Chapter 177
“No way! How are we supposed to beat fifth-years?!”
“Professor Sedgen! I know ‘Surpass your limits!’ is the school motto, but this is just too much!”
The first-years clutched their heads and screamed.
Most of them couldn’t even make eye contact with second-years.
And now, suddenly, they were expected to face fifth-years in an exam?
From the first-years’ perspective, panic was inevitable.
Even confident students like Celia, Duran, and Eliza wore stunned expressions.
Seeing this, Professor Sedgen spoke.
“I never said you had to win.”
“Huh?”
“As I said earlier, the midterm is graded on a relative scale.”
Sedgen gave a gentle smile.
“Facing the fifth-years might feel overwhelming, but as long as you do your best, you can still earn a good grade.”
Reassured by his words, the first-years regained their composure.
The idea of going up against fifth-years had made them flinch, but Sedgen was right.
“Y-Yeah. There’s no need to be scared.”
“We just have to give it our best against the fifth-years.”
“Wow… Professor Sedgen really does care about his students.”
“Yeah. I feel a lot better now.”
As the first-years began to settle down, Sedgen walked over to the fifth-years.
And then, to the 47 gathered fifth-year students, he spoke without hesitation.
“Crush them.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Been a while since I’ve warmed up.”
The fifth-years began stretching with smiles on their faces.
Returning to the first-years, Sedgen continued.
“As I said earlier, the second semester’s midterm practical is graded on a relative basis. And now, I’m going to add a special condition.”
The first-years looked confused.
“There will be only one fifth-year per match.”
Bastera was normally played with teams of eight.
It was a sport that required intense physical endurance.
But even with an 8-to-1 advantage, none of the first-years felt reassured.
Instead, cold sweat formed on their brows.
‘So they’re really going all out, huh?’
‘Ugh, fifth-years…!’
Lumene accepted 500 students per year.
Only 47 remained in the graduating class after five years of elimination.
Roughly 90% had left the school.
These were the true hero candidates.
It wouldn’t be a handicap for a fifth-year to take on eight first-years—it would be normal.
“Also, if you’re not satisfied with your results, you can form a new team and try again as many times as you like.”
The first-years began murmuring among themselves.
At that moment, a student from the Magic Department timidly raised their hand.
“Um… Professor. Wouldn’t we be taking up too much of the fifth-years’ time? They must all be very busy…”
Throughout the first semester, they had seen second-, third-, and fourth-years often, but rarely the fifth-years.
The fifth-years were busy with both schoolwork and external missions.
It was hard to believe they were spending their time here for the sake of first-years.
It made them feel uneasy—and also a bit guilty.
“You don’t have to worry about that. The graduating class is currently free. Any other questions?”
No one responded.
“Good. Then form your teams.”
The first-years moved quickly, looking for their ideal teammates.
—
“First-years are so fresh—it’s nice,” Torua muttered while standing on tiptoe, hands shielding her eyes as she watched the students.
“Right? There’s a kind of charm you just don’t find in some people anymore.”
“Yeah, like that meathead from the Knights Department who’s gotten so bulky he’s basically an old man. Shocking how he actually has some self-awareness.”
“She’s talking about you, you old hag.”
Torua and Jamua exchanged bright smiles.
Watching the two bicker, Ulta spoke up.
“You two, quit fighting. You’re graduating soon. Cherish what little time you have left as students.”
Ulta spread her arms wide.
“Let us honor these precious days by confirming our love for one another!”
“Ugh. Just hearing that made my stomach churn.”
“Agreed.”
Torua and Jamua both cringed.
Meanwhile, Rhys was deep in thought.
‘Is it really the right move to announce Leo as a candidate for student council president?’
He wasn’t sure how to handle Leo’s nomination.
Personally, Rhys would be pleased if Leo became president.
‘But would Leo be able to shoulder that responsibility?’
Just being a first-year candidate would bring enormous pressure.
‘And if he actually became president, it would be even worse. But even if he doesn’t win, he’ll still suffer fallout.’
No underclassman who drew attention from upperclassmen had an easy time.
Even being from the Zerdinger family wouldn’t protect Leo.
Turning a student conflict into a family matter was never good.
‘If I were still staying at the academy, I could mediate somehow… but this is my final year.’
Rhys couldn’t help but worry about his cousin after he left school.
Ulta walked up to him.
“Rhys, something on your mind?”
“Ulta.”
Rhys gave a faint smile as Ulta approached.
“It’s nothing.”
Ulta sighed.
“Rhys. You haven’t changed a bit since first year.”
“I haven’t?”
“No. Especially the way you bottle things up when you’re troubled.”
Ulta crossed her arms.
“Rhys, I think we’re more than just rivals who’ve competed for five years—we’re friends who can confide in each other.”
“Friends, huh? You’re right.”
Rhys nodded.
Then he shared his dilemma about Leo’s nomination with the classmate he’d competed with all these years.
Ulta stroked her chin as she listened.
“Hm. That’s a tough one.”
“Right?”
“Then the solution’s simple.”
Ulta smiled.
“Just prove Leo is fit to be student council president.”
“I get that, but… Leo’s still a first-year.”
Rhys sighed.
“He’s not ready yet.”
“Says who?”
“What?”
Ulta looked at Rhys with an amused expression.
“Who decided a first-year can’t be student council president?”
She smiled again.
“Rhys, you’ve forgotten the motto we’ve heard nonstop for five years.”
Ulta spread her arms.
“Surpass your limits. We’ve done that again and again—turned the impossible into reality.”
Despite his usual eccentricities and romantic rambling, this time Ulta was completely serious.
“Rhys. Your cousin is already more than capable of being president.”
Her words stunned Rhys.
‘Ulta thinks that highly of Leo?’
Ulta Regdition.
One of Lumene’s strongest summoners.
People thought she was a little strange, but she was known for never speaking empty words.
Rhys knew her personality well.
“Besides, the timing couldn’t be worse. Both inside and outside, Lumene is starting to shake. The peace of the entire world is cracking.”
Ulta looked at Leo.
“That’s why we need a strong leader to guide the school.”
“You think that leader is Leo?”
“Yes.”
Ulta’s lips curled up.
“So, Rhys, you’d better watch carefully today.”
She crossed her arms elegantly.
“Because today, you’ll see Leo’s true worth.”
—
The practical exam began.
The first-years, now teamed up, bravely stepped up to face the fifth-years.
“Haah!”
Thud—!
“Guh!”
Carr was slammed in the stomach by a ball thrown by a fifth-year girl from the Knights Department and sent flying.
“We’re ahead in points! Just hang in there! If we can last—!”
Eliana shouted urgently.
“Well, of course you’re ahead in points. I wasn’t trying to defend or score.”
The girl smiled gently.
“But listen carefully, first-years. Bastera is a game where you can also win by ‘eliminating the opposing team.’ Your strategy to confuse my vision wasn’t bad. But you lacked preparation for more fundamental problems.”
The team composed of Class 5 aces—without Leo and Chelsea—lost in under three minutes.
Other students were stunned.
With Nella, Eliana, and Tide as the core, Carr played a supporting role, and the lineup looked balanced and strong.
Yet they were completely wiped out.
As cold sweat trickled down their faces, screams erupted from another field.
With so many matches running simultaneously, multiple Bastera games were happening at once.
Sedgen floated in the air, evaluating the first-years.
‘Teamwork isn’t bad. But the details need work.’
Click—
He pressed his pen and scribbled notes on his paper.
It might’ve looked like he was grading casually, but Sedgen wasn’t known as Lumene’s best professor for nothing.
He missed nothing, observing every game across the training field.
He meticulously checked each student’s strengths and weaknesses and scored them precisely.
Following Sedgen’s instructions, the fifth-years showed no mercy.
Some first-years had taken “multiple attempts allowed” too lightly—and were now facing the stark reality of the fifth-years’ skill gap.
‘Rhys and Ulta haven’t jumped in yet.’
Sedgen nodded as he watched the two observing from the sidelines.
Other than them, Torua and Jamua stood out the most.
Torua rested her chin on her hand and flicked her fingers.
Wham—!
“Guh?!”
“W-Was that gravity magic?!”
“Yep. But reacting after being hit makes you too slow.”
Within five seconds, Torua had rendered the opposing team completely helpless.
She shook her head.
“Hahaha. Let’s see how tough you are.”
“Huh? Toughness…? Gah!”
A student was launched by a ball thrown by Jamua.
“Tsk. You really need to train more. Getting knocked out by a ball with no aura?”
“I-I’m a mage! And I even cast a shield…!”
“Hmph. Overwhelming physical force can surpass magic. Remember that.”
“Wh-What…”
Jamua had used no aura—just brute strength.
Having wiped out the first-years, he clicked his tongue.
“Man, I was looking forward to this, but it’s kinda disappointing. Aren’t you guys supposed to be the best of your year?”
Jamua provoked the first-years.
But they couldn’t respond.
How could they argue after being completely wiped out by someone not even using aura?
‘Oops. Maybe I went too hard on them.’
Jamua scratched his cheek.
“You can start expecting more now.”
Thump—!
Someone stepped in front of him.
Celia tucked the ball under her arm and smiled.
“Things will be a little different from now on.”
“Oh? Celia.”
Jamua looked past her to see the other students.
‘Chen Xia, Duran, Haul.’
All promising Knight Department juniors.
The only letdown was that Leo wasn’t among them.
‘Where is he?’
Turning his head, Jamua spotted Leo in another field.
He was standing alongside Chloe, Chelsea, and Abad.
“Tch. That Leo Plov… joined the Magic Department team?”
“Traitor.”
Duran clicked his tongue, and Chen Xia pouted.
“Yeah, traitor.”
Jamua also clicked his tongue.
Meanwhile, Torua looked at Leo with satisfaction.
“Mmm! Leo, you’ve finally found your path. Magic truly is the best.”
“…I’m still all-class, though.”
“Oh dear, Leo. Taking Knight and Summoning classes must have muddled your logic.”
Despite Torua’s nonsense, Leo handled her with practiced ease.
“Well, anyway. We’re here to show you how vast the world is.”
With a coy expression, Torua raised her finger.
Snap—!
“Ah!”
At that moment, the first-years in front of her staggered from the sudden gravity and dropped to their knees.
“Just collapse peacefully now.”
Torua opened her eyes after chanting her spell—and blinked.
While the other first-years had either knelt or collapsed, Leo stood tall without even flinching.
‘A dispel? No. How is he still standing?’
Sensing her spell was still active, Torua’s eyes sparkled.
“What magic did you use? Did you dispel my gravity spell?”
“No.”
Leo shrugged.
“I’m just enduring the gravity with pure strength.”
“Strength?”
“Yes.”
Leo smiled.
“Sometimes, overwhelming physical power can surpass magic.”