"It seems like a simple illusion magic, but Chloe Muller couldn’t counter it?"
"Simple? Did you just say simple, Senior Ain?"
Ren asked with a trembling voice.
"Did I not?"
"It may be simple! The magic Leo used isn’t inherently difficult in its formula! But that’s not human magic; it’s elf magic!"
Ren hugged himself and shouted passionately.
"The magic systems of other species are fundamentally different from those of humans! Just understanding the structure of the formula doesn’t mean you can use it! This is a realm of talent and intuition that can’t be achieved by effort alone! Leo possesses that! Surely, the gods have sent Leo to us for the Magic Department!"
"I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Ren Horus. Leo Plov is a Knight Department student."
"It seems your small brain didn’t grasp it properly, so let me explain it again."
"I understood it well enough. You wish to die, that’s what you’re saying."
Ain smiled coldly as he grabbed Ren by the collar, but Ren didn’t care and began giving a speech about Leo’s magical talent.
***
The students of Class 5 clasped hands in celebration.
Objectively, Class 1 had overwhelming superiority in strength, and the match was one-sided.
But the result was a victory for Class 5.
Celia gritted her teeth, and Duran’s face contorted in frustration.
Chloe, who had slumped to the ground, stared blankly, not even thinking about getting up.
"Get up, Chloe."
"P-Professor."
"When a match ends, you must give your regards regardless of the result."
Sedgen gently patted Chloe’s shoulder and gathered the two teams at the center.
"Well done, everyone. Class 5 students, return to Halind and discuss today’s match."
Professor Sedgen turned his gaze to the students of Class 1, who had their heads bowed low.
The Class 1 students were nervous.
Professor Sedgen was known for his elitism.
All the students under his guidance were exceptional and consistently achieved excellent results in various academy events.
But now, they had lost to Class 5, the lowest-ranked class.
The Class 1 students expected Sedgen to be furious.
"Elegance! All the students who participated in today’s match, well done! I’m very pleased to see such outstanding performance!"
Contrary to expectations, Sedgen praised the students.
"Celia, you demonstrated an excellent understanding of your strengths! Overwhelming destructive power! That’s the true advantage of one who wields the Aura of Flame! But you’ll need to work on building more stamina!"
Starting with Celia, Professor Sedgen pointed out the strengths and areas for improvement of the Class 1 students in today’s match.
"Duran, your agility was remarkable! Your movements were flawless! But if you find a way to increase your burst power, you’ll be even better! After all, lightning is also an attribute with immense destructive power!"
Finally, Sedgen’s gaze landed on Chloe, who shrank back.
The defeat today was, without a doubt, because she had failed to stop Leo.
"Chloe, you were perfect! There was nothing to criticize!"
"B-But it’s my fault we lost the match."
"It wasn’t because of you that we lost. In fact, we didn’t really lose. The match result may say otherwise, but I don’t believe Class 1 truly lost to Class 5."
Sedgen smiled gently.
"The match was overwhelmingly dominated by us. And it only lasted twenty minutes. Class 5’s teamwork was impressive, but if there had been more time, we would have turned the tables for sure!"
Sedgen lightly patted Chloe on the shoulder.
"And the reason you couldn’t stop Leo in the end was because he perfectly caught you off guard. No one in the first year could have stopped Leo at that moment. That, I guarantee!"
After finishing, Sedgen pointed his finger toward the sky.
"Everyone! Lift your heads and look up! The fact that Class 1 remains the most elegant hasn’t changed one bit!"
"Professor!"
"Hurray! We respect you!"
The Class 1 students shouted in admiration for Sedgen.
Though the students were mistaken about Sedgen’s reputation and achievements, he wasn’t a professor who only wanted exceptional students.
In fact, he was well-known for valuing the teacher-student bond and never giving up on the students he taught.
The reason he took charge of Class 1 wasn’t because of their high average scores but simply because he liked the number "1" in their name.
As Class 1 reveled in the warm atmosphere, a voice called out.
"Professor Sedgen."
"Leo. Your strategy in today’s match was remarkable. What’s the matter?"
"Professor Halind told me to buy drinks immediately. Also, he said to start cleaning the bathroom from today."
With Leo’s words, the cheerful atmosphere of Class 1 plummeted again, and Sedgen’s lips twitched uncontrollably.
"Huh? Professor Sedgen! Professors Ain and Ren are fighting!"
At that moment, Haul from Class 1 exclaimed as he saw the clash of freezing Aura and magic in the middle of the training ground.
"Haul."
"Yes?"
"Could you take some friends and buy drinks at the campus café? Don’t worry about Professors Ain and Ren; Halind will handle them."
As he spoke, Halind was already approaching the two professors.
Haul nodded absentmindedly and headed to the café with some friends.
Leo added a cheeky request as Haul left.
"Get the most expensive ones."
"Grr!"
Sedgen felt his neck tighten.
"Next time, we’ll definitely win! Class Fiiiiiive!"
***
A month had passed since the first years entered Lumerne.
That was enough time for the students to adjust to life at Lumerne.
"Yawn! Good morning."
Cal yawned as he sat down lazily.
"Did you work late again yesterday?"
Chelsea asked as she ate the spaghetti served for breakfast in the school cafeteria. Cal scratched his head.
"Sigh. The demand for fatigue recovery potions keeps increasing day by day."
Cal, though one of the weakest in combat-related abilities among the first years, was mid-to-high-ranked in alchemy and support magic.
Even Halind, their homeroom professor, had positively evaluated Cal’s choice to specialize as a supporter from the very beginning.
Moreover, his business was thriving.
Ever since he had been promoting himself at the entrance ceremony, and with top students often using Cal’s fatigue recovery potions, they had been selling like hotcakes.
One of the reasons for his success was that potions were surprisingly labor-intensive, and many students preferred to buy them rather than make them themselves.
"Sigh, I wish they’d buy some of my other products too."
Cal looked regretful as he glanced at his other business items.
However, he wasn’t too dissatisfied, as his success came faster than expected.
Leo spoke as he chewed on a steak early in the morning.
"By the way, have you heard the rumor?"
"What rumor?"
"The seniors who were sent out to raid dungeons are returning."
At those words, Cal's eyes lit up.
"I’ve heard! I’ve heard! The rumor says three teams are coming back, right?"
The Hero Dungeon raiders, tasked with clearing dungeons and retrieving Hero Pages, were often absent from school.
This time, in particular, three teams were out, leaving the strongest students in the school absent.
Among the first years, there was a sense of disappointment since they hadn’t yet had the chance to meet the well-known students at Lumerne.
As Chelsea twirled spaghetti with her fork and popped it into her mouth, she spoke.
"I heard that in the next Hero Studies class, the pages of the Hero Record retrieved this time will be used as teaching material."
"Really? We’re entering the Hero’s World already? I thought that wouldn’t happen until at least the practical midterm exams."
Cal was excited.
"Not exactly. I heard some of the retrieved pages were damaged, so the class will involve deducing the hero from those pages."
"Oh, that’s not as exciting."
"What kind of reaction is that? Even encountering a lost Hero Record is an incredible experience!"
Chelsea’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.
She had a strong love for hero tales and a hobby of researching heroic stories.
"Come to think of it, the club recruitment period is starting soon, right?"
Cal stroked his chin thoughtfully.
With the first years now adjusted to school life, it was time for club registrations to begin.
"Have you thought about which club to join? I’m considering joining a business club."
"I’m thinking of joining the music club. I’ve been learning it as part of my family’s culture since I was young."
"Ah, such a noblewoman’s hobby! What about you, Leo?"
"I’m thinking of starting a club."
"What?"
"You’re starting a club?"
"Yeah."
Chelsea and Cal found it intriguing that the class representative wanted to start a club.
"What kind of club are you planning to create?"
"A Hero Research Society."
"Hero Research Society? Sounds like something academic."
Cal showed some resistance.
"Most clubs are for relieving school life stress. Do you think people would want to join a club related to studies?"
Chelsea shook her head negatively.
"It’s not related to studies at all. We’re going to research forgotten heroes."
Leo smiled gently, and Cal asked.
"For example?"
"The Hero of Beginnings, Kyle."
It was a subtle ploy to promote his own achievements at Lumerne.
"Kyle? That’s not forgotten; he’s a fictional character, isn’t he? If it’s too far-fetched, it’ll be even less popular."
"Still, it sounds fun! Kyle may be considered a fictional character because he isn’t registered in the Hero Record, but he’s incredibly famous! Can you even imagine achieving that level of recognition without being a historical hero? Maybe Kyle’s Hero Record just hasn’t been discovered yet!"
Chelsea, a fan of heroic tales, chattered excitedly.
"Chelsea."
"Yeah?"
"You’re kind."
Leo, who had never met someone who viewed him so positively, smiled softly and patted Chelsea’s head.
Chelsea was flustered by Leo’s sudden action but soon giggled and leaned into his hand.
Watching this, Cal chuckled.
"Your dream is too big. Kyle is clearly a fake hero. Why not Drveno instead? The great blacksmith and advisor to the legendary hero party! Definitely a real hero compared to someone like Kyle... mmph! Mmph?! Guh-!"
"Cal. Bread alone might choke you."
"Mmph! Guh-! (Who feeds bread while saying that?!)"
"Hmm? You want more?"
"Mmmph! (Nooo!)"
Leo kindly stuffed more bread into his friend’s mouth from the table.
***
Morning classes ended, and it was lunchtime.
Students poured out of their classrooms.
Leo was organizing his textbooks and preparing to leave his seat when it happened.
"Leo."
"Yeah?"
Celia entered Class 5 and stood in front of Leo.
"What’s this about? Celia, why are you in another class?"
Chelsea frowned and asked, but Celia replied nonchalantly.
"I’m here because I have business with Leo. You don’t have plans for lunch today, right?"
"No, I don’t."
"Then come eat with me."
"Why?"
"The student council president wants to see you."
End Of Chapter
