Editor : Amethyst00



“You had the talent of an All-Class? I didn't know that.”

“I found out myself only after entering the academy, Father.”

During dinner, Leo spoke calmly as he chatted with his father, Dade, across the table.

“My own son, and yet… I still can’t understand how such a monstrous kid came from me.”

Reina clicked her tongue as well.

Even she, who had once seen the makings of a genius knight in her son, had never imagined, not even in her wildest dreams, that Leo would turn out to be an All-Class.

When she first heard it, she could hardly believe her ears.

Over their long-awaited dinner together, Leo shared stories of what had happened at the academy.

“So many familiar names.”

Reina smiled brightly, reminiscing about her own school days.

“Ain, is he still as curt as ever?”

“You know Professor Ain?”

“Of course. He was my classmate.”

Leo looked at his mother in surprise.

“Come to think of it, you’re both the same age.”

“Yes. Still, Ain, huh… hehe.”

“Why are you laughing?”

“Oh, just thinking it’ll be fun when I meet him again during the parent visitation next semester. Oh, wait! Didn’t Professor Harrid say he’d be coming over during the break? I’ll have to tease him a bit!”

Reina’s face brightened, her expression turning girlish as though she had returned to her school days.

“Professor Harrid? Even his former students still freeze up around him—are you sure you can just tease him like that?”

“Hmm? Why would they freeze up? Professor Harrid’s such a kind man.”

“……”

Leo made a strange face at the word kind, which didn’t suit Harrid at all—the man known as the ‘Wall of Lamentation of Lumene.’

Leo himself had no reason to be intimidated by Harrid, but every other first-year trembled before him.

Actually, so did upperclassmen—and even professors.

‘Well, she’ll handle whatever comes after, I guess.’

Leo shrugged and continued enjoying his mother’s home-cooked food.

Dade watched the scene with contentment.

“Oh, right. I also met Miss Fyrina.”

“Hmm? Fyrina?”

Reina’s eyes widened.

“What’s she doing in Lumene?”

“She said it was for personal reasons.”

“I see.”

“And I formed a contract with Miss Fyrina’s daughter.”

Reina’s jaw dropped.

“What? You made a contract with a Phoenix?”

Since that wasn’t public information, both Reina and Dade were stunned.

Watching their reactions, Leo quietly drew a summoning circle using his mana.

A moment later, Fiora appeared through the circle in her true form.

Pii?

“Oh my, what a cute little chick! Come here~”

Reina cooed and beckoned.

Fiora tilted her head but approached Reina without much suspicion.

Then she pecked at the steak on Reina’s plate.

Finding the sight adorable, Reina asked Leo,

“So, where’s the Phoenix you made a contract with?”

Pii! Pii!

Fiora spread her wings wide, chirping in protest.

Seeing that, Leo said flatly,

“That’s her.”

At his words, Fiora gracefully folded her wings and raised her chin with pride.

“…That’s a chick.”

Pyaaak!

Fiora squawked indignantly.

“She’s a Phoenix. Her name’s Fiora.”

“I see.”

Once Reina accepted that explanation, Fiora lowered her head elegantly as if in greeting.

“But wasn’t Fyrina’s daughter supposed to make a contract with Ellen’s daughter?”

“Somehow, I ended up being the one. I even met the successor of Lunda—we already finished our talk.”

“Ellen’s daughter? Oh! You must’ve met her during the field trip?”

Reina nodded as the realization hit her, then chuckled.

“Goodness. You’ve really had quite a hectic semester.”

“Isn’t Lumene supposed to be like that?”

“Even Lumene’s not usually that intense. You’ve had a spectacular semester, you know that?”

Shaking her head, Reina sighed.

“Anyway, you must’ve worked hard. Take plenty of rest during the break.”

After dinner, they chatted over tea, catching up for the first time in ages. Reina hummed a tune as she returned to her room.

When Dade entered the room after washing up, he found Reina sitting at her desk, looking at something.

“What are you looking at?”

“My old school album.”

Dade smiled softly and sat beside her.

“So you finally feel ready to open it?”

“Yeah. Listening to Leo’s stories made me miss those days a little.”

Reina—who had lost her flame in a tragic accident—smiled as if it were nothing, but those years of glory as a Zerdinger and as a student of Lumene were a painful scar she’d long avoided.

Because of that, she had deliberately stayed away from anything that reminded her of that time.

Dade knew this and never brought up her past.

“How is it? My teenage self?”

“Beautiful.”

“More than now?”

“No, just as much as now.”

“You dodged that one well?”

Reina giggled and flipped the pages.

Dade glanced at the other races pictured in the album and asked,

“Are those students from other hero academies?”

“Mm-hmm. This elf here is Ellen, the beastkin’s Verga, and that dwarf is Jack.”

Hearing those names, Dade whistled softly.

They were all either registered in the Hero Records or were of comparable fame and skill.

“I’ve heard the beastkin hero academy—Azonia, was it?—holds their entrance ceremony in summer?”

“Right. They do it at the hottest time of the year.”

“Any reason for that?”

“Yeah. Azonia’s entrance ceremony is famous for being brutal.”

The entrance ceremony of the Beastkin Hero Academy, Azonia, was indeed unique.

It was none other than a desert-crossing marathon.

“Well, they call it a ceremony, but it’s actually their final entrance exam.”

“Final entrance exam?”

“Yep. When other schools are having their entrance ceremonies, Azonia opens public lectures instead.”

“Public lectures?”

“Anyone fifteen or older can attend them—even from other races. Humans and dwarves take them too.”

“Elves?”

“Elves hate Azonia’s teaching style. You’ll never catch one there.”

Reina rested her chin on her hand.

“Anyway, students take tests in between lectures. Only those who pass can keep attending. Those who survive until summer earn the right to join the entrance ceremony. If they finish the marathon, they become official Azonia students. That’s why people call it the final entrance exam.”

“That’s quite something.”

“Unique, isn’t it? Well, it’s a test that selects talents suitable for their school.”

“Do all students have to go through public lectures?”

“No. Those from hero families or students with recommendation letters can skip the lectures and directly join the ceremony. Of course, even with a recommendation, failing the ceremony means no admission.”

“I see.”

“So once you’re recommended, you’re considered a candidate for Azonia, and you can join the cerem—”

Flap—!

Reina stopped flipping the album.

A sealed envelope was tucked between the pages.

Looking puzzled, she took it out and turned it over.

Then, upon seeing the wax seal, she gasped.

“Ah!”

“What’s wrong?”

Reina scratched her cheek.

“I completely forgot—I received an entrance recommendation from Azonia ages ago.”

“What?” Dade blinked.

“I once helped Azonia Academy in conquering a dungeon. At that time, they asked if I’d want to send my child there someday. I refused, but they forced it on me, so I ended up taking it.”

The beastkin revered strength above all.

Naturally, they eagerly welcomed warriors of great might into their academy.

Having witnessed Reina’s power firsthand, they honored her with a recommendation.

“Well, it’s been, what, twenty years?”

“Then it shouldn’t matter. They’ve probably forgotten all about it.”

“Yeah, probably~”

Reina casually slipped the letter back between the album’s pages.

“Anyway, let’s get to bed, Dade.”

“Right.”

The two lay down on the bed.

As they pulled the blanket over themselves, Reina suddenly recalled something.

‘Now that I think of it… that night at the banquet, when I got the recommendation from Verga, I might’ve made some sort of spiritual-like contract while drunk.’

She remembered pricking her finger and dripping blood onto the paper.

Feeling uneasy, Reina gave a wry smile.

‘Nah, Leo’s already a Lumene student. What could possibly happen?’

bl

Back home, Leo spent his vacation leisurely.

Of course, he didn’t neglect his homework either.

One for each department—three in total—so his workload was much heavier than most.

Even so, he completed them without much trouble.

Meanwhile, letters kept arriving from noble families inviting him to their parties.

Some nobles even came in person to his house.

‘When I was at Delad Royal Academy, they didn’t even look my way. Shameless people.’

Click-click—Leo clicked his tongue and declined every invitation.

He knew only trouble awaited at those gatherings.

But it wasn’t just nobles sending letters.

“Son! Hey, son!”

“What is it?”

“These letters—from girls named Chloe, Chen Xia, Nella, and Eliana—who are they? Sounds like girls to me!”

At breakfast, Reina had picked up Leo’s mail and was all flustered.

Since Delad didn’t have direct mail to Lordren, letters from friends in other regions arrived all at once.

Reina beamed with delight, saying, “My son’s so popular!”

There were also letters from male friends like Carl and Tade, but she paid them no mind.

“You’re not going to ask about the boys?”

“I couldn’t care less about boys.”

Leo sighed at his mother’s very selective interest in his love life.

Just then—

“Ma’am.”

“What is it?”

A maid rushed in, slightly out of breath.

“You have visitors, ma’am. For you and the young master.”

“Visitors? If they’re nobles, tell them we’re busy.”

“Well…” The maid hesitated, then said carefully, “They said they’re from Azonia Academy.”

“Azonia?”

Leo’s expression turned curious.

Reina groaned softly.

“Let them in first.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

As Reina sighed deeply, Leo asked,

“Why would Azonia be looking for us?”

“Something tells me… this will be a little troublesome.”

As Leo furrowed his brows, the door opened.

Someone entered, cloaked heavily despite the summer heat.

Leo frowned.

‘A spirit?’

[You are Lady Reina Zerdinger, correct?]

“I’m not a Zerdinger anymore, but yes, I’m Reina.”

[Greetings. I am a messenger spirit from Azonia.]

The spirit bowed politely and handed her a scroll of parchment.

Reina unfolded it, scratched her head, and passed it to Leo.

After reading it, Leo’s face turned strange.

[Congratulations, Lady Reina Zerdinger. Your child has been selected as a candidate for Azonia’s recommended entrance program.]

The contents were simple.

They were invited to attend Azonia’s entrance ceremony—held two days later in the great southern port city of Azrek.