Editor : Amethyst00



The three professors were walking down the corridor of the Tower of Heroes.

They were none other than Professor Ain, Professor Ren, and Professor Yura, the ones in charge of the first-year departments.

These three professors, famous in Lumene for being notoriously strong-willed and independent, wore unusually tense expressions.

They had summoned all first-years to announce something regarding the Department Tournament.

If it were any other year, there would have been no reason for such tension.

But this year was different.

Because no matter which department he chose, there was someone who could completely shatter the balance of power.

Leo Plov.

An unprecedented “All-Class” student with top-tier abilities in every category—he was the greatest wild card in the Department Tournament.

Depending on which department Leo chose, it would be no exaggeration to say the entire outcome of the tournament could be overturned.

But all three professors were convinced that Leo would pick their department.

'Leo Plov has deep ties to the Zerdinger family. Naturally, he’ll choose the Knight Department.'

Ain, who had already noticed the flame aura Leo wielded.

'Leo is a student with overwhelming magical talent. On the school trip, he even deciphered the magic left behind by the Poet of the Star. Of course he belongs in the Magic Department.'

Len, well aware of Leo’s magical aptitude, had no doubt Leo would choose the Magic Department.

'He’s contracted with a Phoenix. Where else would he go?'

Yura looked at the other two with a mocking smirk.

For once, the three professors, usually unable to agree on anything, shared the same expectation.

But the moment they arrived at the auditorium, their expressions twisted.

“Why is Leo sitting all alone?”

“He said he’s not being left out—he’s the one leaving the entire year out.”

It was Torua who answered Len’s question.

“Anyway, you’ve all heard the announcement. Today you’ve been gathered here because of the Department Tournament.”

At those words, every first-year’s attention sharpened.

“But before that, let me explain why your seniors are here. First, Jamua.”

At Ain’s words, Jamua stepped forward.

“Nice to meet you, juniors! I’m Li Jamua!”

His booming voice rang out as he flashed a grin.

“I know some of you are Dual-Class! But the fact that you’re sitting here means that above all else, you’ve chosen Knight as your primary class!”

Several students nodded.

“A Knight is someone who overcomes every trial and hardship with their own body alone! Self-discipline is the very foundation of knighthood! One who neglects training cannot call themselves a Knight! That’s why, for the next month, I’ll be training with you! I look forward to it!”

The Knight Department students buzzed with excitement.

“Training with Senior Jamua? That’s amazing!”

It was an honor—to train for a whole month under one of their most respected seniors.

After Jamua’s introduction, Torua stepped forward.

“Hello, first-years. I’m Torua Yan. I hate lies, so I’ll be blunt.”

With her usual expressionless face, she stuck out her tongue slightly.

“I think you’re pathetic as mages.”

The sudden remark made the students bristle.

“I read all the magical papers you submitted by midterms. A few were interesting, but most of them were cookie-cutter.”

A student raised their hand.

“You said you read all of them. Then do you remember my paper? ‘An Efficient Method for Converting Fire-Attribute Mana into Light Attribute’?”

“Yes. It was 17 pages long, wasn’t it? The usual proposal—using thermal energy to increase output. Nothing original.”

“……”

At the immediate answer, the student shut his mouth.

More questions followed, but Torua flawlessly recalled and addressed each paper.

The fact that she had absorbed all that material shocked the Magic Department students.

“Magic is a discipline that requires creative exploration. You must have a distinct individuality to grow. But in this age, that’s difficult. All you need to do is inherit the powerful spells built up by previous mage-heroes. But that alone has clear limits. You have to reinterpret them in your own way for them to truly be yours.”

She gave a thin smile.

“For the next month, I’ll be your mentor, broadening your magical horizons.”

“Does that mean you’ll teach us magic?”

“No. I don’t teach. I just raise your standard of perception.”

The Magic Department students reacted with awe. After seeing her ability, the atmosphere lifted high.

Next was Ulta.

“Juniors. What do you think is the most important ability for a Summoner? You two in the front, answer.”

At his question, Eliza tilted her chin proudly.

“Charisma—the power to command a contracted beast.”

“Wrong.”

Eliza’s proud eyes twitched.

“Overwhelming power,” Walden said flatly.

“Wrong again.” Ulta shook his head and spread his arms.

“The most important ability for a Summoner… is love.”

“……”

“……”

Eliza and Walden stared, dumbfounded.

“A Summoner must be able to embrace elementals and contracted beasts! Love is the emotion that embodies ultimate acceptance! Ah, what a beautiful resonance!”

With theatrical gestures, he launched into a speech about love.

Torua muttered, watching him,

“He’s always been such a weirdo.”

“You’re number two weirdo of our year, and yet next to him you look normal,” Jamua retorted.

“Muscle-brain.”

“Magic idiot.”

The two bickered childishly, while Yura sighed and cut in.

“To interpret his nonsense: you need to accept the true selves of elementals and beasts.”

“Ah—”

The Summoning students finally understood.

“Yes! Juniors! For the next month, I’ll be teaching you about love!”

His cry left the Summoning Department with mixed expressions.

At that moment, Yura smirked.

“Now, a question. Why do you think your seniors are helping as mentors for a whole month? I’ll give points to the department with the right answer.”

The sudden quiz set hands shooting up.

“You, Magic student.”

“For the Department Tournament!”

“Wrong. Next!”

“For improving juniors’ abilities!”

“Incorrect!”

Countless answers followed—even careful ones from honor students—but none were correct.

When no one else raised a hand, Leo lifted his.

“Leo. Answer.”

Most students looked on without expectation. Every obvious answer had been given already.

“It’s because of the Hero's World.”

The professors and fifth-years’ eyes sharpened.

“Be more specific.”

“The training emphasized by the Knight, the creativity required of a Mage, the acceptance of a Summoner—these are the foundations of each class.”

Leo spoke calmly.

“From second semester onward, Lumene students begin inheriting the powers of past heroes through the Hero Records. To keep us from being swallowed by that power, the seniors are sharing their know-how. That’s why they’re helping.”

“Correct.”

Yura nodded with a satisfied smile.

Len turned to Ain.

“Ain-sunbae, have you ever seen a first-year give such a perfect answer?”

“Never.” Ain let out a dry laugh.

'That’s the answer of someone who truly understands the nature of heroic power.'

“Exactly as Leo Plov said. These three have fought at the very front of dungeon raids. They’ve conquered countless Hero's World, and the rewards they’ve earned are immense.”

The students’ eyes sparkled.

Inheritance of power through the Hero Records!

It was the dream that most Lumene students had entered the academy for.

“You need the know-how to handle inherited hero power. These three will pass down all sorts of it to you over the next month.”

The first-years’ eyes gleamed even brighter.

“Professor, how exactly will the Department Tournament be held this year?”

Each year, the format changed. Sometimes it was a sports-festival style, testing abilities in varied events. Other times, it was siege and defense battles, or even raids into Hero Worlds themselves.

“It hasn’t been decided yet. More precisely—we haven’t been told either.”

Ain sighed, making the students uneasy.

Even the fifth-years looked surprised.

“Not decided yet?” Jamua asked.

“You lack love.” Ulta shook his head.

“Stop with that love nonsense, you freak,” Torua snapped.

“The Principal will announce it today. He’ll be here soon,” Ain said.

As if on cue, the auditorium doors opened, and the Principal, Kalian, entered.

The first-years stiffened at the overwhelming aura the old man exuded, belying his age.

“Greetings, first-year fledglings.”

Standing on the podium, Kalian spoke in a solemn voice.

The first-years swallowed hard.

“Every time I see him, he makes me nervous,” Carl muttered.

Chloe remembered her previous interview with Kalian.

'Back then, he felt like a kindly neighbor grandfather.'

“I’ve thought long and hard about how to choose your Department Tournament events this year.”

With a faint smile, Kalian swept his gaze across the students—pausing last on Leo, sitting alone. His eyes grew subtly meaningful.

“To tell the truth, this year’s tournament will be a little different from previous years. In some sense… it may not even be a Department Tournament, but an individual one.”

The first-years erupted in murmurs.

Even the professors waiting in the back looked shocked—until Kalian slammed the podium with a sharp crack.

“This year’s first-year Department Tournament event is… Battle Royale!”