Chapter 153
After morning assembly, during the class preparation period.
The first class was the Knights Department major.
Leo headed to the training grounds with the Knights Department students from Class 5.
“A joint class all of a sudden? That’s really out of the blue.”
Eliana tilted her head in confusion.
Nella replied as she watched her.
“There are joint classes with the Three Great Class Academies from time to time.”
“That’s true, but those are when Lumene students actually go to those academies for classes.”
“Yeah, but this time, students from the three academies are coming here to Lumene for classes, right?”
The Three Great Class Academies.
Even if they were treated as second choices, that was only because Lumene was just that exceptional. They were not to be underestimated.
Knight Academy Ecorte was established by the Knights’ League, Magic Academy Emeral by the Magic Tower, and Summoning Academy Scaun by the Summoners’ Guild.
As schools founded and run by the leading organizations in each field, they offered the best education in their specialties for humans.
Not only Lumene, but the Three Great Class Academies also produced many heroes.
Even so, their prestige could never surpass Lumene’s.
“Wasn’t the reason the Three Great Class Academies were created in the first place to stop Lumene from dominating everything?”
Lumene Academy and Lumeria City are neutral, unaffiliated with any power.
But even as a neutral force, Lumene alone was strong enough to control the entire continent.
Because Lumene monopolized the Hero Record, each nation was forced to depend on Lumene more and more.
Naturally, the best talents from every country flowed into Lumene.
Of course, after graduation, most returned to their home countries, but that sense of belonging to “Lumene” didn’t easily fade.
Some went to other countries through Lumene or joined the “Hero League” founded by Lumene.
To challenge Lumene’s dominance, the powers of each country that were dissatisfied with Lumene came together to establish the Three Great Class Academies.
In the early days, this did help curb the outflow of talent, just as intended.
“But as time went by, the Three Great Class Academies ended up being seen as everyone’s second choice.”
Eliana clasped her hands behind her head and muttered.
It was humiliating for those academies, but it was an unavoidable reality.
They simply couldn’t surpass Lumene in every respect.
Still, Lumene actively sought to engage with the Three Great Class Academies.
Lumene’s founding purpose was always hero cultivation.
But Lumene couldn’t make every student a hero.
That’s why, for students Lumene couldn’t accommodate, the Three Great Class Academies—with their similar goals—were ideal places to foster them.
So Lumene actively promoted exchange with those academies.
Joint classes were often held, and student interaction was considered important.
However, never before had the Three Great Class Academies sent such a large number of students to Lumene.
In the second semester, outstanding students might come to Lumene as exchange students, but that was always a small number.
There was no other way.
The standard of Lumene’s classes was much higher than that of the Three Great Class Academies.
If Lumene students had to slow down their pace for them, it would be a huge loss.
Above all, because of the Hero Record, it was extremely rare to allow large numbers of outsiders inside for security reasons.
And yet, this time, the Three Great Class Academies would be visiting Lumene in large numbers.
No wonder the students were unsettled.
Seeing the puzzled expressions on Nella and Eliana, Leo spoke.
“It’s probably for political reasons.”
“Yeah, the class rep might be right.”
A lot had happened at Lumene during the first semester.
During midterms, the Hero Record had gone out of control.
At the Department Competition, Tartarus had targeted the entire first year in a massive attack.
Even though they’d overcome it all, it had given critics of Lumene plenty of ammunition.
So this time, they were opening the school to the Three Great Class Academies.
The main purpose of this exchange was to show off Lumene’s continued strength.
When they arrived at the training ground, students from other classes were also buzzing about the joint class.
And as Leo arrived, everyone’s eyes turned to him.
The joint class was a big deal, but Leo, who had conquered Luna’s world, was still the hottest topic.
While the students sent him curious looks—
“Leo.”
Celia approached.
Wearing her uniform as neatly as always, Celia brushed her hair back and asked,
“How’s your body?”
“I’m fine.”
“Honestly, you’re something else. How do you go out to subdue bandits and end up conquering Lady Luna’s world?”
Looking at Leo with a look of wonder, Celia’s eyes sparkled.
“So? What was Lady Luna’s world like? Did you actually meet Lady Luna?”
At Celia’s question, the students fell silent and focused on Leo.
Everyone was deeply interested in the world of the great heroes.
Even Duran, who’d come to the classroom earlier, was staring at Leo.
“There you are, Leo.”
Suddenly, someone pushed through the first-years.
When they turned, a well-known student was standing there.
It was none other than the vice student council president and fifth-year Magic Department student.
Torua.
The first-years looked flustered by her sudden appearance in their Knights Department class.
Torua walked right up to Leo and said,
“Leo, what are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in magic class.”
“But this isn’t magic class time?”
Leo gave her a baffled look, and Torua nodded.
“Yeah, but one just got scheduled. Professor Len asked me to get you.”
“Why me?”
“I heard from Elena. The spell Lady Luna wanted to create was the same one you deciphered during the first semester field trip, right? Professor Len wants to hold a special lecture about that spell, and said you, the one who deciphered it, have to be there.”
That was true.
Just a moment ago.
Len had gotten excited after reading Elena’s conquest report.
The Founder of the Nebula wasn’t just an idol to elves, but to all mages.
And the spell Leo had deciphered was connected to Luna.
Len couldn’t help but get worked up.
Unable to contain his excitement, he arranged a special lecture.
After hearing Torua’s explanation, Celia looked dumbfounded.
“Wait a second. Isn’t this special lecture happening without any prior notice? Why does Leo have to skip Knights Department just to attend?”
“Because Leo is in the Magic Department.”
“He is not! Leo’s in the Knights Department!”
Celia grabbed Leo’s hand and pulled him to her side, protesting.
Torua took Leo’s other hand.
“Why are you being so fussy? Missing one Knights Department class won’t hurt.”
“It’ll affect his Knights Department credits!”
“It’s fine. Leo’s in the Magic Department.”
‘This person doesn’t make any sense!’
Thinking that, Celia kept tugging Leo as if playing tug-of-war.
Leo let out a deep sigh.
“You’re strong.”
Even though she was a fifth-year and Leo a first-year, Torua was a pure mage—there was no way she could outmuscle a Knights Department student like Celia.
Dragged toward Celia with her hand on Leo’s arm, Torua suddenly noticed something and quickly let go.
“Eek?”
Unable to withstand the force, Celia nearly fell but caught herself nimbly.
Leo, too, regained his balance without difficulty.
“Torua Yan. What are you doing at a first-year Knights Department class?”
A cold voice rang out.
Everyone swallowed hard.
Standing there was none other than Professor Ain.
Torua greeted him politely.
“Hello, Professor Ain. I came to get Leo for a special Magic Department class.”
“What are you talking about?”
At his question, Torua took a letter from her pocket and handed it to Ain.
Ain accepted the letter and spoke dryly.
“Tell Len not to talk nonsense.”
Ain was known as a strict professor.
A sudden demand for a special lecture was never going to work on him.
At that, Torua pulled out another letter and handed it over.
Ain opened it, glanced at it, and after a moment, gave a chilling smile.
“Professor Clariana.”
“Yes.”
“Keep teaching. I’ll go see Len.”
“…Understood.”
“Torua Yan, you’re coming too.”
“Yup. See you, first-years.”
Torua waved cheerfully and left the training ground.
Anyone could tell from Ain’s murderous aura that he was going to destroy Len.
“Settle down. I’m taking attendance now.”
Clariana, acting like it was nothing new, took over the class.
‘Anna will probably come complain to me again today.’
Thinking of Len’s assistant Anna, Clariana gave a wry smile.
Watching, Nella spoke to Eliana.
“Eliana, you’re a Magic Swordsman. How would you feel if the professors kept fighting over you like that?”
“Like I’ve said before, I’d rather not be that popular.”
Eliana shook her head.
—
Returning to his routine, Leo quickly adjusted to academy life.
Classmates and upperclassmen still watched him with curiosity, but their interest gradually faded with time.
Meanwhile, Lumene discussed concrete plans for the joint class.
“Hey! Big news! Each academy is sending 200 students!”
About three days after Leo was discharged.
Carr, the resident informant, came to Class 5 with news about the joint class.
The students were shocked.
Two hundred students per academy.
That meant six hundred outsiders were coming to Lumene.
It was unprecedented.
“How long will the joint class last?”
“They’re staying for two weeks.”
“Does that mean classes will be okay for two weeks?”
“Midterms are coming up.”
Worried voices spread among the Class 5 students.
If the joint class ran for two weeks, it would impact their lessons.
Even though Class 5 had survived intact, some students were starting to struggle just to keep up with the curriculum.
Amidst the concern, the classroom door opened and Chelsea appeared.
“Leo.”
“What is it?”
“Professor Harrid wants to see you.”
Leo looked puzzled but stood up.
He walked to the teachers’ office wing.
When he arrived, he saw other students in the hallway.
All of the top three first-year students from each department—including Chelsea—had gathered.
They also looked confused by the sudden summons.
Leo stood with them, looking puzzled.
Just then, Professor Harrid emerged from the office.
Creak—
Step—step—
The students watched Professor Harrid with tense expressions.
Whatever the reason, just being summoned by Professor Harrid made them nervous.
“Everyone’s here.”
Harrid spoke calmly.
“There’s something you all need to do related to the joint class.”
“What is it?”
Celia asked, her face puzzled, and Harrid replied,
“We’re giving you authority to supervise the students from the other academies.”
The students looked confused.
“Authority to supervise?”
“What exactly does that mean?”
At their questions, Harrid curled his lips in a smile.
“In simple terms, you’ll be the instructors.”