Chapter 154
At the word “instructor,” the students looked puzzled.
“We’re supposed to teach students from the other academies?”
Celia crossed her arms and tilted her head, her black hair swaying.
“That’s right.”
At that answer, Eliza, who had been filing her nails, spoke up.
“Instructor, huh? Not a bad role. But even if there’s a difference in level between Lumene and the Three Great Class Academies, we’re still all students… will they really accept us teaching them?”
Eliza’s half-lidded eyes reflected a very reasonable concern.
They would surely have their pride as well.
No matter how prestigious Lumene is, being supervised by students from another school would hardly sit well.
Other students nodded at Eliza’s words.
“It’s fine. The students you’ll be teaching are Lumene entrance candidates.”
At those words, the others paused.
Lumene entrance candidates.
In other words, students who will be taking the entrance exam next year.
The Three Great Class Academies also train students who are preparing to enter Lumene.
In fact, quite a few current Lumene students came from those academies after studying for entrance.
“Of course, you don’t have to do it if you don’t want to. You’ll be busy during the joint class period. You might not have much time for your own studies or training. There aren’t any extra credits for this, either.”
At Harrid’s words, Chloe smiled.
“But you’re telling us about it because it’s something we need to do, right?”
While the class representatives were the faces of their year, the top students in each department also carried considerable influence.
They often participated in external events for that reason.
That’s why Harrid had called them.
With the notoriety gained from the Gigantes incident, the roles of the top three students in each department were especially important for this event.
“That’s right. As the top student in the Knights Department, I can’t skip out on something like this.”
Celia brushed her hair back and stood tall.
Clap clap clap clap!
“Elegance! Elegance! As expected from Chloe and Celia! My proud students! You exude the dignity of Lumene students!”
Sedgen appeared, applauding as he did, and casually stood beside Harrid.
“So, is there anyone who wants to decline the instructor role?”
No one shook their head.
This was a position that represented the school.
Even without any direct benefit, just being chosen for this was a great honor.
With no one refusing, Sedgen nodded in satisfaction.
“Good! I, Sedgen, am the professor in charge of the entrance candidates!”
“Not Professor Harrid?”
Leo looked puzzled.
At Leo’s question, Sedgen’s eyes twitched.
“Why would Harrid be put in charge of such an important task, Leo?”
Sedgen, who always saw Harrid as his rival, could only rest easy after beating him in every possible way.
Leo’s question—why Harrid wasn’t sitting in that seat—was enough to provoke Sedgen, since Leo was considered one of Harrid’s students and was now in a position to size up the entrance candidates.
‘Well, it’s admirable to think highly of your advisor…’
“Leo, do you think Harrid is better suited to manage the entrance candidates than I am?”
“Both professors are excellent, so I can’t say one is better than the other.”
“Then why question why Harrid isn’t doing it?”
“Professor Harrid is the most famous teacher in our school.”
Just meeting Harrid’s gaze would strike fear into any Lumene student.
He was just as famous outside the school.
“I just thought Professor Harrid would be perfect to set the tone.”
Among the entrance candidates, there were bound to be those who were already acting like they belonged at Lumene.
Professor Harrid would be the best person to keep those types in check.
“True.”
“If Professor Harrid’s around, everyone would be too scared to act up.”
“But Professor Sedgen is the one who’ll look after the students.”
“Oh? So you’re saying I can’t look after the students?”
“N-no, that’s not what I meant…”
As Celia paled from her slip of the tongue—
“I can, too…”
Sedgen clenched his fist.
“I can be just as scary as Harrid! All right! I’ll show you the true face of Tiger Professor Sedgen! From now on, the scariest professor at Lumene is me! Sed—”
“Quiet.”
With a deep sigh, Harrid stopped his old friend’s tirade.
“I have to work with the instructors from the Three Great Class Academies. And as Celia Zerdinger said, Professor Sedgen is better suited to managing the entrance candidates. He’ll look after them well.”
At those words, Sedgen’s bravado paused, and he looked touched.
“Harrid… So you really do recognize me?”
“Of course. You’re my friend and my rival.”
“Indeed! Harrid! You truly are my life’s greatest rival! Hahaha!”
Now in high spirits, Sedgen placed a hand on his face and burst out laughing.
The ten students looked on in disbelief.
‘He’s never been this generous with his praise before…’
While everyone was thinking this, Harrid spoke to Leo.
“In the future, be careful what you say in front of Sedgen, Leo Plov. There’s nothing good about him trying to imitate me.”
“Did something happen?”
Leo looked puzzled, and Harrid replied expressionlessly.
“You’ll see hell.”
It was an emotionless, indifferent remark.
But at those words, all the students felt a chill down their spines.
‘If even Professor Harrid says that, what on earth happens?’
“I’m curious now.”
‘Don’t be curious!’
Everyone glared at Leo, who muttered as if it were nothing.
“In any case, I’ll consider all of you as having accepted the instructor role. Sedgen will be summoning you often, so be ready. Dismissed.”
At Harrid’s words, the ten students left the teachers’ office corridor.
“So we’re instructors for the entrance candidates. That’s new.”
“It does sound kind of fun.”
“Do you think so too, brother? Me too! Me too!”
Chelsea’s eyes sparkled as she agreed with Abad.
Brushing her hair back, Celia spoke.
“I’ve always wondered what the students at Ecorte Academy are like. Now I’ll get to see their swordsmanship up close.”
“Celia, you’re always so energetic.”
“It’s our family motto. Do your best in everything.”
Chloe smiled, and Celia grinned in response.
Then Chloe looked at Duran.
“I thought you’d turn it down, Duran, since you never care about underclassmen.”
Duran just chuckled.
“I’m just curious about what kind of skills the entrance candidates will have.”
With his usual arrogant expression, Eliza scoffed.
“Are you really in a position to judge anyone else’s skill?”
“Are you picking a fight, Eliza Hergin?”
“Yes.”
“Hmph. No need to wait for next week’s sparring evaluation. I’ll show you the difference right now.”
“Fine by me. I was annoyed we never settled things at the entrance ceremony anyway.”
Having clashed with Duran on the first day but never settled their score, the two glared at each other.
Chen Xia slipped between them, smiling.
“All right, that’s enough. Any more of this, and you two might just end up together. Hmm… Actually, that might not be so bad. If you get along, that is.”
“What are you saying, Chen Xia?”
“Yeah. Like I’d ever get along with him.”
Duran and Eliza retorted at the same time.
Chen Xia burst out laughing.
Leo spoke up.
“Magic class is starting soon. Let’s go.”
“Okay! Leo!”
“There’s supposed to be a special lecture about [Star Magic] today, right? I’m looking forward to it, Leo.”
Chelsea and Chloe followed Leo.
Abad, who was about to follow, stopped and looked at Walden.
“What are you doing, Walden?”
Walden had been staring at Leo’s back for some time.
“I’m measuring.”
“Measuring?”
“The gap between me and Leo Plov.”
Abad narrowed his eyes.
“Is this because of next week’s sparring evaluations?”
“That’s right. I’m confident I can beat anyone here.”
Walden smirked.
The atmosphere among the others shifted.
“Hey, Walden. That’s a bit much.”
Jureden from the Summoning Department, third place, looked uncomfortable.
Although he had participated in the Gigantes Raid, there was a clear gap between him and the other students.
Jureden knew this, so he didn’t let Walden’s words get to him.
But the other students felt differently.
Since everyone here had strong pride in their skills, Jureden could only break out in a cold sweat.
“Well, everyone here thinks that way, so whatever.”
Walden replied with a cold sneer.
Jureden grabbed his head.
‘If you provoke everyone like that, of course they’ll get mad!’
Regardless, Walden continued calmly.
“But I can’t guarantee anything when it comes to Leo Plov.”
Jureden looked surprised.
To him, Walden was a monster, no exaggeration.
‘Honestly, I can’t imagine him losing to anyone.’
It wasn’t just because they were both in the Summoning Department.
Objectively, Walden was a monster.
Even people from the south said the same.
Yet even Walden couldn’t be sure about beating Leo.
“That’s why my goal is to defeat him.”
As Walden smiled coldly, Duran crossed his arms.
“You talk as if I’m not even worth considering.”
Walden gave a bored look.
“Same goes for you, Duran Moira.”
Walden glanced at the others.
“That goes for all of you. We all ignore each other because we’ve seen it for ourselves.”
He watched Leo’s back as Leo walked away.
“He acts like it’s only natural to be ahead of everyone else.”
With arms crossed and a blank face, Walden said,
“He acted like a leader, always leading us from the front.”
A fierce light appeared in Walden’s eyes.
“And we’ve realized we accepted it without question.”
Walden walked away.
“We’ve never accepted anyone else being ahead of us. So, naturally, our goal is the same.”
To defeat Leo Plov.
That became their new goal for academy life.
Maybe even the goal of their lives.
“Of course, I’m the one who’ll beat him.”
“Sorry, but that’s not happening, Walden.”
Abad laughed.
“I’ll do it first.”
“In your dreams. I’ll beat him first.”
As the three boys competed, Eliza looked at them in disbelief while filing her nails.
“Boys really are like kids. What does it matter who does it first? As long as someone does.”
“Isn’t that kind of cute?”
Chen Xia smiled at the three bickering boys.
“Don’t you think so too, Celia?”
“Hmph. Cute? Please. And you three!”
Celia snorted with her arms crossed.
“I’m the one who’s going to beat Leo!”
As Celia declared boldly and argued with the boys, Eliza sighed.
“Celia’s unexpectedly a tomboy.”
Chen Xia covered her mouth and giggled.
—
On the day the joint class exchange was announced,
Lumene was busy preparing to welcome guests.
They had to ensure an environment where everyone could focus on their studies without inconvenience despite the large number of visiting students.
Staff bustled around.
Students prepared for the welcome party before classes.
Since it was an external event, the whole atmosphere was lively.
Meanwhile,
Some students were heading out to Lumeria City.
“Coming out to Lumeria City on a weekday… It feels kind of strange.”
On the boat, Chelsea spoke with a hint of excitement.
“We’re not here for fun, so don’t get too carried away.”
Celia glared at her.
“Hmph! I know! Hmph!”
“You brat!”
Leo smiled as he watched the two bicker as always.
The student instructors were heading to Lumeria City to greet the Three Great Class Academies.
‘Junior candidates… I wonder what kind of kids they’ll be.’
While he thought that, the boat arrived at the pier.
Leo got off the boat.
“It’s not time to meet up yet. Until then, we have some free time. Want to look around?”
“Sure.”
Leo nodded at Celia’s suggestion.
“Leo Plov.”
Someone called out to Leo from the pier.
Leo looked ahead.
When he saw who was standing there, he looked puzzled.
Celia quickly bowed her head.
“Hello, Vice Principal.”
Standing there was none other than Lumene’s vice principal, Lieven.
He hadn’t appeared since the opening ceremony.
All the students seemed flustered.
“Leo Plov. May I have a word with you?”