Chapter 25
Editor : Amethyst00
The professors in charge of this year’s first-year classes had gathered in the faculty lounge of the Hall of Beginnings.
It was a gathering to build camaraderie before the official start of the semester.
“This year’s freshmen seem to be excellent overall.”
“Ah, that’s right. The Knight Department has three top-ranked entrants, doesn’t it?”
At Professor Ain’s words, Professor Len smiled faintly.
“How envious. The Magic Department only has two top-ranked entrants.”
“Are you mocking the Summoning Department, Len?”
Professor Yura frowned.
“Haha, of course not!”
“Which department will prove superior is something we won’t know until the semester begins. Just because someone entered as top of the class doesn’t mean they’ll remain the best. And besides…”
Professor Ain swirled the wine in his glass and paused.
“Among this year’s top entrants, there’s no class representative, is there?”
The professors nodded in agreement. Ain took a sip of wine.
“Well, though the class representative is aiming for the Knight Department.”
'This year, the Knight Department will undoubtedly reign supreme.'
Professor Ain looked at the other two professor with an expression of ridicule.
“My, my. You said no one can know the outcome, and yet you sound so confident, sunbae.”
'Delusion is free, I suppose. But Leo will be joining our Magic Department.'
Though he laughed heartily outwardly, Len smiled meaningfully inside.
“You’re getting rather arrogant, aren’t you.”
'How ridiculous. Leo Plov is joining the Summoning Department. I can’t wait to see Len’s face after he reads the application form.'
Yura snorted outwardly but sneered inwardly.
Just then, the teaching assistants arrived with the major application forms.
“Professors, here are the major applications. Over the weekend, we’ll sort them by department.”
“You’ve worked hard. Here, have something to eat and drink.”
The professors offered food and wine to the assistants.
Meanwhile, Ain, Yura, and Len headed straight to the pile of forms from Class 5.
'Why are they following me to Class 5’s forms?'
'Do they each have an eye on a particular student?'
'What’s going on with these two?'
As they exchanged puzzled glances, the three professors spotted Leo’s photo on the very top form of Class 5.
And they could hardly believe their eyes.
“Crazy! Crazy! Crazy!”
Slap! Slap! Slap!
“Why are you hitting me?”
In the park in front of the dormitory, Celia had grabbed Leo and was smacking his back.
“The whole girls’ dorm is buzzing! Saying you declared you’re ‘All-Class’ or something ridiculous!”
“Why is that ridiculous? I bought all the textbooks, and I attended every major class during the privisional periods.”
“You mean you bought them not as references but as your actual textbooks?”
“Of course.”
“Argh! You planned this out? You’re insane bastard!”
Celia clutched her head and stomped around in frustration.
“Do you think declaring yourself All-Class makes any sense? Do you think the professors will look kindly on you if you treat major applications like a joke?”
At Lumene, professors wielded enormous authority.
Being disliked by a professor of another major meant your school life was as good as ruined.
Once a professor marked you unfavorably, expulsion was practically guaranteed.
On top of that, professors took great pride in their departments.
It was already hard enough to earn their favor, but joking around during the sacred major application process?
It was enough to earn the ire of every professor.
Celia’s stomach burned with anxiety. He’d only just entered Lumene and become class representative, and now—within a week—Leo had caused a major scandal.
And the person at the center of it all acted as though it was no big deal, which only infuriated her more.
“You! Go to the faculty office right now and apologize to the professors!”
“No. I’m going to take all the majors.”
“What is wrong with you! There’s no such thing as an All-Class!”
At her outburst, Leo calmly opened his left palm.
First, aura began to flow out of it, then mana flared like fire on top of it.
Celia’s eyes went wide.
And then, spiritual power wrapped around his hand as well.
“You… you… you?”
“Not even my parents know yet.”
Leo shrugged after withdrawing his power.
Celia gaped, speechless, her face filled with disbelief.
“All the professors have already seen my ability. They know this isn’t a joke.”
“Just… what are you?”
“What else?”
Leo grinned.
“I’m your cousin.”
“It's unprecedented. Since Lumene’s founding—no, including all other Hero Academies—this is the first time.”
An all-class.
In the long history of the world, such a hero had existed before.
But in this era, where the Hero Record documented the histories of Great Heroes, that figure was considered nothing more than a myth.
*'The Fifth Great Hero, Kyle.'*
Yet now, a real All-Class had appeared, just like the hero of legend.
Professors Ain, Yura, and Len had already had a meeting with Headmaster Kalian.
The content of their discussion was that Leo must declare a definite primary major.
All three had passionately explained just how extraordinary Leo’s talent was.
“What should we do, Headmaster?”
“In this case, it’s best to allow the student to follow his own wishes.”
In response to Secretary Erena’s question, Kalian smiled.
“Isn’t it the duty of a school to provide the education the student desires?”
Weekends at Lumene were relatively relaxed.
Because weekday schedules were intense, weekends were guaranteed as thorough rest time.
Students were free to spend their time as they pleased—visiting Lumeria, the capital, or even applying for overnight leave.
“Does it make sense to be at the training ground on such a fine weekend?”
Carl grumbled, but Chelsea answered,
“I promised to receive swordsmanship guidance from Leo today.”
Chelsea wore comfortable training clothes.
A Battle Mage—a mage who could fight on the front lines.
Different from a Magic Knight, who wielded both aura and mana, a Battle Mage relied solely on mana.
They enhanced their physical ability with auxiliary spells, and specialized in high-speed and multi-casting battle magic.
Where ordinary mages provided firepower from the rear, Battle Mages were the ones who could dive into enemy lines to disrupt formations.
Experienced Battle Mages leapt fearlessly into chaotic battlefield, creating countless variables.
Chelsea had been deeply impressed when Leo had blocked Taratnia during the entrance exam without even using aura.
And now she was even more eager for his guidance.
*'To think Leo oppa is also a mage'*
Since Magic Knights and Battle Mages had much in common, she thought learning from him would be far more helpful than from an ordinary Knight student.
Celia, who had tagged along after hearing he would train Chelsea, wore a listless expression.
“If you came with half-hearted thoughts, I suggest you quit now.”
“I’m serious.”
“Oh my? Then you’d better brace yourself—Leo’s training is anything but easy.”
The thought of her childhood rival Chelsea suffering under Leo’s regime made Celia quietly delighted.
“By the way, Celia. What’s your relationship with Leo, that you’re so close together?”
Carl asked curiously. Chelsea also pricked her ears, as she didn’t know.
“Don’t spread this around, but Leo and I are cousins.”
“What?”
“Huh? Leo oppa’s from Zerdinger?”
“Not exactly. It’s complicated family stuff, so don’t ask.”
Celia laughed it off. Knowing how tangled noble households could be, Chelsea and Carl didn’t pry further.
Leo turned to Carl.
“Carl, want to join too?”
“I’d like to, but too bad—I need to head to Lumeria soon!”
“For fun?”
“No! To buy potion ingredients! My stamina potions are selling way better than expected! Hahaha!”
At that, Celia tilted her head.
“You’re from an alchemist family, but you’re basically a merchant.”
“Alchemy needs lots of money, you see!”
Carl grinned, forming a circle with his fingers.
“What do you say? I could make you a fine magic sword or staff.”
“Can you make something better than my family heirloom?”
“Forgive me, I spoke out of turn.”
Talking about making weapons in front of a household famed for them—he’d grossly misjudged.
Celia stifled her laughter.
“So, Leo-oppa, what should we start with?”
“Are you used to moving your body?”
“Of course! I’ve got great stamina! And I’m flexible too!”
Chelsea lifted her leg straight up like a ballerina, forming a perfect I.
It was a move requiring exceptional flexibility and balance.
She then hopped lightly, showing Leo her nimbleness.
With such a strong foundation, once trained as a Battle Mage, she’d clearly be a formidable close-quarters fighter, even against Knight students.
There’s definitely a reason she aims to be a Battle Mage.
“I know someone who was a Battle Mage.”
“Really?”
Chelsea’s eyes sparkled.
*'Strictly speaking, she not exactly a battle mage, since the concept didn’t exist back then.'*
But Luna, darting through battlefields casting multiple spells at high speed, could be called the Origin of Battle Mage.
*'In fact, you could say she's the origin of all modern mages, really.'*
Leo crossed his arms.
“Chelsea, what do you think is most important for a Battle Mage?”
“Hmm… let’s see… high-speed casting, multi-casting ability, and martial arts?”
Leo shook his head.
“No. For a Battle Mage, the most important thing is—”
“The most important?”
“Stamina.”
On the bench, Celia quietly rose to her feet.
“Carl, let’s go.”
“Huh? Where?”
“Didn’t you say you were going to Lumeria?”
“I still have time. And weren’t you not going?”
“I suddenly remembered I have urgent business too…”
“Celia. From now on, you’ll also train stamina with me every weekend.”
“No way!”
“I already wrote to Uncle Zeiss. He told me to make sure of it.”
“Why would you do something so pointless!”
Celia lunged at Leo, grabbing his collar and shaking him violently.
“Listen closely, Chelsea.”
“Okay.”
“A Battle Mage must be able to move endlessly. For that, you need unbreakable, steel-like stamina. Buff magic has its limit, so its won’t cut it.”
*'That’s exactly what the Battle Mages in my family always said.'*
In the Lewellin household, stamina training was daily routine.
“Celia’s destined to train with me anyway.”
“I don’t want that destiny!”
Celia wailed. But Leo paid her no mind.
“The moment you said you’d train with me, I decided—I’ll turn you into a hero no matter what.”
“Yes! Leo-oppa! Let’s both work hard to become heroes!”
Chelsea clenched her fist, taking his words as encouragement.
“So you’ll train with me from now on?”
“Yes!”
Later in life, Chelsea thought to herself—
*'I should have run away right then.'*