Chapter 30
Editor : Amethyst00
“It looked like a simple illusion spell, yet Chloe Müeller couldn’t counter it?”
“Simple? Did you just call that simple, Ain-sunbae?”
Len asked in a trembling voice.
“Wasn’t it?”
“Of course the formula itself is simple! The magic Student Leo used isn’t human magic—it’s elven magic!”
Len hugged himself and cried out.
“Other races’ magical systems are fundamentally different from those of humans! It’s not something you can use just by understanding the formula structure! It’s the realm of talent and instinct that effort alone cannot achieve! Student Leo possesses that! It’s clear that the gods have sent Leo for the sake of the Magic Department!”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying, Len Hors. But, Leo Plov is an aspiring knight student.”
“It seems your tiny brain can’t comprehend, so I’ll explain it again.”
“I understood well enough—that you’re saying you want to die.”
Ain gave a cold smile and grabbed Len by the collar, but Len paid it no mind and launched into a speech about Leo’s magical talent.
The students of Class 5, hands joined, rejoiced.
On paper, Class 1 had overwhelming superiority, and the game itself had been dominated by them.
But the result was Class 5’s victory.
Celia ground her teeth, and Duran twisted his face in rage.
Chloe sat slumped on the ground, too dazed to even think of standing.
“Get up, Chloe.”
“P-professor.”
“When a match ends, no matter the result, it's customary to bow.”
Professor Sedgen softly patted Chloe’s shoulder and gathered both teams in the center.
“Good work, everyone. Class 5, return to Harrid and discuss today’s match with him!”
Then Professor Sedgen turned his gaze toward the bowed heads of Class 1.
The students tensed.
He was a professor notorious for his elitism.
The students under him were all outstanding, and his classes consistently brought top results in academy events.
Yet now they had been defeated by Class 5—the lowest-ranked class of the year.
They expected his wrath.
“Elegance! Well done, everyone who participated in today’s match! You showed excellent performance, and I am delighted!”
Contrary to expectations, Sedgen praised them.
“Celia, as expected, you know your strengths well! Overwhelming destructive power—that is the advantage of one who wields the flame aura! But you must build more stamina.”
Starting with Celia, Sedgen listed the strengths and points for improvement of each Class 1 student from today’s match.
“Duran, your quick movements were most impressive! Not a hint of waste in your motions! But if you devise a way to increase your instantaneous power, it will serve you well. Lightning is also an attribute with great destructive potential!”
One by one, he gave sincere feedback, until at last his eyes turned to Chloe.
She shrank back.
Everyone knew today’s loss was because she had failed to stop Leo.
“Chloe, you were flawless! Not a single fault!”
“M-me? But we lost because of me…”
“No, the loss wasn’t because of you. In fact, we didn’t lose at all. Though the result says otherwise, I don’t believe our Class 1 was truly defeated by Class 5.”
Sedgen smiled gently.
“In the game, we overwhelmed them. And the match lasted only twenty minutes. Class 5’s teamwork was impressive, but if given more time, we would surely have turned it around.”
He patted Chloe’s shoulder.
“As for failing to stop Leo, it was only because he caught you completely off guard. No first-year could have stopped him in that moment—I guarantee it!”
Then Sedgen raised a finger toward the sky.
“My students! Raise your heads and look up! The fact remains unchanged that Class 1 is the most elegant of all!”
“Professor!”
“Waaah! We respect you!”
The students of Class 1 cheered with tears in their eyes.
They were misled by his reputation and achievements.
Sedgen was not a professor who only wanted excellent students.
On the contrary, he was known for treasuring the teacher-student bond and never giving up on his students.
The reason he had taken Class 1 was not because of their high average score, but simply because he liked the number 1.
While Class 1 basked in warmth—
“Professor Sedgen.”
“Leo. Your strategy today was remarkable. What brings you here?”
“Professor Harrid said to go buy drinks right away. And he also said toilet cleaning duty starts today.”
At Leo’s words, Class 1’s mood plunged again, and Sedgen’s lips twitched violently.
“Gasp? Professor Sedgen! Professors Ain and Len are fighting!”
At the same time, Haowl cried out as he witnessed bitter cold aura and magic clashing in the middle of the training ground.
“Haowl.”
“Yes?”
“Would you take your friends and buy some drinks at the café? Professor Harrid will deal with Ain and Len.”
Indeed, Harrid was already striding toward the two clashing professors.
Haowl nodded blankly and went off to the academy café with his close friends.
Leo called after him with an irritating add-on.
“Get the most expensive ones.”
“Ghhhk!”
Sedgen felt a stabbing pain in his neck.
‘Next time, we will win for sure, Class 5!’
A month had passed since the first-years entered Lumene.
Plenty of time for students to adjust to academy life.
“Yaaawn! Good morning.”
Carl stretched and sat down with a yawn.
“Were you up late working again yesterday?”
Chelsea asked while eating the academy cafeteria’s spaghetti breakfast. Carl scratched his head.
“Yeah. The demand for fatigue recovery potions keeps going up.”
Though among the weakest in combat, Carl was mid-to-high ranked in alchemy and support magic.
Professor Harrid, their homeroom teacher, had recognized Carl’s aptitude from the start and supported his career path as a professional supporter.
Business was booming too.
Ever since advertising from the entrance ceremony, and with honor students often using his fatigue recovery potions, they sold like hotcakes.
Potions were surprisingly labor-intensive, so many students preferred buying them than making their own.
“Still, I wish people would buy some of my other stuff too.”
Carl sighed at his other products.
But since business had stabilized faster than expected, he wasn’t really dissatisfied.
While chewing steak early in the morning, Leo spoke.
“By the way, have you heard the rumor?”
“What rumor?”
“They say the seniors dispatched for dungeon raids are returning.”
Carl’s eyes sparkled.
“I heard! Rumor has it three teams are coming back!”
Those tasked with raiding Hero Dungeons and recovering Hero Record pages often left the academy.
And since three teams were away this time, the academy’s strongest students were all gone.
The first-years hadn’t met the famous upperclassmen yet, and the mood had been tinged with disappointment.
Chelsea twirled spaghetti on her fork and popped it into her mouth.
“They say in the next Hero Studies class we’ll use one of the recovered Hero Record pages as a teaching material.”
“Really? We’re going into the Hero's World already? I thought that wouldn’t happen until the midterm practicals.”
Carl was excited.
“Not quite. Apparently one of the recovered pages is damaged. The class will involve deducing which hero it belongs to.”
“What, that’s all?”
“Don’t be so dismissive! Even getting to study a lost Hero Record is an incredible opportunity!”
Chelsea’s eyes sparkled.
She loved heroic tales and enjoyed researching them as a hobby.
“Speaking of which, club recruitment season is starting soon, right?”
Carl stroked his chin.
Now that the first-years had settled in, club signups were beginning.
“Have you two thought about clubs? I’m considering joining a commercial club.”
“I might join the music club. I learned music for cultural refinement since childhood.”
“Classy hobby, fits a noble lady. What about you, Leo?”
“I’m thinking of starting a club.”
“What?”
“Starting one?”
“Yeah.”
The class representative starting a club sparked their interest.
“What kind?”
“A Hero Research Society.”
“Hero Research? Sounds like an academic club.”
Carl grimaced.
“Most clubs are for stress relief. Do you think people will want to join a study-related one?”
Chelsea shook her head.
“It’s not academic at all. We’ll study forgotten heroes.”
Leo smiled faintly, and Carl asked:
“Like who?”
“Like the First Hero, Kyle.”
It was his sly plan to spread his own fame.
“Kyle? That’s not forgotten, that’s a fictional character. If it sounds too far-fetched, it’ll be even less popular.”
“But it sounds fun! Kyle may not be in the Hero Record and is treated as fictional, but he’s so famous! How can someone not even a historical hero be that well known? Maybe Kyle’s Hero Record just hasn’t been discovered yet!”
Chelsea gushed with excitement.
“Chelsea.”
“Yes?”
“You’re kind.”
Leo smiled warmly and patted her head—no one had ever spoken so positively about him before.
Flustered at first, Chelsea soon let out a shy laugh and leaned into his hand.
Watching them, Carl smirked.
“You dream too big. Kyle’s definitely a fake hero. Why not study Dweno instead? The great blacksmith and advisor of the legendary hero party! Way more real than Ky—mpphh?! Mmphhh?! Ghhk?!”
“Carl. Bread alone might choke you.”
“Mmmmphhh! (And you’re the one stuffing bread into my mouth?!)”
“Oh? You want more?”
“Mmmphhhhhh! (Noooooo!)”
Leo kindly shoved more bread into his friend’s mouth.
Morning classes ended, and it was lunchtime.
Students poured out of classrooms.
Leo was tidying his textbooks and about to stand when—
“Leo.”
“Hm?”
Celia entered Class 5 and stood before him.
“What’s this, Celia? Why’d you come to another class’s room?”
Chelsea frowned, and Celia answered calmly.
“I just came to see Leo. You don’t have any lunch plans today, do you?”
“Nope.”
“Then eat with me.”
“Why?”
“The student council president wants to see you.”