Chapter 176
Combat theory class.
In the middle of the lecture, Leo was lost in thought.
Lysinas supposedly liked him.
‘That woman never showed even a hint of those feelings toward me, though?’
Lysinas, the Wise King.
Leader of the Erebos Subjugation Squad, who carried the noble goal of saving the world.
A noble black dragon who united great heroes and offered hope to those lost in despair.
In front of others, she always maintained a flawless demeanor.
Of course, not in front of her friends.
Especially during post-battle banquets, she often showed a relaxed side.
Those were the times when they drank and talked about the future after all disasters had passed.
‘But even then, she never acted like she had feelings for me. So why is she saying I was oblivious?’
Furrowing his brows, Leo recalled a memory from long ago.
—
It had also been during one of those grand banquets.
They were celebrating their victory in the plaza of Guardslone.
Many people gathered to bless the heroes.
Not only were the five great heroes present, but other heroes from that era joined as well.
A human played music.
Elves danced joyfully to the melody.
Dwarves cheerfully poured drinks.
Beastkin prepared food.
Dragons told heroic tales to children.
All five races rejoiced in the peace they had earned together.
At that moment, everyone forgot they were living in an age of despair.
Kyle stood at a distance, quietly watching the hopeful scene.
Whenever he was alone like that, there were always two people who approached him.
That day, it was Lysinas who came up to him, more drunk than usual.
With flushed cheeks from the alcohol, Lysinas sat beside Kyle as if it were the most natural thing.
– “Kyle.”
– “What?”
– “What will you do once we defeat Erebos?”
Lysinas, who had the goal of saving the world and restoring its light.
Luna, who wanted to make flowers bloom across the entire world.
Dweno, who wished to spread beauty throughout the land.
Arron, who wanted to create a world where children didn’t cry.
Unlike them, Kyle had no grand ambitions.
– “I’ll probably just wander without a destination. I don’t have anywhere to go.”
At those words, Lysinas turned to look at him.
– “Then.”
Lysinas smiled shyly.
– “Why don’t you live with me in the dragon’s domain?”
– “The dragon’s domain? Sounds too suffocating. No thanks.”
– “Then maybe I’ll travel the world with you?”
– “That could be nice. But wouldn’t that be hard?”
– “Why?”
– “Shouldn’t you be helping rebuild the world? Besides…”
– “Besides?”
– “If I’m with you, I’ll probably be nagged nonstop. So I’d rather just be at peace, alone…”
Whack—!
Lysinas suddenly elbowed Kyle’s temple.
– “What the—? Lysinas, are you seriously drunk right now?”
Luna, who had come to dance with Kyle, saw the scene and looked surprised.
– “Drunk?”
– “Yeah. Kyle said you get aggressive when you drink. I didn’t believe him, but it’s true, huh?”
– “See? I told you.”
– “Mm-hm.”
As Kyle rubbed his temple with a scowl, Luna nodded casually.
Lysinas grinned.
– “Kyle.”
– “Yeah? Gah—!”
Then she delivered a dropkick straight to Kyle’s solar plexus.
– “Just die, you bastard!”
The black dragon roared furiously while stomping on the fallen Kyle, looking downright savage.
Luna, watching the scene, folded her arms and nodded.
– “Yep. Violent. Definitely violent.”
Lysinas grabbed Luna’s hair.
In no time, the two were pulling each other’s hair in a full-on brawl.
Arron watched them as he sipped his drink.
– “Why are they fighting again?”
– “Just leave them be. Those three are hopeless fools when it comes to that stuff.”
– “That stuff?”
– “Romance. You know.”
Dweno clicked his tongue as Kyle approached him.
– “Ugh, seriously, what did I do wrong?”
– “From what I can see, you deserved that.”
– “What did I even do?”
Dweno looked at him with pure exasperation.
—
“……”
Recalling that moment, Leo had a strange look on his face.
Come to think of it, things like that happened quite a bit.
And every time, Dweno would look at him with those tepid, pitiful eyes.
‘No, this is still unfair. If she felt that way, she should’ve just said so.’
“Leo.”
“Yes, Professor Sedgen.”
“Do you dislike my combat theory class?”
Professor Sedgen’s eye twitched.
He was currently teaching with great enthusiasm at the training grounds.
Moreover, this was a joint class with all ten first-year groups.
Sedgen had been selected as the lead instructor for this special session.
With midterms approaching, all students were focused—except Leo, who was off in his own world.
“I’ve been paying close attention.”
“Oh? Then why don’t you explain what I just said about team composition and role designation for a five-person party leader?”
“The team makeup varies depending on the leader’s class. In my case, I’m an all-class type, so I can fill any role. Therefore…”
Leo explained the material with ease.
After hearing it all, Professor Sedgen pulled out his handkerchief and bit down on it.
“Ugh! So annoying! But so elegant! That’s why it’s more annoying!”
“Professor, I think you said your inner thoughts out loud again.”
“Graaaaghhh!”
Among the first-years, Leo was the only one who could speak so freely to a professor.
Even in front of Professor Harrid, he didn’t shrink back, so the other first-years were already used to it.
Soon, the class continued.
“That’s it for the lecture. Since this is a joint session, we’ll be doing Bastera today.”
Bastera, the traditional sport of combat theory.
They had played in class teams before, but never mixed groups—everyone’s eyes lit up.
“Mixing groups sounds fun.”
“Now I can finally try out that team I’ve been thinking of!”
Students began moving around energetically.
The top performers were naturally the most sought-after.
Leo, in particular, was swarmed with attention.
“Leo! Team up with us!”
“No, team with me!”
“You guys already have your front line. You don’t need Leo.”
“Don’t be stupid! Leo is an all-class! He can play any position!”
Watching the bickering students from other classes, Leo let out a light sigh.
Bounce. Bounce.
Chelsea bounced the Bastera ball on the ground and tilted her head.
“Leo’s been acting kinda weird lately.”
“What’s weird about Leo?”
“Whoa, you scared me!”
Startled, Chelsea jumped as Chen Xia suddenly popped up.
The two smallest first-year girls stood together, unexpectedly drawing attention.
“What brings you here, Chen Xia?”
“I thought I’d team up with Leo. By the way, has he been acting strange?”
“He’s been a little spaced out.”
“Right? He’s usually so composed, but lately he’s been showing cracks.”
Tide crossed his arms and joined in, while Eliana looked intrigued.
Celia and Chloe, who had been approaching to team with Leo, heard them and joined the conversation.
“I’ve noticed it too. He even got called out during class.”
Celia looked displeased as she glanced at Leo.
“Think he’s got something on his mind?”
Chloe wore a slightly concerned expression.
“No idea! But now’s our chance! Chelsea, toss me the ball!”
“What are you gonna do?”
“When else will I get to hit the class rep with a ball?”
Giggling, Eliana crept behind Leo, who was distracted by all the team requests.
And she threw the ball straight at the back of his head.
Whap—!
Leo snatched it midair with one hand, without even glancing back.
Then, still not looking, he tossed it perfectly into Eliana’s face.
“Pfft?!”
“What a fool.”
“You think someone like him would get caught off guard?”
Carr and Tide shook their heads as Eliana returned with a red face from the ball mark.
“Chelsea! They called me a fool!”
“Well, you are one.”
“You’re so mean!”
Eliana pouted.
“Class 5 is always so lively.”
Chen Xia smiled and stroked her chin.
“But really, what’s going on with him?”
“Well, boys our age—it’s pretty obvious.”
Carr crossed his arms and nodded sagely.
“I don’t want to compare Carr and Leo, but… go ahead.”
“It’s a girl.”
At those words, Chelsea, Chloe, and Chen Xia all looked puzzled.
Celia folded her arms.
“He doesn’t seem like the type to lose focus over a girl.”
“How could girls possibly understand the heart of a teenage boy?”
“You’re acting so smug, it makes me want to punch you.”
Celia frowned at Carr’s smirk.
“Doesn’t he seem like the type who’d go for someone older? He’s mature. And he’s been hanging around with Senior Elena lately.”
When Tide joined in, Carr nodded.
“Yeah, I feel the same. And that’s why…”
He glanced at Chelsea with a pitying expression.
“You, acting like a child, have no cha— Gah!”
Without hesitation, Chelsea landed a flying kick into Carr’s ribs.
The team selection continued amidst the chaos.
“By the way.”
Professor Sedgen spoke.
“Today is your combat theory midterm practical exam.”
Suddenly, the entire first-year atmosphere turned ice-cold.
“Huh?”
“W-Wait! Professor! A practical exam out of nowhere?!”
The unexpected announcement left the students flustered.
A practical exam during midterms wasn’t strange in itself.
But a surprise like this was naturally overwhelming.
Professor Sedgen, who usually smiled kindly and cared for his students, smirked.
“You’re Lumene students. First-years.”
He crossed his arms.
“If you aim to be heroes, you must be prepared to handle unexpected situations anytime, anywhere.”
The first-years gulped as they felt Sedgen’s overwhelming pressure—completely unlike his usual self.
Watching them, Walden asked with his usual blank expression.
“So, will our opponents be other first-years?”
“Ho. Walden, you’re quite elegant as always.”
Satisfied by Walden’s calm analysis, Sedgen smiled.
“There’s one thing you should know. This midterm, aside from the written test, will be graded entirely by relative evaluation.”
He crossed his arms again.
“Unlike the first semester, which had many absolute evaluation items. Do you know why?”
While the students hesitated, Celia raised her hand.
“Go ahead, Celia.”
“Because all the mediocre students were already weeded out?”
“Elegant.”
Sedgen nodded.
“I’m sorry for the students who were advised to drop out in the first semester… but that period was all about filtering out those unfit to be heroes. You all felt it, didn’t you? How much you’ve changed since then. Only those with great potential remain.”
Everyone looked around and nodded.
“If the first semester was about selecting those with potential, the second is about evaluating the value of that potential.”
“How do you evaluate potential?”
This time, Duran asked.
To that, Sedgen smiled faintly.
“Potential reveals itself when you hit your limits.”
Everyone tensed up.
“If you’re Lumene students… if you dream of being heroes, then you must be able to go ‘beyond your limits.’”
Whenever a professor quoted the school’s motto, it meant an enormous challenge was coming.
“Your Bastera opponents are not fellow first-years.”
“Then who?”
Fweeeet—!
Sedgen blew his whistle.
With that, someone appeared at the training grounds.
The first-years’ faces hardened.
“Haha. N-No way.”
“Come on. They’re probably just here to observe, right?”
They forced awkward smiles in denial.
But Sedgen shattered their hopes coldly.
“Your opponents are the fifth-years.”
The first-years looked on in shock.
Standing at the front, Rhys smiled at his juniors.
“Looking forward to it.”