Editor : Amethyst00



The Tower of Heroes at the center of Lumene.

This place was not so much for the great students of Lumene, but rather for the staff faculty.

And at the very top of the Tower of Heroes was the principal’s office.

Seated at his desk with a leisurely expression, Principal Kalian turned his head toward the window.

Whoooosh—!

With a blaze of flames, a woman with crimson hair appeared.

“Welcome, Fyrina.”

Kalian, who had been greeting Fyrina with a soft smile, suddenly had his expression harden.

“Has the intruder moved again, by any chance?”

The intrusion incident inside Lumene five years ago.

Since there had been no casualties, it was never made public, and the culprit was never caught.

But Lumene was not merely an educational institution. It was the place where the Hero Record was stored.

To break through Lumene’s security network, cause an incident inside, and yet not be caught…

If the event had been revealed to the world, it would have caused massive upheaval. So it was hushed up.

But the search for the culprit never stopped.

That was why Kalian had asked Ellen to invite Fyrina to Lumene.

For overseeing the vast surveillance of Lumene, there was no beast more suited than a Phoenix.

“It isn’t that, but I’ve brought good news.”

“Good news?”

“This time, among Lumene’s students, a contractor of a Phoenix has been born.”

“Is that true?”

Kalian asked in astonishment.

“Did the contract happen with you? Or with another Phoenix?”

“With my child, who was just born.”

“Wasn’t your child supposed to contract with the heir of the Lunda family?”

“That was the plan, but somehow it turned out this way.”

“Since it was a young Phoenix, a contract was possible… But still, for a mere student to form one! Besides Ulta, was there another talent of that talent among the 5th-years?”

Kalian naturally assumed the contractor came from the most senior class.

Aside from Ulta, the Pegasus contractor, the 5th-year summoning students were all mainly elemental summoners, so it was surprising to him.

“It’s not a 5th-year.”

“Oh? Then a 4th-year? Indeed, the 4th-year’s top summoning student was quite exceptional.”

“Not a 4th-year either.”

Fyrina shook her head.

Kalian’s expression shifted strangely.

“Could it be a 3rd-year?”

“No.”

“……”

“A 2nd-year?”

Fyrina only smiled without answering.

Seeing that smile, Kalian let out a dry laugh.

“Are you saying a 1st-year has become a contractor?”

“That’s right.”

“Who?”

“Leo Plov.”

“Hahaha! Leo Plov, you say?”

That was the very student Albi, known for his strict judgment, had recommended as a hero candidate.

Even against opposition from other professors, he had been made the class representative—and now he had suddenly become a Phoenix’s contractor.

“Wasn’t that student majoring in Knight Studies?”

Stroking his beard, Kalian was stunned.

“I must meet him soon.”

bl

“Thank you, professor!”

After the summoning class ended, the first-years gave a lively bow and rushed out of the practice hall.

It was already late in the evening.

The growing students, who had just gone through the taming test, had stomachs clamoring for food.

All of them hurried toward the student cafeteria without delay.

“Leo-nim, if you don’t mind, shall we have dinner together?”

“Sure.”

Leo was about to leave with Chen Xia when—

“Leo.”

“Yes.”

“The professor is calling for you.”

Carlo approached and spoke.

“Looks like we'll have dinner separately tonight.”

“No helping it then. See you next class, Leo-nim.”

Chen Xia left the classroom first.

Following Carlo, Leo headed toward the faculty office.

Carlo knocked when they arrived. From inside came a short reply: “Come in.”

“Go ahead.”

After greeting Carlo, Leo stepped inside.

Contrary to her free-spirited nature, Professor Yura’s office was neat and well-organized.

Sitting at her desk, Professor Yura gestured to the seat across from her.

“Sit.”

Once Leo sat, she wasted no time and spoke.

“I’ll be direct, Leo. That beast you contracted earlier—it was a Phoenix, wasn’t it?”

‘As expected, she knew.’

“Yes.”

At his confirmation, Yura shaken.

She had suspected it, but hearing it from Leo himself shocked her.

“Could you show me once more?”

Her voice trembled as she asked.

Leo slipped his hand into his uniform pocket.

Since Fyrina had promised to come take Fiora tonight, he still had her with him.

He placed Fiora on the desk.

“To think I’d see a baby Phoenix with my own eyes while alive!”

Even an adult Phoenix was rare beyond words, and to behold a newborn one was even more extraordinary. Not even a Lumene professor could hide her excitement.

“Haa~! Such dignity!”

But dignity aside, Fiora was nodding off like a sickly chick.

‘Are her eyesight bad?’

“What’s her name?”

“Fiora.”

“How on earth did you find her? I never knew there was a Phoenix in the Beast Forest.”

A professor’s status in Lumene was not low.

They were all highly skilled in their fields and also wielded significant authority in times of emergencies.

Yet even they knew nothing of Fyrina’s existence.

Remembering Fyrina’s instructions, Leo had prepared an excuse.

“I stumbled upon an egg while wandering the forest. I don’t know why it was there, but it turned out to be a Phoenix egg.”

It was flimsy answer, but there was no other way to explain the contract.

Besides, there was no way to verify Leo’s words.

“Still, recognizing it as a Phoenix egg wouldn’t have been easy, would it?”

Despite its fame, almost nothing was actually known about the Phoenix, a mythical beast.

This making all information related to Phoenix extremely expensive and valuable.

“My mother’s family is related to the Phoenix. I once read ancient texts about them.”

“Your mother’s family?”

“The Zerdinger family.”

Yura’s eyes widened.

‘Well… if it’s Zerdinger, that makes sense. The source of their aura flames is the power of the Phoenix.’

If he had talent of a summoner, there could be no more perfect background for becoming a Phoenix contractor.

“Even so, for a mere fifteen-year-old boy to contract with a Phoenix…”

Her eyes shone.

Though questions remained, what mattered now was Leo’s talent: to form a Phoenix contract as a student, on his very first day at school.

“I see. Thank you for your time. You may go now.”

Yura escorted Leo all the way to the office door.

Before opening it, she spoke seriously.

“Leo.”

“Yes.”

“It would be best to keep the fact you contracted with a Phoenix secret for now. If word spreads, it will cause an uproar.”

“I understand.”

“Good. Then enjoy your dinner, and I’ll see you next class.”

Pat-pat—she tapped his shoulder, then closed the door.

Returning to her desk, Yura sat down, troubled.

‘How on earth should I teach such a raw gem?’

Her heart brimmed with excitement.

A summoner of unprecedented talent was her own student!

She wanted to raise him into the greatest summoner by any means.

‘Should I advance him a grade? Teaching such talent is its own dilemma!’

Dreaming of the day her pupil would be renowned as a great summoner, Yura was lost in happy thoughts.

If Leo wished, she was ready to tutor him personally.

She had no doubt he would choose summoning as his major.

How could he not? With such talent, choosing another major would be absurd.

‘Hoohoo, for the next five years, summoning will be the best department!’

What Yura did not know.

That Leo had no such thing as a major.

bl

The next morning.

Leo headed toward the Magic Hall with Carl to attend a magic class.

“Oh! Chloe!”

Carl spotted Chloe walking ahead, a magic textbook under her arm, and waved.

“Morning, Leo, Carl. Yawn.”

“Yawning already? It’s only morning.”

“I was up late reading a magic tome.”

“Really? Then how about this?”

Carl grinned and pulled out a small vial.

“Carl Trading Company’s fatigue recovery potion! Only 5 shillings!”

“This isn’t something shady, is it?”

“Look, the label has all the ingredients and certification marks.”

“Hm.”

Checking the label, Chloe nodded and bought it.

While drinking, she glanced at Leo.

“You’re really attending magic classes?”

“I told you I was.”

“He even went to the summoning class yesterday,” Carl added.

Chloe looked at Leo in surprise.

“What classes did you take yesterday?”

“I’m aiming to be a pure mage, so I had none. I studied in the library.”

“Wow, such a model student.”

The three chatted idly as they reached the Magic Hall.

Today’s class was in the [Grand Lecture Hall], a vast circular auditorium that could seat up to 500 students.

Carl grinned as he saw it.

“Look! The best seats—the very back—are still available! What are you two waiting for?”

“What are you talking about? The best seats are in front.”

“Then clearly, you and I are on different paths.”

Carl tried to abandon Chloe without regret.

But Chloe yanked his ear first.

“Ow ow ow?!”

“You’re planning to nap back there, aren’t you? A magic student should listen diligently.”

“Wait wait! Let go and we can talk! Ow!”

Chloe dragged him all the way to the very front row.

“If you doze off, the professor will catch you right away!”

Carl groaned in despair, but Chloe only smiled.

“Or, if you study hard, he’ll think well of you.”

Even as Carl glared her resentfully, Chloe ignored him and opened her book.

Leo, forced to be seated in front as well, stifled his laughter.

Then, footsteps echoed on the platform.

Step—step—step—

A man Wearing a neat suit and with slicked-back hair.

He was handsome enough to draw sighs from the female students.

Standing at the center of the stage, he smiled warmly.

“Greetings, 1st-years. My name is Len Hors. I will be teaching you magic theory this year.”

Applause filled the hall at the introduction.

“Any questions before class begin?”

A flood of questions came from the girls.

“Professor! Do you have a girlfriend?”

“How old are you?”

“What’s your ideal type?”

Pointless questions, unrelated to class, poured in.

But Professor Len kindly answered each one with a smile.

“A handsome professor, eh? No wonder the girls swoon. But Len Hors? Never heard the name. Chloe, do you know him?”

Carl, balancing a pen on his lip and lacing his hands behind his head, asked. Chloe shook her head.

“I've never heard of him either.”

When the personal questions ended, Len spoke.

“Today’s class will be an introduction to Magic Theory. But before that—”

Click!

He clicked his fingers.

Rustle—rustle—rustle—!

Sheets of paper fluttered across the lecture hall.

Bundles landed precisely in front of each student.

“Before we begin the lesson, we will conduct a simple magic theory test.”

“Ehhh?”

“A test on the first day? Professor, you're so cruel!”

Grumbles rose here and there. Some girls whined playfully.

“For reference, any student who fails to meet the standard will be barred from attending all future magic classes.”

“……!”

The once-light mood instantly chilled.

At that moment, one student cautiously raised a hand.

“P-professor… what if a magic major student fails the test?”

“Why, obviously.”

Len replied lightly, as if the answer were clear.

“They’ll be expelled.”