Chapter 190
Leo gently brushed his hand over the surface of the longsword.
[Dragon Bone]—a material considered one of the finest for weapon crafting.
Even just hearing its name was enough to excite alchemists and blacksmiths alike.
“This… This is Dragon Bone…!”
Sure enough, Carr was next to him, wiping the drool from the corner of his mouth.
“What is it?”
“What’s going on?”
“Leo got a sword made from Dragon Bone as a gift!”
“What?!”
“No way! Who would give away something that rare?”
“Maybe his family sent it?”
“His family’s from some backwater noble house, right?”
“His mother’s side is the Zerdingers.”
“Still, even for the Zerdingers, a Dragon Bone sword’s pushing it.”
Whispers buzzed among the first-years.
The upperclassmen began glancing over with curious expressions as the chatter grew louder.
“What’s happening?”
Professor Harrid approached.
The first-years instantly fell silent.
Such was the overwhelming effect of Harrid’s presence.
Chelsea raised her hand.
“Professor Harrid! Leo got a sword made from Dragon Bone as a gift!”
“Dragon Bone?”
Harrid furrowed his brow.
The professors had expected Leo to receive many gifts during the banquet.
But Dragon Bone? That’s excessive.
Weapons made from Dragon Bone weren’t just powerful—they were incredibly rare.
It was said that dragons only gave such items to those they acknowledged.
Their magical energy seeped into the weapon, making it priceless.
Not something you’d gift to curry favor.
“Who sent it?”
Leo looked at the letter.
“It just says congratulations on becoming student council president. No name.”
“Hm.”
Harrid narrowed his eyes.
“Anyone you know capable of sending something like this?”
Leo immediately thought of [Dragon Lord Melina].
Of everyone he knew, only she could afford such a thing.
‘But it’s not her.’
Leo glanced at the longsword again.
If it had been Melina, she would’ve left some clear indication it was from her.
“No one comes to mind.”
Harrid sank into thought.
A lavish gift with no sender.
Even though it had passed security checks at Lumene’s entrance, caution was warranted.
After all, just last year, a Tartarus spy infiltrated Lumene without anyone knowing.
“Leo. Just in case, I’ll keep the sword for now.”
As Leo’s fame grew, so would the number of enemies trying to hurt him in secret.
Leo nodded.
“Yes, sir.”
He placed the sword back in the box and handed it over.
While the mood remained light from the flurry of gifts—
Among the professors, Sedgen gently tapped his wine glass.
Clink— Clink— Clink—
The soft chime echoed across the auditorium.
Students stopped talking and looked up.
“Everyone. The principal would like to say a few words. Please pay attention.”
As Sedgen sat down, Kalian rose.
“You’ve all worked hard during your exams. Another autumn has come, and only a quarter of the semester remains.”
With a gentle smile, he looked over the students.
“I hope our graduating fifth-years can finish their school life meaningfully. And that the underclassmen can send them off properly.”
The fifth-years smiled bittersweetly.
“And starting next week, we’ll be receiving some ‘guests’ from outside.”
Students began to murmur.
“Guests?”
“Didn’t we just have joint classes with the Three-Class Academies?”
“With Lumeiren coming up, are guests even a good idea?”
Sensing their unease, Kalian continued.
“I know what you’re worried about. But there’s no need to be concerned. In fact, their visit may help with Lumeiren.”
Kalian raised his wine glass with a smile.
“Lastly, let us toast—to victory in the Lumeiren, one month from now.”
The students raised their glasses.
“Let’s win this year!”
“Cheers!”
Clap clap clap—!
Applause rang out as Kalian’s speech ended.
The banquet resumed in earnest, and the students enjoyed themselves, shaking off the stress of exams.
Tomorrow was a holiday, and many had plans to visit Lumeria City.
While everyone chatted cheerfully, Harrid quietly left and summoned the professors of the Magic Department.
“So this is the mysterious sword sent to Leo?”
Len crossed his arms as he stared at the plain-looking longsword.
“Yes. I’d like your opinions—whether it might be cursed or otherwise dangerous.”
Harrid’s question prompted Len to run his hand gently over the blade.
“It’s definitely Dragon Bone. Can’t say the exact purity, though.”
Muttering to himself, he turned to another professor.
“Professor Lu, any thoughts?”
Professor Lu, a middle-aged woman and the top alchemy expert at Lumene, nodded and pulled out a monocle.
“Let’s see…”
After inspecting the surface, she let out a soft gasp.
“100% pure Dragon Bone. I haven’t seen something like this in years.”
She removed the monocle, visibly puzzled.
“This is far too extravagant for a gift.”
“Hah. Clearly someone who recognizes Leo’s worth.”
Len grinned proudly.
Ignoring him, the professors began preparing to analyze the sword further—
“I’ll handle it.”
Everyone turned.
Albi Zeron approached.
“With Professor Albi here, this will be easy.”
Albi, known as the [Mage of the Evil Eye], could pierce through all types of magic—including Tartarus curses and dark magic.
Professor Lu stepped aside as Albi activated his [Evil Eye].
Humm—!
Golden light and fairy-like magic patterns flickered in Albi’s eyes.
Moments later, he deactivated it and turned to Harrid.
“No traces of Tartarus. No harmful magic.”
“I see.”
“But.”
“But?”
“This sword isn’t something an ordinary knight could use.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s a [Magic Sword].”
“A magic sword?”
“Yes. Based on the embedded structures, it has spell amplification, mana enhancement, and casting assist enchantments.”
“With that material and those enchantments… It’s like a magic staff disguised as a sword.”
Len chuckled in awe.
“To gift such a thing to Leo! Whoever sent this clearly has an eye for talent!”
“Indeed. Likely someone from Seiren.”
Crack—!
Len’s face darkened.
“Seiren?”
Harrid frowned.
“Yes. The enchantments are based on [Star Magic]. They won’t be useful for human mages. This is an elf-exclusive weapon.”
Albi exhaled lightly.
“But with Leo’s skills, he can wield it easily.”
Leo used [Star Magic]—a branch of magic only elves traditionally used.
Which made sense, as the founder and his teacher was none other than [Luna].
No one in the world understood Star Magic better than Leo.
“There’s only one place among the elves that can make something like this—Seiren. Someone of high rank there sent this to Leo.”
“I see.”
Harrid nodded.
“Hehehe… Hahaha… Hahahaha…”
Len suddenly began laughing.
The other professors flinched.
Then he suddenly went cold.
“Let’s throw it away.”
“You think we can just dispose of a student’s gift?”
“Albi, this is a cheap trick by those sly-eared bastards. They sent this gift to bribe Leo. A filthy scheme.”
Len crossed his arms.
“This sword is tainted. It’ll cloud Leo’s judgment. We must destroy it!”
“Remove him.”
At Harrid’s command, the professors dragged Len away.
“Professor Harrid! Please! You must destroy that sword immediately! Mmph! Mmph!”
Harrid ignored the muffled screams.
“If there’s no issue, we’ll return it to Leo.”
“Are you sure?”
“What do you mean?”
“Len may be dramatic, but he’s not wrong. This sword feels like Seiren’s way of testing Leo.”
Albi was right.
Lumene measured potential in the Hero’s World.
Azonia used a desert marathon.
Every academy had its own entrance trial.
Seiren’s test was about mastering [Star Magic].
This sword’s power scaled with the user’s skill in that magic.
It was eerily similar to Seiren’s entrance exam.
“They’re being pretty obvious,” Albi noted.
Harrid chuckled.
“I didn’t expect you to take an interest in school affairs.”
“I am a Lumene professor.”
This year, Albi had started giving lectures and getting involved—something he never did before.
Harrid, knowing Albi’s past, considered it a good change.
“Regardless of intent, there’s nothing we can do. Let them try.”
Harrid smirked.
“No matter what Seiren pulls, Lumene won’t lose a student.”
“Because Lumene is the best school.”
—
That night, after the banquet—
The first-year boys’ dorm was in a frenzy.
“Freedom!”
“Let’s hit the town this weekend!”
They had been exhausted post-exam, but the banquet had revived their spirits.
Every dorm was buzzing with students applying for overnight passes.
“Leo! Aren’t you going to Lumeria City?”
“Not really. I’m just going to relax here.”
“Don’t you get tired of this place?”
Carr looked at him in disbelief.
“Wait… Someone’s definitely going to ask you to hang out. Got any date plans?”
“No.”
Just as Leo smirked and replied—
“Hey, Leo. You’ve got a visitor.”
“A visitor?”
A boy from another class came to get him.
“Oooh, Mr. Popular.”
Carr poked him teasingly.
“Who is it?”
“Second-year rep, Lily-senior.”
That made Leo raise an eyebrow and stand.
Carr, curious, followed.
Outside, sure enough, Lily was waiting.
“Hello, Leo. Congrats on becoming student council president. And who’s this?”
“I’m Carr Thomas, ma’am!”
“Oh! The one who makes recovery tonics? I use them all the time.”
Lily bowed politely.
Carr was flustered.
Upperclassmen were usually intimidating.
But Lily, the second-year rep, was perfectly respectful to him.
“Thanks, Lily-senior. But what brings you to the first-year dorm?”
Leo asked.
Lily hesitated.
“I know it’s a bit sudden, but… if you’re free this weekend, could you come with me to Lumeria for two days and one night?”
“I don’t have any plans. Sure.”
Leo nodded.
Lily smiled brightly.
“Great. I’ll come pick you up tomorrow at 6 a.m.”
“Okay.”
Lily left.
Carr stood frozen.
“A t-two-day date with a second-year girl?!”
“It’s not a date. She said it’s for advice.”
“What kind of advice takes two days?!”
“It happens. Anyway, I’m sleeping early.”
Leo returned inside.
“Carr? Why are you standing there?”
Eliana spotted him in the garden.
“Wanna hear something wild?”
“What?”
“Leo’s going on a two-day trip with Lily-senior this weekend.”
“What?!”
Eliana’s eyes widened.
“Seriously?! That’s a full-on date!”
“He says it’s not…”
“Please. If a boy and girl spend a night together, that’s a date!”
“Right?”
Fueled by teenage imagination, the two got excited.
And just like that, the rumor spread across the entire first-year dorm in seconds.