Chapter 167
Leo opened the door to the classroom on the left and stepped inside.
The eyes of the Emeral students seated in the lecture hall instantly focused on Leo.
Step—step—
Climbing onto the podium, Leo scanned the audience.
Among them, his eyes met those of a girl.
Flinch—!
The girl, Silla, flinched as if she felt guilty about trying to mess with Leo the previous day in Lumeria City using a complicated magic formula.
‘She was a prospective student?’
Leo smiled faintly as he stood at the lectern.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Leo Plov.”
At those words, the Emeral students began to murmur.
“Leo Plov?”
“Is he the one from All Class?”
“Leo Plov from the Gigantes subjugation?”
“They said he even conquered the Founder of the Nebula’s world this time, right?”
Despite being only a first year, the students gazed at the boy—who might become their direct senior—with curiosity, given his overwhelming achievements that outclassed even most upperclassmen.
Of course, some also looked at Leo with suspicion.
“As an assistant instructor, I’ll be covering Professor Len’s class for you today. I look forward to working with you.”
As soon as he finished speaking, someone raised a hand.
It was a boy about the same age as Leo.
With a slightly rebellious look, the boy spoke.
“My name is Kun Bei.”
True to his origins as a scion of the Kun family, a renowned eastern magic house, he stood out with his black hair and black eyes—traits of the eastern continent.
Introducing himself, Bei gave a provocative smile and asked,
“Are you really qualified to teach us?”
“Well, Professor Len sent me to teach, so I’d say I’m qualified enough.”
Leo answered with a gentle smile.
As a magic professor, Len was indeed an impressive person.
All first-year students in the Magic Department respected him deeply, not because he was a professor, but because his teaching skills were outstanding.
So, at least when it came to classes and magic, first-year students trusted Len’s word.
But the Emeral students were different.
Even with Len’s name mentioned, they continued to look at Leo with distrust.
“We came to attend Professor Len’s classes, not listen to some low-level first-year’s lecture.”
Bei, clearly picking a fight, smirked.
That was something unimaginable in Lumene.
At Lumene, entrance ages ranged from fourteen to seventeen, so it wasn’t uncommon for juniors to be the same age or even older than their seniors.
Still, juniors didn’t casually challenge or disrespect their seniors.
The curriculum at Lumene was anything but easy.
Rather, the system filtered out those who were unqualified.
Simply putting in time didn’t guarantee your student status, and even if you survived, failing the advancement exam meant you couldn’t move up.
A year.
It might sound short, but a year at Lumene was incomparable to any ordinary year.
Surviving an extra year meant you were more than deserving of respect.
Even among Lumene students, not everyone was the same.
But Emeral students who hadn’t yet experienced Lumene didn’t understand that.
Though they were candidates, some still thought they’d become equals once they enrolled.
Bei was one of those students.
‘We’re both fifteen anyway.’
Several students agreed with Bei.
There were even others watching Bei for cues.
“So? You don’t want to attend my class?”
“That’s right. So could you call the professor for us?”
“Sorry, but I’d prefer it if you’d make do with me.”
“Why should we?”
Bei, thinking Leo was intimidated, pressed further.
Leo smiled and said,
“Lumene professors don’t really like teaching students who aren’t qualified.”
At that, Bei’s face stiffened.
“Still, when they do teach, it’s a kind of favor. You’re not in a position to summon or dismiss them as you please.”
“So you’re saying I’m not even worthy to learn magic from Professor Len?”
“I never said that. Unless you’re feeling guilty?”
At Leo’s words, Bei’s face reddened.
“How dare you! I’m from the Kun family!”
“If you’re a Lumene candidate, let me give you one piece of advice.”
Leo spoke in a disinterested tone.
“At Lumene, skill is everything. I don’t care about your family in the slightest.”
“Ugh! What did you say? You dare challenge the Kun family’s authority—”
“Hey, Bei. Hold on. Leo Plov’s maternal family is the Zerdinger family.”
Another student urgently cut Bei off as he began to shout.
At those words, Bei flinched.
No matter how famous the Kun family was in the east, they couldn’t compare to the Zerdinger family.
But Bei immediately gritted his teeth.
“So what if he’s a Zerdinger? That’s just his mother’s side! He’s not a direct descendant!”
Jumping to his feet, Bei shouted,
“All Class? So what? It’s not like he did it alone! Gigantes? That was just all the first years working together! The Hero’s World? They just got lucky because the Lumene third-year rep and Seiren third-year rep helped! If he’s so great, what gives him the right to teach us?”
Spreading his arms, Bei incited the Emeral students.
Leo watched and said,
“Want me to prove it?”
“What?”
“To prove whether I’m qualified to teach you or not.”
Leo spoke in a flat tone.
“Name any magic ability you want. I’ll take on whatever you pick.”
At that, Bei flinched.
He was used to putting others down by flaunting his family, but Leo wasn’t someone that worked on.
“What’s wrong? Not confident?”
With his arms crossed, Leo asked, and Bei hesitated before replying.
“I can’t just fight for personal reasons during class.”
Tilting his chin up, he added,
“If it’s Lumene’s way for students to teach students, I’ll follow that.”
Leo clicked his tongue at Bei’s response.
‘Aside from bragging about his family, he can’t do anything. Lacking in both skill and guts.’
To Leo, there was no hope for him.
In any case, now that Bei had backed down after making such a scene, no one else objected to Leo teaching.
Students who’d been unhappy with Leo now watched him with a ‘Let’s see how good you really are’ look.
Standing at the chalkboard, Leo spoke.
“Since all of you are preparing for the Lumene entrance exam, you should already have some prior learning. You all know how to write activation formulas, right?”
All the Emeral students nodded.
“At the start of the term in Lumene, we study the theory behind magic activated by formulas.”
At those words, most of the Emeral students looked puzzled.
They couldn’t understand why they needed to study magic they already knew how to use.
That was a question many first-year Magic Department students had at the start.
“Why do we have to do that?”
A girl in the front raised her hand, tilting her head in curiosity.
It wasn’t to pick a fight—she was simply curious.
A girl about Chelsea’s age blinked her big eyes and stared at Leo.
Seeing her, Leo opened his palm.
Vmmm—!
A magic formula appeared above his hand.
“None of you don’t know what this is, right?”
“Isn’t that a Fireball formula?”
“Right. But can you use that Fireball formula to cast Waterball?”
“If I need Waterball, I’ll just use the Waterball formula. What’s so hard about that?”
Bei scoffed.
Ignoring Bei, Leo changed the formula’s arrangement.
Instantly, Waterball was activated.
“So what’s the point of doing something so complicated…”
“Bei. Just be quiet for a second.”
“Shh!”
Everyone except Bei realized what Leo was getting at.
Activation formulas were certainly convenient and made casting spells quick and easy.
But to cast a different spell, you needed to learn a new activation formula.
In other words, more to memorize.
However, if you understood the structure and principle of a formula, you could use one formula to cast spells of completely different attributes.
That was a huge advantage.
It meant you had an extra card to play, even in a split-second situation.
“It’s impressive, but isn’t it difficult?”
Another boy raised his hand.
The Emeral students had started treating Leo like a professor.
He might look like their peer, but his knowledge and ability with magic were clearly above theirs.
Moreover, Leo was introducing a whole new concept.
Wizards, at their core, enjoy learning new things.
Emeral was filled with students like that.
Leo replied calmly to the boy.
“Lumene Magic Department students are expected to do this as a basic skill.”
The Emeral students’ faces hardened at those words.
‘This is basic?’
‘It looks hard even at a glance.’
Everyone gulped.
The difference between Lumene and Emeral became painfully clear.
They understood now why they needed to aim for Lumene.
If they wanted to become the best mage, they had to enter Lumene.
“You won’t be able to master this during the joint classes, but I can at least teach you the basics.”
Leo smiled.
“That’s what studying is for, isn’t it?”
With that, Leo picked up the chalk.
“Let me explain the concept of changing magic formulas.”
At those words, the Emeral students hurriedly took out their pens and focused on Leo’s lecture.
Bei scowled as he watched.
‘These goody-two-shoes! What’s so special that they’re paying attention to some kid who isn’t even a professor?’
With a sour look, Bei stared at the students.
After that, he tried to disrupt the class with odd questions and heckling.
About ten minutes later.
One of the Emeral students timidly raised a hand, glancing around before speaking up.
“Instructor, um… I can’t focus in class. Because of… someone.”
At those words, Bei erupted.
“What? Say that again? You can’t focus in class because—”
“Hey. Get out.”
“What?”
“You’re disturbing the class. Get out.”
“Ha! I’ve had enough of this. Who do you think you are, telling me to—kuh!”
Leo unleashed his magic power.
Using telekinesis, Leo lifted Bei and tossed him out of the classroom.
Bang—!
Bei crashed into the classroom door and was flung outside.
All the students stared wide-eyed, glancing back and forth between Leo and Bei.
“What’s going on?”
Anna peeked her head into the classroom, frowning.
“There was a student disrupting class.”
At those words, Anna narrowed her eyes and looked at Bei, who had scrambled to his feet.
“This brat! I’ll tell my family everything! I’ll say I was treated unfairly during class and—”
Grab—!
Anna reached out with her slender hand and grabbed Bei by the collar, smiling sweetly.
“I understand. I’ll handle this. Leo, continue your class.”
“L-let go of me—”
“Hey.”
At Anna’s chilling voice, Bei flinched.
“Don’t disrupt the class and shut your mouth.”
“Eek?”
Bei shrank back, terrified by Anna’s fearsome glare.
For someone like Anna, who was constantly tormented by Len, intimidating a clueless brat with a glare was nothing.
The Emeral students looked relieved as they watched Anna drag Bei away by the collar.
“Shall we continue with class?”
“Yes!”
The Emeral students nodded enthusiastically, their eyes shining.
Before he knew it, everyone was focused on Leo’s lesson.
—
Three days had passed since the joint classes began.
Most of the students from the other academies had more or less adjusted to Lumene’s schedule.
As expected, there had been some trouble at first.
But with the professors sending everyone home without hesitation, most students who relied on their family’s prestige and privileges were kicked out.
All the students realized something.
This was not like the three major class academies—it was a true hero officer school.
With only the real deal left, everyone could now focus solely on their studies.
Even the way the candidates looked at the assistant instructors had changed.
At first, most of them looked down on or were dissatisfied with the assistants, but after seeing their skills firsthand, none dared to complain.
In fact, more students started to approach the instructors amicably.
“Instructor Celia! Is it okay if I sit here?”
“…Do as you like.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
As Celia spoke curtly, a male student from Ecorte quickly took his tray and sat in front of her.
“Instructor Celia! Will you have some free time during winter break?”
Watching the male Ecorte student try to flirt, eyes gleaming, Celia clicked her tongue.
Thanks to her family, skill, and looks, there were always a few who flirted with her this blatantly.
Nearby Knights Department students giggled at the scene.
“Want to bet on how long he lasts?”
“I say ten seconds.”
“That’s too short. Fifteen seconds.”
A few moments later, the student, rejected exactly after ten seconds, drooped his shoulders and went to sit elsewhere.
The Knights Department students burst into laughter until Celia glared at them, sending them scurrying away.
As the students grew closer like this—
Leo, looking drowsy, sat on a bench watching students come and go.
‘I don’t see anyone who looks like they are from Tartarus.’
Since the Great Library incident, Leo had been keeping a close eye on the Lumene students.
But he hadn’t found anyone he suspected of being Tartarus.
‘Whatever their plan is, would they really give up this easily? No, if they do that, all the spies hidden in Lumene will be found out soon enough, and they have to know that.’
Within Lumene—
There was an organization unknown to the students.
Commonly called Shadow, they were still secretly investigating everyone’s movements.
They’d been caught.
No matter how stealthy, it was impossible to escape Lumene’s eyes.
‘If that’s the case… knowing their tendencies, they’ll definitely try to cause trouble, even by force.’
As Leo narrowed his eyes, deep in thought—
Step—step—
Someone approached Leo.
Swoosh—
A shadow fell across Leo.
Seeing who it was, Leo gave a puzzled look.
“Why?”
Standing before Leo was a student from Ecorte.
As Leo looked on in confusion, his eyes suddenly sharpened.
And then—
Swoosh—
The Ecorte student raised his hand and swung down at Leo.
Crash—!
The bench Leo was sitting on shattered.
“Well, well.”
Leo let out a hollow laugh.
“I figured something would happen, but I didn’t expect you to act this quickly.”
Whooosh—
The boy—no, the demon—emitted black magic as Leo clenched his fist.
“Leo Plov.”
With a chilling voice, he spoke.
“You’re going to die here.”