Editor : Amethyst00



Swoooosh—!

Cutting across Lake Lumeria, the regular ferry made its way toward Lumene.

Students from each academy gathered on the deck, chatting among themselves.

But overall, the mood wasn’t good.

Of course it wasn’t—just moments ago, they’d watched a fellow student get expelled on the spot.

“Um.”

One of the Icott students cautiously spoke to Chen Xia, who was among the Lumene students in charge of them.

“What is it?”

“What’s the name of the professor who just expelled Serina?”

“That was Professor Ain.”

“Gasp!”

At Chen Xia’s words, the Icott students looked utterly shocked.

Ain Elandieu.

The famed Glacier Knight, none of them had imagined he would come merely as a supervising professor.

“For someone like him to be here… that means our academy gets to learn directly from him?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Incredible! That’s Lumene for you!”

“To think we can learn from the Glacier Knight!”

The gloomy atmosphere from earlier vanished in an instant.

Where else could they possibly find the chance to study under a knight like Ain?

Not only Icott—students from Emerald and Skarn also let out exclamations of awe.

They too had heard that their supervising professors were none other than Len and Yura.

The three academies’ students all reacted with excitement.

As the stiff mood finally began to ease, the ship drew closer and closer to Lumene.

The heavy fog rolled back, and before their eyes stretched the vast Lumene Academy, leaving the visiting students breathless.

“That’s Lumene Academy.”

“The place where hero candidates train.”

Some swallowed hard.

Among them were students whose eyes gleamed with a quiet yearning.

They were the ones preparing for Lumene’s entrance exams.

The ferry docked, and the students poured off the ship, flooding into the academy.

“There’s nothing special.”

“Looks pretty ordinary.”

“I think our school’s nicer.”

As a few voices muttered, they entered the great hall of the first-year building.

On the podium stood Professor Sedgen, while the Lumene first-years sat neatly arranged by department.

“Welcome, students of the three academies. I am Sedgen.”

When Professor Sedgen spoke in a deep voice, the hall stirred with excitement once again.

“Sedgen? The renowned professor of Lumene, that Sedgen?”

“I heard so many heroes have passed through his hands…”

“Incredible… amazing!”

Exclamations erupted from every corner, and Sedgen chuckled softly.

“Take your seats. Icott on the left, Emerald in the center, Skarn on the right.”

At his words, the visiting students nervously took their places.

‘We’re sitting alongside Lumene students.’

‘Never thought this day would come.’

Just sharing seats with the so-called hero candidates made their hearts pound.

Though for others, different thoughts brewed.

‘Just how far apart are we from them, really?’

Among the three academies’ students were some who were preparing for Lumene’s entrance—but also plenty who had failed repeatedly and ended up enrolling at the three-class academies instead.

They’d all been called the best among their peers growing up, so not a few still couldn’t accept where they’d landed.

Admiration and jealousy intertwined as Sedgen continued.

“Welcome. I’m delighted such a meaningful occasion has been arranged. Though our time is brief, this is a chance to exchange values and perspectives—use it as a stepping stone to leap further ahead.”

Sedgen’s gaze swept over the students.

“I hope this will be a time where you gain much. That is all.”

bl

Students of Icott, Emerald, and Skarn were made to follow Lumene’s curriculum to the letter.

Though they were guests, Lumene had no intention of altering its schedule for them.

The very first task was to split the 600 students into mixed classes.

Though grouped together as the three prestigious academies, in truth there was little overlap between Icott, Emerald, and Skarn.

Unlike Lumene—where departments might differ but classes mix students from all over—students of the other academies rarely had reason to cross paths.

So while they were conscious of each other as rivals, actual interaction had been extremely rare.

Now, with 60 outsiders placed in a single class, the mood was unbearably awkward.

“Man. Look at how stiff this is.”

In Class 5’s room, Carl leaned deep against his chair, fingers interlaced behind his head, muttering.

Then he grinned.

“I can’t just sit and watch!”

The ever-outgoing Carl suddenly leapt to his feet.

Class 5’s students gave him the “here we go again” look, while the visiting students, confused, focused their attention on him.

Step—step—Carl strode up to the podium.

“Nice to meet you! I’m Carl Thomas! Fifteen years old, Department of Magic!”

He grinned.

“We’ve only got a short time together, but we’re classmates now, so let’s get along! Which brings me to this!”

He opened a subspace pocket and placed a potion vial atop the desk.

Thud—!

“This is my special fatigue-recovery potion! It’s popular not just with first-years but with upperclassmen too!”

Since the start of the semester, Carl’s fatigue potion had become a hit, known for its strong effect.

It was so effective that not only first-years but second- and third-years often came looking for it.

“Studying’s gonna be rough, even for a short while! So just for you guys, I’ll be selling at a special discount. Opportunities like this don’t come every day, you know?”

The visiting students gave him incredulous looks.

A supposed hero candidate, suddenly… doing business?

But Class 5 just looked unsurprised.

“Carl, so you’re giving us a discount too?”

Eliana’s eyes sparkled, but Carl shook his head.

“Nope.”

“Hey! What kind of discrimination is that!”

“Boo—!”

“Merchant bastard!”

“Forgot your roots already?”

Jeers rained down from Class 5.

Carl just laughed heartily, “I didn’t hear that~!”

Seeing this, the nervous visiting students couldn’t help but laugh as well.

Then—

“Carl Thomas, was it?”

From the back, an Icott boy in uniform let out a derisive chuckle.

“Since I’ll be entering Lumene next year, I’ll be your junior. I’ll be polite and use honorifics.”

“Quite the honor. And you are?”

“Haviden Birson.”

“The crown prince of the Birson Kingdom?”

Carl’s face showed surprise.

The Birson Kingdom.

A northern powerhouse, home to many famed knight orders.

Its twin orders—the Winter Knights and the Snow Knights—were both led by heroes recorded in the Heroic Records.

Haviden had studied under them, his talent as a knight recognized since childhood.

Among the Icott students present, he was undoubtedly the biggest name.

“Now that really is an honor.”

“Yes, consider it so. But here’s the thing.”

Scratching his cheek with an awkward smile, Carl waited.

“I came here to meet Lumene seniors, not some street peddler. And you, senior—you’re a commoner, aren’t you?”

“Yeah. So what?”

“Tch. To see some lowborn strutting around like this. Doesn’t this class have any proper nobles or royals?”

“Guess I’ve made His Highness uncomfortable.”

Carl grinned slyly.

That attitude made Haviden’s eyes twitch.

“Don’t get cocky just because you’re a Lumene student. I’ll be one myself soon enough.”

“Don’t recall acting cocky.”

“Tch. Lowborn trash, acting all high and mighty.”

Haviden sneered, flashing a sharp smile.

Unlike Serina earlier, his approach was different.

He wasn’t openly challenging the professors, nor breaking rules.

Nor did he intend to make enemies of Lumene’s famed students.

Since his goal was to enter Lumene, flaunting his status would be foolish.

But Carl? Carl was easy to dismiss.

‘For him to stay in Lumene with that level of mana… By the time I’m in, he won’t even be around. And even if he is, he’s in magic, so I’d have no reason to deal with him.’

Avoiding trouble was wise—but Haviden, raised to command others his whole life, had no intention of enduring Carl’s cheekiness.

“Take your little shop stall to the market where you belong.”

As he spoke with irritation, Carl shrugged and began clearing away the potions—

“Hey. If you don’t like it, then you get lost! This is our class, and you’re not even from our school. Who made you act like you own the place?”

Haviden’s eyes twitched.

The one who had stood was a girl far too famous.

“Chelsea Lewellin.”

His lips curled upward.

Chelsea was not someone he could trifle with.

Noble or royal—there was a vast gulf.

And Chelsea’s homeland, the Lordren Empire, sprawled across most of the western continent.

On top of that, the Lewellin line was one of the empire’s twin pillars.

She was his equal in rank, if not higher.

And beyond status, her personal skill was widely acknowledged.

She was one of the most talked-about first-years in the world.

Yet Haviden had no intention of backing down.

He had full confidence in his own strength.

Besides, Chelsea was a mage, and his peer in age.

Knowing this, he couldn’t help but see her as a rival.

“Taking his side just because you’re classmates?”

“Hmph. I’m just annoyed because you were acting all arrogant toward my friend.”

“Friend? A commoner?”

“There’s no ‘commoner friend’ or ‘noble friend.’ Ugh, disgusting.”

Chelsea stuck out her tongue at him with a scornful look.

Haviden’s eyes twitched again.

“Chelsea.”

Carl looked deeply moved.

“I’ll give you a 50% discount coupon.”

“Hey! Don’t ruin the mood!”

Chelsea yelled, kicking Carl’s backside repeatedly.

“Pathetic.”

Haviden’s lips curled again—

“Then why don’t we settle it with skill.”

A voice cut in.

They turned to see Leo.

Haviden’s eyes twitched.

“Skill, you say?”

“Yeah. Looks like you’re underestimating Carl’s abilities.”

Leo smirked.

“If you’re so sure, then see for yourself—the strength of Lumene.”

“Oh?”

Haviden let out a short laugh.

“I like that. But I won’t fight Senior Carl.”

He glanced at Chelsea.

“Instead, I’d like a duel with Chelsea Lewellin.”

“Ha! Don’t make me laugh. Know your place.”

“Do it.”

“Huh? Leo!”

Chelsea’s eyes went wide at him.

“Chelsea, you can do it! Show him Lumene’s power!”

“No, you’re the one who should be showing him! You!”

Chelsea glared and threw a punch at Carl’s arm.

“In Carl’s place, my friend will handle the duel.”

Haviden looked sidelong at another Icott student seated nearby—

a boy half a head taller than Carl, with a much larger build.

“Fine.”

Leo nodded.

Staring hard at him, Haviden grinned.

“I’d like to see your strength too, Senior Leo Plov. To see just how amazing an All-Class really is.”

Leo chuckled.

“Don’t you think it’s a bit much for me to personally step in against the likes of you?”

“What…?”

“I don’t waste time on opponents who aren’t worth it.”

“Gh—!”

Sparks flew in Haviden’s eyes.

“Then once I defeat Chelsea Lewellin, you’re next!”

“Oh my. Quite the dreamer, aren’t you.”

Chelsea stuck out her tongue and snapped sharply:

“You’ll regret not knowing your place. Get ready!”

bl

“This isn’t wise. You've been attracting too much attention lately.”

“I know. So I’ll be brief.”

“Then talk.”

“Tell me the exact location of the target.”

At the chilling voice, she gave a short, dry laugh.

“Looks like this wretched mission is finally ending. Good.”

With a relieved expression, she spoke coldly.

“It’s in the innermost chamber of the Grand Archive’s artifact vault. I’ll draw a map soon and deliver it.”

“Good. May the blessing of the Great Black Flame be upon you.”

“May the blessing of the Great Black Flame be upon you.”