear starts!'' However, House Nape''s spear had a unique characteristic that made it unpredictable, like a live snake. ''The moment you dodge, you''ll be cornered!'' Many students had been caught off-guard by it and lost to Howl without even landing a blow. But Leo was not an ordinary student. TUK-! ¡°¡­ ¡­ !¡± Howl''s eyes widened in surprise as Leo deftly grabbed the spearhead before it could strike him. Leo smirked at Howl and asked, "You heard about me from the other kids, but didn''t Celia from your class tell you about me?" Howl grunted in confusion, "Ughhh?" In a swift motion, Leo used his raw strength to lift Howl up into the air with the spearhead. Howl, who was preparing to use his Aura, was taken aback by Leo''s impressive display of brute force. Leo declared confidently, "I''m strong!" before forcefully slamming Howl to the ground. SLAM-! BANG-! Just before hitting the ground, Howl activated his Aura Armor to reduce the impact. He got back on his feet and grinned at Leo. "I heard about your impressive entrance exam results, but I didn''t expect you to be this strong," he said as the tip of his spear emitted a green glow. "But physical strength alone won''t solve your underlying weakness," he added, his green eyes flashing with confidence. Leo swiftly let go of the spear, and a cloud of smoke rose from the spot where Howl had stood. WOOSH-! ''Poison Aura? It''s a unique characteristic.'' Leo grinned with amusement. The Aura was a clear advantage in long-term battles, so it was understandable that he was so confident. ''But it''s still a long way off.'' ¡°To talk about my weakness.¡± Leo chuckled. ¡°Aren¡¯t weaknesses meant to be overcome?¡± Hwareuk-! The flame aura rising from Leo''s body pushed away Howl''s poison aura, and Howl smirked. ''Certainly, a flame attribute aura is a weakness for me! But as long as it''s not on Celia''s level, I can reverse the compatibility!'' WOSHHHH-! More powerful poison erupted from Howl''s body, and Leo increased his firepower accordingly. ''It''s no use! Unless it''s Celia!'' WOOOSHHH-! WOORRRR! As if competing, the flames grew stronger each time the poison did, but as time passed, Howl''s face hardened. ''Unless¡­. Celia... ¡­ not enough... ¡­?'' His face turned pale, and his eyes met Leo''s red ones. ''Nonsense! Celia''s level of firepower?!'' Leo had stood out at the beginning of the semester, but he had never properly demonstrated his skills in a duel, which evaluated overall combat power. Most predicted Howl''s victory in this duel, where the first-year students'' overall skills improved quickly. However, as if mocking those expectations, Leo pressed Howl with a powerful flame aura. Celia, watching the situation with her arms folded outside, made a surprised expression. ''When?'' Celia was one of the few who had predicted Leo''s victory, but even she was surprised by the extent to which he raised the firepower of his flame aura. Duran looked at Leo and grinned. "Looks like Howl isn''t enough." "Hey, let''s not count Howl out just yet," a class 1 student from the Knights Department scolded Duran. Duran sneered. "Are your eyes for decoration? Howl was already at a disadvantage in terms of compatibility, and he''s being completely pushed out of the power struggle. Do you really think Howl is promising?" "Even so, Howl still has the Nape Spear. Aura compatibility isn''t the only factor that determines victory or defeat." "You fool! Do you really think Howl can overcome Leo Flove''s skills?" "He''s the fourth strongest in our class." "It doesn''t matter if Howl is the fourth strongest in our class." A spark flew from Duran''s body. "I''m the one who''s going to beat Leo Flove." "You? I don''t think so." Celia, who was standing nearby, sneered. ¡°Are you taking sides just because you always hang out with him, Celia Gerdinger?¡± "I''m not taking sides. I''m the one who''s going to beat Leo. You¡¯re not good enough for him." "Stop talking nonsense. I''ll show you who has the upper hand right now." "Good. Let''s see you try." Wooosh! Woorrrrrr! Duran and Celia had a notoriously bad relationship, as Duran constantly sought to defeat anyone above him while Celia boasted about being the best. "Hey, hey, hey! What''s with the fighting between us? Shouldn''t we be cheering for Howl?!" a class 1 student interjected, trying to diffuse the situation, but Duran and Celia showed no signs of calming down. "You two, if you fight now, won''t it just end with us having to write self-reflection letters?" another student warned. Chen Xia laughed and managed to calm them down, but Duran still snorted and walked away while Celia gracefully tossed her hair back. "Class 1 certainly has a lot of fighting spirit," Chen Xia remarked. "It''s not fighting spirit. I just want to smack that unlucky bastard in the face," Celia retorted. "Isn''t that still fighting spirit?" Chen Xia countered. Professor Sedzen had forbidden duels between students in the same class, so Celia and Duran had never actually fought each other. "Xia, you also want to fight Leo, but you say that kind of thing," Celia observed. "I definitely want to fight Young Master Leo, but he''s not my only target," Chen Xia replied with a glint in her eye. "I want to fight Miss Celia, and I also want to fight Duran. And my goal is to defeat all three of them." "You certainly have the strongest fighting spirit," Celia sighed as she looked at Chen Xia. The other students watched nervously as the top students in the Knight Department engaged in their usual war of nerves. "Leo sure is popular," Nella remarked in her languid voice. "I''d decline that kind of popularity," Illyana said, shaking her head. ? ? ? ? ? ? ¡°Haap!¡± Howl quickly stepped back, trying to distance himself from the fire aura that Leo had unleashed. However, Leo was determined to keep up the pressure and did not allow Howl to create any distance between them. ''I have to stop it!'' In desperation, Howl swung his spear, which was filled with a poison aura, at Leo as he approached. WOOSH-! But Leo''s flame aura was too strong, and it burned away all of Howl''s poison. Howl was already at a disadvantage in terms of compatibility, and the power struggle pushed him even further back. ¡°Kuk!¡± Howl felt embarrassed at his misjudgment, but he quickly regained his composure and lowered his stance. He couldn''t afford to take any more hits. ''It''s unexpected, but I can''t just get hit!'' Howl''s eyes glinted like a snake preparing to strike. ''I''ve to use that!'' Howl, who had been known as a genius since childhood, was disappointed when he didn''t come in first place in the entrance exam. However, he didn''t feel bitter about it. He knew it was because Wald Tiden, the renowned powerhouse, had also taken the exam. Howl was still among the most talented of the Knight Department''s freshman students this year, but he knew he wasn''t the strongest. Celia Gerdinger, Chen Xia, and Duran Moira were all said to be the top students in the department, and Howl couldn''t deny it. He was shocked to find himself lagging behind the others, especially Celia. ''I was able to devise a strategy against Chen Xia and Duran! But I only felt powerless against Celia!'' Even at the beginning of the semester, it was a wall that could never be crossed. However, he worked hard and eventually devised a plan to defeat Celia, but he kept it secret in preparation for their eventual confrontation. ''It can''t be helped now!'' Howl''s eyes flashed. ''It''s a good opponent to test the new technique! And Leo Flove! I can''t lose to you!'' Whurllll-! ''As much as you who are close to Celia! It¡¯s worth it.¡¯ The idea that the opponent was weaker than himself was already erased from his mind. He looked at the same level as the person he was targeting. ''I thought he was just a gloomy guy, but he is pretty talented.'' Howl gathered his strength carefully and surely to defeat his opponent. ''It looks like he put in a lot of effort to overcome the unfavorable compatibility,'' thought Leo. Howl''s eyes were focused on Leo, but he was also keeping an eye on something behind him. ''Is it Celia?'' Leo, who understood it easily, grinned. The boy in front of him was burning with the spirit of challenge. ''The challenge. I''ll accept it.'' CH 36 Wuuu Wuuuu-! The sword''s tip gathered a blazing inferno, flames dancing in anticipation. Leo''s fire burned more intensely as he charged, his body enveloped in a fiery aura. ''Now!'' Slash-! Howl, seeing the impending attack, thrust his spear forward, causing a colossal green aura to erupt from its tip. The aura stretched out like a living snake, its sights set on Leo''s neck. Undeterred, Leo attempted to defend himself with his own aura of flames. DRRRRR-! In an instant, Howl¡¯s aura changed its course, snaking around Leo like a predator closing in on its prey. ''I expected this much.'' Leo didn''t care and charged at the defenseless Howl. The precision and control displayed by Howl were awe-inspiring, and the onlookers couldn''t help but gasp in amazement. "Gotcha!" said Howl with joy. WUUUU-! ¡°¡­ ¡­ !¡± Howl''s aura continued to lengthen. ¡°Snake Prison!¡± BAM-! The aura that wrapped around him like a snake grabbing its prey tightened Leo tightly in an instant. Exclamation poured out here and there at the incredibly delicate aura-control. Ain, observing from the sidelines, smirked knowingly. He knew that the flame aura was a powerful tool, capable of inflicting great damage but also vulnerable to attacks. It was like a double-edged sword, and Poison Aura displayed similar characteristics, making it susceptible to the flames. ''After dedicatedly focusing on Aura Control training, he acquired the skills to compensate for his weakness.'' Ain looked at Leo who was silent. ''But Student Leo wouldn''t have charged without a plan.'' ''How is it! Leo! I''ll knock you down with this move! and...'' Howl turned his gaze to Celia, who had a surprised expression on her face, and clenched his fists. ''Celia! I want to be acknowledged as your equal....'' "What a fantastic technique! But the execution is a bit clumsy." "What!" WORRRR! BAM-! Suddenly, Howl''s aura expanded and burst open, sending flames in all directions. WUUUUU-! WORRRRR! Leo''s aura blazed even hotter, and assuming a sword-swinging stance, he faced Howl, who was frozen. "You need to stay alert until the flame is completely extinguished." ¡°Kuk!¡± Howl held his ground, clutching his spear tightly. BANG-! In an instant, sparks exploded at Leo''s toes. [Aura step.] Wooosh-! BAM! Sparks flew as Leo''s flaming sword shot forward like a bullet, the tip touching Howl''s neck before he had time to react. ¡°¡­ ¡­ Winner, Leo Flove,¡± declared Ain, calmly. Whoaaaaaa! Cheers poured out. "Yay! Yay! Brother Leo won!¡± ¡°¡­ ¡­ Did he have that level of skill?¡± Chelsi''s excitement was palpable as she bounced up and down in her seat, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle before her. Meanwhile, Tade muttered some nonsensical words under his breath. Whii! Karl, selling popcorn, couldn''t contain his enthusiasm either. He let out a whistle of approval and cheered along with the rest of the crowd. ¡°Who said that the first year would be weak in real combat?¡± ¡°Howl was impressive too, but the compatibility was really bad.¡± "I could understand why the freshmen are getting so much attention this year." The senior students erupted into a flurry of exclamations as they critiqued the sparring match. It was clear that they were thoroughly impressed by the skill on display. When Leo withdrew his sword, Howl dropped to his knees and said, ¡°It¡¯s a complete defeat. It was an overwhelming skill gap. To be careless against a talented person like you... ¡­ It''s completely rude.¡± "Well, to be honest, I never expected you to have that level of skill either." Howl¡¯s aura control ability was completely unexpected even to Leo, who knew firsthand the effort required to attain such mastery. "If your aura had been a bit stronger, I might have passed out from suffocation. I also underestimated you, so we''re in the same boat." With a smile, Leo extended his hand, which Howl stared at blankly before taking it. Leo lifted Howl to his feet, patting him on the shoulder before making his exit from the arena. ''Leo Flove... he wasn''t standing next to Celia for anything, after all.'' muttered Howl, trudging out of the arena. "Howl, what a waste!" "Ugh! That was the perfect chance to get revenge for cleaning the bathroom!" "What is that monster doing? Isn''t combat supposed to be his weakness?" Standing before Howl were the students of Class 1 from the Knights Department, who comforted Howl. ¡°Elegant, Student Howl! You were impressive. If it weren''t for the compatibility issue, you could have taken down someone like Leo Flove! Don''t be discouraged!¡± ¡°Professor Sedzen. No matter how much he¡¯s a student you are in charge of, please refrain from biased words and actions,¡± said Professor Ain, seeing Professor Sedzen screaming loudly. Howl, feeling a bit embarrassed by the unexpected show of kindness, scratched his head nervously. Suddenly, Celia appeared before him, causing Howl to become even more flustered. However, her kind smile quickly put him at ease. "That last technique you used was really impressive," Celia complimented him. "What? uh! eww! huh! huh!" Howl stumbled over his words in response, his face turning red with embarrassment. ''Howl''s not what he seems, he''s actually pretty naive.'' ''She''s like, totally clueless about it.'' ''But come on, shouldn''t she have caught on by now?'' The Class 1 students watched the exchange between the two with subtle smirks. ¡°Yo, Leo, you''ve been putting in work. When''d you train your aura like that?¡± asked Celia, as she approached Leo. Howl clenched his fists. ''Leo Flove, you''re my new target now!!'' The tenacious boy Howl was determined to catch up with Leo. Watching Howl strengthen his will, the Class 1 students clicked their tongues and ate popcorn. Having emerged victorious in his first sparring match, Leo took a seat to the side and began to observe the rest of the battles. ¡°Class 5 Illyana Laden, forward.¡± ¡°Finally! Who is it? My opponent!¡± ¡°Chen Xia, forward.¡± "Uh!" Illyana, brimming with enthusiasm, was taken aback by the formidable Chen Xia. ¡°Please take care of me.¡± ¡°Yes, please.¡± As the two exchanged greetings, Illyana thought, ''I''ve improved a lot too! It''s worth trying to compete with the top student!'' Soon, an aura shimmered from Illyana''s body as she gripped her rapier. SHUSH-! However, Chen Xia, a skilled martial artist, possessed no weapons. Instead, she channeled her water attribute into her fingertips, causing droplets of water to form and weave together in silky waves. Chen Xia''s fingertips gracefully formed waves as her hands moved in a dance-like manner. ¡°Whoooo!¡± With a deep breath, Illyana aimed her rapier at Chen Xia and charged forward, her aura exploding with energy. ¡°Haap!¡± Leo couldn''t help but sigh, watching Illyana charging with incredible speed. ¡°That fool.¡± BAM-! ¡°Eh!¡± Dang-Tang-Tang! Chen Xia effortlessly blocked Illyana''s intense charge, causing the attack to be reflected back at her. Illyana''s eyes spun around in confusion before she collapsed onto the floor. ¡°Winner, Chen Xia.¡± It was a match in which overwhelming power stood out. However, no one had high expectations because this match-up was quite unfavorable to the magic swordsman, Illyana. Chen Xia respectfully bowed and left the arena, clasping her hands together in a polite gesture. Meanwhile, Illyana shouted as she raised her hand in a fist to the sky, "Yeah, I had some good momentum going against Xia!! It would have gone well if I hadn''t got caught!" ¡°Shh, girl, it¡¯s embarrassing, be quiet?¡± ¡°Yeh, you¡¯d better pretend to faint. please." Illyana burst into tears when the Class 5 Knight Department students spoke to her coldly. "Class Rep, these kids say I''m an embarrassment!" Looking at the complaining Illyana, Leo said, "Your impatient personality is the problem. You know Chen Xia''s skills well, right?" ¡°I know! I know! That''s why I came in with some serious force! I can''t rely on just swordsmanship, gotta show some fire! Proud of myself, for real.¡± Leo clicked his tongue and watched as Illyana shouted confidently with her arms crossed, despite the situation. She was a talented student who could be considered at the top of the entire class. ''The opponent was too bad. I''m not even sure if she knows how to use magic, but this is a test for the Knight class. Still, if she had been more careful, she wouldn''t have lost so easily.'' Shaking his head, Leo locked eyes with Chen Xia, who was sitting in Class 10 and waved at her. Chen Xia smiled and waved back. ''I''ve thought about it before, but Xia has the best balance among the first-year Knight students.'' While Celia and Duran had specialized in attack power with their aura characteristics, Chen Xia''s water attribute was well-balanced for both offense and defense. Leo thought about Chen Xia''s skills as he watched the other classmates sparring. Prior to admission, students who ranked lower showed notable improvement in their skills, with some even managing to defeat those who were far ahead of them. Despite the various emotions surrounding the exam, the top students showcased a level of skill that set them apart. Celia, who effortlessly overpowered her opponent, approached Leo with a graceful hair flip. "How did I do?" "You''ve definitely grown." "Of course." Celia narrowed her eyes and said, "Leo, I''m gonna snag that freshmen rep spot with this exam." Seeing Celia proudly proclaiming it, Leo grinned. "Take it if you can." At those words, Celia smiled and went back to Class 1. Illyana, who was watching from the side, said. ¡°He sure is popular.¡± "Do you envy it?" "Nah, I already told Nella I''m not chasing that kinda popularity." ? ? ? ? ? ? It was the midterm exam period and after the heroics class, the last written test, the Class 5 students rushed over to Chelsi. "Hey! hey! Chelsi! Show me the answers!¡± ¡°Let me see it first, Chelsi!¡± "Karl, you know you''re gonna fail anyway, so just chill and look at it later." "Hey, what''s that supposed to mean?" The competition to see the answers of Chelsi, who had the highest written test score in Class 5, was fiercer than expected. Chelsi waved her test papers while her classmates crowded around her. ¡°Who shall I show it first?¡± ¡°Chelsi! Show me first!¡± "Chelsi! Me! Me.¡± "Hey, Chelsi, you''re looking real nice today!" Class 5 clung to Chelsi, the youngest in the class. ¡°Ho-ho-ho.¡± Upon seeing her classmates'' excitement, Chelsi covered her mouth with a proud expression and burst into laughter. ¡°Anyway, the test is done already. Looking at the answers ain''t gonna change nothin'',¡± said Leo, who was seated at the back of the class by the window, resting his chin on his hand. Nella gave a reply with a languid smile. "Yeah, but it''s natural to wanna know how you did, right?" At that, Leo shook his head and packed his writing utensils into his bag. "The only test left is the joint practical for heroics and combat science for most. Leo, you still got magic and summoning, right?" In the Knight sparring test, Leo emerged victorious with a 5-0 score. The strongest in the five fights was Howl on the first day. In addition to Leo, Celia, Chen Xia, and Duran also won all five matches. In Nella''s case, there was one loss. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for that damn Duran, even Nella would have been able to win five matches!¡± Chelsi, who had been throwing test papers among her classmates, said as she cradled Nella in her arms. Duran, who was one of the strong contenders for the match, added 1 defeat to Nella in the third match. "I''m happy with how I did against Duran though." Nella smiled as she stroked Chelsi''s hair. "By the way, Brother Leo, how''s the practice of summoning class going?" ¡°It¡¯s going well.¡± ¡°You rarely come to practice, don¡¯t you?¡± Tade, a student of the Summoning Department asked with a puzzled face. The Summoning Practical exam has been one of the biggest events of the first semester Lumeln students for generations. Leo replied to Tade''s question with a laugh, ¡°I¡¯m practicing hard in an invisible place.¡± ¡°As expected of Brother Leo. Always full of confidence. So, what place are you aiming for?¡± Looking at Chelsi who asked with her eyes shining, Leo said as if it were natural. ¡°No. 1.¡± CH 37 "Greetings everyone! Once again, it''s that time of the year! The highly-anticipated event for first-year students in the first semester - The Summoner Race! My name is Runba Tess, a third-year student majoring in Summoning, and I''ll be your commentator for today''s race." "Waaaah!" The summoning practice ground was filled with excited students, erupting into cheers upon the introduction. Celia''s expression turned serious as she wondered, "Is this a test?" While there were spectators present during the Knight department exam, the Summoning department''s audience was on another level. Not only was there a commentator, but the spectator seats were fully equipped with video magic to make it easier for viewers to follow the exam. Celia''s companion, Riss, erupted into laughter beside her. "The Summoning Race is a beloved tradition of our Academy and is even adopted in exchange matches with other hero academies, which only adds to its popularity," he explained. "Excuse me, Student Council President, I''m from the newspaper club. Is the first-year student next to you, Celia Gerdinger, your younger sister?¡± he asked, brandishing a notebook and pen. "Yes, she is." "Awesome! I would like to interview you two. Is it possible?¡± the newspaper club student requested. "We have popcorn! We have cold drinks!" "Alright, guys, it''s time to bet on who''s gonna win first place! Let''s see those dividends!" Meanwhile, students from the merchant club were also present, offering popcorn and cold drinks, as well as arranging gambling opportunities. "Seriously, what kinda exam is this?" The first-years were taken aback by the festive atmosphere, which contrasted sharply with the solemnity of the exams they had experienced thus far. The Summoning department students were hit the hardest by the distractions. "These guys are so loud, it''s hard to concentrate!!" exclaimed Tade, gripping his head in frustration. His fellow first-year students nodded in agreement. The first-year students, who were already nervous, were completely bewildered by the festive atmosphere that had taken over the entire school. Rather than easing their tension, it only increased their anxiety. However, there were a few individuals who remained unfazed, such as Eliza and Wald, who were the top performers in the Summoning Department. "Ugh, it sucks that they''re just treating the daughter of the Hergin family like some kinda sideshow." Eliza''s followers nodded in agreement as she expressed her displeasure. Meanwhile, Wald remained stoic, his expression unreadable. Eliza cast a glance at Wald and noticed Leo warming up nearby. She approached him and chuckled, watching as he stretched and flexed his knees. "You crushed it in the Knight Department exam! Are you as prepared for the Summoning exam?" she inquired. Leo replied confidently, "Absolutely." "As expected, our freshman representative is brimming with confidence!" Eliza raised her eyebrows, "But I never saw you at our training sessions," she noted. "Is the Summoning exam some kind of joke to you?" Many of the first-year students had yet to contract with a flying phantom beast, which they were required to ride during the race. As a result, Lumeln provided them with phantom beasts for the race. The key to success in the exam was to quickly tame one''s flying phantom beast, and the Summoning Department had provided special training to help students prepare. However, Leo had not participated in any of these training sessions. "Eliza, what are you talking about?" said Tade, frowning in response to her sincere words. However, the gazes of those around him looking at Leo were not kind. "It''s true that he doesn¡¯t care about our department," "He''s a star in the Knight and Magic department, but I''ve never seen him try to contract with any spirits or phantom beasts in Summoning. Isn¡¯t he just messing around?" "Hey, don''t underestimate Summoning," "If you''re not gonna take it seriously, drop out." The Summoning department students had a strong attachment to their department, as their numbers were few. In this context, Leo''s confidence, despite never attending practice sessions, only made them express their dislike more. During the summoning race, students used summoning spells on their spirits to pass through challenging obstacles and cross the finish line quickly. Racers were allowed to interfere with each other, and it was common for them to suffer significant injuries during the race. In the eyes of the summoning students, Leo was a bad guy because he had never practiced for such a dangerous race before. However, they were unaware that Leo had gone through all sorts of phantom beasts and aerial battles in his previous life. "Damn, that''s harsh," "Ha! Are you defending him just because he''s your class rep?" As one Class 5 student got angry, another student from a different class sneered. "This is getting tense," Chen Xia stepped in to mediate the escalating tension. "Let''s chill, guys. We''re all nervous before the exam. No need to trash-talk each other." "Chen Xia, with your grades in the Knight department, you should be fine in Summoning, right?" a female student grumbled. When she became the target, Class 10 students were not happy with the comment and got furious. The Summoning Department students glared at each other, creating a threatening atmosphere. Leo clicked his tongue, while Wald, who had been arm-in-arm with his eyes closed, suddenly opened his amber eyes and spoke in a low, heavy voice. "Hey, can you take it somewhere else if you''re gonna fight? It''s too noisy," "What''d you say, Wald?" One student challenged him. "I said it''s annoying how you guys act like hotshots just because you rode phantom beasts in a practice class." Sean Rio, a male student from the Eastern Continent in the Summoning department, looked at Wald and spoke up with an expressionless face, "What? Are you feeling salty? You barely showed up to taming training, didn''t you, Wald?" Watching the boy roll up the corners of his mouth, Wald smiled. "What''s that smirk for?" "Want me to tell you why I skipped taming class?" "What?" "It was a waste of my time. Unlike the rest of you fools, I know how to handle a griffon." Hearing Wald''s words, other students, including Rio, glared at him. "You jerk!" Rio exclaimed, attempting to punch Wald. Tup-! However, before he could reach him, Rio''s fist was caught by Leo. ¡°Hey, if you start a fight before the test, it won¡¯t end with just you being scolded,¡± Leo advised. "Ugh! Who asked for your opinion?" Rio retorted, pulling his hand away and walking towards the other Summoning students. Observing Rio''s departure, Leo sighed and then turned to face Wald. "Why don''t you watch what you say?" "What''s wrong with speaking the truth?" Wald responded coldly, looking up at Leo, who was a head taller than him. "I don''t know how good you are, but you can''t go around belittling other people''s efforts, Wald Tiden, no matter how talented you are." Wald smirked at Leo before going in the opposite direction. "The atmosphere is even worse than I thought." Although he just listened diligently, the atmosphere among the students in the department was not as good as he expected. Tade sighed at Leo''s words. "I¡¯m not familiar with other majors, but the Summoning Department''s atmosphere is quite disappointing." "Why is that?" "The top students in the Summoning major are You, Xia, Walden, and Eliza, right?" "Yes." "Summoning is a department where there''s usually a big gap between the major and minor students. But since you and Chen Xia are leading the pack in first-year, the second-year seniors in Summoning called a meeting." "They called a meeting over that? That''s ridiculous." "I know, right? And in the meantime, Wald even faked being sick to avoid it." He said that thanks to this, the 2nd years got even angrier and began to direct their anger at the first years. "Anyway, they''re already upset about that... With you and Wald barely participating in training for this test, the atmosphere has gotten even worse." ¡°Everyone must be in a bad mood.¡± "Right. So please understand." "Yeah, I understand." Leo surveyed the students preparing for the competition and sensed a strange hostility among them, despite their tense expressions. ''This kind of problem also arises.'' While others might have overlooked it, Leo was keenly aware of the negative atmosphere. ''Of course, I don''t intend to cut corners.'' He remained focused on his goal of coming out on top in the competition. ? ? ? ? ? ? "Ladies and Gentlemen! The moment we''ve all been waiting for is here! All the players are lined up at the starting point!" The first-year students stood shoulder to shoulder, facing a fence with griffons on the other side. As soon as the race began, they were to tame the griffons and start racing. The Summoning Department students wore nervous expressions as they prepared for the race. "Don''t let your nerves get the best of you, and just perform as you''ve trained! And if anyone fails due to nervousness, I''ll personally give them a kick in the butt after the race!" Yura, the referee, shouted to her students, trying to ease their anxiety. Her words elicited laughter from the Summoning Department students, and they felt the tension dissipate. "Alright, let''s begin!" Yura raised her signal flare. "Three, two, one!" Bang! Clang clang! As soon as the race began, spirit energy poured around Leo and Wald. Leo paused at the sudden situation. "What''s happening? The Summoning Department students seem to be working together and targeting Leo, the freshman representative, and Wald, the chief of the southern region!" The audience roared at the unprecedented situation. The Summoning Department students of Class 5 also looked confused. "What the hell is that?!" "That''s not fair! Summoning Department, have some dignity!" "Hey! Don''t you feel ashamed of yourself?!" "Fight fair and square!" "Ha! The freshmen of Class 5 are booing!" The students watching from the stands went crazy. "Class rep!" "Leo, hold on! I''ll help you now!" "Don''t worry about me. Focus on your own performance and don''t fall behind for no reason! Hurry and go!" Leo urgently yelled to his classmates as they attempted to dispel the spirit magic that was obstructing his path. "Ugh!" "Leo! Sorry!" With a look of regret, the Class 5 students eventually set off, trailing behind their competitors. Leo¡¯s feet sank into the muddy ground, hampering his movement. Meanwhile, Fire and wind blocked Leo''s path. Wald, who was also caught in the same trap, raised his spirit energy. "Pathetic," Wald bellowed as he shattered the Summoning Department students'' magic with his overwhelming power. Without his formidable strength, breaking the spell would have been impossible. "Do you need a hand?" Wald inquired Leo, raising his eyebrow. Leo responded with a smirk, "I can handle it myself." "Is that so? Then, I''ll take the lead," Wald said as he strode towards the griffon pen with ease. Meanwhile, other students had already finished taming the griffons and were ready to take off. Leo, who was observing from the starting line, channeled his spirit energy. Observing Leo, Yura frowned and thought, ¡®I knew they weren''t fond of Leo, but I didn''t expect them to team up against him like this. This is going to be a challenge.¡¯ Although Leo could easily surpass this level of restriction in a non-test situation, the competition only allowed for the use of "Spirit" magic, not Elemental magic, which was Leo''s primary strength. Yura believed Leo''s lack of experience in practical battles would make it difficult for him to solve the problem. ¡®The first-year students'' emotional scars run deeper than I thought. Even if they''re working together, this isn''t a pleasant sight.¡¯ It wasn''t against the rules, but it wasn''t a pleasant sight. As a professor, she realized that she was lacking in taking care of her students. She decided that she needed to console her department''s students and felt guilty for not doing enough. ¡°¡ª!¡± Suddenly, Leo''s voice caused Yura to shiver, and his soft and melodious language, unlike any human language, echoed. "©¤©¤! ©¤!" As the melody continued, the spirits weakened, and eventually, the power that hindered Leo disappeared. The spirits following the contractor''s orders smiled and danced around Leo, then disappeared. The power to influence spirits contracted with others. "Did that insane guy just use Spirit Language? That''s something you only learn in second-year class, isn''t it?" Yura couldn''t help but laugh at Leo''s belated start and exclaimed, "He''s the real deal, the real deal! I have to convince Leo to join the Summoning department!" CH 38 "Haha, those guys don''t stand a chance!" "What if the dude is the freshman rep or the top student in the South? They''ll end up last if they can''t even get started!" The Summoning Department students who were responsible for the mass attack were laughing. "Hey, what''s up, Eliza? Doesn''t it feel good to let off some steam?" Rio, the guy who orchestrated the attack, chuckled and called out to Eliza, who was leading the way. At the moment, they were part of the top group in the race, being first-year summoning students with high grades. Eliza, who was at the front, replied in a disappointed tone to Rio''s words, "I don''t like it." "What do you mean?" "Look, we can totally crush Leo Flove and Wald Tiden. If we team up like this, they''ll just stand out more. Plus, what will people think of summoning department students?" "Haha, but those dweebs will fail anyway...." "Just think before you act next time. We''re in the middle of a test, so focus." Eliza spoke coldly, turned her head, and flew high into the air. Rio watched her go and frowned, "That damn bitch! She acts all noble just because she was born rich!" Rio sneered inwardly at Eliza. "Anyhow, Wald''s so far behind it''s not even funny. I''m the next best flyer after Eliza! I''ll totally get second place. Plus, I got this new phantom beast!" Rio snorted. Right before the exam, he luckily found a phantom beast in Lumeria City! "Snagged it from a clueless seller! Still tricky to handle, but if I summon it during the final stage and beat Eliza...I''ll be number one! Let''s see her act all fancy then! Eliza!" "Hey, Rio, someone''s gaining on us from behind," a female summoning student said, sounding confused. They thought they were way ahead, so who could be following them? "What? Who... Oh my God, Chen Xia?" Chen Xia was flying at an unbelievable speed. But her riding posture was a little strange. She was squatting with both feet on the saddle. "What''s with the way she''s flying?" "She only caught up ''cause we slowed down. If we''d kept up our speed, she''d be left in the dust." To a summoner, spirit power wasn''t just the power to summon and command creatures, but also the power to strengthen the summoned beast. Since the griffon''s abilities were enhanced with spirit power, Chen Xia''s griffon was so fast that she could easily outrun other summoning students. "Nah, who knows what tricks she''s got up her sleeve." Rio chuckled, "Why not just knock her out now?" In summoning races, cooperation was optional. So it was also possible to team up against strong opponents. Eliza, who was leading the race, looked back for a moment. "Hmm, ain''t it better to just speed up than take a tough route?" Eliza smiled wryly and watched the race. "What''s so great about being the top student in the East? I''ll show that unlucky girl her place," said a female summoning student, summoning a spirit with a fierce smile. "I''ll make sure she can''t even finish the race! Go!" The wind spirit turned into a bullet and flew toward Chen Xia, who was in an unstable position on the saddle. Sensing the attack, Chen Xia lowered her posture even more. Swoosh! Chen Xia''s griffon suddenly soared upwards. As the summoning students were taken aback, Chen Xia''s griffon turned around, with the saddle facing the ground. Hanging upside down on the griffon, Chen Xia kicked off the saddle and let go of the reins. "What, what, what''s happening?" The female student who attacked Chen Xia was frightened. She never expected the rider would attack her directly. Chen Xia summoned the wind spirit and adjusted her trajectory in the air, then delivered a kick with a smile. The female student Chen Xia kicked, screamed, and fell to the ground before she could react. "Kyaaaah! That''s cheating!" "I didn''t use aura, did I?" Chen Xia, with her friendly smile, pulled the reins of the griffon and calmed it down. "Ha! Chen Xia! You¡­!" "Hello, Rio." "I''ll be your opponent, but you''re in a tough spot now. You made the wrong choice." Although it was a surprise attack at first, once the opponent''s attack method was identified, there were many ways to counterattack. "Hmm, it''s true that I''m at a disadvantage in aerial combat. But I''m not your only enemy, am I?" "What?" "There''s someone upset about your little prank." Chen Xia smirked and pointed her finger behind her. Kwaaang! A massive explosion erupted in the distance. "What, what''s going on?" Kwaaang! Kwaang! The explosions continued one after another. In the distance, dropouts could be seen falling. "Looks like Wald''s the type to pay back what he''s been through." After saying that, Chen Xia waved her hand and jumped off the opponent''s griffon without hesitation. Chen Xia''s griffon, waiting in the air, lifted her up on its back and flew high. "Kuk! Catch her and drop her..." Kiiiaaaaak! Rio urgently shouted, and a griffon''s cry could be heard in the distance. When he turned his head, he saw Wald''s griffon carrying him, flying at an incredible speed. Wald, who caught up with the lead group in an instant, laughed. "Got your little gift, you jerks." Hwarrrrrrrng! A massive flame gathered around him. "This is payback for that." "Scatter!" Kwaaaaaang! With Rio''s urgent cry, a huge explosion hit the surroundings. ? ? ? ? ? ? Leo, who was in last place, leaped over the fence and approached the last remaining griffon. Krrrr-! As he saw the griffon''s high alertness, he was puzzled. ¡®The griffons provided for the competition are all managed by Lumeln, right?¡¯ Phantom beasts that have been tamed by humans do not usually show hostility towards humans. Leo, who was feeling doubtful, soon realized that the griffon was injured as he carefully examined its wings. "It''s not a wound from a griffon fight. Someone intentionally hurt it," Leo murmured, recalling the pre-departure checks. "There seems to be someone playin'' dirty in the competition," Despite the griffon''s ferocious response, Leo approached it. Kyaak! The griffon showed a fierce response, but Leo did not back down. Kyaah! "Oh! Leo, he¡¯s being too reckless! Even if the griffon is a low-level beast, approaching it so hastily while it''s on high alert could cause problems in taming! He¡¯s making a huge mistake out of impatience!" Celia, who was watching from the spectator stands, also shook her head in frustration. "What''s wrong with that guy, being so reckless?" Riss stroked his chin, watching Celia''s annoyed expression. "He must have a plan." Kyaah! Leo took the reins of the griffon, which was running amok with excitement. Kyaah! In the end, Griffon lost its temper and swung its claws at Leo. Everyone was caught off guard by the sudden situation. Tightening his grip on the reins, Leo looked the griffon in the eyes and commanded firmly. "Submit." The griffon was taken aback by Leo''s forceful voice of his. Then, lowering its raised claws, the griffon cautiously observed Leo before lowering its posture. Seeing the griffon give its back as if it were obedient, Leo sat in the saddle with a satisfied smile. "Good boy," he said, patting its neck. "The griffon obeyed of its own will! Player Leo''s time taken for taming is the shortest," said the bewildered commentator, Runba. It took Leo the shortest amount of time to tame the griffon as he had said. Yura, who was watching Leo, clicked her tongue in amazement. "Did he just win it over with that momentum? What can''t he do?" she wondered. The thought that he would be weak in a real fight was a complete misjudgment. "If Wald has crazy strength, then Leo has mad skills." Yura''s eyes lit up. "This match might turn out to be interesting after all." Kyaahh! Leo tugged on the reins, prompting the griffon to let out a mighty roar and take flight. However, due to one of its wings being injured, it struggled to gain speed and altitude. "Player Leo''s griffon is in trouble!" exclaimed Runba in a pitiful tone. "With that injury, it''s doubtful he''ll be able to compete, let alone win." Leo continued to stroke the griffon''s neck, trying to ease its discomfort as it struggled to flap its injured wing. He then focused his energy and chanted, "I Command in the name of the pledge, make your appearance before me!" Fwooosh! Flames burst forth around Leo, enveloping him in a bright ball of fire. "What''s that?" "Looks like he summoned a fire spirit?" "Didn''t they say he hadn''t made a pact with any spirit beast yet?" The audience cheered at the unexpected summoning. "What''s that flame?" Celia''s eyes widened in amazement as she watched the scene unfold. Riss, on the other hand, couldn''t help but twitch his eyes in suspicion. "That''s not Gerdinger''s flame," he muttered to himself. "Then what is it?" Amidst the flames, a summoning circle materialized on Leo''s palm. From the circle emerged a small bird, tweeting merrily. Tweet tweet. Leo looked at the tiny creature and remarked, "You always look like a little chick." In response, the baby phoenix, Fiora, pecked at Leo''s thumb. "Oh? You get me now?" On Leo''s palm, Fiora gracefully flapped her wings and raised her chin. It was a gesture that seemed to show off the dignity of a phoenix, but of course, from Leo''s point of view... ¡­. ''You''re a perfect chick.'' "If we can chat, that''ll make things easier. Fiora, can you bestow protection on this griffon?¡± The phoenix possessed a unique ability called "Protection," which allowed it to channel a portion of its power onto a specific target. This ability was one of the factors that made phoenix summoners renowned as the strongest summoners. Fiora, the baby phoenix, tilted her head inquisitively before jumping off Leo''s palm and landing atop the griffon. This made the already frightened creature tremble even more as it felt intimidated by the presence of the powerful phoenix, the highest-level Phantom beast. However, Fiora displayed her gentle nature by gracefully stretching her neck and lightly pecking the griffon''s head with her beak. Go-oh-! In an instant, the griffon''s fur stood on end, and even its previously injured wings began to gain strength. As the Phoenix''s power coursed through its body, the griffon''s white fur began to glow red, and its yellow eyes turned orange, displaying its newfound strength and vitality. Leo''s grin widened as he placed Fiora on his shoulder. WOOOORRR-! Suddenly, the flames surrounding them dispersed, and the griffon let out a powerful roar. Kaaaaaagh-! "Let''s go!" Leo shouted, pulling on the reins and propelling the griffon forward at an incredible speed. "What? So fast!" "A first-year can use such a high-level reinforcing recovery?" The audience was amazed. As they soared into the sky, Leo spotted a group in the distance and narrowed his eyes before descending. The audience gasped in horror. "Wait! Ain''t that too fast?" "How''s he gonna dodge obstacles at that speed?" A pillar of light suddenly appeared in front of Leo as he descended. It was the trap that formed the basis of the phantom beast race. The light pillars created by magic fired red magic bullets in all directions without pause. If a mistake was made and the beads hit, it would cause tremendous physical damage, potentially resulting in immediate elimination. Naturally, the faster the speed, the harder it was to avoid. However, there was a pattern, not just randomness. Leo''s eyes quickly recognized the pattern of the magic bullets being fired. "Up-down-down-left-left-right-up-left," he muttered under his breath. Swish! Whizz! Whizz! With incredible control and skill, he and the griffon weaved their way through the magic bullets without slowing down. The spectators were amazed and cheered, and the commentator shouted in excitement, "Wow! Player Leo possesses incredible control ability!" Leo deftly passed through one obstacle and tugged on the reins, having anticipated the need to limit his speed in order to avoid the dangerous magic bullets. After passing through the starting point with his careful speed limit, Leo found himself flying through the sky with plenty of room to accelerate. As he made his way forward, he couldn''t help but notice other students struggling and flying around in a state of distress. ¡®That Wald. From what I see, everything in front''s been wiped out by him.¡¯ Of course, they weren''t wiped out. But everyone had suffered considerable damage and couldn''t maintain their speed properly. Thanks to that, Leo was able to quickly catch up to the rear group. "Huh? Leo, Leo Flove?" "You escaped that magic? No, but how''d you catch up so fast?" As Leo approached from behind, the Summoning Department students were seized with fear and trepidation. "Leo!" Upon spotting Leo, Class 5 Summoning Department student Laura''s expression brightened. Leo then pulled on the reins of his griffon as he observed Laura being held back by some other students. "Guess you didn''t learn after Wald smacked you around." The griffon that Leo was riding extended its paws and grabbed the male student who was restraining Laura by the scruff of his neck. "This lil'' punk!" "I''ve got a temper, gotta pay back what I got." Leo flashed a smile at the male student, who tried to free himself in a hurry. However, before he could do anything, Leo''s griffon took off into the sky. The male student struggled helplessly as his neck was still gripped by the griffon. Leo maneuvered the griffon and tossed the male student toward another student. "Aaah!" "Why are you coming this way...!" Crash! As the two students collided and fell to the ground, the rest of the group in the rear was shocked at the sight. Leo, looking down at them from above, let out a cold laugh. "Alright, everyone ready now?"